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Contents / MAY 2015

13 / Lauren Shepherd, Whitney Sangid, and Claudia Haws were among

15 /Buzz and Kristie Helms at The Rotary Club

the 170 guests attending the Girls on the Run of Northeast Tennessee’s 2nd annual BFF Ball at The Venue in downtown Johnson City.

of Bristol, Virginia-Tennessee honoring outstanding teachers from Bristol schools at the 28th annual Frank W. DeFriece Teacher Awards Banquet on April 14, 2015.

DEPARTMENTS

FEATURES

7

MAY 2015 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

8

MEET THE VIPSEEN TEAM

33

SERVE IT UP SASSY Graduation Gathering 2015

10

COLLEGE BOUND

36

THE WIT BIT

48

BUSINESS PROFILE NN, Inc.

42

WHAT IS: INSOMNIA & SLEEP SUPPORT?

52

SEEN ON THE SCENE

60

PET PERSONALS

63

NONPROFIT PROFILE Appalachian Sustainable Development 20-year Anniversary

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ON THE COVER

Personal Medicine Ben Talley and Mary Johnson Starts at Home were recently awarded Teacher of the Year for Bristol City Schools.

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CCCAVIPAD-MAY.indd 1

4 | VIPSEEN | MAY 2015

4/13/15 3:38 PM

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EVENTS 15 Rotary Club of Bristol, Virginia-Tennessee

Frank W. DeFriece, Jr. Teacher Awards Banquet

21 18th Annual Sullins Parent Association Auction:

“Sullins Sessions”

24 Artistic Excellence Reception 27 Interstate Career Fair 30 Tribe Games 38 2nd Annual Washington County

CUSTOM

GLASS SHOWER ENCLOSURES

Agricultural & Business Appreciation Dinner

39 B&H Wealth Strategies

March Madness Client Event

40 Girls on the Run of Northeast Tennessee

2nd Annual BFF Ball

43 Premier Pharmacy 25th Year Celebration 44 xTERRA Power to the Tower 50K

& Half Marathon

46 Kingsport Chamber of Commerce

Fourth Friday Breakfast

50 Junior League of Johnson City hosts the

3rd Annual Cocktails & Catwalks

57 buildOn Johnson City 59 20th Annual Ruffed Grouse Society

Appalachian Highlands Chapter Sportsmen’s & Conservation Banquet

67 Special Spaces Tri-Cities Makeover 69 YP Tri Social at Holy Taco 70 Spring Fling at Brookdale Rock Springs 71 After Hours & Ribbon Cutting for

Berkshire Hathaway and Portico

72 Downtown Kingsport’s Sip and Stroll 75 Leo Peraza at Ligero Cigar Lounge 76 Thirsty Orange Brew Extraganza 79 Virginia Creeper Trail 10 Miler 80 Run for the Booty 5K 83 Jonesborough’s Music on the Square

Spring Tune Up

84 Yum Yum, Power of the Bite 87 Love Local...A Food Truck Event 88 CASA of Northeast Tennessee Presents

The American Girl Fashion Show

90 Brass Ring Gala & Carousel Fine Craft Show 94 Need for Speed: Health Expo

and Seconds Count 5K

“Tom Watso n and Tri Sta te Steel alw within our b ays work udget to pro v id e the best pos materials at sible the lowest p anticipate o o s s ib le c o st. They ur needs an d are well ve and federal rsed codes to avo id any regula in state We are a co tory issues. mmercial cli ent, but their beautiful en wor ough for any residential s k is etting.”

- Rita Perkin s, Director, S

ecor Inc., Le

banon, Virgin

ia

Tri State Steel

276.608.0772 276.739.2333 Tristatesteel57@gmail.com

Letter from the Publishers / MAY 2015 FOUNDER/PUBLISHER Angela J. Baker

She Says ...

He Says...

FOUNDER/CO-PUBLISHER Brian Hullette

The readers of VIPSEEN are active ones and feel connected to the magazine in ways that I am surprised about on a pretty regular basis. Just when I think that very few care about what goes in the magazine, I will run into someone on the street or receive an email with feedback about a recent issue. Some people stop to tell me how much they enjoy the magazine and leave it at that. Others will call or pull me aside when they see me and kindly point out an error, helping us to be even better the next time around. There are those who sincerely love the magazine, but are frustrated by the inclusion of or lack of material. Last month I received a phone call about a missing component of our magazine and my eyes were opened to a glaring void.

I never get tired of talking about VIPSEEN and, as always, there are plenty of things in this issue for me to talk about. It’s difficult to believe we are now four years old. In addition to comments about the photography and design of our magazine, I get great feedback about our content; particularly the stories we bring you about the people who make this region run. None of these great comments would be possible without the hard work and dedication of our great team. As each issue develops and our staff brings to the table new ideas, it is awesome to see how these ideas play out and in what direction they will take the magazine. I myself have loved seeing how far some of the non-profit organizations have come over the years: starting at nothing and becoming forces for good in the Tri-Cities area.

I failed to feature any teachers in our Power Women issue.

The woman who called me stated in a firm teachers tone that teachers are the real power women and she was correct, they really are. It has been four years now that I have been publishing this magazine but I have given little attention to those in our community who are responsible for educating and shaping the future of this region and our country. Very few of us would be able to read, write, tell time, speak various languages or know where we were headed in life without the teachers we have had throughout life.

The busy season is now upon us and there are almost too many events to mention. We have big plans for great stories about all the things that make our region an exciting place to live, work, and play. Let VIPSEEN be your guide to enjoying everything our area has to offer this spring and summer. Through the eyes of VIPSEEN, people see all the positive energy these happenings create and we are excited to announce we have been busy creating some new happenings for our community. Beginning in July, ETSU is partnering with VIPSEEN, Inc. to bring our region an exciting and new niche publication that focuses on ETSU Athletics. Twice a year, summer and fall, VIPSEEN, Inc will produce GAMETIME, an East Tennessee State University Athletics Magazine! You will soon be able to purchase these at Food City, Roadrunner Markets, and other various retail locations.

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Angelica Ares EVENT COORDINATOR DIRECTOR OF DISTRIBUTION Savanna McDavid EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Danielle Holder ACCOUNT MANAGERS Lark Adams 423.612.3583 Lark@vipseenmg.com Toni Drumwright 423.612.3583 Toni@vipseenmg.com Danielle Hahne 404.483.6926 danielle@vipseenmag.com Carolyn Kestner 423.292.3436 carolyn@vipseenmag.com COPY EDITOR Lucy Honeychurch CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Lark Adams Liz Bushong Bob Harshbarger, III James Helmes Danielle Holder G.C. Hutson Lucy Honeychurch Savanna McDavid Beth Street PHOTOGRAPHY Mickey J. Baker Lark Adams Liz Bushong Danielle Hahne James Helmes Savanna McDavid Tonia Peters DISTRIBUTION Bobby Flowers Charles Kilgore Rita Lane Sarah Moody Juanita Roberts Savanna McDavid WEBMASTER Robert Neilson Wired Web Development VIPSEEN, Inc., Tri-Cities 151 E. Main Street, Suite 5 Kingsport, TN 37660 423.398.5321 info@vipseenmag.com WWW.VIPSEENMAG.COM

6 | VIPSEEN | MAY 2015

The retired teacher who cared enough to call and stand up on the behalf of her peers truly is a superwoman. She taught students in her classrooms for over 40 years and she taught me a lesson that afternoon. As a community we need to embrace and contribute more to our education systems. These teachers should be celebrated for the work that they do, for educating our children. I am open to more suggestions as to how we can help through VIPSEEN. I am sure many of you have read this saying before but I will use it again here to close out this month’s letter: “if you are able read this, THANK A TEACHER.” Thank you to the retired teacher that cared enough to call me and express her opinion. I love all the feedback I receive and I loved hearing from her. There are times in life when we all need to be told something that we don’t necessarily want to hear. I was taken to task that day and, much as it pained me, I was glad to have this glaring omission brought to my attention. VIPSEEN is designed as a reflection of the community and without teachers we would have little in the way of community to reflect on.

Angela J. Baker, Publisher angela@vipseenmag.com

I hope you enjoy this issue and I look forward to seeing you out. If you see me out, please stop and say hello.

GO BUCS!

Brian Hullette, Co-Publisher brian@vipseenmag.com

MAY 2015

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

SATURDAY SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

Spring Sports Cards and Memorabilia Show @ lower level of the mall 1 pm The Lomax Project featuring Tim O’brien @ The Paramount Center for the Arts 2 pm

1 Smoky Mountain Home Health & Hospice Greeneville-Kingsport Golf Tournament @ Nolichucky View Golf Club 10 am

Minded Hearts @ Annex 11:30 am

The Pickin’ Porch Show: Mccracken Inc. and Emi Sunshine @ Foundation Event Facility 7 pm

Group Run - Tri-Cities Trail Runners @ ETSU 5:30 pm

Portion Distortion @ Annex 5-6 pm

Cinco de Mayo Club Links 5K @ Johnson City Country Club 7 pm

Jay O’Callahan as Teller-in-Residence @ International Storytelling Center

3

4

5

Fleet Feet Sports Mother’s Day Run Or Walk @ Kingsport 6 pm

Kingsport Chamber 23rd Annual Golf Scramble @ Ridgefields 9 am

Managing Migraines @ Human Resources Center 5-6 pm

Second Sunday Concert Series: Josh Oliver & Friends @ Birthplace of Country Music Museum 2 pm

The Pickin’ Porch Show: Boots On The Ground @ Foundation Event Facility 7 pm

KOSBE | Franchising in the Tri-Cities @ Kingsport Chamber 1 pm Laura Thurston @ O’mainnin’s Pub 10 pm

Symphony of the Mountains Chamber Ensemble at UVA Wise 5 pm

6 Diabetes 101: Healthy Eating @ Annex 12 pm

Duck Island Spring Mile: Kids & Adults @ Warriors Path State Park 6:30 pm

7 Connie Regan-Blake as Teller-in-Residence @ International Storytelling Center 2 pm

Taste of Jonesborough @ Historic Jonesborough 6 pm

12

13

Historic Walking Tour @ Jonesborough 1 pm

Eating for the Health of It @ Human Resources Center 5-6 pm

Elizabeth Ellis as Teller-in-Residence @ International Storytelling Center 2 pm

Abingdon Veterans Memorial Park 1st Annual 5K Race @ Abingdon Veterans Memorial Park 3 pm

19

Jonesborough Yarn Exchange @ International Storytelling Center 7 pm

Andy Offutt Irwin as Teller-in-Residence @ International Storytelling Center 2 pm

24

14 Evening Storytelling Performance with Elizabeth Ellis @ International Storytelling Center Kingsport Antique & Rod Club Car Show @ Fort Henry Mall 10 am

20 Maintain your Brain @ Human Resources Center 1-2 pm

Ryan Ward @ O’Mainnin’s Pub 10 pm

25

26

Hope is Back on Me: A Storyteller’s Journey in Africa @ International Storytelling Center

27

15 Packet Pickup, Pasta Dinner - Bill Gatton Honda Memorial Freedom 5K @ Bill Gatton Honda 6 pm Kingsport Antique & Rod Club Car Show @ Fort Henry Mall 10 am Kingsport Antique & Rod Club SuperCruise Event at Kingsport Town Center @ Mall lower parking lot 6 pm Fourth Friday sponsored

by Burk I.T. Consulting @ MeadowView Marriott 7:30 am

21

22

Jason Isbell with Special Guest Craig Finn @ The Paramount Center for the Arts 7 pm

Gaelic Storm presented

by The Paramount Center For The Arts @ The Paramount Center for the Arts 7:30 pm

2015 Tennessee Valley Corridor National 2015 Tennessee Valley Summit: “Education Corridor National Fuels the TVC Economy” Summit: “Education @ ETSU Fuels the TVC Economy” @ ETSU

Family Fun Day @ Birthplace of Country Music Museum 2 pm

8

Plan Z @ O’Mainnin’s Pub 10 pm

11

18

Grand Opening Kingsport Welcome Center 2 pm

Wrenn @ 620 State 9 pm

Group Run - Tri-Cities Trail Runners @ ETSU 5:30 pm

Elizabeth Ellis as Teller-in-Residence @ International Storytelling Center 2 pm

17

Lux Aduro - Children’s Theatre @ LampLight Theatre 7 pm

The Grand Ole Uproar @ O’mainnin’s Pub 10 pm

Connie Regan-Blake as Tellerin-Residence @ International Storytelling Center

10

Girls on the Run 5K presented by Families for a Healthier Eastman @ South Side Elementary 9 am Spring Break 5K Run/Walk @ Elizabethton @ 8 am Basket Weaving with Joy Smith @ Flying Pig Gallery 9 am John Dee Holeman in Concert with Amythyst Kiah @ Birthplace of Country Music Museum 7 pm

31

Jayme Stone’s Lomax Project (Featuring Tim O’Brien) @ Birthplace of Country Music Museum 2 pm

BVU’s Champions4Children 5K & Children’s Sprint @ Preston Grove 10 am

Lux Aduro - Children’s Theatre @ LampLight Theatre 7 pm

Closing Day: Mapping the Cosmos @ William King Museum of Art 1 pm

Williams Syndrome 5K Run/ Walk @ Johnson City 3 pm

Spring Sports Cards and Memorabilia Show @ lower level of the mall 10 am

THURSDAY

Kingsport Spring Spectacular Photography Contest & Exhibition Celebrating 13 years 12:45 pm

Seventh Annual FBC Kingsport AmazinGrace 5K, KFOM, and Fun Mile @ Downtown Kingsport @ 5:15

FRIDAY

Johnson City Downtown Dash @ South Side Elementary 8:55 am

28

Springtime Jubilee @ LampLight Theatre 7 pm

Spring Sports Cards and Memorabilia Show @ lower level of the mall 10 am Miss Kingsport Town Center Beauty Pageant 2015 and Miss May Day Queen @ Sears Court lower level of the mall 2 pm West Side Story presented by The Asheville Lyric Opera @ The Paramount Center for the Arts 7 pm Lux Aduro - Children’s Theatre @ LampLight Theatre 2 pm Women’s Conference - From the Mundane to the Insane @ LampLight Theatre 7 pm Higher Ground Baptist Church Car and Motorcycle Show @ Higher Ground Baptist Church 10 am KOSBE - How to Save for Retirement as a Business Owner @ Kingsport Chamber 4 pm H.O.P. E. Fundraiser - A Night in Tuscany @ Domtar Cabin 6 pm Frontier Academy: Pewter Casting @ Rocky Mount Living History Museum 11 am

2

Run For Your Mom 5k @ Rotary Park Johnson City 9 am Junior League of Bristol Caterpillar Crawl 5K and Family Fun Walk @ Bristol, VA 8 am 3 day Blender [3D Digital Animation Program] Class at the Flying Pig @ Flying Pig Gallery 10 am Lux Aduro - Children’s Theatre @ LampLight Theatre 2 pm Diamond Rio @ Niswonger Performing Arts Center 7:30 pm

9

Girl Scout Day @ Rocky Mount Living History Museum 10 am

Chick-fil-A and Connect 5K Race Series @ Bristol, VA 8 am Race for a Drug Free Bristol @ Bristol, VA 10 am Rack By The Tracks SPF 5K and 10K @ Kingsport Higher Education Center 9 am TSpring Town-Wide Yard Sale @ Historic Jonesborough 9 am Shape Note Sing-a-long @ Birthplace of Country Music Museum 10:30 am Performance by Tri-Cities Tumbling Stars @ Sears Court lower level of the mall 6 pm The Grand Tour presented by Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kingsport @ MeadowView Marriott 6 pm The Steeldrivers & Suzy Bogguss @ Niswonger Performing Arts Center 7:30 pm

16

Bill Gatton Honda Memorial Freedom 5K @ Bristol, TN 8 am

23

Opening of Wetlands Water Park @ Historic Jonesborough BTVAR 5K Home Run @ Anderson Park 8 am

Run for Ranchito @ Laurel Run Park 11 am

29

Children’s Storytelling Concert with Andy Offutt Irwin @ International Storytelling Center

30

Springtime Jubilee @ LampLight Theatre 7 pm

MAY 2015 | VIPSEEN | 7

Meet the VIPSEEN Team Angela Baker

Brian Hullette

Founder/Publisher

Angela sincerely believes she was created by God to serve those around her. In 2011, she paired that belief with her passion for creative,effective and quality marketing to begin publishing VIPSEEN Tri-Cities Magazine.

In 2010, Angela made a huge decision to make a move from West Tennessee to East Tennessee.

Although she deeply misses the family and friends she left behind, she will proudly tell anyone who asks, that her leap of faith was worth the jump.

Angela is quick to admit that not all of her decisions in life have been good ones, however, she uses every experience (good and bad) as a tool for growth moving forward.

Nothing means more to Angela than her family. In 2012, she married the most loving and incredible man on earth, Mickey Baker. Mickey and Angela share the same passion of serving and believe in being a reflection of God’s love. Her two children, Madison and Chase, are the reason for the permanent smile in her heart.

Angela currently serves on the board for CASA for Kids (Sullivan and Hawkins County), and The Kingsport Chamber of Commerce. She is also in the 2015 Kingsport Leadership program (Best Class Ever)! In addition, mission work is very important to Angela and Mickey; they serve through Agape Christian Missions and make trips to Haiti as often as their schedule permits.

Founder/Co-Publisher

Brian Hullette is an experienced, successful, entrepreneur who has lived in Kingsport most of his life. Having worked since the age of 14, Brian’s strong and dedicated work ethic has enabled him to develop, own, and operate over seven corporations during his professional career. He has held leadership positions in several businesses, including his current position as Co-Founder and Co-Publisher of VIPSEEN Tri-Cities magazine. Brian sees the magazine as a tool to provide the Tri-Cities with a high-quality, free publication that highlights and showcases local events, arts, entertainment, and non-profit organizations that are making the community a better and more positive place to live.

Because of Brian’s commitment to serving and helping others, he desires to improve the quality of life for those in the Tri- Cities.

Though Brian has experienced much success in business, he proudly says his greatest success and driving force is his son Logan.

Angelica Ares Creative Director

Angelica’s graphic design prowess and swift design skills have gained her the nickname ‘Design Ninja’ around the office. She oversees everything that is design at VIPSEEN Magazine.

Architectural Design, Mechanical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering draftsperson; Disney Castmember; Print Designer at WRAL-TV in Raleigh, NC; Real Estate Appraiser; Art Director; and Editorial Designer are some of the accomplishments that Angelica has under her belt. But the thing that she considers her biggest accomplishment is her role as a wife and mother.

Angelica earned her Bachelor of Fine Art Degree in Graphic Design at the Savannah College of Art and Design and, like everything else she sets out to accomplish, graduated with honors.

She is also a Girl Scout troop leader and President of the PTA of her son’s elementary school. Angelica has been the Editorial Designer for two of the region’s top magazines.

She has been with VIPSEEN for over two years. Besides the challenging work, the part she has enjoyed the most about working for both magazines is the opportunity afforded to her to meet others in the community who have a passion for living in the Tri-Cities area.

Despite being a native of Miami, Florida, Angelica has called Johnson City home for over sixteen years now and cannot imagine living or raising her children anywhere else.

When not working Angelica enjoys entertaining friends at Casa Ares, spending time with her two children, and volunteering for jobs she has absolutely no time for.

8 | VIPSEEN | MAY 2015

Savanna McDavid Events Coordinator Director of Distribution

Born and raised in Surgoinsville, Savanna has lived in East Tennessee all her life. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Communications from ETSU. She began working with VIPSEEN magazine in October of 2012 as a sales account manager. Quickly realizing sales did not interest her; she began writing and covering events. Today Savanna is the Event Coordinator and Director of Distribution. She truly enjoys getting to interact with people and help them solve their problems. She loves people’s responses to being in the magazine.

Savanna recently married her best friend, Scott McDavid (a.k.a. Charlie). They are living to fulfill their purpose of serving God by uplifting and encouraging others to reach their full potential. Scott and Savanna both love to travel and share new experiences together. They have three very furry children – Jim, Rudy and Maveric; all of which have been rescued.

Savanna loves to meet new friends, learn new things and serve people. She wholeheartedly believes that everyone is a work in progress and no one should ever stop working on themselves. Her passion is helping others realize they were created to succeed in life.

Meet the VIPSEEN Team Mickey Baker Lead Photographer

Born and raised in Bristol, TN, Mickey Baker has proudly been a life-long resident and has developed deep roots in this area.

At the age of 23, Mickey opened his first Subway restaurant and two decades later, he is the President and Co-Owner of 20 Subway restaurants spanning from Marion, VA to Greeneville, TN. He bases his success on a great business partner that saw potential in him and a very dedicated, hard working staff and employees.

In the last couple of years, Mickey has discovered a passion for photography. This new found passion was discovered while on a mission trip to Honduras. A couple of nice cameras and several lenses later and Mickey is using his talents both locally and abroad to promote the needs of those around us. A majority of his talented work can be viewed monthly on the pages of VIPSEEN Tri-Cities Magazine.

Mission work is something that Mickey feels strongly about because of his love of and belief in God. Mickey currently serves on the board of Agape Christian Missions and is a member of Discovery Church in Bristol.

Mickey has many loves, including his family, friends and his three wonder dogs but his true love is his wife, Angela Baker, who reminds him everyday how to LOVE!

Danielle Hahne Senior Sales Executive

Danielle is an Atlanta native who moved here in 2011.

She has devoted her time to getting to know her surroundings and local businesses during her duration here. She has a strong and loyal personality and a surprising wealth of knowledge.

As the Senior Sales Executive, she has helped lead the team in sales. She can be described as a creative, detailoriented sales professional who has accumulated over 12 years of demonstrated team-oriented experience in sales, market research, and client-consulting with Southeastern corporations. She understands the hard work it takes to make a company successful, and how to market that organization to others.

When people ask Lark Adams what she likes best about her job as an account manager with VIPSEEN, she always thinks about the creative part of the work she does.

“I get excited when I can work with the client to develop an advertising concept and campaign, and then have them see positive results from our efforts.”

Lark Adams Sales Manager

In October 2014, Lark joined the VIPSEEN sales team. In her previous “work life”, she was with one of the largest consulting companies in the world, helping clients with large systems implementations and customer relationship management systems. Lark is a graduate of Virginia Tech and considers herself a diehard Hokie. When she isn’t working, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, traveling, volunteering, and reading.

Toni is the newest member of the VIPSEEN Team. She comes to VIPSEEN with an extensive professional background and an eagerness to build new relationships that will allow her to blossom as a top Sales Manager at VIPSEEN. Toni is married to her wonderful husband Scott and has three lovely children; Alexandra 18, Nicholas 14, and Noah 12. The Drumwright family are huge animal lovers.

They are proud parents to four dogs, two cats, two flying squirrels and a lizard named Moto.

If you pass them on the road, they are always singing and dancing in the car. Very loudly! Simple things make Toni happy, like lying on the beach all day people watching. She loves life and lives it one day at a time.

Carolyn Kestner Sales Manager

Carolyn Kestner relocated here from St. Petersburg, Florida 5 years ago and has been an account manager with VIPSEEN for one year. With a background in retail management and sales, and a genuine love of people, the position is one that she really enjoys. “I like to help people, and a lot of this job is helping people…helping them grow their business. Helping them realize their goals and dreams in relation to their business. It’s a lot of fun” The transition from her native state to East Tennessee has been a gratifying one and her position with VIP is one that merges well with her interests in art, music, and reading.

Toni Drumwright Sales Manager

In addition to her work with the magazine, she is a volunteer with the Kingsport Literacy Council and is passionate about animal rescue. When not working, she and her dog Ava frequent Kingsport’s Dogwood Park.

MAY 2015 | VIPSEEN | 9

VIPSEEN SPECIAL SECTION: COLLEGE BOUND

Getting Students Ready for College An example of two teachers preparing their students for the future.

STORY BY LUCY HONEYCHURCH

E

xcellence in teaching is something that is often not celebrated like it should be. Teachers do more than just teach and can usually be seen after school helping with sports, tutoring, or on weekends working fundraisers for the school. Two teachers from our local area were recently honored for their lifelong services to the teaching profession and both have impressive and extensive resumes. Ben Talley and Mary Johnson were recently awarded Teacher of the Year for Bristol City Schools. Mr. Talley has also been inducted into the Teaching Hall of Fame and will be acknowledged in a Rose Garden ceremony in Washington, D.C. Both teachers have worked tirelessly over the years in order to, as Mary Johnson puts it, “provide food, clothing, a safe environment, love, and often their only encouragement. I am that person that they can count on, day after day, to be a part of their lives.” Teaching in a K-12 environment comes with its own unique challenges, but it is also an environment that both educators feel compelled to both work and remain in. Their passion and dedication shows and is contagious: both are excellent examples of teaching at its best. Neither, however, is alone in trying to help combat the ills that plague our region. Poverty, domestic abuse, low-paying jobs, and drug use are all issues that can both be combated and stopped through education.

Learning never stops, however, and each teacher knows and understands that preparing kids for college is something that should be done from an early age. Ben Talley has an interesting way of keeping up with his students through the years, “I give every child I teach a penny. They mail it back to me when they graduate high school, wherever they are. This keeps me in touch with virtually all my students...and keeps them honed in on the value of education.” Keeping tabs on and keeping in touch with students means that the students have little chance of falling through the cracks and more of a chance of getting into college. Talley has seen what failing a student can mean since some of his volunteer time has come at the local jail. “I’ve helped 331 men attain their GED diplomas at the Bristol Jail over the years...a fact of which I am as proud of as anything.” Proud to be sure, but this reality has also made him cognizant of the fact that failing a student in the classroom can lead to detrimental results.

Many students are getting ready to graduate high school and, after a quick and busy summer, some will be heading off to college. Preparing these students is a task made ever harder by legislation at both the state and federal level dictating that more and more tests be administered in order to gauge learning.

Teaching is also “graded” now and with pressure put on teachers for better and better results each year, more and more teachers are wondering if what they do can still be considered teaching. Ben Talley and Mary Johnson are two people who still love what they do and hope to inspire students and other teachers through hard work and by example. Education is as important now as it has ever been and investing in our kids means ridding society of its ills and setting us all up for a bright future.

10 | VIPSEEN | MAY 2015

12 Passionate Teaching in an

Era of Testing: How and why

teachers still inspire the best in us.

14 Carson Newman 15

Rotary Club of Bristol, Virginia-Tennessee Frank W. DeFriece, Jr. Teacher Awards Banquet

18 Milligan 20 4 Ways to Manage Your

Student Loans 21 18th Annual Sullins Parent

Association Auction:

“Sullins Sessions” 24 Artistic Excellence Reception 25

“Test today!? But I haven’t even studied!” Time Management Tips for College Students

27 Interstate Career Fair 28 Virginia Highlands 30 Tribe Games 31 The Pros and Cons to Joining

a Fraternity or Sorority 32 Carson Newman 33 Serve It Up Sassy:

Graduation Gathering 2015 36 The Wit Bit MAY 2015 | VIPSEEN | 11

Passionate Teaching in an Era of Testing How and why teachers still inspire the best in us.

STORY BY JENNIFER ARES

I

am sure that most of us can remember someone in our lives who has inspired us to be better at something: better readers, better runners, better chemists, better friends. That someone who inspires us is often a teacher that comes to us at various points in our lives. Helping with schoolwork often turns into something more and looking back we can remember fondly how a discussion about a book led us to an understanding about life or that the solving of a complex math problem allowed us to gain a confidence that lasts until this day. Teachers do not just teach our children and they certainly did not just teach us. They were there as confidants, friends, mentors, and passionate reminders that learning could be fun.

I, for one, had an English teacher who was inspirational. Ms. Wood could quote Shakespeare verbatim and would do so in order to prove a point or to say something that she could not express any better than her old pal Will had done. She asked me hard questions about what I read and refused to let me write a paper that was simply a summary of the novel or short story we had read as a class. “I’ve already read the work,” she would say, “I don’t need you to tell me what

12 | VIPSEEN | MAY 2015

happened.” I worked harder for her than any teacher in my four years of high school, but I loved every minute of it and I loved watching her light up about the literature and talk about authors as if they were lifelong friends of hers that she invited to dinner once a week.

Teachers are often seen as simply messengers of information. It is there job to just give us what we need in order to pass the test, right? It is this type of thinking that has made learning a drudgery for kids in today’s schools. Artists and authors didn’t create and live the interesting lives that they did hoping to one day be a multiple choice question. Great men did not conquer lands with the intent of being a future topic of a power point presentation or a high school essay. Napoleon never said, “let me conquer Europe and one day seventh graders will fall asleep to lectures about me!” The fact of the matter is that this information is necessary and there has to be someone there to teach this knowledge to others, but no one ever said that learning had to be boring: there is no rule anywhere that says this.

Teachers can make or break a class. A teacher’s love for his/ her craft and the material they are tasked with presenting is something easily seen by children in class. Why give kids a Harry Potter book to read when you haven’t read it yourself? Why ask of them to learn a math problem that you can complete or learn about a battle that’s importance cannot be demonstrated?

The fact of the matter is that this is not done.

Teachers have read these books, more than once, and understand how math will help in “real life”, and can relay the modern importance of an ancient battle. Without the passion and love for learning that many teachers have, these, and other subjects, would simply be words in a book that kids would be forced to decipher on their own. Children are taken to new worlds every day by teachers who act as guides, showing them the possibilities that exist in the world and in the students themselves.

To that end, a love of teaching and learning is not enough. Students face challenges these days that many of us would never have dreamed of having existed as obstacles when we were growing up. Students come to school weighed down by issues such as broken homes, abuse, learning disabilities, English as a second language, bullying, and hunger. How can we expect any child facing these issues, and others, to come to school with a positive attitude as far as learning is concerned? To many, learning is another obstacle for them to overcome in their lives and if learning is seen as an obstacle then how can it be considered fun? Often it isn’t and this is a task for teachers on top of everything else like lesson planning, making copies, and checking homework folders. Add all of these obstacles on top of low pay and it is a wonder that anyone would want to go into, or stay, in teaching as a profession. After all, the stress related to the job certainly outweighs any enjoyment that can be derived from the profession, right? “I cannot imagine doing anything else,” says a local teacher. “I love my kids,

we all do, and seeing them learn and grow and fall in love with reading and books and education is a daily delight.”

What keeps teachers in the profession when many could move on to jobs that are less demanding, less stressful, and better paying? Love. Love is a word that many of us don’t think of when we think of teaching. Love is saved for Valentine’s Day and weddings, and most of us would never equate the word teaching to love. Those who teach, however, see teaching as something that cannot exist without love. Sure teaching involves hard work, long hours, stressful days, and frantic testing schedules, but it also involves love: a lot of it. Teaching, at any level, is not a craft for the faint of heart because how well a student does in life is sometimes dependent upon how much a teacher cares.

I’ve been in college courses when it was clear that a professor didn’t care if someone passed or failed. I can vaguely remember the classes and how painfully boring they were: I never remember the professors. Teachers that we remember long after we are out of elementary school, high school or college, are people who were passionate about their craft. They came to work everyday ready to teach, but more importantly, ready to impart upon his/her students the importance of learning by inspiring them to view subjects in a different way.

Passion is necessary these days when it comes to education, because so much of learning has been boiled down to exactly what it was never supposed to be: multiple choice questions. Just as shades of gray exist in life, so they have always existed, and by refusing to acknowledge that the world is not black and white many have turned swashbuckling tales of Pirates, frightening tales of war exploits, and exciting tales of the discovery of new worlds into answers that range from A-D. Teachers swim upstream against the watering down and the borification of learning. Teachers inspire students to look at subjects like math and science and history in different ways. These topics are more than just measurements, theorems, dates, and places and teachers bring these subjects to life for biased students who have always been told that Chemistry and American History are mind numbing. We send our children off everyday in the hopes that they learn something in school and that they are helped to love learning at least a little bit, but hopefully a great deal. We want better for our kids and we task their educational enrichment to others whose love for teaching is only surpassed by our love for our children. They inspire, comfort, reach into and draw out our children, and show them that learning can be fun. All of this is done on piddly pay and with little respect. Show teachers you appreciate what they do. Tell them thank you once in a while. Take them a sweet tea or an ice cream one afternoon at pickup and, for goodness sake, help them as much as you are able: teaching our next generation of leaders is not their job alone-we are all in this together.

MAY 2015 | VIPSEEN | 13

What can you do with our degree?

ANYTHING you want.

cn.edu

BRISTOL TRAIN STATION

SEEN IN BRISTOL

Teacher Awards Banquet of Bristol, Virginia/Tennessee STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY LINDA COFFEY

The Rotary Club of Bristol, Virginia-Tennessee honored outstanding teachers from Bristol schools at their 28th annual Frank W. DeFriece Teacher Awards Banquet on April 14, 2015.

The Nominated teachers were evaluated by an anonymous panel of judges from outside the Bristol area.

Each of the 12 nominated teachers received a Golden Apple Award and a check for $250. The two teachers selected for the Outstanding Teacher Award received a check for $2,500 and their school received a check for $500 to purchase equipment.

Janet and Ron Brewer

The Outstanding Teacher Awards were presented to Mary Johnson, Anderson Elementary School and Ben Talley, VanPelt Elementary School.

TEACHERS NOMINATED FROM TENNESSEE INCLUDED: Angie Wilhoit, Haynesfield Elementary; Beth Morley, Vance Middle; Ginger Davis, Tennessee High; Rhonda Flick, Fairmount Elementary and Sarah Cross, Avoca Elementary.

Mark Walling and Leigh Stewart

Jessica and Andrew Belcher

TEACHERS NOMINATED FROM VIRGINIA INCLUDED: Darlia Williams, Virginia High; Jessica Belcher, Washington Lee Elementary; Leigh Stewart, Virginia Middle; Meghan Groves, Highland View Elementary and Tracey Mercier, Stonewall Jackson Elementary.

SIGNATURE SPONSORS FOR THE ROTARY OUTSTANDING TEACHER AWARDS INCLUDE: Alpha Natural Resources, Bank of Tennessee, Bill Gatton Automotive Group, Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol Regional Medical Center, Bristol Tennessee Essential Services, Bristol Virginia Utilities Authority, BurWil Construction Company, HVAC, Inc., Johnson Commercial Development, King University, Massengill-DeFriece Foundation, and Strongwell.

Tennessee teacher nominees

Outstanding Teachers: Mary Johnson (TN) and Ben Talley (VA)

Virginia teacher nominees

MAY 2015 | VIPSEEN | 15

Jim Maxwell and Shirley Carrier

David Talley and Ben Talley

Randy and Susan Ojanen (Assistant District Govenor)

Joe Duncan and Jane Bachman

Darlia Williams, Brenda Carroll, and Jan Huffman

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Meghan Groves and Colin Cox

J.B. and Pat (Past District Govenor) Combs

ROTARY CLUB

Tara McCall, William Burriss, Jim Maxwell, and Katy Sikorski

Sarah and Cody Cross

Interact Students: Paxton Huffman, Chad Smith, and Delaine Loud

George and Jane Laoo

SEEN IN BRISTOL

Andy and Angie Wilhoit

Ronnie Collins (Principal, Virginia HS) and Dr. Mary Rouse (Principal, Tennessee HS)

Tenesha

define your

John

passion

We’re about Tenesha Connor, ’16, is double majoring in biology and psychology. She is interested in the neuroscience field, practical solutions specifically memory function. After conducting research in a summer program at New York University, Tenesha is working in a liberal arts on an honors thesis about IGF-II in memory deficits. setting.

Pick the issue that is your passion, work with professors to build your plan, translate your passion into problem solving.

John England, ‘16, is a double major in environmental science and geography. John has joined the effort to build this nation’s energy future on renewable sources of energy. As a student and in his career after Emory & Henry, he hopes to be a part of a renewable energy movement that includes nuclear energy.

Emory & Henry College • P.O. Box 947, Emory, VA 24327 • 800.848.5493 • ehadmiss@ehc.edu • www.ehc.edu Located 1/2 mile off I-81, Exit 26, Emory, Virginia

Founded in 1866, Milligan College is a nationally recognized liberal arts college. Graduates are sought by major employers and graduate schools for their broad academic preparation, strong work-ethic, and dedication to leadership and service. For nearly 150 years, Milligan has integrated academic excellence with a Christian worldview, and its mission is to educate men and women as Christian servant-leaders. Milligan is grounded in a tradition of excellence in scholarship, an emphasis on community, and a dependence on faith.

Scholarship What you learn in college helps direct the course of your future. That’s why Milligan integrates a general core with courses in a focused area so students understand the big picture and are prepared for short and long-term decision making in this fast-changing world. Students experience a unique interdisciplinary Humanities program, off-campus study opportunities, and a robust curriculum with over 100 academic programs. Our faculty are among the best in their fields and their primary purpose is to teach and mentor you.

Community You’ll soon discover what makes Milligan stand out from other colleges – it’s a Christian community that is genuine. Our 1,200 students come from all over the country and world, so you’ll find students with interests similar to your own, as well as those of different cultures, backgrounds, and views.

Milligan has fun traditions, dozens of clubs and activities, and nationally ranked athletic programs, including 46 conference titles and 60 national tournament appearances in the past 10 years alone. We are a community where real friendships are made that last a lifetime. That’s the Milligan difference.

Faith God has a vision for your life and Milligan loves to help students discover and develop that calling. We believe real leadership is about service, so that’s why everything we do at Milligan – in the classroom, residence hall, or athletic field – is designed to encourage you to reflect on what it means to be a servant-leader. We know you want to use the unique ways God has created you to make a real difference.

f f u

B

be a

THERE IS A DIFFERENCE

There are many college choices, and on the surface, many may look a lot like Milligan, but few can claim and prove our outcomes with exceptional academic quality, student satisfaction, and graduate success.

Milligan students are more satisfied with their college experience than most students throughout the country according to national surveys. They’re also much more likely to stay and graduate on-time, which is a time and cost savings over many schools.

And after graduation, they enter the workforce or graduate school with great success.

Milligan has been named one of the top ten colleges in the South numerous times by U.S. News & World Report and is consistently named to Washington Monthly’s list of top 100 baccalaureate colleges in the nation. The College continues to be recognized for outstanding academics and its commitment to servant-leadership.

An Unbelievable Value Milligan’s cost is well-below the national average for private colleges, and because we are very generous with scholarships and aid, most students pay less than students at other regional colleges. They also borrow less money and have less debt than many other colleges’ students. Tennessee students can also qualify for state aid, including the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship (HOPE). Visit www. milligan.edu/SFS for more scholarship information.

COMING SOON

Apply now to join Milligan’s inaugural engineering class, beginning in 2016. Look forward to our physician assistant program, proposed for 2017.

MAY 2015 | VIPSEEN | 19

4 WAYS TO MANAGE YOUR

BY DANIELLE HOLDER

P

1

aying for college is hard and is something that students aren’t very knowledgeable about. I wish there was a class you could take before applying for college that would tell you everything you need to know about paying for it. There isn’t though, and figuring financial aid out is tough since there is no course on loans before entering college. So here are four tips to keep student loans from ruining your life!

RESEARCH: Before you even begin to acquire a student loan you need to know what kind of loan you are getting, how much you will owe and how to pay them. All of this information is available through the National Student Loan Data System or through the loan service you choose to receive the loan from. So start researching and make sure you know exactly what you are getting into before you agree to anything!

20 | VIPSEEN | MAY 2015

2

START PAYING EARLY: If you have the funds to start paying back your loans while you are still in school, do it! You will thank yourself later when you graduate and have potentially cut the money you owe down just because you started paying them off early.

3

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR GRACE PERIOD: All federal loans have a grace period for you to get a job and get your finances in order before you have to start paying your loans back. If you get a job straight out of college don’t wait to pay back your loans until the grace period is over. Start paying immediately so you can have them paid off sooner.

4

SIGN UP FOR AUTOMATIC PAYMENTS: There is nothing worse than thinking you have money and buying something and then remembering you forgot to pay something off. By making automatic payments you ensure that your student loans will be paid each month and you don’t have to worry about forgetting to pay them or spending that money on something else.

BIRTHPLACE OF COUNTRY MUSIC MUSEUM

SEEN IN BRISTOL

Sullins Sessions

18th Annual Sullins Parent Association Auction STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES HELMS

The 18th Annual Sullins Parent Association Auction entitled “Sullins Sessions” was held at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum located in downtown Bristol on the evening of March 21, 2015. The Head of School, Chris Rehm was on hand to greet guests and thank them for their support of the event which helps raise funds to ensure that the school can continue to develop students’ minds and character in a nurturing school environment. Guests of the event were treated to a dazzling array of foods provided by Catering

by Catherine. The entertainment for the evening was provided by the band Cryin’ Time; a fantastic four piece ensemble crooning old time country music. The museum was host to a variety of auction items spread thoughout the upper level galleries. Not only could the guests peruse through the many donated items and works of art provided by the students, but they could listen to and browse through the contents of the country music museum. A special thanks goes out to Reedy Creek Vineyards and Cellars for donating wine to the event.

Birthplace of Country Music Museum Staff

Rebecca Marr and Michael Gilles

Dick and Patricia Collins

Lisa and David Bushong

Dustin and Melissa Steward

Martha McGlothlin and Alyson Gilles

Whitley and John Grunstra

Mary Connor

Cryin’ Time

Sasha and Chris Rehm

MAY 2015 | VIPSEEN | 21

Are you covered?

WHAT WE DO

Burke, Powers and Harty Inc. Insurance Agency, one of the oldest and most reputable agencies in upper East Tennessee, has been a proven leader in providing quality protection for thousands of individuals, families and businesses throughout our region.

HOW WE DO IT

By offering world class protection for all your insurance needs, Burke, Powers & Harty has you covered today as well as in the future with an agency whose dedication to service is strictly paramount.

OUTCOMES FOR OUR CLIENTS

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1236 Volunteer Parkway | Bristol, Tennessee 423-764-2112 | www.bphagency.com

Experience, Insuring “YOUR” Future.

SEEN IN BRISTOL

BIRTHPLACE OF COUNTRY MUSIC MUSEUM

Artistic Excellence Reception STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAVANNA SMITH

An art reception was held in honor of the Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee high school art students who competed in the Artistic Excellence Competition earlier this year. The contest was sponsored by a national program “Art in Public Places”, the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, local businesses, and individual donors. There were first, second and third place winners from schools in all the areas; students competed for $1,750 in cash prizes. Prize money for the student was donated by BurWil Contruction Company of Bristol, TN. The young artists were honored during the reception for their families. Live music and local food were other treats attendees got to experience. A renowned juror selected winners who’s works were displayed at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum through Sunday, March 29. The winners were more than excited and very humbled. A big thanks goes to all who made this event happen, along with those who donated various items for a great cause.

Jill Minor and Emily Barrett

Linda Roberts and Rose Marie Burris

Carla and Caitlin Cline

Aimee and Sara Rasnic

Noah Wampler Honorable Mention in Charcoal Randall Rohr Third Place in Pen and Ink Tori Marcus First Place in Mixed Media Alex Valone Second Place in Watercolor Kasey Morley – First Place in Acrylic Kayla Duncan – Second Place in Oils Allie Schrenker – First Place in Oils Donald Quakes and Randall Rohr

Jacob Stigall – Best in Show!!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS TO THESE STUDENTS!

Family supporting their young artist

Pat Dickson and Kathy DeVault Local musicians entertaining atendees

24 | VIPSEEN | MAY 2015

BY SAVANNA MCDAIVD

In

“Test today!? But I haven’t even studied!”

Tips for College Students

the modern era of distractions, it is easy to see why students might be tempted to pay more attention to something other than schoolwork. Young adults are inundated with information from phones, tablets, televisions, and computers. TV shows and movies can be instantly streamed, social media is updated every minute of the day, and phones can be filled with countless apps.

Hours can be wasted without any sense of time having even passed and, with so many distractions, time management is more important than ever.

Get Organized-Organization means more than having a clean room or a neatly divided subject folder. Students must clearly plan the path they wish to take in order to reach his/her individual goals. Want to get an A in class? One sure-fire way is to submit all of the required assignments and show up when required. Calendars come standard in phones and can be programmed to alert someone to when something is due. Place due dates in your phone and have them alert you a week before they are due. Get a desk calendar or a notebook filled with due dates. Use a program like iCal. Write due dates down in more than one place to insure that you are reminded more than once of when an assignment must be turned in.

Plan out your studies-Sit down on a Sunday evening and make a To Do list of assignments or appointments that are scheduled for the week. Greek meeting Wednesday night? Put the meeting on your calendar and on the To Do list tacked onto the mini-fridge. Paper due by Thursday at midnight? Put it on the To Do list as well and print out the instructions and place them on your desk. Having a tangible

list or set of instructions in front of you is more of a reminder than an online alert in a class you have to login into. If something in your schedule conflicts then plan accordingly. Don’t attend a baseball game when a math test is scheduled for the next day. Schoolwork comes first and your friends will understand.

Be Flexible-Plans change and we come to forks in our road of life and have to choose in which direction to head. Understand that every class you may need for your degree program will not be offered at a time you may need it to be. Many schools have schedules listed online for at least a semester or two before you need to register. When registration opens, log in and sign up for classes right away. Don’t wait until the last minute because many classes, and at the best times, will be closed or unavailable. Ready to change your major? Talk to an advisor and understand that being flexible will mean you can adapt as necessary to any bumps in the road on your way to college graduation.

College campuses are full of people and organizations ready and willing to help its students succeed. No one expects you to go on this journey alone.

Find study groups, tutors, advisors, professors, and upper classmen to help.

Libraries are teeming with books and Staff who can help navigate the world of writing manuals and research paper writing. Always ask for help at the first sign of trouble, plan ahead, go to class, and work hard at managing time so that you can say you left college knowing more about anything other than the local club scene or the team rosters.

Smart Careers.

Start Here.

Eric Henley Automotive Technician

NortheastState.edu

THE MILLENNIUM CENTRE

SEEN IN JOHNSON CITY

Interstate Career Fair STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAVANNA MCDAVID

Kyle McMahan and Billy Barr

After two reschedules, ETSU finally got to host the annual Interstate Career Fair. Seventeen schools from all around the region came together at the Millennium Centre Monday, March 29th to meet and greet potential students. Not only were there many colleges at the fair, but more than fifty employers and graduate or professional schools were in attendance as well.

At Work Personnel

Students, graduates and potential employees came from around the region with their resumes to meet and network. Many left with temporary job opportunities, some with more stable opportunities, and some even found their career path. The Interstate Job Fair is designed to do just that; bring employees and employers, students and higher level schools together under one roof for a day of dream finding and goal setting. ETSU was happy with such a great turnout and look forward to next years Career Fair.

Robert Patterson and Justin Artrip Northeast State Community College

Mountain States Health Alliance

Eastman Credit Union

Bristol Police Station

King College

WCYB

Tusculum College

Wellmont Health Systems

MAY 2015 | VIPSEEN | 27

Richard Leigh

Festival Featuring Grammy Award Winner

Richard Leigh

and fellow members of the Nashville Songwriters’ Hall of Fame

Pat Alger • Tony Arata • Charlie Black• Gretchen Peters • Mark Sanders

Plus performances by local songwriters, including Fiddlin’ Carson Peters • Loose Strings Band • Sage Cameron • Emery Reid & Shady Appalachia • Ben Gilmer • Bill Rich • Logan Fritz & Company • Maye Thomas • Rich Allen • David & Ann Ledgerwood • Edward Young

May 22-23 • VHCC Campus For tickets and additional information www.vhcc.edu/songwriters or (276) 739-2569. Proceeds benefit the Great Expectations Program for foster care students at Virginia Highlands Community College.

Guaranteed Admission

to Virginia’s top colleges and universities

Students who earn a two-year degree from Virginia Highlands Community College save thousands of dollars, and those who meet GPA requirements are guaranteed admission to Virginia Tech, the University of Virginia, Radford, Old Dominion, Virginia Commonwealth University, and dozens of other topranked colleges and universities throughout Virginia.

It’s GUARANTEED. So join us and discover why VHCC has been the college of choice in our region for more than 40 years.

For more information about Guaranteed Admission Agreements, please contact the VHCC Admissions Office at (276) 739-2414.

VIRGINIA HIGHLANDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE Dedicated to Students. Committed to Excellence. www.vhcc.edu • 276.739.2400 • info@vhcc.edu • An EEO/AA Institution

Welding Career Studies Certificate

Virginia Highlands Community College is now accepting students for its new Career Studies Certificate program in welding. This two-semester program features both hands-on learning and classroom instruction that prepares graduates for entry-level welding positions in the manufacturing industry.

Classes begin Aug. 24. Financial aid is available to those who qualify.

For more information about the welding program, please go to www.vhcc.edu/welding and enter the requested information. Interested students will be contacted when registration opens this summer. Please call (276) 739-2555 for financial aid information.

SEEN IN KINGSPORT

KINGSPORT CITY SCHOOLS

Tribe Games STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY SUBMITTED

During the past school year, students and staff at Dobyns-Bennett High School were troubled with the reality that students with significant disabilities typically don’t get involved with organized athletics. Seeking to remedy that situation and provide a positive experience for students and the community, D-B Special Education teacher Jimmy Burleson started the Tribe Games, an inclusive competition in bowling, swimming, and track & field. Students with disabilities from D-B, Sevier and Robinson Middle Schools, Johnson Elementary and Roosevelt Elementary participated, with support from a wide variety of KCS students volunteers, staff, and community members.

Year one of the Tribe Games was a smashing success and provided a fun, safe, and supportive competitive environment that was truly student focused. Any KCS student with a disability is encouraged to participate this next year, as organizers look to build on the success of year one. It is a terrific example of how the staff and students of KCS work together to provide high quality activities and encouragement to all. As Tribe games moves into its second year during 2014-15, it’s expected that even more organizations will take part. The involvement of the entire Kingsport community was a large part of why the event was so successful.

Parker Cox and Courtney Baitz

Megan McMurray and Kristen Longworth

Heath Whitley

Jeanie Peak and Rebecca Garver

Joshua and Jason McDowell

Rachel and Eathan Killen

30 | VIPSEEN | MAY 2015

The Pros and Cons to Joining a Fraternity or Sorority

BY DANIELLE HOLDER

S

tarting college is a very difficult time in your life. You’re about to be exposed to a completely different atmosphere and you have no idea what to expect. It’s very intimidating and scary but there are many things that can help you adjust. One of those things is getting involved on your campus. A big way to get involved is to join a Greek organization. However, deciding whether you should join one or not can be difficult so here are some pros and cons to joining a fraternity or sorority.

PROS

RELATIONSHIPS: Fraternities and sororities give you the chance to meet an abundance of new people. Not only do you meet the people in your fraternity or sorority but you also get to know people in other Greek organizations as well. Being in a Greek organization knits all of us together. You might be surprised at the friendships you make even if they aren’t your “brother” or “sister.”

NETWORKING: People say fraternities and sororities aren’t for four years, they are for life. Well they are right. Being in a Greek organization gives you the chance to connect with alumnae members, which could potentially get you an internship or even a job when you graduate college.

ACADEMICS: Studies show that being in a Greek organization means having a higher GPA. This is because fraternities and sororities require you to maintain a certain grade point average or you cannot be active. Greek organizations realize that your main

priority while in college is academics and they do everything they can to help you maintain that.

CHARITABLE WORK: The main purpose of fraternities and sororities is to raise monetary funds and awareness for their philanthropy.

This gives you the chance to give back to your own community and communities all over the world. Studies show that over $7 million is raised each year by Greek organizations nationally and that the Greek system is the largest network of volunteers in the U.S.

CONS

FINANCES: Some people would say that if you are in a Greek organization you are paying for your friends. However you would be surprised at how many Greeks would disagree with that statement.

As long as you know what to expect financially before you dive right in then finances aren’t something that should stop you from joining a Greek organization. Personally, there’s no amount of money that I could give that would amount to the experiences and opportunities Greek life has given me.

TIME COMMITMENT: Greek organizations can be a huge time commitment. However it’s up to you what you choose to participate in. I always say you get out what you put in. College is a time where you will learn a lot about time commitment and how to manage it. Greek Life helps with this tremendously by having to balance school and your organizations as well. Just remember, the more you give to your organization, the more it will give back to you.

MAY 2015 | VIPSEEN | 31

Serve it Up Sassy

Graduation Gathering 2015!

RECIPE DEVELOPMENT, FOOD STYLING, PHOTOGRAPHY, AND ARTICLE BY LIZ BUSHONG

I

t was just a few years ago on a bright sunny morning, you held the hand of your six -year old as a big yellow school bus pulled up in front of your mailbox. It was time to board the bus for their first day of school. Your little darling could hardly reach the first step on the bus but with a gentle nudge from you, the climb to board was easy. As you held back the tears, the excitement and joy in your child’s eyes melted your heart, and a new page in this chapter of life had just been turned. As the pages of time turned year after year it is now 2015 and graduation day is on the horizon.

It is time to plan a graduation gathering; an after-the-ceremony reception for your graduate. A bright summer color-palette like hot pink, orange, and lime green sets the color scheme for this reception. This ‘graduation gathering’ focuses on her, but colors can be changed to focus on him, such as navy, light blue, and forest green .

MAY 2015 | VIPSEEN | 33

Serve it Up Sassy When planning this casual gathering, think about the following questions; who will be invited, where will the event take place, what time of day, will the reception be held inside or outside, will there be a theme in addition to “graduation”, and what kind of food will be served? A themed event will make this gathering a breeze to create, whether planning a backyard BBQ, or the young adult’s future plans. With theme in mind, send invitations to guests with reception details two weeks prior to the event. Order any floral arrangements, or party materials you will need and plan menu. If you decide not to make and bake everything yourself, contact a caterer or pick up trays from your local deli. The day of the reception, re-plate the food in your decorative containers to make the food fit your theme.

For a festive and in-theme look, mini pennant flags, graduation picks and other food type decorations can be added to the deli-plated foods.

Make this day special, go all-out with party décor while keeping theme and color scheme.

Another inspirational idea as seen in this article is a painted wall canvas.

This colorful chevron wall canvas provides the perfect back drop for the dessert table and is part of the graduate’s gift, something she will take with her for the college dorm or apartment. For step by step instructions on creating a wall canvas in the chevron pattern please go Liz’s blog,www.lizbushong.com.

In keeping with the color scheme, hot pink, orange and lime, large daisy flower heads are arranged in rows by color in a clear acrylic tray. A piece of glass was cut to fit the acrylic tray to serve festive lemonade’s that colorcoordinate with the Gerber Daisies. Graduation candy caps made of miniature peanut butter cups and chocolate covered grahams are served up sassy with a lime green butter cream frosting tassel. The spot-on cake was baked in an 18- inch loaf pan, then covered with a delicious butter cream fondant and decorated with three fresh Gerber Daisies, one of each themed color. Baked inside the cake are three large pre-baked cake balls that carry the same hot pink, orange and lime color scheme for the spot-on look. For instructions and recipewww.lizbushong.com.

Other food on the menu includes easy pick-up fare that can be served so the graduate and guests can visit while eating. Mini pimento cheese sandwiches, chicken salad croissants, small vegetables with jalapeno ranch dressing, assorted chips, chocolate dipped pretzel rods and trail mix with personalized orange M & M’s are small bites you can create the day before the event. You can order personalized M & M’s at www.mymms. com for an extra surprise in the trail mix.

A separate skirted side table should be set up for gifts. Suggested graduation gifts for the college bound graduate includes a camera, an alarm clock, a desk organizer with coordinated desk supplies, monogrammed or personalized notepads and stationary, and gift cards. Of course, cash is golden for all graduates.

A graduation is not complete without taking a lot of photos. Assign a person to take candid photos of graduate with friends and family using an instantprint camera so each guest and graduate will have fun memories of the event. The Instax Mini 8 camera prints out photos immediately, so creating a scrapbook or photos for a dorm room is quick and easy. This little camera creates 2 x 3- inch photos and comes in several fun colors for teens. After the reception, the graduate could send thank you notes to all the guests for their gifts and include a photo of the graduate using or holding the much appreciated gift.

It’s been a journey to get to this day. As you reminisce the years gone by, you are entering another new chapter in this book-of -life with your ‘little darling’. It is graduation day, a time to celebrate a momentous achievement with the anticipation of a bright new future ahead. Look -out graduate, your future is so bright you are going to need shades!!!

34 | VIPSEEN | MAY 2015

Triple Lemonade 3 (12 ounce) cans frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed but cold 2 cups water 2 cups sprite or ginger ale-chilled 1 (12 ounce) can frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed but cold 1(16 ounce) jar stemmed maraschino cherries with juice

Instructions In a large pitcher, mix lemonade concentrate and cold water. Stir to combine.

Divide 2 cups of lemonade into three pitchers evenly. Add to one pitcher, thawed orange juice and set aside. To another pitcher add cherry juice and to the last pitcher add 2 cups of ginger ale. Each pitcher should be a different color to go with color scheme. If needed add a few drops of food coloring to make the intensity of the color desired. Or if you want to make a large punch, combine all ingredients and serve in a punch bowl.

Garnish Slice orange wedges for the orange lemonade, lime wedge with stemmed maraschino cherry for the Cherry lemonade, and a lemon twist for the plain lemonade. Serve in champagne glasses.

Yield: 12-8 ounce cups

http://www.fujifilm.com/products/instant_photo/cameras/instax_mini_8/http://www.mymms.comPersonalized M & M’s Http://fondarific.com- Fondant.

Cake inspired by Surprise-Inside cake by Amada Rettke ,Http://www.amazon.com And http://www.fujifilm.com for Instax Mini 8 camera.

Make a Statement, Make it Sassy and Make it Yours!® Liz Bushong is an expert in the three-dimensional art of entertaining.

She transforms simple dining occasions into beautiful and memorable moments by adding a touch of her own “sassy” style.

For more information about Liz and Serve it up Sassy go to Liz’s blog www.lizbushong.com and website, www.serveitupsassy.com like and share www.facebook.com/lizbushong, and pin www.pinterest.com/lizbushong.

Graduation “Candy” Caps 20 Mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups® 20 Keebler Deluxe Grahams®-fudge covered ½ cup Buttercream frosting- divided- chocolate, color of choice for tassel

Instructions Unwrap all peanut butter cups and place upside down on a baking sheet.

Cut each rectangular graham cracker into a square shape if desired or use as is.

Place ¼ cup chocolate frosting in piping bag with small tip and pipe small dot on top of bottom of peanut butter cup. Attach graham cracker on top of frosting to create the graduation cap. Using the remaining ¼ cup of frosting in the school color of choice, place frosting in a piping bag with tip #5. Create a tassel on one side of the cap.

Store in a sealed container until serving. Can be made one day ahead.

Yield: 20 candies

Triple Lemonade 3 (12 ounce) cans frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed but cold 2 cups water 2 cups sprite or ginger ale-chilled 1 (12 ounce) can frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed but cold 1(16 ounce) jar stemmed maraschino cherries with juice

Instructions In a large pitcher, mix lemonade concentrate and cold water. Stir to combine. Divide 2 cups of lemonade into three pitchers evenly. Add to one pitcher, thawed orange juice and set aside. To another pitcher add cherry juice and to the last pitcher add 2 cups of ginger ale. Each pitcher should be a different color to go with color scheme. If needed add a few drops of food coloring to make the intensity of the color desired. Or if you want to make a large punch, combine all ingredients and serve in a punch bowl.

Garnish Slice orange wedges for the orange lemonade, lime wedge with stemmed maraschino cherry for the Cherry lemonade, and a lemon twist for the plain lemonade. Serve in champagne glasses.

Yield: 12-8 ounce cups

The Wit Bit Dear Graduating Class of 2015: CONGRATULATIONS! Earning a college degree is something that less than 7% of the world’s population has accomplished. You should be proud. You are now given the task of integrating into society to function as productive citizens. The problem is that the real world is nothing like the world of academia. Student government and the federal government are two totally different entities and the reality of such can be cruel to a new graduate, to say the least.

So, after the caps have been thrown in the air and your parents have changed the locks on your childhood home, you may be asking yourself, what do I do now?

2. If you find yourself constantly surrounded by drama, chances are YOU are the creator of it. Never create drama. Unless you are an actor, then, by all means, create lots of it.

3. Don’t post “check-ins” on social media. Check-ins alert thieves to the fact that you aren’t at home and they alert the rest of us to the fact that your life is so boring you feel compelled to tell the world every move you make…and no one cares.

4. Never list “loves to collaborate with co-workers” on a resumé, because potential employers will know you stink at math and that none of your ideas are original. Likewise, “thinks outside the box” on a resumé tells everyone you fly your freak flag fairly high. Similarly, “works well under pressure” insinuates that you specialize in procrastination. Go with “hard worker” and just leave it at that.

5. Grammar and punctuation matter. If you use poor grammar, you have a better chance of completing Level 456 in Candy Crush Saga on the first try than you do of getting a decent job. And for goodness’ sake, stop abbreviating every word you type. People should not need a decoder ring to decipher your written thoughts.

6. Never ask about random drug testing at a job interview and never ask about credit checks when renting a home.

7. The only way to fight crazy is WITH crazy. Practice your crazy from time to time. Perfect it. It’s the only way to be prepared. Also, remembering that your haters are your biggest fans takes a lot of the pressure off. They secretly want to BE you, so just keep being awesome.

8. Come up with a list of current relevant excuses, because “I have to study” is no longer valid.

First, you have to face a few harsh realities…

Harsh Reality #1: You will be expected to pay your own bills now. This includes the price of the education you received. The lending institution does not care if you are gainfully employed. They just want their money back plus interest. It sucks to be an adult.

Harsh Reality #2: Remember when “they” told you that it didn’t matter what you major in as long as you have a degree? Yeah, “they” lied. If you don’t believe me, ask your friends who majored in art or philosophy. They’ll have plenty of time to talk to you about this subject, because most of them are not consistently employed. It’s a “dog eat dog” world out there; never believe anything “they” say, because “they” rarely know what they’re talking about. Good advice is hard to come by.

Harsh Reality #3: I know you were told that all straight A-students would be the boss someday, but that’s simply not true. The truth is that C-students run the world, because they’re more fun. While you were studying all night, they were networking and making friends with people of influence. So, while a 4.0 GPA looks great on your resumé and will help you land a job, you will likely be answering to someone who made worse grades and is far less intelligent than you. This happens because life isn’t fair and popularity still matters, even in the real world.

Harsh Reality #4: Despite the fact that you spent the past 4 (okay 5) years learning Quantum Physics and Pythagoras’ Theorem, the only job you’re actually qualified for at the time of your graduation is filing. You don’t really even know enough yet to answer phones. A diploma from even the most prestigious university does not make you automatically qualified to run a corporation. Don’t be too proud to do the crap jobs, because crap jobs are character-building stepping stones….and they give you great stories to use against your children when they complain about chores.

Once you understand the above realities, you then have to learn to take advice from people who are older, wiser, and have more life experience. So, here is a ‘Not-SoComprehensive List of General Life Advice” for new graduates from a chick who graduated from college a few years ago (okay almost 20, but who’s counting?):

1. Always follow your dreams, except for the one where you forgot to wear pants to school or where you feel like you’re falling to your death. Don’t follow those dreams.

Beth is a wife, mother of 2 boys, and business owner who is passionate about Jesus. Beth is an extreme multitasker by day, asleep by night. She is freakishly strong and rarely still.

She likes the color orange, good grammar, and junk food; she detests misspelled words, laziness, and mouth noises of all kinds.

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9. Marry someone who is smarter than you. Have a lot of kids if you want, but don’t buy a mini van until there is no other possible option, because nothing says “I’ve given up my youth” like a mini van. Stay young by acting young, dressing young, and lying about your age.

10.Put your phone down. I know you’ve had a cell phone since you were 8 years old, but the time has come to learn to interact with other humans. It’s time to actually talk to your family. Who knows, you might find out that they are nice people.

Best Wishes

Beth

GRADUATION TOUGH-LOVE: AN OPEN LETTER TO MY 18-YEAR-OLD SELF Dear 18-Year-Old Me: So, you’re graduating high school. Impressive. It’s not like they let just anyone graduate high school, so kudos on that life-altering milestone of epic awesomeness. With that diploma, your library card and your summer job as a lifeguard, you›re basically a superhero. With a tan. And a ponytail.

Hold on there, Last of the Mohicans... before you kickback and bask in all the greatness that is you, let’s do a little reality checkin’, shall we?...

First off, you know how “old people” are “dumb” and “you know everything?” Funny thing about that, you’re what scientists call “an idiot.” You see, your parents were right about virtually everything they told you. I know this is really, really hard for you to understand right now. This is because, you’re not NEARLY as smart as you think you are (see above).

Next, let’s talk about that hair... There’s no way you’ll look back and regret that magnificent mane of uber-greatness, right? A tidbit of foreshadowing, remember that when your 3-year-old looks at your graduation picture and says, “Papa, you were a really pretty girl.” Yeah. That actually happens.

You see Muffincake, I know you’re a ‘heavy-metal god’ and all, fighting “The Man” with your wickedly radical guitar riffs, biting sarcasm, karate moves and acid-washed jeans; but in reality you kinda look like Fabio’s notably less-handsome second cousin. So you know, you’ll ride that hairtrain for another year or so, then you’ll realize that worrying about your split-ends really undermines the whole “tough guy” motif you were going after. Fear not however, you become way more awesome in the future. ;) Oh, which reminds me... You know all those “idiot meathead jocks, that spend waaaaay too much time in the gym?” Yeah well, I’ll just let that one be a “surprise.”

As for finishing high school... let’s be honest. The most impressive achievement you’ve mustered in your academic career as of 18, is that you’re actually graduating high school without being arrested. As you look back a few years from now, you’ll still be absolutely astonished by this fact.

Within three months, you’ll be headed to college. Or as we called it back then, “the sea of blondes and brunettes with exploitable daddy-issues... and some books, er something.” Oh that reminds me, quick note on the dating scene... Avoid all girls named “Leslie,” and Hooters waitresses. Just take my word for it. I know the Leslies and the Hooters girls all seem like “really, really good ideas” at the time. However, there are no words in the English language to express the level of sheer crazy contained therein. ...Run. Run away as fast as your yard-sale Converse Chuck Taylors will carry you, and thank me later.

I cannot stress enough that your decision to major in business and communications, rather than pursuing a degree in classical guitar or staying with the band, was a stroke of pure genius. Within a year of leaving the band, most of the guys will be in jail (true story) and let’s face it... a degree in classical guitar? That’s one-step above a cum laude bachelor’s degree in “Crap No One Will Ever Care About, Ever.”

On a serious note, I want to let you know that a few years from now, you will experience a loss and pain than no one should ever be permitted to endure. Listen to me... you fight through it. The experience you will be forced to bear drives you, makes you stronger and redirects your life in way that will inspire others. You do things, and go places that most people can only experience in movies. It will shape and guide you into the man you are today.

Oh, and those dreams of playing guitar every night in front thousands of adoring fans and groupies actually does come to fruition. Only it’s not thousands, it’s more like... four.

They sit, listen and hang on every chord, riff and verse. They are mesmerized by your greatness, and to them, you truly are a superhero-rockstar, whom they call “Papa.”

Keep your head up. Get a haircut. And I’ll see you when you get here.

.

It's a hell of a ride..

- GC

GC Hutson is a husband, father and senior partner with Hutson & Howell Mediation Associates. GC is a satirist; his favorite topics include his family, his practice and life in general. GC has counted to infinity three times, always knows where Waldo is and beat-up Chuck Norris whilst taking a nap.

MAY 2015 | VIPSEEN | 37

SEEN IN GRAY

APPALACHIAN FAIRGROUNDS

2nd Annual

Agricultural & Business Appreciation Dinner STORY SUBMITTED | PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIELLE HAHNE

The 2nd Annual Washington County Agricultural & Business Appreciation Dinner took place on March 20th at the Appalachian Fairgrounds with over 350 in attendance. The event recognized and thanked those in the community that contribute to the agricultural sector of our local economy. Attendees enjoyed a steak prepared by the Washington County Cattleman’s Association, sides prepared by Our House Restaurant, and dessert provided by the Washington County 4-H.

Special guest speaker was Melissa Bratton from Tennessee Farm Bureau, who encouraged attendees to “Tell Their Story” about agriculture. Mr. Clyde Carter and the Washington Farmer’s Co-Op were recognized for their ongoing commitment to agriculture. Their families and co-workers were in attendance to applaud this recognition.

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MEADOWVIEW CONVENTION CENTER

SEEN IN KINGSPORT

B&H Wealth Strategies March Madness Client Event STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIELLE HAHNE

B&H Wealth Strategies is the oldest financial planning firm of its kind in the East Tennessee/Southwest Virginia area. They are best known for their excellent hometown client service. If you are a client of B&H Wealth Strategies, you are family. B&H Wealth Strategies is run by Jeff Bingham with a staff of three full-time employees and one part-time employee.

One of the many ways B&H Wealth Strategies expresses thanks to their clients for their continued business and trust, is by hosting annual client appreciation events.

One of the favorite events among clients and staff is a March Madness themed party. This year’s party was held at Meadowview Conference Center in the beautiful Cattails Ballroom area for clients and their guests.

The clients were treated with delicious food prepared by Meadowview.

The room was beautifully decorated with a basketball theme featuring the many colors of the various teams. The games were televised throughout the evening and the clients participated in a fun bracket challenge for a grand prize. There was lots of fun, fellowship, and appreciation for the B&H Wealth Strategy clients.

B&H Wealth Strategies

Allen and Shirley Brooks

Jeff and Julianna Bingham

Becky and Tim Bishop

Jim and Donna Finley

SEEN IN JOHNSON CITY

THE VENUE

Girls on the Run

BFF Ball STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIELLE HAHNE

Girls on the Run of Northeast Tennessee hosted their 2nd annual BFF Ball on March 28 at The Venue in downtown Johnson City. More than 170 guests attended the ladiesonly fundraiser featuring music, food, dancing and a silent auction. The night kicked off with a feast of heavy hors d’oeuvres prepared by Todd Dawn, chef at Troutdale Restaurant in Bristol, and guests were served a complimentary signature drink courtesy of Libation Station in Johnson City. There was live music all night, and Mellow Mushroom brought in late night pizza. Guests enjoyed taking pictures in the BFF Ball photo booth with a selection of props and costumes that made memorable group photos.

The silent auction included over 30 items, consisting of handmade jewelry, spa packages, photography sessions, a golf membership at the Ridges, party packages, and a wide variety of gift certificates to local shops and businesses. All proceeds from the event will benefit Girls on the Run of Northeast Tennessee, and the BFF Ball is one of the program’s largest fundraisers.

Girls on the Run is a program that uses the power of running to help prepare girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living. Through interactive activities such as playing games, running, discussing health, wellness and other important issues, participants learn how to celebrate being girls. The girls are empowered with a greater selfawareness, a sense of achievement and a foundation in team building to help them become strong, confident, wellbalanced young women.

Girls on the Run

Rachel Buckles and Amanda Craft

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Jamie Abraham, Lizz Paduch, and Sarah Cox

Karina Hirst and Cherie Doyle

Susan Bolton, Jacqueline Joseph, and Cher Taylor

John Hunter and Marisa Williams

Beth Kelley, Lisa Smith, and Sheri Taylor

Candace Patai, Heather Hobbs, and Elisa Carbajo

Jasmina Dieter and Rhiannon Miller

Elizabeth Humston and Kari Humston

Kristy Weber and Jennifer Walley

Elizabeth Williams, Nicole Walls, and Jennifer Tucker

Heidi Wallace and Jeannette Kroeger

Tiffany Lane and Brittany Bridges

Christy Steadman, Linzi Hatley, Daphanie Parham, Amy Lynn, and Sarah Cox

Haley Truex, Tammy Scott, Sara Hodges, and Leslie Webb

Laurie Harvey, Jodi Strycharz, and Sue Strycharz

WHAT IS

Insomnia & Sleep Support BY: BOB HARSHBARGER, III, PharmD DOCTOR OF PHARMACY

Insomnia is a condition where an individual can have a difficult time falling asleep or staying asleep. 30-40% of Americans have sleep issues each year. When sleep disorders last longer than one month, they are classified as a chronic sleep disorder. Scientists do not know why we sleep, but the lack of sleep can affect our mood, our physical wellness, and our overall happiness. REM sleep is the time when we tend to dream, and we should have several episodes of REM sleep each night. Failure to reach REM sleep will have a negative effect on regenerative hormones that are produced while we sleep.

The natural sleep hormone is called melatonin. Melatonin is secreted at night when darkness is approaching and it causes us to become sleepy and lowers our body temperature. Many prescription medications can block the production of melatonin. Be sure to ask the pharmacist at Premier if the medications you are taking may be depleting melatonin, making it difficult to fall asleep.

There are also lifestyle changes one can enact to improve the quality of sleep. If one has sleep issues, he/she should first examine the amount of caffeine they are consuming, especially at night. Alcohol will cause poor sleep, especially if taken in excess. To stimulate the production of melatonin in the evening we should turn our lights down. Staring at computer screens, video games, or television just before

bedtime can make melatonin production difficult. Exercise can improve the quality of sleep, and eating meals too close to bedtime can adversely affect sleep.

Many individuals turn to prescription medications to try to address sleep disorders. However, these medications can become problematic as they can adversely affect the normal sleep cycle, especially the REM sleep cycle. We recommend starting with a quality sleep supplement to help restore the natural sleep rhythm. Magnesium is a mineral that acts as a calmative and helps our muscles relax, helping us to fall asleep more easily. Combinations of sleep-inducing ingredients such as magnesium, melatonin, valerian root, passionflower, and L-Theanine can induce a natural sleep onset. L-Theanine is a unique amino acid that acts as a calmative for us when taken during the day, but can help to improve sleep when taken at bedtime. L-Theanine is especially useful for those individuals who only sleep 4-5 hours a night.

If you have sleep problems, we invite you to ask our pharmacist for recommendations to help you restore your natural sleep cycle. We will be stocking only the best products in our Sleep Support line, such as: • Sleep Formula • Sleep Support • Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate • L-Theanine • Sleep Ease Plus • Melatonin 3 mg with Vitamin B-6 • Magnesium 200 mg as Amino Acid Chelate • Valerian Root Standardized Extract

Like our Premier Pharmacy Facebook page and use promo code VIP to receive 25% OFF your first purchase of Premier Designer Supplements!

Visit our Facebook page for more details.

KINGSPORT | 423.245.1022 109 Jack White Drive • Kingsport, TN 37664

www.rxpremier.com DOWNLOAD OUR FREE APP AT

Enhancing Patient Care for Over 25 Years 42 | VIPSEEN | MAY 2015

NABP Verified Pharmacy Program

PREMIER PHARMACY

SEEN IN KINGSPORT

Premier Pharmacy Celebration STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAVANNA MCDAVID

March 17th wasn’t only St Patrick’s Day; it was also a huge milestone for one of Kingsport’s staple businesses. Premier Pharmacy celebrated its 25th year in business with a ribbon cutting celebration. Members from all over the community came out to show their support and thank Premier for such great service. Diana Harshbarger began her pharmacy 25 years ago and has grown it into what it is today. Now her son Bobby, also a pharmacist, is working alongside his mother.

They both were very appreciative of the community and couldn’t say enough about their amazing staff.

Joe Carter, Bobby Harshbarger, Kingsport Mayor Dennis Phillips, and Diana Harshbarger

Shaun Phillips, Kathy Richards, and Ray Evans

Premier is a specialty pharmacy that provides personalized medicine. Pharmacy Compounding is a practice in which a licensed pharmacist combines, mixes, or alters ingredients in response to a prescription to create a medication tailored to the medical needs of an individual. Premier offers a variety of different forms of medication delivery such as topical creams, nasal sprays, and powders. If you have any questions, please visit them at rxpremier.com or give them a call at 423-245-1022.

Vanessa Bennett and Dana McMuray

Darrell Duncan and Dr. Tom Rogers

Larry Braaten and Cori Johnson

Jane Rasar, Heather Gardner, and Beth Ingram

Paulette Fox, Teresa Bright, and Donna Cauble

Erin and Bob Harshbarger Premier Pharmacy Team

MAY 2015 | VIPSEEN | 43

SEEN IN KINGSPORT

BAYS MOUNTAIN

xTERRA Power to the Tower

50K & Half Marathon PHOTOGRAPHY AND STORY BY SAVANNA MCDAVID

It was a cold, damp morning as over 50 people made their way up the mountain and out the trail to the starting line Saturday, April 4th. This was the second of three races in the XTERRA TN points series, Fleet Feet Sports sponsored and prepared the race. The official XTERRA Trail Run was fun, challenging and exciting all in one race. Bluegrass music filled the mountains as runners began to spread out and cover some major ground. Both races were single track trails that ran through the mountains.

The XTERRA Power to the Tower is part of the Tennessee XTERRA Series as well as the Trailrunner Magazine Trophy Series. Runners were ready and anxious to get the day started. From the lake to the fire tower, down the valleys and across the creeks then back across the ridges, this race didn’t leave any of Bays Mountain uncovered.

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MAY 2015 | VIPSEEN | 45

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MEADOWVIEW CONVENTION CENTER

Fourth Friday Breakfast

Sponsored by Premier Pharmacy STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAVANNA MCDAVID

Premier Pharmacy of Kingsport sponsored the Kingsport Chamber Fourth Friday Breakfast of March. The breakfast is always an event where members of the Chamber come to network and learn about businesses. Premier Pharmacy had the ability to go in depth about their company and what they stand for. Bobby Harshbarger, CEO and Lead Compounding Pharmacist at Premier Pharmacy, spoke about the difference between Premier and other pharmacies and some major health issues today.

After Premier Pharmacy shared with the guests, there was a special introduction from all of Kingsport’s Alderman Candidates.

All eight candidates were allotted three minutes to introduce themselves, give their background, and why they are running for the position of Alderman. After seeing the introductions, it is obvious to see there will be a tough race in Kingsport. To learn more about Premier Pharmacy please visit them on Facebook or go to their website at rxpremier.com.

Mickey Burton, Jason Booger, and Gary Mase

Sean Phillips and Ray Evans

Tonia Peters and Tramara Helmick

Shea Payne and Shawn Bosseot

John Clark, Tom Pharam, and Dave Clark

Alderman Candidates

Premier Pharmacy

Brad Hoover and Pat Breeding Lucy Flemming, Daniel Way, Erin Bailey, and Beth Barnette

46 | VIPSEEN | MAY 2015

Denise Depreist and Susan Lodal

VIPSEEN BUSINESS PROFILE

NN, Inc. STORY BY SAVANNA MCDAVID | PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF NN, INC.

NN, INC. HEADQUARTERS BUILDING IN JOHNSON CITY, TN

D

ick Ennen was a former employee of an area ball and roller business located in East Tennesse. As he moved into management roles over the years, Ennen wondered why he would run a business for someone else when he knew he was more than capable of running a company of his own. In 1980 he opened his own ball and roller company and called it NN. The company initially started making balls and rollers for the oil and gas industry, but the recession in 1980s hit the industry hard and made Ennen realize that he needed to take the company into new directions if NN was going to survive. It was in the mid-1980s, despite a difficult economy, when NN’s foundation for tremendous growth began. With the economic turnaround in the early ‘90s, NN’s fortunes took off and in 1994 the company went public as NN, Inc. It has been a NASDAQ company (symbol: NNBR) ever since.

In 1997 and at the age of 73, Ennen decided to retire and a new President and CEO, Rock Baty, was appointed. Baty led NN through its initial acquisitions, broadening the company’s product offering and serving more customers than ever before. Fast-forward to 2013 and NN had acquired facilities in four countries and three other states besides Tennessee.

Following Baty’s retirement in 2013, Richard Holder, was appointed to President and CEO, joining the company with an aggressive growth plan. As a businessman with a track record of success, Holder says that he chose NN, “because of its great fundamentals. I knew that, with such a great team, I would be able to grow the company.” Holder came into the position with specific and strategic acquisition plans and the company recently told the world of their plans to double the size of the business by 2018. Since Holder joined the company, NN has completed four more acquisitions—all during the first eight months of 2014—and is well on its way to growing at the manner that the new CEO is confident will only lead the company to new heights.

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RICHARD HOLDER, PRESIDENT AND CEO

Many people still think of NN as the ball and roller business from the ‘80s and this is a reputation that Holder, and others in the company, are working hard to shed. NN has significantly changed over the years and, while seventy percent of the company is high-precision automotive, NN has three product segments helping to make the company a force to be reckoned with in the manufacturing world. From precision balls and rollers to fuel systems and power tools to custom rubber molding and plastic components, NN is able to deliver. As of today, the company has 25 facilities and is manufacturing in ten countries on four continents. The company has over 500 customers in fifty countries and shows no signs of slowing down.

The high-precision automotive that accounts for seventy percent of NN’s business will soon count for only fifty percent as the company continues to diversify in the coming years. NN’s reliable, high-quality solutions can be used in almost any market, such as aerospace, agriculture, construction, industrial, medical, and energy. Automotive has been a stable industry for NN over the years, but the company is changing its focus in order to continue its growth.

A program called the Level 3 Program is making such growth and diversity possible for NN. Many manufacturers today talk about continuous improvement, but not every company lives up to those words like NN does. Their Level 3 Program is tangible proof of the competitive edge a continuous improvement culture can give a company. The objective of the program is to be a long-term business by using strategy and a tactical plan for improvement. It is designed to share techniques with all employees, make each employee feel as if the company is theirs, and to track inventory and costs of goods. The whole concept centers on continuous improvement and making good changes. Ultimately, the program helps NN focus on achieving corporate-wide improvements in order to remain globally competitive.

The combination of a new CEO, the Level 3 Program, acquisitions, and a few other factors has led NN to their best year ever in 2014. Net sales for the full year increased $115.4 million, or 31% to $488.6 million. Included is the approximate $101 million from the four acquisitions in 2014. The adjusted net income for the year was $23.5 million, $1.29 per diluted share, compared to adjusted net income of $17.7 million in 2013. The main driving forces behind these results were the four acquisitions, organic and adjacent market growth and improved operating performance. (Found in full year results, www.nninc.com) According to CEO Richard Holder, “2014 was a transformative year for this company.

We have begun running the company better and we are building an infrastructure that allows us to drive efficiencies in the business. Put all of those together and add a great leadership team and it is no surprise we have record growth.”

Holder and the team are not only extremely excited about 2015, but also about the coming decade and the growth that is sure to come for NN. The strategic plan shows that the company is set to be a billion dollar company by 2018. NN has told the world their plan and will live up to it. They will continue to become more efficient, margins will continue to grow, and the company will become more diversified.

Despite larger cities continuously trying to recruit NN, the company plans to stay in Johnson City and has no plans for moving its headquarters. As the company grows, many in management feel that it is important to the city that NN headquarters remain in Johnson City.

Holder expressed the importance of being a company with a legacy. “I am a legacy man and I enjoy being part of something bigger than just myself and what I can do for the company,” he said. To that end, NN recently purchased a new building off of Roan Street and began turning it into a corporate office of the 21st century. The company wishes to remain good corporate citizens and wants to give as much as possible back to Johnson City.

As the company grows and diversifies, Holder commented that one of his favorite things is that NN is still a small town, family company. He knows that it is important to personally invest in a business that helps the economy in such a big way and every employee personally invests. There is a synergistic belief at NN that every employee can make the company and local economy better. It is this unique understanding about community involvement that makes NN such a special company.

The publically traded NN is now, more than ever, serving as a foundational building block for Johnson City. In 2014 alone, the company pumped millions of dollars into the local economy and brought numerous jobs to the area. As the company continues to grow over the upcoming years, so will the local economy in the Tri-Cities. The Johnson City headquarters alone will employee around 75 more people in the next five years, which NN believes will help catapult the local economy.

Johnson City’s best-kept secret is out of the bag and rightfully so. When a multimilliondollar, globally competitive business is headquartered right here in the Tri-Cities, the entire region’s economy is impacted. Even more, when that company chooses to stay and grow their business in the Tri-Cities, the effects are sure to be seen for years to come..

MAY 2015 | VIPSEEN | 49

SEEN IN JOHNSON CITY

BELK AT THE MALL AT JOHNSON CITY

Junior League of Johnson City hosts

Cocktails & Catwalks STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY LARK ADAMS

Lights, Cameras, Fashion! The Junior League of Johnson City held the third annual Cocktails & Catwalks Sunday evening, March 29th. The fun-filled night at Belk at the Mall at Johnson City raised money for the Johnson City Public Library, which will be used to continue renovations of the children’s reading room, along with providing additional safety features for the kids while they’re playing on the library’s property. Models walked the runway in the latest spring fashions. Heavy hors d’oeuvres, wine, and nonalcoholic drinks were served and there were many fantastic items to win in the silent auction.

Cocktails & Catwalks is the League’s largest fundraiser and essential to the organization’s ability to promote literacy efforts and provide renovations for the library. Over the past two years, the League has donated $35,000 to the library while hosting various community programs, providing educational experiences for children that they may not have otherwise. To learn more about the Junior League, visit them at www.juniorleagueofjc.com.

John Taylor, Joy Fulkerson, and Bob Swanay

Carolee Morrison, Kayla Neikirk, and Megan Morrison

Janice Miller and Judy Middlemas

Dean McPhearson, with Emily and Brandon Jones

Jennifer Clements, Nancy Nuss, and Sharon Chupa

Megan Roberts and Mellisa

Amber Lafon and Ashlee Zeronik

Nina Murphy and Wendy Belanger Chris and Megan Serzan, with Julia Williams

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Bob Swanay and Amy Pinkerman

VIPSEEN EXCLUSIVE COMMUNITY COVERAGE MAY 2015

Seen on the Scene KINGSPORT TO HOST AAU WRESTLING ELEMENTARY DUALS The AAU Wrestling Elementary Duals welcome 600 elementary school wrestlers and their coaches and families. The event was held at the Buck Van Huss Dome at Dobyns Bennett High School, Friday, April 10 through Sunday, April 12. Wrestlers were in attendance from 10 states, including Florida, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Iowa, Georgia, Maryland and more.

“Kingsport has been fortunate to host the Elementary Duals for 16 consecutive years,” said Jud Teague, Executive Director of the Kingsport CVB. “It is such a great event for our community. This year it has grown to 26 teams, which produces an estimated economic impact of $900,000.”

Wrestlers weighed-in on Friday morning at Meadowview Marriott and opening ceremonies began at 5 p.m. at Dobyns Bennett High School. Competition continued on Saturday and Sunday.

LITTLE RIVER BAND FOR A SPECIAL SUMMER CONCERT EVENT! Little River Band’s worldwide album and CD sales now top 30 million. They also set a record for having Top 10 hits for 6 consecutive years; the first band to achieve that mark. According to BMI (a music licensing company), “Reminiscing” has garnered rare status with over 5 million airplays on US radio stations, and “Lady” is close behind with over 4 million.

The current lineup of Wayne Nelson, Greg Hind, Rich Herring, Chris Marion, & Ryan Ricks brings new energy and arrangements to the classic hits, making new memories for the audience out of each live performance!

Little River Band will perform at Niswonger Performing Arts Center (NPAC) in historic downtown Greeneville, TN on Saturday, June 13th at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $40 for orchestra and mezzanine level seating and $30 for balcony level seating. Tickets may be purchased online at www.npacgreeneville.com, in person at the NPAC box office, or by calling 423-638-1679.

COLLABORATION WITH VANDERBILT BRINGING TELENEUROLOGY SERVICES TO TWO MOUNTAIN STATES HOSPITALS Two Mountain States Health Alliance hospitals are collaborating with Vanderbilt University Medical Center to provide local patients with neurology care via telemedicine.

The two facilities – Sycamore Shoals Hospital in Elizabethton and Franklin Woods Community Hospital in Johnson City – will have 24/7 access by video to do live consultations with doctors on Vanderbilt’s board-certified neurology staff. When a patient presents with headache, seizure or stroke symptoms, teams at these two hospitals will have access to Vanderbilt’s specialists just as if they were physically at Franklin Woods or Sycamore Shoals.

The teleneurologist in Nashville will be able to see and examine the patient in real time and ask questions of the patient and the physician here in East Tennessee by video-conferencing on an iPad.

TRI-CITIES AFFILIATE OF SUSAN G. KOMEN® AWARDS 7 NEW COMMUNITY GRANTS TO EDUCATE, SAVE LIVES The Tri-Cities Affiliate of Susan G. Komen ® has awarded 7 new community grants to provide breast cancer services in the Tri-Cities 23 county, 2 city, 3 state service area. Since 2005 the Tri-Cities Affiliate, which is determined to save lives and end breast cancer forever, has awarded more than $2.4 million in grants to fund health education, screening, and facilitate treatment options. In addition to the local grants, the Affiliate has given over $800,000 to the national Susan G. Komen ® Grants Program for research.

Since 2005, Komen Tri-Cities grantees have provided more than 11,000 mammograms or diagnostic tests and have been able to diagnose more than 130 breast cancers in women who may not otherwisehave been able to afford a mammogram. In addition, the grants program has provided tens of thousands of women with lifesaving breast health information and education on the importance of early detection. It is truly making a difference in the region and is saving lives.

For more information on the specific grants awarded, visit komentricities.org.

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Seen on the Scene 15TH ANNUAL BRISTOL RHYTHM & ROOTS REUNION MUSIC FESTIVAL LINEUP ANNOUNCED Birthplace of Country Music (BCM), parent organization of Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, revealed a stellar lineup of artists for the 15th annual festival. The 3-day music celebration honoring Bristol’s unique music history as the site of the legendary 1927 Bristol Sessions will be held September 18 — 20, 2015 in Historic Downtown Bristol, Tennessee/Virginia.

Deborah Denney, this year’s festival chairwoman, welcomed media, city leaders, and visitors to the press conference at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum. A festival volunteer for more than a decade, Denney talked about how the festival has grown and stressed the important role volunteers play at the event.

“We had more than 60,000 visitors, artists, vendors, and volunteers last year,” said Denney.

“Already we’ve seen an increase in ticket sales from this time last year. Volunteers are the backbone of the Reunion and we are grateful to everyone who has served.”

THE 15TH ANNUAL BRISTOL RHYTHM & ROOTS REUNION LINE-UP IS AS FOLLOWS:

Steve Earle & the Dukes, Dr. Dog, Delbert McClinton, Hot Rize with Red Knuckles and the Trailblazers, Rusted Root, Vintage Trouble, Moon Taxi, John Anderson, Mike Farris and the Roseland Rhythm Review, The Districts, Ray Wylie Hubbard, The Black Lillies, Spirit Family Reunion, The Gibson Brothers, The SteelDrivers, Dale Watson, Kopecky, Strand of Oaks, Della Mae, Folk Soul Revival, Willie Sugarcapps, Balsam Range, American Aquarium, Steve Gunn, Lindi Ortega, Jarekus Singleton, Samantha Fish,Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Lonesome River Band, Dom Flemons, The Whiskey Gentry, The Dustbowl Revival, TAUK, Quiet Life, The Suffers, Goodnight Texas, Kripplekrunk, Wayne Hancock, Lera Lynn, Daniel Romano,Billy Strings & Don Julin, The Stray Birds, Fly Golden Eagle, Desert Noises, Swear and Shake, Girls Guns and Glory, Jim White vs. The Packway Handle Band, Rosie Flores, M.S.G.-The Acoustic Blues Trio, Levi Lowrey, Boo Hanks, Blank Range, Los Colognes, Ryan Culwell, Lance Stinson, The Black Twig Pickers, Ancient Cities, Grayson Capps & Corky Hughes, Ian Thomas: Band of Drifters, Annabelle’s Curse, Corbin Hayslett, The Church Sisters, Ed Snodderly, Hello Stranger ft. Dale Jett, David Childers, Margo and the Price Tags, Cale Tyson, Bryan Elijah Smith, C2 & the Brothers Reed, Christopher Paul Stelling, Banditos, The Appleseed Collective, Andrew Scotchie & the River Rats, Bill & the Belles, Wise Old River, Todd Day Wait’s Pigpen, The Successful Failures, Jeff Brown & Still Lonesome, Amythyst Kiah, NewTown, Old Line Skiffle Combo, Duty Free, Suzi Ragsdale, Jeff Little Trio, Symphony Rags, These Undowners, ETSU Bluegrass Pride Band, ETSU Old Time Pride Band, MidDay Farm Report, The Corklickers, Motel Rodeo, Will Kimbrough, Josh Oliver, Justin Fedor, Sigean, ETSU Celtic Pride Band, Wayne Graham, The Hermit Kings, Sugarcane Jane, Lauren Penley, The Railsplitters Old Time String Band, The Ransom Notes, Emily Roberts, Breaking Tradition, The Empty Bottle String Band, Mountain Soul, R. B. Morris, The Loose Strings Band, My New Favorites, The Farmhouse Ghost, Ron Short & The Possum Creek Playboys, The Harlow Experience, The Rose Sisters, Poor Valley Girls, The Ordinary Bitters, Clay Prewitt, Chris Rose, The Honey Badgers, Dori Freeman, Logan Fritz & Co., Sam Gleaves, Aaron Woody Wood, Joy Blair, The Sandy Shortridge Band

For more information about Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, visit BristolRhythm.com.

SPEEDPRO IMAGING RIBBON CUTTING SpeedPro Imaging has opened a new location at 100 Deck Lane in Blountville. If you’re searching for ways to advertise your company, look no further than SpeedPro of Blountville. With over 25 years of experience, they know just what will make your business grow.

They are available Monday Friday from 8:30 am- 5 pm. Visit their website at speedprotricities.com for more information.

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Seen on the Scene WELLMONT HEALTH SYSTEM, MOUNTAIN STATES HEALTH ALLIANCE ANNOUNCE PLANS TO PURSUE AN INTEGRATED HEALTH SYSTEM

THE KINGSPORT SPRING SPECTACULAR PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST AND EXHIBITION CELEBRATING 13 YEARS! The 2015 Kingsport Spring Spectacular Photography Contest and Exhibition is celebrating 13 years! The Creator/Organizer of the event, Ann Fortney, says she is very proud of the quality of the event, the number of participants and entries she gets each year and the support from those participants and the community. “Without the participants and the community support there would be no Kingsport Spring Spectacular Photography Contest and Exhibition; and it sure wouldn’t have lasted 13 years,” says Ann.

Wellmont Health System and Mountain States Health Alliance have agreed to exclusively explore the creation of a new, integrated and locally governed health system designed to address the serious health issues affecting the region and to be among the best in the nation in terms of quality, affordability and patient satisfaction.

The Kingsport Spring Spectacular Photography Contest and Exhibition was created in 1992. It has gone through a few name changes over the past 13 years but has kept its mission true. To promote interest in the ever growing art of photography. To provide a quality competition for amateur and professional, young and young at heart in the region.

A new board will be created, which will have equal representation from Wellmont and Mountain States, as well as two new independent, jointly appointed members. The board will also include a lead independent director who will be a Wellmont board appointee who will work with the board in coordination with the executive chairman. This is a best practice model frequently used by companies who have an executive chairman.

She is always encouraging people to tell their friends, family, kids from all over to enter. Photos can be shipped in from anywhere as long as they arrive by the deadline.

The president of East Tennessee State University will serve as an exofficio nonvoting member of the board. The involvement of ETSU will focus on expanding opportunities to compete for research investment in our region, as well as enhancing physician and allied health training for the future.

This new board would direct the proposed health system, which would also have a new name. One leadership team, composed of current executives from both organizations, would lead the combined system. The CEOs of both organizations would share leadership responsibilities.

The systems now enter a due diligence period and will work toward developing a definitive agreement. The definitive agreement will be followed by a process to obtain, among other regulatory requirements, Tennessee and Virginia approvals of the merger, which will likely take through the end of 2015.

During the next phases of due diligence, integration analysis, planning for potential integration and government approval, both Mountain States and Wellmont will continue “business as usual” as two separate and independent organizations.

AT&T AUTHORIZED RETAILER GRAND OPENING AT&T Authorized Retailer opened a new office in Bristol on March 27. They are now located at 2137 Volunteer Parkway Suite 1 so stop in and check out the largest authorized retailer of AT&T! HERTZ CAR RENTALS AND SALES GRAND OPENING Hertz Car Rentals and Sales opened its doors April 2nd at their newest Tri-Cities location at 2637 East Stone Drive. Hertz has one other location at the Airport and plans to open more around the Tri-Cities. Hertz of Kingsport specializes in pickup/ return service which is available with a one hour advance notice. Hertz is excited to be serving the Tri-Cities, their hours of operation are Mon-Fri 7:30 am- 6 pm and can be reached at 423-765-9389.

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Seen on the Scene BROOKDALE RIBBON CUTTING THROUGHOUT THE TRI-CITIES

BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME SERVICES/ GREG COX REAL ESTATE GRAND OPENING AND RIBBON CUTTING Berkshire Hathaway Home Services/Greg Cox Real Estate is a brand-new real estate brokerage franchisee network built for a new era in residential real estate that just opened an office in Johnson City on March 19. They are located at 3121 Bristol Highway. Stop by today and see what they can do for you!

Many Senior living facilities around the Tri-Cities have been celebrating a new name, Brookdale, for the Assisted Living and Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care Community.

Representatives from the Johnson City Chamber of Commerce helped with the ribbon cutting ceremony and enjoyed the celebration along with community associates, residents, family members, friends, and professionals from the area.

The new name, Brookdale, more clearly connects the community to its Brookdale senior living family. When you see a sign that says Brookdale, you know the people who work there have a passion for helping seniors and finding them solutions to the needs in their lives. The same associates who have always worked at the various Senior Living locations will continue to care for seniors the same way they always have. Only the name has changed. The rest will stay the same.

Brookdale Johnson City, formerly known as Wellington Place

Brookdale Colonial Heights, formerly known as Remmington house

NEW KINGSPORT LOCATION OF SELECT SEVEN CREDIT UNION Select Seven Credit Union opened a new location in Kingsport on April 7. Located at 1708 East Stone Drive, the credit union is one of a few different businesses to occupy a new building. Select Seven, formerly known as Johnson City federal Credit Union, has recently undergone some changes and is happy to announce their new name and new locations.

Brookdale John B. Dennis Kingsport, Formerly known as Emeritus House

HILTON GARDEN INN BRISTOL IS NOW OPEN It is located at 121 Village Circle. Hilton Garden Inn is known for being involved in their local community, being a good neighbor and building a culture of “giving back.”

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Seen on the Scene DOMINION SENIOR LIVING OF JOHNSON CITY ANNOUNCES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR; SEEKS MISSION-DRIVEN STAFF Johnson City, TENNESSEE March 12, 2015: Dominion Senior Living of Johnson City isn’t just building a structure for seniors to live in–they’re building a home. To make that home as comfortable as possible, the faith-based community is looking for high-quality staff to carry out its mission to “honor God through service to seniors” as they prepare to open in April. Choosing those people is the key to providing a compassionate atmosphere in which the staff genuinely cares about the residents.

Setting the stage is executive director Michelle Bolling, who has been a resident of the Tri-Cities area for more than 20 years. She has a passion for caring for seniors in an area she is proud to call home and has nearly 15 years experience working in healthcare and senior living communities.

Bolling is responsible for hiring key staff of Dominion Senior Living of Johnson City and is working diligently to find team members who see this position as less of a job and more of a life calling. The community is currently accepting applications for the following management positions: Business Office Director, Wellness Director, Maintenance Director, Dining Services Director and Life Enrichment Director. In addition, they’re looking for key staff members during first, second and third shifts: housekeepers, cooks, Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA), Resident Assistants (RA) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN). If you are interested, please contact Executive Director Michelle Bolling at MichelleB@ dominionseniorliving.com or visit www.DominionSeniorLiving.com/careers to download the application.

MCCARTY HOLSAPLE MCCARTY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN Design firm has transformed the urban landscape of East Tennessee Premier East Tennessee architectural firm McCarty Holsaple McCarty is celebrating 50 years of design in 2015.

The firm has made a transformative mark on East Tennessee’s built environment. Out of 15 projects identified by the East Tennessee Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) as the best examples of architecture in the region in the past 150 years, six of these projects either were designed by or underwent significant renovations under McCarty Holsaple McCarty.

MHM has been involved in the design of some of Knoxville’s most iconic projects including the 1982 World’s Park, the Tennessee Amphitheatre, L&N Station renovations, restoration of the historic Tennessee Theatre, Knoxville Convention Center, Lawson McGhee Library, the Bank of American Building, Volunteer Landing, Knoxville Convention Center, City-County Building and the McGhee Tyson Airport Terminal.

In addition to its impact on downtown Knoxville, McCarty Holsaple McCarty has designed numerous buildings on the campus of the University of Tennessee.

“The University of Tennessee has offered us a chance to work on many projects through the years,” McCarty said. “We chose to hold our anniversary celebration at Neyland Stadium’s West Club, because when you look out the window, the campus is dotted with our firm’s buildings in all directions.

HOME OF DAVID AND LEA ANNE WILES

SEEN IN JOHNSON CITY

buildOn Johnson City STORY SUBMITTED AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIELLE HAHNE

buildOn Johnson City hosted its first fundraiser at the home of David and Lea Anne Wiles. buildOn is a nationwide nonprofit working with students in need to break the cycle of poverty, illiteracy, and low expectations through community service and education. Over 60 people participated in the fundraiser, including 18 Independent Consultants from the skincare company Rodan + Fields®. Rodan + Fields Consultants who contributed, but are not pictured: Ali Albritton, Young Shil Bragg, Carol Conduff, Kristin Cuculovski, Valerie Jackson, Cathy Lagergren, Michele McCay, Michaela Morrison, Amy Sparks and Iris Thompson.

The philanthropic arm of Rodan + Fields, the Prescription for Change™ (PFC) Foundation, has been partnering with buildOn across the country since last year, which sparked several Consultants, including Lea Anne, to start their own local chapters of the organization. Since last summer, the Johnson City chapter, founded by local students, has been working to raise funds to build a school in Haiti. The event brought in over $5,000, which was matched by the PFC Foundation, allowing seven students to travel this July to participate in the ground-breaking ceremony and foundation construction for the very school in Haiti that they helped start.

Students traveling: Lucas Carroll-Garrett, Nichole Fry, Savannah Hirst, Julia Price, Rachel Klein, Kiersten Marsh, and Sam Wiles.

For more information on the Johnson City buildOn group or to support their trip, visit https://act.buildon. org/fundraise/team?ftid=36079 For more information on the Prescription for Change Foundation, visit https://www.rodanandfields.com/ Pages/Company/PFCFoundation/Projects

Nichole Fry, Kiersten Marsh, Rachel Klein, Logan Sizemore, Sam Wiles, Julia Price and Miller Franklin

Karina Hirst, Savannah Hirst, Sandy Cole, and Tracy Fleenor

Ambrocia Andrade, Cari McMellon, Jennifer Byerley, Angie Tyson, Tracie Naegle, Carol Ann Tyson, Lea Anne Wiles, and Holly Griffith

Front to back: Megha Gupta, Adam Barbian, Sam Wiles, Rachel Klein, Kiersten Marsh, Nichole Fry, Ellie Wiles, Madison Blackburn, Lucas Carroll-Garrett, Savannah Hirst, Julia Price, Logan Sizemore, and Miller Franklin

HOLIDAY INN

SEEN IN JOHNSON CITY

Conservation Banquet STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES HELMS

The Holiday Inn of Johnson City played host this year to the 20th Annual Ruffed Grouse Society Appalachian Highlands Chapter Sportsmen’s And Conservation Banquet. Tonight’s fundraiser included a buffet dinner followed by a write in auction, many raffles, and a live auction. The funds raised enable the Ruffed Grouse Society to continue crucial habitat management work to help ensure a haven for many wildlife species. The Ruffed Grouse Society was established in1961 and is North America’s foremost conservation organization dedicated to preserving sporting tradition by creating healthy forest habitat for Ruffed Grouse, American Woodcock, and other wildlife. RGS works with landowners and government agencies to develop critical habitat utilizing scientific management practices. To find out how you can be a part of this conservation project please visit www. ruffedgrousesociety.org.

Lisa White and Robin Cooper

Dr. Linda Ordiway

Parker Street

Steve Dula, Chris White, and Tarn Rosenbaum

Taylor Streetz and McKenzie Hatley Dlonie Cannon and Ashley Lloyd

Johnny Keene

Joanna Willis Chuck Baker, Diane, Matt Miller, Pam Miller, and Bob Jones

MAY 2015 | VIPSEEN | 59

Pet Personals VIPSEEN TRI-CITIES CLASSIFIEDS

VOL. XII, May 2015 | The Premier Meeting Place for Pets and their Prospective Owners

Unicoi County Animal Shelter

ELLO, I’M MAURICE. My

185 N Industrial Drive Erwin, TN 37650

favorite pastime is drinking warm milk and eating mice. I now love to cuddle and watch sitcoms on the television. I’m hoping to find a forever home that loves to do the same.

HELLO THERE, I’M NUBS. I’m a quiet cat

who loves to lay in the sun and take naps often.

I’m very loving when I choose to be. I’m looking for a home where I can lounge around and be loved in return.

HEY I’M SADIE! I’m a

sweet pup who loves to play and run around outside. I get along great with other dogs and children. I’m looking for a family who loves to rub bellies and play fetch.

Elizabethton Carter County Animal Shelter 135 Sycamore Shoals Rd Elizabethton, TN 37643

HEY THERE, THE NAME’S FETZER. I’m a sweet labrador

retriever who loves to be loved.

I’m a great listener and comforter.

My arms fit perfectly for a hug so if you’re ever feeling down I’ll be there to cheer you up.

GOOD DAY, MY NAME’S CHLOE. I’m a PAX IS THE NAME AND FETCH IS MY GAME. I’m a sucker for a tennis ball and some

wide-open spaces to play. My idea of a forever home is a family who loves to run around outside and toss a ball or play tug of war.

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proper kitty who loves to be groomed and taken well care of. I’m a perfect cat for laying around with the family so if that’s what you want, I’m your cat.

Truly Remarkable.

A remarkable smile begins with remarkable skill and expertise. As the Tri-Cities' only accredited cosmetic dentist with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Dr. Sanders designs beautiful functional smiles. Her dedicated focus on continuing education places her in an elite group of cosmetic dentists -only 386 accredited members, worldwide, in history.

Cosmetic and General Dentistry Complimentary Cosmetic Consultation Invisalign & Zoom! Whitening

Annie Dr. Kathy Sanders is East Tenneessee’s only accredited AACD Member.

www.tricitiessmiles.com

Patient of Dr. Sanders.

423-239-7899

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VIP NONPROFIT Profile

Appalachian Sustainable Development 20-year Anniversary

A

The non-profit has been able to do this by developing nine programs within three sectors and by a collective impact with others.

ASD was the first non-profit and remains the only that focuses on local food. They positively impact the local community by doing things like keeping farmers on their land, connecting forest landowners with wholesale marketers, donating fresh, local produce to food banks and educating children and adults about where food comes from.

WHAT ARE THE THREE SECTORS FOR ASD AND WHAT ARE THE TEN PROGRAMS WITH IN THEM? The first sector ASD works within is the Sustainable Agriculture Sector, which supports farmers to create a strong food culture to grow a healthy local economy. Appalachian Harvest, a food hub is a program that helps farmers transition from tobacco to vegetables in order to earn income to stay on family farms. Appalachian Farmer’s Market Association supports and proliferates farmer’s markets. There are more than 33 farmer’s markets in ASD’s footprint; each provides ways to earn income and create communities. Rooted in Appalachia connects farmers with restaurants and businesses to meet growing consumer demand for local food.

ppalachian Sustainable Development is a non-profit serving fifteen counties in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.

Living better, locally. Appalachian Sustainable Development is making that statement more than just a way of thinking; it is a way of life. Since 1995 ASD has been working with local farmers to food producers, forest landowners and families to create and deepen relationships with individual supporters, volunteers, corporate citizens and other non-profits.

MAY 2015 | VIPSEEN | 63

VIP NONPROFIT Profile

The second sector in ASD is the Sustainable Forestry Sector. It promotes forest health and provides markets for Appalachian hardwood products. Within this sector, are Argo-forestry, and WoodRight. Argoforestry encourages restorative forestland practices through education, incentives and outreach. WoodRight connects Appalachian hardwood manufacturers and processors with building projects.

ASD’s last sector is the most heartwarming. It is the Food Access Sector.

In this sector, ASD creates and increases food access and security and provides empowerment to everyday people. Healthy Families-Family Farms donates seconds produce to food banks and supports nutrition education. Grow Your Own is a program that empowers families in need with training, supplies and encouragement to grow gardens. The Garden Box Project provides raised boxes to small families and senior citizens for a way to grow their own vegetables. Also, Learning Landscape teaches children where their food comes from and provides healthy food tastings to increase access and exposure.

LIVING BETTER

LOCALLY

YEAR

YOU ALSO MENTIONED A COLLECTIVE IMPACT WITH OTHERS; CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BIT? ASD is working with a number of partners to ensure that no one is operating in isolation and everyone is making the best use of the limited resources in our rural region. The Collective Impact Model was designed just to address this issue; it is based on the premise that large-scale social change requires broad cross-sector coordination. ASD has a philosophy that every non-profit organization should work together to create the best regional environment.

It starts with a common agenda, which causes organizations to come together to collectively define the problem and create a shared vision. Too many times the problem is that all of these local organizations are working in isolation from one another. Collective Impact brings people together, in a structured way, to achieve social change.

Collective Impact establishes shared measurement, encourages continuous communication and has a strong backbone. All of these conditions together can produce extraordinary results.

WHAT FIFTEEN COUNTIES DO YOU SERVE, AND WHAT ARE YOUR EVERY DAY DUTIES IN THOSE COUNTIES? In Southwest Virginia we serve Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington and Wise counties. Then in Northeast Tennessee we serve Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Sullivan and Washington Counties. The objective is to work in these counties as much as possible. We want to make sure ASD is leading the Local Movement.

We implement all of our programs in almost every county. Our focus is heavily on teaching adults and children where their food comes from and what kind they can grow. Over the last 11 years more than 10,000 ASD learning Landscapes students have learned to grow food in garden classrooms and on forest walking trails.

ASD must be proactive in recruiting local donors and peaking the interest of more community members in able to fulfill our vision for the future.

We want to collaborate with partners to increase the regional collective impact, which will do things like keep farmers on their land, link forest landowners with wholesale markets, and donate fresh, local produce to food banks. We want to teach people how to grow their own food and let them know that food is freely given.

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HOW DOES ASD MANAGE TO RUN ALL THESE PROGRAMS AND EDUCATE SO MANY PEOPLE? Since ASD is a non-profit, we depend on local donors who believe in our mission, local businesses that want to help us impact the region and fundraisers. Our biggest fundraiser of the year is the Farm to Fork Gala. This year, it will be held on June 6th at the Meadowview Marriott in Kingsport. As we celebrate twenty years of serving Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, we will have quite a party and your support is more important than ever. With the help of donors and sponsors we will create an experience that raises much needed funding. Our signature fundraiser provides a variety of opportunities to engage with approximately 250 guests. It is ASD’s belief that partnerships are the key to creating and sustaining a thriving Appalachia, and what better way than to break bread together. We are eager to show greater community the links between ASD and our partners.

The evening will consist of exquisite dishes prepared with fresh fruits, vegetables and proteins; sown, grown and harvested right here in our region. We are sure guests will be delighted with the culinary creations that are possible with truly local and in-season food. The evening will also feature local wines and beers to compliment the dishes. Entertainment will be provided by Sam Gleaves and Tyler Hughes, both of whom are young, talented local musicians.

There are many sponsor levels and packages available. 100% of the proceeds stay right here in this region to support our local economy and benefit Appalachian Sustainable Development. For additional information please contact Sylvia Crum at scrum@adevelop.org or 276-623-1121.

Appalachian Sustainable Development, for twenty years now, has served Central Appalachia in a way that no other Non-Profit has been able to do. The mission is to grow food, communities and opportunities.

ASD strives to live by core values like sustainability, education, social entrepreneurship, accountability and transparency, networking and partnership, and perhaps most important community participation and inclusion. Leading the Local Movement, ASD helps to create and promote a viable and sustainable local economy; but it is impossible without the support of the community. Visit asdevelop.org to find out how you can get involved.

JOSH’S HOUSE

SEEN IN KINGSPORT

Special Spaces Makeover STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY SUBMITTED

“Special Spaces Tri-Cities performed a dream bedroom makeover on Saturday, March 28th, in Kingsport, TN, for a precious boy and his sweet mother. The bedroom makeovers’ co-sponsors were Tara Burns of Branded and Kristine Thacker of Center Salon, both of Kingsport.

Kristine has been a loyal donor to Special Spaces after she heard the directors speak about their ministry on 88.3 WCQR over two years ago. And after hearing about Special Spaces at a Faithfully Business luncheon last year, Tara she knew she wanted to help as well.

Special Spaces Tri-Cities is a local non-profit whose mission is to make a difference in the lives of children facing life-threatening illnesses by designing and creating their dream bedrooms, giving them a place to heal in a peaceful environment.

Special Spaces would like to thank their sponsors Kristine and Tara, for making this makeover possible. Many thanks go to the talented Casey Ross for her beautiful designs, the awesome and faithful volunteers, Ashley Furniture in Johnson City, Lowe’s in Jonesborough, Penny Woods, Chico’s of Johnson City and everyone else who played a part in this wonderful blessing for Josh and his mother Bridgett!”

MAY 2015 | VIPSEEN | 67

HOLY TACO

SEEN IN JOHNSON CITY

YP Tri Social STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAVANNA MCDAVID

Young Professionals of the Tri-Cities held their April Social at Holy Taco in Downtown Johnson City on the 16th. The purpose of YP Tri is to connect young professionals in Johnson City, Kingsport, Bristol, and the surrounding areas both socially and professionally.

The group also strives to improve the quality of life for regional young professionals through unique social, professional, and philanthropic opportunities.

Katie Bradley and Seth Allen

Glenn Bailey and Tim Story

With a goal to unify the greater Tri-Cities area by empowering its forward-thinking, innovative young professionals, YP Tri holds an event called a “social� every month at a different location in the Tri-Cities.

These events help young professionals network and make long lasting friendships with their community peers. YP Tri knows that if young professionals stay in the area, they will strengthen the local economy and workforce and this group will offer them social opportunities. To find out more about YP Tri and where their next social will be, visit them at yp-tri.org.

Scott Clark, Matt Brown, and Lynnea Hunter

Stephen Jenkins, Zac Clark, Randy Almanzora, Tyler Parsons, and Stephanie Lauderdale

Tiffany Herrick and Whitney Moll

Matthew and Rachel Elmore

SEEN IN KINGSPORT

BROOKDALE ROCK SPRINGS

Spring Fling

at Brookdale Rock Springs STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES HELMS

Suzy Cloyd and N2 Events helped organize the Spring Fling fundraiser event at Brookdale at Rocks Springs to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association on March 26, 2015. Guests of the event and residents were treated to a night of music, fellowship, food and fun and were able to spend time with some local celebrities as well. Chef Parsons of The Remington House provided an assortment of delicacies to accompany a wine tasting consisting of hot foods, fruits, cheeses, and chocolate dessert. Famed musician Lightnin’ Charlie was also on hand to perform for the crowd on hand. Be sure to check out Lightnin’ Charlie’s Facebook page or pick up album “A New Leaf” or a copy of his autobiography “The Trials and Tribulations of a Travelin” Troubador”. It is an excellent book that you will treasure. Also on hand for the evening was local reality television star Neil “Tiny” Roberson from the History Channels television series Appalachian Outlaws. “Tiny” was on hand giving samples of his Mellowmoon Moonshine from his distillery located in Piney Flats, Tn. If you get a chance you must sample the Caramel flavored moonshine which is their most popular flavor and a definite favorite of mine. All donations received this evening went to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. Contact Suzy Cloyd at Brookdale Rock Springs to learn more about Brookdale Rock Springs, a premier assisted living community, suzy.cloyd@brookdale.com.

Jordon Kestner

Ashley Shaw and Stacey Montgomery

Neil “Tiny” Roberson and Dorothy Smith

John Thompson, Kim Jones, and January Tankersley

Kristy Spires, Megan Oliver, and Bobby Parmer

Suzy Cloyd and Sherry King

Tabitha Ebbert, Jim Ward, and Cindy Lowery

BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY AND PORTICO

SEEN IN JOHNSON CITY

Johnson City Chamber of Commerce

After Hours & Ribbon Cutting for

Berkshire Hathaway & Portico STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAVANNA MCDAIVD

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, formerly known as Prudential, held a ribbon cutting Thursday, March 19th at their office located at 3121 Bristol Highway. After the ribbon cutting guests walked over to Portico, a new restaurant in Johnson City, for a Johnson City Chamber After Hours. Cohosted by both businesses, many supporters were in attendance to celebrate the change in name for Berkshire Hathaway and the great food offered by Portico. There was plenty of food, networking, friends, and drink. It is safe to say that a good time was had by all.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices is a brand-new real estate brokerage franchisee network built for a new era in residential real estate. The brand, among the few organizations entrusted to use the world-renowned Berkshire Hathaway name, brings to the real estate market a definitive mark of stability, strength, quality and innovation. Greg Cox and his staff are welcome to and excited for the change as it will help them better serve their real estate clients.

Portico is a new restaurant in Johnson city that features Italian and Spanish cuisine and internationally inspired tapas. Check them out on Facebook.

Shane Abraham, Phillip Cox, and Robert Williams

Barry Brizendine and Gavin Andrews

Mark Favor and Susan Chase

Rhonda Fox and Bridgette Ward

Jason Cocilovav and Eliza Garrison

Maggie Cooper and Steven Bales

Rick Lewis, Brenda Whitson, and David Berry

Linda Bowman, Bernie Mosley, David Meredith, and Chloe Odell

SEEN IN KINGSPORT

DOWNTOWN

Downtown Kingsport’s

Sip and Stroll STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAVANNA MCDAVID

Downtown Kingsport put a little different spin on their normal first Thursday event in April. The event, Sip and Stroll, was centered around downtown merchants, artists and some new art pieces that just hit the scene. To kickoff the evening, Downtown Kingsport Association revealed nine pianos that have been refurbished and made a beautiful work of art by local artists. Almost all of the pianos are still playable and are finding permanent homes around the beautiful downtown.

The rest of the evening, people strolled the streets while sipping delicious wine and admiring marvelous one of a kind art work. Smooth tunes filled the streets as Model City Groove School put on a show for everyone in attendance. The evening was filled with sculptures, art, jewelry, food, friends and more.

Everyone that came downtown enjoyed the evening and all the hard work that made it happen. To learn more about the pianos or when the next event is, visit downtownkingsport.org.

Michelle Ketron and Regina Perry

Candi Cox and Tim Arrowood

Marilyn Slaughter, Vicki Cox, Penny Herriman, and Georgia McColl

Becky Salyer and Kelly Winkles

Beverly Perdue, Keta, Tiffany, and Wayne Hawley Mary Shull and Margaret Hubbs

Suzanne Barret Justice

Sharon and Darell Duncan

Rack Cross and Susan McKinney

72 | VIPSEEN | MAY 2015

Kristy Loflon and Allison Russell

WINE + CRAFT BEER TASTINGS BBQ + MUSIC FESTIVAL

Country Stars

LIGERO CIGAR LOUNGE

SEEN IN JOHNSON CITY

Leo Peraza

at Ligero Cigar Lounge STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAVANNA MCDAVID

Members and friends got a treat at Ligero Cigar Lounge on April 15th when Master Cigar Roller Leo Peraza stopped by to meet everyone and roll cigars.

The Lounge was packed as Leo made his way in and began rolling cigars.

Many people got to smoke the limited edition Serie R Esteli. Leo Peraza has 58 years of experience in the art of cigar rolling. He gracefully rolled up beautiful creations for the crowd. Leo works at the famed El Credito Factory and serves as the traveling ambassador demonstrating his cigar-rolling expertise at events across the country.

Sam Hudleston and Fred Goodwin

Everyone was amazed to watch Leo at work and was more than happy to have such a legend in the room. Ligero Cigar Lounge is a private lounge that hosts events for members frequently and will open to the public for larger events. Ligero is located in the back of Libation Station in Boones Creek. To find out more, visit them at libationplaza.com.

Tom Conrad and Parry Qualls

Leo Peraza

Sandy Farrow and Lisa Monforte

Paul Helphinstine and Kelly Wolfe

Jim Woods, John Machen, and Calvin Horton

Mike Monforte and Rich Hall

Paul David Walker and Thomas Dahlgren

Adriel Gonzalez and Joshua Earley

Rob Sampson and Joey Nickels

MAY 2015 | VIPSEEN | 75

SEEN IN JOHNSON CITY

MILLENNIUM CENTRE

Thirsty Orange Brew Extravaganza STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAVANNA MCDAVID

The Thirsty Orange Brew Extravaganza is a craft beer lover’s festival. On Saturday, April 13th hundreds of festival goers got a chance to sample over 100+ unique and obscure beers from craft breweries around the region. There were delicious beers ranging from Pepper Beers, Double IPA’s to Wild Ales. The Thirsty Orange Brew Extravaganza featured beers that aren’t found anywhere else.

There was great music playing throughout the day for the crowd to dance and party down to. Local food trucks were also on site selling delicious home made barbecue and tacos. Good times and good fun was this year’s theme and the festival matched up. There were hula-hoop contests, dance contests and of course beer contests. Many people also tried their balance on a tightrope. People came, tasted and tasted again until all the beer was tapped. Everyone received a commemorative Thirsty Orange tasting glass. To find out about next years event, visit thirstyorange.com.

Kristen and Kim

Holly Carver and April Byington

The Wizzards

Jackson, Morgan, Paterick, and Allison

Country Boy Brewing

Traci Fleenor, Elizabeth Turcklet, and Jessica Owens

Courtney Blevins, Jeff Blevins, and Brent McCann

Jane and Jessica

Jeff Stubblefield and William Bell

76 | VIPSEEN | MAY 2015

Matt Elmore, Brandon Standafer, Shawn Robberts, and Derek Sharp

Kayla, Morgan, Sean, and Mark

John Herns and Danielle Hahne

Kelli and Allison

Jessica, Michael, Lauren, and Laura

Calfkiller Brewing Comapny

David and Andrew

Haley Maturin and Justin Farrey

Neil, Justin, Kendra, and Brittany

Bri Taylor, Sarah Whitson, and Jason Tittle

MAY 2015 | VIPSEEN | 77

VIRGINIA CREEPER TRAIL

SEEN IN ABINGDON

Creeper Trail 10 Miler STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES HELMS

Moe Brown

Chris Cutler

This year’s Virginia Creeper Trail 10 miler marked the 18th year for the race that has become a tradition in the Abingdon community. The parks and recreation department along with scores of volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that runners from all over can assemble in Abingdon to enjoy the race day festivities. Registered runners received a t-shirt and trophies for finishing the race. Many races in the area are run at the creeper trail and the organizers work to make sure that the races are spread out and not run at the same time. Today’s race was a 10 mile out and back race going 5 miles down the trail and then 5 miles back to the finish line. This year runners from as far away as Ohio made the trip to run the race. For more information contact runtricities.org.

Maggie Miller

Brianna Ray, Jeb Jones, and Clint Dowda

Gavin Blevins, Margaret Plummer, James Agner, and Kevin Whorley

Michelle Gentry and Angela Gentry

Creeper Trail Train

Barbara Bogart Cindy Lippard and Agnes Hurst

Gary and Carol Berton

MAY 2015 | VIPSEEN | 79

SEEN IN JOHNSON CITY

MILLENNIUM CENTRE

Run for the Booty 5K STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAVANNA MCDAVID

Superfly Fabulous Events did it again with this year’s Run for the Booty 5k on Saturday, April 11. Runners showed up ready to have some color fun. Before the race a zumba warm up was provided for all runners.

This year’s race was bigger and more colorful than any yet. Participants made their way around the Millennium Center and State of Franklin and finally finished right outside the entrance of the festival that followed.

Every runner was all smiles and a burst of color after crossing the finish line!

After the race, runners got to take a sneak peak of Thirsty Orange and enjoy an early beer. Free refuels were onsite thanks to local donors.

Jones Chiropractic was also at the finish line waiting to stretch and massage runners. The ending festivities included costume contests, hula-hoop contests and dance contests. To find out about next year’s race, visit runforthebooty.com.

80 | VIPSEEN | MAY 2015

Enjoy a Bestselling Author Join New York Times bestselling author

Mary Alice Monroe for “Monroe at the Mansion in May” Enjoy a boxed Literacy Luncheon as part of her book tour for The Summer’s End, her new novel and third in the Lowcountry series.

Monroe will speak, take Q&As from the audience, and following the program, she will also sign books.

Wednesday, May 27, 2015 – 11:30 am Allandale Mansion - Kingsport, Tennessee

Tickets only $45, and that includes a copy of the new release! ($35 for event only) Tickets are limited, and reservations are required.

Register online www.literacycouncilofkingsport.org For additional information, call the Literacy Council of Kingsport - 423-392-4643 Benefiting the:

™

Friends of Allandale

Member Agency

Sponsored by:

Sterling

Graphics

INTERNATIONAL STORYTELLING CENTER

SEEN IN JONESBOROUGH

Jonesborough’s Music on the Square Spring Tune Up STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAVANNA MCDAVID

The fifth annual Spring Tune-Up was held April 17, at the International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough. One of the town’s most popular events, it serves as a fundraiser for Music on the Square, an event series featuring live performances by bands, poets and artists. Music on the Square will be held in Downtown Jonesborough every Friday night, May through September and is free to the public.

Gary and Joanne Forslin

Marilyn Proffitt and Frankie Wolffe

Nicki Burke and Natelie Burke

Ed Wolffe and Orville Proffitt

The Spring Tune-Up was a packed house as people shuffled in and out all evening. The evening included food from local restaurants, beverages from local distributors and entertainment by strolling musicians. The widely anticipated silent auction was full of fantastic local and regional items. Everyone in attendance was after at least one item. The night was filled with laughter and a lot of dancing as the band got warmed up. For more information on this event and Music on the Square, please visit musiconthesquare.com.

Jessica Hartley and Greg Schuette

Ruthie Edwards and Jackie Stamm

Gen Rose and Gary Degner

Carole and Foye Webb

Barbara Cara and Mary Bleck

Bob Riser, Cynthya Burnley, and Sandy Countermine

Angela Cameron and Jason Cunningham

MAY 2015 | VIPSEEN | 83

SEEN IN JOHNSON CITY

NELSON FINE ART GALLERY

Yum Yum,

The Power of the Bite STORY BY SAVANNA MCDAVID | PHOTOGRAPHY BY TONIA PETERS

The 2nd annual “YUM-YUM, The Power of the Bite” featuring International Tapas was Thursday, March 26 at Nelson Fine Art Center in downtown Johnson City. This fund raising event highlights local restaurants that offer good food through culinary arts while embracing another type of art form - public art. The Fine Art Center was packed as guests made their way through the gallery tasting tapas and gazing at beautiful art. The evening was full of laughter, food and friends. Seven restaurants were featured offered a tapas “a bite” of food that, when combined, make a meal.

Laura Power, Bill Duncan, and Marilyn Duncan

The proceeds for this event went towards a bicycle-inspired public work of art designated for Veteran’s Park - in front of South Side Elementary School in the ‘heart’ of The Tree Streets Neighborhood. “According to city officials, this project will be the first public work of art in a Johnson City neighborhood,” said Virginia Buda, arts organizer and Founder of Artlandia. To find out more about this project, please visit them on Facebook at artlandiajc.

Tracy Fleenor, Karina Hirst, and Julie Johnson

Judy Martelli, Virginia Buda, Matthew Carroll, Crystal Robertson, and Doug Buda

Dick Nelson and Kate Pierce

Shannon Castillo and Tracy Johnson

Betty Ann Polaha, Cody Storm, and Aleeta Shaw

84 | VIPSEEN | MAY 2015

Cher Cornett and Katie Hoffman

Ofelia and Orlando Salazar Matt Drish and Abagail Hughes

Brett Tiller and Chuck Laws

JD and Hannah Madill

Kyle Johnson, Alyssa Terrell, with Danielle and Aaron Browning Old South

Cathy Walsh, Debra Hoilman, and Sherry Scott

Les Nelson, Ty Jennings, Hal Hunter, and Katie Hoffman

Blame Schubert and Eileen Ernenwein

MAY 2015 | VIPSEEN | 85

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STEELE CREEK

SEEN IN BRISTOL

Love Local…A Food Truck Event STORY BY SAVANNA MCDAVID AND PHOTOGRAPHY SUBMITTED

Appalachian Sustainable Development is dedicated to its mission to grow food, communities and opportunities to build a thriving Appalachia. On Sunday, March 29, ASD partnered with the City of Bristol and local food trucks. Love Local…A Food Truck Event was held at Steele creek Park in Bristol. People came from everywhere to support the cause and of course enjoy great local food. Foodie Fiction, Me & K’s and Toni’s Hawaiian Tacos were there serving up some of the best food around and guests couldn’t get enough!

My New Favorities was featured as the live band. As a tribute to ASD in it’s 20th year of service, the band wrote and performed a song called Daddy’s Plow.

The goal was to educate and inspire guests about ASD’s impacts to address food access in the region. The sold out event was a huge hit and will be even bigger next year.

ASD serves Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, and Wise counties in southwest Virginia and Green, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Sullivan, and Washington counties in northeast Tennessee.

ASD operates 10 programs in 3 sectors: sustainable agriculture/food system development, sustainable forestry/wood products and food access. For more information please visit www.asdevelop.org.

MAY 2015 | VIPSEEN | 87

SEEN IN JOHNSON CITY

GRACE FELLOWSHIP CHURCH

CASA of Northeast Tennessee Presents

The American Girl Fashion Show STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAVANNA SMITH

CASA of Northeast Tennessee invited girls and their friends and families to experience the American Girl Fashion Show on April 11th at Grace Fellowship Church in Johnson City, Tennessee. This fun, engaging program showcased historical and contemporary fashions for girls and their dolls. Local models presented the fashions. Audiences delighted in historical clothing, from daywear to sleepwear to special occasion clothing that resembles what the popular American Girl characters Kaya, Felicity, Josefina, Addy, Rebecca, Kit, Molly, and Julie might have worn.

There was also a Paris themed Tea Party from 12:30-1:30pm, which was a new addition to the show. It was a great time to enjoy some special treats with favorite dolls, including a lemonade bar and make-your-own-cupcake for dessert! The food and drinks were provided by Willow Tree and Old South Events, and proceeds from this event benefit abused and neglected children. To find out more about CASA of Northeast Tennessee, please visit casanetn.org.

Sydney and Jessica

Michelle and Reece with AJ and Anna Kate

Hannah and Olivia

Julie, Carlie, and Abbie

Mikayla, Maya, and Michelle Lee

Marci and Marina

Yong Shil and Brianna

88 | VIPSEEN | MAY 2015

CASA Staff and Volunteers

Anna, Claire, and Jeanette

Deena and Kaylee

Holly and Marilyn

Better Websites More Customers Carolyn Bowers and Marilyn Shipley

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423.765.9699 possiblezone.com

SEEN IN KINGSPORT

FARMER’S MARKET

Brass Ring Gala &

Carousel Fine Craft Show STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY CAROLYN KESTNER

The 3rd Annual Brass Ring Gala & Carousel Fine Craft Show took place on March 20-22 at the Kingsport Farmer’s Market in Downtown Kingsport. Over 25 of the region’s fine art and craft exhibitors set up in booths throughout the Farmer’s Market displaying and demonstrating their crafts, which included handmade jewelry, ceramics, pottery, baskets, fine furniture and textiles.

The Kingsport Carousel Project animals were on display in their new home at the Pal’s Roundhouse where the 1956 vintage Herschel Carousel Machine will be housed. Volunteer Carousel Project artists were on site with the animals they worked so long and lovingly on to see firsthand the appreciation and reaction of patrons viewing the animals for the first time. With music by the local Americana band, My New Favorites, supporters of the project and community strolled the market, eating, drinking and shopping. The City of Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts and Engage Kingsport presented the fundraiser.

Jeff and Cristi Fleming, Brenda and Matthew Barnicki of Bellafina Chocolates, with Elizabeth Kiser

Hannah and Suzanne Barrett Justice

90 | VIPSEEN | MAY 2015

“Sassy Cat” artist Elizabeth Kiser

Ruth Kerrins with Flying Pig Jessi Odom and Suzanne Barrett Justice

Susan Herron, Betsy Geiger, and Pat Davis at Marc Tickle’s On Reflection Kaleidoscope booth

Ruth Kerrins shows off her new purchase with artist Michelle Howe from Fine Arts By Michelle

Blair White, Jewelry by Hand

Junior Silva ( Flying Pig Gallery), Martha Funke (Artiques), and Charlie Brooks

Up Against The Wall Gallery owners Mike and Lisa Anne Milhorn with Lauren Pinley

Aleta Chandler with Almost Aleta Studio making jewelry out if recycled materials

Buddy Floyd from Flag Pond TN has been making and refinishing cabinets for 41 years

Carolyn Kestner, VIPSEEN and Joseph Maye with Now or Never Tattoo Gallery

MAY 2015 | VIPSEEN | 91

Happy May

Happy Birthday Wes Leonard!

Happy Birthday Tom Taylor!

Happy Birthday Tara Burns!

Happy Birthday Scott Moore!

Happy Birthday Kyle Davis!

Happy Birthday Jamie Church!

Happy Birthday Betsy!

92 | VIPSEEN | MAY 2015

Happy Birthday Terri Meith!

Happy Birthday Theresa Bright!

Happy Birthday Samantha!

Happy Birthday Lamar Reid!

Happy Birthday Natalie!

Happy Birthday Lora Barnett!

Happy birthday to the best sister, mom and daughter ever! We love you!

Happy Birthday Teresa! Love Eric!

Happy Birthday Shana!

Happy Birthday Jereesse!

Happy Birthday Tori!

Happy Birthday Miss Johnson City!

Happy Birthday Mom! Love, Erin

Happy Birthday Theresa! You truly are an amazing woman

Happy Birthday Debbie!

Happy Birthday David!

Happy Birthday Shirley!

Happy Birthday Heather!

Happy Birthday Adam!

Happy Birthday Tamara!

Happy Birthday Rose!

Happy Birthday Barb!

Happy 11th Birthday Ashlyn!

Love, Auntie Erin

Happy Birthday Makenzy!

Happy Birthday Stan!

Happy Birthday Ray!

Happy Birthday Mike!

Happy Birthday Laura!

Happy Birthday Vik!

Happy Birthday Reece Hill!

Happy Birthday Kevin!

MAY 2015 | VIPSEEN | 93

SEEN IN BRISTOL

BRISTOL REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

Need for Speed

Health Expo and Seconds Count 5K STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES HELMS

Saturday, March 21, 2015, ushered in the second day of spring, as well as the first annual Need for Speed Health Expo and Seconds Count 5K at Bristol Regional Medical Center in Bristol, Tennessee. Organized by Dr. David Beckner, this event was an opportunity for the public to visit vendors, who were offering educational information and giveaways for topics such as heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, and diabetes. There were also free health screenings for qualified applicants available. This year’s event also included a 5K untimed walk and timed run event. The entry fees from all of the participants this year are being used to purchase much-needed cardiobascular equipment to be used across the region. After the race concluded everyone was invited into the Conference Center to attend a seminar and listen to a variety of guest speakers talk about a variety of lifesaving subjects. Well over a 100 people preregistered this year for the race. For more details please visit Wellmont.org.

Ka Lo, Kayla Salvo, and Amanda Brewer

Sharon Cole and Leslie Bishop

Dr. David Beckner and Lori Jackson

Janice and Loren Core

Chad Shelton and Erin McMillan

Laura Hopson and Amanda Davenport Mary Kate Williams, Mariann Woods, Courtney Trail, and Tina Mullins

94 | VIPSEEN | MAY 2015

Ruth Bray, Sheila Matherly, and Amy Hale

Mountain Empire Neurology Associates of Bristol

Registration Crew

On your marks...

96 | VIPSEEN | MAY 2015

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