Shopper News blog: Farragut budget passes on first read

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FARRAGUT

Farragut budget passes on first read

Margie Hagen, Shopper News correspondent 

In a well-attended Board of Mayor and Alderman meeting last Thursday, residents turned out to campaign for more recreational facilities at McFee Park. Eight people stood at the podium to speak specifically about the need for pickleball and tennis courts, with a dozen more in the auditorium backing them.

Recently announced candidate for Farragut mayor, Alderman Bob Markli delivers his take on government.

After listening to all the speakers, the aldermen turned to the main item on the agenda; the draft reading of the town’s annual budget for fiscal year 2018-2019, running from July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019. It includes a $6.1 million appropriation for the third phase of improvement of McFee Park, the largest capital line item. The appropriation would pave the way for continuing work at the park.

Pickleball and tennis enthusiasts will have to wait to get their courts; phase three includes the great lawn, roads and infrastructure, with phase four adding the courts. At best, that is years away, so the new board will determine how quickly plans move forward.   

Residents say they have been waiting years for additional facilities at the park. Vice chairman Ron Pinchok agreed, saying, “We have been looking at this since at least 2012 (when a master plan was initiated).”     

Cindy Blanco was one of several residents advocating for approval of phases three and four of McFee Park improvement. There is a lot of community support for building pickleball and tennis courts in the park.

Town Administrator David Smoak presented the draft budget, reviewing anticipated revenue and proposed expenditures as compared to previous years. Farragut is in a very good position relative to other small municipalities in the country.

Conservatively projected revenue of $10,919,320 leaves an ending fund balance at just over $3.6 million for the fiscal year, and that includes the cost of phase three of McFee Park, all without any debt.

It’s not all coming up roses, as Smoak pointed out; the Hall tax is going away and wholesale liquor receipts have dipped down about $40,000, likely due to wine sales in grocery stores. The bulk of revenue still comes from sales tax, so if that declines other options have to be considered.

The budget was passed after several questions and a lot of discussion; all four aldermen (Mayor Ralph McGill was absent) voted in favor of the first reading. The final reading and vote will come on June 28.

Although Aldermen Bob Markli and Louise Povlin expressed hesitation about approving funds for the McFee Park project, they agreed to pass it, at least at this reading. Povlin wants the focus to remain on development on the town center while Markli noted that while the money is now allocated, there may be ways to do the project for less.

To see the complete budget, go to townoffarragut.org. The town also broadcasts meetings live on community cable access channels (check your provider) and posts videos later on YouTube.

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POWELL

Miss Tennessee talks addiction, mental health at Lions meeting

Ali James, Shopper News correspondent

Miss Tennessee, Leslie Truan, stopped by North Knox Lions Club’s meeting at Puelo’s last week. Members enjoyed lunch with Powell High School graduate Truan and discussed her platform in the countdown to the Nationals at Disney World in July.

“Mental illness affects everybody,” said Miss Tennessee Leslie Truan at a North Knox Lions Club Meeting in June. “Bouts of depression or anxiety especially with social media being so prevalent. If you can tweak a few things, get out, hopefully it’ll be enough.”

Club president Greg Householder opened the meeting and talked about current fundraising efforts and introduced his 5-year-old granddaughter, Adelie Murray. “We are hoping children 3 to 12 years will join the Cubs,” said Householder. “When Adelie learned that Miss Tennessee was once a Cub, she wanted to be one, too.”

Five-year-old Adelie Murray wants to join the North Knox Lions Club Cub program, just like Miss Tennessee, Leslie Truan. Miss Tennessee brought along her crown and sash for a photo opportunity at the Lions Club meeting.

“I remember filling 200 bags upstairs at St.Mary’s,” said Truan. “The Lions Family Cub program gets kids active – especially if they aren’t active in sports. Getting them out and volunteering, teaches kids to do something other than just sitting at home. It gives them that outlet.

“My platform is fighting addiction at the source, this source being mental illness,” said Truan. “You may have heard the recent news about Kate Spade – fame and fortune – there are no boundaries when it comes to who mental illness will affect.”

After reading studies, Truan said she believes a lot of addictive behavior stems from one's environment. “My main goal as Miss Tennessee is to serve my community,” she said. “Mentoring is a coping skill, I know it sounds far-fetched, but it’s important that I reach out to the youth. I want to help with the Lions Vision van, anything that will put me in front of kids to show a different part of life.”

The main thing is to promote a positive lifestyle and teach positive coping mechanisms, according to Truan. “When I reach out and help people in our community, helping them makes me feel happy,” she said.

“I have a family member who is close to me who fell under the stronghold of addiction," said Truan of her passion for her platform. “There’s a lot of stigma, it’s not her fault, we grew up the same way. I had mentors that helped me find my niche and now I lead a positive life. (I want) teenagers to go towards the positive rather than the negative.”

Greg Householder, North Knox Lions Club president, at the June meeting.

Householder is planning two meet-and-greet events with Miss Tennessee at local Zaxby’s restaurants. “We have a lot of work ahead if all that I have planned comes to fruition,” he said. North Knox Fountain Lions Club will give local families the opportunity to meet and have their picture taken with Miss Tennessee while raising money for their charity initiatives. When the dates and locations are set for the fundraising events, they will be announced on the North Knox Lions Club Facebook page and advertised on posters.

Householder plans to broadcast live from the Lions Vision Van on Facebook and add a donate button to the club page. “Nonprofits receive 100 percent of donations and we can get a person a pair of glasses for just $35,” he said.

“It’s the gift of sight,” added club membership chair Clare Crawford. “They (people with vision issues) become adept at coping and hiding, but if they can’t read an application or even see it, they can’t get a job and they can’t afford glasses because they can’t get a job.”

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SOUTH

Stanley's serves summer garden needs

Heather Robinson, Shopper News correspondent 

Charles and Mary Kathryn Stanley built the first Stanley's greenhouse in 1955 on the family farm property, which is now 200 years old. The business has become a destination for plant lovers year round. Sitting at 3029 Davenport Road, the nursery attracts gardeners all year.

Stanley's retail store welcomes the public year-round with a variety of seasonal and annual plants.

"I would say the most popular items at the greenhouse right now are our grown right here at Stanley's roses," says Anna Montgomery.

Other hot items in the summer time are lantana, impatiens and pentax, which provide a great pop of color in flower beds. Herbs are also popular, like beautifully scented lavender. It isn't too late to get your hands on a tomato or pepper plant to grow some late edible fruit.

Perennial plants are a popular choice for those wanting to attract beds and butterflies to their yard year after year. Plants like asters, calendula and delphinium are great choices.

Stanley's Greenhouses in Knoxville

"Succulents are also plants of interest year round due to how easy they are to grow," says Montgomery. Jade and aloe vera are probably the most known succulents. 

For those with their eyes on something a little larger, crepe myrtles are a Southern favorite and can be found on almost every street in town as either a solitary focal point or as part of a grand planting. Few trees match their magnificent bloom, which is responsible for their popularity.

This weekend, June 15-17, Stanley’s Greenhouse is having its huge anniversary sale, with everything in the greenhouse discounted between 10 and 50 percent. Hours are Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m. More info: 865-573-9591.

 

NORTH/EAST

Fruits of the spirit — and some for neighbors, too

Carol Z. Shane, Shopper News correspondent 

“I feel like I’m walking in my grandfather’s footsteps,” says the Rev. Chris Battle as he hoes a row of young corn. “He was a good gardener.” Battle’s been gardening only a few years, but he’s become an enthusiast, and for the past three years he’s wanted his church, Tabernacle Baptist, to have its own garden. This summer, with a lot of hard work and community effort, his dream is coming true.

The East Knoxville Farmers’ Market kicked off on Sunday, June 3. Sixth District City Councilwoman Gwen McKenzie is intrigued by some of the luscious soap offered at “Homemade Sin,” which features homemade health and beauty products. Looking on are Morgan Wilson and McKenzie’s husband, Sam.

With the help of Adam Caraco from Knoxville CAC and Beardsley Farm, ground was broken on a nearby plot owned by the church. Different sections are labeled: “Pastor’s Patch,” “Annie’s Area,” “Children’s Church.”

He gestures toward the chain link fence on the property’s streetside perimeter. Young tomato, bean, squash and other plants are filling out there. “That’s what we’re calling the ‘Gleaning Fence.’ Out of Leviticus 19. What they would do is leave the corners of their fields unharvested and that was for the poor. We’re trying to be a little more community minded and reach out. This area is something of a food desert; if you live around here and don’t have a car you can’t get fresh fruits and vegetables. We wanted to do something to alleviate that.”

The Rev. Chris Battle beside the “Gleaning Fence.” Battle is following an Old Testament edict that instructs farmers to leave portions of their fields available to the poor.

As a further initiative, Battle and several others — Stan Johnson and Aisha Brown from SEEED, Vivian Williams from National Women in Agriculture Association, Tanisha Baker from 5 Points Up, Kimberley Pettigrew from Nourish Knoxville — started tossing around the idea of a Farmers’ Market.

“It’s really amazing that we were all thinking of it at the same time. Of course, I’m a person of faith — ‘God brought us together!’ But they’re not all church people, and they don’t have to be.”

The Eastside Farmers Market had its first event on Sunday, June 3. It’s open every Sunday from 2-5 throughout the summer, in the lot beside Tabernacle Baptist Church at 2137 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Meanwhile, the church’s garden is growing in size.

Tiny Lyric Taylor Jones is ready to help her Sunday school teacher, Leonia Johnson, in the children’s garden plot.

“Our children’s church has a plot,” says Battle. “I’m hoping this will grow into teaching them how to harvest it, can it, cook it.

“In my theology, I’ve become more ecologically attuned. My argument is that in Genesis 1:27, God says, ‘Let us make man.’ The Jewish concept is that he was talking with the angelic host. The Christian concept is that ‘us’ is the Trinity. I don’t believe that. I believe ‘us’ is the earth. And I believe that if God has that relationship with the earth, we ought to be able to take care of it.”

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POWELL

Coach looks for spike in support, team confidence

Coach Karin Davis is building a girls volleyball team at Powell High School that she hopes the community will get behind in order to not only motivate the team, but to also provide a fun experience.

Davis, who is in her second year of coaching with Powell, has plans to try to promote the team to give the community another reason to be proud and to instill more confidence in her players.  She also wants her players to learn and have fun.

Sophomore Emma Key passes the ball during the June 6 volleyball tryouts at Powell High School.

“As a coach, I want some things and expect a few things of my players,” Davis said. “I’m looking for competitiveness, aggressiveness, hustle, good attitude and good verbal communication. I am no-nonsense when it comes to the players, and most of them learn quick what is expected, plus I love teaching them (newcomers) about the sport.”

Tryouts for the varsity and junior varsity squads took place on June 6 at Powell High School, with about two dozen girls attending. Davis said she would select 18 to 20. Several girls who played last year returned, including six lettered players, adding volume to Davis’ coaching chops.

“I’ve been coaching for seven years and I love watching the players grow because it is such a great sport, a great team sport that gives them something to focus on and hopefully keep out of trouble. Every kids needs that,” Davis said. “Now if we can get more people to games, to see how fun the sport is and how much it gives confidence to these players, that would be great. Last year, we had a decent student section with about 12 in the stands, cheering the girls on.”

Karin Davis is back for a second season coaching the Powell High School volleyball team.

Volleyball at Powell hasn’t exactly drawn huge crowds to the games each week, but Davis is hoping that as she builds and promotes plus has a few prizes thrown out at games, that could change.

The more, the merrier.

At tryouts, the girls ran through a few passing and cardio warm-up drills. Davis called out encouragement, directions and even got on the floor herself to show examples of how a certain drill went.

Some of the skills needed for volleyball include jumping, passing, control of one’s body for passing, footwork, calling out plays, and directing the ball toward a target, such as for serving, spiking and passing. Davis ran the girls through drills to test these skills.

There were more moments of laughter along with intensity than any other mood. Clearly, Davis and the girls were having fun just playing and learning volleyball basics.

Coach Karin Davis and junior Darby Murabito stand at the net for a passing drill, with Briley Wright (on floor) ready to hustle for the ball.

“A few of my goals for the season with these girls is that I want them to improve, to work hard, work at their best ability, and to have fun – to function as a team, as a unit and of course to gain more community support, get people at games,” Davis said. “These girls work so hard, and to have more support at their games, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, would be such a blessing to them.”

The team schedule will be posted as the new school year draws near, but regular season games are always on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Davis said the team is seeking sponsors from the Knox County School District, and to contact her if interested. 

 

KARNS

High school days still fresh for Karns ’52 alumni

Nancy Anderson, Shopper News correspondent 

Ten members of the Karns High School class of ’52 gathered at the Community Center Saturday, June 2, to share memories of the good old days.

Best All-Around Boy Billy Freels in 1952. “I’m still the 'Best Boy,'" quipped Freels. “I’ve never been in trouble a day in my life.”

Attendees said this, the 66-year reunion, was special because 66 students graduated in 1952 (more than 320 graduated in 2018).

“The school is certainly bigger, it’s changed a lot in 66 years,” said event organizer Sue Reagan.

She said the elementary school had overflowed by the time she was in the seventh grade, so the high school housed grades 7 through 12.

Ten members of the Karns High School class of 1952 are all smiles as they gathered for their 66-year reunion. Pictured front is Jo Goosie, Obie Goins, Sue Reagan; back, Jane Wilkerson, Louise Simmons, Nora Jane Hudson, Bill Hall, Don Reagan, Bernard Grubb and Bill Freels.

The building housing the gym had burned down. There wasn’t a new gym until Reagan was a sophomore.

“The building was first a cannery, then it became the gym. When it burned down, we still don’t know how that happened, but we didn’t have a new gym until 1950.”

Bill Freels was voted class president, Best All-Around Boy, and Most Athletic. He said there were 66 students who graduated in 1952 because the district lines had been redrawn.

Event organizer Sue Reagan with husband Don Reagan. Both graduated Karns High School in 1952 but were not sweethearts until years later.

“There was more than 100 in our freshman class. The classes were full and we sat in the auditorium until they finished building West High School. When the redistricting was over we were left with a much smaller class.

“I lived on Hardin Valley Road 11 miles from the school. My thumb is what got me to school and back. My friend Ted Reece and I had to run to keep warm sometimes. My neighbors came down Ball Camp about the same time every day; I always hoped to make it there before they did."

Reagan added, “It was all farmland back then. Now it’s all subdivisions and very little farming. You can’t hitchhike in this day and age. Karns has boomed not so much since the '50s but it seems like here lately in the last 20 years or so. The farms have gone away and houses sitting on top of houses have come.”

Bill Freels thumbs through an album of class photos at the 66-year reunion held at the Community Center Saturday, June 2.

The classmates reminisced about the time Cleon Hartman set off a pack of firecrackers in the library.

Freels said, “We thought it was pretty funny at the time; of course he got a whipping for it. You can’t do anything like that now. You’d be in jail. Well, the principal didn’t think it was funny. We all remember that to this very day.”

When it came to fun, basketball was the name of the game, according to Freels.

“We'd drag race like they did in later years. Oak Ridge Highway wasn't there yet.

“We didn’t have football in those days either. That didn’t come until 1956. We had basketball games and the games were always full. We always had good crowds. What else were you going to do?”

What Karns High School looked like circa 1952

 “We had hay rides a lot when we were seniors,” said Reagan. “We used Leonard Shephard’s tractor and wagon. Most Friday evenings in the fall we’d go down Beaver Ridge to Harrell Road and back, just that one wagon. It was mostly full.

“It was fun, we’d laugh and giggle, and talk a lot. The boys would try to hold your hand. Life was a lot simpler back then.” 

More:New Knox Heritage executive director Todd Morgan trying positive approach in preservation

 

NORTH/EAST

Project GRAD helps out 'noisiest museum'

Carol Z. Shane, Shopper News correspondent 

Recently a group of students from Project GRAD got to lend a much needed hand and discover some history at the same time when they visited the Knox County Museum of Education.

This group from Project GRAD recently helped out at the Knox County Museum of Education. Shown are (rear) museum director Benna Van Vuuren, Tianna Couch-Cox, Keisharra Jones, Gayza Davenport, Jacquise Clegg, Aaliyah Rice, Tirrell Nixon, K’Onie Warren, Breanna Morris, Sharon Sharp and Arianna Smith; (middle) Montasia Queener, Jamija Henry, Nathaniel Moss, Quincy Fields and Adrian Mota; (front) Ahya Moreno and Zane Nelson.

Housing memorabilia and artifacts from the history of Knox County schools, the museum is in the Sarah Simpson Professional Development and Technology Center on Tipton Avenue in South Knoxville. “You know, you go in most museums and they’re quiet,” said Benna Van Vuuren, executive director of the museum. “This is the noisiest museum you’ll ever find! The people who come here laugh and talk, and they remember.”

Arianna Smith and Sharon Sharp, both from Fulton High School, enjoy taking a look at Fulton annuals from years past.

That was certainly true of the 17 high school sophomores from Austin-East and Fulton High Schools, who had come to help in the cataloging process. Their work, done at tables in groups of five, was often interrupted by squeals of delight. “This room looks exactly the same!” said Ahya Moreno, spotting a picture in a 1989 Austin-East yearbook. “This student has the name of someone from ‘Riverdale’!” said Sharon Sharp, who is a fan of the Netflix series. “The kids really enjoyed seeing photos of staff members from their schools and family members, as did I,” said Project GRAD leader Jasmine Siler, who is an alumnus of the program. She’ll be pursuing a master's degree in mental health counseling this fall at Lincoln Memorial University.

They did plenty of work, too — the kids were instructed to look through newspapers and other sources to identify items from their own schools, then secure those items in a notebook. That way, said Van Vuuren, when graduates from specific schools come to visit the museum years from now, they’ll know where to look. “Don’t throw away tomorrow’s history,” she said, quoting the museum’s motto.

Current Austin East students look at an Austin East yearbook from 1989. Breanna Morris, Quincy Fields and Ahya Moreno are surprised to see that the school itself hasn’t changed that much, though the faces certainly have.

It was the first time she and her staff had invited members from Project GRAD to help out. The national education program, begun in 1989, is known for improving college attendance rates among students. The organization focuses on improving student achievement and graduation rates, college and career path readiness and college completion rates, working to ensure academic and professional success.

Members of the museum staff were pleased to have help. “And I got them chips and Coke,” said Van Vuuren, herself a retired schoolteacher, “because, you know, they like that.”

The Knox County Museum of Education is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. It’s at 801 Tipton Ave. More info: 865-579-8264 or visit kcme.website.

 

 

Boundaries set by God create true freedom

Larry Trotter, Shopper News columnist

My wife and I were blessed to be in Florida recently. I was walking on the beach one morning, mindlessly following the contours created in the sand by the relentless advance and retreat of the surf. Out of the blue, or more accurately emerald green — the gulf is stunningly beautiful — my mindlessness was invaded by what I thought was a fragment of Scripture. Oh, shoot, what was it, something about how God told the sea how far it could come toward the shore. I pulled out my phone, looked it up, and it was Job 38:11. Speaking to the sea, God said, “This far you may come and no farther; this is where your proud waves halt.”

Larry Trotter is the senior pastor at Concord United Methodist Church in Knoxville.

I spent the rest of the walk thinking about how boundaries create freedom. Poets and philosophers have spilled oceans of ink about the sea, especially as a metaphor for freedom. But even the sea is not without boundaries. At creation, our planet was a swirling stew of elements; liquid life not ready for inhabitants. Then, God spoke into the darkness, separating the liquid from the solids by drawing a line in the sand that the waves couldn’t cross. By setting those boundaries, God created the vast oceans and the opportunities for humankind to travel over their waves, explore their vast depths, and swoon over their wondrous beauty. The boundaries create the possibility of true freedom.

Countless years later, on a mountain in the Middle East, amid billowing smoke, flashes of lightning, and violent tremors, God again spoke into the darkness and would once again set boundaries for the purpose of creating the possibility of true freedom. The commandments, literally etched in stone, were not meant to limit life, but, instead, to create life through God-prescribed freedom. But humankind told God thanks but no thanks; we can do this on our own. Humankind went right back to the tyranny of freedom without boundaries that ruled before the commandments.

Then, yet again, God spoke into the darkness, “This is my son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” The boundary lines were drawn with Jesus’ every word and deed. By allowing Christ to live through us as we live in him, we find the freedom God intended all along.

With summer in full swing, the skies will soon light up with July Fourth freedom celebrations. 2 Corinthians 3:17 says “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” God has set us free to experience the gentle boundaries of Christ within, giving us freedom to become the best version of ourselves. In the process, we allow others to experience freedom, as well. Our culture desperately needs to embrace a more generous sense of freedom. Freedom isn’t mocking and hating. Freedom is patient and caring. Just because we can do or say something doesn’t necessarily mean we should. If our freedom is hurting or hindering someone else, we have crossed a line Jesus drew with his love.

Larry Trotter is the senior pastor at Concord United Methodist Church. For more information go to www.concordumc.com.

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BEARDEN

Haslam Scholar Kinley Koontz has a lot to give

John Shearer, Shopper News correspondent 

A lot of times, someone who went to college through a distinguished scholarship program will go on to hold elective office or be appointed to an important governing board or position.

Koontz also spent a year as student representative on the Knox County school board.

Recent West High School graduate Kinley Koontz has uniquely experienced the opposite.

She was recently named as the only Knox County resident among the 15 new Haslam Scholars at the University of Tennessee this year – just as she was finishing up a year as the student representative on the Knox County Board of Education.

She was excited when she was named to the school board, and apparently even more so when she found out she had received the most prestigious academic merit scholarship for incoming freshmen at UT.

Recent West High School graduate Kinley Koontz.

“It was the most exciting phone call I’ve ever gotten in my life,” she said of hearing the news. “I felt so humbled and honored to be selected.”

Part of the reason for the excitement was who was calling – Jim and Natalie Haslam Sr., who have helped endow the 10-year-old scholarship program.

She said receiving the scholarship involved going through a multi-step application process. She had initially just applied for the Honors Program at UT, but the essays she filled out qualified her as a Haslam Scholar semifinalist.

After an interview with associate director Dr. Sylvia Turner, she was named as one of the 30 finalists. She and the others then spent a weekend on the UT campus doing personalized interviews, taking part in a discussion on charter schools and making dinner for the faculty at Pond Gap Elementary as part of a community service project.

“I felt extremely comfortable,” she said. “They (the staff and faculty interviewers) are such amazing people who make you feel comfortable. They wanted to see who I was.”

They must have liked what they saw, because she was one of the 15 initial ones selected for the scholarship. She did not have to qualify by originally being an alternate, as some do.

It was the latest achievement and honor to add to a resume that reads more like that of successful 60-year-old professional and avid civic volunteer than that of a recent high school graduate.

At West, Koontz was involved in countless organizations, including Student Council and numerous service organizations. And she even found time to play soccer both initially at West and later on a travel team, and was among the top 10 seniors academically. She can also play the piano.

When she enrolled at West as a freshman in 2014 and started becoming involved in organizations, it was not to impress, but simply to fit in. Actually from the Halls area of town, she admittedly hardly knew anyone at West initially.

“I transferred for the International Baccalaureate program,” she said. “It was a way I really involved myself. I’ve always been passionate about service.”

As part of that work, she founded a nonprofit program, The Garden Project, in which older students share their love of the arts with younger students.

She found out about the opportunity to be the student representative on the school board through West guidance counselor Sarah Bast.

During her year on the board, she tried to develop a program of having a student representative from each school to better communicate the needs and issues with each school to her.

Regarding the board meetings, she said she tried to contribute when necessary. “I talked whenever it was important or relevant, or whenever the discussions were important to the students.”

She admitted that the year went by quickly, but it left a lasting imprint on her mind regarding the importance of public policy.

“After this I realized how important it is that we get involved,” she said, adding that she might like to run for a position like school board one day. “It was really awesome to be a part of that process.”

The daughter of Wayne and Keela Koontz is now ready to get to work on her own education at UT after focusing in part on others.

After a unique orientation that included helping survey the Odd Fellows Cemetery and discussing the book “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria,” she plans to major in biomedical engineering at UT.

She hopes to minor in entrepreneurship and is looking long term at doing research into using technology to help with neurological issues like nerve damage and cerebral palsy.

She also wants to help others become entrepreneurs or at least more self-sufficient through continued community service. It is a philosophy also encouraged by the Haslam Scholars administrators, and that was one reason she wanted to be in the program.

“They have taught us that those who receive a lot have to give a lot,” she said.

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FOUNTAIN CITY 

Shoppers welcome Vintage, Etc to the neighborhood

Ali James, Shopper News correspondent 

When Vintage, Etc Knoxville’s lease expired earlier this year, the hunt was on for a new location.

Flip through vintage albums in this booth.

“Closing out the other location, it’s been crazy, absolute chaos,” said owner Jeana Vaughn. “I have a great group of dealers that jumped in and helped. Eleven thousand square feet to 2,200 – I was overwhelmed. We had to leave it in broom-swept condition – we didn’t leave as much as a receipt on the ground.”

The new Fountain City store, at 3000 Tazewell Pike, has ample parking and – Vaughn is pleased to add – heat and air, which the other location did not have.

Shop local at Vintage, Etc Knoxville.

“We just had our first granddaughter, so this is closer for us,” said Vaughn. “We began looking for this size building when we passed by and saw the sign.”

While the McCalla location had ample space for 80 vendors, there were only 32 current vendors when it came time to relocate. Originally known as Nostalgia on McCalla, it was the second location for Nostalgia on Homberg Drive. The original owners eventually sold it, and Nostalgia was briefly known as Red Brick Market. Vaughn, one of the co-owners, took over as sole owner and rebranded the business as Vintage, Etc Knoxville in December 2017.

Vaughn had the keys to her new store on April 3, and 22 vendors worked together to make the move while continuing to make sales at the McCalla store.

Vintage, Etc. opened to customers in Fountain City on May 5. “We have had wonderful foot traffic,” said Vaughn, “people that are curious about what’s in here, and we have had a lot of customers from the old store. It’s funny because a lot of people who came to that store said we are actually closer to them now. They were passing this store to get to our other store.

This booth features vintage women’s accessories and even a large basket filled with buttons.

“The merchandise, it’s still pretty much the same,” said Vaughn. “We don’t have the large furniture that we had over there. It’s not just Vintage, that’s why we have 'Etc' in the name. It does go into other areas. We are trying to have a little bit of something for everybody. We have different industrial items, tools, clothing, some wallets, and desktop items for Father’s Day,” said Vaughn. “We also have albums and even two Dodge truck doors and a hood that would be great in a man cave.”

Once Vaughn feels that they have settled into their new Fountain City home, she has more plans. “We will spotlight a local artist each month, because I think a lot of people have ideas and a niche for something,” she said. “But they don’t have the outlet to reach people. While brick-and-mortar stores are going away, there is a comfort in going into an actual shop front.”

Plans are in the works for a grand opening in July, with refreshments and prize drawings, after the new sign has been hung.

Jeana Vaughn, owner of Vintage, Etc Knoxville in the new location at 3000 Tazewell Pike.

Vaughn hopes to help promote local community events. “We don’t mind posting upcoming events and being a part of the community,” she said. “We want to replace the little drugstore on the corner where people just check in and see what’s going on with everybody.”

Vintage, Etc Knoxville, 3000 Tazewell Pike, 865-622-3252, https://www.facebook.com/VintageEtcKnoxville. Open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. seven days a week.

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POWELL

Powell Playhouse presents ‘Grow Up Grandad’

Carol Z. Shane, Shopper News correspondent 

If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary – something to challenge you, tug at your heart and make you laugh, all while supporting local talent – look no further than the Powell Playhouse (PPH) and its production of “Grow Up Grandad.”

Grandfather and granddaughter, played by Dave Arter and Sophie Susano, have trouble keeping the peace when the the young girl’s upbringing becomes the responsibility of the older man.

The inter-generational story by playwright Gordon Steel deals with love, loss, hope and sadness. It’s dramatic, painful, provocative and often hugely funny.  

“‘Grow Up Grandad’ is a British play about a grandparent who is forced to raise his pre-teen granddaughter Poppy,” says director Sheila McMahan. The play moves back and forth in time, and PPH will make use of a split stage to represent the two periods in the family’s history.

“It begins with a look back to 1998 and showcases the drama, foibles, humor and issues present in such a situation. The play then jumps to the present, where the adult Poppy is now her grandfather’s caregiver, and where admittance of errors by him elicits forgiveness, then acceptance and love from Poppy.”

The cast of “Grow Up Grandad” – Sophie Susano, Elizabeth McCready, Dave Arter, Joyce Brumbaugh and Lynnette Brown. Not shown: Marlee Simmons.

McMahan wants her audience to know that the play deals with some difficult issues, including domestic violence. “I would probably rate it ‘PG,’” she says. “And we’ve toned it down a lot.”

The cast includes stage veteran Dave Arter, who played Kris Kringle in the Christmas 2017 production of “Miracle on 34th Street,” and  Grandpa Vanderhof in the Lyric Theatre of Loudon’s 2014 production of “You Can’t Take It With You.” Playing young Poppy is Sophie Susano, a rising junior at Knoxville Catholic High School who says she’s been in one play or another since the sixth grade. “This is my first out-of-school production,” she says.

Rounding out the cast are Marlee Simmons as the adult Poppy, Elizabeth McCready as Poppy’s daughter Molly, Lynnette Brown as Poppy’s aunt Margaret, and Joyce Brumbaugh as Genevieve, a social worker. Stage manager is McMahan’s daughter Melody, with Josh Lemons as production assistant and Carla Hatfield as wardrobe mistress.

The play’s production team: wardrobe mistress Carla Hatfield, director Sheila McMahan, stage manager Melody McMahan and production assistant Josh Lemons.

“Bring your tissues!” says McMahan. “This play is a departure from PPH’s recent string of comedies. Though it has periods of comedy, it is a dramatic performance dealing with some of the harsher realities of life.”

The Powell Playhouse will present “Grow Up Grandad” at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 28 and Friday, June 29, and at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, June 30. Performances will take place at Jubilee Banquet Facility, 6700 Jubilee Center Way in Knoxville. Info/tickets: powellplayhouseinc.com or email thepowellplayhouseinc@gmail.com.

 

KARNS

Beaver Ridge UMC youth — 'we're there to help'

Nancy Anderson, Shopper News correspondent 

Beaver Ridge United Methodist Church youth were busy Beavers last week volunteering for the “Corners of Your Field” program at the new KARM store on 7224 Oak Ridge Hwy.

Members of the Beaver Ridge United Methodist Church Youth Group spent the afternoon volunteering for KARM at 7224 Oak Ridge Hwy. Pictured front is Colby Spencer, 12; back, Youth Director Lisa Howard, Brady Porter, 15, and Aiden Spencer, 14.

The youth spent the afternoon helping to organize a mountain of donations from clothing to housewares to furniture. They seemed to have a happy and helpful attitude as they cleaned and organized shelving.

“We’re thrilled to have the help,” said volunteer coordinator Amber Auston. “This is one of our larger stores and we move more than 2,000 pieces a day. The Ready Area is packed full. If I had three times the help it would still take a week to go through everything and set everything out. The kids today will help with that and they’ll help organize the shelves. As you can see, they’ve been picked through and are in need of some TLC.

“I love to see church youth volunteer through the 'Corners of your Field' program. That’s where church kids or school organizations help out in a KARM store in their own community. They have the opportunity to help give back a little and see all the wonderful things that KARM does for those in need.”

Amber Auston and Lisa Howard move a handmade bench to the sales floor.

“And we’re happy to help,” added Beaver Ridge UMC Youth Director Lisa Howard. “We have way more kids than this. Many were busy doing other family and summer related things today, but we’re here and we’re ready to work.

“We keep the kids busy doing all kinds of things, but volunteering is near and dear to our heart and we love KARM. They make it clear, when you purchase something, those $2 are going to feed someone or help someone in need.”

Howard said she believes in keeping her kids busy to keep them on the right track. She put together “Youth Week.” On Saturday, June 2, they went to a Braves game; on Sunday she took the kids to Main Event Entertainment, where they played games. Monday they went hiking at Ijams Nature Center, Tuesday they volunteered at KARM, Wednesday they went to Strike and Spare on Western Avenue, and Thursday she put together an at-home Disney World with Disney themed foods, movies, and games.

Youth Director Lisa Howard and Brady Porter organize a mountain of books.

“I think busy kids are happy kids. Doing things together provides a fellowship where they can help each other out, and each kids knows he belongs somewhere and that people care about them.”

During the year, the kids have activities every Wednesday night and they sponsor a Tuesday afternoon Hangout for kids in the community who may not feel comfortable going to church.

“From 3:30 to 5 we have snacks and refreshments. The kids can just hang out and do homework or run around the gym. They play tons of ball games like basketball and dodgeball. All the kids are really busy so the Hangout gives them an opportunity to just chill for an hour or so before they’re off to the next thing. It’s for kids in the community, not just our church kids."

Aiden Spencer helps unpack one of the many bins filled with donations.

The kids are busy throughout the year. They serve food at the annual Murder Mystery Dinner, help out with Vacation Bible School, run games and booths at fall festival, hide eggs for the Easter Egg Hunt, and volunteer at the church’s food pantry.

“We never miss an opportunity to be involved. Right now as soon as Youth Week is over, we’re going to be gearing up for Impact Richmond, when the kids will spend a week in Richmond, Virginia, doing household projects for those in need. We’ll help build porches, fix doors, plant flowers — whatever is needed, we’re there to help.

“It’s really exciting because one of the kids who went for years and years now does that kind of work here in Knoxville over the summer.

“It’s cool to see that these activities have instilled a working heart and a service oriented mind.

“If you plug into the kids now at a young age, it’s meaningful and it really makes a difference."

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OPINION

Fashionable friend sees through my plain wrapping

Leslie Snow, Shopper News columnist

My friend Kari has style. She isn’t afraid to pair leopard print shoes with denim jeans. She can wear beige from head to toe and make it look chic. She is fashionable and sophisticated with a “You mean this old thing?” nonchalance that I envy.

Leslie Snow, News Sentinel columnist.

I have none of Kari’s fashion sense. I’m big on simple and solid. When I find a dress I like, I buy three of them in different colors. I don’t know how to tie a scarf. I don’t own any leopard prints. If I wear beige from head to toe, I look like I forgot to do laundry.

The other day, Kari stopped over to bring me some window-treatments I ordered. Besides being my very well-dressed friend, she’s also the designer I used for my remodeling project. On her way to check out the roller-shades for my bathroom, she poked her head into my newly designed closet. She stopped in her tracks at the sight of it.

“This is what your closet looks like?” she asked, incredulously. The answer seemed pretty obvious, but I replied anyway. “Yes, that’s my closet.” Then she looked at my newly built shoe-shelves and said, “And are these all your shoes?”

“Those are all my shoes,” I replied, trying to decide if I should be proud or embarrassed by my answer. “I just bought a new pair that I haven’t brought up yet, so in addition to these, picture some strappy black sandals on this middle shelf.”

Still staring at my closet, she exclaimed, “I am so impressed with you! You’re one of those minimalists I’ve been reading about. You’ve paired down your life and simplified your wardrobe. You only buy the shoes you really need.”

I laughed out loud. “Kari,” I explained. “I’m not a minimalist. I’m just a terrible shopper. When I need clothes, I wander through the store aimlessly hoping a dress will speak to me, but dresses are surprisingly mute. If my closet is making any kind of statement, it’s saying, 'Girlfriend, you are in desperate need of a personal shopper.'"

She didn’t believe me. She couldn’t hear me. The next day she called to tell me I’ve inspired her to cut back and pare down her wardrobe. “I’ve never seen anything like your closet. I wish I could be more like you. You’re amazing!”

I tried to explain all the reasons my wardrobe is the opposite of amazing. I told her I would love to have a closet full of shoes and know how to pair them with countless stylish pants. I would love to know how to wear statement necklaces and vintage sweaters. But I don’t.

When I look at Kari, I see someone who always looks good, someone with her own style and an innate coolness I lack. When she sees me, she sees someone who embraces simplicity, someone so comfortable in her own skin that she can pair a simple black sundress with the sandals she bought eight years ago and get away with it.

We see what we want to see. We want what we don’t have.

Kari was still praising my aspirational wardrobe when I told her I had to get off the phone to go shopping. “Zack is getting married next week, and I still don’t have a dress for the rehearsal dinner.” She was silent for a second then announced excitedly, “I have the perfect dress you can borrow!” And I thought to myself, “Of course you do.”

Leslie Snow may be reached at snowcolumn@aol.com.

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