Shopper Blog: Milton Roberts Community Center reopens after 3-year renovation

NORTH KNOXVILLE

Milton Roberts Community Center reopens after 3-year renovation

Carol Z. Shane, Shopper News

It was a great day for East Knoxvillians of all ages and interests when the Milton Roberts Community Center on Asheville Highway held its reopening ceremony and celebration on Feb. 6.

Mayor Indya Kincannon, members of City Council, community partners and an enthusiastic cluster of children were on hand to cut the ceremonial ribbon and officially reopen the center.

The hub for East Knoxville recreation and community gatherings has undergone a dramatic, three-year, top-to-bottom $1.5 million renovation: new floors, roof, windows, bleachers, appliances, furniture and games.

“Apart from the walls and the foundation itself, just about everything is new and better,” Kincannon said. “This was a complete makeover.”

New in name, too. Formerly the Milton Roberts Recreational Center, it’s now called a Community Center because its scope has increased, and will continue to do so.

Aaron Browning, deputy director of Knoxville’s Parks and Recreation Department since 2016, says that when people hear “recreation center,” they tend to assume that’s it limited to a gym and the activites that can be done there. Instead, he says, “the word ‘community’ has a more encompassing feel to it.”

The Parks and Recreation Department recently received a Connected Communities Grant from the Tennessee Valley Authority, and the Milton Roberts Community Center is the first of 15 such centers that will receive TVA-funded technology upgrade, such as smart TVs and access to laptops and tablets, to go along with the wi-fi, computers and printers available for public use.

“The TVA aspect really complements some other things,” says Browning. “I was on the Community Health Council − part of the Knox County Health Department − and we had a speaker from the UT School of Nursing. She spoke of broadband internet being good for health. You can look up information on health care, find jobs, etc. We’ll have computer literacy classes, financial literacy classes. We’ve got a lot of things in place.”

It’s still very much a recreation destination, with a modern playground, relocated and installed in 2019, and a beautiful new wooden basketball court/gymnasium inside. Next door are the Holston-Chilhowee Ballfields, boasting five baseball/softball fields, batting cages, a football field and the one-mile paved Holston-Chilhowee Greenway.

The community center also offers a kitchen/multipurpose room, and a community meeting/recreation room.

And this spring, the city’s newest dog park will open just east of the ballfields.

Due to the extensive nature of the renovation, the center has been closed for nearly three years. Programs were temporarily moved to other East Knoxville sites, and Parks and Recreation provided free transportation to children after school. Challenges during the early pandemic also complicated matters.

“We thank everyone for their patience while the renovation work was underway,” Kincannon said. “We also thank our community partners. But we especially want to recognize the families, city recreation staff and the youth league coaches who work so passionately, year-round, to create and embrace opportunities for our children.”

Browning is thrilled with the center and the celebration. “It was kind of chaotic − kids outside, happy, making noise. When the middle girls cut the ribbon they just jumped up and screamed and I thought, ‘that’s how we all feel.’ Seeing young kids, teens, adults, seniors. The center can be a lot of things to a lot of different people, and we want them to know it’s open.”

865 Academies make for successful students at Karns High School

Nancy Anderson, Shopper News

It was a whole new world for incoming freshmen at Karns High School last August. A new transformational model for learning was implemented.

865 Academies changes the way Karns High School does school.

Academy Coach Julie Langley assures the three “R’s” will not be forgotten.

“We’re going to connect content to careers and make those connections with students to the work world,” said Langley.

“A high school diploma is simply not enough to be successful anymore. Students will now graduate with more than a diploma. They will have a clear career path of their choice, whether it be automotive or prelaw. We’re trying to add value to the diploma with the experiences afforded by the Academies.”

Langley organized a Career Pathway Fair last month for freshmen and sophomores, with 88 opportunities to engage with pathway teachers, student ambassadors, college and trade school representatives, and industry professionals.

The school offers three Academies: Business and Entrepreneurship, Creative and Technical Innovation, and Health Sciences and Human Services. Each Academy has various pathways, which consist of three career-targeted classes.

Each pathway has job shadowing possibilities, field trips, a workday’s learning experience, or an internship. School is no longer contained in a static building.

Langley said there have been a few growing pains. While finding skilled teachers for the pathways may be problematic, all pathways at Karns are fully staffed.

Teachers must now teach to a pathway, which may be hard to do. Imagine an English teacher teaching students in the Automotive Pathway. They have to find a way to make content relevant to that particular pathway.

Freshmen have fared better, and problematic behavior has decreased.

“Freshmen have problems sometimes because it’s a new environment. They don’t know the social rules for success in high school, so we start them off with The Freshmen Academy, where they are given the tools to succeed. Students are grouped in teams.

“We’re trying to make the school smaller. Rather than 375 freshmen grappling for success, we’re creating small communities of students and pointing the way.”

One very successful way the school is doing this is with YouScience. Students are tested for aptitude and interest during Freshman Seminar.

“We’re implementing YouScience, which will tell us what a student has an aptitude for. Research shows that aptitude does not change much after high school. These are things that you’re naturally good at and also align with your interests.

“A pathway is not a major; the student isn’t married to it. Adjustments can be made.”

It was an exciting new year, and students have already been on field trips to gain exposure to possible careers.

Mrs. Rhoden’s marketing students and Mr. Tinsley’s vocal music, ensemble, and musical theatre classes visited the Tennessee Theatre ahead of the opening of “Hamilton.” They found that eight of the career pathways offered at KHS next year align to careers in the performing arts – Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Business Management, Structural Systems, Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing, A/V Production, Digital Arts and Design, and Journalism.

POWELL

New YMCA at Tennova North adds climbing wall, pickleball, yoga and more

Al Lesar, Shopper News

Tennova’s North Knoxville Medical Center administration was interested in getting out of the health club business that it had run for more than 20 years.

The YMCA of East Tennessee was hoping to enhance its presence in the Powell/Halls area.

Thus, a convenient partnership was formed at the start of the year and the Tennova Family YMCA was christened.

The Northside Y on Maynardville Highway in Halls was sold to D Bats, a baseball/softball training facility. At the start of the year, the YMCA of East Tennessee took over the 65,000-foot facility at the medical center.

“This is simply amazing,” said Kim Ballard, a veteran of 34 years with the YMCA, the last 20 as chief operations officer of the YMCA of East Tennessee. “It’s been a lot of work. Everyone involved is tired. But we’re all thrilled to see it happen.”

Ballard oversees five YMCA facilities in Knox County, 18 after-school programs and eight summer day camps.

“The YMCA of East Tennessee is proud to be part of the Powell community,” Ballard said. “We’ve got a quality program. We hope people will come out and give us a try.”

New equipment

The new entity will have a staff of 125, combining the staff from the old Northside Y and the Tennova facility. Ray Kitts, who has 43 years of service with the YMCA, will move from his role as director of the Northside Y to run the new program.

Ballard said the equipment in the workout area was more than two decades old. The cardio equipment has all been replaced and the strength equipment should be new by the end of the spring.

The Northside Y had a large outdoor pool that was great in the summer, “but not efficient in the winter,” Ballard said. There were 125 children on the swim team and 110 on a wait list for lessons.

The new facility has a six-lane lap pool as well as a warm water therapy pool that could be used for exercise classes and physical therapy sessions.

Other amenities at the Tennova Family YMCA include an indoor climbing wall (with certified staff on hand), two indoor pickleball courts, a racquetball court, a yoga studio, a full-sized basketball court and free child care for two hours with a household membership.

There will be four massage therapists on staff, an extensive personal training program and swim lessons. All those will be add-ons financially with memberships.

God's hand

“We moved fast on this,” Ballard said. “We say that we think God had His hand in this.”

Conversations between Tennova and the YMCA began last March. By Jan. 1, it was up and running.

“Before this, I’ve opened two YMCAs,” Ballard said. “Both of those were at least 24-month projects. But, we were building them from the ground up. This was a lot different.”

Through her 20 years in Knox County, Ballard said the primary focus of the YMCA has been steady: Youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.

The YMCA has been around the Knoxville area for 166 years, making it the oldest nonprofit.

Membership costs are $75/month for a household and $51/month for a single. For more information call 865-922-9622.

HALLS

Ruthie and Rose Boutique pretties up empty Emory Road shop

Ali James, Shopper News

Ruthie and Rose Boutique celebrated its grand opening at 901 East Emory Road with a Galentine’s Day-themed day on Feb. 11, complete with sweet treats and plenty of Valentine’s Day gifts and outfits.

“I started out going to school for interior design and switched to fashion merchandising,” said owner Fallon Brown. “Then I decided I wanted to go ahead and start my own business, because I feel l always learn best from experience.”

Brown knew she had to start small and online when she launched her business in August 2021. Ruthie and Rose is named after Brown’s grandmother, whom everyone called Ruthie. “I added Rose because I wanted something that flowed really nicely,” she added.

“I always wanted a storefront where people can come and shop, then I found this,” said Brown. “It was empty and from what I could tell, had been for a while. It was kind of rough; we had to redo the floors, the walls, everything.”

It took five months, but once Brown had a fresh canvas to work with, she started adding her own creativity and boho touches to the 600-square-foot space. “I just had a good feeling about it,” she said of the commercial space that has been various things over the years and was in dire need of some serious updates.

Brown has lived in five states including Tennessee. “I moved here for school. My older and younger sister live here too,” she said. “I came here from Maryland and before that I lived in California.” All of that moving around allowed her to develop a sense of the different styles and what works best in each area.

“I would say it is a mix of boho with trendy clothes, it is still everyday fashion, styles that are still wearable for most,” said Brown, of her current inventory. “I have hair accessories, jewelry, bracelets, earrings, and necklaces. I wanted to make it a little shop where people can come and get gifts: candles, perfumes, Chapstick, little makeup bags, greeting cards, all kinds of stuff.”

A unique addition is the variety of Christian books and journals for sermon notes, and anxiety scripture books.“I look at the price, because I want to make sure it is affordable and will appeal to a wide audience,” said Brown. “I wanted clothes that were cute not just for younger people, but also for older people.”

For now, Ruthie and Rose will carry limited styles of shoes, boots and sandals. “I really love the boots; they are a good statement piece to pair with the outfits we have,” she said. “I’m also excited to offer gift items.”

There will be new arrivals weekly, so that there will always be something fresh, according to Brown, who is planning to travel regularly to the U.S. apparel markets.

“I love living in the Halls/Powell area and I’m excited for the community to come and shop,” Brown said. “I really like going into a place where people recognize me and have a small town feel and I hope I can make those connections and that people will love to come here. Not just because there is cute stuff, but because it feels good to come in and pick out an outfit or gift.”

To start, Ruthie and Rose will carry extra small through to large sizes. Brown is adept at social media and will post regular updates, including new arrivals and sales on her Instagram and on TikTok @shopruthieandrose. The boutique will be open 10a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, noon-5 p.m. on Sundays and closed on Mondays.

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NORTH KNOXVILLE

Why did Mayor Glenn Jacobs wear elephant ears? To get kids to read 1 million hours

Carol Z. Shane, Shopper News

The joint was jumpin’ at the 2023 Read City “All Together Now” kickoff event presented by the Knox County Public Library at the Historic Bijou Theater on Jan. 24. The Read City Band from the UT Jazz department, under the direction of Keith Brown, played swinging tunes. Flappers danced. County Mayor Glenn Jacobs read a story and wore elephant ears.

Now in its fifth year, the Read City initiative always features an imaginative theme and fun ways for Knox County elementary school students to improve their reading skills. Anyone of any age can participate, and the 2022 program drew 40,000 readers.

“We had a 16% increase in participation over the year before,” says library assistant director for marketing, communications and development Mary Pom Claiborne. “Together we read a total of 1.3 million hours. We hope to build on that success this year by reaching more organizations to join our challenge.”

Currently, says Claiborne, only 40% of Knox County third graders are reading at grade level. “Unfortunately, students who are not reading proficiently by the third grade have a tough time catching up, and the downstream effects of poor literacy are dire. From kindergarten to third grade, students learn to read. After that, they read to learn. It’s very important that we do everything we can to promote reading from the earliest years.”

At the event, Jacobs led chants of “all together now!” and challenged the community to log 1 million hours by reading 30 minutes every day for a total of 36 hours by April 8. It’s the first of three phases in the million-hour challenge, and is entitled “Find Your Voice.” Others to follow later in the year are “Feel the Beat” and “Let’s Play.”

“When we work together, we get things done,” Jacobs said, drawing parallels between a musical band and the Read City effort. “Each player has their own talent,” he said, “and when they work together, they make music. Don’t you think music is the perfect way to celebrate our theme?”

The hourlong show was emceed by WBIR news anchor Robin Wilhoit. “Stories can take you anywhere you want to go,” she told the audience, including students from the Emerald Youth Foundation, Centro Hispano and Wesley House.

The kids enjoyed a drawing lesson with Daniel Wiseman, illustrator of “My Brother the Duck” and other children’s books. With The Read City Band providing humorous, vivid musical commentary, Jacobs told the story of “Edward, the Elephant,” the tale of an elephant with an abnormally long trunk who has trouble fitting in with his bandmates. Dancers from Go! Contemporary Dance Company did the Charleston and the Baby Elephant Walk. Coy Bowles of the Zac Brown Band − an author himself − sent a video message. The show wrapped up with a very lively rendition from everyone − including the Read City Singers − of “Read City” to the tune of “Ragg Mopp.”

The creative team for the event included Claiborne, library fund development and engagement manager Jennifer Harrell, assistant director for public services Nelda Hill and creative services manager Kayti Tilson.The event was sponsored by Publix Supermarkets Charities and ByWater Solutions.

For more info, including how to participate, visit knoxcountylibrary.org/read-city.

OPINION

Dad's first funeral was a gift

Leslie Snow, Shopper News

On a rainy Saturday afternoon, we said goodbye to my father. We held his hands and told him we loved him. My mother kissed his dry lips. My sister Shelley stroked his hair. I comforted him with words, softly recounting my favorite days from our childhood; the trips to the park, bike-riding in Hilton Head, our winter hikes. But before my father took his last breath, we needed to take care of the business of dying.

We made those terrible telephone calls to say, “It’s time. Come home. Say your goodbyes.” My sister Robin and all the grandkids got in their cars or booked plane tickets. We assumed we’d have a funeral by the end of the week.

But while we were crying at my father’s bedside and watching his respirations stop and start, he had a change of plans. He took a deep, full breath, opened his eyes to see us gathered around his bedside, and said in a confused voice, “What’s going on here?” And because it was the only thing left to do, we laughed.

By the time we realized that my father had switched the day’s agenda from dying to living, all the travel plans had been made. Ethan and Amanda had their plane tickets. My nieces had rearranged their work schedule and my sister Robin was already on her way to Knoxville.

That’s when I made an inappropriate joke about my father attending his own funeral. Everybody laughed. None of us realized how prescient those words would turn out to be.

Because my father didn’t just come back from death’s door, he didn’t just recover from a high and a small stroke, he was revived. Somehow, the stroke must have shunted blood to an area of his brain where it hadn’t flowed in a long time. After suffering from debilitating dementia for the past eight years, my father suddenly remembered.

He held my mother’s face in his hands and kissed her over and over again. He called me by my name. And when his grandchildren arrived to celebrate his life and to mourn his passing, he knew them.

We planned a party for my father then, the one that was meant to be his funeral. He had a wonderful time. He ate ice cream, caught up with all the important people in his life, and even told a joke or two. He wasn’t whole, but he was a version of my father I hadn’t seen in years.

Before the party ended, I felt the need to say something to all the people who had traveled such a long way to attend a funeral for a man who had no intention of dying. It seems silly now, but I was afraid they might be upset with me for “jumping the gun.”

But as it turns out, everybody was happy to be there. We all agreed it was the best funeral any of us had ever attended. The guest of honor enjoyed it most of all.

I don’t know what the next few days will bring. The surge my father experienced hasn’t lasted, but he’s resting peacefully now. We’re gathered by his bedside once again. Still, we were lucky to have that time with him, to say goodbye, to tell him we loved him, to let him know that his life was well-lived. My father’s first funeral was an unexpected gift. We shared laughs and memories that night and said goodbye to a man who wasn’t quite ready to leave this world.

My father passed away a few days after I wrote this column. His second funeral wasn’t as festive, but it was meaningful.

Leslie Snow may be reached at snow column@aol.com.

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