Shopper Blog: Veterans are honored at Vintage Base Ball game

NORTH KNOXVILLE

Veterans are honored at Vintage Base Ball game

Carol Z. Shane, Shopper News

On a recent hot Saturday, the valiant team members of Vintage Base Ball were on the field at Historic Ramsey House entertaining the crowd of about 150 by playing the game according to the 1864 rulebook.

They weren’t the only valiant ones in attendance, however. Included among the crowd on July 8 were U.S. military veterans who were honored throughout the day.

Marilyn Childress, president of the Knoxville chapter of the Veterans Heritage Site Foundation (VHSF), estimates that there were “60 to 70 veterans – about half the crowd” there, plus many organizations that aid and support vets.

In addition to the VHSF, which preserves, maintains and in some cases creates sites that recognize and honor veterans, like Sharp’s Ridge Veterans Memorial Park, there were Rocky Top Bourbon Charity, American Legion Post 2, VFW 5154, the Farmer Veteran Coalition, the ETMA Military Federal Credit Union and the East Tennessee Women Veterans Network.

Also present were representatives from Smoky Mountain Hospice Team. “They come and recruit vets for when they have a vet in their service,” says Childress, herself a Vietnam-era Navy vet. “They can talk and share stories.”

Veteran Ron Bridges, who teaches biology at Pellissippi State Community College, set up 22 pairs of boots with flags in them to represent the 22 vets who commit suicide on a daily basis. “Irreverent Warriors brings attention to that,” said Childress. “Rocky Top Bourbon Charity helps, too.”

The opening ceremony, led by the chaplain of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1078, featured remarks by U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett. Then two very special awards were given to first responders Steve Tinder and Arthur Bohanan.

Tinder is a retired lieutenant with the Knoxville Police Department who also served on the hazmat team and Rescue Squad. A forensic specialist, he helped identify bodies in the wreckage and devastation of the 9/11 attacks at the World Trade Center.

Bohanan, a Vietnam vet, is retired from the KPD’s forensic department. He is also the inventor of the Superglue fingerprint process. Like Tinder, he was present at the 9/11 site.

“He spent over 60 days up there in that mess,” said Childress. “The forensic teams hardly ever get recognized, so we were recognizing them. What they see is unspeakable.”

Bohanan is also active with Wreaths Across America, which seeks out veterans’ graves – some of which have never before been found – for recognition during the winter holidays. He also aids with general forensic work concerning missing or unknown graves. All in all, said Childress, “he has probably identified about 4,000 missing graves.”

Later in the day, Marsha Reep and Carlos Reyes presented a Quilt of Valor to Christine Page, a Navy Reserve veteran. Vietnam veterans were presented with their 50th-anniversary “welcome home” pin in an official pinning ceremony.

Ramsey House had offered free food vouchers to the vets and free tours of the Ramsey House. “Almost every vet took advantage of the free combo meal,” said Childress. “The rest of the time they were just getting to know each other, enjoying the game and getting to know about the organizations. It was just a really good day. Everybody that I’ve talked to was really glad that they’d come.”

SOUTH KNOXVILLE

Sugar Queen Creamery starts second year in tasty fashion

Ali James, Shopper News

It was not enough for Sugar Queen Creamery to throw a one-day celebration. “We just want to give back to our customers,” said Staci Meyer, who co-owns the business with her mom and sisters. “We wanted to have a whole week doing as much as we can.”On Monday, kids enjoyed free balloons, face painting, crafts and $5 sundaes. On Tuesday, there were pretzel specials and board games. Wednesday was free waffle cones, Thursday there were free hot dogs and an ice cream eating contest. On Friday, Sugar Queen Creamery ordered 50 Pizza Hoss pizzas and gave away free slices, and the festivities wrapped up with Penne for your Thoughts food truck and 865 Life, as a show of appreciation for their food truck community.

“Every 30 minutes a customer got to spin the wheel for a chance to win free gift cards, T-shirts, pints of ice cream and mini scoops,” Meyer said.

All customers were invited to enter a drawing for a free scoop of ice cream each week for a year.

The striking black exterior of Sugar Queen Creamery was the perfect canvas for Mara Wilson’s live mural painting for customers.

Suvilla Gingerich and her daughters, Staci Meyer, Lauri and Allison Gingerich, started up their doughnut truck business in May 2019. Then, with the help of Suvilla’s husband, Merlin, the family completely renovated the former McLemore Florist at 106 E. Young High Pike in South Knoxville and opened on June 25, 2022.

The dream, Allison Gingerich said at the time, was to provide a homemade hard ice cream shop that was also a family-friendly hangout, and they appear to have achieved their goal.

The ice cream dipping cabinet carries more than 24 flavors, including dairy-free and sugar-free options, and some of the seasonal flavors have become fixtures. The Sugar Queen Creamery makes their own waffle cones and offers a flight for a build your own sundae option for the indecisive.

Since opening, the freezer has been stocked with take-home pints of ice cream and ice cream cakes. And recently, cheesecakes.

“The Market Square Farmers Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays throughout summer has really helped,” Meyer said. “We sell our cheesecakes and a selection of our homemade ice cream from our cart and have a completely different market there.”

The Sugar Queen Creamery is also becoming known for their cake slices and pretzels. “Our most popular are the pizza pretzels, and the jalapeno and cheddar pretzels are new too,” Meyer said.

“We are doing weddings and private events pretty much every weekend,” Meyer said.

Currently, The Sugar Queen Doughnutry truck is on a break from their standing date at Dollywood, where they sell their scratch-made yeast doughnuts.

“We are still looking for a brick and mortar for our doughnuts; ideally we can find something in South Knoxville in the next year,” Meyer said. “The Creamery has turned out so much better than we imagined, so I feel like we are spoiled and it is going to be hard to find a shop that matches it.

“It has only been a year, but it’s been a huge year and we are excited to tap into that a bit more.”

HALLS

Real Deals in Halls has bigger location in Wills Village Plaza, next to Halls High School.

Ali James, Shopper News

Jill Butler decided to “hang up” her teaching license, practice what she knew and open a shop.

“I was a business teacher for 14 years, but until you live it you don’t realize there is a lot more to it,” said Butler, who co-owns the new Halls Real Deals.

Butler thought she would open her own home décor store until her friend, a regular shopper at Powell Real Deals, suggested she check out the Emory Road store.

“You get the franchise for five years and the owner, Kim Severance, did not want to re-up, so she was looking for someone to take over the franchise,” continued Butler, who went home that night and told her husband, Ben, “I think we’re buying a home décor and fashion franchise.”

“It’s my baby and he is the numbers guy.”

That was in February, and by May 18, the Butlers had opened the doors to a new and bigger location at 7415 Maynardville Pike in Wills Village Plaza, next to Halls High School.

Real Deals was founded by five sisters in Twin Falls, Idaho, and in 2006 they decided to franchise. The locally owned boutiques are full of hand-picked décor for every style, season and budget. The new Halls shop is the only franchise location in Tennessee.

“We had to move because the original space in Powell had already been rented out for something else,” said Butler. “We wanted to open in Halls because we live right near here.”

While Butler focused on the buildout, converting the space from a boutique and salon, the Real Deals corporate team made sure she had plenty of trendy merchandise in time for opening.

“They will leave it up to me once I get to know my customers,” said Butler. “If we see a trend is going away or that we are gravitating towards the next trend, we can start pulling from that. In Kentucky, where I did my training, they may have more horse-related décor, while I have a lake section and I’m getting a lot of UT stuff soon.

“We are a really good, well-kept secret,” Butler said. “A lot of the former Powell customers have followed us here, but newcomers are always amazed. I think we are unique in a lot of ways and only buy a couple of each item, so you have the ability to make your home stand out.”

Real Deals’ décor ranges from rustic to modern, as well as a huge variety of seasonal and holiday decor. There is accent furniture, mirrors, lamps, wall art, clocks, candles, and floral and greenery displayed in a way that inspires their customers.

It is not just about home décor. The Real Deals boutique also offers women’s fashion and accessories.

“I’m so excited to provide ladies a place they can count on to find so many great clothing options,” Butler said. “Plus, shoes and jewelry, too. We carry small sizes – 3XL, so there will be something for everyone.”

New merchandise can arrive any day. “On Friday we got eight boxes of new stuff. It’s like Christmas every day,” Butler said. “Fall (merchandise) is starting to arrive, and Christmas décor will start arriving in about three weeks.”

When the football season kicks off, the Tennessee and Kentucky Real Deals franchisees will have a friendly competition before the Vols-Kentucky game with a grand prize and freebies. At the end of July, customers will be given a “No-Peek” envelope with a surprise gift certificate or discount within.

“When you step into a Real Deals, our displays are bursting with product, creating a little treasure hunt,” Butler said. “We even tell you that we want you to go ahead and ruin our displays. We want you to dig in and find those pieces you just don’t want to live without.”

Soon shoppers will be able to shop online at www.realdeals.net/halls. Real Deals is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturdays.

NORTH KNOXVILLE

‘Reclaimed Spirit’ to challenge ideas about women’s beauty

Carol Z. Shane, Shopper News

Jasmine Newton has made a roaring success of her talent with a camera, specializing in portrait photography under the name Javon Renee Portraits, serving on the Mayor’s Maker Council, chairing the Maker City Summit, and holding leadership positions in various programs at the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center.

But like any true artist, she’s restless, and she’s always got bigger ideas.

On Friday, Aug. 11, she’ll present her latest, largest project: “Reclaimed Spirit,” an immersive and transformative exhibit that celebrates the triumph of self-acceptance and empowerment through art.

It was the idea of hair that started it all.

As a Black professional woman, Newton says she’s noticed that “we’re often seen as women who have unkempt hair. Originally, I was going to do a show that showcased Black women with Black hair. I started doing work with The Maker City and Let Her Speak and I realized that actually I want to come at it from women in general.

“We all have had things that we’ve been told are not good enough and we’ve been made to feel small for them – whether it be our hair or the size of our bodies or stretch marks. There’s so much that is just pricked and prodded when it comes to women of all shapes and sizes. I want to cover that.”

“Reclaimed Spirit” will feature not only Newton’s stunning portraits of four women, and narratives of their stories, but also poetry by spoken word artist and web designer Coy Kindred, music from local piano jazz phenom Table Gable, and videography by Ron Levy of Ron Levy Photography.

“It was important to me to make this immersive. I didn’t want people to just walk up to the pictures, look at them, say they look great and walk out. I want people to feel, hear, and be immersed in what this all feels like.”

Newton’s mother lost her hair in her 30s and has facial moles. She is one of the four featured women. “I’ve always seen the beauty in her – this big, beautiful, statuesque woman who could just get stuff done.

“It also helps me in my photography because I see all these things not as flaws but your own little brand of beauty – the things that make you unique. I have been trained from birth to see that and that’s why I wanted to showcase it.”

Newton is already planning more immersive exhibits for the next two or three years. She’s hoping to have success with this one in order to fund her future shows. Currently, she’s looking for women over 50 for her Phoenix Rising project, which addresses the societal expectations, misconceptions, and ultimate beauty and value in aging.

“Reclaimed Spirit” starts at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 11 at the River & Rail Theatre, 111 State Street. For more information, tickets, and sponsorship opportunities, please visit javonreneeportraits.com/reclaimedspirit.

SOUTH KNOXVILLE

Mount Olive principal finds new school family after traveling between two schools

Ali James, Shopper News

Robert Angel is getting his feet wet as the new principal of Mount Olive Elementary School. It is a full circle moment for Angel, who started his career with Head Start in South Knoxville in 2000-01.

Angel spent 16 years as a teacher and administrator at various Campbell County schools. After working as a project manager for the U.S. Department of Energy-ORAU he joined Knox County Schools as the assistant principal of Fountain City Elementary School from 2019-22.

After a brief stint working for the Central Office’s Grow Your Own initiative, Angel accepted an unusual role as assistant principal at both Belle Morris and Corryton Elementary Schools.

“It was unique to me. I have been in education for almost 25 years and that was the first time I had traveled between schools,” said Angel. “I was at Belle Morris for 70% of my time and at Corryton Elementary for the rest. Both had great administrators and I felt it was a learning opportunity because Aaron Maddox and Terry Lynn Hursey had different strengths.”

It was a lesson not only in flexibility, but in quick decision-making for Angel. “I think those are great qualities that a principal needs to have,” he said. “Being able to make decisions on a dime, maybe going left, then suddenly having to go right. Not being at a school constantly enabled me to be more flexible.”

Mount Olive Elementary’s new leadership team, including administrative assistant Kilie Pennington and academic coach Dr. Jennifer Atkins, is already hard at work learning about the school and preparing for the year ahead. “We will maintain many of our programs and learn about those processes,” said Angel.

The school will continue its family system, in which each staff member has a “family” of students ranging from kindergarten to fifth grade. “They spend time getting to know each other, and the older students mentor the younger ones,” said Angel. “They meet once a month; the adult facilitates a family sharing time where they interact with each other.”

Angel said it will be the perfect springboard to launch a house system similar to the one in Harry Potter movies and at Corryton Elementary.

“I learned a lot under Aaron Maddox; he does an excellent job,” he said. “I think (dividing staff and students into) four or five houses would be a great addition for a school the size of Mount Olive. I am hoping to implement that next year.”

This month, Angel will be defending his Ph.D. dissertation in theology from Liberty University. He already holds a master’s degree in theology from Regent University. Additionally, he has a bachelor's degree in history/middle grades education from the University of Pikeville, a master’s degree in elementary education from the University of the Cumberlands, and an educational specialist degree in leadership and administration from Lincoln Memorial University.

Mount Olive Elementary families should be on the lookout for emails and updates on the Parent Square app and perhaps a video from Angel talking about the upcoming open house and school year.

“I have spent 12 years in the classroom, and the schools I have worked at are small community schools,” said Angel. “I just enjoy working in a tight-knit community school. They are my passion and where my children went to school; that was why I was so excited to come to Mount Olive.

“You never know what will happen in the future, but I have many years left in my career and this is where I can see myself spending a very long time.”

HALLS

New Copper Ridge principal and assistant ‘setting the scene for success’

Ali James, Shopper News

When students return to Copper Ridge Elementary School at the end of the summer, a familiar face will be there to greet them. Shawn Smith was appointed principal effective this July.

Smith, who started her career as a teacher at Ridgedale Elementary School in 1985, was a teacher at Copper Ridge before becoming a lead teacher in 2012 and then an assistant principal since 2017.

“I have been working in this community for so long that they felt I have relationships with the stakeholders: the faculty and the students,” said Smith, of the appointment. “Just the knowledge of the community is of benefit and having been a teacher in the building, that led me to having relationships with the families, area businesses and churches that work with us and support this building.”

As a lead teacher, Smith felt she earned the respect of the staff, so it was a smooth transition to the role of assistant principal. After working closely with former principal Jennifer Atkins, Smith said she felt ready to apply for the role of principal when it became available.

“I like to think that Copper Ridge is one of Knox County schools’ best kept secrets in this wooded rural area,” said Smith. “We have families that are in high end subdivisions, on farmland and we have families that are kind of mobile that live in campgrounds. There are new homes and that means more new families.

“This year we have our highest enrollment. Kindergarten has doubled and we have had to add a new classroom just for that grade.”

There is a new face, and that is assistant principal Meredith Whaley.

“I have been a district math facilitator since 2018, serving 19 schools. Previously it had been 13,” she said, on her first day at the job. “So, I am looking forward to being in one school. Being a people person, I want to get to know the community.”

Smith said Whaley’s curriculum knowledge will be a big asset for the school. “ELA was my first love, but I love math as well,” said Whaley.

“When it comes to behavioral challenges, I have a special ability to see them in a way they don’t see themselves. I have been focused on content and curriculum and been able to see different schools. They all have these things they do well, and I will be able to bring those ideas to support our vision.”

“As administrators we will come in and listen and see where things are, then nurture and change after we do some analysis of where our strengths and weaknesses are,” said Smith. “Copper Ridge has earned a reward designation for the last two years, so no pressure. Our goal is to continue the high level of instruction and continue to grow in Knox County Schools’ four key goals.

“Another thing that has made a huge difference is our push towards collaborative planning, teams working together for collective efficacy,” said Whaley. “Our teams are working at it, and we have seen the tremendous impact it makes on scores.”

Before the school year starts, there will be the first teacher retreat at Cove Lake State Park that will be a laid-back and fun learning experience.

Each year the Copper Ridge student body votes on a theme. They chose “Setting the scene for success,” which will kick off with a Hollywood red carpet-themed open house and continue throughout the year.

“It is such a sweet school and community and a lovely place to be,” said Smith. “l love it when people talk about the uniqueness of the building; that speaks highly of the staff and students.”

SOUTH KNOXVILLE

New Bonny Kate principal aims for 'smart goal setting'

Ali James, Shopper News

Bonny Kate Elementary School has been a community landmark since it was built in the 1930s.

Rocky Riley, the new principal, taught with Bonny Kate’s former principal, Linda Norris, and was assistant principal to her son Anthony Norris at South-Doyle Middle School.

“I think the more I am here, I discover the history of the school itself from Mr. Robinette to Ms. Norris and Ms. Harris,” said Riley. “Their legacy and how involved they were and how determined to accomplish things.”

Pat Robinette dubbed the school Bonny Kate University. “To go further and be better than their parents, that is what every parent wants,” said Riley. “BKU is back, and I will continue to use it, so we can thrive.”

“I have piloted a number of things,” Riley said. “In 2001 I was the first true robotics and engineering teacher and went to Knox County Schools’ central office at a young age. I decided to leave central office to be back around kids. I think that is my calling. I strive the most when I share my expertise.”

Bonny Kate also reminds Riley of the school community he was a part of growing up in Jefferson County.

“South Knoxville is a close-knit community, too, and I have been doing this long enough that the kids I taught are now the parents of my students,” said Riley. “This is an opportunity to be a part of a true community school…

“Coming to Bonny Kate Elementary is a culmination of a lot of reasons,” Riley continued. “I have been in this South Knoxville community as a teacher or football coach. I have noticed the hospitality and how welcoming they are. I ran into former students who are now parents and they were yelling out ‘Coach Riley!’ ”

Riley’s teaching career started in 2001 at South-Doyle and West High Schools. In 2007 he was appointed a Career and Technical Education curriculum supervisor for Knox County Schools.

Later Riley served as assistant principal at West High School, Career Magnet Academy and most recently at South-Doyle Middle School.

While Riley is more used to middle and high school students, he is looking forward to learning the ways of an elementary school. “Recess is a new thing for me,” he added.

“I think you cannot expose kids too young to college and career readiness and all of the facets: health sciences, technology and engineering,” said Riley. “It could be the trades or civil service. We sometimes forget kids go into the armed forces or want to be an EMT later, they are skilled professionals…

“We need to teach them what they have to do in school to move forward and reach those goals,” he continued. “We are going to set those goals, either academic or personal. They may be able to run faster and jump higher but on the academic side they may struggle in science. We will do some attainable, smart goal setting.”

Riley said that their expectations are always going to be higher as they encourage students to grow and not “settle.”

“There is a kind of mentality vested here. We are a very prideful place; there is nothing we can’t accomplish,” said Riley. “We all have our gifts that the good Lord has given us.”

Riley has a bachelor’s degree in human resource development with a concentration in technology education from the University of Tennessee and a master's degree in education from Lincoln Memorial University.

Riley plans to post videos on the school’s social media at Parent Square. “We want families to understand we’re going to grow their kids academically, socially and emotionally and do what is right by them and our teachers,” he said.

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POWELL

Mynatt Funeral Home opens location in Powell

Al Lesar, Shopper News

Last year, between its Fountain City and Halls locations, Mynatt Funeral Home helped more than 1,000 families with their funeral needs.

Those numbers told the people in charge of this 123-year-old family business something needed to be done.

Early June was a major step in the right direction.

Mynatt Funeral Home opened a Powell Chapel (2000 Powell Drive) to ease the burden on the other two.

“Powell really didn’t have a funeral home,” said office manager Angie Hill, whose father, Ron, was a principal partner with Bud Coomer and Buddy Coomer during the formative years of the business.

Angie Hill said there are many third- and fourth-generation people among the 57 full- and part-time workers who make the three chapels function.

“It’s our legacy,” said Angie, who has been with the company 10 years. “We’re a small business that thinks it’s important to be involved in the community. We want to treat everyone we service as if they were our own family.”

Funeral home upgrades

The Powell Chapel is the beneficiary of years of experience from the Fountain City and Halls locations. Fountain City opened almost 100 years ago. Halls, originally designed to be a church, was renovated in 2005.

“We incorporated the aspects we liked from Fountain City and Halls into Powell,” Angie said. “We also had some things we didn’t like that we avoided.”

The 12,000-square-foot Powell facility has a main chapel on the right of the entrance and two smaller parlors on the left. That way, two services could be going on at the same time without either interrupting the other.

The Fountain City building has odd-shaped rooms that make long lines awkward. At Halls, parlors back up against the chapel allowing the sound from one service to bleed through to another.

And a complaint at both locations was rectified with ample parking at Powell.

Community involvement

Angie said Bud Coomer and Ron Hill, two of the patriarchs of the business who have both passed away, worked hard and were very conservative, frugal people.

“They wouldn’t believe the growth we’ve experienced and what we’re doing,” she said. “I think they would giggle at the idea of the expansion. I doubt they could imagine what’s happening.”

Being visible in the community has always been a big part of Mynatt Funeral Home’s philosophy.

It recently partnered with Legacy Parks Foundation to sponsor a station at the new Angora Frog Farm park in Powell. It has been a regular sponsor of school activities, a veterans breakfast and events at the Powell Community Center.

Angie said the message that’s trying to be sent is that the funeral home’s reach goes beyond the service.

“People don’t like to talk about death, but it’s inevitable,” she said. “We want people to know that we’re there with after-care and grief recovery.”

After-care includes helping families contact the appropriate agencies to get the proper paperwork after a loved one’s death. There are trained grief counselors on staff to help the survivors navigate the emotions.

“It’s very rewarding to help people in their time of need,” Angie said. “It can be stressful, but we can make a difference.”

WEST KNOXVILLE

Karns Fairest of the Fair keeps tradition growing

Nancy Anderson, Shopper News

Pageant officials aren’t sure of the year, but this year marks about the 70th anniversary of the Fairest of the Fair Pageant, and it just keep growing. The pageant returned to Karns High School on July 8. There were 29 contestants, up from 24 last year.

The pageant nearly petered out about seven years ago, but coordinator Julie Muse took over and grew it to the event it is today.  The popularity of the Karns Fair made the pageant a must-see event for the Karns community.

There were a number of changes this year, Mr. Karns being one. Mr. Karns is community leader Charles Austin, who is battling pancreatic cancer. Austin, who is well known in Karns for his basketball coaching and support of the Beaver Creek Kayak Club, will be the last Mr. Karns. The title will retire with him.

The apple doesn’t fall far from the pageant tree. This year’s Fair Lady is new Karns Middle School basketball coach Lexie Taylor Austin, Charles Austin’s granddaughter.

“I was completely shocked!” Taylor Austin said. “I had to change into my coaching shirt just after the pageant. I hope my Karns Middle School basketball girls see that it IS OK to step out of your comfort zone and do something out of the ordinary!”

Fairest of the Fair is 20-year-old Madison Clabough, who is actually from Powell.

“I’m very honored to be crowned Fairest of the Fair amongst so many other beautiful women. During my reign, I plan to donate to local food pantries and blessing boxes, donate to the local thrift store, KARM, and also visit local retirement communities and assisted living facilities to donate my time and fellowship for the wonderful residents. I love giving back to the community and helping in any way possible,” said Clabough.

Clabough also won medals for Best Personality, Prettiest Hair and Prettiest Smile. The next stop for Clabough is the Tennessee Valley Fairest of the Fair Pageant.

Alayna Owings won Miss Community Service for donating more than 600 items to Fostering Hope, Tenn., an organization that provides new foster kids with necessary items and suitcases. Many times foster kids travel from home to home with nothing more than a trash bag of personal belongings.

The Wee Miss category was won by Raelynn Webb. The Wee portion of the pageant was downright cute when fathers had to meet their daughters on stage to give a little extra courage.

Congratulations to the court of Karns Fairest of the Fair: Baby Miss Everleigh Human; Wee Miss Raelynn Webb; Tiny Miss Brinkley Milligan; Little Miss Jada Vaughan; Princess Tybee Milligan; Jr. Fairest of the Fair Bailey McNew; Fairest of the Fair Madison Clabough; Fair Lady Lexie Austin; Fair Woman Tammy Stewart; Ms. Karns Natalie Soule; Mr. Karns Charles Austin; Miss Community Service Alayna Owings; Miss Photogenic Adelei Massey; and People’s Choice Erica Williams Daniel.

Info: www.karnsfair.org/pageant

POWELL

Pen Pal Adventure Books add to short-term rental experience

Al Lesar, Shopper News

Pen pals may have gone out of style years ago, but Courtney Dayton is doing her best to revive the concept.

She’s counting on a little adventure to spark the interest.

By day, Dayton is a Tech Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force, stationed in East Tennessee and living in Powell. A nine-year veteran of the military who hails from the Syracuse, New York, area, she thinks she has found her home.

“I hope to put down roots here,” Dayton said. “The area is beautiful, the people are great and there’s not much snow.”

By night, she and her fiancé’s mother, Shelly Straub, who lives in Florida, have come up with the idea to get people talking and writing about the interesting things they do.

“We have family all over,” Dayton said. “New York, Michigan, Tennessee, Florida, Colorado. We would share the adventures we had so everyone could keep in touch.”

Once, those adventures fell into a stranger’s hands. And the stranger loved reading about them.

“That changed everything,” Dayton said. “It got us to thinking: Why don’t we make these books available to guests who stay at Vrbos and airbnbs? They could include day-trip adventures for that area.”

Thus was born “The Pen Pal Adventure Book.”

Favorite adventure

Most guest books at short-term rentals are designed to be read by the owner. This new concept would target the guests.

The book is 24 pages. The owner of the book has a name and address on the first page. When the last of the 24 pages is filled, the book can be mailed to the owner.

Dayton talked about her favorite adventure, a cruise to the Bahamas that landed on Half Moon Cay, an island owned by the cruise line.

“There was a group of 23 who were swimming together,” she said. “I looked around and said, ‘Our whole posse is taking pictures of us.’ What I didn’t see is that my fiancé was holding the ring right by my head. I was shocked.”

All those memories were recorded in The Pen Pal Adventure Book that was shared with friends and strangers alike.

Making connections, not money

The Pen Pal project is in its infancy now, but Dayton sees so many directions it can go.

“This is something we created from the heart to help with connection and creativity,” Dayton said. “When you establish connections it helps with mental health.”

There’s The Pen Pal Adventure Book Facebook page, for those who like the digital world, as well as plenty of ideas for the future. Might there be an opportunity to solicit advertising? That would be the “golden nugget,” Dayton said.

Making money isn’t the focus of the game. It’s more about making connections.

“One woman at a Vrbo talked about a hike she took and ended up sharing her sobriety story,” Dayton said. “You never know where a story will go.”

Paperback books can be ordered at www.thepenpaladventurebook for $19.99. Hard cover books for Vrbos and airbnbs are $24.99. There are other items available.

OPINION

Doing what you love helps form community

Nancy Anderson, Shopper News

I remember looking out at the sea of people and thinking, “My new best friend is somewhere in this crowd.”

I was a freshman in college at Indiana University at the time and I didn’t know a soul. But it didn’t matter. Because most of the people in line that day, waiting to choose their meal plan and get their student ID, were just like me, nervous and afraid and hoping to make a connection with someone. Anyone.

I’ve always thought of those first few weeks of college as one of life’s best opportunities to make friends. Everybody is trying to find their place. Everyone is lost and hoping to form a new group that makes them feel like they belong.

There are other times, too, when making friends seems easy.

When my kids were little, there was always some club that needed help. And while I wasn’t the most dedicated volunteer, I could usually spot a kindred spirit who looked as frazzled and overwhelmed raising kids as I did.

Then my children started playing sports, and my afternoons were spent sitting in a folding chair talking to other parents about selling coupon books or taking TCAPs. It was easy to form casual friendships back then because, at least on the surface, we were all living the same lives. We could find common ground in having active children, busy schedules, and cars filled with soccer balls and smelly cleats.

But it seemed to me that those days of forming easy, organic friendships disappeared when the kids left the house and there were no more end-of-the-year parties or soccer tournaments to attend. I thought living in an “empty nest” meant being too isolated to meet new people or make new friends.

Then I started hiking with Buttercup and realized I was wrong.

Each day when I’m driving to Hall Bend, I feel the anticipation building. I wonder what Buttercup will do when we get there and who we’ll see on the trail. I scan the cars in the parking lot when we arrive and pick out the vehicles of our favorite dogs and their humans.

I’m always greeted with a friendly wave and a “Hello, Buttercup!” And I’m always eager to hear stories about the dogs we meet, Sully learning to swim in his new pool, Molly and her struggles to obey, and Rusty and his boundless energy. And with each visit to the park, I learn more about the people who love their dogs and love to hike the way I do.

I know that Jim is expecting his first grandchild and that Dawn’s kids are moving back home. I know that Wanda found two stray dogs at her doorstep and worked hard to find their owners.

And on the morning I dropped my driver’s license and credit card on the trail, there was a kind man and his Australian shepherd waiting to help me find them.

“I’m so grateful for your help,” I said, sincerely. The elderly man just smiled and replied, “That’s what you do for family. You and Buttercup are part of the Hall Bend family now.”

I always thought that it was easier to find a community when I was younger, and the school calendar dictated the time I spent with people my own age. I thought it was mostly circumstance that brought us together.

But now I see it differently. Now I know that if you’re doing something you love, you’ll meet other people who love it, too. And I know that dog-lovers-who-love-to-hike is a community all its own.

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

FARRAGUT

Farragut parade draws huge crowd

Nancy Anderson, Shopper News

It was year 35 for the popular Farragut Fourth of July Parade. The parade stepped off without a hitch at 9:30 a.m. to a record number of spectators, according to Director of Farragut Parks and Recreation Ron Oestreich.

It took an hour and a half for the 92 entries to make it down Kingston Pike at Stadium Drive, moving west to Boring Road.

“My favorite part about the parade was the teamwork between Parks and Rec and Public Works,” Oestreich said. “Public Works was in charge of the streets and safety while Parks and Rec handled all the organizational nuts and bolts of the parade itself. It’s the sense of community that got to me.

“Oh, and we can’t forget about the Knox County Sheriff’s Department. They were a great part of the whole thing.

“I’ve been to thousands of parades in my career, and this is the largest number of spectators I’ve ever seen for a town parade. It may even be a record number. It was fantastic to see everyone come together and enjoy the day.”

And enjoy they did. Winning Farragut Admirals head football coach Eddie Courtney was Grand Marshal and rode the length of the parade in a speedboat with his family. Courtney, a cancer survivor, has been at Farragut for 27 seasons.

All the traditional entrants were represented, from tractors to beauty queens; to antique cars from the Tennessee Valley Model A Club; to politicians to local businesses and dogs.

The Farragut High School Marching Admirals played “Anchors Aweigh” with flags twirling in time as they marched in formation. It’s tradition. What is a parade without an impressive marching band?

Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs made an appearance, sitting in an oversized lawn chair in the back of a white Denali. The chair was so big, it gave one pause to wonder: Where in the world did he get that thing?

U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett was on hand and looking dapper, having shaved off his beard.

It was an exciting moment when the Knox County Sheriff’s Office made a landing with cheers from the crowd.

Parade participants came from all over Knox County. Powell’s own Houston Vandergriff rode with the Miss Shining Star contestants and AmeriFest National Pageants queens. Both organizations specialize in pageants for special needs individuals.

The Hardin Valley Academy RoHAWKtics made a surprise appearance with their prize-winning robot, and Hardin Valley Middle School Dance and Cheer made an appearance with smiles all around.

OPINION

Signs of aging stay hidden

Leslie Snow, Shopper News

It was just an ordinary day, but it stayed with me. Long after I watched my father use a sledgehammer to break concrete blocks for a retaining wall, I could still picture the way he smiled when he wiped his brow with the hankie he kept in his pocket. I remembered his broad shoulders and muscular arms. And I remembered the way he teased my husband, still in his 20s, for straining under the weight of the rocks.

“Are you going to let an old man outwork you?” he asked, raising one bushy eyebrow.

My dad seemed so strong back then, powerful, and charismatic, invincible, even. I felt certain that by sheer force of his will, time would fail to leave its mark on him. I thought he would be young and fit forever.

That’s why I always turned to him when I needed something, why I asked my parents to help us pack up and move from Texas to Tennessee. Why I didn’t think it would be too much work to leave our three small children with them while we went on vacation. My father landscaped our backyard. He painted murals in the kids’ rooms. He could hike and take long bike rides with us. He could do anything that needed to be done without ever tiring.

I thought of my father and that long-ago afternoon just last week when I helped Ethan and Amanda with their move back to Knoxville. And while there were no concrete blocks to crush, there were still long days and heavy boxes. There was lifting and unpacking, furniture moving and rearranging. And when all the boxes were unloaded, there were tables and rugs to buy along with groceries and other household supplies.

My car became a moving van, my arms and legs, a dolly. But Ethan and Amanda never asked if I was tired. They didn’t wonder about my overworked joints or my weary back. They didn’t consider my aching feet or the tightness in my shoulders. All they saw was my endless strength. The kind only superheroes and parents possess.

I’m almost the same age as my father was when he was building a retaining wall out of concrete blocks. And I know my children see me the same way as I saw my dad all those years ago.

They think my power is endless and my youth eternal. They can’t imagine I might get tired because I’ve never seemed tired before. In their eyes I’ve never been stronger or more capable than I am right now. I know how to get things done and I never cry “uncle.”

In a way, I feel sorry for them, because I know my aging will come as a surprise. They won’t see it coming. They’ll ignore the signs and pretend I’m as youthful as I ever was, even when the lines on my face tell a different story.

I know because that’s how I felt when I looked at my father one day and discovered that, inexplicably, he’d become an old man overnight. Somehow, I had missed the signs. I hadn’t been able to see the forest for the trees or truth in his aging body. He’d always been so strong and capable that somehow, I wasn’t able to see him any other way.

Until I could. And then I was shocked.

I’m still young. I can still unload a moving van and unpack boxes, but I won’t feel that way forever. Eventually, I’ll tire. But it will be years before my children notice.

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

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