Shopper Blog: Clydesdales' visit among local highlights of 2021
KARNS
Clydesdales' visit among local highlights of 2021
Nancy Anderson, Shopper News
There are many wonderful people and places in Farragut, Karns, and Hardin Valley but few as spectacular as the Budweiser Clydesdales. They made a tour of Knoxville and Maryville in December, thrilling thousands along the way.
“The day God made the Budweiser Clydesdales and dogs was a great day,” said Miriam Zimmermann in tearful excitement. The world-famous Clydesdales strutted their stuff wearing red and white ribbons and pulling the famous red beer wagon for more than 1,000 spectators at JC Penney in Turkey Creek on Dec. 1.
Getting ready for a pageant might make any teenager tremble in their shoes, but doubly so for Keelie McLawhorn, a Farragut beauty queen who is on the autism spectrum.
“I knew something was wrong when she was 2,” said her mother, Charlotte McLawhorn. “Everything from sights to smells to textures made her uncomfortable. She would just stand there and tremble if someone came within 2 feet of her.”
These days Keelie is getting ready to graduate from Farragut High School and has several college options. She wants to study graphic design with a focus on marketing and advertising.
Dr. Charlene Lewis, assistant principal at Farragut High School, has a special talent for motivated kids.
“My job is to support the kids and give them the motivation they need to be successful in high school,” said Lewis. “The job is not high on discipline. There is some; it’s more motivation to do the right thing. I’d rather motivate kids than discipline them. I have a deep respect for my kids.”
Today Lewis has volunteered her skills for a special project sponsored by Knox County Schools where she will act as ninth-grade principal.
It all started in 2019 when Travel and Leisure Magazine named D & B Hot Dogs the best hot dog joint in the state.
“That’s where it all started,” “Then the news picked us up,” said owner Bruce Flomberg. “Then the news picked us up.”
“People started coming in saying that they saw us in the Shopper and then on the news and had to give us a try,” added owner Daniel Price.
This Last year, the friendly little restaurant grabbed the attention of Love Food.com and MSN.com, who which named D & B’s the best hot dog in the state and among the best in the nation.
D & B Restaurant survived the pandemic shutdown and is doing a brisk business, but has seen a shortage of help, requiring shortened hours of operation Mondays and Tuesdays.
Chris Wade, audio/visual (A/V) production instructor at Karns High School Byington-Solway Technology Center, said he was pleased and surprised when Knox County Schools officials showed up at his classroom to give him a Teacher of the Year award March 8, 2021.
He and his A/V students started the Karns Network, which has aired two Karns parades. He continues to produce live and recorded shows, and the students now have the opportunity to receive dual credit from Pellissippi State Community College while taking Wade’s A/V class.
POWELL
Happy New Year! Here are our favorite stories of 2021
Al Lesar, Shopper News
Condensing about 100 stories on the Powell community this year into a Top 10 was a challenge, but here goes:
Dr. Collier and his legacy
When Dr. Bob Collier donated 12 acres adjacent to the Powell library to be used as a park, he didn’t just hand over the keys and walk away.
There is photographic evidence he was invested in the project.
Carol Evans, director of Legacy Parks Foundation, has a photo of the 81-year-old Dr. Collier on his knees tightening a bolt on a kiosk that is the focal point of the conservancy area.
“That photo tells you so much about Bob’s personality,” said Evans. “He was very hands-on (during the development period of Stella Moore Collier Preserve, a tribute to Bob’s grandmother).”
That tract of land, and his unwavering appreciation for the environment, will be Dr. Collier’s legacy. He died Dec. 31, 2020.
'Tree Cowboys' make their pitch
Trees aren’t sexy for video viewers, but the guys who climb them on a regular basis might be.
“My goal is to get our guys on Netflix,” said Patrick Siminerio, the Minister of Propaganda for Baumann Tree Service in Powell.
Heck, if the “Real Housewives of Orange County” can have their own reality TV show, why not the “Tree Cowboys of Powell”?
Free Bikes by Gemma
While playing a game with her dad two Sundays before Christmas, 5-year-old Gemma shared her wish list with Brian Rogers.
“She talked about how she wanted a new bike,” Rogers said.
He gently reminded Gemma that her current bike was a year old and in pretty good shape. He also talked about the many children whose parents aren’t able to afford bikes.
“Well, if we give my bike to another kid, could I get a new one?” Gemma asked.
Rogers saw the logic and agreed, saying it would be a “different” bike, not necessarily “new.”
Still, that innocent thought started the guy who works in home remodeling thinking. As a kid growing up in Florida, bikes were hard to come by. When he did have one, it certainly wasn’t new.
“I remember a bike being that first taste of freedom,” Rogers said. “That’s where a kid first learns about independence.”
Before he went to sleep that night, an idea struck him. There had to be kids in the Powell community, where he’s lived with his family the past couple years, whose parents couldn’t afford a bike.
He put out a post on social media that reached the people of Powell — and beyond — and was stunned by the reaction.
Rogers’ post carried both ends of the situation: Were there any parents in need of bikes for their children? And, was there anyone who would consider donating old bikes or money to help meet those needs?
“By the next day, I had over 50 messages,” Rogers said. “Every day I kept getting more messages.”
That sealed the deal. Rogers understood his mission, and “Free Bikes By Gemma” was born.
Griffin writes Book of the Year
All the inspiration Kelley Griffin needed as a writer came from an emotional moment she shared with her grandmother years ago.
In the ‘40s, Griffin’s grandmother juggled four children and a job as the news reporter and photographer for the city of Coldwater, Mich. As the years went on, she maintained a regular column.
On her deathbed, Griffin’s grandmother said to her, “If I’m going to write that novel, I better get to it.”
“Right then I vowed I wasn’t going to have that kind of regret,” said Griffin. “I started writing in 2010 and really haven’t stopped.”
What’s been different is that Griffin is being published now. Back in 2010, the Powell resident was scribbling down handwritten verses on lineless paper while secluding herself in a closet from her family — five sons and husband Stacy.
She said she read that a person would have to get “1 million words under their belt before they were published.”
It didn’t say anything about writing those words in a closet, though.
“Binding Circumstances,” a romantic thriller that she released in 2019, won Long and Short Reviews Book of the Month Award and was recently chosen as the Book of the Year by an online vote.
Feed Norwood answers a need
When a plan to reach young adults failed to get results, and the pandemic turned everyone’s life upside down, Annette Spence decided to pivot.
Spence and her husband, Michael Feely, are very involved in the United Methodist Church. Spence has been a writer for church publications for more than two decades and her husband is a camp minister.
In other words, they care … a lot.
Spence and her husband live in West Knoxville, but were friends with the pastor at Norwood UMC. They got to know about the food insecurity problems that existed in the community, and set out to do their part to solve the dilemma.
In September 2020, Spence and her army of volunteers from all over had the first Free Takeout Meals at Norwood and attracted 30 people. Since then, they’ve offered two free meals a month — lunch on a Saturday and breakfast on a Sunday at Norwood UMC (2110 Merchant Drive) — and have grown to feed anywhere between 150 and 190.
Hunter made an impact in Powell
Early in his quarter-century career as head basketball coach at Powell High School, Jeff Hunter wasn’t happy with his team.
“He didn’t think we were putting out like we should,” said Gary Smith, a senior guard on that 1968-69 team.
“He came in the locker room and threw a clipboard at some of the guys,” said Bubba Woody, who was a freshman forward.
Then, Hunter really let his anger out.
“There were 55-gallon drums of soap powder (to wash uniforms) around,” Smith said.
“(Hunter) got mad and kicked a drum. His foot got stuck. Then, when he got his foot out, all this soap powder starts flowing out all over.”
“You know how hard it is when you have to keep from laughing?” said Woody. “You look down. You look away. You do anything to try not to laugh. (Hunter) didn’t think it was funny.”
That’s just one of the endearing stories former Powell players had to share about their coach. Hunter died July 25 at age 81.
Goodpaster can spin a yarn
For three hours more than three decades ago, Don Goodpaster was a millionaire.
And… man, did that feel good.
Goodpaster was in his 40s at the time living in southern Indiana. He thought this was the time his passion for writing poetry was about to pay off.
“I had talked with a gift company about putting my poetry on (ceramic) tiles,” the Powell resident recalled. “I’m not good with math, but the numbers seemed nice. My wife and I figured the size of the order, and what we’d have to do to fill that order. We needed to add about 15 kilns and a building to make them.”
That discussion was over a great steak dinner, with all the trimmings. It was a meal fit for a millionaire.
“The only troubling part of the discussion was the gift company said ‘probably,’ when talking about the deal,” Goodpaster said. “Banks don’t lend money for kilns and buildings on ‘probably.’ I needed something in writing.
“What I got was a solid offer that was about one-fifth of what the original discussion was about. That changed everything and it never happened.”
But for Goodpaster, money never got in the way of his passion telling a story.
Caza Brava off to a good start
Nobody can sneak anything less than quality Mexican food past Cody Clearman.
A native of Texas who now lives in Powell with his wife, Kristen, and their infant son Declan, Clearman has eaten at Caza Brava Mexican Restaurant (5640 Clinton Highway) four times in the first three weeks it was open.
“I know good Mexican,” Clearman said. “It’s almost like an addiction for me. This is good.”
That’s music to Javier Lopez’s ears. Along with his sister Monica Lopez, the 56-year-old native of central Mexico spent a year making everything just right for the opening in mid-October.
Wedding photographer always hustling
Little did Sarah (Grim) Edens know that her dance background in high school and middle school would help her in her chosen profession.
“I loved to dance in school,” the Powell native said. “Hip-hop was my favorite, but I also liked lyrical.”
Fast forward several years and Edens is a professional photographer working a wedding.
“When I’m working a wedding, I’m there to help the bride and groom,” said Edens. “You can’t bend over in a wedding dress. If a bride needs help with her shoes, I’ll help. If a bride needs help with her train, I’ll help. I can be her go-to girl.”
This time, though, Edens went above and beyond.
“I was at the reception and there was nobody on the dance floor,” Edens recalled. “The bride and groom came up to me and asked if I’d put down my camera and dance with them, hoping to encourage others to get out there.
“I’ll get out there and bust a move. If that’s what they wanted, I’ll do it.”
That’s a big reason why Sarah Edens Photography has flourished since she hung out her shingle in 2019.
Capt. Barker finds his niche
During the first week of his first semester at Roane State Community College, Perry Barker’s grandfather died.
It was the motivation the 1994 Powell High School grad needed for his life.
“I was never a great student in high school,” Barker said. “My grandfather didn’t have more than a fourth- or fifth-grade education. He never had the opportunity to go to school. He always talked to me about the value of an education.
“I was close with him. We would talk about pursuing what makes me passionate.”
Barker always liked building things. Deep inside, he had a strong sense of service and giving back for what he’s had.
The motivation from his grandfather helped pave the way to an associates degree from Roane State and an engineering degree from Tennessee Tech.
The service itch got scratched when Barker spent six years on active duty in the Navy. That opened the door for him to get master’s degrees in business administration and civil engineering from the University of Tennessee on the GI Bill.
The 46-year-old Barker has parlayed those advanced degrees and years of experience in the Navy into quite a career. As a qualified Seabee (Construction Battalion) Combat Warfare officer and Defense Acquisition Workforce Level III contracting officer, he was recently promoted to the rank of captain.
NORTH KNOXVILLE
Northeast Knoxvillians had much to celebrate in 2021
Carol Z. Shane, Shopper News
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who died the day after Christmas, said, “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”
Northeast Knoxvillians are always doing “their little bits of good.” Many aren’t celebrated, but in 2021, quite a few were.
Young-Williams celebrates milestone
Chilhowee Park was the setting on World Spay Day, Feb. 23, when Young-Williams Animal Center celebrated a huge milestone — the recognition of its Spay/Neuter Solutions program reaching 100,000 spay/neuter surgeries, commemorating one of the most compassionate choices pet owners can make for animal welfare.
The 100,000th YWAC spay/neuter recipient, 8-month-old German short-haired pointer Zelda and her “mom” Kelcie Chandler, were surprised with a free procedure and a goody box. In addition, the next 100 pets scheduled for spay/neuter would also receive free procedures.
All of this was made possible by support from the Aslan Foundation and Petco Foundation.
"We are grateful to have the opportunity to give back to a community that cares so much for animals and for the support of our generous sponsors,” said Janet Testerman, CEO of Young-Williams Animal Center. “A proven way to reach our goal of a ‘home for every pet’ is to stop unwanted litters that create even more homeless pets. Our Spay/Neuter Solutions’ 100,000 surgeries put us closer each day to reaching that goal.”
Since 2007, the Spay/Neuter Solutions program has offered surgeries through its mobile Spay Shuttle, which increases access to low-cost surgeries by bringing services directly to pet owners in their neighborhood.
To learn more about Spay/Neuter Solutions or to schedule an appointment, call 215-6677 or visit young-williams.org/spay-neuter-solutions. To donate, visit www.young-williams.org, click “Donate” and select “Spay/Neuter Solutions.” Checks can be mailed or hand-delivered to Young-Williams Animal Center at 3201 Division St., Knoxville, TN 37919.
100Knoxville and Black Business Directory
It was a great year for the city’s African American entrepreneurs, with the Knoxville Black Business Directory (KBBD) having been established late in 2020 and 100Knoxville’s first cohort kickoff in March 2021.
The KBBD began when Damon Rawls of Damon Rawls Consulting Group noticed a commonly occurring scenario in the way people were seeking services. “There would be these anecdotal discussions around a particular business: someone would say, ‘I would like to use a Black drywaller,’ and the other would say, ‘I think I know a guy,’ and it would go from there. I wanted to put together a place where you can — we can — anybody in the city can — find ‘that guy.’”
The result is the Knoxville Black Business Directory (KBBD), and for Black-owned businesses, inclusion in it has become a “must.” Info: knoxvilleblackbusiness.com.
Modeled on Memphis’ 800 Initiative, 100Knoxville seeks to embolden, support and grow Black-owned businesses in Knoxville by $10 million in five years through its 5x5x5x5 program. That’s five businesses, five mentors, $5,000 invested in each company, and five weeks.
“Our goal is to make this very successful so that the community wants to support future cohorts,” said Brandon Bruce, chair of the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, co-founder of Startup Knox, and a lead partner in100Knoxville. “The north star metric is to get companies to grow, and we’re going to measure that by revenue. Are we going to grow that in five weeks? Maybe. But mostly we’re hoping to lay the groundwork for measurable and sustainable revenue growth.”
Bruce emphasizes that though each chosen five will be the first to enjoy the full array of supportive services, the other applicants have not been forgotten, and 100Knoxville will do what it can for them now and in the future, eventually hoping to get around to everyone. Info: 100knoxville.com.
Booker, Neely are honored at ETHC
On Tuesday afternoon, June 1 — the 225th anniversary of Tennessee’s statehood — a group of city and county leaders, history buffs, library fans and others gathered at the East Tennessee History Center for the formal dedication of the Booker-Neely Microfilm Reading Room in honor of local authors Robert J. Booker and Jack Neely.
The event was conceived by Knox County Commissioner Larsen Jay and Knoxville City Councilman Tommy Smith, who said, “I can’t think of two more meaningful folks who help preserve, enrich and contribute to Knoxville’s history than these two gentlemen here.”
Knoxville City Mayor Indya Kincannon introduced “military veteran, researcher, historian, author, journalist and lifelong Knoxville resident” Booker. The first Black citizen elected from Knoxville to serve as a Tennessee state representative, Booker’s illustrious resumé includes many firsts in a lifetime of civil rights and community leadership.
Neely was introduced by Jay, who said, “whenever I need to find piece of history I just go to Jack — he’s like the Knoxville encyclopedia of history, but he doesn’t just tell you the fact; he tells you the story behind the fact.”
County Mayor Glenn Jacobs said, “Because of the dedication and talent of people who have devoted their lives to preserving our stories, we have a better understanding and perspective of who we are. I am honored to dedicate the Booker-Neely Microfilm Reading Room in your name. Thank you for your work and your passion in telling our stories.”
Monument dedicated to the ‘Fulton 7’
John Schlatter, Fulton High School Class of 1968 and former U.S. Army lieutenant on active duty stateside 1974-76, has been interested in Vietnam vets for years. While volunteering for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund’s virtual Wall of Faces project, he had a wakeup call.
“One day it hit me: ‘Here I am researching these guys from all over the country, but what about my own high school?’”
Schlatter began an intensive three-year effort to track down all Fulton alumni who had lost their lives in Vietnam, and by 2019 had verified seven. Classmates Ronnie Collins and Fred Kitts jumped on board and put out the call for $5,000 in funds for two monuments — one honoring the “Fulton 7,” and another honoring all Fulton graduates who served in the military — and began planning a dedication ceremony.
On Saturday, Oct. 2, Collins, Kitts and a large crowd at last gathered in the Fulton High School Auditorium for the dedication ceremony.
The Fulton 7 are:
Army PFC Larry Grant Bradley
Marine Corps PFC Willie Fred Dail Jr.
Marine Corps Cpl. Gerald Eugene King
Air Force Lt. Ronald Harold Knight
Army PFC Jerry Lynn Noe
Army PFC Gary Dean Smith
Army Sgt. Alvin Eugene Wiles
Schlatter said, “These men who died in the service of our country are part of the Fulton Family. If we don’t honor and remember them, who will?” Collins agreed. “We’re not going to forget these men.”
HALLS
Here's what's new with our featured people from 2021
Ali James, Shopper News
Well, there were plenty more ups and downs in 2021. As the year came to a close, the Shopper News took a moment to review some of the biggest stories and update readers.
Noah Nation
In February 2021, The Shopper News featured Noah Nation’s bi-annual pajama drive, started by Martha Di Maria-Sileno after her young son Noah’s cancer battle.
“After being declared cancer-free and off treatment for 11 months, Noah relapsed with B cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on Oct. 14, 2021,” said Di Maria-Sileno. “Noah began treatment immediately at ETCH and will have two more years of treatment to go.”
Thanks to nonprofit Dream Connection, Noah and his family were sent on a dream trip to Disney a few weeks ago. The vacation allowed Noah to be a regular kid and mentally prepare to beat cancer once again.
On the day they arrived, Di Maria-Sileno received the phone call that Noah is currently in remission. “That does not mean he is cancer-free,” she said. “He has to stay on a longer treatment, or the cancer will take over once again.”
Di Maria-Sileno is a Knox County middle school teacher but is unable to work while she cares for Noah. To help, contributions can be made to https://gofund.me/4671780d.
“Please consider being a bone marrow donor in the event Noah needs to find a match later on,” said Di Maria-Sileno. “Join ‘Be the Match’; it’s a simple cheek swab you send back to get added to the bone marrow donors database.”
The #NoahNation Foundation is continuing to gift medically adapted (no zippers or metal snaps) pajamas to kids battling cancer and monetary donations at https://give.acco.org/give/242872/#!/donation/checkout. Also consider linking a Kroger card to “The #NoahNation Foundation.”
Makers Donuts closes, again
Meghan Gray and Kayla Davis purchased the Makers Donuts brand from Sean and Sara Alsobrooks after the business closed in February 2018. After many delays the business finally reopened on March 27 at 1336 East Emory Road in Powell. Customers lined up at 6 a.m., but the popular doughnuts sold out within three hours. Then, less than six months later, Makers Donuts closed for the second time. A social media post gave a vague reason for the closure: “Sunday, Sept 19, will be our last day due to circumstances beyond our control.”
FC home wins Ugliest House of 2020 honor
In addition to clinching the honor of the “Ugliest House of 2020,” Gururas ‘Jean’ and Siri Khalsa, owners of Dharma Properties, have worked on 12 properties this year.
“Our biggest was the one in Old North which is now up and running on Airbnb (https://abnb.me/s153q2Nu6lb),” said Jean Khalsa, who also co-owns and operates a franchise of the We Buy Ugly Houses company with her husband.
“The crazy market definitely added challenges that we had to adapt to, but nothing we couldn’t overcome,” she said. “We’re working on getting our general contractor’s license which we hope to have sometime during the first quarter of next year and plan on starting some multi-family new build projects next year.”
Kelsea Ballerini's music video with Central High
In April, when Kelsea Ballerini and a production crew arrived in Knoxville to shoot her "Half of my Hometown" music video, many were eager to catch a glimpse of the singer. In a year filled with lasts for retiring cheer coach Jackie Raley, the music video was a first.
Then on Nov. 10, the CMAs congratulated Ballerini and Kenny Chesney as the video to the song was named the CMA Music Video Of The Year.
Ham’N Goodys new cookie HQ in Halls
Owner Dale Harold said that they moved in and started baking on Sept. 1 after extensive construction. “We have done several weeks over our previous fundraiser records,” he said on Dec. 17. “Also, we are able to take more shipping orders than in the past when we had to have a limit. We are also baking all of the cakes for our three locations here to ensure quality and consistency.”
1950s Fountain City home remodeled by the woman who grew up there
“My story truly has a happy ending. I sold it to a young couple who just got married and they are good friends of mine,” said Vicki Koontz, who had dreamt of purchasing and remodeling her childhood home. “I know him through tennis, which is my other passion besides restoring houses. So, hopefully I will be able to go back there sometime for a get together.” The house sold quickly and for full asking price.
Love the '80s? New hangout on North Broadway
Lindsey Chapman ran her own sunless tanning mobile business for 11 years, before she decided to pursue her longtime dream of opening an ‘80s-themed cocktail bar.
Chapman opened Fountain City Social in October and has been busy ever since. “All our events have been great,” she said. “Every week new people find us.”
Tonya Rea's opens brick and mortar
“The response to the tea shop has been tremendous,” said Tonya Henrichs. “The community has been so welcoming. Every single day that we have been open we have welcomed new and returning customers.”
Customers have rented space in the shop to host tea clubs, birthday parties, and a chai and cookie decorating event with New2Knox.
Tonya Rea’s has added new herbal tea and tea lattes to the menu. “Customers have loved the local baker options, too,” said Henrichs. “It has allowed them to find out about bakers that they wouldn’t have otherwise been made aware of.”
As the business continues to grow, Henrichs hopes to expand hours and days, hire more staff and see more people utilize her online store and local pickup option.
Makers of Magic and Wishes
Erica Price opened a brick-n-mortar for her online business Makers of Magic and Wishes. On Dec. 3, she hosted her first of many Sip and Shop events.
“We are so excited to be doing this intermittently through the year,” said Price. “We have been steadily growing and our local following has been so supportive and sweet coming in to do local pickups and stopping by to shop what we have in store. We are able to accommodate walk-ins now.”
A new bag collection with custom Disney-inspired patches has been a hot seller. Price said they have been working hard to restock their popular items. In addition to her weekly product drops of new items and snack boxes, they are expanding to offer more ready to ship and preorder items.
Signature Home Market events start in Halls
Sisters Terri Onks and Pam Armstrong opened a new home décor and furniture shopping concept, Signature Home Market, and held their first pop-up sale Nov. 27-28 at 7116 Regal Lane in Halls.
“The first in-person sale was great,” said Onks.
“It was awesome seeing ladies line up early,” said Armstrong. “I think people quickly caught on to the concept and went straight to the pieces of furniture they saw in our sneak peeks.”
“We are constantly bringing in new items, depending on what sells,” said Onks. “We had to get all kinds of new accent chairs for the next sale.”
The duo just wrapped up a virtual sale. “It was for last-minute shopping. We wanted to throw it out as an option because of the hustle and bustle of the holidays, but our main model is the once-a-month sale,” said Onks.
Signature Home Market will continue to offer sneak peeks for each sale and run a special promotion or a giveaway for those following along on social media. The next sale will be 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Jan. 15 and noon-4 p.m. Jan. 16.
WORDS OF FAITH
First, pray. Then your 'inner' new year will start right
John Tirro, Shopper News
Ignatius was a 16th century enthusiast for chivalrous battle and romance, but a shattered leg confined him to bed, and his energies turned inward, to the battlefield of love in the soul.
His sister kindly brought him books about knightly conquest as he requested, but she also brought books about saints, and he noticed, he felt excited and energized while reading either kind of book, but afterward, when he put the books down, he felt a drop in energy after reading about knightly conquest, but after reading about saints, his energy stayed high.
As someone seeking to heal a shattered leg, he may have had a heightened interest in what sustained his energy. In any case, he continued paying attention to his inner life and how he responded to different kinds of thoughts, and over the course of his bed rest developed a wonderful contribution to Christian spirituality: examen, “a technique of prayerful reflection on the events of the day in order to detect God’s presence and discern his direction for us” (ignatianspirituality.com).
First, you pray, which can be simple as closing your eyes, noticing your breath, and resting in the knowledge that God is present.
Then, maybe using a pencil and a piece of paper to jot it down, you consider your consolations of the day, the times you felt closest to God, most loving, most loved.
Next, you consider your desolations of the day, when you felt furthest from God, least loving, least loved.
These two things, consolations and desolations, cover the whole range of human experience, in the context of God and love.
I’ve noticed, it’s helpful to start from consolations, as it grounds the soul in love and gratitude, which then carries us through the experience of considering desolations. If you do it the other way around, desolation energy can kind of take over, which makes it hard to get to the consolation thoughts and memories at all. We ground first in love, then take that love to the parts of our hearts that need it.
Once you’ve considered these two experiences, consolations and desolations, a third is helpful: aspirations. Given who you are, what matters to you, and what contexts or actions led you to experience love and God’s closeness, what do you hope for next?
In campus ministry, we have a shorthand for this practice, “rose-thorn-bud.” At the beginning of meetings, we share around the circle, what was a rose for you, what was a thorn, and what was a bud, something that might be coming to bloom?
Whatever we learn from this practice, just doing it says your thoughts and experiences are important in this group. Even doing the practice alone with a scrap piece of paper and pencil, you are saying that your thoughts and experiences are important, which they are.
Looking back at last year and forward to the new, what are your roses and thorns, and what buds might there be, in need of attention and support?
John Tirro is pastor of music and campus ministry at St. John’s Lutheran Church. Info: sjlcknox.org.
More: SEC basketball coaches who belong on Mount Rushmore? Hard to pick
SOUTH KNOXVILLE
Businesses and improvements enhance South Knoxville in 2021
Ali James, Shopper News
New South Knoxville businesses continued to hold their own during 2021. Meanwhile, the beautiful Urban Wilderness continued to expand, providing even more reasons to spend time south of the river.
$1 million for Augusta Quarry
“We are working with our engineering department and their vendors to finalize the utilities plan for the park improvements,” said Sheryl Ely, director of Parks and Recreation. “The boardwalk will be developed after the utilities have been installed. There is not a defined timeline at this point.”
During the swim season, staff have been in the park to provide an overview of the park and park rules. “The swim area has been outlined and there is a marker in place to identify the deep area outside of the swim area,” said Ely. “Last year we began a pilot project with River Sports Outfitters to provide rental kayaks, tubes and stand-up paddle boards.
"The rental equipment program will continue for the 2022 swim season. We hope more people will take advantage of the rental program as it helps reduce the number of destroyed or damaged plastic personal floatation devices and litter left at the quarry.”
This winter and spring, an artist will work on a mural to decorate the storage containers placed in the park.
“There are great trails that surround the quarry,” said Ely. “We opened a new trail (Big Rock Pass) with an entrance from the quarry parking lot, running along Blount Avenue and connecting to Mary Vestal Park.”
KnoxFill, Knoxville's first zero waste refillery
Since Michaela Barnett launched KnoxFill in February, she has expanded inventory, helped over 600 households transition away from single-use plastics, and diverted over 3,000 containers from the waste stream.
“We now have two partner pickup locations: Jacks 2.0 on Central and CommonPlace in South Knoxville,” said Barnett. “We have expanded our delivery zone and continue working to source the best low-waste, refillable, sustainable goods for our customers. We also began doing in-person pop-ups and markets about once a month ago, so our customers could bring their own containers and fill by weight.”
KnoxFill has partnered with other local small businesses to reuse bottles and repurpose salvaged containers. “I have hosted a battery recycling box through a generous partnership with the Tennessee Environmental Council,” she added. Barnett hopes to open a brick-and-mortar store after finishing her doctoral dissertation in 2022.
Redbud Kitchen opens
Lisa Long and husband Wally opened Redbud Kitchen at the end of July. Hours have been extended and Redbud Kitchen is now open every day. “We just rolled out the catering menu this week,” said Lisa Long.
“People use Redbud a lot to take care of their guests, family, teachers, team members, and corporate meetings in Morristown, so we are starting with the most popular items from that location.”
Happy hour is offered 4-7 p.m. on weekdays. “We have added weekly and seasonal bartender’s creations for people to enjoy,” she added.
New location for South Press Coffee
Joslynn Fish's coffee shop and community gathering spot quickly outgrew the first location she opened in September 2020. Over the summer, she moved to a much larger space at 3615 Chapman Highway.
“This is more the dream realized, because we have a stage so we can have live music and we have capacity for 100 people and have plenty of room to grow into the space,” said Fish. “We took the little 800-square-foot shop so we stretched it out like taffy so it has that organic feel.”
Two weeks later the historic hotel in which they were first located burned down. During demolition of the old site, Fish was fortunate to rescue the hotel’s iconic ‘Good Food’ sign and she plans to have it restored and put on display.
Space to the rear of her coffee shop serves as an art gallery and community meeting space for groups or small businesses that do pop-ups. Food truck events and a recent holiday market boasting 31 vendors and attracting 300 shoppers have all been well received.
South Press supports 14 local vendors, buying coffee, tea, baked goods, apple butter, and honey from other small businesses. “I keep showing up to work and there is always somebody to serve,” said Fish.
CommonPlace + Community now open
After extensive renovations, CommonPlace Coffee + Community officially opened on July 12 in a former bank building at 6000 Chapman Highway. Owner and South Knoxville resident Eli Cockrum said they have been warmly received by the community and have developed many regulars who stop by multiple times a week.
“We opened the drive-through about a month into our opening and it stays steady, especially on rainy days,” said Cockrum. “Our menu has expanded to include several in-house baked goods, croissants, and other small items.” The baristas continue to create specialty seasonal drinks. Winter favorites include eggnog, gingerbread and juniper.
“Our meeting space is booked many days a week for study groups, work meetings, crafters, etc.,” he said. “We have also hosted groups after hours for baby showers, birthdays, and (lots of) Christmas parties.”
The Kitchen Link: a place for food entrepreneurs
Small business owner Kathryne Ogrod launched The Kitchen Link to strengthen the local food and restaurant industry this year. In addition to networking opportunities, the big plan is to open an indoor food market as well as a commercial kitchen in South Knoxville.
“I am currently working with South Knoxville bakers who need baking specific equipment to start the kitchen,” said Ogrod.
The Kitchen Link is hosting a “Diamonds and Dining” fundraising event on Jan. 21 at the Press Room. Tickets include a five-course meal provided by chefs from Walnut Kitchen, Kefi, Vida, Seoul Brothers, and Bryan McKee.
“Our Restaurant Week will be Feb 15-21 with a prix fixe menu,” said Ogrod. “Tickets will be $25 for lunch and $35 for dinner.”
Ogrod is partnering with the Dogwood Arts Festival to set up a food tent with local, premade food items for sale.
Ancient Lore Village adds experiences
“The response has been phenomenal,” said CEO Melissa Blettner. “Our signature events are the movie nights, and we also have different character events, such as breakfast with ‘Frozen’s Anna and Elsa.”
This winter Ancient Lore Village is hosting “Reindeer Games,” which include a half-hour archery or axe throwing, a story tour, relaxation by the bonfire in the Village Gardens and games at the Gremlin Gameyard. Enjoy lunch for $25 a person.
“We do the specialty events, wine and whiskey tastings, a moonshine dinner, and we are about to launch events for the next three months,” said Blettner. “Going into the new year they will offer corporate planning retreats so that the team can set goals and connect with each other.”
Ancient Lore Village has winterized many of its gathering spaces, enclosing the patio, adding outdoor heaters and bonfires to make sure guests are comfortable
Knox Pride Center offers resources
The Knox Pride Center offers connections to resources, such as legal, medical, employment and mental health services, free internet and a space for events.
Since the opening in October, Knox Pride president John Camp said they hosted 22 events in November, 25 in December and they just wrapped their CAC Youth Wins Christmas Party.
“We had four affirmation days where we provided services to 25 community members and we have given out 300 food bags,” said Camp. “The outpouring from the community has been much greater than anticipated.”
Knox Pride will expand into a third space by February and a fourth space by the summer.
If 500 people pledge a recurring donation of $5 per month, that will fund the center for an entire year. More information at knoxpride.com/donate.
Tri-Star Arts at Candoro Marble
“We have had a really great time getting into the rhythm of exhibitions; we opened our fifth in early December,” said Brian R. Jobe, executive director and co-founder of Tri-Star Arts.
“We have had a handful of receptions — typically two per exhibit —and we have had over 500 people visit the building. We have five studio artists actively making new work.”
Tri-Star Arts has held live music events and a film screening in the carriage house.
“As an organization, Tri-Star was able to distribute $60,000 in grants across East Tennessee. Two of those grants were for artists in Knoxville,” said Jobe.
The Vestival festival should be back in 2022 and Tri-Star Arts hopes to host more group tours and field trips.
A large steel sculpture by New York artist Hank Willis Thomas will be installed and on display for a year. Jobe is also partnering with other organizations to bring a permanent functional sculpture to a public space next year.
Corelli Art and Forest School
In August, the Corelli Art and Forest School was established by Eli McNall and Corey Pope. “Our last open house went amazing and we had a terrific turnout,” said McNall. “Enrollment has been enough to satisfy our needs, but we do still have spaces in our classes moving into 2022.”
After clearing overgrowth and setting up some sensory play sites and a mud kitchen, the couple say the nature playscape elements have been perfect for their forest school.
“We have found a beautiful relationship with the land and the area animals,” said McNall. “We have spotted plenty of deer and wild packs of turkeys as well as smaller creatures like snakes and chipmunks.”
The preschool class has particularly enjoyed action art, such as squirt bottle painting and a recent crystal and gem hunt.
BEARDEN
People, places and notable deaths made our community news in 2021
John Shearer, Shopper News
Plenty of news and events took place in Bearden and West Knoxville in 2021, from new businesses opening to local high school sports accomplishments.
Among the businesses profiled, DosBros and Everbowl eateries opened in Western Plaza, Cataleya Cantina opened in Cedar Bluff, and Pelican’s SnoBalls and MOOYAH Burger were under new ownership. Food allergy-free Free Reign Bakery expanded into Bearden, and Treetop Coffee opened in Sequoyah Hills.
Also, BrickYard Bar and Grill was profiled, as were Case Antiques, the Tipsy Daisy portable bar business, June Bug pet treats, and Rocky Topee Teepees children’s sleepover business.
Pugh CPAs had remodeled its offices at 315 N. Cedar Bluff Road into a trendy new facility, while Mollenhour Gross in the fall purchased the historic former Knollwood home on Bearden Hill for its business offices.
As Weigel’s celebrated its 90th anniversary, a story remembered the drive-through Jug o’ Milk Farm Stores, including one at Forest Park Boulevard.
West Knoxville residents also followed the milestones that took place at the University of Tennessee, as three historic structures all turned 100 years old and were highlighted. They included Neyland Stadium, which had opened as Shields-Watkins Field, and Morgan Hall and Ayres Hall, which had both been designed by the Chicago architectural firm of Miller, Fullenwider and Dowling.
Several architecturally pleasing Sequoyah Hills area homes were also profiled in connection with the great demand for houses locally. One unique home at 525 Mellen Ave. that was highlighted had a stream-like feature in its den.
Lakeshore Park continued to stay popular a year after the HGTV Overlook opened. In the fall, major expansion plans including new ballfields, an amphitheater and fieldhouse were announced for the park following a $35 million gift from the Haslam family.
Singer Don Everly’s death on Aug. 21 was noted by Bearden residents, including Dennis Owen, who had helped develop the small Everly Brothers Park off Kingston Pike with others. Former UT football standout and well-known resident Herky Payne died on March 30 at age 92.
Former Sen. Hubert Humphrey aide and retired TVA official John Stewart was memorialized with a trash pickup in his Ridgerock neighborhood to honor his years of voluntarily picking up trash as well.
Columbus Zoo director emeritus Jack Hanna’s time in Knoxville was remembered after the announcement of his diagnosis with dementia. He had helped operate the now-razed Pet Kingdom with his wife at 6914-F Kingston Pike in the 1970s, and the family had some land at Ebenezer Road and Kingston Pike where he kept some wild animals.
In school news, math teacher Rick Nelson at Bearden Elementary was named Teacher of the Year. Bearden High graduate Natalie Campbell was profiled after being named a prestigious Torchbearer at UT, while Christian Academy of Knoxville graduate Laura Dixson and Abigail Lee of L&N STEM Academy were named UT Haslam Scholars.
West High valedictorian Josh Stevens was profiled for his achievements, as was Bearden High valedictorian Nathanael Laing.
In the late summer, Shay Siler was featured after being named the new principal at Sequoyah Elementary.
In high school sports, the Bearden boys’ basketball team had another good season, the Bearden girls’ basketball team won the district, the Bearden girls won the state soccer championship for first time since 2007, and West High’s football team reached the semifinals.
Bearden senior Christian Langlois won two state sprint titles in track, Bearden High sophomore Lauren Peters was a coxswain with the winning U.S. team in the World Rowing Junior Championships in Bulgaria in August, and West High golfer Carson Kammann was a state runnerup.
OPINION
There's room for a pet in my empty nest
Leslie Snow, Shopper News
I’m sitting at the kitchen counter with Jordan. She’s holding a baby in one hand and her cellphone in the other.
When Elliot starts fussing, she bounces him on her shoulder and holds out her phone to show me a photo of the couch she wants to buy for her new house. “I like it!” I say bouncing along with her. “It looks very kid and pet friendly.”
While we’re bouncing and talking, Jordan passes me her phone again. She wants to show me the couch in another color. Without thinking, I hand her my phone in return. “Take a look at this picture of Buttercup. Have you ever seen cuter face wrinkles?”
Jordan agrees that my Great Dane is exceptional. But as she scrolls through the rest of my photos, she starts to see a pattern. “You have more pictures of Buttercup than your own grandchildren!” she exclaims with a laugh.
I start to protest, but eventually, I fess up. “It’s probably closer to 50-50,” I say with a grin.
“You’re obsessed with your dog!” she retorts. I ignore her teasing and take a turn bouncing Elliot.
But I think about Jordan’s words the rest of the day. I think about them when I’m taking Buttercup to the dog park and again when I’m brushing the dirt from her soft coat. I think about them while I’m buying an assortment of her favorite dog treats and when I’m stroking her soft belly as she warms herself in front of the fire.
There’s some truth in my daughter’s pointed observations. I do spend a lot of time trying to make my dog happy and I take a lot of pictures of her during the day. But it wasn’t always that way, not with my other dogs, not when I had little kids of my own.
Having children changes pet ownership. It changes priorities, too. I explain all that to Jordan when I talk to her the next day.
“I know you think I’m a little over the top with my love for Buttercup, but it’s all about the timing. You have three young kids and a stressful job. It makes sense that your dogs are just well-cared-for pets. They’re not your whole world because your children are already your whole world. But your dad and I are empty nesters. We have plenty of room in our hearts and our house to thoroughly adore our dog.”
That’s what I say, but it’s not the whole story. I leave a few key details out of our conversation.
I don’t tell Jordan that Buttercup whimpers in her sleep when she’s cold or that I get up three times a night to cover her with a blanket.
I don’t mention that she gets into bed with us every morning for an hour of cuddle time or that I give her a treat before I tuck her into her bed at night.
I don’t say anything about the giant bone I bought her for Thanksgiving, the stuffed rabbit I bought for Chanukah, or the regulation-sized basketball I bought for her second birthday.
Jordan would think I was crazy for devoting so much time and energy into caring for my dog. But she’s at a different life-stage than I am. She has to put her time and energy into raising and loving her children, but since my kids are grown and out of the house, I get to be that crazy dog lady who buys Christmas sweaters for her Great Dane.
And that’s OK with me.
Leslie Snow may be reached at snow column@aol.com.
More: Driver’s license center moving into tight space in Bearden | Victor Ashe
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