Shopper Blog: Opening new neighborhood bookstore was worth the paper cuts
MARYVILLE
Opening new neighborhood bookstore was worth the paper cuts
Ali James, Shopper News
From the first time Laurie Meier walked around downtown Maryville, she was drawn to the old Schriver’s building at 106 E. Broadway. “I thought this would make a gorgeous bookstore. Having a bookstore has been a longtime dream,” said Meier. “It is one of those things you keep in the back of your mind, like hiking the Appalachian Trail, just one of those dreams.”
For more than 20 years, Meier and her family lived all over the country and overseas while her husband, Mike, served in the Air Force. The couple were living in Arizona when he retired in 2018 and a job opportunity with Cirrus Aircraft came up.
“We saw it as an opportunity to move to this part of the country. My family mostly live in Southeast Georgia,” said Laurie. “We could have lived in Knoxville or Maryville, but we had rented a little house in Maryville and pretty quickly decided we wanted to live here. We love the small town and the people.”
When the old Schriver’s building became available, Meier signed the lease in February, but could not take possession until May 1.
Meier immersed herself into research, talking to local business owners and entrepreneurs and visiting independent bookstores and talking to the owners. Mentors from the Tennessee Small Business Development Center and SCORE helped fine-tune her business plan.
Fitting out the space was another big undertaking. Meier chose chic black bookshelves that contrast beautifully with the original hardwood floors. Supply chain issues and a completely uneven floor delayed the bookstore’s opening by more than a month. Then, just as the books arrived to fill the shelves, Meier had a carpenter come to the rescue and work tirelessly throughout the July 4th weekend to custom fit every bookshelf.
Neighborly Books officially opened July 21.
Book selection was a bit of a learning curve for the book lover. “It was hard! You want to provide the best titles and try to figure out what will sell in your particular market,” Meier said. “Every town is different, so it is hard to go by what other stores do. I faithfully follow some on Instagram, but I noticed what they buy and what they sell is way different. There is an art and science of what my customers want. I can’t carry everything, but I special order twice a week and get my orders within a few days.”
Meier said her favorite genre is the mystery thriller, but what she really gets most excited about are the picture books in her carefully crafted children’s section.
“Fiction sells well. I sell a lot of romance and fantasy,” Meier said. “I gave it to the Colleen Hoover (books) and dedicated a whole shelf.”
Neighborly Books is also stocked up on “gifty” merchandise for the holidays and quick gift getting. To save customers time, Meier said she can take phone orders and have them ready to collect in no time.
“I have teachers who help me with the middle grade and young adult selections,” she added. “Telling me what is good and not so good.”
With at least five other options for coffee in Maryville, Meier said customers are welcome to hit up one of those coffee shops and then stop by. “People like the experience of coming into a bookstore and browsing,” said Meir. “They like getting personalized service and recommendations and chatting about books, and it is so much fun.”
The downtown retailers and businesses have been very supportive, tagging each other on social media. And at the recent downtown Christmas market, Meier said Maryville turned out in spades.
Neighborly Books will be hosting a flute group for the holidays and is working on scheduling a children’s story hour, poetry readings and local author events soon. “I post on Instagram and Facebook and my plan is to start a newsletter soon,” she said. “I am a one-person show so I have someone coming in to help me...
“It is all about the customers. They come in and talk about how pretty the shop is or how great it smells and that I have a great collection,” continued Meier. “It just makes it worth all of the paper cuts.”
BEARDEN
Former Japanese steakhouse, once the Brass Rail West, awaits redevelopment
John Shearer, Shopper News
With its unique Asian-themed appearance, the former Japanese restaurant building at 8207 Kingston Pike has become part of the late 20th century Americana look of this stretch of commercial West Knoxville.
But the unusual building’s days are likely numbered, as the property near the entrance to Bearden High School is in the process of being sold, with redevelopment plans in the works.
Listing agent Jay Cobble of Providence Commercial Real Estate said a contract has been signed for the property, which sits between Kingston Pike and Interstate 40 and is listed at $3.75 million.
While he said on Nov. 29 that he did not know when the closing date will be and could not announce any plans, he did say a retail developer is buying the approximately 5-acre site and plans to redevelop the property and do some grading work.
He believes the old restaurant building on this site owned by a family trust and next to where a now-razed motel once stood will probably be torn down.
“That is what most likely will happen,” he said of the building that is now boarded up after the business had operated on a month-to-month lease for the last couple of years. “It’s in pretty bad shape.”
As the still-standing sign indicates, the building was most recently a Misaki Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar. And uniquely on its immediate west side is another still-operating Japanese restaurant, the Makino Japanese Buffet, in a building that was once Logan’s Roadhouse.
A look in some old Knoxville city directories and newspaper clippings at the McClung Historical Collection downtown shows that the building, or at least site, has housed several different restaurants or gathering places.
The first restaurant there was evidently the Brass Rail West, which opened in October 1976, according to an old News Sentinel article. It had been opened by Gus Ligdis and Frank Sipsis, who also operated the Brass Rail restaurant at 605 S. Gay St. across from the Tennessee Theatre.
The original downtown Brass Rail had been opened by Frank Kotsianas in the 1950s and reportedly took the downtown luncheon crowd by storm, another article from 1992 said. The west location was known for steaks, seafood, hoagies and reuben sandwiches.
Operating both the west and downtown restaurants was hard, one story said, so the Brass Rail West was sold to Gary Long and Associates, and it soon became a new restaurant operation under the Homasey brothers.
According to city directories from the early 1980s through the early 1990s, the site at 8207 Kingston Pike became such businesses as Charleston’s Restaurant, Doodles, and D.J. Sharp’s Restaurant and Dancing.
However, the 1994 city directory lists a new business at that address – Kyoto Japanese Steak House and Sushi Bar.
By 2000, the name was changed to Myabi before it took on the Misaki name in recent years. In a 2019 city directory, the president of the restaurant was listed as Masamori Sawa, a known chef.
Although further research would be required, at least part of the original building when it opened as the Brass Rail West is still there, although it has apparently been greatly remodeled and given a new look in recent years. The same curb around the building is also still there.
One Knoxville resident who had been in the restaurant said it was more detailed in its décor than some other Asian-themed restaurants in the area.
And now this building that gave a little insight into Asian culinary culture and history will likely soon be cleared and simply become a part of Knoxville and American history.
HALLS
Pupcakery’s all-natural treats are picky dog-approved
Ali James, Shopper News
Virginia Voss was looking for a treat for her youngest pup’s birthday when she decided to bake something herself.
“There was nothing like that out there,” said Voss, who lives in Fountain City. “I have always baked, and it seems like I have always been the baker in the family and baking for holidays. Cupcakes in particular are my specialty.”
Voss finds the baking process relaxing. “I know some people don’t feel that way,” she said. “I started Pupcakery, a bake house for dogs, in November after I got everything rolling in October. I’ve been in real estate for four years. When I am not busy, I have time at home to bake treats and cakes.”
Because dogs enjoy peanut butter, Voss uses it as the base for her pupcakes. “I offer an original flavor, as well as a Reese’s peanut butter frosting, but with cacao instead of chocolate.” There are no preservatives or additives, and all pupcakes are grain free.
Online sales have already been steady. “The Pupcakery holiday treats are the big sellers right now,” said Voss. “Those are cookies for dogs. I have made them into gingerbread, snowmen, and Christmas trees. They are made with all-natural ingredients, so if your kids get into them you wouldn’t worry; they are basically like a sugar free cookie.”
Even picky dogs love them. “Those are the ones I try to win over; if I can get them to eat them, then I know they’re good,” she said.
Chief taste testers are Aubrey, her 9-year-old Morkie (a cross between the Maltese and the Yorkshire terrier) and Solsen, her daughter’s 1-year-old Bernedoodle and the inspiration for Pupcakery.
The Pupcakes come in a jumbo single serving, four-pack or 12-pack of minis in the “pawty pack.” Voss packages them in classic brown packaging and offers local dropoff around Knoxville and ships them interstate.
The puptreats are made without preservatives and are dehydrated and can last for up to three months. The pupcakes are made using only all-natural ingredients, so they last for a week to 10 days in the refrigerator.
“I have gotten quite a few orders from out of state,” Voss said. “I’ve even made treats for banks (to give out) at the drive-thru. People like that the treats and pupcakes are all-natural and they don’t have to worry about anything in them.”
All of the Pupcakery’s goods can be viewed online at www.thepupcakeryco.com. In the future Voss said she will be a vendor at markets and change up the puptreats for every holiday with something new every month.
WORDS OF FAITH
Healing amid disruption requires prayer and support
John Tirro, Shopper News
I was asked to write a Christmas devotional for a church group, and at first it wasn’t clear what the selected scripture had to do with Christmas. Then I saw it. Here’s the passage:
When he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs coming out of the tombs met him. They were so fierce that no one could pass that way. Suddenly they shouted, ‘What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?’ Now a large herd of swine was feeding at some distance from them. The demons begged him, ‘If you cast us out, send us into the herd of swine.’ And he said to them, ‘Go!’ So they came out and entered the swine; and suddenly, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and perished in the water. The swineherds ran off, and on going into the town, they told the whole story about what had happened to the demoniacs. Then the whole town came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their neighborhood. — Matthew 8:28-34.
Whatever else is going on in the story, and there is a lot, it also seems to be the case that as long as the two demoniacs stayed afflicted, the emotional system of the group − and the local economy − was in balance. When the two are set free, everybody else freaks out. This kind of thing happens surprisingly often, especially around holidays.
When a person bearing the emotional weight of a family system moves toward healing − a pastor setting boundaries around rest, a grown child finally letting parents manage their own stress, a pair of Gadarenes freed of evil spirits, a messiah receiving the world’s sin and returning only love − it causes disruption. Parishioners push back in small ways and large, family gatherings overheat (merry Christmas!), a herd of pigs (a good bit of the community livelihood) rushes down a bank to drown in a lake, and the entire human population spends two thousand years resisting death and resurrection.
It can be hard to stay the course, if you’re the one moving toward healing. Thing is, it’s not just you healing, but the whole family system. The way things were before was like a bone that set wrong. The disruption is like the doctor’s jarring move − essentially a re-break − to reset the bone. In a spiritual system, what functions like a splint is the discipline of turning and returning to the good. It requires prayer and often a good bit of support.
What healing are you in the middle of, for yourself and the world around you? What support might you need, to stay the course?
Loving God, as we look to our own healing and the healing of those you've placed in our care, grant us wisdom to see what must be done and strength to do what we have seen. Amen.
John Tirro is pastor of worship at St. John’s Lutheran Church. Info: sjlcknox.org.
Mike Leach, gone too soon, wasn't perfect, but he had a gift that kept on giving | Opinion
SOUTH KNOXVILLE
Everyday tasks made more beautiful with Soil and Spoon pottery pieces
Ali James, Shopper News
When Carey Ellen Pettigrew Goss isn’t working at Wild Love Bakehouse, she can usually be found throwing pottery in her South Knoxville studio.
Now that Pettigrew Goss’ children are a little older, she has returned to her love of pottery and launched Soil and Spoon.
“So, I originally came to the University of Tennessee thinking I might study math, but the summer after my freshman year I went home and nannied and in my free time took a pottery class,” said Pettigrew Goss. “I switched my major to 4D Art with a focus on ceramics.”
It turned out it was not too much of a stretch for Pettigrew Goss. “I think my love of science and math translated really well into making clay and glazes while I was at UT,” she said.
Pettigrew Goss makes a lot of mugs and tumblers and has started working on everyday plateware and bowls to add to her collection of drinking vessels. “I have made a few variations of incense burners, things that are in the home, that are welcoming and cozy as well as some fun new items,” she said.
Working as a baker at Wild Love Bakehouse, Pettigrew Goss typically has fresh bread at home and prefers butter at room temperature. “A fun new item is my butter keepers for keeping butter on the counter,” she said. “I have gone back to more functional pieces; I love making things that people can use on a daily basis.”
Soil and Spoon’s little condiment bowls and napkin rings make great stocking stuffers, too. “I have a friend that uses her bowls for salt and pepper,” said Pettigrew Goss. “For fish and chip night at home we use ours for ketchup, tartar sauce and vinegar. I didn’t know how much I would use them until we made them. They are great for measuring out spices and sauces when you’re baking.”
The name Soil and Spoon harkens to the connections between nature and community, according to Pettigrew Goss. “I see my pieces as an ode to the soil from which they came as well as the food and community they serve,” she said. Soil and Spoon is also a nod to her collaborative work with her sister, a food writer.
In the past, Soil and Spoon has also collaborated with two other makers – Mother’s Daughter Bread and Moosegrave – to create gift baskets, and they are hoping to do another giveaway at some point.
Pettigrew Goss will also have another pop-up sale this weekend – 8 a.m.-noon on Dec. 17 – at Wild Love Bakehouse. “I will probably take stock of my collection and do one more small online sale before the holidays and announce it on Instagram,” she said.
Soil and Spoon mugs are also part of the mug wall at the Maker Exchange in downtown Knoxville.
“I think that my hand-illustrated items are always the hot item that I just can’t make fast enough or enough of,” said Pettigrew Goss.
Pettigrew Goss grew up around gardens and includes natives, botanicals, and florals, as well as herbs, root vegetables and even medicinal things like elderflower in her designs.
“With each illustration I spend time learning about and researching each plant, focusing on native plants,” she said. “I often work from images of these plants from my own garden as well as antique botanical illustrations.”
This spring, Soil and Spoon will introduce more illustrated items including her popular beet and turnip cups.
FARRAGUT
Cherokee Caverns lights up for Christmas
Nancy Anderson, Shopper News
“Historic Cherokee Caverns is a hidden gem in your own backyard,” said cave conservationist Dana Whidby. “We love doing Christmas in the Cave and other activities throughout the year to raise money to help keep the cave in good condition.”
Ticket sales showed about 800 people visited the Cave as a holiday treat Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022.
“We nearly lost it in 2019 when the cave flooded and had to be completely rewired, but she’s good to go now and we just love welcoming the community to Christmas in the Cave,” Whidby said.
The cave is open only a few days a year, which makes the chance to wander amid Christmas music and decorated Christmas trees especially attractive – not to mention fun for the whole family.
The cave also remains a steady 58 degrees at all times, so it can’t get too cold as visitors take in the sights and sounds of Christmas.
The well-kept path is wheelchair accessible, making everyone welcome regardless of abilities.
While the cave remains constant, above it is a whirl of activity during the Christmas season. In the beginning there were about three vendors; today there are closer to 20 offering pizza and cotton candy, as well as countless gift options like jewelry, crafts, even tactical gear.
Problematic with the Christmas in the Cave event the traffic backup on Oak Ridge Highway.
“We’ve gotten so popular we added a third weekend to help hold down the crowds,” said Whidby. “We have lots of volunteers to help with parking, but we aren’t allowed to go out onto the street. We have hired a few off-duty police officers who are a big help when the traffic is all backed up.”
While the traffic can be problematic, the cave is pure entertainment and a pleasure for the senses. Christmas lights, themed vignettes and music are prolific in all the nooks and crannies.
Santa Claus is a big draw and the line adds up fast, but it’s well organized chaos with the Grinch entertaining kids in line with his larger than life antics.
Karns Lion Josh Bolling is on hand as Cousin Eddie from the movie “Christmas Vacation.” He is a crowd favorite and is happy to pose for pictures.
This year the Grinch got a surprise when little Paislee Washam, 5, channeled her inner Cindy Lou Who. The Grinch said seeing her was the prize of his day and touched his too-small heart, helping it grow a size larger.
Whidby said she already has plans for next year. She plans on turning the ticket booth into a gingerbread house.
Historic Cherokee Caverns is at 8524 Oak Ridge Hwy. Christmas in the Cave is open 5-8 p.m. Friday and 3-8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, through Dec. 18. Tickets are $12 for those over 4; the funds go toward upkeep of the cave.
Info: https://www.historiccherokeecaverns.com
NORTH KNOXVILLE
Central and Powell UMC choirs present very special concert this weekend
Carol Z. Shane, Shopper News
In a season of “peace on earth, good will to all,” there’s an abundance of good will between two church choirs in town: those of Powell and Central United Methodist churches. Led by their music directors, the Rev. Kathy Heustess and Trey Daugherty, the two groups have collaborated on a classic Carols Service based in the English tradition.
The service − the second of two − happens at 4 p.m. this Sunday, Dec. 18, at Central United Methodist Church, 201 Third Ave. in the Fourth and Gill neighborhood. A reception will follow. The concert is free.
Built in 1927, the building is hailed for its classic beauty and gorgeous acoustics. In November of 2005 it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The combined choirs presented their first concert at Powell UMC on Sunday, Dec. 4.
“It went really well. We had a good crowd; everybody made merry,” said Daugherty, who is also the organist at Central. “It was a nice event.”
The collaboration came about through other successful collaborations with other churches, most notably Lennon-Seney UMC in Morningside, with whom both choirs had worked at separate times. The idea of singing together grew naturally out of that.
The program, said Daugherty, is fashioned after the Festival of Lessons and Carols, King’s College Chapel, Cambridge, England.
“Any organist tends to be steeped in the English Christmas tradition – actually, obsessed is a better word! When the service sheet for King’s comes out, everybody stays on standby to see what they’re doing.”
In addition to his duties at Central, Daugherty enjoys hearing other church choirs. “I try to go to Evensong,” most recently at St. John’s Episcopal Church downtown.
The 45-minute program features music by John Rutter and Anna Laura Page, and carol settings by David Willcocks. The audience is included in the performance. “There’s definitely audience participation! The first half is a little more choir-focused, and then midway through we’re all singing together to the end.”
Daugherty is also a composer, and the combined choirs will also offer his setting of “Adam Lay Ybounden,” a 15th-century English Christian text whose author is unknown. It describes the fall of Adam, who in medieval theology was believed to have been held in bonds from the time of his death until the crucifixion of Christ, and is traditional to this type of Christmas musical offering.
“That has to come up at a carols service,” said Daugherty, who did an international summer program at Oxford this year. He has also drawn heavily from the Oxford Carol Book, which he said pairs well with everything else in the program.
BEARDEN
Coach of the Year and 'One West' family relish historic, happy year
John Shearer, Shopper News
West High School’s football team enjoyed a special kind of homecoming during the early morning hours of Dec. 3.
After comfortably defeating Page High School from Franklin, 47-13, the evening before in front of supporters at UT-Chattanooga’s Finley Stadium to claim the Class 5A state championship, they got on the bus to return to Knoxville.
Despite the late hour that had moved past 12:30 a.m., Sutherland Avenue looked a little like rush hour due to the supporters on hand there.
“It was pretty neat,” coach Lamar Brown said. “You had cars pulling off on Sutherland Avenue and cheering for us. And when we got back to school, there was a pretty good crowd that was welcoming us back. It was a pretty good night all the way around.”
As coach Brown recently reflected on this season that brought the team’s first undefeated season and second state title since 2014 before he assumed the reins, he said the accomplishments were just starting to set in.
“I am thrilled to death for the players and the coaches. They put in so much time,” he said over the phone on Dec. 7. “The school and community have been so great to us all year. I’m happy for the ‘One West’ family.”
The cheering for the West football team did not stop after the game, either, as he said they were to be honored at the school’s home basketball game against Powell on Dec. 9.
And coach Brown was named the Tennessee Titans High School Coach of the Year, as the News Sentinel has highlighted.
While the crowning achievement came at the BlueCross Bowl, where quarterback Carson Jessie threw for four touchdowns and 286 yards and Brayden Latham rushed for 101 yards and three touchdowns, it was a total team effort and grind throughout the season.
“Nobody carried us. The whole offense starts with our offensive line,” Brown said of seniors Jones Conner, Jackson Lewis, Quandarius Hayes, and Bradley Dickey and junior John Whitesell. “Without those guys, we can’t run or throw it.”
He said the defensive line was also a strength and put so much pressure on other teams’ quarterbacks that the Rebels were able to break a school record for interceptions.
While West has made deep runs in the playoffs in recent years, it showed early on that 2022 could be even more special. The Rebels defeated West Knoxville rivals Bearden and Farragut by three scores each, and then beat Halls, Fulton and Sevier County by even larger margins before edging 2022 Class 3A state champion Alcoa, 29-26, on Sept. 22.
West then had easy wins over Heritage and Cocke County, a 31-18 win over Maryville on Oct. 18, and closed out the regular season with a win over Central by a substantial margin.
In the playoffs, the Rebels easily defeated David Crockett High School, Morristown West, and Daniel Boone High School before getting the win over fellow Knox County power Powell, 28-21, to avenge the 2021 semifinal loss and qualify for the victorious championship game in Chattanooga.
Although West is losing eight starters on offense and five on defense and will see probably close to eight players sign college scholarships, including defensive player and Air Force Academy commitment John Sartelle, Brown hopes to keep the momentum going.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do between now and next year, especially offensively,” said the former Jefferson County player, who arrived at West from Morristown West before the 2017 season. “But our kids are going to work hard for next year and be ready to go.”
And they are certainly going to take the time to continue celebrating reaching the football mountaintop this year as well, he added.
NORTH KNOXVILLE
West Fifth Studios brings holiday enchantment to North Knoxville
Carol Z. Shane, Shopper News
On Saturday, Dec. 3, West Fifth Studios began what they hope will be a tradition when they presented the Merry Makers Market − a night market and Christmas Carnival at First Christian Church downtown. The historic, Charles Barber-designed building − more than a century old − houses WFS and is also the home of The Point Knox church.
Kate Buuck, who co-directs WFS with printmaker Gabrielle Barnhart, was very pleased with the event.
“It was a good turnout − we guesstimated 500. We didn’t really have that many expectations going into because it was our first time. I talked to quite a few vendors and it sounded like it was a successful evening for them.”
Nineteen vendors in various disciplines including painting, printmaking, ceramics, photography, leatherwork, illustration, broom making and textiles showed their wares inside the Great Hall of the church, which glowed with decorations. “We spent a lot of time curating the space, hanging up lights and making it feel like Christmas.”
Outside, there was the Christmas Carnival that creator Mike Zaczyk has been presenting for several years. “He has all sorts of carnival games. There’s a giant life-sized ‘Operation’ game with an elf. There’s an ‘Ornament-O-Matic’ − it’s a box that Mike made.” Kids insert a Christmas ornament into the box, holding a pen in place in order to create concentric circles on the ornament, thereby creating their own one-of-a-kind holiday treasure.
The air was festive with music from the Carol Cart − a down-home musical ensemble that presents participatory caroling events that are fun for the whole family. They’re currently appearing all over Knoxville on different dates and will present their Second Annual Carol Cart parade on Wednesday, Dec. 21, featuring an appearance with Make Music Knoxville, of which they are very much a part, on the WDVX Blue Plate Special. Buuck expressed thanks to Austin McCarley of Visit Knoxville, and songwriter Lisa Clow for assisting with the musical lineup.
Guests enjoyed mulled wine and hot chocolate. Yee-Haw Brewing donated beer. There was a fried doughnut booth, fittingly named “Krispy Kringle” by Zaczyk. “We supplied free drinks and food,” said Buuck. “We wanted to save money for the vendors.” Buuck also expressed gratitude to Adam Woldt and The Point for their support.
West Fifth Studios will be two years old in January, and they look forward to presenting the market and carnival every year. “It was full − a nice kind of full,” said Buuck. “Someone did say that they felt like they were walking into a Hallmark movie. ‘This is just magical − something you dream about!’ We were thrilled with it.”
For more info about WFS, visit westfifthstudios.squarespace.com. For more info about the Carol Cart, visit makemusicknox.com.
Rain curbs crowd but can't stop the joy at Karns Christmas Parade
Nancy Anderson, Shopper News
It was pouring rain just moments before kickoff of the 2022 Karns Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 3.
Luckily it stopped, but not before putting a serious damper on the parade participants. Participation was about half this year.
“The rain was devastating,” said parade coordinator Charlie Austin. “But funny, the people that were there were all happy. They wanted to be there to celebrate the holidays – from the people who lined the streets to the participants, everyone was happy and in the Christmas spirit.”
The football team showed off their best smiles and won the trophy for Best Christmas Spirit.
Karns Middle School kids won a new category, “Battle of the Schools.” The kids had a huge turnout with signs and smiles all around.
Knox County Parks and Recreation wowed the judges with a new float, a train engine pulling a gang of candy-throwing employees. They won Best Community Float.
The Grand Marshal was Heather Waliga, the beautiful and talented news personality from WBIR. Waliga, a Karns High School alum, was in an open carriage with her daughter Haley being driven by Cynthia Conner and her horse Dino of Cinderella Farm and Carriage (a Karns tradition).
Andy the Armadillo from Texas Roadhouse won a trophy for Best Business Float. Texas Roadhouse can be found frequently supporting school activities as well as sponsoring the rib-eating contest at the Karns Community Fair held every summer.
Save for this year, the Christmas parade grows in participation every year. Austin said they may have to add a staging area behind Karns Church of Christ for the overflow. Participants will pull out onto Oak Ridge Highway at the light at Bojangles, alternating from each parking lot.
“The space we have at Ingles is limited. They’re good to us, but we are growing and we want to support that growth. Karns Church of Christ has stepped up and said we can use their parking lot, too, so that will help keep things organized.”
Austin is all about organization. He started a registration process for the participants so emcees Frank Murphy and Becca James could announce the participants as they travel down Oak Ridge Highway toward the bridge.
Murphy and James are quickly becoming the go-to emcees for Karns events. They hosted the Fairest of the Fair contest last year, as well as the parade.
The parade was broadcast on the Karns Network with the help of CTE instructor Chris Wade’s A/V students. The students got a big surprise when the Karns Fair Board presented them with a $500 check.
Byington Solway CTE Center won Best Youth Float.
More and more participants are making floats, especially for the Karns Christmas Parade.
“We had a great time at the parade this year and it’s just going to get better. People are beginning to make floats and we really love to see them coming down the street,” Austin said.
The most popular float year after year is Santa and Mrs. Claus (Rick and Monica Dailey), who traveled down the road to cheers and screams of delight.
Info: Find Karns Fair on Facebook.
NORTH KNOXVILLE
Christmas tree farm makes first sales with hopes of future jolly holidays
Al Lesar, Shopper News
When several acres of familiar land came available, Brian Wood had an idea but didn’t want to spring it on his wife right away.
“She watches too many Hallmark movies,” Brian said of Janice Wood, who retired from 30 years of teaching at Powell High School in 2015. “I didn’t want her jumping at it without thinking it over.”
Turns out, Janice was on the same wavelength.
When Janice Wood first came to Powell in 1985, she rented a living space from longtime teacher Nita Buell. The two developed a friendship. When Buell and her husband died, Brian and Janice had the opportunity to purchase 15 acres in 2016.
By 2019, the plan was in place and Lucky Dog Christmas Tree Farm (1619 Greenwell Drive, Knoxville) was born.
“At the time, we rescued an older, crippled Labrador retriever,” Brian said. “He was going to be put down, but we wouldn’t let that happen. We would always call him a lucky dog.”
Once the lucky dog lived out his days, the Woods adopted a puppy – appropriately named Lucky.
Survivability an issue
Brian, who is the director of rehab services at University of Tennessee Medical Center, went into this venture with his eyes wide open.
He joined the Tennessee Christmas Tree Growers Association and also volunteered with Leo Collins at Bluebird Christmas Trees Farm in Heiskell.
“I learned a lot about the survivability of trees,” Brian said. “It’s not easy. There’s a lot to it.”
Wood said anywhere between 70% and 75% of planted trees survive long enough to be sold as Christmas trees. Every tree is sheared in July and September. Without an irrigation system, all Brian can do is cross his fingers.
“We went 10 weeks without any substantial precipitation,” Brian said of the summer. “It’s so disheartening to see them die. It was weird, we were flooded in July, but couldn’t find rain in August or September.”
Planting the seeds
Though the plan has been in place since 2019, this was the first year it was open. The operation was functioning on a limited basis.
It takes at least four years for some varieties of trees to get to a sellable height (about 6 feet). Others will take at least eight years.
Of the 15 acres, about seven are planted with trees. Varieties are Virginia Pines, Leland Cyprus, Scotch Pines, Norway Spruce and White Pines. Brian expects to plant 800 trees in 2023.
To get the business started, and to get the word around, Brian brought in 165 pre-cut Frazier Fir trees from North Carolina, a popular Christmas tree that can be grown only in the altitude of western North Carolina. Only 15 trees will actually be cut at the farm this season.
“We just need to get our name out there,” said Brian. “We hope the people here this year will come back next year.”
Refreshments, activities for the kids and a photo booth are part of the experience. Trees range from $45 to $120, depending on the size.
“One thing that surprised me is how many people wanted large trees,” Brian said. “So many folks wanted 12-foot trees for their house. I didn’t expect that.”
Gov. Lee's national profile will rise in 2024, but he won't answer the Trump question | Ashe
OPINION
Time to pay the piper
Leslie Snow, Shopper News
A long time ago, in the faraway land of Cleveland, Ohio, a kind dermatologist made a promise to me. He looked at my oily skin and the acne blossoming on my forehead and promised that one day, I’d be rewarded with youthful skin that would hide my true age.
His words felt like a gift. I held them close and believed them to be true. I felt certain, deep down in my soul, that someday, my awkward teenage years would be behind me. Like the ugly duckling in Hans Christian Anderson’s famous story, I’d grow and change. Eventually, I would become a much older swan that could still pass for a middle-aged swan. In the right light.
For years the prophecy from that wise and wonderful dermatologist seemed to hold true. I did look younger than my age. In my mind at least, I was the cool, youngish mom I hoped to be. And when my children grew up and had kids of their own, people were shocked that I could be a grandmother. Or if not shocked, at least mildly surprised.
But then recently, when a young woman in the checkout lane at the grocery store asked my age, I didn’t get the response I was expecting. She didn’t look shocked or surprised. She didn’t say “I never would have guessed it,” or “Wow, you look great.” She just nodded and smiled and said something cruel like, “Huh. You’re the same age as my mom.”
When I got home that terrible afternoon, I studied myself in the mirror. And I was surprised by what my own reflection revealed.
I took in the heavy eyelids and the dark circles under my eyes. I saw my wrinkles and my sagging neck and thought, “You really need to catch up on your beauty rest.” So I did.
I created some quiet time for myself and caught up on all the sleep I’d been missing. Or so I thought. But when I woke up the next day, and the day after that, my dark circles and puffy eyes were still there. So, I did what anyone would do in that situation. I shopped.
I bought moisturizers and vanishing creams. I purchased concealers, brighteners, and minimizers. And when none of those potions did enough to brighten my face, minimize my dark circles, or conceal my true age, I bought more. And when that didn’t work, I went back to the drawing board, searching for even more restful sleep and better, softer pillows that would ease my tired mind and body.
Then one day last week, I found myself driving down Northshore holding the steering wheel with one hand and using the other to press a cold can of sparking water against my puffy left eyelid. Every now and again, I’d switch hands to give righty a turn. And that’s when I knew the truth. It was time to pay the piper.
The spell cast by that magical dermatologist all those years ago had finally been broken. Having oily skin in my youth could protect me from aging for only so long. Eventually the enchantment had to end. Given enough time, I was bound to look older.
It’s been a revelation, really. A surprise and a shock. Now when I look in the mirror I think, “This is just my face now.” And no amount of magical thinking can change that.
Leslie Snow may be reached at snow column@aol.com.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Shopper News brings you the latest happenings in your community
