Shopper Blog: Princess of plushies hopes to hit it big
KARNS
Princess of plushies hopes to hit it big
Nancy Anderson, Shopper News
It’s a father-daughter project Chris Wade hopes will not only be profitable, but also bring his youngest daughter, Sarah Wade, closer.
The duo (mostly Dad) purchased 10 Mega Mini claw machines from overseas and together they formed “Wade Amusements.” The mini claw machines are being placed all over Knox County, including the Fieldhouse on Campus, Reams Drug Store in Powell, Stefanos Pizza in Hardin Valley, and Hey Bear Café in West Knoxville.
“We’ve always loved the claw machine and we’re pretty good at it too,” said Sarah.
“The Mega Mini claw machines are a newer popular arcade-style game that is loved by people of all ages,” Chris said. “These machines are perfect for businesses that look to add a fun and interactive element to their establishment that won’t take up much space. Plus, winning a plushie or other toy will just make your day. It’s absolute fun.”
Chris is the audiovisual teacher for Karns High School. He’s letting very little grass grow under his feet in getting this business up and running.
“Sarah works and earns shares in the business. She’s learning all about business, sales, and customer service. She knows how to maintenance the machines and placed the one at Hey Bear Café by herself. She did all sales and answered all the questions herself. It’s going to be a wonderful edition to Hey Bear and our other locations. It gives people something fun to do while they wait in line or wait for their food,” he said.
Chris said he and Sarah keep the machines filled and in top condition, making them hassle free for the business establishment.
They don’t even have to supply change. Each machine has a card reader.
At just over 5 feet tall, the machines are a smaller, more colorful version of the classic claw machine. These were designed by Chris and Sarah working together to decide themes and colors. Sarah picked out thousands of plush animals, with many being very special.
Chris hopes the business will do well enough to give Sarah a lifelong business. She should have her shares and full ownership of Wade Amusements by the time she graduates Halls High School. She’s focused on her schoolwork and is not much for clubs, but she has a head for business, loves to do makeup magic, is a talented crochet artist, and even designed the Wade Amusements logo.
“If things go well, not only will Sarah have a job for life, I’ll get a little retirement income. But best of all, Sarah and I get to spend quality time together,” Chris Wade said.
Info: Look for Wade Amusements on Facebook.
SOUTH KNOXVILLE
Scouts' 15-month mission tackles 12-mile Beaver Creek
Al Lesar, Shopper News
When it took 12 hours to cover the first four miles of Beaver Creek, Andrew Phillips started second-guessing himself.
“I’d paddle 30 seconds, then hit a dry spot,” Phillips said. “Then paddle 20 seconds, then hit a tree that had fallen over. Nothing had been cleared. It took a lot of patience.”
Phillips and his buddy Henry Jordan made Beaver Creek the focus of their work toward their Eagle Scout projects. The sophomores at L&N STEM Academy, who are members of BSA Scouts Troop 154 from Powell, had separate but complementary projects.
Phillips’ project was to do GPS tracking and come up with emergency put-ins and take-outs from its start in Halls near Rural King to the end near Oak Ridge.
Jordan’s mission was to plot the creek from the put-in behind Powell High School to the take-out at Roy Arthur Stormwater Park in Karns, a 6½-mile journey. Every half mile, a sign was installed to mark the location.
Emergency response along Beaver Creek
The basic premise of the work both Scouts did was to allow first responders to quickly identify the location of someone on the creek who might be experiencing a crisis. They both recently appeared in front of first responders, as well as 911 dispatchers, to explain their work and present their findings.
“That meeting was pretty strange,” said Phillips. “We were the ones giving information to them. It’s usually the other way.”
Jordan’s project changed a bit from its original proposal. Knox County Parks & Recreation, which paid for the mile marker signs, went from every quarter-mile in the original plan to every half-mile. Also, the poles went from metal to wood.
“Those changes didn’t bother me,” said Jordan. “It just made for a little less work.”
Phillips used an airplane GPS to document the coordinates along the entire length of the creek, which is about 12 miles. With the data stored, they were able to find possible emergency entries, as well as proper mile markers.
A hard-earned pin
With regular help from their parents − Theresa and James Phillips and Jennifer and Ben Jordan − the two Scouts (who weren’t licensed drivers through the duration of the project − August 2022 to October 2023) had to shut down work over the winter and were at the mercy of the weather for just about everything.
“A group suffering has brought us all closer together,” Phillips said with a laugh.
The airplane GPS didn’t work on cloudy days. If the creek was too low, too high or too cold, it was off limits.
“Canoeing isn’t always the greatest form of transportation,” Jordan said. “If I had it to do over again, I’d do a project on land.”
“There were a lot of moving parts with our projects,” Phillips said. “They were weather-dependent.”
Phillips and Jordan said each project involved more than 400 man-hours, well over the Eagle Scout minimum of 100. Each Scout had to complete a 37-page book of questions on their project that will be used at their review session.
If they pass, the award ceremony would be in February.
And, at that time, along with their awards, their parents will receive a pin.
A hard-earned pin.
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KARNS
Girl Scout changes the world for the blind
Nancy Anderson, Shopper News
Karns High School senior and lifelong Girl Scout Mia Warren received a challenge of a lifetime in earning her Gold Award. To earn the award, a Girl Scout is challenged to make the world a better place. And that she did.
Warren came up with a system by which the blind can enjoy exhibits without human assistance.
She worked closely with the Museum of East Tennessee History to create the MIA System (Museums Increasing Accessibility).
It’s a simple system using QR codes and any screen reader to access a website database featuring information about the exhibit, thereby allowing a blind person to enjoy the museum independently. Each station with a QR code has a floor installation telling the blind person that information is available. It can be easily found with a cane or guide dog.
The whole thing was inspired by family friend Campbell Rutherford, who is blind.
“I often wondered how she experiences museums and other exhibits. Well, she wasn’t experiencing them. Not without human help to describe the exhibit for her. I wanted to change her world,” Warren said.
Warren spent two years on the project. She said it’s the first of its kind as far as she knows. She personally typed in the exhibit information into the database. Museum personnel will keep up with the database moving forward.
Jan. 3 was a big day for Warren. The Museum of East Tennessee History held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the MIA System attended by Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs. Jacobs proclaimed the day Mia Warren Day.
Warren is an accomplished young lady who finishes what she starts. She earned both the Girl Scouts Bronze and Silver Awards and went for the gold simply because she wanted to finish the triad.
She earned the Bronze award by giving a presentation to Karns Elementary School about Down’s Syndrome and earned her Silver Award with a “Uniquely You” project. She had the students and teachers design and paint a rock expressing their innermost selves. She then built a rock garden at Karns Elementary School.
“I’ve really enjoyed the Girl Scouts. Being involved has helped me gain leadership and marketing skills. I have to help the younger girls and, of course, there’s marketing the cookies.”
She holds a 4.3 GPA and is secretary in the National Honor Society. She plays trumpet in the band and is a member of the dance team.
She has big hopes for the MIA System – maybe seeing it in the Smithsonian one day.
HALLS
Severances rent studio space to help young entrepreneurs
Al Lesar, Shopper News
Flexibility has become a big part of Kim Severance’s business vocabulary over the past few years.
She and her husband, Chuck, have been owners, along with other partners, of the Salon Suites at Emory in Powell. They have several suites of different sizes that are autonomous and specially outfitted for whatever business might be there.
Whether it’s a hair stylist, aesthetician, cosmetologist or nails specialist, the suites can be set up for the specific use.
“We’ve had a lot of success with that,” Kim said. “It allows the business owners to be their own boss. They’re not renting a booth and sharing what they make with the owner.”
That entrepreneurial concept is being put into practice in Halls. The Severances have a building at 7415 Maynardville Pike, in front of Halls High School, that has 12 suites available.
“It’s an easy in and out for customers,” Severance said. “There’s a classy lobby and a laundry and a kitchen.”
Caters to new entrepreneurs
The flexibility part of the equation comes with the terms that are available to potential renters.
Severance recognizes that young entrepreneurs fresh out of school will likely be the ones interested in starting their own business in a salon.
She said she’s flexible in the sort of lease she would offer − six months or a year. She’d allow there to be suite mates, where two people would share a suite.
“If someone is new to the business, it might take a while to build clientele,” Severance said. “Everyone I’ve talked to, when they’re starting out, they’ve all said it’s scary. That’s just natural.
“We want to see those entrepreneurs be successful. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.”
Severance said two of the suites have already been rented, but there was a pause for the holidays. Nobody was going to uproot their business and move between Thanksgiving and New Year’s.
Now is the push to get the rest of the building occupied.
Relationships are key
Severance has owned several businesses throughout her life. Besides her primary job in public affairs for Knox County Schools, she and her husband have had other ventures.
Through it all, there’s one common thread.
“I’m a people person,” Severance said. “Through the ups and the downs, the good and the bad, the relationships have carried me. It’s been about the people I’ve met. I still consider so many of them friends.
“I’ve learned so much by watching something succeed. This business model has been great to watch so many people have success and build the kind of business they dreamed about.”
Severance challenged the entrepreneurs who were considering being a part of this new model to do the research, check other places in the Knoxville area, and see how the Halls location stacks up.
“I want people to read this and do their research,” she said. “That will help them understand what an incredible opportunity this is. They want to be their own boss. They should be scared. It’s a big step. But, it also can be very rewarding if they work hard at it.”
For more information, Severance can be contacted at: kimseverance@aol.com or 865-389-1504.
FARRAGUT
Warming centers served hundreds in Knoxville’s snowy deep freeze
Nancy Anderson, Shopper News
It was the worst snowstorm since ’93, most would agree. For people without homes, the newly formed Office of Housing Stability arranged months ago for warming centers to be at the ready when cold hit.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing for the three, and eventually four, warming centers, but lives were saved. According to Erin Read, director of the Office of Housing Stability, the office was expecting about 125 people across all three warming centers. Surprisingly, the number was more like 288 people.
The Salvation Army opened its doors for the Magnolia United Methodist Church overflow.
“(Knox Area Rescue Mission) is an unsung hero of this whole operation; they did transportation to hundreds of people to the warming centers,” Read said.
“Last winter we had four days of extreme cold. A few churches opened their doors. Magnolia United Methodist served about 80 people during those four days. The city and the county split the cost of a warming tent on Broadway, complete with propane heaters.
“We saw what Magnolia UMC did and thought, moving forward, we can do better than a warming tent.”
Do better they did. There were three warming centers initially: Vestal United Methodist Church in South Knoxville, 115 Ogle Ave.; Magnolia Avenue United Methodist Church in East Knoxville, 2700 East Magnolia Ave.; and Cokesbury United Methodist Church in West Knoxville, 9919 Kingston Pike, which opened Fig Tree, a community outreach facility for unhoused people.
Read said they partnered with Metro Drug Coalition to make sure there was plenty of Narcan at the facilities.
East Knox Free Medical Clinic came out to all three of the warming centers because some of the guests had frostbite and other minor wounds.
“Lots of people lost feeling in their hands and feet. The East Knox Free Medical clinic were amazing and spent many hours tending to the guests,” Read said.
Katie McIlwaine, director of Fig Tree, said she was thankful for all the volunteers.
“We started planning months ago when Erin Read approached us. We purchased 25 cots and got more from KARM because we had more guests than we thought we would. We serviced about 185 clients over seven days and were lucky enough to have about 18 volunteers a day,” said McIlwaine.
Food began to be a problem. There were plenty of sack lunches, but sandwiches got old quickly and the guests needed something more substantial in their bellies. Enter volunteers from the community, area restaurants, and caterers who brought in pizza, casseroles, and even BBQ chicken to one facility, receiving cheers from the guests.
“The whole community rallied around us and gave us what we needed from food to pillows and blankets. It was pretty special to watch,” said McIlwaine.
“We developed a routine of switching out from cots to tables after breakfast and after supper. It was all hands on deck; even the guests helped. They helped clean and unclog toilets, whatever needed to be done.
“Everyone pulled together and I couldn’t be more proud,” said McIlwaine.
Info: www.cokesbury.tv/figtree
OPINION
Time to rethink those snow days
Leslie Snow, Shopper News
I don’t know what to say about the woman who wrote last week’s column. I don’t recognize her when I look in the mirror, and I sure as heck don’t like her.
I don’t like her joyful take on falling snow or the way she traipsed merrily through the ice to feed the hungry birds waiting by her feeder. The world doesn’t need another Snow White. The world doesn’t need another Pollyanna, pretending that 10 inches of snow and freezing rain is a treat or that a snow day is a gift from the Great and Powerful Superintendent of Knox.
But last week, that excessively cheerful version of me wrote a happy little column about finding joy in a snow day. And all I can say in my defense is that I wrote it on that glorious first day when Knoxville looked like a postcard from some winter wonderland.
On that beautiful afternoon when those soft flakes were falling, Buttercup and I were laughing and playing in the snow while my husband built a roaring fire in the fireplace. I was eating chocolate cake and wearing cozy pajamas. I was happy and guilt-free knowing all the people I take care of, as the poster-child for the sandwich generation, were safely tucked inside. I couldn’t get to them if I tried.
And on the second day, still feeling good, I made a list of all the projects I could complete while we were snowed in. I had big plans to clean my bedroom closet and organize the laundry room. I was going to emerge from my forced hibernation a better, tidier version of myself.
But by the third day my husband was anxious about not being able to get to work and I was worried about his stress.
By the fourth day, I was planted in front of my living room window to see if any cars could get up or down the big hill at the front of our subdivision. They could not.
By day five of our confinement my husband was grouchy about not being able to get to work and I was worried about my stress.
Then I lost myself.
I forgot what day it was.
I forgot the time.
I remembered to shower, but I stopped changing my clothes.
My dirty sweats became my uniform.
“Why bother” became my new mantra.
The less I did, the less I wanted to do. I ignored the old clothes piled in my closet. I disregarded the clutter in my laundry room.
I made a Leslie-sized imprint on the couch.
By day six of my internment, the guilt I tried so hard to minimize that first day found me again. It didn’t matter that it wasn’t safe to drive. I was worried about my mother being alone for the week. I was worried about my mother-in-law, sick with a cold. And I was worried about Jordan, snowed in by herself with three kids while her husband was away.
On day seven, my husband and I planned our prison break. We drove to the top of the giant hill in our neighborhood, held our breath, and hoped for the best. At one point I called out, “I changed my mind!” and he yelled back, “It’s too late now.”
When we made it safely out of the subdivision, with the sun shining and the ice starting to melt, I heard Pollyanna’s voice in my head saying, “See, that wasn’t so bad!”
So, I shoved one of my snow-covered mittens in her mouth and kept on driving.
Leslie Snow may be reached at snow column@aol.com
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