Shopper Blog: McClung Collection job was a joy for Cotham

BEARDEN

Retired director leaves treasure for Knoxville

John Shearer, Shopper News

Overseeing an archival collection of books, images and artifacts might seem more like being a detached observer or simply a caretaker of history.

But for retired McClung Historical Collection manager Steve Cotham, his work also occasionally involved being an active participant, or at least appreciating local history in a more tangible way. After 40-plus years, he left the position in December.

As he recently reflected on his work, he recalled several times in which he met relatives or acquaintances of people well known in Knoxville area history. Sometimes it was while they were donating items.

And on one or two occasions, he had to channel his inner Indiana Jones and get artifacts important in Knoxville or East Tennessee history before they were lost or thrown away.

Historic Westwood rescue

The latter occurred before Knox Heritage began moving into the Victorian Westwood home on Kingston Pike by Sequoyah Hills. Descendants of the Lutz family that had occupied the home had gotten what they wanted, but they left plenty behind.

Cotham and others were alerted, so they quickly went to work getting what they could in pickup trucks.

“The gifts from the Westwood home are just amazing,” he said, recalling that the retrieval work was done during a hot August, and many of the items were covered in soot from the coal used to heat the home. “We got books, papers, manuscripts, and paintings.”

Among the more unusual items, he added, were artist Adelia Armstrong Lutz’s painting easel and a very vintage barrel with straw used to ship breakable items in the old days.

Meeting relative of James Agee

Among the people he has met in his work were the daughter of artist Hugh Tyler, who painted several murals and ceilings around Knoxville and was the uncle of writer James Agee. Cotham recalled that she had not been to Knoxville since she was a small child. “She wanted to see where he lived,” he recalled.

He also had a chance to meet some Birmingham descendants of Knoxville suffragist Lizzie Crozier French and show them the statue featuring her by Market Square as well as other related sights.

Such work documenting and even promoting Knoxville and East Tennessee history in whatever way he could did not enter his mind during his early education. Though his mother had roots in Sevier County, he grew up in Dyersburg in West Tennessee.

He enrolled at the University of Tennessee in 1967, but in the slower summer instead of the fall to get used to such a big school. He wanted to major in liberal arts but was uncertain of a future career.

“I sort of thought I’d be a lawyer or a teacher,” he said. “I stayed with history and got a master’s in history. But I had worked in the UT library as a student worker, and UT opened a Library and Information Science program.”

He decided to get a master’s in that as well, in part to be better trained to find the truth of current events at a time when some thought America’s leadership had misled the country regarding the Vietnam War.

Cotham then worked as a cataloger at Georgia State in Atlanta for two years before getting a job in 1980 with the library in Knoxville as a part cataloger and part reference librarian.

At the time, the McClung Historical Collection was stored in a room in the Lawson McGhee Library but moved to its current expanded location in the old Customs House/former federal courthouse in 1982. The structure was later expanded to Gay Street, and such facilities as the East Tennessee Historical Society’s Museum of East Tennessee History and Knox County Archives also use the building.

Cotham became manager of the McClung Historical Collection in 1986 and continued to find the work enjoyable.

'Most of what I know .. I learned on the job'

“Most of what I know about local history, I’ve learned on the job,” he said with a laugh. His work also led to a position as Knox County Historian and as a member of historical zoning boards.

The total work — including the interactions with various people and acquiring items for the collection — has become almost its own stand-alone historical story worthy of preservation, some might say.

He said he is proud of what the collection has become, even though it already possessed plenty of important items before he arrived. The numerous artifacts the collection has acquired over its 100-plus years include an original first printing of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address; some of the Thompson family’s photos and negatives of the Smoky Mountains and Knoxville; and still-life photos by Bill Tracy.

Cotham said he has thought about retiring for a couple of years and feels the time is right now that he is 72.

But he plans to continue helping preserve Knoxville area history in retirement simply out of personal interest.

His immediate plans are to put together a book on artists and photographers who documented the Great Smoky Mountains. “Most of them are not well known,” he said.

Many might say the McClung Historical Collection, on the other hand, has become a visible and well-known archival treasure.

Cotham said he leaves with plenty of satisfaction and enjoyment from his years of service.

“It’s been an educational experience from the get go,” he said. “And we’ve gotten some fabulous gifts over the last 30 years.”

SOUTH KNOXVILLE & HALLS

Teachers of the Year foster positive struggle and help students build resilience

Ali James, Shopper News

Classrooms became tight-knit families to make it through the most challenging times together, according to this year’s South Knoxville Teachers of the Year.

Bonny Kate Elementary
Lauren Fevrier, Librarian

Lauren Fevrier served as a police officer for 10 years before she became a teacher and librarian. She first worked with the Indiana State Police and later as a school resource officer with the Blount County Sheriff’s office.

This year, Fevrier applied for and received a grant from Dollar General. “The objective of the grant was to help students overcome obstacles that were presented during COVID,” she said.

“I created an Overcoming Adversity collection. Students received 50 new books focused on overcoming adversity. (The goal is) supporting student social and emotional health, which is an integral aspect of the Bonny Kate Elementary school plan.”

Students created posters to promote these books to their classmates.

Last fall, Fevrier suffered a “horrific” leg break that required surgery. To prepare her students for her absence, she joined the Knox County Schools Exemplary Lesson Planning team for librarians.

“This is one of my proudest professional moments as I worked diligently with a team of dedicated librarians to write thought-provoking lesson plans.” Fevrier is still undergoing physical therapy for the leg injury.

Dogwood Elementary School
Lizzy Revans, special education

This is the third straight year Lizzy Revans has been honored. Principal Lana Shelton-Lowe said Revans is passionate about all students having the opportunity to learn.

“2021 has been very difficult,” Revans said. “What we have tried to do the most is keep the school experience as normal as possible while still trying to keep the students well. Our success for the school year is that we have faced all the adversity that this year has given us and kept going.”

Revans does not see herself as different from any other teacher in the building. “I am honored to be selected three times, but truly for me it’s a team effort,” she said. “I have a classroom of students managed by my staff as a team; no one person can do it. Not only that, but staff from other classrooms also come in to help when needed, even when they don’t have to.”

Amber Allison, third grade
reading and social studies

“Amber builds strong relationships with her students and works hard to plan engaging lessons,” said principal Lowe.

“I feel like as crazy as it sounds, I have grown a closer relationship to my students as well as my co-workers during the COVID years,” said Allison, who has been a teacher at Dogwood Elementary for five years. “I feel that I have learned to adapt to a lot of growing challenges every day and the children have done that as well.”

Allison said she has learned to have more patience, empathy and understanding. “I have learned to be very flexible and that it is OK if something goes wrong just figure out how to make it better,” she said. “I have learned to just be there for them, listen to them, try to make them laugh, and check in on them constantly to try and give some normalcy out of a not-so-normal school year.”

Seeing past students in the hallway reminds Allison that although it was the hardest year of their lives, they got through it together. “We'll forever be a classroom family,” she said.

Mooreland Heights Elementary
Monica Hayes, fourth grade science and social studies

Since interning in a fourth grade classroom, Monica Hayes has spent all but the first two years of her 12-year career as a fourth grade teacher. In fact, she still teaches in the same room she interned.

“In this time, I have found that the more that we keep normal in the classroom, the more it allows our students to find their rhythm,” said Hayes. “Students are resilient and with the help of parents, teachers, and the community, they will continue to grow and prosper.”

As an educator, Hayes said she has provided structure in the chaos, predictability in her students’ routine, and someone they can depend on as they continue to build on their educational journey.

“I have found that bringing an understanding that there are many layers to a student is more important now than it ever has been,” said Hayes. “Specifically this year, I have had to remind myself that the last time these students had a ‘normal’ year of instruction was when they were in 1st grade. Therefore, the support that we provide might look like restorative conversations after playtime, or instruction on deep breathing techniques when asked to do a non-preferred task. More direct teaching of ‘soft skills’ continues to show benefits.”

Professionally, Hayes was proud to be invited to participate in a year-long research cohort, along with other science teachers in Kentucky and Tennessee, to improve science teaching in our classroom.

Mount Olive Elementary School
Amy Brantley, fourth grade

It is hard to believe that Amy Brantley is in the middle of her 22nd year teaching. “I taught second grade for two years, third grade mostly and this is my fourth year in the fourth grade,” she said.

The last year brought technology challenges for Brantley. “We have used technology for instructional purposes, but I had to learn and adapt to setting up assignments online,” she said. “I enjoy personalized learning experiences. They pick a topic they are interested in from a list, do the research, make slides and present them. That’s probably the most engaging thing they do.”

Brantley encourages her students to take challenges a day at a time. “We set goals and we talk a lot about how everyone has their talents and won’t be good at everything,” she said. “The most important thing is that they are giving their personal best every day.”

New Hopewell Elementary School
Sherrie Young, fifth grade

“My teammate and I departmentalize, so I happily teach ELA (Reading, language, and writing) and social studies,” said Sherrie Young, who is in her 16th year as an educator and is a New Hopewell alumna.

Young, whose parents are deaf, was an interpreter for the deaf population with the Hearing Services department in Knox County Schools before becoming a teacher.

“I am the type of person that feels even little things are memorable — looking up from a small group and seeing everyone is on task,” said Young. “Getting to special areas on time, making it through the day without a fifth grader calling another friend ‘stupid’. Having another student be kind to their friend without being asked or prompted.”

Seeing a past student she worried about daily — or who caused her the most grief — becoming a successful, caring parent and productive member of society is also meaningful for Young — “having the parent of your former student that unexpectedly passes away say, ‘You were a blessing during that fifth grade year, my child loved you, and I appreciate you making him feel loved and special.’”

South Knoxville Elementary
Susan Parker, third grade

Susan Parker has primarily taught third grade, in addition to stints teaching eighth grade and algebra at community college.

Learning to use technology and helping 8-year-olds navigate online during a pandemic was challenging, according to Parker.

“It wasn’t perfect, but it wasn’t the end of the world,” said Parker. Technology was the silver lining. Putting questions on a Google form meant Parker’s students would do their work, it was graded, and they had instant feedback. “It is more powerful and immediate,” she said. “Then we would laugh when the computer sometimes got it wrong; they would prove to me that they got it right.”

Creating an environment in which Parker could share her love and passion for education with her students allowed them to learn from their mistakes.

“When the kids say I don’t get mad, I tell them I only get mad one day a year, so they would ask what day?” laughed Parker. “They really want to please you and learn. Let every child have an entry point. If I am doing my job, it shouldn’t be hard.”

Take a look at the Teachers of the Year recipients from the Halls community

Adrian Burnett Elementary

James Boles, third grade math and social studies

“Before I was a teacher I provided in-therapy for at-risk teens for five years while I worked on my master’s of education,” said James Boles, who has been a teacher at Adrian Burnett for 15 years.

Boles credits his team of teachers for keeping things going through another challenging year. “It has been amazing how resilient the children have been,” Boles said. “We have all tried to keep the same expectations in hopes the kids would follow our lead — and they have done a great job with that.”

Lauren Cheatham, Kindergarten

“My mom was a teacher, and I knew I wanted to do what she did,” said Lauren Cheatham. “I taught second grade for two years and then the rest of my career was in kindergarten at Adrian Burnett,” she said of her 14-year career.

Despite challenges, Cheatham said her main goal has remained the same. “I want students to love school,” she said. “I believe if they love school and we form a good relationship, they will work hard and learn more.”

Brickey-McCloud Elementary

Courtney Lancaster, Kindergarten

“My classroom operates as a family,” said Courtney Lancaster, who has taught for 18 years. “Each day we have a Morning Meeting where we go over calendar skills and talk about our lives. We share about our families, our likes and dislikes, as well as celebrating special events like birthdays and lost teeth.

“I love each of my babies and invest in their lives as much as I can,” she continued. “My students truly bring so much joy to my life, and I wouldn’t want any other job. Where else can you sing, dance, play games, read great picture books, and use snacks to help you with math?”

Mary Kate Burkhalter, fourth grade

“One thing I found missing due to COVID was students’ ability to persevere through challenge,” said Mary Kate Burkhalter, who teaches math to 75 students. “At the end of last year, I focused on fostering productive struggle in my students and allowing them to see the good in struggle.”

“To do this, I have my students talk about and reason through math each day,” she explained.

Burkhalter and her students talk about how this productive struggle viewpoint extends into all aspects of life outside of school. “More than anything,” she said. “I want them to leave my classroom able to go out in the world, accept challenges and come out on top of it.”

Korry Allen, special education

It is Korry Allen’s first year at Brickey, so she was shocked and honored to be nominated for Teacher of the Year. Allen started in the CDC classroom at high school level 13 years ago, before changing to elementary school a decade ago.

“Most of the students have significant cognitive and physical disabilities,” she said. “I love what I do, and God definitely gave me the passion for teaching.”

Students in Allen’s classroom feel comfortable, safe and valued. “When their needs are met, learning can take place,” she said. “Every day is not great, but there is something great about every day, and the students are the ones to thank for it.”

Copper Ridge Elementary

Callie Beeler, fourth grade ELA and science

“Teaching is a profession that requires growth daily,” said Callie Beeler, who has taught at Copper Ridge for six years. “I challenge my students to learn new skills, facts, and strategies each day. It would be wrong to expect that I shouldn't be doing the same.”

To that end, Beeler has learned new teaching strategies and ways to reach her students. Support from her co-workers and administrators is a great source of encouragement, too.

“They challenge me to reach outside my comfort zone,” said Beeler. “They have given me opportunities inside the classroom and outside the school to become better than who I was the first day I became a teacher.”

Corryton Elementary

Andy Gilliam, fourth grade ELA and Social Studies

Andy Gilliam, aka Mr. G, is now in his 11th year teaching, his 10th at Corryton. Despite more curveballs, Gilliam said they continue to adapt as they go.

“Being able to be flexible is an important skill my students are learning now that will follow them the rest of their lives,” he said. “Personally, I am proud that we have navigated through these past two years and still managed to learn and have fun. Our school, as well as my class in particular, is built on communication, trust, and a family environment.”

“I think we managed to find the positive in a situation that no one asked for, and the kids will have good stories to tell during a time in history they will never forget,” said Gilliam.

Fountain City Elementary

Maegan Lay, first grade

Since returning from maternity leave, Maegan Lay has transitioned from second to first grade at Fountain City Elementary.

Setting up a positive culture in the classroom with open communication, vulnerability and accountability is just as important as academics in Lay’s classroom.

“Peer feedback even at a young age can lead to students being able to dive deeper into their understanding of various topics,” she said.

“My motto for my students is, ‘Mistakes are absolutely OK and absolutely expected!’ Once they get past the fear of being ‘wrong,’ they begin to start owning their learning. They recognize the areas they need to grow in, and they continue to thrive in their areas of strength.”

Lay said she has learned about resilience from her students. “We all know students are the true masters of bouncing back from hard times,” she said.

Gibbs Elementary

Kristin Luttrell, Music

For the past 14 years Kristin Luttrell has taught pre-K, elementary, middle and high school. “For the first six years I worked as a music educator/therapist for Knox County Schools,” said Luttrell. “The last eight years, I have taught music at Gibbs Elementary.

“I think the most effective thing I have done in my classroom to help students cope and adapt is to focus on building relationships with each student,” said Luttrell. “I also strive to provide a learning environment that is fun, engaging, and focuses on progress instead of perfection. I like to see every moment as a chance to adapt, grow, and learn.”

Julie Long, first grade

Julie Long has been a first-grade teacher at Gibbs Elementary for her entire 15-year career.

“Teaching the past two years has had many challenges,” said Long. “However, I believe my students and I have come out of those challenges stronger and more adaptable. Learning is a natural process in life, but change is hard to do. I believe we are better for the changes that have been made.”

Halls Elementary

Lauren Barnett, fifth grade math

After teaching in North Mississippi and North Carolina, Lauren Barnett moved to Tennessee four years ago and has worked at Halls Elementary ever since.

“One of my biggest goals is to have students love and be successful in math,” said Barnett. “Math is all around us, in music, in television, in video games, and in sports.

"Taking these types of situations and having my students solve real life math problems ensures that the mathematics they are learning in my classroom will transcend beyond the classroom.”

Barnett said using manipulatives, such as money, allows her students to role play different scenarios that they will encounter daily in the real world.

Alyssa Lane, third grade Math/Science

Six years ago, Alyssa Lane transferred to Halls Elementary from another school district. Despite teaching virtually when Halls Elementary was put on “red days,” Lane taught in person over the last two tumultuous years.

“I try to continue teaching and make school as normal as possible for my students,” she said. “I want them to feel welcomed, loved, and successful no matter what is happening in the outside world.”

Shannondale Elementary

Martha Schettler, fifth grade science and social studies

“I try my best every day to model a positive attitude so that the students have a positive attitude towards school, each other, or any situations that may arise,” said Martha Schettler. “We have also started having community circles in the morning where the students and myself are able to share a variety of information from favorite color to things we are most proud of. “

The community circle inspired students to donate toys to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital last Christmas.

“Providing a positive, safe, and welcoming space for students to come each day offers them an escape to forget about things that are going on outside of school,” said Schettler.

Sterchi Elementary

Teresa Casteel, 2nd grade

“I knew that I wanted to become a teacher when I was 8 years old,” said Casteel. “I began my journey to becoming a teacher upon graduating high school in 1983; however, in 1984, I lost my family in a trailer fire and felt that I needed to take a break in my studies.”

Casteel met her husband, Steve, and Army life took the family, including two daughters, overseas. After they settled in Knoxville, her husband encouraged Casteel to return to college and follow her dream of becoming a teacher.

“I knew that I wanted to be a positive role model for our daughters, so I went back to college full-time and completed my two-year degree,” she said. Casteel went on to earn a degree in education and Master of Science degree.

“I have established a respectful culture where the classroom is a safe environment that is conducive for learning," said Casteel. “Teachers do not always know what our students’ home life is like, but we can do our best to provide a safe place in which to learn and give the love each child deserves.”

NORTH KNOXVILLE

Nurse disabled by 'long COVID' shares story and works to support fellow sufferers

Carol Z. Shane, Shopper News

In December 2020, when registered nurse Travis Exum signed up to care for COVID-19 patients directly as part of a front-line disaster relief team, he was sent to an understaffed hospital in Amarillo, Texas.

Ten months into the pandemic, with no vaccine as yet available, he and his wife, Shannon, a physical therapist, “made a calculated decision,” he says.

“I was an athlete, never sick, never in a hospital. I thought, ‘I’ll protect myself, I’ll be OK.’ There was no way that I was going do anything foolish to risk myself. But I was still in a hospital. And I almost died.”

The former Vol athlete — he pitched on the 1995 College World Series baseball team — now suffers from long COVID, stemming from a positive COVID-19 diagnosis on Jan. 5, 2021. Shannon says the couple have pinned the virus’s transmission down to “when he was eating lunch” in the Amarillo hospital.

“Looking back, there’s no one to blame,” says Travis.

Also called long-haul COVID, post-acute COVID-19, long-term effects of COVID, post-COVID conditions or chronic COVID, the syndrome encompasses a baffling array of symptoms: difficulty breathing or shortness of breath; tiredness or fatigue; “brain fog;” cough; chest, stomach, joint or muscle pain; sleep problems; change in smell or taste and many others.

As of July 2021, long COVID can be considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

For the first time in his active, healthy life, Travis Exum is disabled and can no longer work in his profession.

“I have three major symptoms I deal with on a daily basis and each prevents me from working as a nurse. Combine those and you can imagine that working 12 hours caring for very sick patients would be difficult and potentially dangerous.”

Shannon had her own bout with COVID-19, which she contracted on the 18-hour drive home from Amarillo to Knoxville with her husband. She’s since been vaccinated and boosted, though she admits she was at first hesitant.

“To the ones who will not get it (the vaccine), I totally understand. I see both sides; I really do. Even with Travis almost dying it was hard for me to get the vaccination. It’s their right, but we’ve got some things going on here that go beyond. I had to pick what sucked less: me having these possible side effects from a vaccine I don’t know much about, or infecting him or dying myself.”

Out of their own frustration and their desire to help others with long COVID, the Exums founded Team COVID Long Haulers, a nonprofit foundation with a mission to aid in the investment of breakthrough research and provide education for sufferers and their families.

This weekend, they’re hosting “COVID SCHMOVID! #OverIt Empowerment Walk.”

“We walk for each other, for those who have been affected by COVID, and to raise awareness and advocate for change,” says Travis. The event will be at noon Jan. 22 at the Cove at Concord Park, 11808 Northshore Drive, and will include a coffee truck, pet bandannas and a T-shirt stand.

To show your support and register to walk, please sign up online at

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/

empowerment-walk-tickets-

231732015697.

For more info, visit teamcovidlonghaulers.com.

KARNS

Baker's business thriving with classes at Cutting Edge

Nancy Anderson, Shopper News

Karns resident Heather Palmer, owner of Better When Baked, has a couple of sayings around her house: “Baking is love made edible,” and “Everything’s better when baked.”

“When my kids were little, they used to come into the kitchen when I was baking and remark how good everything smelled. I used to say ‘everything is better when baking.’ I always knew baking was love made edible.

“Everything I bake is made with love and with that client in mind. Finding just the right flavors for someone is an excellent way to express how you feel about them.”

Palmer started her business in earnest in 2016, but she’s been baking since she was a child holding onto her mother and grandmother’s apron strings in the kitchen.

“My mother and grandmother were bakers and I started as a kid, so having my own bakery is just a natural progression in my life.”

Palmer is famous for her cookies dipped in chocolate, specialty cakes and amazing cupcakes. She caught the attention of John Alunni, owner of The Cutting Edge Cooking School, about year and half ago. He persuaded her to join his team teaching the sweet side of things.

She teaches adults and parent/child classes in baking things like macaroons, cream puffs and breads.

“Teaching at the Cutting Edge has taken me places I hadn’t planned, but I’m loving it. He has given me the opportunity to grow and flourish teaching classes and has taken my skills to a whole new level. I love teaching the sweet side of things.

“I have a High Tea Class, which is very popular. … I especially enjoy summer camps for kids, which is a five-day camp where they learn the basics of baking or a French baking class. They’re learning skills they can use the rest of their lives.

“I tease them that I’m sneaking in lessons on math and science. They learn the reason and reaction for each ingredient.

“I love the flavor part of things, so I teach them how to experiment with flavors, too.”

Palmer is growing as a baker. One of her daughters recently went gluten free so she’s learning to bake gluten free and will soon offer that as part of her business lineup.

These days Palmer is getting geared up for Valentine’s Day. She’s offering a red velvet sampler filled with cookies dipped in white chocolate embellished with tiny hearts; a brownie, and cupcakes, all in one box.

“I don’t normally do samplers, only for holidays. They make great Valentine’s and even Galentine’s presents. I’m sure I’ll be making some for the teachers at school.”

Palmer is the librarian at Dogwood Elementary School.

She said her future is bright. She’s going to try to find the time to vend at various farmers markets this summer.

Info: Find Better When Baked on Facebook.

POWELL

Wreath-maker leaves job, puts artistic talent to use

Al Lesar, Shopper News

Art was always a passion, but never an option.

Until last summer.

Powell resident Lisa Perry Lynch lost the zest for her full-time job last August and left her position. Instead, she turned to her hobby of making wreaths and took it up a few notches.

“They say if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life,” said Lynch.

“That’s the way I feel now. I’m busy seven days a week, but it’s with something I love.”

A couple years ago, Lynch started “Creations by Lisa.” In August, it became a viable business that has done quite well.

“I’ve always had an art (and craft) background,” said Lynch. “By the time I was 11 or 12, I was sewing my own clothes. There always was a creative side to me. That’s what I used to make the wreaths.”

Full and fluffy

In what could be anywhere from a 4- to 8-hour process, Lynch starts her creation with a 19-inch round frame. She has three rows of a mesh weave for body.

“I weave the mesh back and forth three times,” she said. “Not many wreaths are like that. The weave leaves it very full and fluffy.”

Then, Lynch pulls ribbon through and she hand-sews with a needle and thread any bows that are added.

“All my bows are unique,” Lynch said. “They’ve really caught on. I can’t explain it. For some reason, the demand I had just grew.”

Lynch has made a special effort to make sure her wreaths are reasonably priced. She said a normal wreath is $40. Any additional customization will likely increase the price.

What's popular?

As expected, the Christmas season was a critical time in wreath production. However, Lynch’s creativity will continue throughout the calendar.

Popular items included a Grinch wreath, as well as one with red and black checkerboard on burlap.

“Burlap can be very difficult to work with,” Lynch said. “It can be itchy and smelly. But, there’s a good kind you can use. You have to be careful.”

Another wreath in demand has been one crafted in honor of the University of Alabama.

“You’d think, with where we were, Tennessee would be more popular,” she said. “But for some reason, people want Alabama. My job is to give them what they want.”

And, then there’s the rest of the calendar year.

Now comes the winter theme. That will be followed by Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, spring, summer and fall.

“I’ve already got customers asking what I’m going to do next,” said Lynch. “That’s a good position to be in.”

Lynch said special orders can be stressful, but in the long run rewarding.

“A lady had her grandfather pass away,” she said. “The granddaughter knew what she wanted and tried to explain it to me. I was always checking with her. She’d change this and that. Then, a little later, she said, ‘I was just upset. It’s perfect.’ That made me feel good.”

To order a wreath, contact Lynch at the Creations by Lisa Facebook page or call or text 865-748-7429.

More: Vandy's Memorial Gym a '50s throwback among SEC basketball arenas | Mike Strange

KARNS

This all-occasion 'princess' can make a kid's day magic

Nancy Anderson, Shopper News

“Princessing is a dream come true,” said Mandy Dunbar, who plays Princess Belle from “Beauty and the Beast” for Knoxville Princess Parties.

“I play different princesses on occasion, but I specialize in Belle and have been playing her for over two years now. Sometimes I think I am Belle!”

Knoxville Princess Parties is a subsidiary of Magic Lamp Entertainment in Chattanooga. The organization has nearly every popular Disney princess available for parties, events, conventions and photo ops.

Costuming is held at a central location under the direction of Knoxville manager Sarah Bassler, who makes sure each costume is up to snuff.

“We all gather at Sarah’s house to get ready. She has everything we need from the right accessories, wigs, costumes, to wig pins and everything else we might need. We do our own makeup, but she takes care of the rest and I really appreciate that. It’s a load off of me to just come and jump into costume,” Dunbar said.

It’s not easy being a princess. Each actor has to audition for the part and have experience with children. Dunbar is the children’s minister at Hardin Valley Church of Christ and used to be a teacher. She said she uses all her skills to keep the kids engaged.

The princesses go through extensive training twice a year, plus one-on-one coaching. Each actor has to know her princess inside and out and must stay in character at all times, even when talking to a parent at party.

“We’re very intent on keeping the magic alive at all times, so we don’t break character at all.

“We’re coached very intensely on storylines and what vocabulary goes with what princess. We really try to keep that persona alive. In fact, we have big book of materials to read that’s the same materials they use for their princesses at Disney World.”

When asked her biggest challenge, Dunbar said the only challenge she could think of is wearing layers upon layers of costume with a wig in the hot summer sun. She said she’s usually having too much fun to notice.

She was much more exuberant about her biggest pleasure.

“Well, we’re stars. I mean these are the movies the kids watch and they get so excited to see us. It’s our dream come true to make their dreams come true. I’ve never had a challenging party. They’ve all been so much fun. Even the parents are excited to see their kids have fun and be excited. In more than two years, it has all been positive experiences. I love princessing.”

Dunbar said she’ll be a princess as long as she’s allowed to and might well age into being the Fairy Godmother.

She earned a bachelor’s in child and youth development from Milligan College in Elizabethton, Tennessee, in 2015 and is currently working on a master’s in children’s ministry.

Dunbar lives in Karns with her husband, Derrek Dunbar, and her young son.

Info: www.knoxprincessparties.net.

POWELL

Immigrant launches cake business with the help of cartoons and YouTube

Al Lesar, Shopper News

It took the panic of a pandemic, but Ellen Sant’Ana Aguiar discovered a sweet route toward the American Dream.

While growing up in Brazil, Aguiar was never much of a baker.

“I made rice and beans all day,” she said. “Just about every meal included rice and beans.”

She said her mother was a good baker, but she never spent time learning. She was an office manager in a bank.

Because of the growing political unrest in Brazil, Aguiar and her husband left and settled near her aunt’s family in the Powell area four years ago. Without a solid grasp on the language, she had to settle on a job cleaning offices.

“When COVID hit, people weren’t going to offices, so I lost my job,” said Aguiar, whose husband works with horses on a nearby farm. “Our son had just been born. I needed to be able to help with money.”

Baking a winner

Two years ago, Aguiar came up with the idea she could bake cakes and sell them. Her first attempt was made for her cousin’s birthday.

“It wasn’t very good,” Aguiar said. “It looked nice, but the cake was hard and the filling was hard.”

Her next move was a pivotal move — YouTube. She took an online course dealing with the finer essentials of cake preparation, tied in cream elements that make cakes in Brazil special, and came up with a concoction that appears to be a winner.

“The second cake I baked was light and fluffy,” Aguiar said. “After that, I had a lot of friends asking me to bake one for them.”

The word has spread. Her creamy cakes with whimsical decorations have become a hit.

She established the company Sweet Knox and More, and has been able to handle the load of about five cakes a week, while juggling her son, who is now 2.

“It can be a lot with him,” Aguiar said. “But I love what I’m doing. If I try more than five, I go crazy.”

Don't give up

While her son watches occasional children’s television shows, Aguiar, who had spoken nothing but Portuguese her whole life, is using them to learn English.

It’s all part of the process of getting a business off the ground. She was part of the Christmas craft show in Powell to get the word out.

“I’m a lot more confident now,” she said.

Aguiar said her go-to recipe is a strawberry reduction with white chocolate cream. She said the reduction cuts down on the sugar and the sweetness.

She will have her ultimate challenge in March. Aguiar has been contracted to come up with a wedding cake.

“I’m already a little nervous,” she said. “That will be big.”

Not as big as coming from another country, learning a new language and discovering a new skill.

“COVID was terrible for a lot of people, and for my family,” Aguiar said. “But at the same time, I found a new job, a new skill and a new opportunity.

“There were days I wanted to quit. But I kept at it because of my son. I had a dream and I never let go of it.

“I’d tell anyone to have confidence, work hard and, if you have difficulty, don’t give up.”

A three-tiered six-inch cake costs $50, an eight-inch cake is $75. For more information, go to the Sweet Knox & More Facebook page.

OPINION

'Yaya' is off the sidelines

Leslie Snow, Shopper News

There was a time when he lit up when I walked into the room. There was a time when he jumped into my arms the minute he saw me and wrapped me in a tight hug. And once, when he was 3 years old, he was so happy to see me that he actually cried tears of joy.

Back then, Simon and his "Yaya" would talk endlessly about all the things that interested him. We talked about our third-favorite colors and the world’s most dangerous sharks. We talked about superheroes and the role they played in keeping the world safe. And though I didn’t have much to offer on the subject, we would look up at the model of the solar system hanging over his bed and debate Pluto’s demotion from full-fledged planet to dwarf planet.

But then Simon discovered video games and I didn’t have much to say about that. I didn’t know anything about Super Mario or any of the characters he loves so much. I couldn’t tell the difference between Diddy Kong and Donkey Kong and I knew nothing about Yoshi or Peach. Things only got worse when Simon latched on to Pokemon.

I had lived through the Pokemon phase once before when Zack was little, but I knew nothing about the Pokemon that Simon liked. I tried to find common ground by mentioning Pikachu and Charizard but I couldn’t keep up with all the characters and their evolving powers. I couldn’t grasp the importance of legendary Pokemon or understand the significance of hit points. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t feign interest in the popular anime series. And Simon took notice.

But Simon’s interests are fickle. My 6-year-old grandson finds one subject he loves, learns everything about it, then moves on to the next big thing. I figured eventually we would find common ground again. I just didn’t expect it to be football that brought us together.

This year, in honor of all the family that moved to Knoxville, I revived an old tradition. Like we did when I was little, I hosted a big Sunday brunch each week that led right into an NFL football game. Affectionately known as Browns Brunch, our weekly gathering featured lox, bagels, trash talking, and a lot of losing.

And Simon loved it.

He wore a Cleveland Browns sweatshirt every week until he figured out it was more fun to dress like the opposition. He lovingly harassed the folks wearing brown and orange while he nibbled on his bagel and learned everything he could about the game.

He made me a book of every team logo and colored it himself. He memorized which teams had been to a Super Bowl and teased me about the Browns' miserable history.

And when I took him out to lunch during one of Knox County’s snow days, he didn’t want to talk about school or his new teacher. He didn’t want to talk about Pokemon or video games. He wanted to know about the best NFL teams and the rules of the game. He scooted next to me in our booth, while we ate hot tortilla soup and made our playoff predictions.

I am not an expert on football. I’ve never played the game and I’m not a super-fan. But I’m willing to pretend if it makes Simon happy. And I’m glad that after all the misses with video games and anime that I finally found something that Simon and I can share. Even if he’s wearing a Steelers sweatshirt every Sunday.

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