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KARNS
Night at HVMS brings out the artist in every kid
Nancy Anderson, Shopper News
It seemed to be a fun night for parents and students alike April 12 at the annual Fine Arts Night at Hardin Valley Middle School.
Students got the opportunity to show off their talents — whether it be a digital photography collage, a life-size packing tape people sculpture, a hard-won pencil drawing, or a painted pair of shoes. Almost every student had something on display.
When asked how do you inspire a child who thinks they are not creative, both art teachers Robyn Marshall and Stephanie Beiting said they keep introducing different mediums until one hits.
“I get students every year who say they can’t do it. I say ‘you just haven’t found the right materials…yet,’” said Marshall.
Beiting echoed the sentiment, saying, “I just sit down with the child and see what interests them, then we find a way to express that interest. I had students who tried everything from painting to drawing and they didn’t like anything until they got to print making. Tonight they are proud to display three pieces of artwork to everyone else’s one.”
There were a number of striking exhibits — one being a life-size people sculpture done with clear packing tape.
Eighth-grader Lyra Beaudain said she got the idea because there’s an empty shelf in one of the art rooms. She said she thought a person laying lying on the shelf would be perfect. She and her friends Claire Davis, Taylor Owens and Caroline Arehart wrapped a student in plastic then clear packing tape. They cut the model free with safety scissors then added more packing tape to create the sculpture.
The performing arts were not to be outdone. The crowd was silenced as the eight-grade orchestra played “Night Shift” by Richard Meyer.
The Chamber Ensemble, Advanced Choral Ensemble and the Percussion Ensemble all wowed the crowd with their talent.
Info: www.knoxschools.org.
BEARDEN
Bearden High Class of ’72 puts the gold in golden reunion: $25,000 for computer graphics equipment
John Shearer, Shopper News
A 50-year high school reunion is often a time to think about the past, but the Bearden High Class of 1972 was also strongly focused on the future with a recent gift to the school.
Hearing that their alma mater was in need of some computer equipment for its graphic arts studio, the graduating class of decades ago decided to make that a reunion project and raised more than $25,000 in just a few weeks.
A presentation of the check was held on March 25 at the school in connection with the reunion activities, and the school seemed as happy to see the gift as old classmates were to see each other.
“We are currently not able to provide courses in Advanced Media Art (Graphic Design) and Advanced Digital Photography because of computers that are unable to run the advanced art software needed for these courses,” said a grateful Bearden principal Debbie Sayers. “This gift will make those offerings possible, and the resources will also be used in existing art courses.”
The gift will allow for the purchase of 10 Mac computers and laptops, software for Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign computer programs, and a projector and active/touch-sensitive board.
Bearden art and photography teacher Victoria “Vicki” May is also excited about the gift, saying the fine arts are often overlooked for funding, and teachers are often forced to raise money or write grants for such equipment.
“For us to be chosen for this gift is beyond excitement,” she said. “We are thrilled to be supported to have new equipment and technology for our students to use. The new technology for the art lab will help grow our program and curriculum that we offer to our students.”
Besides adding a graphic design class as Sayers mentioned, May said they will also be able to integrate the use of the computers and the software into the other art classes. Also, the school can soon offer digital drawing lessons, multiple editing, and graphic-focused lessons, and can also teach photo editing properly in the photography classes, she added.
According to 1972 Bearden class member Les Johnston, the idea for the gift started when several members began planning their 50-year reunion.
“The committee talked about something to give back to the school as part of our reunion,” said Johnston, who has been a certified public accountant and chief financial officer for different organizations and businesses in his career. “And we talked to Debbie Sayers what the need is.”
He said he later learned that the school for nearly 10 years had been asking to get better-level graphic arts computers and software, and it knew it could offer industry-level certification if it had such equipment. “When the committee heard about this, they thought it was something worthwhile,” said Johnston.
Johnston took the lead in trying to contact classmates, using the old technology of the phone to get support for this new technology of computers that was just starting to appear in its early form on the American landscape back in 1972.
“I was literally dialing for dollars,” joked Johnston, adding that the money was put into the school’s charitable foundation. “We had about 50 who donated. The average gift was over $500.”
He added that the donation amount actually exceeded the goal, a little extra gold to the golden anniversary.
The class reunion — headed up by class member Ginger Sloan Billingsley — was held in late March at the historic Maple Grove Estate off Westland Drive, which is operated by fellow 1972 class member Karen Guthrey Shankles and her husband, Roland. Johnston said about 175 people, including spouses and others, attended. Among those who were there were Sayers and several of the school’s art teachers, who expressed their appreciation.
Johnston said the class had about 350 members when they graduated, and about 50 have since died, including some recently. The class of 1972 had first set foot in the current Bearden High facility as sophomores in the fall of 1969, when the building was brand new.
Several of the class members were able to tour their old school building as part of the reunion activities. Overall, a good time was had, he added.
“By the 50th reunion, everybody is at the tail end of their careers, and it’s just a joyous time to be together,” said Johnston, who was active in student council, the drama club, the swim team, the band and was president of the Latin Club at Bearden.
“All of us realized what a treasure our lives were.”
WORDS OF FAITH
The pandemonium of the first Easter
John Tirro, Shopper News
I’ve been looking at Easter stories in all four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), and I begin to see why so many churches only ever read John on Easter.
It’s the only one where anyone has a clear vision of Jesus, resurrected, near the grave. Even then, it’s a vision clouded with tears, as Mary Magdalene is weeping and doesn’t recognize Jesus until he says her name.
In Matthew, they see Jesus but nowhere near the grave. Luke is complete pandemonium, everyone running, no one believing. Even in John, there’s a lot of running and not believing.
In Mark, it’s particularly stark, if you end the gospel where most scholars believe it originally ended. A young man, dressed in white, tells Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome to go tell Peter and the disciples that Jesus is going ahead of them to Galilee, where they will see him, just as he told them before the crucifixion.
“So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid” (Mark 16:8).
It’s a subtle, brilliant piece of writing actually, and a faithful witness to how resurrection and new life works. The fact that you have a gospel to read, that there ever was a gospel written, implies that even though these first witnesses ran away afraid and told no one, Jesus still met them in Galilee.
I’m old enough now to be past midlife — unless I live to be 110, which I suppose could happen — and the longer I live, especially the longer I serve as a pastor, the more I notice, this is a lot of how it goes.
If you’re part of a community that sticks together long term — like a church, which is seriously long term, like eternally long term — someone is always going through hard times, someone is always in crisis, someone is always celebrating, and sometimes even celebrations carry a portion of crisis (births, weddings, house blessings, and all the changes, unpacking, and family drama that come with). There’s a lot of running around, making plans, having plans change, delivering meals, holding hands, and praying.
Out of the midst of this comes new birth, new families, new couples, new homes. But the birthing of these things — in the case of actual birth, actual birthing — is intense. Sometimes people get overwhelmed, say or do things they may or may not ever come around to regretting. Sometimes they say they’re sorry. Sometimes they never do.
Afterward though, if we hang in there, we find that love and new life still happen, maybe in a whole nother place, as far from what we knew before as Galilee is from Jerusalem.
If you happen to be facing pandemonium right now, I encourage you: Find someone to pray with, ideally someone who’s been through a few rounds of pandemonium and found life on the other side.
Pray. Trust God to bring life.
John Tirro is pastor of music and campus ministry at St. John’s Lutheran Church. Info: sjlcknox.org.
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BEARDEN
CAVA, new Mediterranean cuisine spot, to open on Bearden Hill
John Shearer, Shopper News
In recent weeks, fans of Zoe’s Kitchen on Bearden Hill have learned the news that the Greek- and Mediterranean-style casual restaurant has closed.
A now-removed sign at the restaurant from early March read, “After many years of serving fresh-made Mediterranean to your community, we will be closing our Bearden Station location on March 16, 2022. We can’t thank you enough for choosing Zoe’s Kitchen and we hope you’ll visit our other locations to enjoy your favorite kabobs and treat yourself.”
Not long after that, renovation work began on the restaurant, and sign posters promoting the fellow Mediterranean-style eatery, CAVA, have been placed on the windows. The former Zoe’s Kitchen on Parkside Drive in Turkey Creek is also being converted into a CAVA.
CAVA representative Jessica Rodriguez said in an email to the Shopper News, “CAVA will be bringing its bold, high-definition, nutritious Mediterranean cuisine to Bearden Station in the former Zoe’s Kitchen location in mid-May. The Turkey Creek location will follow a few weeks later in early June.”
CAVA and Zoe’s Kitchen merged in 2018, and the changes come as part of a corporate decision to convert a number of Zoe’s Kitchen eateries around the country to CAVA restaurants.
The CAVA chain grew from a Rockville, Maryland, restaurant, Cava Mezze, that had been opened in 2006 by three friends of Greek heritage, who wanted to offer customers some of the good family food and atmosphere they enjoyed growing up.
After some more restaurants were opened and a line of dips and spreads also started being sold in groceries in 2008, the three joined with CEO Brett Schulman to open the first CAVA casual-style eatery in Bethesda, Maryland, in 2011.
The Mediterranean-style menu includes salads, bowls, or pita-style sandwiches with a variety of proteins, toppings, dips and sauces.
The exact opening dates of the restaurants in Bearden and Turkey Creek are not known.
The Zoe’s Kitchen on Bearden Hill had opened in July 2012, while the one in Turkey Creek opened in a former Pimentos restaurant facility in the fall of 2012.
In recent months, the Bearden restaurant had continued to see a steady stream of diners eating there or picking up to-go orders. Diners also liked the outdoor seating available on comfortable days or during periods when the coronavirus pandemic was raging, and outdoor dining was considered safer.
The Zoe’s menu includes items like soups (including tomato bisque), salads (such as Greek and traditional), plates, pitas and sandwiches, and house specialty kabobs. Many diners have also enjoyed the freshly made chocolate cakes or large chocolate chip cookies from the chain that was founded in Birmingham, Alabama.
Now, the closest Zoe’s for local diners who are already missing these dishes is in Asheville.
CAVA is not the only new restaurant coming to or recently opened in the Bearden/West Hills area of Kingston Pike.
A Jaboni’s Pizzeria is opening soon in the 7000 block of Kingston Pike across the street from Taco Bell and Copper Cellar, while an Artisan Cakery baked goods shop recently opened at 5803 Kingston Pike near Bearden Elementary. And a Naf Naf Middle Eastern Grill has opened on Bearden Hill in recent months.
NORTH KNOXVILLE
Versatile musician Wendel Werner plans free concert to help Vine Middle School band
Carol Z. Shane, Shopper News
As Vine Middle School band director, Ahsia Spencer leads sixth, seventh and eighth grade ensembles every day, coaxing from them not only correct notes but discipline, cooperation and hard work. And his own middle-school days in Martinsville, Virginia, are never far from his mind.
“Before I started band I was a pretty rough student,” Spencer says. “I was always in trouble. I wasn’t on a good path.
“I started band by accident — there were no more classes I could take. I started out taking trumpet. All of a sudden, my grades started getting better and I wasn’t doing anything different except music! Being in band gave me a sense of responsibility; it showed me that I had to work for things.”
Spencer says the lessons he learned in his school’s band program led him to earn a bachelor’s degree in music education from Norfolk University and a master’s in educational leadership from Carson-Newman.
The former general music teacher at Sarah Moore Greene Magnet Academy, he plays clarinet in the Scruffy City Orchestra and is in his 19th year with the Army National Guard. He plans to attend officer training school in order to become the commander of his unit, Virginia’s 29th Army Band, to which he travels to rehearse several times a month.
Right now, his kids at Vine could use some help from the community. In an underfunded program where 90% of the young musicians use school instruments — some of which need repair — Spencer says, “everybody’s barely covered. And I have no idea how many are coming in next year.”
Well known, versatile local musician Wendel Werner got wind of Spencer’s students’ predicament.
Werner is music director at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Fountain City. His current band, the Strange Relationship, consists of Werner on keyboard with three horn players and four singers — all women — and plays everything from originals to blues, with music from every decade between the 1950s and 2000s.
After five years together, says Werner, “we found ourselves in a situation where we wanted our performances to mean something. Our alto sax player, Ellen Carnes, is the band teacher at South-Doyle Middle School. She is always discussing the horrible shape her instruments are in. The idea of only doing performances for charities came up, and all members immediately said it should be some sort of musical charity.
“So far, we’ve chosen Title I schools — schools that don’t have the largest budgets that may also be in compromised neighborhoods. These are kids that can’t afford to obtain instruments to practice on. We are trying to fix that.”
Wendel Werner and the Strange Relationship will present a free concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 30 at St. Paul United Methodist Church, 4014 Garden Drive in Fountain City. Donations will be requested, and all proceeds go to Vine Middle School Band program.
You can also help by donating money at gofund.me/9a984572, and/or by donating a new or used instrument. Any needed repairs will be provided. Email [email protected].
“What I am now,” says Spencer, “started out in sixth grade band. Please help us put instruments in the hands of kids that can’t afford them.”
SOUTH KNOXVILLE
Eco-friendly fashions on the runway April 24 at Fleurish event at Ijams
Ali James, Shopper News
Surprisingly, the inaugural Fleurish sustainable fashion event is a first for Ijams Nature Center.
“I was approached at the end of last year by Ben Prager at Natural Alternatives Aveda Salon and Spa,” said Sarah Brobst, Ijams’ visitor services director. “Ben said ‘We have this idea that we think will be perfect at Ijams.’
“At Ijams we have been striving towards sustainable practices; it is in our strategic plan. So I felt like it was a really good fit. I didn’t know what it would look like but knew we can dream it together.”
Prager has collaborated with local designers, sustainable companies and hair and makeup experts to create a runway show showcasing how sustainability, conservation and beauty intertwine.
Fleurish will be at the Ijams home site 6-9 p.m. Sunday, April 24. “It is where the Ijams family started everything over 100 years ago,” said Brobst.
“It will not be a traditional out and back runway; it will snake through the lawns from the arbor points, and there will be clusters of seating so the audience is surrounded by nature. It is not going to be static; it is going to be very organic in nature.”
Signature cocktails, wine and beer will be served before the runway event. Afterward there will be a meet and greet with the designers on the garden terrace, according to Brobst. “Go and mingle in the terrace gardens and see what their inspirations were and meet the designers.”
“Ben has an amazing crew and it is really a dream team,” Brobst said. “We had a designer call locally and Ben, Amy Lee (marketing director) and KC Coleman (runway director) have taken the lead on coordinating the designers — it’s been a really big range, some local artists and people that are part of different salons.”
The event name, Fleurish, is a throwback to Ijams and their goal to “flourish in an eco-friendly way” and ties into the flowers being incorporated into the designs.
“We will do a little spiel before the show on why sustainability is important in every decision we make,” Brobst said. “What we throw in the trash, buy at the grocery store and put on our bodies. It has a bigger impact than we know.”
Participants include professional designers to amateur artists. Anthem Clothing, Amelia Romaine Gelnett, Catherine Harrison, Casuarina Trombly, independent designer Kayla Miller, Konane Wildcraft and MacraMAKES by Macrame Momma, as well as The Mighty Wig and Taylor-Roman Portraits and KnoxFill. In addition to Natural Alternatives, Loxx Salon and Spa Salon Azure are participating.
Konane upcycles items, while MacraMAKES uses rope and Victoria Walsh transforms them into wearable items.
“Anthem, a sustainable fashion line, only uses sustainably sourced, eco-friendly fabric, so none of it is considered fast fashion,” said Brobst. “More consumers are being conscious of what goes into the fabrics, whether fair trade and fair wages have gone into an item.”
Brobst believes that the runway show will tie directly into what Ijams Nature Center wants to educate people in. “But in a fun way,” she added. “See what imagination can do with reusable, recycled materials. We would love people to come out and support it.”
Learn more and see sneak peeks at Instagram.com/fleurishknoxville. Purchase tickets at https://www.ijams.org/event-details/special-event-fleurish-a-sustainable-fashion-event.
Tickets cost $20, and all proceeds support Ijams Nature Center.
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POWELL
Couple combines quiet and riot in unique hair care/nails business
Al Lesar, Shopper News
A barbershop equipped with video games, loud music and an area where patrons can store their favorite beverage wouldn’t normally be combined with a peaceful, calm manicure area.
But, for some reason, it seems to work at The Handcraft Collective (3635 Western Ave.).
The husband and wife team (married since 2014) of Dustin and Sarah-Marie Hawn launched this venture at the end of February, and each has found a successful niche.
“I’m in charge of the business end, and Dustin does all the social media,” Sarah-Marie said. “We like being around each other. We’re best friends. We still have our own interests, but we enjoy each other.”
Sarah-Marie said it was more than a year ago when they came to the conclusion they wanted to go out on their own. After eight years at Food City, Sarah-Marie studied the art of nails and worked at De Spa and Salon in Powell for more than two years. Dustin had worked at Avenue Barbershop.
“We wanted to be our own boss,” Sarah-Marie said. “We both wanted a chill place.”
A fine line doing nails
Sarah-Marie said there are times she’s tempted to join in the fun in the barbershop area, but there’s something about relaxation she likes.
“They’re like a bunch of big kids out there,” she said. “When they get the loud music going, they’re having a good ol’ time.
“I have my own little room. I like it where there’s just me (and a client) in the room.”
Years ago, the Loudon County native never would have dreamed she would have a life that focused around working with nails. However, now she finds the daily challenge a very positive thing.
“It tests my creativity,” she said. “There are tons of different things you can do with nails. You don’t want them lumpy or bumpy.
“(Just right is) a fine line. If there’s too much product, it will go everywhere. If it’s too thin, it won’t cover. I like nails because if the client’s not happy, I can just take it off and start over.”
Sarah-Marie said a mentor told her to take a picture of her job. If she can see straight lines in the reflection, it’s a job well done.
Determination pays off
Owning a business has been an eye-opening experience for the Hawns.
“I’ve had to put my big-girl britches on,” Sarah-Marie said. “It has taught me to be responsible. Normally, I’m very quiet. I keep to myself. This has forced me to step out of the box and speak up when I have to. That’s usually not me.
“Determination was a big part of getting the business going. We spent hours finding the right place. When we did, we had to take down a wall; put up a wall; then do plumbing, electric and painting. We learned a lot along the way. We heard ‘no’ a lot, but we kept at it.”
The end result of that persistence has been the culmination of a vision.
“If you have a dream, do it,” Sarah-Marie said. “You can’t give up. There’s a lot of hours and a lot of hard work. But, right now, it’s worth it.”
OPINION
Ready for my new life to begin
Leslie Snow, Shopper News
It was late in the afternoon when I decided I hate my furniture. I looked up from the lettuce I was chopping and saw the plain brown sofa and the 15-year-old lamps in my living room and knew I needed a change.
I put down my knife, grabbed my phone, and Googled “striped textured pillows.” I figured new pillows were a good place to start my much-needed makeover.
But after scrolling through hundreds of pillows with all kinds of stripes, I decided what I really needed was a new haircut.
So I typed “updated bob” into the search engine and tried to picture myself with one of those trendy angular cuts like the models wore. Or a soft curly shag. Or a pixie. Or maybe I’d never cut my hair again and just let it flow down my back. I couldn’t decide.
I went back to my salad, but my mind was still racing. I wanted to take a cooking class and learn how to make homemade pasta. I wanted to bake the perfect chocolate cake and learn to decorate it like a pro.
By the time my husband got home with a couple of steaks to go with my salad, I was picturing myself in culinary school and contemplating opening a restaurant.
Over the next few days my brain stayed busy. I imagined myself volunteering at the zoo or helping stray dogs at the Humane Society.
I thought about becoming an attorney or studying psychology. “I’ve always been interested in the nature of evil and group-think,” I said to my husband while we were pulling weeds in our garden the following weekend.
“Maybe I’ll be one of those people who go back to school and start a new career late in life. I could be a psychologist,” I said, sounding defensive even to myself.
My husband listened to me rattle while he wrestled with a stubborn dandelion root, but I don’t think he took much stock in my words. He’d heard too many of my big ideas during the week to believe I had finally settled on one.
And he was right. Just the day before I had decided to build my own chicken coop or become a Great Dane breeder. Before that I wanted to restore old furniture, take up photography, and write a book.
It wasn’t until I was talking to Ethan about his new job that I finally realized what I was searching for.
“I know you’re stressed about starting a new career in a new field,” I told him, “But it’s such an exciting time in your life. You’re going to feel your brain expand,” I said.
“Do you know that feeling? Like when you’re in school and you learn something new, and it just blows you away. I miss that feeling. I haven’t felt it in so long.”
And that’s when I understood why I hate my furniture. And my hair. Why I need new throw pillows and a new hobby. Why I want to go back to school and become a psychologist.
I miss learning. I miss taking on new challenges and feeling my mind grow. I want to try new things and think new thoughts. I want to live this life but become something totally different.
I need a change. I need a new challenge and an opportunity to grow.
But then I think about my busy life and all the people who need me. And I wonder if there is enough room in my old life for my new life to begin.
Leslie Snow may be reached at snow [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Shopper News brings you the latest happenings in your community
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