East Tennessee’s musical history is as rich as it is varied.

Dogwood Arts Festival celebrates this heritage with Rhythm ‘N Blooms.

This weekend-long event features musical performances by locally-revered and nationally-renowned artists whose work falls under the broad banner of “Americana” music. A genre spanning country, blues, jazz, rock, bluegrass and folk, Americana is generally categorized by a strong sense of musical tradition even as it may expand beyond traditional musical boundaries. Produced in partnership with Knoxville Americana Music Foundation.

Bands

Ben Sollee &
Daniel Martin Moore

Carrie Rodriguez

The Old Ceremony Those Darlins

Samantha Crain

Dixie Bee-Liners

Yarn

The New Familiars

Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside

18 South

The Black Lillies

Elliot Brood

RB Morris & Hector Qirko

Shotgun Party

Kristin Andreassen

Kris Delmhorst

Soulgrass Rebellion Harpeth Rising

The Drunk Uncles
Rollin’ Highway Revue

Stephen Sebastian

…And many more to be announced!

Saving East Tennessee’s Endangered Heritage

By: Ethiel Garlington

In March, the East Tennessee Preservation Alliance (ETPA) announced the 2010 East Tennessee’s Endangered Heritage list of endangered historic buildings and places in the region.

The inaugural list of endangered historic places was selected by the East Tennessee Preservation Alliance Board of Directors from nominations received from members and the general public.  ETPA partners with organizations and businesses across the region to find preservation solutions for the endangered properties we identify for the annual list and encourage the communities across the region to join us in our efforts to save our endangered heritage.

The Alexander Inn is one of the most significant landmarks in Oak Ridge from the Manhattan Project.  It was built in 1943 in Oak Ridge to serve the “Secret City” and the many notable guests from the era.  In December 2009, a newly formed non-profit organization, Oak Ridge Revitalization Effort (ORRE), acquired the landmark building.  Even with the new owners, the future is uncertain for the Alexander Inn.  ETPA will continue working with ORRE and other partners to ensure the future of the Alexander Inn is secure for generations.

The Martin Mansion is in the Wildwood Community of Blount County.  Warner Martin was one of the early settlers of East Tennessee and friend of John Sevier and George Washington.  The circa 1800 house is significant for its historical value and for its unique woodwork and details that still remain in the house.  ETPA will be hosting a volunteer work day at Martin Mansion during Preservation Month in May with the Blount County Historical Trust.  The house desperately needs to be secured to prevent any further damage from the elements, and ETPA encourages the property owner to continue working with preservationists to find solutions for the significant house.

The Old Lafollette Post Office served the community until a new post office was built outside of downtown in 2008.  Since then the old post office has been on the market, but with the current real estate climate it has languished on the market. ETPA hopes a qualified buyer can be found or that the City of Lafollette can work out an arrangement with the USPS to acquire the building for use as a library or the Campbell County Historical Society.

The Graham-Kivette House, built circa 1810, is the oldest home in Tazewell and one of only a few buildings that survived a disastrous fire in 1862. The house has been neglected and not properly maintained for years and needs attention immediately.  ETPA hopes that listing the house will help draw local awareness to the historic value of the house and the necessity of action before the house is lost due to neglect, deterioration, or fire.  ETPA will work with the Claiborne County government, Claiborne Historical Society, and the East Tennessee Development District to determine the most effective strategy to protect this community resource.

The Gilliland-Odell House is the only surviving structure of the old town of New Port, which was established as the seat of Cocke County in 1799.  The town remained the county seat until about 1884 when all county offices were moved to the present town of Newport on the Cincinnati, Cumberland Gap and Charleston railroad lines.  The Federal style house is a unique architectural gem and should be preserved.  The arched fanlights and door surrounds are indicative of the era, but unusual for East Tennessee. The National Register-listed house needs attention before it loses any more of its unique architectural details and ETPA encourages the property owners to maintain the house.

Several Abandoned Rural Schoolhouses in Grainger County still remain and should be protected.  There are also other historic school buildings around the region that need attention. ETPA recognizes that each of these schools present unique challenges and each school will have a unique solution.   Unfortunately, little background information is available for some of these rural schools.  ETPA will work with property owners and local officials to help develop plans for these and other abandoned rural schoolhouses in the region.

Morristown College is a historically black college and one of the most important African-American landmarks in East Tennessee.  It has been listed on the statewide endangered list and was recently nominated to the National endangered list.  After the college closed its doors and ceased operations as a campus of Knoxville College it was auctioned to a private developer who has not maintained the campus.  ETPA urges the property owner to sell or donate the property to a suitable buyer who can make use of the campus.  ETPA will continue working with local leaders in Morristown and potential buyers.

In Quaker Valley in New Market there are a few hundred acres of prime farmland that are in the crosshairs of the railroad developers.  While ETPA focuses mostly on the built environment, we see this rural landscape as a key piece of East Tennessee and know that if the intermodal railyard is built, then inappropriate development will follow. ETPA strongly urges Norfolk Southern and local officials in Jefferson County to work with local citizen groups to find a suitable alternative site that would use an existing industrial site for the intermodal railyard that would preserve the rural farmland in New Market and limit the negative environmental impact on a prime agricultural land.

Downtown Lenoir City is indicative of small towns across East Tennessee and the country.  At one time, the thriving commercial district was the hub of the community, but with changing traffic patterns and the introduction of the interstate, the downtown has struggled.  ETPA will work with local leaders in Lenoir City and local businesses to help revitalize the central business district by using Main Street principles and models that have worked in similar communities.

The Boyhood Home of Estes Kefauver is one of the most significant houses in Monroe County and needs attention immediately.  Owned by Estes’ niece, the house suffered a damaging fire in 2008 and needs significant work.  Local leaders are willing to work with the property owner and ETPA to find a solution.

ETPA encourages the property owners to restore, sell, or donate the house to ensure the architectural and historically significant house remains standing and can find a new use.

Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary is a vivid reminder of the industrial and penal histories in America.  The landscape is both rural and industrial and is one of the most unique properties in Appalachia.  The most significant buildings were built in the 1930s in the Gothic Revival style.  Building aside, the history of the inmates and the evolution of prisons is a compelling story.  Brushy Mountain shuttered its doors in the summer of 2009 and the state has no long term plans for the massive facility.  ETPA encourages the state to continue working with Morgan County leaders to find a viable use for the massive facility that would preserve the building and its history.

Emory Gap Cemetery sits just off Exit 357 on interstate 40 sits several fast food restaurants, gas stations and car repair shops.  Tucked in all the new development is a historic cemetery atop the hill that overlooks the encroaching businesses.  The cemetery has been neglected over the years and is overgrown and most of the grave stones have been damaged.  Sadly, many cemeteries across the region suffer similar fates and need attention. ETPA encourages awareness of the cemetery and limited development that is encroaching on the cemetery and have created a Cemetery Task Force to help address cemetery preservation issues across the state.

New Salem Baptist Church was built in 1886 by Isaac Dockery, noted African-American builder, and is Sevierville’s oldest surviving building, Sevier County’s oldest brick church building, and the only historic African-American church in the county.  The Dockery Family Association has been working with the East Tennessee Community Design Center, the African-American Heritage Alliance and ETPA to find a long term preservation solution for the building that would preserve the legacy of the building and the contributions of the congregation.  The building needs to be stabilized and a long term maintenance plan needs to be put in place.

The circa 1880 home of The Honorable J. Will Taylor is one of the most historically significant houses in Union County and is completely abandoned.   The late Mr. Taylor was a U.S. Congressman and native of Union County. ETPA encourages the property owner to come forward to work with Preservation Union County and ETPA to find a preservation solution for the house.  Both groups will work with the owner to also find a suitable buyer for the house.

The East Tennessee Preservation Alliance works to protect places and structures with historic or cultural significance in Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Monroe, Morgan, Roane, Scott, Sevier and Union counties.  It is governed by a board of directors with representatives from across the region. ETPA carries out its mission through a variety of programs and encourages community support through education and advocacy.  Preservation field services in this region are provided by Knox Heritage and are assisted by a Partners in the Field grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.  For more information, please visit www.knoxheritage.org.

Ok, so I guess you’re wondering what chocolate has to do with dancing or the beach. The answer is nothing really, unless you’re in the bunker and you need to get out. Still confused? Keep reading.
Most of us who practice usually hit balls at the range. Some of us work on our chipping, very few of us work on our putting, and no one ever works on their sand play. The truth is, once you feel comfortable “at the beach,” life becomes a lot easier on the golf course, and approach shots to the green become a lot less intimidating.
Find a practice bunker and take your sand wedge or your lob wedge into it. Rake yourself a nice patch of sand. Draw a line in the sand with your club, then make another one parallel to it so the lines are about one club head in width apart. Now make lines connecting the first two, making squares, Hershey chocolate squares. You want about 5-6 total. Now make a small dent in the sand with your club head in the middle of each “chocolate” square, this will represent the golf ball.
Now that you are all ready to practice, keep in mind there are several schools of thought on how to play a bunker shot. I find that most players have trouble getting enough height quickly; playing the ball off your front foot will help get the ball up quicker. I use this method for 95% of my shots, the only time I move the ball position to the middle is when I don’t have a big lip to deal with and there is a lot of green to work with, this helps me run the ball out more to the hole.
The other part of my set up that works best for me is having my stance square instead of opening up to the target. I found that most of my shots went left, where I was aimed. By squaring up to the target, my shots flew there instead.
The other crucial part of a bunker shot is leverage in your backswing. Pick the club up quickly with a little shoulder turn, setting the club steeply with your wrists, take it a bit inside and keep your legs quiet. On the follow through, make sure you follow through! Not finishing your swing is probably the biggest mistake most people make. The follow through will give your ball height and direction; it will also keep the momentum of your club moving forward through the sand. Your backswing length will control your distance, so follow through and accelerate, it’s crucial!
Ok, back to the chocolate! This is where you can really hone your skills. Line up your front foot with the first line you drew, the one closest to the green; this will put the ball on the front of your stance. Next, hold your club behind your first chocolate square above the sand, near or over the back line. Now make practice swings, removing your chocolate squares and landing them on the green. Check to see where your square was after each shot, use the remaining squares as feedback for your divots. Was your divot too long or too deep? Did your divot start half way through your square? Keep practicing without a ball, getting the feel for taking the right amount of sand. Now make a new chocolate bar, and place a ball in the middle of each new square. Instead of focusing on the ball (the root of most of our issues), just swing and put your chocolate on the green; the ball will magically land there, too!
If you’re not a chocolate lover, make small circles instead of squares, and take yourself to a “tropical island” instead. Who wouldn’t want a vacation at the beach? Think of this next time you’re faced with a bunker shot on the course, and watch your ball fly safely home on the first try!

That Evening Sun

The pink marble courthouse steps in downtown
Knoxville, Rockwood’s calm streets, and scenic
landscape of Blount Country are captured in the
locally produced feature film, “That Evening Sun.”

“We are so proud that our company’s first feature
film was shot entirely in East Tennessee,” said
Larsen Jay, president of Dogwood Entertainment
and executive producer of the film. “It gives us all a
lot of pride to represent filmmaking in this area as
we unveil our film to the world.”

“It was the perfect place to do this story because
the experiences we were going through fit it so
completely in the surroundings in that beautiful valley,” said Academy Award
nominated actor Hal Holbrook.

“That Evening Sun” stars Hal Holbrook, Ray McKinnon, Walton Goggins, Mia
Wasikowska, Carrie Preston, Barry Corbin, and Dixie Carter. Adapted from the
short story “I Hate to See That Evening Sun Go Down” by southern author,
William Gay, the film
tells the story of aging
Tennessee farmer Abner
Meecham who returns to
his homestead and must
confront family betrayal
and the reappearance of
an old enemy.

A ruthless grudge
match ensues between
Abner and Lonzo Choat,
played by Holbrook and
McKinnon, each man too
stubborn to give an inch.
Fueled by anger and
haunted by recurring dreams of his long-dead wife, played by Holbrook’s
real-life wife Dixie Carter, lines are drawn, threats made, and the tension erupts
into savagery. Shot entirely in East Tennessee in August 2008, the film offers an
authentic southern backdrop for the drama, free of traditional clichés.

“The region was appropriate to the story which is the first consideration. It
needed to be a place worth fighting for,” said
Ray McKinnon, “That Evening Sun” cast
member, producer and Oscar-winning
short-filmmaker (“The Accountant”).

“Filming on location, in the actual place
where the story is set (in this case,
Tennessee), gives a film an authenticity that
you simply can’t replicate on a Hollywood
soundstage…when you immerse yourself in a
community, the spirit of the people and the
landscape can’t help but find its way into the
finished product,” said Scott Teems, the film’s
writer/director.

States are constantly competing to attract
and support films. The Tennessee Film
Commission offered several incentives and
an infrastructure for “That Evening Sun” to
shoot on location. Knoxville in particular is
home to a vibrant and talented production
community. The film’s
ambitious shoot schedule in
the sweltering August heat
offered a platform for local
crew to showcase their skills.

“The film production
crew was wonderful. Truly
wonderful, professional and
dedicated. We could never
have shot the film in 22
days and done as good a
job if the crew had not been
tops. They never missed a
beat,” Holbrook said.

“The year before we shot
‘That Evening Sun,’ I
worked on another film in Memphis, TN…
on both films, the Tennessee crews were
friendly, professional and on top of their
game. Plus they seemed to have a genuine
love for filmmaking that you don’t always
find when shooting in the bigger cities like
New York and LA,” said actor Carrie Preston.

“It reminded me of Australian film crews.
In Australia the industry is so small, there’s not
a lot of time and money to fall back on,
everybody really has to ban together and work
really hard to get things done. I saw that in the
East Tennessee film crew,” said Mia
Wasikowska, acclaimed for her role as Pamela.

After successful runs in New York City, Los
Angeles and Palm Springs, “That Evening
Sun” launches a multi-city expansion on
January 22, opening locally at Regal Cinema’s
Downtown West. EK

To watch the trailer, read about the film, check show times and more www.ThatEveningSun.com

Opening January 22nd

Buy your tickets today!
www.regmovies.com
Regal Cinemas Downtown West Cinema 8
1640 Down Town West Blvd. • Knoxville TN 37919
(865) 693-6327

Building the Dream

Local business owner fulfilling
childhood dream in West

Knoxville gift shop

As a local business owner,
Gail Del Vecchio has had
real success as the owner
and operator of Gifty Girl,
which has become a
popular fixture in
Bearden’s Southern Market
shopping center. And
thanks to that success, Gail
is planning to grow and
relocate Gifty Girl in
Lakeside Village, conveniently located in the heart of
West Knoxville.

“I believe that this area of West Knoxville is in need of
this kind of shopping experience, and with Gifty Girl I
will fulfill that need,” she says. “I want to provide
Knoxville with a shopping alternative that pleases the
senses and provides a niche market for personalized and
unique home décor and gifts.”

With approximately 1,200 square feet of retail space,
Gifty Girl will carry a diverse set of gifts, home décor,
and novelty items, covering a wide range of price points.

Gail says customers should expect a warm, inviting
environment that feels as though they have “escaped to a
quaint shop in Paris.”

“The number of choices and quality of gifts will be
breathtaking,” she says.

Gail also hopes to establish a high level of
personalization through personalized design services,
educational decorating workshops, gift registry, realtor
programs, ASID discounts, gift certificates, gift wrap and
preferred customer recognition programs, all perks Gail
says are far from common in today’s hectic, mass market. She
hopes to eventually ad online shopping and direct shipping to
customers.

“My business philosophy is to provide customers with an
opportunity to escape the ‘routine’ of day-to-day life activities
by providing a mini-vacation that is refreshing and
invigorating,” Gail says. “It is my personal goal to create such
an enjoyable and fulfilling experience that my customers want
to come back frequently.”

This business dream is one that Gail has held onto since
childhood, when she ran what she calls a “pretend store,” in
which she went through her house and priced everything she
wanted to “sell.” Gail would even use her mother’s ironing
board as a counter and an old rotary phone as a cash register.

“The personal satisfaction and joy that I receive from
interfacing with customers and helping them find a unique
and personalized gift for a loved one
or special friend is indescribable,”
Gail says.

Gail, who was born and raised in
South Carolina, spent 10 years in
Colorado before settling in Knoxville
with her husband and three children
in 2005. She says she is pleased to be
“back in the South.”

“We have found Knoxville to have
the best people and climate,” says
Gail. “You hear a lot about Southern
hospitality, but the people in
Knoxville demonstrate true
hospitality every day.”

Upon arriving in Knoxville, Gail
started a home-based jewelry business
and then worked at Southern Market,
where she became a merchant with
her own home décor shop, something
she says she could not have done
without the support of her family.

“My husband David is my strong
arm and the best thing that ever
happened to me,” Gail says. “We’ve
been married for over 20 years and
we have three wonderful children,
Cole age 24, Jessica age 19, and
Shelby age 15.” EK

The Tennessee Way

The most valuable person in the Lady
Vols basketball program could be a
former strength and conditioning
coach for Notre Dame’s football team.

Heather Mason, who is in her
seventh year at UT, is the mastermind
behind a rigorous workout regimen
that has drastically improved the
team’s mental
and physical approach.

“We call it the Tennessee Way,”
said Mason, who was promoted
to assistant athletics director for
strength and conditioning last
year. “It is very intense and everyone
is held accountable because of
an extremely disciplined training
style. It’s not the Heather Mason
way—it is the Tennessee Way.”

Whether it involves running
Gate 10 at Neyland Stadium, going
to the indoor football practice
facility, pushing grocery carts
on sleds with up to 200 pound
weights or flipping tires to a semi-
truck, the timed workouts have
brought a sense of urgency and
competitive spirit. Players don’t
want to become the weakest link
and can accomplish results they
never dreamed possible.

“I might tell you that Heather is
the best I have ever worked with
in this area,” Lady Vols coach Pat
Summitt said. “Bodies have changed and minds have gotten
a lot tougher mentally.”

It all started last March after an embarrassing loss to
Ball State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
It was the first time that UT failed to reach the second
round, much less advance to the Final Four.

Right after that loss, players were asked to make a commitment
to get better. After something of a boot camp
atmosphere, they emerged much
stronger. There are several key
components in this new resolve.

“They invested in this program
in the summer,” Summitt said.
“They were just pouring sweat
and that developed a mental
toughness and attitude this group
did not have a year ago. It’s the
reason we are playing as well as
we are right now.”

Players encouraged each other
and the bonding experience led
to a better team concept. It was
a strength and conditioning
perfecta.

Mason, 33, is a volleyball
standout and was the team’s captain
at the University of Cincinnati
in 1998. She spent five years
at Notre Dame and was the top
choice among three candidates
recommended by long-time Lady
Vols trainer Jenny Moshak.

“Jenny found her,” Summitt
said. “Heather was by far the
most impressive. I wish more people could watch her
train our team. They would go, ‘I am not believing this.’
She just does not let anyone take shortcuts. She’s always
saying there are no shortcuts to success. With Heather,
there’s accountability the whole way.”

Just imagine how players feel when they go to a grocery
store and push a shopping cart. It’s a far cry from
the grueling timed sprints on artificial turf with 100 to
200 pound weights in the buggy. Former UT football
strength and conditioning coach Johnny Long brought
the concept to the Vols. It is a
great way to improve ankle and
knee strength and hip power.

“It’s also a mentality to go as
hard as you can for as long as
you can,” Mason said. “Iron will
doesn’t break and neither does
our will.”

A sign on the wall—and a
quote from Albert Einstein—is
an indication of the unique
approach. “The definition of insanity
is trying the same thing
over and over and expecting
different results.”

There are several areas and individual success is
rewarded, often with less wind sprints.

It can be as bizarre as flipping a semi-truck tire to
improve the squatting technique, pushing sleds with
weights that range from 45 to 90 pounds or a 50-yard
dash down and back. Players also experienced the
“mano on mano” approach of tug-of-war.

When everything was finally over, Sydney Smallbone
emerged as the Iron Will Champion. Angie Bjorklund
finished second. Former Webb School standout Glory
Johnson displayed the most improvement.

“Glory is such a phenomenal athlete,” Mason said.
“She has so much physicality and is so gifted athletically.
Where she gained was in her approach mentally.
She might have been tempted to shut it down mentally
before. She was really challenged in the eight inches
between the ears. We call it ‘neck up training.’ The
training really benefited her mentally.”

Alicia Manning was another winner in mental
toughness. Briana Bass improved her communication,
thanks to the Tennessee Way.

“We embraced it,” Mason said. “Absolutely.”

She could be the MVP for all Lady Vols.

Heather Mason responds with a slightly embarrassed
laugh.

“That’s awful nice,” she said. “I have not heard that,
but thank you. We just put our head down and go to
work. That’s all we know.” EK

Chuck Cavalaris is a freelance writer in Knoxville.

The Tennessee Theatre welcomes the veteran
to its stage on January 31
When: Sunday, January 31 at 8 pm
Where: Tennessee Theatre

How: Tickets are $37, plus applicable service
fees, available at the Tennessee Theatre
box office, all Tickets Unlimited outlets,
by phone at 865-656-4444, or online at
www.tennesseetheatre.com.

Kris Kristofferson returns to the essentials
of his finely honed craft on his New West album, Closer to
the Bone. Like the master singer-songwriter’s 2006 New
West bow, This Old Road, the new album is produced by
Grammy Award winner Don Was.

Kristofferson says, “I like the intimacy of the new
album. It has a general mood of reflecting on where we all
are at this end of life.” Much like its predecessor, Closer to
the Bone is a deftly observed, honestly executed work
about love, separation, loss and mortality. The subject
matter ranges from the musician’s family (“From Here to
Forever,” “The Wonder”) to Kristofferson’s late friend
Johnny Cash (“Good Morning John”). Was views the new
album as a sort of sequel to its acclaimed predecessor: “The
recording conditions were a little more controlled, but it’s
based around Kris singing and playing guitar, and nothing
was to get in the way of that. If anything got in the way of it,
we pulled it out. I think the two albums are completely of a
piece. I love This Old Road. There’s something really
immediate about it, and really profound. I personally think
this is a better record, overall. It’s the songs.”

Such searing, contemplative songs as “Closer to the
Bone” and “Hall of Angels” gained a melancholy
resonance in the days following the completion of
sessions for the album. On May 9, 2009, Bruton closest
friends and musical associates for four decades at the age
of 60 after a long battle with throat cancer. The album is
dedicated to his memory. “He was there while I was
recording, and he was in great spirits at the time,”
Kristofferson says of Bruton, who replaced Billy Swan in
his band at the age of 20. “Stephen was more like a
brother than a guy that worked with me. We went
through a lot of years, a lot of laughter, a lot of heartache.
I really felt close to Stephen. His spirit’s on the album.”

Was says of Bruton’s unique contributions to
Kristofferson’s sound, “He and Kris just had a lock that
Kris is never going to be able to get with anybody. It’s
what comes from 40 years of playing together. They just
had a way of weaving together.”

Kristofferson’s New West albums mark the culmination of
a distinguished career that has encompassed the authorship
of such classic American songs as “Me and Bobby McGee,”
“Sunday Morning Coming Down” and “Help Me Make It
Through the Night”; stardom in such feature films as Pat
Garrett & Billy the Kid and A Star is Born; honors including
three Grammy Awards and a Golden Globe Award; and
years of outspoken political and social activism. In
November he was feted as a BMI Icon at the performing
rights organization’s Country Awards.

In the wake of the rave reviews accorded This Old Road,
the now 73-year-old performer has undertaken a vigorous
schedule of international solo appearances. Kristofferson
says, “I was overseas doing a film when I got the
opportunity to work in Ireland, and I didn’t have time to
martial the troops. So I went out by myself, and it worked.
I’ve been really surprised at selling out the shows
everywhere. People are filling up the houses.

“Something was making a direct communication with
the audience,” he adds, “and I guess it must be down to
the essence of the songs. Because God knows, there’s
better guitar players and singers. But it seems to be
working with my material.” EK

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Commemorative Commission announces
lineup of events for the 2010 Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. Celebration

New special programs combine with
traditional events to make a very
special celebration

The MLK Celebration programs are designed to
increase awareness of Dr. King’s work and to bring all races in
our community into closer harmony. For 2010, all celebration
events relate to the theme of “Realizing His Dream Through
Service: It Is Up To Us” and there are several new programs that
underline that theme.

School-age young people are invited to participate in the
all-new Youth Symposium to be held at the Children’s Defense
Fund Haley Farm January 16th. The morning sessions will focus
on strengthening our community by helping our youth to be
leaders for equity in the future. The half-day teacher in-service
credit program provides special professional development
sessions for local school teachers aimed at promoting the
principles and goals of the Knox County School Strategic Plan.

The traditional “Night with the Arts” on January 17th will
feature original productions written exclusively for the
MLK commemorative events. Beginning at 6:00 pm, this
very special production will be at the Colston Performing
Arts Center on the campus of Knoxville College and is open
to the public without charge.

Also new this year will be a month-long exhibit of MLK-
related works of art on display at the Bijou Theatre Gallery. The
gala opening of this meaningful exhibit will be from 5:00–7:00
pm on January 8th as part of the First Friday events.

The MLK website at www.mlkknoxville.org has been
expanded and revised so that all details of the 2010 celebration
can be conveniently accessed.

The kick-off event for the MLK Celebration will be the
Interfaith Prayer Service at Mount Calvary Baptist Church on
Wednesday, January 13th at noon. Religious leaders from many
different faiths will join in this very special worship service.

The Leadership Symposium is scheduled for the morning of
January 14 followed by the annual Leadership/Awards Luncheon at
noon. The special guest speaker at this year’s luncheon is Dr. John
Maguire, President Emeritus of Claremont Graduate University
and life director of the King Center. (Ticket information for the
luncheon can be found at www.mlkKnoxville.org.)

Our community really comes together on the MLK holiday,
January 18. The annual MLK Parade is one of the most exciting
events of the celebration with hundreds of participants and, this
year, former Mayor and former Ambassador to Poland Victor
Ash will be the Grand Marshal.

The parade will end at the Greater Warner Tabernacle AME
Zion Church for the annual Memorial Tribute Service with Rev.
Raphael Gamaliel Warnock as the keynote speaker. Dr. Warnock
is currently the Senior Pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in
Atlanta, spiritual home of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Other related events include a community discussion by the
Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance on January 15th at
7:00 pm and the YWCA Race Against Racism during the
afternoon of January 16th.

The closing tribute to Dr. King and his work will be the
Holiday Celebration Concert on January 18th at 6:00 pm in the
Knoxville Civic Auditorium featuring the Knoxville Symphony
Orchestra, the MLK Holiday Celebration Choir, and a variety of
special guest performers.

With the exception of the luncheon on January 14, all MLK
Celebration events are open to the public without charge.

“The MLK season is an opportune time for all to reflect upon
the ideals of the Dream and the Dreamer,” stated MLK Chair
Renee Kesler. “Together, may we all seek to realize his dream
through service as it is up to us.” EK

For additional information, visit www.mlkknoxville.org or
contact Michael Combs at mcombs@utk.edu.

The greatest family musical
of all time, The Wizard of
Oz is touching down in
Knoxville as NETworks
Presentations brings this
national treasure to the
Historic Tennessee Theatre
on December 11 at 8 pm and
December 12 at 2 and 8 pm.

This magical production, based on the Royal
Shakespeare Company’s celebration of the 1939
MGM movie, is presented with breathtaking
special effects that will sweep audiences away,
from the moment the tornado twists its way
into Kansas.

Twelve young students from Studio Arts for
Dancers will perform the roles of “munchkins.”
Singing timeless classics such as “Ding Dong
the Witch is Dead,” the local children help bring
this beloved classic to life on the stage.

Director Nigel West, choreographer Leigh
Constantine, and set and costume designer Tim
McQuillen-Wright utilize the glamour and
elegance of art deco Hollywood as the visually
stunning Technicolor backdrop for The Wizard
of Oz. Dorothy, Toto and their friends the
Cowardly Lion, Tin Man and Scarecrow are
transported “Over the Rainbow” to adventures
in Munchkin Land, the Haunted Forest, and the
Emerald City.

Featuring the classic songs, as composed by
Harold Arlen, “Over the Rainbow,” “Ding Dong
the Witch is Dead” and “If I Only Had A Brain,”
along with the beloved characters, The Wizard
of Oz will have the entire family captivated as
they travel down the yellow brick road for an
unforgettable evening at the theater. EK

First Night Knoxville is the New Year’s Eve celebration of the arts in downtown. The event is produced by the non-profit Market Square District Association, with proceeds to support MSDA promotional activities.
Location: Market Square and 10 more entertainment venues around downtown Knoxville
Date/Time: December 31, 2009, 3 pm to Midnight
Attendance: 10,000+
Audience: All demographic groups with average attendees 21-49 years old, and families with children. The event draws attendees from the entire East TN region, as well as KY, NC and GA.
Activities:
Free Children’s Festival from 3 pm to
6:30 pm
Over 10 venues of entertainment run
7 pm to 11 pm
First Night Admission Button ($10 in
advance, $15 day of event) provides
access to all venues
Street entertainers, amusements, and
food vendors present throughout the
evening
Early Kid’s Countdown and Fireworks
at 9 pm
Main Countdown, Ball Drop and
Fireworks at Market Square Stage at
Midnight
› First Month promotions at multiple
merchants throughout January with
First Night Admission Button
First Night® is a family friendly, alcohol-free New Year’s Eve community celebration of the arts. The celebration began in Boston in 1976 and has grown to an event that attracts hundreds of thousands of celebrants each year. Since then the event has expanded to over 100 cities in 30 states across the country, as well as internationally into Canada and New Zealand.
Knoxville held its inaugural New Year’s Eve celebration last year to great success. This year, the event expands to multiple entertainment venues throughout downtown. Our current lineup of featured acts includes musicians, storytellers, magicians, dance groups, and puppeteers.
We project that attendance will double this year to over 20,000 thanks to the success of last year’s event and a significant increase in publicity for this year’s celebration. Along with an expansion in venues we will begin selling First Night® admission buttons prior to the event. These buttons serve as admission to all entertainment venues associated with First Night® and will provide the button holders with great discounts on New Year’s Eve and through the month of January. You may purchase buttons online or at designated vendors though December 30th, 2009.
Also part of our First Night® expansion this year is the addition of a Children’s Festival in the afternoon leading up to the evening’s festivities. This festival will lead into the processional that will lead into First Night®. For the youngest children we will have an early countdown and fireworks around 9:00 pm.

For a list of entertainment, log on to www.firstnightknoxville.com.