Fall 2026
BCQ Blount County Quarterly
Chalk Walk Artists take to the concrete
LEAFING IT ALL BEHIND
WHERE TO SEE THE COLORS AND WHEN
PUMPKIN SPICE
FINDING YOUR TASTE OF FALL
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CONTENTS
FEATURES 9
Sidewalks become art as library hosts Chalk the Walk
14
Get your little gremlins ready for the 13th Spooktacular
15
The Peaks in the Peaks: Your guide to finding the fall colors
18
What to do when the leaves turn brown and cover the yard
19
Striking the right gourd: Vienna goes to the source for season’s favorite drink
22
Save the date for the 58th Blount County Veterans Day Program Shanon Adame | The Daily Timesr
A little girl dressed as North America’s only marsupial trick-or-treats at the 12th Spooktacular Extravaganza.
QUARTERLY RETURNS 5
From the Editor The feeling of fall
6
Horn of Plenty Target Date funds
7
At the Library Check these out
8
At the Library Pages & Programs
4 | BLOUNT COUNTY QUARTERLY • FALL 2026
Custom In-House Etchings
Custom Artwork
Shape Carving
FROM THE EDITOR: Fitz’s Follies Marcus Fitzsimmons
That feeling of fall F
or me, it isn’t spotting the changes of That other smell in the air I treasure is color in the canopy, nor the display of the smoke from the fire. It shouldn’t smell the Pumpkin Spice coffee appearing different from summer to fall but to me it on the counter that shouts autumn to me. seems to hold a more pleasant bite in crisper It’s the smells that tell me fall is creeping air than it does in summer humidity. in on East Tennessee and will bring a rueful I experimented with fire pits for a years, smile to embrace the fond memories they trying to capture that campfire feeling, provoke. Wood smoke under the gray sky, but it isn’t the same. I think the hot metal that earthy smell of leaves that only comes changes the smell somehow, and the lightfrom being inside the pile, the aroma of ing isn’t the same with smaller flames off the leather from the jacket that’s been in the ground versus the in-the-ground bigthe closet all summer, that’s what shouts ger fires I cherished while camping. The autumn and the final fading of summer. neighbors up the valley tend to light bonGrowing up, my grandparent’s fires on the weekends and the smoke yard was one long hill and a small drifts down and keeps me satisboy’s playground. A large maple fied for now. The little boy itch to and a larger oak grew just below watch something burn and feed the driveway. When the leaves the flames just never really goes fell, I’d use a rake with a hanaway. We don’t grow out of it, we dle twice my height to assist my just hide it better as we get older. grandfather gather the leaves Those moments are still on the from those trees into a pile. horizon of this year, but before I Then I’d run to the driveway know it, Spooktacular will be here. and get on that bigwheel — the Another blink and it’ll be time death-defying riding contraption for turkey and a the Small Town with a giant slim front wheel and Saturday heralding winter’s MARCUS two wide back wheels, all made FITZSIMMONS approach. of plastic and popular at the time It’s still too early to call if this with parents trying to determine will be a Halloween with parents if their little ones were truly tough enough in shorts trailing behind the youngsters or to survive. Down the hill and into the pile if it’ll be one of those with everyone in jackI’d ride, most times unable to come out the ets and parent’s encouraging the wee ones other side and be stuck amidst the leaves to “hurry up, it’s cold out here.” and have to climb my way back out to do it Oh, the blessings bestowed by the vagaall over again. ries of our weather — better embrace the To say my grandfather was a patient unpredictability and have fun whatever it man, with me at least, would be a great brings or it’ll drive you crazy. understatement. I think of him often, but CHAT US UP: We’re looking way down the smell of fallen leaves brings back that the road at BCQ Central and planning for memory and a smile without fail. Which is future editions. If you’re a bride planning a a needed reprieve from my modern battle summer wedding for 2027; looking around or raking, blowing and cutting the blasted the garage and thinking, “got to have a yard things in a battle that seems to last for sale next year” or one of those heart souls months on end. As dry as this year’s been who still cuts wood to sell by the rick and so far, quite a few seem have already gone would like to share your story, please confrom green to brown and jumped from tact me at the BCQ email. their limb in the span of 24 hours as if saying, “I’ve had enough and I’m outta here.” And at times when we’re hitting 90s after Marcus Fitzsimmons is the editor of Blount Labor Day, I almost empathize. County Quarterly. Email bcq@thedailytimes. Almost. com to share thoughts or ideas with him.
BCQ Blount County Quarterly
Product of: THE DAILY TIMES GENERAL MANAGER Darren Haimer ADVERTISING/DISTRIBUTION Jeff Craft 865-981-1192 jeff.craft@thedailytimes.com
EDITOR Marcus Fitzsimmons bcq@thedailytimes.com WRITERS Zoe Ballew Marcus Fitzsimmons Jacey Goetzinger Ansley Hoard Doug Horn ADVERTISING Jeff Craft Samantha Gentry Kenneth Hickson Becky Payne LAYOUT & DESIGN Marcus Fitzsimmons
Blount County Quarter;y (BCQ) is published quarterly by The Daily Times, a newspaper of Adams MultiMedia, located in Alcoa, Tenn. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the content herein is prohibited without the prior written consent from the general manager. Opinions expressed by writers are not necessarily those of the publisher, manager, editor, Blount County Quarterly or The Daily Times. Copyright 2026 by: Blount County Quarterly magazine 226 Gill Street Alcoa, TN 37701 865-981-1100
FALL2026 • BLOUNT COUNTY QUARTERLY | 5
HORN OF PLENTY: Financial DOUG HORN, CFP ® | LPL Financial
Target Date Funds
A
Marketing or Strategy?
ccording to Google, the first Target Date mutual fund was created by Wells Fargo in 1994, over thirty years ago. As my title raises the question, is this a brilliant marketing idea or a great investment strategy? From my perspective, it is a brilliant marketing idea but a poor investment strategy. Yet, according to Yahoo Finance1 there are nearly 1,700 Target Date funds with assets, offered by a large variety of fund families. Target Date funds can be used for just about anything. I suggest the majority may be used for retirement assets as a way to set it and forget it. Some of the funds may not encourage this approach, but the individual investor may be doing just that. While every working individual should be saving for their retirement, it is not a stretch to say not everyone working is either qualified or desires to be an investment strategist. Thus, how better to manage their investments than to select a fund where the assets are designed to be available and automatically invested at a lower risk level when they may be needed at the presumed retirement year. These funds attempt to reduce the risk over the timespan between the current year to their target year. This strategy can be achieved in any number of ways and managers may be given some flexibility, although I have not found any with significant flexibility. If the underlying investments are designed to be at lower risk by
the target year, why isn’t this a great strategy? Primarily because these funds are on a preset glide path to an assumed retirement year, regardless of economic conditions. The focus is the year. This is 2026 and not 1960, and life expectancy is much longer today than it was thirty or forty years ago. So, a 22-year-old today hoping to retire when they reach age 65 has forty-three years to invest, and if using a Target Date fund, may select a 2060 or 2065 target year. The first reason I believe DOUG these are poor investment HORN strategies is the length of retirement today is not only a five- or ten-year timespan but can be thirty or forty years. In 2060 it could be even longer. As such, the target year really represents a change in work status rather than a change in investment strategy. It is never known when inflation may raise its ugly head and those retiring should still want their investments to grow faster than their withdrawals and the impact of inflation. The second reason I believe these are poor investment strategies is because there are times when it is more obvious the markets are in a position to move higher for a period of
6 | BLOUNT COUNTY QUARTERLY • FALL 2026
time. What if the glide path has lowered the allocation of equities to under sixty percent, but the economics are such the markets may move much higher? Those invested in Target Date funds may miss the market’s rise due to the predisposed allocation of the funds. Achieving financial security is not an easy task and setting-it and forgetting-it, in my opinion, is not the way to pursue success. Citations: Glossary of Financial Terms: https://www. schwab.com/learn/story/investing-glossary-100-terms-and-definitions 1 Finance/Yahoo.com, Markets include Dow Jones Industrials®, S&P 500®, or the NASDAQ Composite®, each an unmanaged index. All investing involves risk including loss of principal. No strategy assures success or protects against loss. Doug Horn, CFP®, Registered Principal. Securities offered through LPL Financial, member of FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through QFC Advisory LLC, a registered investment advisor and separate entity from LPL Financial. Tax services and insurance offered through QFC Services LLC. QFC Advisory LLC and QFC Services LLC are wholly owned by Quality Financial Concepts LLC (collectively, QFC). LPL and QFC are not affiliated. Content in this material is for general information only and not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.
At the Library: CHECK THESE OUT
Yo u r k i t c h e n’s d e e p e s t d e s i r e
Looking for your next read? Check out these recommendations from the BCPL! All the titles mentioned can be found in their respective sections, and can be reserved online through our catalog, in the Librista mobile app, or by calling 865-273-1425.
IN THE COMPANY OF WITCHES: AN EVENFALL WITCHES B&B MYSTERY By Auralee Wallace Location: Adult Fiction | ADULT FIC WALLACE AURALEE In the New England town of Evenfall, the Warren family are not just the quirky owners of the Ivywood Hollow Bed and Breakfast. As descendants from a line of witches, the Warrens have quietly used their magical gifts to help the town for nearly four centuries. However, after Brynn Warren’s Aunt Nora is labeled as the primary suspect in a murder that occurred at the family’s bed and breakfast, Brynn must use her gift of communing with ghosts to clear her aunt’s name.
BONFIRE AND BLISS BOOKSTORE By Brittanée Nicole Location: Adult Large Print Fiction | LARGE PRINT FIC NICOLE BRITTANEE Penny Darling, owner of the Bonfire and Bliss Bookstore, is done with dating after her failed public engagement, preferring cozy nights at home with a romance novel over the real thing. But things grow complicated when Monty, struggling author and her former best friend, returns home after the failure of his latest novel and proposes a fake-dating scheme, offering to pretend to be her boyfriend if she agrees to help him write the perfect romantic hero.
THE SEPTEMBER HOUSE By Carissa Orlando Location: Adult Fiction | ADULT FIC ORLANDO CARISSA Every September, the walls of Margaret’s large Victorian home drip blood and terrifying apparitions make themselves known. Although most would flee, Margaret has managed to tough out the haunting for nearly four years, but her husband, Hal, has finally had enough. When Hal goes missing after his abrupt departure, their daughter Katherine comes to the home to find answers. With September having just begun, Margaret and Katherine must endure harrowing hauntings to uncover the truth behind Hal’s disappearance and the house itself.
SUBZERO WOLF | VIKING MIELE | MONOGRAM
FALL2026 • BLOUNT COUNTY QUARTERLY | 7
At the Library: PAGES & PROGRAMS
For many of us here at the Blount County Public Library (BCPL), we see fall as the perfect time to embrace all things cozy and creative, and our programming lineup for this season invites you to do the same. Whether it’s through celebrating regional authors, supporting local artists and craftspeople, or getting crafty yourself, there are plenty of ways to join in on the fun at BCPL!
FALL FESTIVAL On October 17th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., join us in BCPL’s Learning Lab Parking Lot for our annual craft fair. Enjoy the cooler weather while you shop from local crafters, artists, and collectors. We’ll also have fun family activities, like a rock wall, face painting, and more!
ANNA BELLE SMITH LITERARY FESTIVAL Local authors and literary enthusiasts alike are invited to join us in celebrating our region’s rich writing community on October 24th. At 9 a.m. in our Sharon Lawson Room, enjoy a keynote presentation from Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle, an award-winning author and enrolled citizen of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Then, from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., browse, shop, and connect with regional authors at their tables in the Main Gallery.
GILMORE GIRLS DAY
Later that evening from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., the Tremont Writers Conference will host, “An Evening with Ron Rash and Friends,” a free, public discussion between author Ron Rash, novelist Kelli Jo Ford, poet Linda Parsons, and memoirist Crystal Wilkinson. Afterwards, authors will be available to sign books, which will be available to purchase throughout the evening.
Celebrate the quintessential cozy autumn TV show at our first ever Gilmore Girls Day on November 14th! Step into Stars Hollow for a day of fast-talking fun, quirky activities, delicious treats, and all things Gilmore Girls. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., enjoy activities throughout the entire library, including button making, knitting, trivia, bingo, and more! Some of these activities will require registration, so be sure to keep an eye out on our social media and website for more details!
PHOTOCARD DECORATING
GINGERBREAD COMPETITION
Love collecting? Love crafting? On November 4th from 5 – 6:30 p.m. in the Dorothy Herron Room, come decorate a custom card sleeve for your favorite photocard, trading card, library card, or any other card or photo that fits a standard 3.46” x 2.4” sleeve. Make something cute, sparkly, and uniquely yours!
Starting November 1st, you can register for our second annual Gingerbread Competition! Show off your best gingerbread creations, whether that be traditional gingerbread houses or something a little more unique! If you’re interested in participating or want to learn more, just stop by BCPL’s Reference Desk during the month of November.
8 | BLOUNT COUNTY QUARTERLY • FALL 2026
Not a baker or a decorator? No problem! You can still help us out by voting for your favorite submissions December 9th – 16th in the Main Gallery.
TWEEN NIGHTS Tweens can join us every month at 6 p.m. in the library’s Children’s Area for a chance to hang out and make new friends while doing something fun. Our upcoming Tween Nights activities include making DIY haunted houses on October 8th, a Día de los Muertos celebration on October 29th, Kindness Rock painting for World Kindness Day on November 12th, and DIY fleece Harry Potter pillows on December 10th. Just be sure to register! Registration links are typically posted a few weeks prior to the program on our website and official Facebook and Instagram pages. — Zoe Ballew
Jacey Goetzinger
Charlotte shows off her outer-space themed artwork Sept. 19 during Chalk the Walk at the Blount County Public Library.
Library hosts Chalk the Walk
T
he Blount County Library saw a crowd of youngsters and adults alike on Sept. 19 at their Chalk the Walk event. The sidewalk was filled with colorful drawings from contestants as they competed for the chance to win prizes. The sun shone on the library as participants crafted their artwork, making the chalk glisten on the pavement. Polly Taylor, a reference librarian at the Blount County Library, explained the importance of hosting Chalk the Walk. “Chalk the Walk is an event we’ve had in the past, we took a year break last year, and we’re back and doing very well,” Taylor said. “It has been a really nice event for the community to get together and express their artistic talent in a way that they don’t get to typically and to get to experience different levels of talent and ability.” Participants included
CHALK THE WALK Winners AGES 18+: Jodi Littleton, “Boba Emperor” AGES 11 - 17: Genevieve Rife, “Koi Fish” AGES 0 - 10: Celeste, “Knowledge is Firepower” 3-year-old Mia, who created a piece which she entitled ‘Numbers’. Serenity Showers, another participant, recounted her work. “This is from the anime show ‘My Hero Academia, Showers said. “This is from season 8 where Bakugo and Midoriya are looking at each other as they’re passing through the sky.” Other participants included Victoria who created a butterfly, Sophia and KJ who both drew a depiction of an eye, Arlo who made a piece he called ‘Rainbow’
and Ari who created his own abstract artwork. Nevaeh, another member of Chalk the Walk, detailed her artwork as well. “I’m making a snow cone, a sunset, an egg, a watermelon, a flower, a cherry, a jellyfish, and another sunset with a wave,” Nevaeh said. “I’ve been doing art for 3 years.” As the day grew hotter, more families joined Chalk the Walk. Parents sought relief in the air-conditioned library, but kids stayed hard at work on their entries, not letting the heat win over their will to create. Among them was a set of parents with their daughter Celeste, who was beginning to outline her illustration in a shaded corner next to the building. “I drew a dragon sitting on some books reading a book, Celeste said. “The idea just came to me; I like to draw dragons.” Genevieve also braved the weather to participate in Chalk
the Walk. She was set up right under the beating sun, in a hot but optimal location in the middle of the sidewalk to create her artwork. “I’m drawing koi fish in a pond,” Genevieve said. “Last year when I came, I saw one of my friend’s mom had done this, so it inspired me to do it.” Another member of Chalk the Walk was Charlotte, who had no prior knowledge of the event and just happened to be in the library that morning. “I’m trying to go for an outer-space theme,” Charlotte said. “I just tried to pick outer-space colors that I thought would fit.” Chalk the Walk saw many families and participants in what ended up to be a very successful event despite the heat, giving Blount County a sense of community and allowing all participants’ creativity to shine. — Jacey Goetzinger
FALL2026 • BLOUNT COUNTY QUARTERLY | 9
CHALK THE WALK
Jacey Goetzinger
Charlotte shows off her outer-space themed artwork Sept. 19 during Chalk the Walk at
Jacey Goetzinger
Sophia depicts an eye in her artwork at the Blount County Public Library.
Nevaeh admires her artwork Sept. 19 during Chalk the Walk at the Blount County Public Library.
Jacey Goetzinger
Arlo finishes his piece ‘Rainbow’ Sept. 19 during Chalk the Walk at the Blount County Public Library.
Blount County Public Library
Celeste chalked “Knowledge is Firepower” to win the Kids Division of Chalk the Walk.
10 | BLOUNT COUNTY QUARTERLY • FALL 2026
Jacey Goetzinger
Blount County Public Library
Jodi Littleton chalked “Boba Emperor” to win the Adult Division of Chalk the Walk.
Jacey Goetzinger
Rose colors her ‘Readit Frog’ on Sept. 19 during Chalk the Walk at the Blount County Public Library.
Jacey Goetzinger
KJ completes her picture of an eye on Sept. 19 during Chalk the Walk at the Blount County Public Library.
Jacey Goetzinger
Mia poses with her picture entitled ‘Numbers’ on Sept. 19 during Chalk the Walk.
FALL2026 • BLOUNT COUNTY QUARTERLY | 11
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13th SPOOKTACULAR EXTRAVAGANZA
No tricks, just treats
Halloween-themed fun for families and dogs
I
t doesn’t matter if it’s the little ones dressing up or fussing the fur baby into a costume, Parks & Rec one again has the festivities for the holiday with the return of Spooktacular for a 13th appearance. “Parks & Recreation and area businesses and organizations are thrilled to bring the 13th annual Spooktacular Extravaganza to downtown Maryville again for 2026,” Kelly Forster with Parks & Rec said. “It is exciting to see downtown become even more alive when the community comes out to enjoy an evening of Halloween festivities! This event has become a fun tradition each year, and we have hopes and dreams of bringing even more activities to the venue in the coming years.” Bring the kids and their trick or treat bag, and stop at designated areas in Downtown Maryville for some great free treats. There’s also the opportunity to play free interactive carnival games from on the top of the Maryville Municipal Parking Garage. Come dance in the street on W. Broadway near the Maryville Municipal Parking Garage and have a great time with your family. A DJ will be providing music. Show off your costumes at 7 p.m. in the street across from the Palace Theater. Spooktacular will again host the Howl-o-Ween costume contest for dogs but the event has moved to Broadway United Methodist Church. Registration is open from 5:30 -6:15 p.m. and judging begins at 6:30 p.m. $5 entry fee. Dogs must be on a leash at all times and good with other dogs and people.
Shanon Adame | The Daily Times
Molly, Kensy and Everly Frazier pose with mom, Erica Frazier, on Oct. 25, 2025, during the12th Spooktacular Extravaganza put on by Parks & Rec.
SPOOKTACULAR WHEN: 5-8 p.m. FRIDAY, OCT. 30 WHERE: BROADWAY AVENUE IN DOWNTOWN MARYVILLE
Shanon Adame | The Daily Times
Smokie strikes a pose before participating in the dog costume contest during the 11th Spooktacular Extravaganza.
14 | BLOUNT COUNTY QUARTERLY • FALL 2026
NOTE: STREETS WILL BE CLOSED FOR EVENT
National Park Service
The fall colors can been seen from Gatlinburg Bypass as clouds move across the sky casting shadows.
Peaks begin in the peaks
Leaf season timing will vary by elevation
A
s summer begins to fade across East Tennessee, the mountains are preparing for their annual transformation. But in the Great Smoky Mountains, fall does not arrive all at once. It moves down the mountainsides, coloring the highest elevations first before eventually reaching the valleys below. For people hoping to catch the brightest reds, oranges and yellows this year, exactly when that transformation will happen depends largely on elevation and weather conditions. For those hoping for a specific date to go to the mountains
National Park Service
The Cataloochee Valley offers an alternative to Cades Cove for viewing the fall colors.
for the autumn transformation, experts from the Great Smoky
Mountains National Park Service confirmed that there is not a
single peak foliage date because of the Smokies’ enormous elevation range. “There is no one date for peak foliage display inside the Smokies due to the range in elevation, starting at 6,643 feet and going to 876 feet above sea level,” the National Park Service said. That elevation change means visitors looking for fall color earlier in the season should look toward the higher elevations. As the season progresses, the display moves down the mountains. “At higher elevations, fall colors begin with trees like yellow See LEAF, 17
FALL2026 • BLOUNT COUNTY QUARTERLY | 15
Office: (865) 233-0001 712 William Blount Drive Maryville, y TN 37801 www.EcoView.com/Knoxville
LEAF From 15 birch, serviceberry, witch hazel and mountain maple,” the National Park Service said. The higher-elevation trees are some of the first parts of the park to begin taking on autumn colors. Later, the changing foliage spreads toward lower elevations, creating a succession of color across the mountainside. “As the season progresses, vibrant colors spread to lower elevations, culminating in scenery featuring sugar maple, scarlet oak, sweetgum, sassafras, hickories and white oak,” said the National Park Service. This progression is part of what makes fall in the Smokies last longer than a single peak weekend. Instead of every tree changing at the same time, different species and elevations contribute to the display at different points throughout the season. For visitors trying to plan a trip around the foliage, the National Park Service recommends following that progression. “Visitors planning to be in the park earlier in the fall should look at higher elevations for leaf viewing, and as the season progresses, move to lower elevations,” the National Park Service said. The unpredictable timing of the display can also make planning a visit more complicated. Rather than choosing one date and expecting every part of the park to look the same, visitors can follow the changing color as it moves through different elevations. The park’s most popular destinations can also make a fall foliage trip take longer than expected. October is consistently one of the Smokies peak months for visitation, according to the National Park Service. Popular leaf-viewing destinations include Kuwohi, Cades Cove and the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, where visitors should expect heavier traffic during the fall season. For those wanting to see the
Trees with golden leaves line a quiet stream in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
foliage without spending as much time in some of the park’s busiest areas, the National Park Service suggests several alternatives. Look Rock Observation Tower is recommended as an alternative to Kuwohi for mountain views. Visitors looking for a scenic drive can consider the Foothills Parkway, while Cataloochee Valley offers an alternative to Cades Cove. The National Park Service also advises visitors to plan for
longer-than-normal travel times when heading into the park during the fall. For East Tennessee residents, the gradual progression of color means there is no need to think of fall foliage as something that must be caught on one particular day. The mountains provide a moving display, with higher elevations changing first and the color gradually making its way toward lower elevations. As the fall season unfolds, following that progression can be
National Park Service
a part of the experience itself: watching the first patches of color appear high on the mountains before the reds, yellows and oranges eventually spread across the lower elevations. And while the exact timing of the display can vary, one thing remains consistent, according to the National Park Service: the Smokies’ wide range of elevations gives visitors more than one opportunity to experience autumn. — Ansley Hoard
FALL2026 • BLOUNT COUNTY QUARTERLY | 17
Trees with golden leaves line a quiet stream in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
National Park Service
When they’re brown and fall Rake or mulch but don’t burn those fallen leaves in the yard
A
s the trees around East Tennessee begin to turn, the leaves that make for an eye-catching fall landscape eventually end up mostly brown and covering lawns, driveways and gardens. For homeowners, that brings up the annual question: Should the leaves be raked up, or should they be chopped up with a mower? The National Park Service says homeowners don’t necessarily need to get rid of every leaf that falls in the yard. Leaving some leaves in place can provide important winter habitat for pollinators. According to the Park Service, fallen leaves can shelter bees, butterflies and moths through the winter. Leaves help insulate insects from cold and moisture, while some butterflies and moths spend the winter as eggs, caterpillars or cocoons tucked among leaves, stems and twigs. This doesn’t mean a yard has to be left
completely covered. For homeowners who want to clean up some of their yards, the Park Service recommends moving leaves to garden beds or around the bases of trees rather than sending them all away as yard waste. Even leaving a small section of the yard untouched can provide habitat for pollinators. When moving leaves for that purpose, the Park Service suggests raking or blowing them instead of shredding them with a mower. Keeping the leaves intact can help protect eggs, caterpillars and cocoons that may already be living in the leaf litter. For those who do need to clear leaves from areas such as lawns, the important thing is not necessarily to remove every leaf from the property. Leaves can be moved to other parts of the yard where they can serve as natural mulch and eventually break down. This same principle applies to other natural material in the yard. Avoiding an overly
18 | BLOUNT COUNTY QUARTERLY • FALL 2026
aggressive fall cleanup and waiting until spring to cut back some plants gives pollinators time to emerge after spending the winter in plant material. And when it comes to getting rid of leaves, burning them isn’t the only option. The Park Service recommends keeping natural material in the landscape when possible rather than disposing of it, and suggests creating habitat piles from appropriate woody material rather than burning it. For homeowners getting their yards ready for winter, there may not be a need to choose between a perfectly clean lawn and a completely untouched yard. Leaves on the lawn can be managed, while leaves in garden beds, beneath trees or in a small corner of the yard can provide a place for pollinators to spend the winter. — Ansley Hoard
Vienna Coffee Company
The Great Pumpkin, a seasonal latte, is on sale at Vienna Coffee Company in downtown Maryville as a hot or iced coffee.
Striking the right gourd Vienna goes with real pumpkin and maple syrup for flavor
T Pumpkin Spice, it’s what they, want, what they really, really want
he trick of fall for the caffeine dealers if striking the right gourd for coffee connoisseurs with their Pumpkin Spice offerings. Offering a unique taste in a saturated market where everything from breakfast cereal to cookies has gotten in on the trend can prove a real challenge. Vienna Coffee Company in downtown Maryville took a new tack when it introduced the Great Pumpkin Latte from the mind of its new director of retail the first week of September. Reid Ramsey barely had time to familiarize himself with all the nooks and crannies of Vienna in June before he had to turn his attention to all the moving parts needed to have the coffee house’s
‘It’s usually just pumpkin spices and stuff, so we leaned into it and added a bunch of real pumpkin.’ Reid Ramsey, director of retail, Vienna Coffee Company
fall specialty drink lineup ready for customers. Ramsey took a bit of something old and a bit of something new for the syrup recipe at the heart of the Great Pumpkin Latte and went straight to the source to formulate the flavor by passing by the mixes and including actual pumpkins. “Seasonal always hits so early. I had a similar role in New York on helping hone seasonal drinks. I’m only doing a little bit of that here but we wanted to approach this fall by doing something in-house,” Ramsey said. “I had our kitchen staff use one of my old recipes married with adding real pumpkin, because most pumpkin syrups don’t have any real pumpkin in them. It’s usually just pumpkin spices and
stuff, so we leaned into it and added a bunch of real pumpkin. I think it kind of tastes like pumpkin pie filling in a coffee.” MORE THAN PUMPKIN The taste isn’t derived solely from the pumpkins, all the fall specials are based around using maple syrup and its natural sugars as the base for the syrup that is added to the espresso and steamed milk. It’s topped off with some pumpkin spice sprinkles that while lost in a paper cup get an artful addition to the presentation for the in-house service. “We kind of leaned into the maple side of things and using See PUMPKIN, 20
FALL2026 • BLOUNT COUNTY QUARTERLY | 19
HOW SOON AND HOW LONG LIKE MANY LOCALLY-OWNED COFFEE HOUSES, the launch tim-
ing for seasonal drinks is often dictated by Starbucks, which has been launching the Pumpkin Spice a bit earlier and earlier each year. Vienna had a secret sampling available late in August where customers who asked for the Great Pumpkin could get one even though it wasn’t yet on the menu. The fall specialty drinks were officially available Sept. 6 and will be on the menu through November until the changeover for winter drinks. Ramsey said that there will be a Halloween specialty drink available the last week of the month, which will allow those attending Spooktacular to sip on the Halloween special as they meander down Broadway. “We’ll switch over the first week of December when we’ll switch to our winter drinks, which will last about a three month period as well. There’ll be a couple fun holiday oneoff drinks thrown in there as well,” Ramsey said.
The Great Pumpkin, a seasonal latte,sits on a table in Vienna Coffee Company.
PUMPKIN From 19 that as the base is like sugar for the syrup,” Ramsey told BCQ. “And then I added real pumpkin and did a lot more fresh. We’re cooking the pumpkin in the kitchen to get an overall richer flavor, but the maple itself is going to make it already taste richer.” Drivers pulling up to the window or customers ordering at the counter don’t have to wait for the whole preparation process. The cooking of the pumpkins prior to mixing them into the syrup recipe is done early and bottled up for baristas to expedite the serving process. “Just behind the bar we have the strained syrup that we’ve already prepared,” Ramsey said. “The baristas add it, plus espresso and then we sprinkle a little bit of pie spice blend on to the top of it to add a little aromatic touch and also an appealing look. It takes it from an average looking latte to a more interesting looking seasonal latte.” Despite the perception that
20 | BLOUNT COUNTY QUARTERLY • FALL 2026
the gourds take over in October, Ramsey said pumpkin spice drinks make up about 10% of the current orders at Vienna. That alone is enough to keep the kitchen hopping as they cook up pumpkins to keep the syrup bottles filled and ready for demand. “In early September, you’re really just getting the people that have had the date circled for a long time and are ready to start asking for it,” Ramsey said. “But we’re starting to get the people that are just wanting the flavor the time it is. I haven’t heard of too many people coming out of their way just to get it yet.” BORED OF THE GOURD As the pumpkin spice market inexplicably seems to somehow further expand into new products each fall, the world’s second oldest pumpkin flavored purveyors have one of the best views for how the public is trending on the sensation. “I do not feel like we’re cooling. I don’t know if it’s necessarily expanding, but, year over year, it seems to be at bare
Marcus Fitzsimmons | BCQ
minimum, the same, if not more,” Ramsey said. “I think the anti-pumpkin sentiment is growing more vocal, but I don’t think that’s necessarily pulling any pumpkin drinkers away. Whatever percentage of the population that is, there’s just more of them that like pumpkin. We can’t really shy away from it as an industry because it’s working.” But for those who can do without the fall season’s spice girl, Vienna’s other specialty drink, the maple Harvest Chai, expands on the other autumn flavor concept from the latte. “The base of the pumpkin syrup is maple syrup, and because we’re already buying the product, and we love it, we’re putting like true 100, Grade A maple syrup into our specialty chai,”Ramsey said. “The Maple Harvest chai, which is maple syrup, our chai concentrate and then milk, so it is a non-coffee drink, but it has like a really nice, rich maple flavor to it.” — Marcus Fitzsimmons
Adventures Marcus Fitzsimmons | BCQ
Pumpkin-themed merchandise is on display at Southern Grace Coffee Company.
FALL SEASON DRINKS Some of the other seasonal offerings from area coffee shops include:
SOUTHERN GRACE COFFEE 312 Tedford St., Maryville Pumpkin Spice: House made syrup with brown sugar, maple and spices Vanilla Bourbon: House made with rich vanilla bean College Woods: vanilla, honey, nutmeg
OTHER SHOPS Several other coffee merchants are offering their own Pumpkin Spice blends or flavors. Stop in at The Dancing Bean, The Artistic
Bean, Towns End Coffee, Beard Brothers Coffee, Bear Grounds Coffee,Southland Books cafe or the Bookmark Cafe inside the library for some local takes.
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Starbucks: The Pumpkin Spice Latte returned but brought some friends with an Iced Pumpkin Cream Shaken Espresso as well as cold brew, chai and frappuccino offerings. Dunkin’: There’s 15 fall offerings highlighted by the frozen Pumpkin Pie Coffee Chiller, Pumpkin Cloud Dunkalatte, Pumpkin Patch Cloud Latte, high-protein Nutty Pumpkin Protein Latte, and the returning Pumpkin Spice Signature Latte. FALL2026 • BLOUNT COUNTY QUARTERLY | 21
Marcus Fitzsimmons | BCQ
PLAN TO ATTEND THE 58th BLOUNT COUNTY VETERANS DAY PROGRAM Doug Burt, commander of United Veterans of Blount County, (left) welcomes featured speaker Michael Morrell, U.S. Army retired, to the stage on Nov. 11, 2025, during the 57th Blount County Veterans Day Program at RIO Revolution in Maryville. Make plans now and mark the calendar, maybe check the PTO and use some of the hours you need to use or lose, to attend this year’s ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 11.
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