The Loafer 131

There’s Nothing Like a Saturday In Knoxville!

NOTE

Volume 03 Issue 131 Publisher Lisa Durbin Creative Director Jon Bill Forrester Managing Editor Peggy Gale Distribution Herbie Durbin Jon Bill Forrester Entertainment Coordinator Andreax Jarre Public Relations Correspondent Lee Lee Williams Contributing Staff Andy Ross

your week’s line-up

04 Spotlight 05 Long Journey Home 2024

08 Beezwax 09 Pets of the Week 10

Appalachian Hip-Hop

11 Things To Do 12 Tri-Cities Faces and Places 14

Biker Events

18

Barter's SHAWSHANK

More Than One Way

Ken Silvers

20 Johnson City Public Library to

Ann Hartley

Host "Front Porch" Music Series

The Loafer

PUBLISHER

07 Tri-Cities Nightlife

REDEMPTION is Authentic in

Wendy Hayden

FROM THE

06 Puzzle Page

Kathie Scalf

Hello Friends!

Its football time in Tennessee! Orange and White (and a few other colors) are showing up everywhere in preparation for College game days. Fall is coming very soon!

Please welcome a new advertiser to our paper. I sadly had the need to make final arrangements for a family friend recently and I was able to work with Jonesborough Funeral Home and Cremation! They made a sad situation so much easier for me. They were so helpful with every detail and really made the whole process much easier. I would encourage everyone to reach out to them in your time of need.

I hope everyone has a great week!

22 WQUT Concert Schedule

Po Box 39 Telford, Tn 37690 423-930-7319 www.theloafer.net theloaferonlineprint@gmail.com All advertisements are accepted and published by the publisher upon the representation that the agency and/or advertiser is authorized to publish the entire contents and subject matter thereof. The agency and/or advertiser will indemnify and save the publisher harmless from any lossof expense resulting from claims or suits based upon contents of any advertisement, including claims or suits for defamation, libel, right of privacy, plagiarism, and copyright infringement.

Founder: Bill Williams

LBD

FAMILY MEDIA Let’s Get Social!

columns & reviews

theloafer.net | August 27th, 2024

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15 Beanz Biker Corner Let's Go Camping 17

Social Sentiments:

Back Your Brand 19 Tea Time with Appalachian Barbie:

Time Traveling for my Sanity 21 Pop Life Twisters 23 Batteries Not Included: Is That a Nintendo in Your Pocket?

Love,

Lisa Durbin

Publisher

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Spotlight

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Johnson City

Johnson City, TN

WEDNESDAY Aug 28th Rheva & Keegan’s Irish Fiddle Tunes 5:30pm at Mulligan’s Gaming Pub

Bristol, TN/VA Bristol TN/Va THURSDAY Aug 29th Mark Larkins 7:00pm at Bristol Casino Bar Sounds of Summer: Dan Harnell & The Troubadours 7:00pm at Downtown Center FRIDAY Aug 30th

HB Beverly 6:30pm at Rocks Wood Fired Pizza THURSDAY Aug 29th Justin Mychaels 6:30pm at Rocks Wood FIred Pizza FRIDAY Aug 30th Jeff Lane 6:30pm at Rocks Wood FIred Pizza

Noah Spencer 7:00pm at Bristol Casino Bar

Tumbling River Band 8:00pm at Tulip’s Grub & Pub

Momma Molasses 7:00pm at Cascade Draft House Alli Epperson 8:00pm at The Corner

Season of the Witch | Dice Jail 10:00pm at Capone’s

Kingsport

Elizabethton Elizabethton, TN

THURSDAY Aug 29th

FRIDAY Aug 30th

Alpine Motel 7:00pm at Lakeview Marina

Chris Long 6:00pm at Jiggy Rays

Kingsport, TN

Blues Drivers 5th Thursday Jam 7:00pm at Model City Tap House ro-sham-bo 7:00pm at Lakeview Marina

Dimestore Cowboys 7:00pm at Elizabethton Covered Bridge Jams

Vaden Landers 7:00 at Gypsy Circus Cider Company

Travis David 8:00pm at Jiggy Ray’s

FRIDAY Aug 30th

Donnie and the Dry Heavers 7:30pm at High Voltage Final Justice 9:00pm at CJ’s Sports Bar

FRIDAY Aug 30th Imagine! 6:00pm

Midnight Gypsys 7:00pm at Lakeview Marina

at Abingdon Vineyards

SATURDAY Aug 31st Zak Saltz Band 8:00pm at Tulip’s Grub & Pub

Lawless Band & Southbound 9:00pm at CJ’s Sports Bar

SATURDAY Aug 31st 5 Year Birthday Bash 4:00pm at Cascade Draft House

Covalence | Raviner | I Am Revenant 10:00pm at Capone’s

SUNDAY Sep 1st

Gents & Liars 6:00pm at Bristol Casino Bar Joe Hero - Foo Fighters Tribute Band 10:00pm at Bristol Casino Bar

SUNDAY Sep 1st

The Soulamanders 10:00pm at O’Mainnin’s Pub

Abingdon, VA Abingdon, VA

SATURDAY Aug 31st

Rare Fiction 7:00 at Gypsy Circus Cider Company

AJ Smith 10:00pm at Bristol Casino Bar

SATURDAY Aug 31st

Jason Lloyd 7:00pm at Lakeview Marina

SATURDAY Aug 31st Charlie Maples 5:00pm at Abingdon Vineyards SUNDAY Sep 1st Alli Epperson 5:00pm at Abingdon Vineyards

Rheva & Keegan’s Irish Fiddle Tunes 5:30pm at Mulligan’s Gaming Pub TUESDAY Sep 3rd

MONDAY Sep 2nd

Old Time Jam 5:00pm at Yee-Haw Brewing Company

Anthony Childress 7:00pm at Cascade Draft House

Brim & Marci Leal 6:30pm at Rocks Wood Fired Pizza

Submit Your Live Shows to: theloaferonlineprint@gmail.com or call 423-930-7319 to be Featured in the Loafer Spotlight

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SODOKU

DROP QUOTE

C RYPTOG RAM

ZRH DUQH IOK OGDOWQ ZRCJDQ RUIQHGY JK ZRH QUNH JY RUQ OQQOUGOKZQ. UZ UQ IJCH RUQ UKZHCHQZ ZROK UZ UQ ZRHUCQ ZJ YUKN RUQ DHOP VJUKZ. — Ralph Waldo Emerson

CROSSWORD

ACROSS 37. Send into exile 1. Religious pilgrimage 39. Marine animal 5. Storage medium 42. Congo center?

10. Game played on a world map 43. Düsseldorf donkey 14. Another: Spanish 47. Skyscraper support 15. Bath sponge 48. It's full of life 16. Mother goddess on Pandora 51. Paperboy 17. Insignificance 52. "Once upon a midnight 19. Popular street name dreary..." poem 20. Much ballyhooed 54. Flea market item, perhaps 21. Type of ray 57. Dusk 22. Mark Twain play not 62. Idle published until it 63. Dylan hit originally written was rediscovered in 2002 for "Midnight Cowboy" 26. Beatrix of "Kill Bill" 66. ____ nitrate (stimulant) 30. Set aside 67. Collie or Yorkie 34. "You're ___!" (compliment to 68. "____ sure you're aware... " a comedian) 69. Pry 35. Dresden denial 70. Gape 36. Morn's opposite, to Tennyson 71. Dutch master Frans

Answers to last week’s puzzles can be found on page 09.

Down

1. "The Empire Strikes Back" setting 2. Give it ____ (make an attempt) 3. Faucet flaw 4. Jupiter 5. He wears a red suit 6. Flipper 7. French king 8. Frequently, to Frost 9. Has permission 10. Filmed again 11. Popeye's first words?

12. Pool exercise 13. Japanese writing form 18. Numbskulls 21. Stove fuel 23. Denver to Chicago dir.

24. Soft & ___ (anti-perspirant brand) 25. Smither enders 26. Skewered dish 27. Modern Persian 28. Wild dog of the Outback 29. "How ___ love thee? Let me..."

31. Go for another 12 issues, say 32. Home of Bally's and the Venetian 33. Antagonist 38. Sound of a giggle 40. Beat, in wrestling 41. Royal order, briefly 44. To be, in Toledo 45. Historic time 46. Tool for evening 49. Muffle 50. Soup in Hanoi 53. Steer clear of 54. Scottish family 55. Man in Milan 56. Sunbeams 58. Taunting syllable 59. ____ Lund of "Casablanca" 60. Catch redhanded 61. Y features 63. Amt. on a dumbbell 64. Actor Carney 65. Affirmative vote

NIGHTLIFE

WEDNESDAY Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at The Pub Out Back (The Italian Pizza Pub) - Johnson City 7pm Karaoke w/ Eric Huskins VFW Post 2108 – Johnson City, TN 8pm Karaoke Night at Wonderland Lounge and Bar - Johnson City, TN 9pm Karaoke with Ron at Kingsport Moose Lodge 6:30pm Loudmouth Karaoke at Michael Waltrip Brewing Company - Bristol, VA on Wednesday, April 5th at 7pm THURSDAY Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Tulips Grub & Pub - Johnson City, TN 8pm Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at Wild Wings Cafe - Johnson City, TN 9pm Karaoke at Numan’s - Johnson City, TN 10pm Karaoke at Jiggy Rays Pizzeria - Johnson City, TN Karaoke at Tipsy Toad Tavern - Jonesborough, TN FRIDAY Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at Rainbow Asian Cuisine - Johnson City, TN 9pm Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at The Sports Mill - Kingsport, TN 8pm Karaoke w/ Eric Huskins VFW Post 2108 – Johnson City, TN 8pm Karaoke at Numan’s – Johnson City, TN 10pm Karaoke with Handsome Hodge Entertainment at O’Mainnin’s Pub and Grille - Bristol, TN 10pm SATURDAY Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at Tulips Grub & Pub Johnson City, TN 8pm Karaoke at Numan’s – Johnson City, TN 10pm Karaoke w/ Eric Huskins VFW Post 2108 – Johnson City, TN 8pm Karaoke at Numan’s – Johnson City, TN 10pm Karaoke with DJ Clyde and Prestige Entertainment at Macado’s -Kingsport, TN 9pm Karaoke with Handsome Hodge Entertainment at O’Mainnin’s Pub and Grille - Bristol, TN 10pm

TRIVIA

TUESDAY Team Trivia at Wild Wing Café Johnson City TN DJ Trivia at Union Street Taproom Erwin, TN 5pm Trivia at The Corner Bar Bristol, VA 8pm Trivia at Aubrey’s Johnson City 7pm WEDNESDAY Trivia at Tipsy Toad Jonesborough, TN 7pm Trivia Night Mellow Mushroom Bristol, VA 7pm Trivia at Aubrey’s Bristol 7pm THURSDAY Mellow Trivia at Mellow Mushroom Johnson City, TN- 7pm Trivia at Riverside Taphouse at South Fork Bluff City, TN 7pm

BINGO

TUESDAY Singo at Riverside Taphouse at South Fork Bluff City, TN 6:30pm

DJ NIGHT THURSDAY DJ B-Digital at O’Mainnin’s Pub and Grille Bristol, TN 10pm

WEDNESDAY Bingo at Tipton Street Pub Johnson City, TN 9pm Singo at Holy Taco & Cantina Boones Creek, TN 8pm Blazin’ Bingo at Mellow Mushroom Johnson City, TN 6pm

FRIDAY Handsome Hodge Entertainment at O’Mainnin’s Pub - Bristol, TN 10pm

THURSDAY Bingo at Mellow Mushroom Bristol VA 6pm Singo at Aubrey’s Bristol 7:00 PM

SUNDAY DJ B-Digital at O’Mainnin’s Pub and Grille Bristol, TN 10pm

SATURDAY Handsome Hodge Entertainment at O’Mainnin’s Pub - Bristol, TN 10pm

To have your events added to this list email: theloaferonlineprint@gmail.com or call: 423-930-7319

theloafer.net | August 27th, 2024

TRI-CITIES

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Aug. 31 vs. Chattanooga Sept. 7 vs. NC State (Charlotte) Sept. 14 vs. Kent State Sept. 21 at Oklahoma Sept. 28 Idle Oct. 5 at Arkansas Oct. 12 vs. Florida Oct. 19 vs. Alabama Nov. 2 vs. Kentucky Nov. 9 vs. Mississippi State Nov. 16 at Georgia Football Schedule Nov. 23 vs. UTEP Oct. 26 Idle Nov. 30 at Vanderbilt Dec. 7 SEC Championship

2024

theloafer.net | August 27th, 2024

PETS

OF THE WEEK

9

T H O R Meet Thor, the sweetest, most down-to-earth 4 yr old tabby who is all about lounging and snuggling.

Thor’s gentle demeanor and loving nature make him the heart of any home. Whether he’s napping in a

sunny spot or offering his services as a professional cuddler, Thor brings a sense of calm and warmth to everyone he meets. He is up to date on all vaccinations, microchipped, FeLV/FIV negative, and neutered!

Last Week's Puzzle Answers

D U

Crossword

Cryptogram:

Dropquote:

"The United States can tell you all about what's wrong with the British, to say nothing of the Russians."

"One characteristic of winners is they always look upon themselves as a do it yourself project."

K

Sudoku

E

Meet Duke, the sweet senior who loves car rides and is ready for his forever home!

• Just like a charming dating profile, here’s why Duke is a perfect catch: • •

Born on 05/08/2017, a delightful Boxer mix companion

•

Loves car rides and is always up for

an adventure Needs a cat-free home House-trained and a total sweetie.

If you’re looking for a loving buddy to join you on road trips and cozy evenings, Duke is the perfect match!

If you are interested in adopting : The Bridge Home No Kill Animal Shelter 423-239-5237 • 2061 Highway 75 Blountville, TN Facebook: bridgehome

bridgehome.org

theloafer.net | August 27th, 2024

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ETSU’s Dr. Ted Olson Helps Create Appalachian Hip-Hop Album Earlier this month, Appalshop’s record label June Appal Recordings released “No Options: Hip-Hop in Appalachia.” Organizers timed the release to coincide with two important historical observations: Aug. 8, which many Black communities celebrate as Emancipation Day, and Aug. 11, National Hip-Hop Day. “During the pandemic, Dr. William Turner (a noted scholar on African American communities in Appalachia) and I co-hosted the podcast series ‘Sepia Tones: Exploring Black Appalachian Music,’ and we produced an episode celebrating hip-hop in Appalachia. It was obvious that a number of talented hip-hop artists lived in the region, yet few of those artists were known beyond their home communities,” said Dr. Ted Olson, a professor of Appalachian Studies and Bluegrass, Old-Time and Roots Music Studies at East Tennessee State University.

Part of the album was recorded in the ETSU Recording Lab, and Olson served as co-producer and co-curator.

“Dr. Turner and I applied for a grant from the nonprofit organization Appalshop allowing us to produce an album to showcase the music of many of the region’s hip-hop artists,” he said. “Taking two years to complete, with several of the recordings being made in the ETSU Recording Lab, ‘No Options’ is the first album to document the diversity of hip-hop music from Appalachia.”

Previous compilations of historical and contemporary American hip-hop have tended to ignore recordings by Appalachian artists, organizers said, choosing instead to focus on more urban areas of the American South.

“No Options,” meanwhile, purposefully celebrates the unique perspectives of small-town and rural hip-hop artists.

Artists hail from throughout the region, including Alabama, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee and New York. One of the artists, Stunna T, has a track called “Show Up” that was recorded via phone in Wallens Ridge State Prison in Big Stone Gap, Virginia.

The album is available for preorder now through June Appal’s Bandcamp.

FRIDAY AUG 30TH Historic Jonesborough Town Tour 1:00pm at Chester Inn Movies for Adults 2:00pm State Historic Site at Washington County

ABINGDON, VA

WEDNESDAY AUG 28TH Game Night 5:00pm at Abingdon Commons

JOHNSON CITY SATURDAYS ACOA (adult children of alcoholics) 1:30-3:00pm.

Call for info Bill 423-444-6107 or Cheryl 423-262-6149 THURSDAY AUG 29TH Tri-Cities Turtles Run Club 12:45pm at Yee-Haw Brewing Co. FRIDAY AUG 30TH Johnson City Love & Hiking Date For Couples (Self-Guided) 7:00am at Willow Springs Park SATURDAY AUG 31ST Johnson City Love & Hiking Date For Couples (Self-Guided) 7:00am at Willow Springs Park Johnson City Farmers Market 8:00am at the Pavilion in Downtown Johnson City

BRISTOL WEDNESDAY AUG 28TH Bristol Bloom Collective | All Local Flower Market 9:00am at West State Studio

THURSDAY AUG 29TH Weekly Trunk Show 5:00pm at LUMAC Rooftop Bar SATURDAY AUG 31ST Board Game Night 5:00pm at Bristol Public Library

Bingo 5:00pm at Abingdon Community Center

Public Library SUNDAY SEP 1ST Bingo 5:00pm at Abingdon Community Center

THURSDAY AUG 29TH

BLUFF CITY

Southwest Virginia Manufacturers' Expo 9:00am Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center

SATURDAY AUG 31ST

KINGSPORT SATURDAY AUG 31ST Farmer's Market 7:00am at Kingsport Farmers Market Nature: Wolf Howling 10:00am at Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium Brunch 11:30am at Gypsy Circus Cider Company

JONESBOROUGH TUESDAYS Jonesborough Storytelling Guild “Stories n’More” Show 7:00pm at The Intl. Storytelling Center SATURDAY AUG 31ST Jonesborough Farmers Market 8:00am at Downtown Jonesborough To be featured in The Loafer's Things to Do email us at: theloaferonlineprint@gmail.com or call 423-930-7319

Bluff City Farmers Market 9:00pm at Bluff City Ball Field

theloafer.net | August 27th, 2024

THINGS TO DO

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theloafer.net | August 27th, 2024 12

13

THE MOCKINGBIRD SINGS THE BRISTOL SESSIONS

A MUSICAL LOVE STORY ABOUT THE BIRTH OF COUNTRY MUSIC BOOK BY DR. NANCY HAMBLEN ACUFF, TERRY HARKLEROAD, & SHARON CORT

FRIDAY, SEPT 6 AT 7:30 PM SATURDAY, SEPT 7 AT 7:30 PM SUNDAY, SEPT 8 AT 2:30 PM WEDNESDAY, SEPT 11 AT 7:30 PM THURSDAY, SEPT 12 AT 7:30 PM

THEATRE BRISTOL ARTSPACE

506 STATE STREET, BRISTOL TN THEATREBRISTOL.ORG/TICKETS

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PRESENTS

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Bike Nights sponsored by biker wear

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

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Those who qualify may receive: • Payment up to $1,295, which varies by study • Study-related care from local doctors at no cost • Study medication at no cost Participating in research studies helps contribute to the advancement of future medicine and treatment options.

Local Events: 1.. Twilight Alive July 19th Kingsport, TN 2. Hillbilly & Vet Pre-Party July 20th 7pm Wild Wings Café 3. Hillbilly & Vet Car & Bike July 20th 3pm – 7pm Wild Wings Café 4. 3rd Annual Tri-Cities Takeover August 25th

Bike Nights: Wednesday: 19E Pit Stop Wednesday: Jonesborough VFW Thursday: Darrell Waltrip Thursday: Old Town Tavern To see if you qualify, visit

www.MyCoughTrial.com or call

1-866-488-8088

Friday: Tulips August 3rd Peacemakers Greenville, TN Bike Night and Bike Show

Rides: 1. Hillbilly Shine Ride to Maggie Valley NC Meet 8am KSU 8:30am Jonesboro VFW 2. Bear Barnes Memorial Ride August 17th

Bike Rallies:

There are 5 Smokey Dogs hidden in this issue of The Loafer.

Can you find them all?

1. 15th Annual Hillbilly Show & Shine July 26th – 27th 2. 85th Annual Sturgis Bike Rally August 2nd – 11th

Rides & Rallies

sponsored by biker wear

15

Hello again everyone, it’s a HOT summer so lets go camping in the mountains, by the river, or at the lake. I love to go camping. I tent camp. Today, it seems like most people enjoy camping.

Heck, I know I sure do! And who’s to blame them – camping is an amazing outdoor activity. But everybody has their own way of camping. Some like tents, or RV or a pull behind. No matter how you camp, you are making memories with family and friends. It’s a great way to get back to nature and get away from the noise of the city and the everyday rush. Stress just seems to melt away.

history, people have “camped” as a way of life. We humans lived a nomadic existence out of necessity, moving with the seasons, following food sources and avoiding inclement weather. A roving lifestyle in nature was all we knew for millennia. That, however, is far removed from the type of camping we’re talking about today.

We’re interested in modern camping; the campground, sleeping bag and tent, kind of camping.

Here are some camping safety tips: 1. Choose the right shelter and site for your camping trip. 2. Stay upto-date with the weather and be prepared for any changes. 3. Pack and Recreational camping has a store food safely to avoid spoilage long history, with origins traced and contamination. 4. Practice back to ancient times when campfire safety and never leave a fire early humans built temporary unattended. 5. Use insect protection structures in the wilderness and avoid areas with high infestation. for shelter and survival during hunting and gathering expeditions. 6. Be aware of allergies and bring any necessary medication. 7. Protect your However, modern recreational camping as we know it today was skin from the sun with sunscreen, popularized in the late Victorian hats, and clothing. 8. Stay hydrated era Thomas Hiram Holding, who and drink plenty of water. 9. Learn wrote the first edition of "The about local wildlife and keep a safe Camper’s Handbook" in 1908, is distance from them. 10. Be careful considered the founder of modern near water and follow the rules for recreational camping. For the overwhelming majority of human swimming and boating. 11. Avoid poisonous plants and learn how to identify them.

Beanz Biker Corner

By Anne Hartley 423-297-5675

Back when I was a kid, camping trips consisted of a leaky tent pitched on a rocky piece of earth and some marshmallows burnt to a crisp over the campfire. Don’t get me wrong, I loved camping then and I still love it now, but there’s no denying that camping has evolved in ways that were unimaginable a few decades ago. Today, modern campgrounds boast everything from waterparks to coffee carts, and they appeal to a larger number of people than ever before. With the amenities offered at some American campgrounds these days, there’s nothing rough about roughing it.

116 Buffalo Street Johnson City, TN • www.bikerweartn.com • (423) 631-0542

Useless Facts: 1. The total number of campers each year was constantly growing, but the boom was quite noticeable after the pandemic. In 2021, there were 93.8 million active camping households in the United States alone, from which 9.1 million households were camping for the first time in their life.

2. The majority of campers live in urban areas, so going camping for them is also escaping the busy city life. In a survey held in 2021, more than half of all campers (56%) were coming from urban living areas.

3. Camping is for everyone, regardless of their income. In fact, about 41% of first-time campers in 2020 came from higher-income households.

4. The average number of nights campers spend on a campground is between 7 and 9 nights.

5. You don’t need to travel long distances to enjoy nature. In 2021, 56% of campers traveled less than 100 miles for their trip. In fact, one third of them stay within just 50 miles of their homes.

Full Moons of 2024 1. Buck Moon on Sunday, July 21 - 6:19 am 2. Sturgeon Moon on Monday, August 19 - 2:28 pm 3. Harvest Moon on Wednesday September 18 - 10:36 pm 4. Hunters Moon on Thursday October 17 -7:27 am 5. Beaver Moon on Friday November 15 - 4:29 pm 6. Cold Moon on Sunday December 15 - 4:02 am

theloafer.net | August 27th, 2024

Beanz Biker Corner

Sponsored By Biker Wear

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1776 Highway 11 E Jonesborough, TN 37659 (423) 722-8888 www.jonesboroughfuneralhome.com Traditional Services • Cremation Services • Veterans Services Online Memorials • Tribute Videos • Ordering Flowers Sharing Service Details • Daily Grief Support Emails Proudly Offering Burial & Cremation Services for Jonesborough and WashingtonCounty, TN

Contact us to Pre-Plan your funeral, or transfer your existing Pre-Need from another funeral home.

17

What makes your brand stand out above the crowd?

How would you describe the unique purpose of your brand in less than 60 seconds?

The Social Sentiments brand stands for bringing dreams to life through the use of social media marketing. The passion behind the brand is an accidental discovery of a love of social media. When that passion was realized, a world of opportunity opened up to help people understand the power of social media.

A strong elevator pitch shows that you believe in your brand and are passionate about sharing your expertise with people

Social Sentiments

By Wendy Hayden socialsentiments @outlook.com

socialsentiments.net

who can benefit from it.

Your belief in your brand will shine when you keep your passion in mind. Always remind yourself of why you created your brand and why it is worthy of sharing with the world. Your pitch should reflect the reasons why you back your brand, what makes it stand out, and the good it can create for potential clients.

The ability to back your brand in 60 seconds is crucial to selling your unique expertise.

Bring your brand to life with your inspiring short story!

theloafer.net | August 27th, 2024

Back Your Brand

theloafer.net | August 27th, 2024

18

Barter’s Shawshank Redemption is Authentic in More Than One Way In the dimly lit backstage corridors of Barter Theatre, the cast of The Shawshank Redemption put on uniforms that are more than mere costumes. These prison uniforms, painstakingly stitched together by the hands of actual prisoners, enhance the realism of the production with an unparalleled level of authenticity. As the actors slip into the rough, coarse fabric, they are not only stepping into their roles, they are stepping into the lives of those who crafted these garments. This connection to the real-world experience of incarceration deepens their performance and brings a profound emotional weight to the stage.

Each thread and seam of these uniforms tells a story of resilience and redemption, mirroring the very essence of The Shawshank Redemption. For the prisoners who created them, it is a rare opportunity to contribute to the outside world, to leave a mark beyond the prison walls. For the cast, it is a poignant reminder of the human lives entwined with their art. This collaboration between those inside and outside the prison system transcends the

boundaries of the stage, offering a powerful testament to the shared humanity that binds us all.

An important design element is that prisoners during the mid-20th century did not wear jumpsuits or scrubs. They wore jeans and button-up shirts. And they were allowed to wear belts and/or suspenders and have shoe laces all of which are forbidden now.

“As I was searching online to find enough shirts and jeans, remembering they have to be identical to each other, in the sizes for our cast, I kept running into ‘out of stock’ notices. Finally I decided to just go to the manufacturer’s website and try to buy the clothes directly from them,” explained Barter’s Costume Shop Manager Alice Sullivan. “The label is Prison Blues, manufactured by Correction Connection. What I learned from the website is that this company employs people who are incarcerated in Oregon.”

From what Sullivan learned, the inmates construct all of the garments, which are then used throughout the Oregon Department of Corrections, but

also sold for profit to the public.

“The company motto ‘Made on the INSIDE to be worn on the OUTSIDE’ is actually true! This really spoke to me,” Sullivan said.

“The authenticity of the clothing supports the work our actors are doing in creating their characters.

These are not just costumes.

The costumes are real prison uniforms and are very similar to the uniforms worn by inmates in the 20th century.”

This is such a well known film that Barter’s Producing Artistic Director Katy Brown felt it would be necessary to lean into that design for our show.

“When people picture Red and Andy (DuFresne) in their minds they always see Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins as they looked in the film,” Sullivan said. “And what I really like about the costume design for the film is that the inmates’ shirts are NOT just plain, blue chambray work shirts. They are actually striped - known as Hickory Shirts. The small stripes add texture and depth.”

Additionally, the uniforms came in actual sizes, whereas today the

options are small, medium, large, etc. This was much more expensive to the taxpayer, and required more labor to produce and maintain, than the uniforms we know today.

“Some of the cast members were so impressed they asked for the company website so they could buy things for their personal wardrobes,” Sullivan noted. “The clothing is competitively priced, but the quality is much better than most anything else on the market.

For instance, the Prison Blues jeans do not have any spandex, and they are constructed from heavy denim.

“Anyone who wore blue jeans in the mid to late 20th century will remember when Levi’s would last for years! That’s what these jeans are - old school Levi’s.

Correction Connection uses very high quality fabrics and thread.

The workmanship is outstanding!

These garments are meant to last for years and they will physically and also in the minds of the audience.”

by Kathie Scalf

I don’t think I’m alone in being at a breaking point with the state of the world today.

Aside from finally hitting the “these kids today” age, I concurrently have the misfortune of living in one of the most bizarrely chaotic and exhausting times in history, and thanks to technology, there’s hardly an escape from the nonstop coverage of globally divisive negativity, short of barricading yourself in a bunker with no electricity. Quite frankly, that scenario is sounding most appealing to me versus the alternative at the moment.

Since I still have parents, pets and taxes I can’t abandon for a life of peace and seclusion, I’ve decided to construct an alternative reality for myself that brings me a great deal of joy without going completely off the grid and out of my mind. The one good thing about living in this day and age is that you can literally decide to be anything you want to be, and that is why I have decided to live my life like it is 1950 as much as humanly possible.

Please hear me out and don’t have me committed.

This idea came about innocently enough. I think we all have periods in history that we feel drawn to; for my friend Robbie it’s the antebellum south, for my mother it’s her hayday in the 70s and for me it’s the idyllic Baby Boomer years between WWII and Vietnam. Maybe it’s from growing up in less than perfect settings with parents who both worked a lot, but even as a kid I adored classic TV shows and movies that depicted the perfectly groomed nuclear family in friendly neighborhoods with wellappointed lawns. As I grew into womanhood, I idolized the smoky

eyes and tiny waists of the “Hitchcock Blondes,” and searched in vain for the brawn of classically dark and handsome leading men like Paul Newman, Marlon Brando and Cary Grant in my fellow slack-jawed Y2K collegemates. Even my house in Elizabethton was a 1948 cottage, which I took a great deal of pleasure in decorating by scouring local antique stores for periodappropriate furnishings.

themselves more well-rounded individuals. I then dove into old recipes and diet plans to see how and what they were eating differed from myself, and it’s of no surprise they ate very little processed foods and portion sizes were far smaller. They baked their own breads, emphasized milk and fruits at each meal and always left room for a pinch of dessert. This is all stuff I can get behind!

Lately I’ve been having some health So back to my decision to time issues, which is particularly troubling travel for my own health and sanity. for me because I’m a lucky individual I do not enjoy the direction the who’s never had to give a second world is heading, and that is not thought to illness beyond an annual geared toward any one political or sinus infection. As I was lying around religious opinion; in general and in one day, scrolling through Instagram, short, I think we’re going to hell in a I stumbled upon an account handbasket. And even though I’m a dedicated to vintage historical modern woman and can recognize photos, and many of them were of the there were numerous faults with era I adore so much. As I thumbed 1950s/1960s America, I think we’re my way through the photos of people losing a lot by doing away with many living their lives in 1950s America, I of these values. Lying on our backs, began to notice how few overweight eating fast food and scrolling through people there were. In fact, there were useless memes, while working none. If you snapped a candid photo sedentary jobs is turning us into on any beach right now, the average monsters. I feel empty from wasting weight would easily run 40lbs my life away in this manner day after heavier than the vacationers 70 years day, comparing myself to filtered, ago. What were they doing that we’re vapid people who care only about not now? what designer label on their silicone filled butt will receive the most likes This led to making my way down a from strangers for validation. I crave Google rabbithole, researching the day-to-day lives of the 50s housewife. intellectually stimulating people who are active and motivated and strong Surprisingly they devoted little time in their own beliefs, regardless of to exercise in spite of their figures, whether they differ from mine. and it’s of course due to the fact that women were naturally more active then. They started their day 30 minutes before the rest of the family, prepared 3 nutritious meals, maintained spotless households and ran daily errands by foot. Most families only had one car, which meant women walked to the grocery store, bank or clothier during the day while their husband was gone to work. In their little free time, they read books, took up hobbies like tennis or golf or took classes to learn new skills-all geared toward making

In an attempt to be the change I want to see, I’m adopting as many of these lifestyle habits of yesteryear as I can make feasible. I’ve begun following a diet that more closely resembles what was eaten then, and while I’m not baking my own bread, I did go buy some from the farmers market that was made in the simplest and most organic way. I’ve started reading books again and in the car, switched from my normal true crime podcasts to informative and educational ones like Civil War history and alcohol-

industry news for my career. I’ve started caring more about my appearance before leaving the house, and just for fun I’m avoiding news and current events in favor of classic films of the era I’ve not seen.

The wildest thing about living in 2022 versus 1955, is that you now have a choice in your own successes and failures and you can blame it on no one else. We all hold the literal key to the universe in our hands with internet powered smart phones. Any and everything you’ve ever want to know is a click away, it’s just up to you whether you use this key for good or evil. Which means if you’re ignorant, fat and poor, it’s by your own choice, just as much as if you’re educated, healthy and successful. I might seem like I’m sticking my head in the sand to the current turbulent times by mentally going backward, but I’m thinking the key to me moving forward might be taking a few steps backward. Who’s coming with me?

XO - Kathie

theloafer.net | August 27th, 2024

Time Traveling for my Sanity

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theloafer.net | August 27th, 2024 20

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In my opinion the current film "Twisters" is a must see on the largest theater screen possible. Some films you can see at home just fine, but certain films need the extra oomph theaters provide."Twisters" is described as a standalone sequel to the 1996 classic "Twister," which featured the famous flying cow sequence. The new film once more features a group of storm chasers, one group considered the "heroes" and the other group the "villains."

The film features plenty of scientific jargon and ideas, but just like the "Jurassic Park" or "King Kong and Godzilla" movies, we come to see the main attraction in action, in this case tornados. The film introduces us to Kate Carter (Daisy Edgar-Jones), who works in Oklahoma with some fellow storm chasers who, as in the first film, have a doppler named Dorothy V, they hope to launch inside a tornado for research. After a tragic accident to the team which leaves Kate devastated, she leaves Oklahoma to take a job at the NOAA (National

Pop Life

By Ken Silvers theloaferonlineprint @gmail.com

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) in New York City. Of course anyone with an IQ over 50 knows her job with NOAA will be a thing of the past when one of her former chasers, Javi (Anthony Ramos), visits from Oklahoma with the hope of luring her back to Oklahoma to to help him in the new company he works for named Storm Par, a mobile tornado radar company. Kate reluctantly agrees to return for a one-week position, which we all know will lead to more. Once she is back in Oklahoma, Kate meets the other members of Javi's team, which includes new Superman David Corenswet as Scott. Just as she gets acquainted with the team, "Tornado Wrangler" and YouTube star Tyler Owens (Glen Powell), shows up in his truck, and quicker than a twister can hit, you know Kate and Tyler are destined to be a couple. As in the original film, the two groups attempt to outdo each other in storm prediction and chasing.

Eventually Kate and Tyler are in the tornado wrangler truck together, and Kate discovers her old friend's organization is on the seedy side. Her discovery leads to her trusting Tyler and feelings develop between all the storms and witty banter. The film features several smaller tornados, until a massive EF5 hits the ground headed for El Reno, Oklahoma.

At this point in the film, Kate becomes the Ripley (Sigourney Weaver's character in the "Alien franchise) of the film and heads straight into the tornado to release Dorothy, which contains various chemicals

which they hope will. dissipate the twister in order to save more lives. The film ends with the expected happy ending for Kate, Tyler and Javi, and we get there after several harrowing storms and forgiven misdeeds by the characters.The actors are all great, but with his arrogance and bravado, Powel nearly steals the film from the twisters. "Twisters" breaks no

new ground in story-telling, but has great special effects and is one of those films I like to call a "popcorn flick," i.e. pure Hollywood magic on the screen. So I recommend that you sit back and let "Twisters" blow you away. (Rated PG-13)

theloafer.net | August 27th, 2024

Twisters

theloafer.net | August 27th, 2024

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P

CONCERT SCHEDULE Bristol

BRISTOL TN/VA

PARAMOUNT Sep 6 ZOSO-The Ultimate Led Zeppelin experience Sep 26 Key West Sep 27 Trae Crowder Sep 28 Dusty Slay (two shows) Oct 4 Destination Soultown featuring the Sensational Soul Cruisers Oct 6 Sunday Funday Clean Comedy Show Oct 11 An Evening with Todd Rundgren Oct18 Atlanta Rhythm Section Nov 9 Deana Carter Nov 10 John Crist Nov 14 Farm & Fun Time featuring Wood Brothers with Lindsay Lou Feb 15 Vitamin String Quartet BRISTOL RHYTHM & ROOTS REUNION Sep 13-15 Ashley McBryde, The Wallflowers, The Red Clay Strays, Sam Bush, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, The Steeldrivers, 49 Winchester and more.

JOHNSON CITY TN

JOHNSON CITY

MARTIN CENTER FOR THE ARTS Aug 17 The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA Sep 28 Black Jacket Symphony will perform will perform Elton John’s Madman Across The Water Oct 7 Ben Folds

Sep 23 Oct 5

Wheel of Fortune Live Artimus Pyle Band honoring Ronnie Van Zant’s Lynyrd Skynyrd Oct 13 Newsboys Oct 18 The Isaacs-Tribute to the Grand Ole Opry Oct 27 Sara Evans Nov 2 Grand Funk Railroad Nov 14 Tracy Lawrence Nov 24 Gladys Knight Dec 1 Girl Named Tom-Christmas Tour

MARION VA

MARION VA

THE LINCOLN THEATRE Aug 24 Landslide: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac Sep 18 The Machine performs Pink Floyd Sep 28 Abbey Road: Tribute to The Beatles Oct 11 Spank The 80s Oct 19 & 20 Gene Watson Oct 27 An Evening with Pam Tillis Nov 8 Killer Beaz Nov 9 On Fire: The Hottest Tribute to Van Halen Nov 16 Rhonda Vincent & The Rage Nov 22 The Wizards of Winter Nov 30 Chapel Hart Dec 31 7 Bridges: The Ultimate Eagles Experience

CHARLOTTESVILLE VA

CHARLOTTESVILLE

TING PAVILLION Sep 9 GOOSE Oct 2 Vampire Weekend Oct 3 Joe Russo’s Almost Dead FREEDOM HALL Oct 9 Ray Lamontagne & Gregory Alan Sep 20 Rocktropolis’ 24 featuring Ace Isakov with Erin Rae Frehley, Josey Scott of Saliva, Oct 25 Whiskey Myers with JJ Grey & Sebastian Bach and Scotty Austin Mofro And Colby Acuff Oct 3 Zach Williams, CAIN, Matt Knoxville Maher & Ben Fuller Oct 20 Whiskey Myers, JJ Grey & Mofro BIJOU THEATRE Aug 20 PJ Morton GREENVILLE Sep 13 Jamie Lissow Oct 1 Spyro Gyra Oct 2 Shovels & Rope NISWONGER PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Oct 3 The War and Treaty Aug 24 Exile Oct 26 Henry Cho Sep 5 Arrival From Sweden-The Music Nov 8 Gaelic Storm of ABBA Nov 15 Preacher Lawson Sep 11 Stryper-40th Anniversary Tour

KNOXVILLE TN

GREENEVILLE TN

TENNESSEE THEATRE Sep 10 Patti LaBelle Sep 22 Keb’Mo’ & Shawn Colvin Oct 1 My Morning Jacket Oct 3 Teddy Swims Oct 10 Switchfoot Oct 28 Jesse McCartney Nov 19 Theory of a Dead Man Dec 11 Mike Birbiglia Dec 18 A Magical Cirque Christmas THOMPSON BOWLING ARENA Sep 12 Hootie and the Blowfish with Collective Soul and Edwin McCain Oct 2 Jeff Dunham Oct 25 Jelly Roll Nov 19 Justin Timberlake KNOXVILLE CIVIC AUDITORIUM Oct 10 Air Supply Oct 11 Chonda Pierce Oct 18 Gary Allan Oct 26 Dusty Slay Nov 17 Sal Vulcano Dec 11 Christmas with CeCe Winans and Roman Collins KNOXVILLE CIVIC COLISEUM Oct 3 Brantley Gilbert NEYLAND STADIUM IN KNOXVILLE Sep 22 Morgan Wallen and Hardy

ASHEVILLE NC

ASHEVILLE

THE ORANGE PEEL Aug 27 The Linda Lindas Sep 3 Soul Asylum Sep 7 Brandy Clark Sep 9 Buckethead Sep 11 Bad Flower Oct 1 The Hives Oct 3 Mother Mother Oct 20 Railroad Earth Nov 7 & 8 Drive-By Truckers Nov 10 Morgan Wade Nov 11 GWAR Dec 6 & 7 The Wood Brothers Dec 12 Tommy Emmanuel RABBIT RABBIT Aug 30 Sublime and Rome Aug 31 Juvenile with The 400 Degreez Band Sep 17 Black Pumas Sep 24 Kaleo

Oct 5 Oct 8

Violent Femmes Lake Street Dive

Oct 13

Vampire Weekend (sold out)

EXPLOREASHEVILLE.COM ARENA Aug 30 King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard Sep 17 Seether and Skillet Oct 2 Ray LaMontagne & Gregory Alan Isakov Oct 21 An Evening with Sturgill Simpson Oct 25 & 26 GOOSE Nov 9

Tedeschi Trucks Band

THOMAS WOLFE AUDITORIUM Oct 1 Nurse Blake Oct 17 Jo Koy Oct 18 Barenaked Ladies Oct 19 Gillian Welch & David Rawlings Oct 23 Straight Up No Chaser Nov 20 Bonnie Raitt Nov 24 Mark Normand Dec 12 Mike Birbiglia

CHEROKEE, NC

Cherokee, N.C.

HARRAH’S CHEROKEE Sep 6 ZZ Top Sep 20 & 21 Jamey Johnson Oct 19 Charlie Wilson Oct 25 Little Feat with Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel Oct 26 Tower of Power Nov 23 Babyface Dec 14 Colter Wall Dec 20 Home Free

HAMPTON VA

Mill Spring, N.C.

TRYON INTL EQUESTRIAN CENTER Aug 30-Sept 1 Earl Scruggs Music Festival with Tanya Tucker, Old Crow Medicine Show, Yoder Mountain String Band, Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, The Steeldrivers and many more.

CALL WQUT @ 477-1015 FOR MORE CONCERT INFORMATION OR VISIT WWW.WQUT.COM

In late April, Apple updated the rules to their app store and for the first time this new language allowed for apps to be officially available for the iPhone and iPad that emulate games. Shortly after the change, the gaming app Delta was released and became massively popular. After reading about Delta, I downloaded it to my phone and I haven’t looked back since.

Now, I’m not going to go into detail on how to get games onto your phone to use with the app. You’re a savvy human who understand how to google, but let me tell you that having a game boy full of 80 games ready to go with me at all times has been a game changer. It’s perfect for little moments of pure joy when you need one. There is something so simple and great about being stuck a waiting room, then knocking out a good twenty minutes playing the game boy version of “Jeopardy” from 1991.

and also the Nintendo DS. What makes Delta so great is the way it effortless does this, packing it all in a simple, elegant package. You load the game rom file to your phone and it matches it to the right cover art and self-organizes the games by system. You just tap the cover and your game starts, with a touch screen controller that is designed to look like the one for the system that game is for.

Now sometimes playing a video game by touch controls can be a be a bit, well, lacking. Delta makes up for this by having haptic feedback, giving you a little bit of a more tactile experience. What impresses me the most is how natural Game Boy games take to the form. On a iPhone screen they’re roughly the same size, if not a little bit bigger, than the screen of original Game Boy hardware.

The nostalgia aside, it’s far more engaging and entertaining, to me, to open up delta and play some Delta emulates Nintendo systems, of these games over their modern mostly from the 1990s. It can mobile counterparts. The current play games made for the original apps for “Wheel of Fortune” and Nintendo, Super Nintendo, Nintendo “Jeopardy” are OK, but they feel a 64, Game Boy and Game Boy color, bit lacking to me. Tap on delta, tap on the game, and in a minute you’re doing your best to keep up with the computer. It’s comforting, fun, and just a marvel of modern technology to think of the games I use to haul around in a bag on vacations, all being on one device in my pocket.

Batteries Not Included

By Andy Ross theloaferonlineprint @gmail.com

I’ll tell you what’s shocked me the most out of all the games I’ve been playing. I’ve become mildly addicted to playing golf games. Yep. I am not athletic in real life, I’ve only ever been golfing once, I nearly drove the cart off a cliff that time. Yet there is something so relaxing and enjoyable about playing a few rounds of PGA European Tour from 1994 while I wait when dining alone in a crowded restaurant.

I even did an entire 18 hole round

of “Jack Nicklaus Golf” when I was waiting in the green room the other night before I got on stage, mostly as I tend to arrive rather early and had quite a bit of time on my hands.

Then after that I played the very bad to OK Game Boy tie-in game for the 1993 action film “Cliffhanger.”

A game which is fun in a weird and rather ridiculous way.

That may not seem that impressive

or interesting to you, technical wonders are more common and less dazzling these days. For those of us who are depressed elder millennials, it is impressive.

It’s also a comfort and in these times when we often feel tired and overwhelmed, there is a pure comfort in being able to just knockout a round of “Tetris" the way you first fell in love with it on your phone. See you next week.

theloafer.net | August 27th, 2024

Is That a Nintendo in Your Pocket?

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