A-6 • JANUARY 10, 2011 • BEARDEN SHOPPER-NEWS
Resolutions for life I admit being a procrastinator. January is when I do two things: mail my Christmas cards and make a list of “New Year’s notions.” They’re the same every year: get organized, lose weight and exercise. By each July I’ve lost more resolve than
Lorraine Furtner
A.L. Lotts 5th graders learn world traditions and make resolutions for 2011: (front) Kayla Foltz, Ashton Idles, Vaishnavi Prashant, Michael Jones; (back) Weston Standifer, Beatrice Horobet, Lauren Miller, Daniel Dos Santos and David Acton. Photos by L. Furtner Blue Grass Elementary School cancer survivors embrace a new year: Susan Whitaker, Debbie Varnes and Julia Houston.
clutter or weight because I had grand ideas but didn’t make any lifestyle changes – except one. After losing an aunt to cancer, and having a great-aunt and grandmother who both had breast cancer, I do not put off my mammograms or check-ups. Ladies, you shouldn’t put these tests off either, because 207,090 women and 1,970 men were diagnosed with breast cancer last year. You gentlemen who care for your mother, sister, wife, daughter or friend – should encourage them to take care of themselves. Three staff members at Blue Grass Elementary feel that their survival is a result of early detection through annual doctor visits, routine mammograms and self breast exams. Ironically, each of them found the cancer in one of the three separate methods listed, so it is important to do each type of test.
Pink Ribbon Dance Susan Whitaker, Debbie Varnes and Julia Houston at Blue Grass Elementary inspired staff and families at the school to join the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in October. Whitaker, the last of the three to be diagnosed with breast cancer, worked through the school year while undergoing che-
ARTS CALENDAR Works by Ashley Addair URBhana, 115 S. Gay Street, will host an exhibit by artist Ashley Addair through Monday, Jan. 31. Free admission. Info: 9515454 or visit www.urbhana. com.
‘Mockingbird’ “To Kill a Mockingbird” will be shown 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 14, at the Palace Theater in Maryville. Free admission. Info: www. palacetheater.com.
motherapy until having surgery Dec. 9, 2010. Whitaker said that she had walked in the race in 2009 to support Varnes and Houston who share office space at Blue Grass and were both diagnosed in 2008. “This year, they walked to support me,” said Whitaker. Two teachers, Amy Maxwell and Becca Russell helped lead the Bosom Buddies team campaign at the school. Maxwell organized the 75 member team of staff and student families, raising $1,220 (above registration fees) for the Susan G. Komen Foundation for research. Russell coordinated and posted the “Pink Ribbon Dance,” seen on the school’s website. Students and staff showed support by wearing pink hats, shirts, scarves and even wigs. “The support was so encouraging,” said Whitaker. “Debbie and Julia, who understand and have survived this, have helped me stay positive.” Varnes, an intervention teacher, said “I feel like God has used this illness to help at least three people since I was diagnosed. It is pure terror when you first hear those words. It is very reassuring to hear from someone you know has been there.” Houston, a psycholo-
gist, said posting on Caring Bridge helped her explore her feelings. She relied on and found uplifting from the responses to her posts on that site. So how has this ordeal changed them? Houston said “Carpe Diem. Seize the day. I feel it’s a blessing this was found early. I don’t live in fear of it returning, I feel cured.” Varnes tries to exercise and eat right, but if she wants a dessert, she has one. “The most important thing is that I do not take a single day for granted. Also, I really don’t sweat the small stuff like a difference of opinion or bad traffic,” she said. For Whitaker, the biggest regret is being apart from most of her family during this time. Whitaker moved here from Iran decades ago, and met her husband while both attended the University of Tennessee. She looks forward to recovering from her surgery and for her immune system and the political climate to both be well enough for travel. “I tell my family, and encourage all women, to go to the doctor on time. Don’t wait. Don’t put it off. It could change the outcome,” she said. Whitaker made an ap-
on Friday, Jan. 14, through Friday, Feb. 18. Also featuring an exhibit by Knox County School students. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Wednesday and Friday and 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday. Info: 357-2787 or www. fountaincityart.org.
Market Square. Cost is $95. Bring your camera and a laptop. Info: 405-0549 or e-mail hasellphoto@gmail. com.
‘Guitar Wizard’ The “Guitar Wizard” Richard Smith will perform 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 15, at the Palace Theater in Maryville. Tickets are $13 ($15 at the door). Info: 9833330 or www.palacetheater. com.
‘Songs in Paint’
Camera workshop
Fountain City Art Center, 213 Hotel Ave., will host “Songs in Paint” a collection of works by Kate and Roy McCullough
Paul F. Hassell’s “How Do I Use This Thing?” digital SLR camera workshop will be held 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 15, at 4
‘Aluminum Show’ A troupe of Israeli performers have choreographed “The Aluminum Show” wearing structures of recycled aluminum and will perform 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21, in the Ronald and Lynda Nutt Theatre at the Clayton Center for the Arts in Maryville. Tickets range from $20-$35. Info: 981-8590 or www. claytonartscenter.com.
Book sale Blount County public library will hold a used book sale of over 50,000 books 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 22. Info: www. blountlibrary.org.
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Also at Lotts, Ashton Idles portrays Miyax, a character from “Julie of the Wolves,” by Jean Craighead George. All the girls in Macqueline Foss’ class wrote and performed a play based on the book. pearance at the school Dec. 17, announcing the tissue biopsy was a “piece of cake” (compared to chemotherapy) and made plans to return to work. Info: bluegrasses. knoxschools.org, ww5. Komen.org, cancer.gov
‘The Aluminum Show’ A troupe of Israeli performers will wear structures of recycled aluminum in “The Aluminum Show” 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21, at the Clayton Center for the Performing Arts in Maryville. Tickets start at $20. Info: 981-8590 or www. claytonartscenter.com.
Black Lillies The Black Lillies will perform a CD release show 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 22, at the Bijou Theatre. Info: 522-0832 or www. knoxbijou.com.
‘Snow White’ Oak Ridge Playhouse, 227 Broadway in historic Jackson Square, will present “Snow White” Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 22-23. Info: 482-9999 or visit www.orplayhouse.com.
5th graders resolve to brush teeth What do 10- and 11-yearolds at A. L. Lotts resolve for 2011? Macqueline Foss’ class plans to “do better” at everything from brushing
Info: 482-1441 or www. oakridgeartcenter.org.
KSO Horns Calvin Smith and the KSO Horns will perform 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 23, at the UT Alumni Memorial building. Admission is free. Info: 974-5768.
Pilobolus Internationally renowned dance troupe Pilobolus will perform 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 24, at the Bijou Theatre. Tickets are $25 ($20 UT faculty, $5 students). Info: 974-5455.
Bluegrass Bluegrass band Blue Moon Rising will perform 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 29, at the Palace Theater in Maryville. Tickets are $13 ($15 at the door). Info: 983-3330 or www.palacetheater.com.
‘Night Visions’
‘Freaks and Sweets’
Members of the Oak Ridge Art Center, 201 Badger Ave., will present “Night Visions” through Sunday, Jan. 23. Hours are 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 1-4 p.m. Saturday through Monday.
The Red Line Gallery, 11519 Kingston Pike, presents “Freaks and Sweets,” an exhibit of works by Sandie Galka and Patrick Galka-Martin through Monday, Jan. 31. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday
their teeth and drinking more water to practicing sports, music and reading their Bibles. The class studied New Year’s celebrations from around the world because Foss has students from Brazil, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Romania and Vietnam. Emily Readett said her favorite tradition was in Korea where they give children money, but also liked that in Italy they eat zampone or “stuffed pig trotter.” Emily didn’t know what it was (a deboned pork leg filled with sausage, pork rinds and spices), but thought it sounded interesting. Foss’ 5th graders learned about goals and keeping promises and then wrote five New Year’s resolutions as part of American tradition. They also listed how they would achieve those goals. For example, one young man was going “to not get mad as much” simply “by breathing.” (This is actually not a bad idea.) Weston Standifer had the key to annual pledges. Weston said he plans “not to make promises I can’t keep.” Keep that in mind when making your own list of New Year’s resolutions. I think mine could use some revising.
through Saturday. Info: 288-0277 or www. redlinegallery.net.
Guitar class Three-time USA National Guitar Champion Steve Kaufman will teach an alllevel mandolin workshop Friday and Saturday, Feb. 11-12, at Mainstay Suites, 361 Fountain View Circle, and an all-level flatpicking workshop Friday and Saturday, Feb. 18-19, at the Townsend Visitors Center. RSVP to JoEllen, 982-3080 or e-mail jo@flatpik.com.
Contra Dancers The Knoxville Contra Dancers meet at 8 p.m. for dancing to live acoustic music every Monday at the Laurel Theater near UT. No experience or partner required. Admission is $7. Info: 386-6627 or www. discoveret.org/kcd.
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