Shopper Blog: High school mentors show fifth-graders cool people in real life
HALLS
High school mentors show fifth-graders cool people in real life
Ali James, Shopper News
Every week a different group of Central High School students visits Inskip Elementary School to show the different pathways fifth grade students can take in high school.
“They see people on TikTok, but these are people who are cool in real life,” said Lynn Jacomen, Inskip’s principal. “It shows them what building those leadership skills really looks like.”
The guest mentorship program was originally Jacomen’s idea. “We have done some fifth-grade girl group and boy’s leadership programs, but in the past it was led by teachers,” said Jacomen. “It can be hard to connect with the kids.”
Jacomen had hoped to arrange sessions during lunch or recess when she said students tend to struggle the most socially, but scheduling during breakfast time has helped give her soon-to-graduate students a glimpse into what high school offers.
Working with JD Lambert, Central High School’s assistant principal and athletic director, Jacomen said they requested some of his school’s strong leaders visit her school. “It is not only a chance to spotlight these students, but it gives them the opportunity to give back to their community,” she said. “it helps our students envision how they will get there, because middle school is tough, too.”
It is often the student athletes who participate in community projects like this, but last week a group of girls from Central’s program visited.
Inskip Elementary has a high proportion of minority and economically disadvantaged students, so Jacomen — a first generation college graduate herself — said it is important to help them set high personal expectations and goals. “We are trying to help them set goals and to see that their actions now do determine their path,” she said.
Inskip Elementary integrates the principles of "7 Habits of Happy Kids," and the mentorship supplements those habits. Habit 1 is to be proactive - take initiative, Habit 2 is to ‘Begin with the End in Mind’ – to have a plan. “We are currently focusing on ‘sharpening the saw’ learning to practice, practice, practice,” said Jacomen.
JROTC members Vilma Castaneda, Deep Mistry and Brodie Trave Hackworth came to Inskip Elementary to answer questions from fifth grade boys over breakfast on March 30.
“The benefit of being in JROTC is that it gives you a sense of belonging,” said Mistry, a senior in his fourth year of JROTC. “Elementary school is small, you know everybody. When you go to middle school you meet more people, and then high school gets bigger and you feel like you can’t be friends with everyone. I joined JROTC to be a part of something bigger, to make new friends. It teaches you to be a better person — you get to be more physically fit, make great friends. You don’t have to join the military afterwards.”
Mistry will study Mechanical Engineering at UT this fall and Hackworth is working toward his dream of going into the Navy and flying fighter jets off aircraft carriers.
Another benefit, Mistry pointed out, are ‘absolutely free’ field trips including one this week to Florida.
“At some point, we were where you are at,” said freshman Hackworth. “To be in JROTC program, you don’t have to have the best academics, but we strive for it and if you have better grades you get to be a part of better things.”
“Everyone in JROTC will help you succeed,” agreed Mistry, who was inspired by his older brother to joint JROTC. “Because it is a military program, if you get in trouble, you lose your rank. If I do something wrong I would lose my rank and then they would lose their respect for me.”
The fifth grade boys asked what their favorite part of JROTC is; both Mistery and Hackworth said flying drones in competition against other schools. They were also understandably intrigued by model rifles they use in JROTC rifles and the colored ribbons they had earned. “It takes time to earn these ribbons,” said Mistry. “You can do Color Guards, drone team, rifle team and participate in different competitions.”
Jacomen also drew a correlation between serving on fifth grade safety patrol and JROTC for her students.
Recent Central High School guests have included cheerleader Trinity Jones, who is now running Inskip’s cheer club. “It helps them see kids setting goals early and succeeding,” said Jacomen.
Other visitors have included members of the baseball, track and football teams.
Lambert said he had fielded many requests from his students to visit Inskip Elementary, but since Central is a well-rounded school it was important to send representatives not only from their athletic programs, but their art, music and academics.
POWELL
This little shop of comics in Heiskell caters to 'oddball' tastes and has an internet clientele
Al Lesar, Shopper News
If it’s Thursday night, it’s time to find out what Mike House has up his sleeve this week.
For the past three years, House has owned Mike’s House of Comics & Collectables (616 Edgemore Road) in Powell. It’s a constantly evolving inventory that House is hard-pressed to quantify.
Every Thursday at 7 p.m., House’s phone camera comes on for his Facebook live show that will give his loyal customers — local and across the country (and the Philippines) — a peek at new inventory that arrived since the last show. A good night on the two-hour auction special will net House about $1,000.
“I don’t know how much I’ve got in here,” the 58-year-old said while scanning the neatly stacked shelves. “Ever since I was 7 or 8, I would like to resell things.
“I had a cigar box full of Matchbox cars and other toys set up on the checkout counter of a store. They’d sell for a quarter. I’d come in every day, collect my $2 or $3, take it to the bank next door, then fill the box up again.”
His shelves are loaded with vintage and eclectic comics, action figures, costumes, vinyl decals and even some T-shirts. What won’t be found there are the new comic book releases.
“There are about seven or eight comic book stores in the area,” House said. “What do they all sell? The newest comic book releases. You have to pre-pay for them. That’s tough to do.
“What I do is buy collections. I never know what I’m going to get. You’d be surprised about the great items that come through.”
Comics for all tastes
A quick stroll around the store will jog House’s memory.
“I sell sequential art,” House said. “Sounds fancy, doesn’t it. If I don’t make my money back in two days on something I bought, there’s a problem. I love to pick up the oddball stuff.”
On one wall he’s got the “Superman” wedding edition, complete with invitations, from 1996. Down a bit is a “Ghost Rider” glow in the dark cover from 1991.
The same “Wonder Woman” comic has four different covers. There’s “Howdy Doody” No. 16 from 1952. A “PT 109” comic from the '60s has several photos of John F. Kennedy, before he was president. There’s the ”Welcome Back Kotter” No. 1 edition from 1976.
There’s a “Godzilla vs. (Charles) Barkley” rare comic that House would rather not part with. He’s got the “Frontier Fighters” No. 1 edition from 1955 and an “ALF” comic worth $400 because it was recalled due to the graphic artwork on the cover (ALF was shown killing a seal).
Skyler's Trust Fund
Then, there are books with “Skyler’s Trust Fund” stickers attached to the front.
Skyler is a special needs boy who paid a visit to the shop. House said he was able to relate well because his older sister had special needs.
“I grew up with it, so seeing Skyler was no big deal,” House said. “We spent 30-40 minutes together, then he got up in a hurry and left.
“His father said no one had ever taken the time to visit with Skyler. It was pretty natural for me.”
Turns out, a relative of Skyler's died and left Skyler and his family a large collection of comics, some of which were quite valuable. House arranged for the valuable ones to go to an auction, while the rest are for sale at his store — with all the money going to Skyler’s Trust Fund.
House is a reasonably priced source for repairing comic books to enhance their value.
The store is open Monday, Thursday and Friday 1-7 p.m., Saturday noon-7 p.m. and Sunday 12:30-6 p.m. Facebook live starts at 7 p.m. each Thursday on the store’s Facebook page. For more information call 865-945-1655.
FARRAGUT
TV and film professionals network at Farragut event
Nancy Anderson, Shopper News
Actor/producer/director Tony Caudill brought together about 200 industry professionals to mix, mingle, and collaborate on projects at the first TN Actors Networking mixer held at the Farragut Community Center on March 30.
Caudill began growing the group, now 4,000 strong, about 10 years ago when he realized actors and other industry professionals need to be more supportive of one another.
“I knew I couldn’t change the world, but I thought I could change my little corner of it.
“People ask me, ‘what is the key to succeeding in this industry?’ To me, it’s simple…in life, give away what you need. If you need support, give support. If you need encouragement, give encouragement. If you need love, give love. That’s what we’re all about at TN Actors Networking — supporting each other.”
The professional mixer was sponsored by Talent Trek Agency and was attended by representatives from Hillcrest Films, The STAIR Agency, and Gage Models & Talent Agency.
Notables include Farragut High School alum Jeff Joslin, who produced and directed a documentary about Farragut coach Ken Sparks, who brought the football team to victory then went on to coach at Carson-Newman University.
“I played for him at Farragut High School and at Carson-Newman University," Joslin said.
“He made such an impact on my life as a Christian coach I just had to do this film. The documentary was finished in January and will be in theaters in about four weeks.”
Making the documentary was a family affair. Joslin’s son produced the music and his daughter-in-law was editor.
He is currently gathering distributors for a feature film about Sparks titled "It Only Takes a Spark."
Al Anthony Fiori was in attendance. His recent works include the award-winning "Dust" and the recently finished "Apostate." Fiori won best actor at the Knoxville Film Festival for "Dust."
Fiori was a popular DJ in Los Angeles and Bakersfield, California in the 1950s and '60s. He was the top rated DJ in the United States in the fall of 1958 and winter of 1959 by C.E. Hooper Ratings. He was host of the popular TV show "Al Anthony’s Dance Party."
Karns’ own Cylk Cozart ("White Men Can't Jump") was on hand to collaborate with newcomers and seasoned industry professionals alike. Cozart is a hometown hero who has producer, writer, and director credits as well as appearances in over 30 films and 20 television shows.
Caudill said he was pleased with the turnout and encouraged by the interest shown in TN Actors Networking. He plans another mixer in Nashville, where he has already gotten interest from nearly 500 industry professionals.
Info: Find TN Actors Networking on Facebook.
WORDS OF FAITH
We're here only a moment, but what beauty there is in it
John Tirro, Shopper News
An old friend came from Nashville last week bearing gifts: colorful erasers shaped like potted cactus plants, a lunchbox, and a huge tabletop book full of detailed, color photos of galaxies and nebulae, "The Invisible Universe," by astrophotographer David Malin.
As I leafed through it this morning, I marveled at how many stars surround a phenomenon I’d never heard of, the Rosette Nebula and its star cluster. It’s like a pointillist painting, the artist’s brush placing dot after dot of light on the black canvas of space, so closely packed that they almost touch.
Add to that the fact that these stars are so far from us that even at the speed of light, by the time we see them, some of them no longer exist. It’s an awe-striking picture, gorgeousness upon gorgeousness, immensity and distance, stable compared to the movements of our lives, to the point that we steer ships by them, but fleeting, a slow motion flash and passing sparkle in the dark.
I find myself singing with the psalmist, “Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars” (Psalm 148:3)! I recall the star over Bethlehem, guiding us to a savior (Matthew 2:1-12); the star closest to us, our sun, going dark at his crucifixion (Luke 23:44-46); and light blazing from the empty tomb (Luke 24:1-4).
As we look at our world’s painful twistings, as we search for ways to work for peace that is just and justice that is peaceful, I encourage us to give praise and draw strength from God’s beauty. To help with that, here are words by my visiting friend, Lisa Aschmann, and another bright light, Tom Kimmel. Imagine a Bossa Nova tune. Better yet, search “Spiral Arms Aschmann” on YouTube.
“The question here, is who we are / Are we not made of the matter, cooked in the solar stars /
Don’t we circle something, out in space / As we rest in the spiral arms of the Milky Way.
“A thumbnail sketch, a drop of rain / A sack of cells, the stream of time, and a tiny brain /
The size of things is hard to comprehend / We follow spring into summer, summer to fall again.
“A bit of bone, a lock of hair / We fuss and we fume, but we’re only a moment here.
“I kiss your hand, you touch my face / The moon slips in through the window, heaven and earth embrace / We kiss goodnight, and there goes another day / And we rest in the spiral arms of the Milky Way.
“A vapor trail, a solar flare / A little carbon and water, only a moment here.
“I kiss your hand, you touch my face / The moon slips in through the window, heaven and earth embrace / We kiss goodnight, and there goes another day / As we rest in the spiral arms of the Milky Way.
“We kiss goodnight, and there goes another day/ And we rest in the spiral arms of the Milky Way.”
John Tirro is pastor of music and campus ministry at St. John’s Lutheran Church. Info: sjlcknox.org.
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NORTH KNOXVILLE
Tennessee Theatre will ‘Pass the Mic’ to new artists in upcoming series
Carol Z. Shane, Shopper News
The Tennessee Theatre is launching a series of immersive arts events titled “Pass the Mic: Creating a Stage for Change.” The series will provide a platform for artists from marginalized and underserved communities to share their art with a broader audience.
The idea was shaped in part by events of the past two years.
“One of the things that we learned during the pandemic was that the theater can reach an audience that is nowhere nearby,” said executive director Becky Hancock. “When we were streaming Mighty Musical Monday concerts, we had people watching from all over the world.”
The Ghostlight Series, added in September of 2020, put local performers onstage with their backs to the empty seats, revealing to remote viewers the beauty of the auditorium.
“The thing that really pushed ‘Pass the Mic’ into being was the Black Opry movement,” said Hancock of the community that supports Black artists/fans of country, blues, folk, and Americana music.
“Initially our idea was to lend a voice to artists of color who are being ignored by the industry. Then we thought about how the streaming content helped us reach broader audiences. We need to use our megaphone — our platform — to draw attention to these artists and push the work out even further.”
Hancock and members of her staff worked with an advisory board including Marc Hall of Marc Nelson Denim; Tanika Harper of the SHORA Foundation; Knox County Commissioner Dasha Lundy; Jess Gutman, creative director of Big Slate Media; and Brandon Gibson, managing director of Marble City and co-creator of the opera “I Can’t Breathe,” recently seen in its world premiere at the Beck Cultural Exchange Center.
“If you look around at the audience for a lot of Tennessee Theatre events, by and large it is non-diverse,” said Gibson. “To be a cornerstone cultural institution not only in Knoxville but in the state in general, you want an entertainment palace to be open to everyone.
“The Tennessee Theatre experience begins before you even walk in the theater itself. The marquee, the lobby — that’s all available space. They’re talking about bringing in poets, actors and visual artists as well to occupy all of that space leading to what is ultimately the final experience in the theater, under the dome. It shows a very forward way of thinking.
“‘Pass the Mic’ isn’t just a ‘Black people’ sort of thing; it includes all types of diversity. Knoxville has all these different international communities. We do well having festivals — Asian Festival, Greek Fest — but when else do we hear from them? Let’s expand access — let’s get everybody down there. It’s in the center of downtown; you want it to be something where people have a continuous reason to be part of the Tennessee Theatre and the city.”
For more information, visit tennesseetheatre.com and follow Tennessee Theatre on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
KARNS
Principal of the Year says it’s all teamwork
Nancy Anderson, Shopper News
It’s been a big year for Rob Speas, executive principal of Hardin Valley Academy. Not only has he kept his 2,100-student body engaged in learning and exploring the world, he’s been named East Tennessee Principal of the Year by the Tennessee Association of Secondary School Principals.
“I’m really humbled by this. I don’t know how I even got nominated. It’s so rewarding to be recognized by your peers.
“I can’t take credit alone. It’s really a team effort between the principals, the teachers, the staff, and even the students. I am the principal, but what I do I don’t do in isolation. It takes all of us working together doing good things for kids.”
Speas said what makes a good principal is having a good vision, the ability to see the big picture, and gathering the right team. It’s not always making people happy. It’s knowing when to push, when to listen, and when to build consensus.
“You have to know yourself to know your own belief system and be able to withstand external pressures. You’ve got to know when to pick your battles.
“You have to be able to laugh at yourself a lot, too. You have to have fun; the job is too difficult to not to sit back and laugh and enjoy the joke, too.”
During his three years at Hardin Valley Academy, Speas honed the academy concept. Kids now pick a career path within the chosen academy.
Every freshman now takes a year-long Freshman Seminar. The seminar has skilled based classes like how to study, time management, how to send an email to teachers. Students get a taste of the 35 career paths offered.
Career paths cover a wide range — from welding, cosmetology, coding, performing arts, cybersecurity, architecture, and advanced linguistics.
“Freshmen take a YouScience Assessment that tells us not only where they have aptitude, but where they have interest. A student might be really good at math, but once they see what an engineering job looks like, it may not be for them.
"In February, they pick their pathway for the following year. We have a big celebration welcoming them to the academy of their choice. This year, every single student got into the academy of their choice.”
Speas said he loves being a principal because he gets to see the kids find community.
“We’ve got every kid under the sun here. We’ve got athletes, performers, artists, academically minded folks. To see how every kid finds their people, their tribe, and their place is very satisfying.
“I especially like to see those folks interacting in competition, whether it’s athletic, academic, or the spring musical.
“Our goal here is to become a AAA school, to be great in the arts, academically, and athletically.
“We strive to create opportunities for all the kids to have a chance to really shine.”
Info: www.knoxschools.org/hardinvalley
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BEARDEN
Bearden boys were almost golden, but they can count a lot of shining moments
John Shearer, Shopper News
Like the topography of the various places in Tennessee where they traveled for games, the Bearden High boys’ basketball team found a few peaks and valleys this season.
“It was definitely a season of ups and downs,” said coach Jeremy Parrott in looking at the season that saw them win an impressive 31 games but still have a few disappointments along the way with seven losses, including two to Catholic from Division II.
The state Class 4A tournament mirrored the season in that they played two of their best games in knocking off very good teams in the first two rounds, only to lose to Kingsport Dobyns Bennett in the finals.
Although they came up one game short of equaling the feat of the 2019 state championship Bulldog team he also coached, coach Parrott called the season rewarding and successful.
“Even though they didn’t quite get the gold ball, they got pretty close,” he said, adding that it was also a rewarding group of players to coach.
The team started off the season in an impressive fashion, with a 110-24 win over Ooltewah, but then had losses to Catholic and district rival Farragut well before the Christmas and holiday break.
They then played nationally ranked Berkmar from the Atlanta metro area close in a holiday tournament before losing in overtime, a game a mostly satisfied Parrott described by saying, “We saw glimpses of what the team could be when at our best.”
After another loss to Catholic on Dec. 31, the team went on a roll all the way to the state tournament, although coach Parrott said not all the games were perfectly played by the Bulldogs.
After a 27-point win over Johnson City Science Hill in the sectional game, the Bulldogs met Cane Ridge of the Nashville area in the first round of the state tournament on March 16.
They beat the Ravens, 69-67, even though Cane Ridge had not previously lost to a Tennessee team this year and was led by Alabama signee and McDonald’s All-American Brandon Miller.
Parrott was quick to point out with a laugh that they did not really stop Miller, adding, “He scored 30 points, so I don’t think we slowed him down, but he was stuck on 17 for a while.” He said that Bearden player Hayden Moseley did a great job covering him.
With the confidence of that win, the Bulldogs then beat Lebanon, 62-44, two days later at the Murphy Center in Murfreesboro in the semifinals before losing the next day, 69-60, to Dobyns Bennett in overtime. The win gave the Indians their first state championship since 1945.
In the championship game, three Bearden players ended up fouling out, two had four fouls and the team made only five of 26 3-point shots, Parrott said.
He added, however, that Moseley gave a great effort in scoring the majority of his 25 points late to help force overtime.
Moseley and Walker Kyle served as senior co-captains and provided a lot of leadership this year, Parrott added. Other key seniors included Mr. Basketball finalist and Lincoln Memorial University commitment Elijah Bredwood, Central High transfer Darian Bailey and key reserve Wyatt Shoemaker.
Also rounding out the top seven were juniors Jake Poole and Nelson Karnowski.
Parrott was also quick to praise the help of assistant coaches Tyler Place, Luke West and Eric Sandefur.
While the head coach is already excited about next year, he said this year was a rewarding season, even if the Bulldogs came up one game short of where they wanted to be.
“We loved coaching these kids,” he said, adding that he appreciated the leadership of the captains. “We are going to miss these guys.”
OPINION
Youngest child fakes it until he makes it
Leslie Snow, Shopper News
Three years ago, we helped our youngest son, Ethan, with his move to Charlotte, North Carolina. It didn’t go well. He was ill-prepared to live on his own. Even after four years of college, he didn’t seem to understand all the fundamentals of adult living.
He was surprised to discover that moving from one state to the next costs a fair amount of money. Even though he had just landed his first “big boy job,” (his words, not mine) his moving stipend barely covered his expenses.
He had no idea how to shop for an apartment, let alone furnish one. His father and I helped him figure out how much he could afford to spend on housing, and when he found the apartment he wanted, I sat by his side to help him fill out the application.
We helped him find inexpensive furniture and, armed with a toolbox and an electric drill, assembled each piece ourselves to help him save money.
We showed him how to turn on his utilities and laughed at his outrage over having to pay for water.
We talked him through the ins-and-outs of trash pickup and internet service.
But despite all our help, he still called me daily to say things like, “Do you know how much electricity costs?” or “Why is eating like a grownup so expensive?”
He seemed both outraged and shocked by adult life, and it made me realize I hadn’t done enough to prepare him to live on his own. The safety net I’d created for him in college was too wide and too strong. It cushioned every setback and obstacle he faced. It kept him from growing up, fully.
And there was a moment, when we were pulling out of his apartment to head home after a weekend of moving furniture and unpacking boxes, that I leaned out of the car window and said, “Fake it till you make it, Honey! It will be OK.” But deep inside, I knew Ethan’s journey to independence was going to be difficult.
This past week, Ethan accepted a new job in Raleigh. When he told me the news, I immediately looked at my calendar to see when I could come down to help him pack. I scoped out moving van rentals and cheap packing supplies. I researched “trendy apartments for twenty-somethings” and made phone calls to check on safe neighborhoods near downtown.
But when I talked to Ethan about all the ways I could help him and Amanda with their move, I was taken aback by his response.
“I’ve got this, Mom,” he said sincerely. “Amanda and I have a friend who has a moving company, so I booked that already. Plus, we hired a packer as an add-on service since we’re both working full-time right up to the move.
"And I meant to tell you earlier, but we did some research on apartments and found one we like. I filled out the application yesterday and it was already accepted, so we’re all set! But thanks anyway.”
I was silent for a minute while I processed his words. Then I asked the only question I could think of, “Can we at least come for a visit?”
I’ve always said that parenting is the only job that, if you do it right, everyone leaves you in the end.
Well, we must have done something right, because after three years of living on his own, Ethan has gone from “fake it till you make it" to “I’ve got this.” And I couldn’t be happier. Mostly.
Leslie Snow may be reached at snow column@aol.com.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Shopper News brings you the latest happenings in your community
