Shopper News brings you the latest happenings in your community
HALLS
Pop-up sale will offer luxury home décor, furniture at Regal warehouse in Halls
Ali James, Shopper News
When sisters Terri Onks and Pam Armstrong took voluntary retirement from their careers, they knew they wanted to do something exciting.
“Terri was in the hospitality and financial industry and I was in the travel and financial industry, so when we received early retirement packages we decided to take on a new adventure,” Armstrong said. “I have just moved back to Halls from Kentucky, so it was a lot of change.”
The duo have been working hard to launch Signature Home Market. “We will open once a month on a Saturday and Sunday and announce the exact sale dates a couple of weeks before,” Onks said.
“Our first sale will be from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 27 and noon-4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 28 at 7116 Regal Lane in Halls.”
“We got the concept from a family friend who does a similar shopping experience in Columbus, Ohio,” Armstrong said. “The concept is to offer luxury home décor and furniture at affordable prices. We open the doors once a month to offer a unique shopping experience. Inventory is sold on a first come, first served basis.” There is no warehouse; all inventory is on the floor.
Armstrong and Onks said they partnered with manufacturers and bought direct from all over the country. “We are looking for high quality furniture and home décor to sell at reduced prices,” added Armstrong. “It is all new. We hope to pass on savings anywhere up to 60% of what you would pay at other retailers.”
Although they cannot name drop, Armstrong said shoppers should expect a variety of styles, with a heavy emphasis on modern farmhouse style.
“They will see similar items that they have been watching at name-brand retailers,” Onks said. “We are offering dining room tables and chairs, sideboards, accent chairs, sofas, home décor including artwork, greenery, table and floor lamps and accent pillows.” For the upcoming holiday season, they will also have some Christmas items.
The sisters started working on their new business in April and ordered furniture in late July and have managed to stay ahead of the current supply chain issues.
“It has gradually been coming in. We will start off with good inventory; it is not sitting in a container on the ocean,” Armstrong said.
People following Signature Home Market on Facebook and Instagram will get sneak peeks. “A couple of days before the sale, we will post a walk-through video so people can see what we have in stock,” said Armstrong.
“We don’t have checkout counters; if you see something you like, raise your hand and one of our mobile cashiers will come to you. They will swipe your card, tag the item and you can move on to shop other items. If you see a sofa or table you need, we may have just the one, so you should head for the bigger items first.”
A similar sale in Ohio is known to have a long line outside the door, so Armstrong and Onks advise shopping early and go straight to the item you have your eye on.
“That is part of the hype, that energy, fun and excitement of a Black Friday sale,” Armstrong said.
Unlike online shopping, Armstrong said shoppers will be “able to touch it, feel it, see it and take it home that very day.”
Signature Home Event will be in two buildings in the former Regal headquarters complex. There will be 1,800 square feet of shopping area with room to expand in the future.
“We will set up some living and dining room areas, but the rest of the layout will have a warehouse look,” added Armstrong.
Each sale will have some new inventory, so that each month it is a unique shopping experience. Purchases can be made using major credit cards or cash. A list of local delivery options will be provided, and there are scheduled pickup dates for larger items for the week after the sale.
POWELL
Christmas tree sale to help kids in Powell and at Guatemala orphanage
Al Lesar, Shopper News
Two months from now, the Christmas trees that enhanced the holiday atmosphere will be at the bottom of some lake making the habitat more conducive for fish.
Michael Cox has found a much better purpose for the Yuletide staple.
Cox, the pastor at Redemption Life Church in Powell, has gotten his congregation involved in the national “Buy a Tree, Change a Life” program.
On what Cox calls “Glorious Friday,” or what others refer to as “Black Friday” (the Friday after Thanksgiving), the church’s congregation will staff the Life House Express lot (on Emory Road, next to Weigel’s and across from Life House Coffee), where 150 Christmas trees wi
ll be for sale.
Proceeds from the sale will be split between Casa Shalom, an orphanage in Guatemala that 20 members of the congregation visited on a mission trip in July, and the “Give a Kid a Chance” program in Powell.
Mission helps hundreds of kids
It started in 2012. A family in Florida used the sale of Christmas trees to help fund an adoption of a child from Ethiopia. A pastor at a church in Florida, whom Cox knows, saw the possibilities in such a fundraiser and developed a nonprofit around it.
When Cox discovered that Casa Shalom was on the list of possible benefactors, it prompted him to bring that idea to his congregation.
“A local missionary took us to Casa Shalom when we were there,” Cox said. “They do an amazing job with hundreds of kids. But, they can always use more.
“They have to feed, shelter, clothe and educate all those kids. So many kids in Guatemala, especially during the pandemic, were not educated. The kids at Casa Shalom never missed because of online technology. They are all getting a quality education.”
Cox is also cognizant of the need in Powell. His plan is to partner with the Powell schools to locate those who need help. He has targeted Aug. 6 as the day to help kids get ready for the school year.
“There is a great need in Powell,” Cox said. “Our plan is to help with things like haircuts, dental visits, oil changes, backpacks, and those sorts of things; whatever we can do to get the year started well.”
Incentives to give more
In the midst of a global shortage of Christmas trees, Cox is expecting the delivery to be solid, given the large scope of the nonprofit’s purchasing power.
“I don’t expect the trees to be around for more than two weeks,” he said.
Cost of the trees will differ, depending on the size. Cox said there will be extra incentives for those who pay above the sale price. For every $10 above the price, the customer will get a ticket for a raffle. Santa Claus is expected to be there on Saturdays. Hot chocolate and coffee will be supplied, with specialty drinks available for purchase.
The lot will be open daily 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Business sponsorships will be available, whether it’s having employees run the sales for a day or make a financial contribution.
“We challenge everyone in our congregation to help the community and the world,” Cox said. “We try to keep an outward focus. It’s important to minister to other people.”
For more information, contact Cox at: [email protected], or at the “Buy a Tree, Change a Life — Powell” Facebook site.
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POWELL
Ex-commission candidate finds nourishment serving veterans
Al Lesar, Shopper News
Without a vote on the line, the conversation came just as easily.
When Judson Mason agreed to sponsor the October Powell Veterans Breakfast, he was a candidate for District 7 (Powell, Heiskell and Halls) of the Knox County Commission.
By the time it happened in mid-October, the 24-year-old had withdrawn from the race after receiving the diagnosis of a heart ailment at the end of September.
“I’ve attended several of the breakfasts, but this was the first one I sponsored,” he said of the $375 sponsorship fee. “There’s a whole lot less stress attending the event as a community member and not a candidate. You can speak more freely. I still don’t want to offend anyone, but I was much more at ease.”
Mason said between 90 and 100 veterans gathe
red for a catered spread of biscuits and gravy, eggs, bacon and all the breakfast trimmings.
An old soul
Serving the folks of District 7 has long been a passion of Mason’s. In February 2021, poll numbers showed that despite his tender age, there was reason to be hopeful about the way the November election might go.
“I was told by my doctors I could live a long life, or I could be a County Commissioner and live a shorter life,” said Mason, a man of faith. “We are on God’s timing here, so I guess the timing was right.”
That still hasn’t stopped Mason from being the person he is.
“A lot of people have told me I’m an old soul,” said Mason, who works in marketing in Powell. “I’m very comfortable being face-to-face with anyone, no matter their age. There is no communication gap with me. I’m good at speaking and listening.”
That’s why Mason and his wife, Emily, also 24, were in their element working the room of veterans gathered to swap stories and enjoy a nice meal.
“I’ve had a lot of time to talk with the pastor of our church (where Mason plays the piano), my wife, and others,” he said. “(No longer being a candidate) has sunk in. I’ve been fortunate to have been able to stay involved in the political scene (without the stress). I hope to live a long, normal life. The options were clear.”
Healing thoughts
War stories wafted across the Powell Community Center like the smell of bacon. The “old soul” in Mason made it easy to connect with the veterans in attendance.
He got to meet two World War II vets, a man who was involved in the fighting and a woman in the medical field. The spectrum of service ranged from Korea to Afghanistan, and everything else in the middle.
Judson and Emily made the effort to share a moment with just about everyone.
“When I hear from people I’ve met, saying their prayer groups have put me on their list, that means a lot to me,” Mason said. “I had a lady say that, if I felt stressed, she would make a chicken casserole for me. Just being thought of like that, it means so much to me.”
KARNS
Numbers down at GCA Ram Run, but spirits high
Nancy Anderson, Shopper News
About 130 runners gathered in the chilly morning air for the annual Ram Run 5K/1K Fun Run/Walk held at Grace Christian Academy Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021.
Last year, there were more than 200 runners. Head of School Tony Pointer said other events scheduled for the day interfered with the turnout.
“Our numbers were down this year because we had to move our original date and the new date conflicted with a fishing tournament, a wrestling tournament, and play practice. We lost a few runners in the exchange, but we’re hoping to bring the numbers back next year.”
The overall number of runners was down, but spirits were high and most runners were all smiles during the run and especially when crossing the finish line.
Pointer said the campus hosts a number of events, but the Ram Run is near and dear to him because he and his sister, Lori McCown, are runners. McCown organizes several runs in the Knoxville area including the GCA Ram Run.
“There is a large runner community in Knoxville and we just wanted to tap into that and welcome them to our campus. We have runners from our own student body as well as the community at large.”
The 5K was preceded by a 1K Fun Run/Walk with students heading down Beaver Ridge Road, circling the parking lot to Dye Stone Gap and back to the starting line.
Runners in the 5K ran down Beaver Ridge Road to the Karns Community Pool and back with groups of GCA students cheering along the way.
Pointer said the event was more of a community event than a fundraiser, but it does raise a little money used to make improvements around the school.
There was a medal ceremony for each winner in 10-year age categories as well as overall winners. The male overall winner was Ron Hees with a time of 19:31.7. The female overall winner was Liz Ford with a time of 20:34.8. The oldest winner was Deb Ross, 65, with a time of 29:00.9. The youngest winner was Isaiah Wassom, 9, with a time of 24:20.8.
Novis Health was a title sponsor for the event. The company specializes in body composition analysis, the treatment of low thyroid, GI, and autoimmune diseases through one-on-one coaching and targeted nutrition, and innovative technology.
New this year was a small Family Fun Day held in the Grace Student Ministries Building featuring balloon animals, face painting, and body metrics screening from Novis Health.
“We had initially planned for a much bigger Family Fun event, but we had to move it inside due to the cold,” Pointer said.
There are plans to have the event earlier, possibly September, next year in order to expand the Family Fun event to include inflatables and food.
Info: www.gcrams.org.
NORTH KNOXVILLE
BattleField Farm & Gardens wins Impact Award
Carol Z. Shane, Shopper News
Filling a need for fresh food in East Knoxville has been a mission of the Rev. Chris Battle since he preached his last sermon on Easter 2018 at Tabernacle Baptist Church.
BattleField Farm & Gardens seeks to provide a wide variety of accessible produce for the many people who don’t have easy access to nutritious food.
His efforts have earned an Impact Award from the Young Professionals of Knoxville (YPK), presented Nov. 5 at the Foundry on the World’s Fair site.
The ninth annual awards were presented to individuals and organizations in three categories. “This year we decided to highlight key things that YPK focuses on as an organization,” said Chastedy Johnson, community outreach chair for the event. “They are ‘Connect,’ ‘Develop’ and ‘Serve.’”
The winner in the organization category for “Serve” was the East Knoxville urban farm, a Community Supported Agriculture initiative.
Battle helped establish The East Knoxville Farmers Market in June of 2018, with support and brainstorming from Stan Johnson and Aisha Brown of SEEED, Vivian Williams of National Women in Agriculture Association, Tanisha Baker of 5 Points Up and Kimberley Pettigrew of Nourish Knoxville.
Battle’s intent was to follow an Old Testament edict that instructs farmers to leave portions of their fields available to the poor. That eventually resulted in BattleField Farm & Gardens.
“Personally,” said YPK’s Johnson, “I believe that he deserved this award because I’ve seen how the farm has connected people through relationships, through providing fresh fruits and veggies for the East Knox community, and also through volunteer opportunities for anyone in the community who wants to work on the farm.”
BattleField Farm & Gardens continues to expand in its area and its mission.
“Right now we are relaxing, trying to let the beds renew themselves so we can pick back up in the spring,” said Battle. “We’re partnering with Paine Avenue Baptist Church — they have some property they’re going to let us use. We’re going to have some community gardens.”
Battle is also partnering with UUNIK Academy, a nonprofit dedicated to enriching and transforming the lives of African American youth. He’ll be working with 5- and 6-year-olds in the school’s STEAMI Learning Institute
And last week he participated in the 2021 Christian Community Development Association Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, representing BattleField as a panel member in discussions about gun violence, voter access, immigration reform, poverty reduction, community development, racial equity and justice.
The YPK’s Annual Impact Awards provides an opportunity to recognize leaders in the Knoxville community, to network with other professionals, and to celebrate all things Knoxville.
Battle said, “It felt good to be honored. You’re always happy when people are thinking about you and seem to appreciate what you’re trying to do. And the food was good!”
OPINION
Age is so obvious, yet so hard to see
Leslie Snow, Shopper News
I used to stare at my parents’ pill organizer with dismay. I’d see that seven-day A.M./P.M. container, chock-full of colorful pills, and wonder, “How does that even happen? Why do they need so much medicine?” They seemed healthy to me.
Back then, it was hard to fathom things like hot flashes or high blood pressure. I couldn’t imagine having trouble sleeping or needing vitamin D supplements. I guess one of the gifts of youth is that you can’t picture yourself getting older.
But that was then, and this is now. And lately I’ve seen some disturbing trends.
For the first time in my life my nightstand is lined with pill bottles. I’m not ready for an organizer yet, but those pills are multiplying without any regard for how young I think I am.
Some of them are “just in case” prescriptions. Just in case I have a migraine, just in case my back goes out, just in case my stomach complains. Those pills aren’t part of my daily routine, so I don’t count them. They’re merely evidence of an elevated level of preparedness. I’m the kind of person who’s ready for any contingency.
It’s the daily pills I find so troubling. The hormone supplements and the antacids; the sleep aids and the allergy pills. I feel young and strong inside, but my prescriptions tell a different story. And I don’t like what they have to say.
But it’s not just the medicine bottles on my nightstand that are multiplying. In the corner of my bathroom, on the counter near the sink, is a tiny space I reserve for my daily moisturizer. That daily moisturizer used to consist of one inexpensive lotion designed to fight the seven deadly signs of aging. But what happens when you count more than seven deadly signs?
You buy more.
I buy products with retinol and hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and vitamin C. I make sure my moisturizer is non-comedogenic (because everyone knows comedogens can ruin your complexion).
I need selenium and niacinamide, glycerin and SPF 2000. And if I believe all the beautiful 20-year-olds selling anti-aging products on TV, I need antioxidants and peptides too.
I won’t get started on all the things I buy for my neck wrinkles, but my neck wrinkles need help, too.
But here’s the funny thing, the irony in all those lotions and pills. While my body is showing signs of aging, my brain isn’t buying it. In my head I’m still the same girl I used to be.
I may forget why I walked into the kitchen, but I still feel young. As I told Evy, my best friend from high school yesterday, “My body may be 58, but my head is stuck at 18.” She laughed and told me she’d prefer to be “29 forever.”
It’s the big secret we never tell our kids. We aren’t grownups at all, we’re just full-grown children. Somewhere along the way we stop aging mentally. I may be less impulsive and more measured than I used to be, but inside, I still laugh at the word “poo.” Internally, I’m frozen as my younger self. I’ve just learned to hide it better.
That’s why I’m so surprised when I all see the prescription bottles lined up in a row. It’s why I’m shocked at the stockpile of lotions and serums on my bathroom counter. How can they all be for me when I’m just a kid inside? How can I need so many anti-aging treatments if I can still remember my high school locker combination?
Leslie Snow may be reached at snow [email protected].
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