April 18, 2016 www.knoxfocus.com PAGE A1 WANTED Quality Consignments. Quality Antiques. Fountain City Auction for all of your auction needs (865)604-3468 FREE Take One! April 18, 2016 Scenic Knoxville KNOXVILLE HOSTS NAVY WEEK Celebrating Eight Years By Mike Steely [email protected] The local organization that fought and won a new sign ordinance for Knoxville, got a ban on digital signs and electronic message boards and continues to seek out and report abandoned signs will host a national speaker Wednesday, April 20th, and the public is invited. Scenic Knoxville is an 8-year-old non-profit group dedicated to pre- serving and enhancing the scenic areas of our area. It was the first such organization in the state and is affiliated with Scenic Tennessee and Scenic America. The diverse group includes a board of directors made up of Gene Burr, Lisa Starbuck, Jerome Erpen- bach, Joyce Feld, David Goodson, Marsha Grieve, Margot Kline, Robert Marlino, Kevin Murphy, and Julie Webb. “We are hosting the president of Scenic America, Mary Tracy, at the PHOTO BY DAN ANDREWS East Tennessee History Center and Knoxville hosted a Navy Week celebration last week to recognize the sailors who serve our country and the communities that support she will be speaking on the scenic them. Through a series of events including a Navy Week proclamation from Mayor Rogero on Market Square, a Navy Night with the conservation movement from its Tennessee Smokies and Tennessee Vols baseball, Navy Band musical performances, a wreath laying ceremony (pictured above) and origin in garden clubs to the found- other fun events, area residents had the opportunity to meet and interact with Navy sailors. ing of the national organization in 1982,” Starbuck told The Focus. Scenic America is celebrating the 50th anniversary on “Taking the Long View – A Vision for Real- City Council izing America the Beautiful,” which addresses five issue areas identi- fied as priorities: Community Char- acter, Parks and Open Spaces, Food Truck Rules: Vendors Win Scenic Byways and Gateways, By Mike Steely Undergrounding Overhead Wires [email protected] proposed regulations but their business and the council voted Director Charles Swanson said and Beautiful Highways. After some changes and a efforts, prompted by supporters to establish a 100-foot set- that that requirement “would be Tracy will also talk about high- long discussion Knoxville now from Community Forum, failed back. Councilmen George Wal- a legal question” and said that lighting the work of the organiza- has a food truck ordinance that, to sway the other council mem- lace and Marshall Stair led the any changes in the regulations tion’s extended network of affiliate for the most part, opens much bers. pro-food truck effort but Wal- would apply to future permits members including Scenic Knox- of the city to trucks with food Community Forum members lace’s motion to eliminate any not those vendors under a one- ville and the hard work and persis- smokers and allows them to sell Larry Silverstein and Carlene setback for the trucks in resi- year agreement. tence that has achieved several food in areas normally forbid- Malone asked the council to dential areas failed. A motion by Della Volpe to victories for scenic beauty in the den to restaurants. not permit tables and chairs “Smokers” were the main prohibit tables and chairs being city and county. She will also talk The city council debated the at vendor sites, to ban food objection by opponents but a used when vendors set up in a about how the average citizen can issue for about two hours Tues- truck barbeque smokers that motion by Grieve to ban all wood residential area was defeated get involved to create real change day evening and heard the opin- burn wood, and to restrict the smokers failed. in a 6-2 vote. in their neighborhoods. ions of opponents on smok- zoning areas where the trucks Della Volpe moved to add lan- Councilman Stair said there The public and neighborhood ers and where the trucks can may operate. guage to the proposal that would have been “zero complaints” leaders are invited to the free event operated. Food truck owners Food truck owners told the permit the council to change about food trucks during the Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the East spoke as well. Two councilmen, council that requiring a 200- the Food Truck regulations city’s two-year pilot program. Tennessee History Center at 601 Duane Grieve and Nick Della foot setback for trucks on pri- and require vendors to comply Wallace said the opponents South Gay Street. Volpe, attempted to tighten the vate property would hurt their within 14 days but City Law Continue on page 3 HVA Musical Theater Class Presents Peter Pan By David Klein are $6 for students and production; their special- connected to those. They she said. Senior Noah Skurtu For the first time, a $10 for adults. ty is flying,” Teresa Scog- (clamps) connect to a chain Scoggins has been plays Captain Hook, Peter’s high school musical the- “Being able to show gins, Hardin Valley Acade- that connects to a beam. teaching the class for eight adversary. Skurtu also has ater class in Knox County this particular story in our my Choir Director said. Now that beam is connect- years, ever since Hardin acted in musical theater brings Peter Pan to the county is phenomenal,” Scoggins described the ed to ropes, which oper- Valley started. “We have a productions before like stage. Hardin Valley Acad- senior Allison Parton, who system. “There’s a track ate on a pulley and weight really supportive adminis- the Sound of Music, Legal- emy will present Peter Pan, plays Peter Pan, said. that allows Peter Pan to system.” trative team,” she said. ly Blonde, and played Beast the musical April 22-24. In the performance, the fly side to side and up and Scoggins heads the The version of Peter Pan in the musical Beauty and Performances are at 7 high school is using a state down,” Scoggins said. musical theater class at the class is using is the the Beast. p.m. Friday and Saturday, of the art pulley system to Allison also described Hardin Valley. The class Mary Martin Broadway Noah described what it’s a Saturday morning perfor- make Peter Pan fly. the system to make Peter is an audition class with version, Scoggins said. In like to play Captain Hook. mance at 11 a.m. followed The stage is from the Pan fly. “There are I beams ninth through twelfth grad- 1956, there was a TV adap- “It’s really challenging in by a meet and greet, and company VFX. “They do at the top of the theater,” ers. There are approximate- tion of the musical with some ways,” he said.” I Sunday at 3 p.m. Tickets special effects for theater she said. “We have clamps ly 50 students in the class, Martin as Peter Pan. Continue on page 4 Spotlit on Disleksia PAGE A2 The Knoxville Focus April 18, 2016 THE CHALK BOARD Bits of News About Local Education By Sally Absher [email protected] elected to do so, or those the application, are avail- Exchange in the Secret SDMS Student who scored at a high level. able at knoxschools.org or City.” Dr. Best said, “Mason’s by calling 865-594-1529. Jeremiah Branson, Justin to Participate mom shared this informa- Cross, Noah Dunlap, Pres- in Duke Talent tion with us, and we are Sterchi 3rd ton Nicely, Noah Watson, Identification very proud of his accom- Graders Celebrate L&N Stem Academy, Program plishments.” Second Place, Senior Group SDMS 8th Grade Chorus Dr. Suess’ Exhibit and Best Project in participated in the East Birthday Tennessee History, Senior Tennessee Vocal Associa- Third grade students at Division: “The 1982 World tion Middle School Choral Sterchi Elementary enjoyed Fair: Knoxville’s Rise to Festival, receiving Supe- celebrating Dr. Seuss’ birth- Prominence.” rior ratings (the highest day with Mr. Brian “Shoe” Abigail Prosise, Farragut possible) in both perfor- Shoesmith and WIVK the High School, Second Place mance and sight reading. Frog! Each grade level Senior Individual Web- Congratulations to the 8th had local celebrity readers. site: “From Atoms to Arm- Grade Chorus students Thank you to all the readers strong.” and their teachers, Rebec- for volunteering your time. Emma Yambert, L&N ca McCurdy and Bethany Students (l-r): Chloe Reicher, Ava Grace Williams, Finley Stem Academy, Third Place, Cook, and Denim Jackson Williams! Young Historians Senior Individual Paper: “Exploring Nucelar Energy: Advance Voluntary Pre- received medals for their April 9 Tennessee History Oak Ridge, Tennessee.” to National efforts, 27 students were Day competition include: Sofia Tomov, Thursday Mason Strader (above), a Kindergarten Competition awarded special prizes, two Kenton Smith, Benjamin Connection, Knoxville, 7th grader at South Doyle Round-up Begins educators were recognized Hall; L & N STEM Academy, First Place, Junior Individ- Middle School, was invit- April 18 Nearly 70 students will as teachers of the year and First Place Senior Group ual Paper: “Exploring the ed to participate in the be representing Tennes- one teacher was named Documentary: “Buying In: First Amendment: Tinker v. Duke Talent Identifica- The Knox County Schools see at National History Day Behring Teacher Ambas- The Music of Vince Guar- Des Moines (1969) and the tion Program. Participants is accepting applications later this summer. Those sador. aldi.” Exchange of Ideas Through are selected for scoring for voluntary pre-kinder- students placed first or The judges at Saturday’s Kaylie Pomerantz, Laila Protest.” above the 95th percen- garten, during Pre-Kinder- second in their categories competition – including Stempkowski, St.