SUT Reopens With New Digital Projector

by K. G. Beavers, Messenger Staff Writer

The Sewanee Union Theatre, affectionately known as the SUT, has been showing movies since the 1920s and is one of the oldest movie theatres around. Lately, the SUT has been idle because of persistent problems with the projector.

“The 35-millimeter projector is old,” said Alex Bruce, associate dean of students for campus life. “We were looking at a movie artifact that was plagued with problems.”

Each semester, he said, “we had one major issue with this projector that normally could be fixed. This time, the problem was that we needed a new part to make the projector work, which proved to be difficult as this projector and its parts are not made anymore. Our repairman said we could get used parts to fix the projector. The question was, would the projector work with the used parts? Then, what would be the next problem down the line?” said Bruce.

The best solution was buying a new digital projector for the SUT, which the University purchased. “The University agreed the SUT was vital to the life of the whole community and bought the projector,” said Bruce. “SUT will have to pay for it in the long term.”

One of the ways the SUT will be able to pay for the projector is with a new pricing structure beginning at the end of May. All students, elementary through college, will still pay $3 for a ticket. Non-students will pay $4 for a ticket. Bruce says concession prices will not go up.

Bruce encourages all who have current SUT movie passes to use those before the end of the semester.

With the added income from increased ticket sales, another way the SUT will recover the cost is through shipping prices. It costs approximately $150 to ship cans of film. The cost to ship a DVD is around $20. Bruce expects it will take three to four years to pay back the money. The SUT will still have to pay licensing fees to show the films, which cost at least $700 per film. The new digital projector opens up a world of possibilities for the SUT. “This could be a truly student-run project,” he said, including festivals of locally made films.

Bruce said that while the SUT was closed, broken chairs were replaced, and the screen was made larger by removing some of the black mat. “Now we really have the largest screen between Chattanooga and Tullahoma,” said Bruce.

“The sound system was also enhanced without having to replace the whole sound system.”

Currently, work-study students help to run the concessions and the ticket booth. The projectionists are community members. University admissions counselor Sarah Butler picks the movies to show that would be popular with the students and the community. Groups of families run the SUT during the summer. In the future, Bruce thinks students will be trained to run the new digital projector. Bruce also wants to have a celebration of the SUT.

Bruce said there is a way for the community to become involved with the SUT. “We are suggesting a community organization run the Friends of the SUT to help with costs,” said Bruce. “This would also help the Cinema Guild and expand summer offerings.”

The Cinema Guild, a student organization, presents free films once a week during the academic school year. The SUT presents second-run movies Thursday through Sunday. The SUT is located in the Thompson Union on South Carolina Avenue. For box office information call 598-1500.

Van Ness Open House March 5

The community is invited to an open house at the Van Ness building on the Sewanee campus, 2:30–4:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 5. Learn more about print services, the carillon music studio and the new Life Paths research program. Demonstrations of print services’ equipment and the practice carillon will be provided. Refreshments will be provided. Van Ness is located at 161 Alabama Ave.; parking is available behind duPont Library and in the lot on Alabama Avenue south of McCrady Dormitory.

St. Mary’s Sewanee Dedicates New Building on March 9

St. Mary’s Sewanee invites the community to the dedication of its new building at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, March 9. The new building has 20 lodging rooms and meeting space.

“This new building is the result of years of hard work by our board of trustees in creating a vision for the future and in the raising of the $3 million to see it through completion,” said the Rev. Thomas Morris, executive director of St. Mary’s Sewanee. “Each year St. Mary’s Sewanee welcomes close to 5,000 people to our retreat center. This building will enable us to welcome thousands more who are in need of rest and spiritual renewal. We hope the public will join us in thanking all involved in the building and dedicating it into God’s hands for the future.”

Morris noted that much of the construction of the new building was locally provided. Tracey Meeks, of Tracey Meeks Specialty Craft of Tracy City was the builder for the project. He employed more than 20 people from Franklin and Grundy counties, Morris said. The natural red oak wood siding was harvested from the Sewanee area, and the stone was quarried on the Plateau and laid by local stonemasons. The rest of the building materials were purchased at Builder’s Supply in Monteagle, and the subcontractors were local.

The new building features green technology, the use of recycled and regionally manufactured materials, high-efficiency heating and cooling systems and naturally ventilated indoor spaces.

The new building was designed by Johnson, Johnson and Crabtree architects. Ikon Construction oversaw the management of the building.

For more information call 598-5342.

Vultures Have Come to Roost in Sewanee

by David Haskell, Special to the Messenger

Coasting down the hill on my bike, I turn my head and there it is, a dark angelic form, big as an eagle, soaring just off my left shoulder. We cruise together for a spell, then the bird banks away, the low sun laying a rosy tint on its black feathers. Ahead, hundreds circle low, turning the sky into a swimming confusion of slicing dark lines.

As dusk approaches, the vultures gather in tall pines and oaks around Sewanee’s downtown, clumping by the dozen on high branches. They settle slowly, restlessly hissing at new arrivals and flailing their huge wings at neighbors. With a start, the whole group startles into wheeling flight, then returns to roost with flustering feathers.

This roost formed last year in early winter, grew into a gathering of 200–300 birds, then dissolved as spring wore on. This winter they are back. The talk in town often drifts their way. Why so many? Are they drawn to some hidden bounty of dead animals? Might a leaking gas pipeline be luring them? What danger do they pose?

I suspect that several factors have converged to bring us this spectacular daily display. One of these causes is the regional increase in vulture abundance. DDT’s effects are no longer felt by these birds, fewer people shoot them, and as deer and small mammal populations have increased, the vultures’ food has become more plentiful.

In addition to this long-term trend, the record-breaking warmth of the last two winters also likely contributes to the recent increase in vultures in our area. Birds that previously would have flown to Florida or Mexico may have curtailed their migration. Why wing to Veracruz when you can dine on ’possum and venison in a relatively balmy Tennessee or Georgia?

Local changes also play a role. Until last winter, the vultures were roosting here, but mostly out of sight in the valleys and mountain slopes. Why the move? We cannot know for sure, but it may be that these vultures have discovered that no one harasses or shoots them here in town. It may also be slightly warmer. Like some other native animals, they have found that lingering near human habitation may bring benefits.

The vultures in town are gathering to sleep, not to feed. On all but the most dismal days they disperse every morning, surveying the surrounding countryside for food. They return to sleep in the safety of a group. Certainly any dead animal near the roost gets eaten promptly (a dead deer on the highway near town was snarfed within a couple of days), but feeding is not the purpose of this gathering. Nor can gas leaks explain the behavior. The birds are congregating away from the gas pipeline and show no attraction to any of the gas pumping stations in town.

Do the birds present a danger to humans or pets? My research indicates that dangers are few. If the roosts get larger and persist for many years, their fecal matter might accumulate and start to smell. These droppings are no more threatening than those of other birds; indeed vultures’ powerful guts probably kill more bacteria than the guts of other bird species. Temporary winter roosts present less of a problem in this regard than permanent roosts located further south. 

Another threat is unlikely, but memorable: vultures defend themselves by vomiting on their assailants, so it is possible that foolhardy hazers of the roost might get an unpleasant (and potentially bacteria-laden) shower. This outcome can be avoided with some common sense. Don’t climb roost trees. And remember the ornithologists’ Golden Rule: Keep your mouth shut when you look up.

Of all the species that I researched for “The Forest Unseen,” vultures were perhaps the one that most changed my everyday experience. I see them many times each day, yet until I knew just how fabulous they are at purging the land of dead animals, my appreciation for their lives was far too limited. No other animal removes carrion with such unassuming efficacy. A vulture gut will kill anthrax and other bacteria, a feat that no other scavenger can match. The near extinction of vultures in India has underscored their importance. As vultures declined, the populations of other scavengers surged, leading to a plague of feral dogs and rabies (and problems for people who use vultures for funerary purposes).

Being followed on my bike by a death-eating scavenger was, therefore, an unexpected delight. The dark forms that soar overhead or sit hunched in tall oak trees are to be admired. Their easy, loping wingbeats are beautiful memento mori, sky burials for the thousands of animals that live and die on this mountain. Like living prayer flags, their presence delivers a very real ecological blessing on the land below.

To read more of David Haskell’s observations of the natural world, go to his blog, Ramble, at <http://davidhaskell.wordpress.com/>.

SUD Board Elects Officers

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

At the Feb. 26 meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Sewanee Utility District of Franklin and Marion Counties, the board elected officers for the coming year, with all the 2012 officers returning to serve another term. Cliff Huffman was elected president; Karen Singer, vice-president;  and Ken Smith, secretary.

At the beginning of the meeting, Smith was sworn in to serve a new three-year term on the board.

SUD manager Ben Beavers reported that unaccounted-for water loss was exceptionally high for January, 34.7 percent, and February, slightly over 30 percent. Unaccounted-for water loss is determined by calculating the difference between the amount of treated water SUD produces and the amount accounted for in metered sales. SUD’s averages 25 percent. Beavers said the trend of high unaccounted-for water loss for the first two months of the year dates back to at least 1994. He had no explanation for the phenomenon.

SUD plans to implement automatic meter reading (AMR) over the course of the next two years. With the AMR system, radio-transmitted meter reading will result in more accurate meter data and may shed light on the high unaccounted-for water loss. Beavers is investigating meter vendors and anticipates having a recommendation by April. Labor costs for switching out the meters in the Midway area will be high, Beavers said, because the meter setters are old and will need to be replaced. Beavers budgeted for the Midway labor expense, but said the amount may need to be adjusted.

Reporting on recent drinking water sampling, Beavers said SUD’s disinfection by-products (DBP) rating was the lowest it has ever been. Disinfection by-products occur when the chlorine reacts with organic compounds in the water to produce cancer-causing agents. The highest DBP risk occurs at the end of the line because the water has been in the pipes longer. SUD’s end-of-the-line DBP rating was half the maximum allowed by the state.

Beavers received a letter from the state comptroller reiterating the findings of the auditor. All of the auditor’s recommendations are in the process of being addressed except for the “segregation of duties” recommendation which would require four employees, instead of two, to perform accounts receivable and accounts payable duties. The requirement is intended to provide oversight in each department by someone not involved in the data entry. Beavers will inquire about the minimum standard for satisfying the requirement and ask if SUD could hire an accounting firm to provide quarterly review rather than hiring additional employees.

SUD’s April 23 commissioners’ meeting will be held at Woods Lab. The board will meet with representatives from the University of Georgia to discuss a monitoring plan for the pilot constructed wetlands proposal. The trial wastewater treatment project is based on research jointly conducted by the University of Georgia and the University of the South.

Sort Recycling With Care

Curbside recycling will be in Sewanee on Friday, March 1. Joe B. Long reports that residents are not separating materials as carefully as they should. When recycling items are not sorted properly, the items are put in with standard trash, defeating the purpose of recycling. If you participate in the recycling program, Long asks that residents please remember the following guidelines.

All recycled items must be sacked in blue bags, available from the University Lease Office, 110 Carnegie Hall, or at the Physical Plant Services office on Alabama Avenue, or at the PPS warehouse on Georgia Avenue. 

Bags should be placed on the side of the road no later than 7:30 a.m. on the morning of pickup. Items to be recycled must be sorted and placed in separate bags. If plastic bottles are mixed in with tin cans, the entire bag goes to the trash.

Aluminum cans: Rinse the cans and store with other aluminum materials such as clean aluminum foil and pie pans. Crushing the cans is optional.

Tin cans: Tin cans need to be rinsed before storing, but the labels do not have to be taken off. The end of the can does not have to be removed. Crushing the cans is optional.

#1 (PET) Plastic: Remove the lid and rinse out the container. This category includes two-liter drink bottles, peanut butter jars and plastics that are stamped with the recycling triangle with the number 1.

#2 (HDPE) Plastic: Remove the lid and rinse. Some examples in this category are milk jugs, detergent bottles and plastics that are stamped with the recycling triangle with the number 2.

Mixed Paper: Flatten paperboard boxes from cereal, crackers and other items.

Among the unacceptable items are plastic shopping bags such as those used at grocery stores and drugstores; cardboard milk or juice cartons; boxes with food products stuck to them; wax-coated cardboard; polystyrene pellets (packing peanuts) and Styrofoam inserts.

Artists’ Talk & Gallery Walk

The opening of new art exhibitions on the Sewanee campus will be marked by a panel discussion between the artists and assistant professor Jeff Thompson at 4:30 p.m., today, Feb. 22, in Convocation Hall, followed by a reception in the lobby of duPont Library at 5:45 p.m. The University Jazz Quartet will perform at the reception. “David Henderson: A Brief History of Aviation” will be on display in duPont Library and the Carlos Gallery, and “Brandon Morse: Dark Matter,” will be in the University Art Gallery.

A Gallery Walk will begin at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 23. Visitors are invited to visit “Dark Matter” and the two parts of “A Brief History of Aviation,” and also to visit University Archives and Special Collections to see the exhibit “Plans and Changes in Sewanee’s Campus,” a collection of materials related to the revivalist architecture of the University. Participants will have the opportunity to meet the artists and explore the dialogue between the four exhibitions and the campus. Light refreshments will be provided.

“A Brief History of Aviation” and the Gallery Walk are made possible in part by the generous support of the Friends of the University Art Gallery. For more information call 598-1223 or go to <gallery.sewanee.edu/>.                    

CCJP Awards Banquet

The Cumberland Center for Justice and Peace (CCJP) will have its annual Awards Banquet at 6 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 23, at the Sewanee Community Center. Ruhi Jahanpour Hiebert will be the keynote speaker. 

CCJP will recognize individuals whose work furthers the mission of bringing justice and peace to the region. This year’s award honorees are Michael Grantz (C’13), Dixon Myers and Kathleen O’Donohue.

Dinner will feature a main course prepared by local caterer Julia Stubblebine. Please bring a side dish or dessert. RSVP appreciated. Contact Leslie Lytle at 598-9979 or email <sllytle@blomand.net>.

St. Mary’s Names Parsley First Bishop-in-Residence

St. Mary’s Sewanee announces the creation of a Bishop-in-Residence program. The Bishop-in-Residence will assist the center in engaging the Episcopal Church more directly as a resource for spiritual growth and faith formation. This will include periods of residency for one week every quarter, during which the Bishop will offer a Quiet Retreat Day and schedule appointments for spiritual direction. In addition, the Bishop-in-Residence will lead a pre-ordination retreat for transitional deacons, as well as develop opportunities to support and nurture parish priests and serve as an advisor on St. Mary’s Sewanee’s Program Committee.

The St. Mary’s Sewanee board of trustees is pleased to announce that the Right Reverend Henry Nutt Parsley will serve as St. Mary’s Sewanee first Bishop-in-Residence for a three-year term beginning in 2013. His first week in residence is March 1–8, and he will offer a Lenten Quiet Day on Friday, March 1. Bishop Parsley is the recently retired 10th Bishop of Alabama and the 22nd Chancellor of the University of the South. Since 2000, Bishop Parsley’s retreats frequently utilize his interest and passion for literature as a resource for the spiritual journey.

St. Mary’s Sewanee is celebrating its 25th year as a center for spiritual development. It welcomes more than 5,000 guests each year to its retreat center, located on the Cumberland Plateau three miles from the Sewanee Village.

Contact St. Mary’s Sewanee to register for the March 1 Lenten Day retreat or to schedule a time for spiritual direction with Bishop Parsley.

Cleanup at Fiery Gizzard

The winter rains have swept a large amount of trash into the Fiery Gizzard Gulf, and Park Ranger Jason needs help. Join folks from across the Plateau at 11 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 23, at Grundy Forest parking lot to help with the cleanup. Wear sturdy footwear. Trash collection bags and gloves will be provided. 

Refreshments will be provided. Bring a sack lunch and a baked goods to share.

The South Cumberland State Park Visitors’ Center is located on Highway 41 South between Monteagle and Tracy City and is open 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. seven days a week. For more information call (931) 924-2980.

Fridays in the Park Sets Dates for Summer Evenings

The Sewanee Business Alliance has announced the dates for its 2013 Fridays in the Park events. Beginning on Friday, June 21, there will be live music and entertainment each week from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Angel Park in the downtown Village. Fridays in the Park will continue for five more weeks, concluding on Friday, July 26. Performers and activities will be announced as they are scheduled.

Trails & Trilliums calls for Artists and Vendors

Trails & Trilliums is seeking high-caliber artists and vendors for the April 12–14 event at the Monteagle Assembly. The “Brush with Nature” art exhibition celebrates the work of regional artists, photographers and craft artists whose work is nature-themed. Artists receive 60 percent of the proceeds; the remainder supports Friends of South Cumberland. Accepted artworks will be featured at a Preview Party on Friday, April 12, and be on display all day Saturday and Sunday. 

Arlyn Ende, Betty Barton Blythe, Dede Clements and Margaret Woods are chairing “A Brush with Nature,” and will be responsible for hanging the show in the Assembly Dining Hall. Artists interested in applying should email Dede Clements for an application and information sheet at <jeannineclements@me.com>. The deadline for receipt of applications is March 15. 

Vendors wishing to set up a booth in the Mayapple Market should apply by emailing Margaret Woods at <margaret.c.woods@gmail.com>. The vendor application deadline is March 30.

CCJP Hosts Annual Awards Banquet

The Cumberland Center for Justice and Peace (CCJP) will have its annual Awards Banquet at 6 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 23, at the Sewanee Community Center. This year’s keynote speaker is Ruhi Jahanpour Hiebert, who will talk about human rights violations and the religious persecution she and her friends endured at the hands of the Iranian regime in power in the early 1980s. After suffering beatings and torture to force her to recant her beliefs, Jahanpour was unexpectedly released. Police returned to arrest her again three days later, but Jahanpour had fled the country. Her 10 cellmates were hung. Last October Jahanpour testified before the International Tribunal for Iran at the Hague.

CCJP will recognize individuals whose work furthers the mission of bringing a measure of justice and peace to the Cumberland Plateau area. CCJP’s 2013 award honorees are:

Michael Grantz (C’13) for his work as an organizer and activist bringing together the University and Sewanee community to “act up” for justice locally, nationally and globally; 

Dixon Myers for making home ownership and healthcare more accessible for Cumberland Plateau residents through Housing Sewanee and the Remote Area Medical Clinic; and 

Kathleen O’Donohue for promoting justice and peace by working behind the scenes to educate and create liaisons and through her example, raising the awareness of all those whose lives she touches.

Dinner will feature a main course prepared by local caterer Julia Stubblebine. Those attending are encouraged to bring a side dish or dessert. Guests and visitors are welcome and encouraged to join in this community celebration. RSVP appreciated. Contact Leslie Lytle at 598-9979 or email <sllytle@blomand.net>. 

CCJP’s mission is to establish and sustain a community of concerned citizens to promote efforts, programs and activities that bring about a measure of peace and justice to the local area, surrounding regions and the world at large. 

Sewanee Civic Association Announces Email Policy

The board and the membership of the Sewanee Civic Association (SCA) voted at its January meeting to charge a fee of $10 per person to use the full Sewanee Classifieds email list. Announcements-only will be free of charge.

In 2012, the University expressed interest in the SCA managing the Classifieds email for the entire community. The SCA board and membership decided to set up a communication system open to all. The Classifieds have been available to anyone since March 2012; and the number of users has nearly doubled. The initial cost of the new service was shared between the University and the SCA with no cost to the users.

Last fall, the SCA members approved the recommendation that Classifieds email be a subscription service. The SCA board decided to wait until March 2013 before implementing a small fee. In the Oct. 3 SCA meeting, the group discussed charging a fee for the Classifieds. An initial $5 fee for charging non-SCA members was one suggestion considered. 

The SCA board recommended at the January meeting to link the Classifieds email list fee to membership dues, keeping both at a minimal $10 per year. This was approved by the membership.

The SCA continues as its goal to become an integral and vibrant part of the Sewanee community. The SCA is taking on new leadership components. With added activity comes more expense and responsibility. Liability insurance is now needed for the organization and its board members. There are costs for an accountant, web hosting, insurance and meetings. There are other ways the SCA would like to take part with the enhancement of the community, such as the dog park and the public park system. 

Any revenues in excess of what is needed to cover SCA business expenses will be used to fund projects beneficial to the community.

To subscribe to the Classifieds email service, go to <http://groupspaces.com/sewanee> and at the bottom of the page you will find Membership Payment and a button to Buy Now. 

The SCA is the umbrella organization for the Sewanee Community Chest and the Cub Scout Pack 152. The SCA is also the sponsoring organization for the Sewanee Classifieds.

The current SCA board members are: Elizabeth Duncan, Theresa Shackelford, Susan Holmes, Lisa Rung, Kim Seavey, Stephen Burnett and Kiki Beavers.

Sewanee Symphony Offers Winter Concert on Tuesday

The Sewanee Symphony will present its winter concert at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 19, in Guerry Auditorium. The orchestra is comprised of College students, community members, St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School students, University employees, professional musicians and folks from Franklin County High School and Webb School. The eclectic group gathers each week to rehearse orchestral repertoire under the baton of Joseph Lee. 

This concert will include Antonin Dvorak’s Slavonic Dance #8 in G minor, Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony number 8 in B minor, and Maurice Ravel’s Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte. 

The program is free and open to the public.

Presidents’ Day Bees and Dinner

The Franklin County Democratic Women are hosting a night of food, fun and friendly competition on Presidents' Day at 6 p.m., Monday, Feb. 18, at the Sewanee Senior Center, 39 Ball Park Rd. Dinner is available for $5 per person (kids age 6 and under eat free). 

Children can participate in one of the two Spelling Bees; there is a $5 per child entrance fee. Spelling lists will be age-appropriate. The winner of each bee will receive a $50 cash prize. Adults can enter the American History Bee to win a $100 gift certificate to IvyWild. For more information contact Helen Stapleton at 598-9731 or email <hf​staple@yahoo.com>.

Local Time Bank Created for Shared Services

by K. G. Beavers, Messenger Staff Writer

In November, Folks at Home in Sewanee received a $14,973 grant from the Community Fund of the South Cumberland Plateau to develop a Time Bank. The Time Bank will be a way of linking organizations and individuals across the Plateau in need of assistance with providers. 

The vision of the Time Bank is “to promote cohesive communities across the South Cumberland Plateau where people of different ages, backgrounds and abilities interact with each other on an equal footing and with mutual respect and understanding. Time banks value people, their contributions and encourage connections with communities and neighborhoods.” 

Folks at Home is dedicated to helping elderly residents and plans to coordinate and grow the project until it can be operated in the future by a number of organizations. People do not have to be a member of Folks at Home to participate in the Time Bank.

Susan Holmes is the new Time Bank coordinator. Holmes is a 1976 graduate of Sewanee. She also has a public administration degree from the University of Tennessee and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Vanderbilt University. For more than 20 years, Holmes has been working with nonprofit organizations. As the coordinator, Holmes will match Time Bank members with services. 

“A time bank is a community of members who share resources in exchange for an alternative currency called time dollars,” said Holmes. “Everyone has something to give. Every hour is equal. Everyone benefits from the inherent gifts of giving and receiving.”

This new service will be made up of individual members, organizational affiliates and business partners. Everyone across the Plateau is invited to become a member.

 “For every hour that a member spends providing a service to another member, they earn one time dollar. Then, that member can spend his or her time dollars on the services of any other Time Bank member,” she said. 

For instance, someone with plumbing skills can offer a number of hours to the Time Bank. The plumber is in need of someone to paint doors. The painter is in need of plumbing help. Holmes will match up the plumber and the painter. Each one will use their time dollars to get their project done.

“It does not matter what your age, education or skill set is. Your hour is worth the same as another. Everyone’s time is valued equally.” This holds true whether a member is offering professional legal advice, repairing a kitchen sink or making home visits for companionship. The Time Bank is designed as a way to help everyone in the community. 

“We have the potential to change the way we work and help. Everyone has something they can offer,” said Holmes. “This is a way to grow a volunteer base for all organizations in the community.” 

The mission of the Time Bank is to nurture and expand a movement that promotes equality and builds caring community economies through inclusive exchange of time and talent.

According to TimeBanks USA <www.timebanks.org>, time banking has become an international social change movement, spanning 22 countries. Each time bank is unique, reflecting the values and goals of its community of members. 

Edgar S. Cahn founded TimeBanks USA in 1980. Cahn created this system of alternative currency in response to government cuts on social welfare funding.

For more information contact Holmes at 598-0303 or (423) 280-1480. Her email is <officefolksat​home@gmail.com>. Located in the Blue House, 400 University Ave., the office hours are 1–5 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Wednesdays. Holmes is also available to speak to community organizations about joining the Time Bank.

The Time Bank is offering a contest for naming this new program. The winner will receive a one-year membership in the Time Bank. Please send your ideas to Holmes.

Fog Festival Begins Today

Monteagle Mountain Chamber of Commerce announces its annual Fog Festival, Friday–Sunday, Feb. 15–17. During the Valentine’s Day weekend, there will be three days of activities, learning opportunities and open houses across the Cumberland Plateau. 

Fog Fest signs will be outside each participating business, and a brochure with a complete list of activities will be available at each location. 

There are many free tours, tastings, musical events and hikes. Area businesses and realtors are hosting open houses. Unique displays will include handmade jewelry, antique tea serving pieces and art exhibits. Special discounts and events will be at many of the participating businesses and restaurants across the Plateau.

For more information contact the Monteagle Mountain Chamber of Commerce at (931) 924-5353 or email <mmtnchamber@blomand.net>.

Jazz It Up on Shrove Tuesday

Otey Parish Church’s annual Mardi Gras celebration features good food, good times and great entertainment. The event is always on Shrove Tuesday, the last day before the beginning of Lent. This year’s gathering on Tuesday, Feb. 12, will celebrate 25 years of this very special community-wide gathering.

“In honor of the anniversary,  plans are underway to ‘Jazz It Up,’” said Peggy Peterson, who is heading this year’s activity. The University Jazz Band, conducted by Prakash Wright and boasting a full complement of musicians from piano and strings to a full-throttle horn section, will be on the stage. 

Bazzania will kick off the evening with its eclectic mix of traditional, Americana, bluegrass, Cajun and country music. 

Doors at Cravens Hall will open at 5:30 p.m., and food service begins at 6 p.m. There are door prizes. The Jazz Band will start at 6:30 p.m. 

Tickets are $5 for ages 6–89 and $2 for 5 and under; everyone 90 years or older dines free. Families of six or more may pay a flat fee of $25. 

“Costumes of all types are strongly encouraged but not required,” said Peterson. “It doesn’t need to be formal —anything that puts you in a jazzy mood is perfect. And, be sure to wear those dancing shoes!”

It takes almost 100 people to put this extravaganza together, so if you can volunteer to help with this event, contact Ann Seiters at 598-5629 or email <aseiters@bellsouth.net>.

Tracy City Chosen for Tennessee Downtowns

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development announced on Feb. 6 that Tracy City has been admitted to its Tennessee Downtowns Program. A community assessment meeting is scheduled for noon to 3 p.m., Thursday, March 7, at Tracy City’s City Hall. The public is welcome to attend and meet with the Tracy City Steering Committee for downtown revitalization, the mayor and board of aldermen.

 Tennessee Downtowns is a competitive community improvement program for cities and counties seeking to revitalize traditional commercial districts. The program follows the National Main Street Center’s “Main Street Four-Point Approach to Downtown Revitalization.” This is an 18-month tier program that guides steering committees through the steps of launching a downtown revitalization effort.

The other communities selected this year are Clifton, Greenfield, Portland, Waynesboro and White Bluff. 

As part of the program, members of the steering committee will teach citizens about comprehensive, sustainable downtown revitalization and historic preservation through regional workshops and webinars, technical assistance and a $15,000 grant to complete individualized downtown development projects.

 The steering committee has been active since it was appointed in October 2012 by the mayor and board of aldermen. Research by the committee found there are 55 active businesses and organizations in the downtown area of Tracy City and 19 commercial buildings vacant, leaving a vacancy rate in excess of 25 percent. The committee’s study will strive to address the high rate of business vacancies. 

There are two buildings in the downtown area that have been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

There are an additional five sites that have value as historic or recreational areas. These are the vacant gymnasium of the former Grundy County High School, the site of the former Tracy City depot, roundhouse and engine repair shop, along with the contiguous Boy Scouts of America Park, the site of the former Shook School with remaining gymnasium, the site of the Wooten Mine and Coke Ovens and the site of the former Sam Werner Lumber Company. The committee has found significant current tourist trade in the downtown area that is being developed by existing businesses and organizations.

 The committee encourages community input in the downtown revitalization study process. The steering committee members are: Jeremy Fultz (president of Tracy City Business Club), Nadene Moore (chairperson of Water Board of Tracy City Utility District), Sue B. Parrott (Grundy County member of Southeast Tennessee Tourism Board), Emily Partin (Commissioner, Grundy County Board of Commissioners) and Larry Phipps (mayor of Tracy City).

The Tennessee Downtowns application submitted by Tracy City is available for viewing by interested persons at Grundy County Historical Society Heritage Center, 465 Railroad Ave., Tracy City. People interested in providing comments or learning more can contact Nadene Moore, secretary for the committee, at (931) 592-6437 or (931) 592-6008.

SES Renovation Project Begins With Classrooms

By Pagie Wilson C’14, Messenger Intern

Sewanee Elementary School, built in 1924, is undergoing a $600,000 renovation. Most of the work is in the primary building, the original building containing the main offices, speech, special education and prekindergarten to second-grade classrooms.

“There are four issues being addressed in this renovation: drainage, new roofs, the installation of thermopane windows, which are more energy efficient, and new carpet,” principal Mike Maxon said in a recent interview. 

The first step is the installation of the windows and carpet in the primary building, he said, which began mid-January. The new windows are double- paned and smaller than the previous windows. With this loss of window space, the walls will be better insulated, and the air-conditioning units will be moved from the windows to the walls. 

“Our main difficulty is figuring out the logistics,” Maxon said, “such as where to move classrooms when the windows and carpets are being put in.”

Maxon, who said his main priority during construction time is to minimize loss of instruction time, has converted two rooms adjacent to the gym to function as classrooms during the construction. To have enough space, only two classrooms can be worked on at one time. Once all of the classrooms on the main level are fixed, the two rooms near the gym will undergo the same renovation. \

The next major issue, Maxon said, is drainage: through the ceiling, in the underground pipes and the downspouts. To fix leaking, the red asphalt roofs will be replaced on the primary building and the gym. 

The underground drainage pipes running from the building will also be fixed. The downspouts will be reconfigured to run into one drainpipe underground that flows toward and under the playground. When the water gets to the playground, the pipe will have holes to disperse it under the playground. Overflow water will be directed to the ravine behind the playground.

In addition to the windows, carpets and drainage, the three outside brick staircases will be replaced and the ice damage in the parking lot will be repaired with new paving.

During this project, Maxon said, teachers and staff have been parking their vehicles on University Avenue. 

“Everyone knows the situation we have here, and they have been very understanding and cooperative,” Maxon said. 

The front windows of the school will not be replaced because the school system wants to retain the aesthetics of the school. 

There is a tentative schedule for the project, which anticipates a four-month construction time, although this may vary due to the weather conditions.

The teachers, Maxon said, “ are very supportive, and are working the hardest. They work here over weekends to see that the students don’t miss a beat, and they are making the best with what they have.”

School Board Moves Ahead with SROs

by K. G. Beavers, Messenger Staff Writer

The Franklin County school board met in a work session on Feb. 4 to discuss a fund raising proposal, a telemedicine grant opportunity, the school resource officers (SROs) and the 2013–14 school board budget.

Franklin County resident Scott Truslow proposed a way to raise funds for the schools through a commission-based online program. People would be able to shop online as they normally do, except they first go through the <www.localschoolfund.com> website. Parents, students and local citizens make purchases with no additional fees at nationally recognized retailers such as Walmart, Macy’s and Office Depot. The schools then receive 5 to 15 percent of the sale, depending on the retailer. The only assistance the schools will be asked for is to promote the site. Truslow said Franklin County would get 100 percent of the commission money. The board made no decision on the proposal.

The Franklin County school system has been awarded a two-year, $499,000 telemedicine grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Sharber reported “that the grant has been received. Before it is announced to the public and officially accepted, Bonita Nolan is here to answer questions.”

“Before we start on the project and officially accept the grant, we need to understand the program,” said Nolan, from the Franklin County Office of Coordinated School Health. The telemedicine program is a way to connect a student to medical providers while the student is at school. 

“It is a type of walk-in clinic, where common ailments are diagnosed through audiovisual equipment connected to a doctor’s office,” said Nolan. The doctor’s office handles all insurance claims and prescriptions as needed. Parents sign up for the service at the beginning of the school year. Parents are also contacted before, during and after the service. “We do not treat unless we get permission from the parent,” said Nolan.

The school board postponed making a decision about this grant until the March meeting. The board wants more information about costs, insurance, liability issues and if there is a registered nurse requirement, before proceeding.

Franklin County Director of Schools Rebecca Sharber updated the board on the school resource officer (SRO) program.

 “Interviews have been completed, and the SROs have been matched up with schools,” said Sharber. 

“They are all current Franklin County sheriff department members and are academy-certified. Some have had the SRO training,” said Sharber.

“By the end of this week, approximately four SROs will be in place,” said Sharber. “By Feb. 20, all remaining SROs will be placed into the schools.”

In preparation for the budget discussion, Sharber reported that Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam is proposing to increase the state’s education budget in order to get ready for the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers assessment online testing for 2014–15. 

Addressing safety and security in the schools is a budget concern. School board members asked to look into the cost of purchasing security cameras for all schools. Sharber is also in contact with all the principals to see what capital outlay funds are needed in their schools regarding safety and security.

“We also need to increase the number of social workers we have,” said school board member Chris McDonough. “If we are concerned with safety, this is an element we need to discuss, and it is certainly worth investigating.”

“Sometimes children who need help do not get it,” said school board member Cleijo Walker. “Money and resources are geared toward special education programs,” said Walker. “Considering more social workers is part of the safety solution.”

Currently, the school system has one social worker. Each school has at least one guidance counselor.

The next school board meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 11, at the board office, 215 S. College St., Winchester.

Zeitler Named SAS Director of Athletics

St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School’s 17-year veteran coach, teacher and house parent Rob Zeitler has been chosen to be the school’s next director of athletics. He succeeds the Rev. Ellis Mayfield, who will retire at the end of this school year.

 In making the announcement the Rev. John Thomas, head of school, said, “With the right combination of intensity and compassion, Rob draws the absolute best out of each athlete and team. Win or lose, I have always been proud to have Rob representing SAS. Rob brings the deep respect of our peer-school coaches and a breadth of experience with boys’ and girls’ athletics that spans generations of students. I know that Rob is a leader and motivator who will help our coaches, athletes and our whole program compete.”

 Zeitler joined St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School in 1996. In his 17-year tenure, he has served as assistant director of athletics, volleyball coach, varsity boys’ basketball coach, health and fitness instructor, and physical education instructor. Rob, his wife, Courtnay, and their three children live on the SAS campus, where Rob also serves as lead house parent for Harvey House, one of the boys’ residential houses.

 “I am looking forward to working with our strong coaching staff, developing competitive student athletes, healthy relationships and teaching life lessons on the court and athletic field,” said Zeitler.

 Zeitler has been integral in developing the basketball and volleyball programs at SAS. As head coach of varsity boys’ basketball, he has built a team that is competitive every year and has a strong tradition. 

He started middle school volleyball, which has developed into a strong program with more than 15 players. The girls’ varsity and junior varsity teams, which he coaches, have also had strong participation for the past three years. The varsity volleyball team won the regional championship in 2008. As a classroom teacher, Zeitler developed the health and fitness curriculum to meet national standards.

 Zeitler holds a B.S. in physical education from University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse and an M.S. in sports administration from Georgia State University. Prior to coming to SAS, he taught physical education and English at Brandon Hall School in Atlanta and St. Francis Day School in Roswell, Ga.

County Finds Funding for SROs in All Schools : Compromise on Budget Reached at Work Session

by K.G. Beavers, Messenger Staff Writer

Franklin County commissioners voted on Jan. 25 to implement a plan to put eight additional school resource officers (SRO) in county schools, beginning immediately.

The commission met in a special called meeting to consider two resolutions amending the county budget for school resource officer implementation at all Franklin County school sites. Resolution 1a-012513 would amend the general fund budget of Franklin County for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013. This amendment was tabled at the Jan. 15 county commission and sent to the Jan. 23 work session. Resolution 1b-012513 would amend the board of education general fund budget of Franklin County for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013. The school board approved this amendment at its Jan. 14 meeting.

On the first resolution, the commissioners moved to reduce the budget amount for the program from $340,000 to approximately $220,000. The provision to purchase vehicles for the officers totaling $120,000 was removed. The commissioners then voted 14-0 to approve the new amount, with $110,000 coming from the county and $110,000 coming from the school board for the remainder of this school year.

Moving to the second resolution, commissioner John Page opposed any funding plan that would use Basic Education Program (BEP) money to fund the SRO program. “The $61,000 needs to be in the schools for the teachers,” he said.

“We are not going to hire any more teachers this year,” said Director of Schools Rebecca Sharber. “The BEP money was unexpected and would roll into the fund balance anyway. We have a budget set for this year, and we are following it,” she said.

The resolution to amend the board of education general fund budget was approved by the commissioners, 13-1 (Page voted “no”). The school board will have to amend the total amount coming from the fund balance from $170,000 to $110,000.

“The resolution funded the SRO program until the end of this fiscal year, and it will take $110,000 out of our fund balance,” said commissioner Johnny Hughes. “Going forward, the worst case scenario would take about a 5-cent property tax increase. We are going to explore all options to fund the program, including grants, budget cuts in other areas and possible referendums for the people to vote on, such as a wheel tax or a sales tax increase,” he said.

“We are not done addressing this issue,” said Hughes.

At a Jan. 23 work session, the Franklin County commissioners considered the various options available to fund eight additional school resource officers in all county schools. Currently there are four SROs serving the high schools and middle schools. 

Proposals considered included adding only three SROs until the end of the school year, and then adding additional SROs over time. Officers would have been assigned to both North Lake and Broadview elementary schools, and another officer would have traveled around the county each day to visit the other elementary schools. This proposal was not a viable solution, as officials said all schools deserve equal protection.

Finance director Andrea Smith pointed out that if the budget amendment passed, the county commission will need to raise taxes in August, as there are no cuts to be made to pay for the program. 

Chairman Eddie Clark said this proposal might require a tax increase of 1.5 cents for the first year, and possibly a 5- to 7-cent increase for the following year. He said the commission would be looking for other sources of funding, including grant money.

Council Sets Constituent Meetings

 by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

At the Jan. 28 meeting, the members of the Sewanee Community Council firmed up plans for meeting with their constituents, giving the residents of the community an opportunity to voice their concerns. The council also reviewed the Civic Association’s proposal to form a parks oversight committee and evaluated the effectiveness of the agenda committee as a vehicle for selecting council topics.

 The constituent meetings will be at 7 p.m., Monday, March 25, at the Sewanee Elementary School. Each district will be assigned a separate meeting room where constituents will meet with their district representatives. Following the meetings with constituents, the council will convene to share and assess what they have learned from the individuals they represent. 

The Sewanee Community Council serves those living on the Domain of the University, which is divided into four residential districts and two special districts for the student population and the School of Theology (SofT). Council representatives from the residential districts are elected. The student body and SofT appoint council representatives from within their ranks. Council representative Pam Byerly will design postcard invitations which will be mailed to all registered voters residing on the Domain, with the University paying the costs of the mailing.

Theresa Shackelford, council representative and president of the Civic Association, reported on the Civic Association’s plans to provide a structure for monitoring community parks, including the soon-to-be-constructed dog park and other parks on the Domain not supervised by another entity, including Elliott Park and the playgrounds at St. Mark’s and the Woodlands. Emily Puckette is undertaking formalizing the arrangement with the University on behalf of the Civic Association. When the dog park was initially proposed, the Council agreed to assume responsibility for oversight.

 Provost John Swallow invited comments on the effectiveness of the agenda committee which selects the topics addressed at Council meetings, a mechanism that has been in place for one year. Committee member Michael Hurst said the committee could resolve some issues without bringing them before the Council, with the answers to questions raised being communicated to the Council representative who introduced the topic on behalf of a constituent. Council representative David Coe countered that issues resolved by the committee were not made public, when the information might be useful to many community residents. 

On the recommendation of Shackelford, the committee will provide the Council with minutes from the committee’s meetings to make the Council aware of topics and solutions not publicly vetted.

 Swallow reported on golf course manager Matt Daniels’ reasons for not allowing privately owned golf carts. Daniels cited revenue earned, management and safety concerns and limited parking space.

 Vice-Chancellor John McCardell read a resolution honoring Louise Irwin on her 75th birthday [see adjacent box], McCardell praised Irwin as “a source of wisdom, counsel and historical memory” and on her “extraordinary service” to the community on behalf of the Trustees’ Human Relations Committee, the Senior Center, the Independence Day celebration and many other Sewanee institutions.

 Beginning at the next Council meeting on Feb. 25, SofT representative Molly Roberts will assume the role of secretary.

Crossroads Café Brings Singapore to the Mountain

by Pagie Wilson C’14, Messenger Intern

“Sewanee is a crossroads,” according to Irene and Richard Emory, owners of the new Crossroads Café that features Singapore cuisine. 

“Singapore is a crossroads, too,” Irene said, describing one of the places where she and Richard have lived. 

Many Asian countries, including China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and the Philippines, shape the food and culture in Singapore. Crossroads Café incorporates these influences in its food as well as in its décor, combining furniture and artwork that Richard and Irene have collected. 

The Emorys want Crossroads Café to become a comfortable meeting place with accessible food. 

"People enjoy being here so much, they just stay on,” Irene said. “That’s what we want.” They designed Crossroads Café with an open and inviting atmosphere to accommodate this. Irene and Richard believe that building relationships with their customers is just as important as the food. 

“Food is a celebration, and it should be shared with others,” Irene said. 

Crossroads Café is bringing different flavors to the Mountain, but Irene said she is paying close attention to the wants and taste buds of the local community. Irene cycles through different recipes to better understand her customers by learning what dishes they like and dislike. This allows her to bring out the traditional Singapore taste without having to strip her recipes of traditional ingredients, and she encourages customers to tell her what they like.

“We understand that it is important to make the food affordable and we want the Sewanee Community to enjoy our food,” said Irene. “We are very blessed to be in a small community that is kind, accommodating and patient.

Irene’s menu items are derived from recipes her family would use to cook for festivals and events in Singapore. While some of the ingredients have been difficult to find, Irene has been able to work with area farmers to obtain many ingredients.

Irene and Richard have traveled and lived around the world since 1999, moving eight times and living in six different countries for Richard’s job as an architect. 

Settling in Sewanee for their son’s education at St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School and to be close to Richard’s family in Knoxville, Irene and Richard have both put their talents to work by opening Crossroads Café.

Crossroads Café is open 11 a.m.–8 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and is located at 38 Ball Park Rd., Sewanee, adjacent to IvyWild. 

Paint Rock River Public Hearing

A public hearing on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s plan to protect the Paint Rock River watershed in Franklin County will be 3–8 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 5, in the downstairs meeting room of the Franklin County Library, 105 S. Porter St., Winchester. Considered one of the nation’s most important habitats for imperiled freshwater mussels and fish, the Paint Rock River is one of the last free-flowing rivers in the southeastern United States. More than 48 species of mussels have been documented, and numerous fish species are known to inhabit area streams. 

The University’s Landscape Analysis Lab helped prepare the spatial data for this federal initiative, one of the highest priority projects for the Fish and Wildlife Service. “This will be a brand-new wildlife refuge in the U.S. and, given its proximity, will provide incredible opportunities for Sewanee students in the future,” said Jon Evans, professor of biology and assistant provost for environmental stewardship and sustainability. For more information go to <www.fws.gov/southeast/paintrockriver/>.