Sewanee Messenger Launches The Mountain Now Website—Provides Links to Area Services and Events

The Sewanee Mountain Messenger is pleased to announce the launch of its newest service to the community, The Mountain Now. The Mountain Now is a comprehensive website providing information on area events and services. It is intended to be a one-stop site for everyone in the community to get accurate information. The website address is <www.TheMountainNow.com>.

“The time was right to provide this website as a service to the South Cumberland Plateau,” said Janet Graham, co-publisher of the Messenger. “We hope to make this the one place that everyone in the community goes in order to find information, whether it is finding the phone numbers of area libraries, local government information or the latest gallery offerings.” 

The Messenger’s news website, <www.sewaneemes​senger.com> will continue to have each week’s newspaper, the online archives of past issues and a calendar of events. The Mountain Today is linked to the news site with access to the community calendar on both sites. Of course, the Community Calendar on the back page of the Messenger will continue for those folks who prefer the paper version. 

“In the future, we want The Mountain Today to spotlight area attractions, local events, new writers and serve as a way for the South Cumberland Plateau community to be engaged,” said Laura Willis, Messenger editor. “Plans also include a comprehensive list of area hotels, restaurants and services.”

On the new site, “We encourage people to email photos while they are out hiking, send a message about an event, or let us know about an area that the community should visit,” Willis said. “This is a work in progress. We will need your input to make this website the best possible source of information for people who live here, are moving here or just want to visit the Mountain.”

Kiki Beavers is the editor and designer of the new site, which contains a comprehensive calendar of events, a local guide and a list of services that are in the Messenger distribution area, organized by town. Aaron Welch of Big A Designs has provided technical support for the project.

To provide feedback about the site, email <themoun​tainnow@gmail.com>. If your event or listing is not on the site, please use the Submit Event page to send the information. Go to <www.TheMountainNow.com>. 

Free Tax Filing Assistance Available at Senior Center

Anyone needing help with filing federal income tax forms may come to the Sewanee Senior Center, Monday through Friday, April 1–5. Hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 12:30–2 p.m., and Tuesday and Thursday, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. University students who have been trained to assist with tax preparation will be available at these times. All are welcome.

To participate, please bring a photo ID, social security number, W-2 forms if you have them, reports of any interest income from banks, retirement income statement and a copy of last year’s tax return, if available.

The Sewanee Senior Center is located at 5 Ball Park Rd., behind the Sewanee Market.

SUD Considers Solutions for Financial Oversight

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

At the March 26 meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Sewanee Utility District of Franklin and Marion Counties, SUD manager Ben Beavers reported on his inquiry into how SUD could satisfy the “segregation of duties” requirement of the state comptroller. Beavers also reviewed data on high unaccounted-for water loss and inflow and infiltration (I & I).

 At the February meeting, Beavers informed the board that a letter from the state comptroller cited SUD for inadequate “segregation of duties.” Beavers researched possible solutions. According to SUD’s auditor, SUD would need to hire an additional accounts payable clerk and an additional accounts receivable clerk to remedy the situation; outsourcing oversight to an accounting firm was not sufficient, the auditor said. 

On the auditor’s recommendation, Beavers will provide the comptroller with a detailed explanation of why hiring two additional employees is not financially viable for SUD. SUD also plans to more accurately document in-office procedures and procedure changes. The auditor indicated that if SUD showed good faith in attempting to address the issue, the utility would not be fined. Other small utilities have the same compliance problem, Beavers said.

In response to the ongoing trend of high unaccounted-for water loss, Beavers researched historical data. Unaccounted-for water loss is the difference between the amount of treated water SUD produces and the amount accounted for in metered sales. Unaccounted-for water loss spiked in 2006, Beavers said, then dropped off dramatically following major line renovation, but began to increase again in 2009 and has reached the 2006 level (29 percent for February). There are no pressure loss indicators suggesting leaks, Beavers said. He speculates aging, inaccurate meters are the cause and predicts the automatic meter reading technology SUD plans to implement will resolve the problem.

Increases in I & I (rain water infiltrating the sewer system) correspond directly with increases in rainfall, Beavers said. The extra water in the system increases demands on the wastewater treatment plant. Beavers said he observed that in certain areas the sewer lift stations begin pumping about 30 minutes after rain begins. Based on this information, he identified central campus and the Abbo’s Alley area as likely sources of high I & I. Beavers plans to use in-line flow meters to get more accurate data for these areas and others suspected of high I & I. SUD’s long-range budget calls for sewer repair over the next few years to reduce I & I.

The April 23 SUD commissioners meeting will be held at 5 p.m. in Blackman Auditorium. Reporting on a joint project, students from the University of the South and the University of Georgia will present a final proposal and budget for a trial constructed wetlands at SUD’s wastewater treatment plant. Beavers said he hopes the discussion will include funding and grant options. The public is invited.

Little League Needs Sponsors

For the 2013 baseball season, Sewanee is part of Cowan’s Little League program. Sewanee’s Little League cannot continue on its own this season because it does not have enough players to make a full major league team, nor does it have enough volunteer board members. 

In the future, if Sewanee has more players and greater volunteer involvement, the charter can be reinstated. 

The fund-raising efforts for Sewanee’s teams and ballpark will remain independent of Cowan, and the Sewanee Little League is in dire need of financial support.

Organizers are grateful to the Sewanee Community Chest for its annual contribution, but additional donations are needed so there can be a season. 

Funds are needed for new bases, field and team supplies, uniforms, scoreboard repair, umpire fees, and trophies. To make a donation or learn more, see the form on page 2.

Residents Air Concerns at Community Meeting

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer 

For the first time in the history of the Sewanee Community Council, council representatives met with their constituents in a special session called for that purpose on March 25 at Sewanee Elementary School. The meetings were organized by district, with the District 2 and District 4 meetings especially well attended. 

Several District 2 constituents objected to the nomenclature “the Village” to distinguish the campus from the business district, as proposed in the new Vision Plan. They preferred the commonly used expression “downtown” to the humble connotations “village” implied. District 2 constituents also cited the need for a grocery store in Sewanee, expressed confusion about Fowler Center fees for seniors and raised concerns about the future of the Community Center.

Several District 4 constituents made a plea for the rejuvenation of Elliott Park, a once highly frequented community playground, saying there was nothing there now but a swing set, and the park was rarely used. Another District 4 constituent brought attention to trees down across from Abbo’s Alley at the intersection of North Carolina and South Carolina avenues, calling the appearance of the site “shabby.”

Constituents from both District 2 and District 4 took issue with the lack of parking in Sewanee. 

Vice-Chancellor John McCardell supported the idea of a shuttle service for special events, saying there were vans available that could be used for that purpose. Regarding a campus bus service, however, McCardell said a feasibility study needed to be done to determine if use would be sufficient to justify the environmental impact. A constituent said the University event registration form was being redesigned and would ask if special event parking was needed. (For special events, through prior authorization with the police department, arrangements can be made for parking on University Avenue, which is normally forbidden.)

Responding to the constituent who cited a need for more handicapped parking, Provost John Swallow said, “We can make more handicapped spots.” Constituents also suggested a rear entrance to duPont Library from the library parking lot.

Council representative Pam Byerly said maps were being created to show parking locations, and plans also called for signage marking approved parking areas.

In discussion about the future of the Community Center, slated for demolition in the new Vision Plan, McCardell said, “Sewanee will not be without a community center,” but no decisions had yet been made regarding use, location of a new facility and other details.

Council representative Theresa Shackelford said the Sewanee Civic Association parks committee was considering overseeing the renovation of Elliott Park, following the model of the Dog Park, a community project with the Civic Association providing oversight. Representative David Coe said 

Elliott Park was a community resource, and the University should assume responsibility for the renovation. 

Director of Physical Plant Services John Vineyard will address the issue of the downed trees across from Abbo’s Alley. McCardell said the Council would research the question about Fowler Center fees and report at the next meeting scheduled for April 22.

CAC Offers Fresh Items, Sets New Events

Sewanee’s Community Action Committee has a number of events in the coming days of interest to area residents. CAC received a huge delivery of fresh fruit and vegetables and fresh bread and bakery items from Second Harvest Food Bank on March 20. CAC will give away these fresh items during its regular office hours, 9–11 a.m., today (Friday), March 22. It will also be open 9–11 a.m., Saturday, March 23, to give food to people who cannot get to the office on Friday. 

“We got this great, wonderful gift from Second Harvest and are glad to share it with the community,” said Betty Carpenter, CAC’s interim director. Among the items are bananas, oranges,carrots, grapes and pineapples, as well as bread, cakes and sweet rolls.

CAC is an outreach ministry of Otey Parish, with generous support from the Sewanee Community Chest and individuals across the Mountain. For more than 35 years, the CAC has provided food, financial assistance, and educational support for persons in the greater Sewanee community. 

Boy Scout Troop 14 is having a food drive to benefit CAC on Sunday, March 24, in Sewanee. Scouts will walk through neighborhoods asking residents to donate non-perishable food items for the food pantry. If you are not going to be home and would like to make a donation, contact Speed Baranco at 598-0442 or by email to <sbaranco@gmail.com>.

Finally, Sewanee will have its own version of March Madness on Saturday, March 30. TKP sorority is sponsoring a Powder Puff football game to benefit CAC. The donation of a non-perishable food item will get you in to watch the action. Games begin at 10:30 a.m. at Courts Field. Teams are still being accepted for the event; there is a $50 entry fee. T-shirts will also be available. The event will happen, rain or shine. For more information or to register a team, email Clair Bartholomew at <barthcs0@ sewanee.edu>.

While Otey Parish Hall is under renovation, CAC is located in the Yellow House at 258 Lake O’Donnell Rd. CAC can be reached at 598-5927.

Chick Corea & Béla Fleck in Concert Wednesday

Chick Corea and Béla Fleck , two of today’s most creative musicians, will visit Sewanee as part of their exciting new tour. Together, their stunning technique and musical genius produce a sound never heard before. The University’s Performing Arts Series brings them for a concert at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 27, in Guerry Auditorium.

Corea and Fleck, two master songwriters, musicians, and band leaders meet in a historic duet of piano and banjo. The Grammy-winning duet will combine Corea and Fleck’s most recognizable tunes with the music from their Latin Grammy-winning album, “The Enchantment.” 

With a mix of jazz and pop standards, crossing a myriad of genres including jazz, bluegrass, rock, flamenco and gospel, this will be a casual, intimate evening with two legends from different musical worlds.

Fleck’s intense musical curiosity and spirit of innovation have drawn him into nearly every genre of music, stretching the boundaries of each and producing extraordinary collaborations. He has worked in bluegrass, country, jazz and world music, and won multiple Grammy Awards.

A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master, 20-time Grammy winner and undisputed keyboard virtuoso, Corea has attained living legend status after four decades of unparalleled creativity and artistic output. From straight-ahead to avant-garde, bebop to fusion, children’s songs to chamber music, Corea has touched an astonishing number of musical bases while maintaining a singular standard of excellence.

Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and $10 for students. 

For tickets or more information call 598-1770.

Civic Assn Seeks Nominees

The Sewanee Civic Association invites nominations for the 30th annual Community Service Award. The award recognizes the person or organization that has made outstanding contributions to the community. The kind of contribution varies widely, but the recipient has always made Sewanee a better place.

Nominations are due April 1. Past recipients are not eligible to receive the award again. Send the name of your nominee, along with the reasons you are nominating this person/group, to Theresa Shackelford, <shackelfordt@bellsouth.net>. The award will be presented at the SCA’s April 17 meeting.

Previous winners include Dr. Matt Petrilla, Harry and Jean Yeatman, Marshall Hawkins, Karen Keele, Tom Watson, the Sewanee Senior Center (Lena McBee, Sue Hawkins, Charlsie Green), Geraldine Hewitt Piccard, Connie Warner, Ina May Myers, Boo Cravens, David Green, Joe David McBee, Doug Cameron, Phoebe Bates and Louise Irwin.

New Watson Fellow Named

DeAndré Espree-Conaway, a senior in the College, has been named a recipient of the prestigious year-long Watson Fellowship for 2013–14. He is one of only 40 fellows from 31 universities who will be awarded $25,000 for a year of travel and exploration. Sewanee had four finalists nominated this year out of the several hundred candidates who compete for the fellowship each year on the national level.

Espree-Conaway, from Houston, Tex., plans to observe the role that language documentation plays in the world’s indigenous cultures and societies. He is a French and anthropology double major who has always been intrigued with language, culture and history. His Watson travels will take him around the South Pacific (to French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Indonesia and more) to observe different contexts within which to understand the role of language documentation in minority language speakers’ social and cultural lives.

In addition to French, Espree-Conaway has pursued languages including Indonesian, Italian, Latin, Old English, Middle English, German, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Ilocano and Breton. He has studied abroad at the Canada Institute of Linguistics, in France, and in Java, Indonesia. During his time at Sewanee, he also conducted fieldwork in Java through the Biehl International Research Scholarship.

Since 1985, when Sewanee was selected as one of the Watson institutions, the University has produced 43 fellowship recipients, including Blair Barrows and Aaron Rutz, both C’12, who are now completing their fellowship years.

The Thomas J. Watson Fellowship Program was established in 1968 by the children of Thomas J. Watson Sr., the founder of International Business Machines Corp., and his wife, Jeannette K. Watson, to honor their parents’ long-standing interest in education and world affairs. 

The Watson Foundation regards its investment in people as an effective long-term contribution to the global community.

Centennial of Historic Climb by Sewanee Alum

By Patrick Dean, Special to the Messenger

One hundred years ago last Sunday, March 17, a group of men and boys left Fairbanks, Alaska, to climb the highest mountain in North America—Denali, also known as Mt. McKinley. That expedition is noteworthy for two reasons: first, because it succeeded and claimed the first ascent of Denali; and second, because the expedition was organized and led by a Sewanee alumnus, the Rev. Hudson Stuck, Archdeacon of Alaska and the Yukon.

Stuck attended Sewanee from 1889 to 1892, studying theology (there was neither a separate school nor a theology degree at that time). After serving as dean of the Episcopal cathedral in Dallas, Stuck accepted the challenge of serving in the far North.

In the course of his time in Alaska, Stuck became famous for his exploits and for his books about them. He covered his mission territory in the dead of winter in several different years, writing an account called “Ten Thousand Miles With a Dog Sled.” His “Ascent of Denali,” about the expedition of 1913, was also a best seller. Sewanee historiographer Arthur Ben Chitty described Stuck as “an ice-encrusted Lawrence of Arabia, undergirded with the zeal of St. Paul.”

Stuck’s earlier exploits in the mountains had included trips to the Spanish Peaks of the Colorado Rockies and the Canadian Rockies; he had also explored “the Cañon of the Yellowstone and the Grand Cañon of the Colorado,” and he had summited Mount Rainier in Washington. He made plain his desire to summit Denali: “I would far rather climb that mountain than own the richest gold-mine in Alaska.”

But Hudson Stuck was far more than an early-20th century Edmund Hillary in a priest’s collar. One of his favorite statements was, “I am sorry for a life in which there is no usefulness to others.” Again and again he preached on the necessity of helping others, that “salvation is for the whole man,” and that “there is a need of personal works by men and women to those less favored.”

In Dallas, Stuck helped found a grammar school for boys and St. Matthew’s Home for Children, which has continued to work for children up to the present as the Children’s Foundation of the Diocese of Dallas. Stuck also started a night school for mill workers and a home for indigent women.

He continued this work in Alaska. Within two weeks of his arrival, the hospital in Fairbanks, which had been foundering, admitted its first patient; a total of 1,774 patients would be served before its closing in 1915. He also opened a reading library to give Alaskans somewhere to go besides the taverns.

Also noteworthy was Stuck’s treatment of the native people of the North. Unlike his missionary contemporaries in Alaska, Stuck did not believe that the natives had to be turned into Westerners, shorn of their language and customs. He respected the wisdom of aboriginal cultures for its intrinsic worth. 

Stuck was also an outspoken and controversial advocate for the natives against what he saw as the rapaciousness of some white commercial interests. He particularly fought against the large-scale salmon fisheries, which he saw as serious threats to the very existence of the natives. As he pointed out, “Not only is dried salmon a very large part of the native food, but it is almost the whole food of the indispensable dog,” without which “the whole present Indian economy would be destroyed.”

These attitudes and actions endeared him to the natives and enlightened sourdoughs (whites) of Alaska, and they mourned his premature death, of pneumonia, a month shy of his 55th birthday.

Upon reaching the summit of Denali on June 7, 1913, the group sang the “Te Deum,” a hymn that seemed to them to suit the moment: “We praise Thee, O God! Heaven and earth are full of the majesty of Thy Glory!” In Sewanee’s All Saints’ Chapel, a plaque on the south wall of the nave commemorates Stuck. And if you look closely at the reredos – the carved statues at the east end behind the altar – you can see a dog is jumping up on one of the figures. That’s Stuck with one of his sled dogs.

The centennial of the Denali ascent is a great opportunity to celebrate a noteworthy man and Sewanee alumnus. Hudson Stuck is worth remembering, not only for his most famous accomplishment, but also for his faith, love of exploration, belief in service and respect for diversity.

(This article is adapted from one to be published in Keystone, the newsletter of the Sewanee Trust for Historic Preservation, later this spring, along with an article by Sewanee outing program director John Benson on the mountaineering aspects of Stuck’s climb.)

Messenger Offers Nonprofits Free Space

Beginning with its April 5 issue, the Sewanee Mountain Messenger is pleased to announce that it is offering a free one-quarter page advertisement to area nonprofit organizations to promote a special event.

To qualify, the organization must have 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and be located in the Messenger’s distribution area (from Tracy City to Cowan), or be a past or current recipient of Sewanee Community Chest funds.

“We want to do this to help support the fine work happening in our community,” said co-publisher Janet Graham. “The Messenger has always been a key part of communication to the Mountain community and we want to continue this in a new, bold way.”

Each qualifying organization can have one free ad per year. The free ads will be placed on a space-available basis, so organizations that wish to have an ad guaranteed for a specific date should plan to pay for the ad.

This offer provides additional support for community endeavors beyond the meeting announcements, volunteer requests and opportunities, and event notices that the Messenger already provides for organizations across the Mountain. 

For more information contact Graham at 598-9949 or via email at <ads@sewaneemessenger.com>.

Aiken Taylor Award Events on March 19–21

The winners of this year’s Aiken Taylor Award for Modern American Poetry, Debora Greger and William Logan, will be the focus of a number of events in Sewanee March 19–21. 

Events begin at 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 19, with a lecture by David Yezzi (editor of the New Criterion) on “The Perfect Moods of William Logan,” in McGriff Alumni Hall. This and all lectures and readings are followed by a reception and an opportunity to purchase books by the poets and lecturers. 

William Logan’s Aiken Taylor reading is at 5 p.m., Wednesday, March 20, in Convocation Hall. 

At 4 p.m., Thursday, March 21, Emily Grosholz, liberal arts research professor of philosophy, African American studies and English at Penn State University, will lecture on “The Landscapes of Debora Greger” in McGriff Alumni Hall. 

Debora Greger will give the final reading at 8 p.m., Thursday, March 21, in Convocation Hall.

The most significant prize administered by the Sewanee Review, the Aiken Taylor Award, was established in 1987 to honor an accomplished American poet for the work of his or her career. The award was made possible through the generosity of Dr. K. P. A. Taylor, brother of poet Conrad Aiken.

Readers and Bakers: It’s Time for the Edible Books Contest

The Jessie Ball duPont Library will celebrate its eighth year of participating in the International Edible Books Festival with a contest on Monday, April 1. Entries will be accepted from 8 a.m. until noon. Judging will take place beginning at noon, and the celebration will be 3:30–5:00 p.m. in the main lobby of the duPont Library.

Each entry should be edible—cakes, vegetables, fruits, bread and the like—and represent a book or something about a book. Past entries have included “The Princess and the Pea,” “The Hunger Games,” “A Farewell to Arms” and “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” among other literary greats. 

 The contest has several special categories for judging: Children’s Books, Banned Books, Wittiest (Title Puns), Entries by Children 12 and Younger, in addition to the general category. 

This year organizers have added a new category for Professional Culinary Entries: any local bakers, restaurants, caterers, etc., are encouraged to submit an entry that will be judged separately. 

Prizes include gift cards from local businesses and pictures of all the entries will be showcased on duPont Library’s Facebook page. Also new this year will be the “People’s Choice Award;” everyone who attends the celebration will have the opportunity to vote for a favorite entry during the afternoon celebration.

For Pinterest users, there is a board for Edible Book ideas and a look at some entries from previous years at <http://pinterest.com/penelk/edible-book-ideas/>. 

The International Edible Book Festival is held annually around April 1. People participate in the event in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, England, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxemburg, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Romania, Russia, Singapore and Sweden.

The date of the event, April 1, is the birthday of French gastronome Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1755-1826), famous for his book “Physiologie du goût,” a witty meditation on food. April 1 is also the perfect day to eat words and play with them as the “books” are consumed on the day of the event.

For more information about the local contest contact Wanda Cheston at 598-1658 or <wcheston@sewanee.edu> or Joan Blocher at 598-1778 or <jo​bloche@sewanee.edu>.

Civic Association Learns About SES Desegregation

by Leslie Lytle
Messenger Staff Writer

At the March 6 business and dinner meeting, the Sewanee Civic Association (SCA) reaffirmed its decision to charge a $10 subscription fee for the Classifieds email list administered by the organization. Following the business meeting, retired Franklin County High School teacher Marilyn Davidheiser presented a program on the desegregation of Sewanee Elementary School.

Classifieds list manager Elizabeth Clark Duncan said the board reviewed all the comments generated by the announcement to charge a $10 fee for using the list. The board revisited the fee issue and decided fee payment will coincide with the Civic Association’s fiscal year. Current subscribers are entitled to use the service for free until Aug. 31. Those who recently paid the fee in response to the announcement will receive an extended subscription through Aug. 31, 2014. For SCA dues-paying members, a subscription to the service is included in the $10 membership fee. Fee-paying Classifieds subscribers may participate as active voting members of the SCA if they attend meetings.

Addressing a question by a guest about the appropriate use of Classifieds, Duncan said the email service was intended to provide a vehicle for information sharing. Individuals wishing to engage in debate and express personal opinions, she said, should use the “forum” feature accessed via the website <groupspaces.com/Sewanee>. Questions about the service should be addressed to the SCA board via email to <sewaneecivic@gmail.com>.

In the program, SCA vice-president Susan Holmes said the story behind the desegregation of Sewanee Elementary School (SES) was particularly timely, since 2014 is the 50th anniversary of the 1964 court-ordered desegregation. 

In a lawsuit filed in December of 1963, four Sewanee African-American families (the Hills, Sisks, Statens and Turners) and four white families (the Bates, Camerons, Camps and Goodsteins) joined together to file a lawsuit requesting that SES comply with the 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court decision that declared state laws establishing “separate but equal” school facilities were unconstitutional.

 During the 1960s, 29 lawsuits to compel integration were filed in Tennessee:19 initiated by the Department of Justice and 10 initiated by individuals. The SES lawsuit was the only case jointly initiated by African-American and white plaintiffs. Of the 29 instances of desegregation by litigation, 17 cases remain under court jurisdiction. Franklin County is among these.

Following desegregation, Davidheiser said, 30 black educators were placed in integrated schools, but they were replaced by white teachers when they retired. Davidheiser said certain factors would need to be addressed for the Franklin County Public Schools to close the case and be released from court jurisdiction, notably an imbalance in hiring practices and the FCHS school’s “fight song, ‘Dixie.’”

In response to a suggestion by Duncan, Holmes will investigate the SCA sponsoring a historical marker at SES to commemorate desegregation. 

At the April 17 meeting of the SCA, the final meeting of the academic year, the organization will elect officers for next year, approve the budget and name the recipient of the 2013 Community Service Award. The annual award honors individuals and organizations who have made an outstanding contribution to the community.

Reading Workshop in Grundy Co.

Spark the imagination of a child in your life by participating in an upcoming workshop hosted by the Grundy County Imagination Library, Rotary Club of Grundy County and Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation.

The free event will be 8:30 a.m.–noon, Monday, March 25, at the Tracy City First United Methodist Church, 105 16th St., Tracy City.

Led by Mitchell Korn, the workshop is designed for parents, caregivers  and educators focusing on creative and interactive ways to engage a child in the love of reading. 

Korn is a nationally recognized arts education expert who has also developed arts education and organizational strategic plans for dozens of arts, cultural and educational organizations. He is an adjunct professor at the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt. The Wall Street Journal has called Korn a “one-man arts education industry.”

The workshop will cover a wide spectrum of topics, including musical and dramatic approaches to reading, visualization, repetition, parallel arts and crafts activities, and how to use music from radio, television and CDs to tell stories and boost listening skills. Korn’s primary emphasis will be on equipping attendees with skills and strategies designed to maximize a child’s engagement during reading time.

Childcare will be available for children ages 8 and under; for more information or to preregister for childcare, call Emily Partin, Grundy County Family Resource Center, (931) 592-4372.

Power Outage This Weekend

Daylight Savings Time begins at 2 a.m., Sunday, March 10. Clocks get moved ahead by one hour as we “spring forward” into the annual time change.

Also, TVA has a four-hour power outage scheduled for the Sewanee community between midnight and 4 a.m., Sunday, March 10. TVA will be working on the high-tension power lines below the Memorial Cross. The communities of Sherwood, Anderson, Sinking Cove and Cowan in Franklin County will not be affected by this scheduled outage.

Many electronic devices such as cell phones and computers automatically adjust when Daylight Savings Time begins or ends. However, traditional clocks and watches must be reset; this is a good time to change batteries in household smoke detectors. 

According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Daylight Savings Time was extended by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 in the interest of reducing energy consumption. DST is now in effect for 238 days or about 65 percent of the year. Daylight Savings Time in the U.S. now begins at 2 a.m. on the second Sunday of March and ends at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday of November.

St. Mary's Sewanee Dedication March 9

The new building at St. Mary’s Sewanee will be dedicated at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, March 9. All are welcome to participate in the celebration of this addition. 

Aiken Taylor Award Poetry Readings and Lectures March 19–21

This year’s Aiken Taylor Award for Modern American Poetry is being given to Debora Greger and William Logan; the accompanying lectures, readings, receptions and book signings will take place March 19–21. Events begin on Tuesday, March 19, with a lecture by David Yezzi (editor of the New Criterion) on “The Perfect Moods of William Logan” at 4:30 p.m. in McGriff Alumni Hall. This and all lectures and readings are followed by a reception and an opportunity to purchase books by the poets and lecturers. William Logan’s Aiken Taylor reading is at 5 p.m., Wednesday, March 20, in Convocation Hall. 

At 4 p.m., Thursday, March 21, Emily Grosholz (liberal arts research professor of philosophy, African American studies and English at Penn State University) will lecture on “The Landscapes of Debora Greger” in the McGriff Alumni Hall. Debora Greger will give the final reading at 8 p.m., Thursday, March 21, in Convocation Hall.

The most significant prize administered by the Sewanee Review, the Aiken Taylor Award was established in 1987 to honor an accomplished American poet for the work of his or her career. The award was made possible through the generous bequest of Dr. K. P. A. Taylor, a surgeon who was an excellent amateur poet, to celebrate distinguished American poets, especially his older brother, Conrad Aiken. Howard Nemerov was the first honored and was followed by Richard Wilbur, Anthony Hecht, W. S. Merwin, Gwendolyn Brooks, Maxine Kumin, Wendell Berry and, more recently, Anne Stevenson, John Haines, Donald Hall, Louise Glück and Billy Collins.

Greger is a poet and visual artist who finds inspiration for each of her genres in the other. Known for her intersections of myth, fact, history and everyday life—both in her poetry and her visual art—she encourages her writing students to find these connections as well, especially by looking for inspiration in the visual arts. Greger herself tried to submit a quilt in place of an essay when she was a student at Iowa (the effort was, unfortunately, unsuccessful). A reviewer for Publishers Weekly once remarked that Greger “rarely rejoices, though she can surely console; her pruned-back, autumnal sensibility and her balanced lines suit the scenes she portrays.” 

She is the author of eight books of poetry, including “Movable Islands” (1980) and “By Herself” (2012). Her award-winning collection “Desert Fathers, Uranium Daughters” (1996) draws its themes from her childhood—her father worked at the Hanford Site, a plutonium production facility constructed as part of the Manhattan Project in 1943, whose plutonium was used in both the first nuclear bomb ever tested and the bomb detonated over Nagasaki. The Nation characterizes her style as exhibiting “deadpan wit, intelligence and marvelous insight.” Greger’s poetry has been published in numerous periodicals and reprinted in six volumes of “The Best American Poetry.” She has exhibited her collage artwork at several galleries and museums across the country and has designed several book covers, including William Logan’s collection “Desperate Measures” (2002).

William Logan is a poet and literary critic known for formality and structure in his own writing. Since 1975 he has published a vast amount of work—both criticism and poetry—in such major publications as the New Yorker, the New York Times, the Paris Review, Poetry and the New Criterion. He is the author of nine books of poetry, including “Sad-Faced Men” (1982) and “Madame X” (2012). Along with essays and reviews, Logan has also written and edited six books of criticism, the most recent of which is “Our Savage Art,” published in 2009. 

Richard Tillinghast has described Logan as an “accomplished and original poet . . . [who] writes with vigor, almost classical restraint and a fine sense of musicality.” Poetry’s editor, Christian Wiman, offered this analysis of the power of Logan’s criticism: “William Logan is the best practical critic around. I sometimes disagree with his judgments fiercely, but that I so fiercely disagree, that his prose provokes such a response, is what makes him the best. Most criticism is like most poetry: it simply leaves you indifferent. I’ve seen Logan’s name bring bile to the lips of the gentlest spirits . . . For breadth of intelligence, an incisive style and pure passion, I don’t think he can be matched.”

Binkley Opens New CSB Speaker Series Thursday

Citizens State Bank is hosting its first quarterly Community Speaker Series at 5 p.m., Thursday, March 14, in Thomas Hall at its Monteagle location. Susan Binkley, founder and executive director of Blue Monarch, will be the opening speaker in the series.

“We look forward to having Susan from Blue Monarch as the first speaker,” said Barry Allen, Mountain Community president and senior credit officer of Citizens State Bank. “She will be a good representative of the speakers we anticipate bringing to the Mountain on a quarterly basis. At CSB we have made a conscious commitment to make our communities better places to live, work and raise a family.”

The Community Speaker Series is designed to bring people together and discuss a variety of topics, organizations and events that are vital to the Monteagle Mountain communities. 

“This year marks our tenth year at Blue Monarch, having served over 450 women and children since we opened,” Binkley said. “I’m anxious to share our story with the Monteagle Mountain community, which has been so supportive throughout this amazing journey.

School Board Considers Grant, Takes First Look at 2013–14 Budget

by K.G. Beavers, Messenger Staff Writer

The Franklin County school board met in a work session on March 4 to discuss the telemedicine grant opportunity and the first draft of the 2013–14 school board budget.

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. Mike Lay, an education sales consultant with PCS Inc., gave a presentation to the board about the equipment used with this grant. The telemedicine program is a way to connect a student to medical providers while the student is at school. 

“This program is not designed to replace medical professionals, but helps parents, students and schools to provide another layer of health care,” said Lay. Telemedicine is a type of walk-in clinic, where common ailments are diagnosed through audiovisual equipment connected to a doctor’s office. The doctor’s office handles all insurance claims and prescriptions, as needed. Parents would sign up for the service at the beginning of the school year. Parents are also contacted before, during and after the service.

“We applied for this grant as an opportunity to do better, not to say that nurses are not doing a good job or that our students are not getting adequate care,” said Rebecca Sharber, Franklin County director of schools. “We will also have an opportunity to teleconference in all the schools,” said Sharber. 

Teleconferencing includes attending meetings, classes and professional development opportunities without having to travel.

The school board postponed making a decision about this grant until the April meeting. 

“We need a specific plan in place detailing this is what we are going to do, this is what we are going to test and this is how we are going to implement the program,” said Kevin Caroland, chairman of the school board. “We also need to consider privacy issues,” said Caroland.

In new business, Sharber presented the budget amendment resolutions. The County Solid Waste program has been paying the school’s disposal fee for at least the last three years, totaling $98,500. This is money owed to Solid Waste this fiscal year. The disposal fee will become a new budget line item for the school board. The board postponed passing this resolution amending the general surplus school budget until the April meeting, in order to get more information.

Sharber presented the first draft of the 2013–14 school board budget, which included new expenditures.

“In the governor’s budget, he has added a 1.5 percent salary increase. This is not a mandated salary increase and does not have to be applied across the board,” said Sharber. She explained that this money could be used for possible merit raises or applied to benefits.

Increases to health, property and worker’s compensation insurance are also expected in the new budget. Several new positions were added to the draft budget, including hiring an additional social worker, a full-time middle school art teacher and a full-time counselor at Decherd Elementary. The current full-time counselor at Decherd would move to the Huntland Elementary and Middle schools.

Sharber reported there would be additional expenditures added to the budget, including technology purchases to replace existing equipment, purchasing equipment for the mandatory PAARC online testing and purchasing walkie-talkies for each school. Because of the national sequester cuts, the school board will be receiving $150,000 less in Title I grants, including disadvantaged students programs and individuals with disabilities programs. This budget cut will not affect special education teachers or assistants, as those positions are essential to the programs.

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

St. Andrew's-Sewanee School Names Hargis as Football Coach

St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School has named John W. Hargis II as head football coach for the 2013–14 season. Hargis will succeed varsity coach Ellis Mayfield, who will retire at the end of this school year.

Hargis holds a B.S. in physical education with a minor in athletic coaching from Middle Tennessee State University. He has more than 14 years of coaching experience, including AAU girls’ basketball and football at the little league, middle school and high school levels. 

Since 2002, Hargis has served as a teacher and coach for Grundy County schools. He joined the SAS football program as defensive coordinator in 2011. In addition to coaching football, Hargis will coach two other sports, assist with the school’s Adventure Education classes, teach middle school physical education, serve as an advisor and weekend team member and provide daily coverage for the school’s Owen Student Union. 

“John Hargis knows SAS football after being our defensive coordinator for the past two years, and he believes in what we are about,” said Fr. Mayfield. “He loves the game and has a great rapport with our athletes. I think he will do an outstanding job.”

Although a member of TSSAA in most sports, St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School plays eight-man football in the Middle Tennessee Athletic Conference. The Mountain Lions finished the regular season as MTAC co-champions with an 8-3 overall record and a 5-1 conference record.