Vista Gatherings – February 18, 2014

Glade Garden Club slated to meet Feb. 19

February is often considered the month of Love (you know, the birds and bees?) and since the Great American Backyard Bird Count is starting on Valentine’s Day this year, the Fairfield Garden Club thought it only right to spotlight that other half – BEES!

Here are a couple bee facts:  If you have eaten any kind of fruit or vegetable lately, chances are good that the plant was pollinated by a bee.

And did you know that in the winter of 2012-2013, one-third of U.S.honeybee colonies died or disappeared?

To learn more about the importance of bees in our environment and in our gardens, the Garden Club has invited Sheila Rae, a TN Beekeepers Conference Teacher and State Local Inspector to speak at their monthly meeting.

Please join Club members for “Flowers and Honeybees-Nature’s Perfect Companion” to be presented on Feb. 19 at 9:30 A.M.

This meeting, as with all Fairfield Glade Garden Club meetings, will be held at the Fairfield Glade Community Church, 521 Snead Dr. Fairfield Glade.

Meetings are at 9:30 A.M. with doors opening at 9 A.M. for refreshments and socializing.

Anyone interested in learning about gardening on the Plateau or just gardening in general is welcome to attend and those wishing to become a member may do so at any meeting.  The yearly dues are $15.

For more information, please contact the Club Moderator, Ellen Jeffers at (931) 707-8578.

 

Movie preview set

The prequel to In Gramps’s Shoes entitled Gramps Goes to College will be shown at the Rocky Top 10 Theatre on Feb. 22 and 23 at 4 and 7 P.M. and on Feb. 23 at 1 P.M.

Rusty Martin Jr. is the headliner.  He is best known for his role as Alex Kendrick’s son in Courageous. He was named to the list of top 10 upcoming actors under 30 years old in the world of Christian films.

Kera O’Bryon received a nomination for an Emmy and has appeared in many TV shows and movies.

Carol Anderson is making her debut in a feature film but has been a decorated theatrical actress for a long time.

Most of the rest of the cast are locals to the Knoxville/Crossville area.   Bob Laney, Bob  “Stretch” Cleeland, and Chris Palmer, in addition to Gramps all hail from Crossville.

 

AARP program offered

The AARP Smart Driver Course, a classroom refresher course for older drivers, will be offered at the Art Circle Public Library, 3 East Street, Crossvill.

The eight-hour course will be given in two consecutive morning sessions on Thursday, April 17, and Friday, April 18, from 8:30 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. on both days.  Membership in AARP is not required to attend.

The AARP Driver Safety program has continued to evolve with the times since its introduction in 1979, delivering on AARP’s goal to promote the independence of older Americans and enhance their quality of life.

Through a grant from Toyota, AARP Driver Safety collaborated with the nation’s top experts in mobility, aging, technology, and vehicle and driver safety to develop the AARP Smart Driver Course, which was launched on January 1, 2014.

This course explains changes that occur in vision, hearing and reaction time as aging occurs and provides driving safety tips for handling these changes.  Unique differences in Tennessee laws will be presented, and participants will have opportunities to share driving experiences.

Attendees will be given an informative workbook for use during the class and for future reference.  There are no tests to pass or fail.  More information is available at www.aarp.org/drive.

In Tennessee, most automobile insurance carriers offer a discount on premiums to eligible drivers who have completed approved courses such as the AARP Smart Driver course.  Check with your insurance agent regarding possible discounts.

Pre-registration for the course is required.  Call Julian Kmiec, a volunteer AARP Driver Safety instructor, at (931) 484-9027 to enroll.  Cost for the class is $15 per person for AARP members, or $20 per person for non-members, payable by check to “AARP” at the first session.  Class size is limited, so call soon to procure your place in this valuable class.

 

Washington’s Birthday celebration scheduled

Did you know that Lord Cornwallis called George Washington the “Old Fox”?  Did you know that George Washington and Robert E. Lee were third cousins twice removed?

Or did you know that George Washington’s Motto was “Deeds not Words”?

On Friday February 21,   the Crab-Orchard Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will celebrate the birthday of our first President with cherry pie and coffee at the First National Bank on Peavine Road in Fairfield Glade.  Come and help them celebrate from 1 to 4 P.M.

 

Tme to join the New Generation Dance Club

The New Generation Dance Club was started in 1990 to provide an evening of sociability, dancing, fellowship and expanded friendship.  They meet four times per year in March, May, October and December on the second Tuesday of these months.

A one time non-refundable fee of $35 per couple also includes your dues for the current year.

The Dance Club’s gathering featuresa social hour starting at 5:30 P.M.with dinner served at 6:30 P.M., and dancing continuing until 9:30 P.M.

Their dances are held at the Fairfield Glade Community Conference Center and dress is usually smart casual or dressy.

Dance committees are volunteers from the membership who plan the theme and menu, plus act as hosts and hostesses for a selected dance.  Invitations with menu selections are mailed to the membership six weeks prior to each dance.

Guests may attend a dance and consider joining our dance club.  If you wish to sit with friends you can make table reservations.

If you wish to make new friends you will be seated accordingly.  Invitation responses are returned to the club Vice President along with a check, meal selections and seating preference.

If you are new to this area, this is a great way to meet people.  Or, if you are a longtime resident and looking for a nice evening out, plan to attend our next New Generation Dance Club event on Tuesday, March 11.

For more information, please call Sherry Koch at 707-7834 or email at [email protected].

 

Medicare Class set

Are you turning 65 soon and confused about Medicare?  The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) is hosting classes for those entering the confusing world of Medicare on Saturday, March 15 from 1 to 3:30 P.M. at Art Circle Library in Crossville.

The class will consist of training on Parts A, B, C & D, as well as Medigap policies and ways to prevent Medicare fraud.

SHIP is a federally funded program administered locally through the Upper Cumberland Area Agency on Aging & Disability and provides free and objective counseling to all Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers.

To reserve a seat for the class, please call SHIP at 1-877-801-0044.

 

Photo contest scheduled

The Cumberland County Master Gardeners are having a photo contest during their Flower Show, April 25-27.

They are looking for submissions in two categories: 1. gardens, flowers or plants from any public State park in TN, 2. gardens, flowers or plants from any of the three UT Gardens located at Knoxville, Jackson or Crossville. The photos do not have to be from the current year; they can be up to 5 years old.

Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, in each category and one People’s Choice.

For further details and to download the rules and application please go to www.ccmga.org and click on the PHOTO CONTEST link. Or stop by the UT Ag Extension Office located at Cumberland County Fairgrounds/Community Complex; Monday – Friday 9 A.M> to 4 P.M.  Need further assistance, please feel free to contact Erin at [email protected].

 

Free Ice Cream!

Wags and Whiskers is celebrating their 10th anniversary of community service by hosting a free Ice Cream Social on Saturday, March 1st from Noon to 3 P.M.

It will be held in the Crossville Outlet Center (aka “Vanity Fair Mall”) in the event room across from Subway.  Please come to learn more about their low-cost spay/neuter program, register for door prizes and enjoy some fine Mayfield ice cream with all kinds of fixin’s.

Since starting in 2004, they have rescued and placed over 3,300 cats and dogs and provided low-cost spay/neuter for over 8,000.

Their members look forward to seeing those families who they have helped over the past 10 years, but all are welcome.

 

Fair Park events set

• The Gong Show:Humor, laughs & comedy, you never know what will happen next.

Looking for any kind of entertain to be in the show, which will be at the Palace Theater on Friday Evening, Feb. 21st at 7 P.M. The $10 tickets are on sale at the Fair Park Senior Center. To get in on the act call Tina today at 484-7416.

• Free Form Style Art Classes: No Talent is required, just a desire to learn something new. Cheryl Stewart will be teaching these unique art classes, on Monday afternoons at P.M. beginning in March.  Receive info and sign up at Fair Park senior Center. 484-7416.

• Gardening Made Easy: Members of the Cumberland County Master Gardener Club will be teaching 5 classes. Container Gardening, Square Foot Gardening, Lawn Weeds, Vegetable Gardening, and a field trip to the UT Experiment Station. These classes for seniors are free on Wednesdays at 3 P.M. starting in March. Call the Fair Park Senior Center for sign up 484-7416.

• Basic Computer, Apple, & Android Classes:  Learn how to use your new Windows 8 laptop, pad, tablet or smart phone in 1 week. These 5 educational classes are every day for one week, morning or late afternoon. Also, now available in town at the Fair Park Senior Center or at Fairfield Glade. Instructor Scott Bruton, of Computer Ministries, teaches a small class for more one on one attention. Call today to sign up at 484-7416, ask for Tina.

• Senior Police Academy: The City of Crossville Police Dept. is looking for a few good seniors who would enjoy taking an 8 week Police Academy. Some of the topics are: Crime Scene Investigation, Firearms, Tactical Response Team,  K-9 Demonstration and more.

The 1st class starts Wednesday Feb. 26 from 2 to 4 P.M.

Space is limited to the first 24 people.  Please call the Fair Park Senior Center to sign up and ask for Tina 484-7416.

 

Democrats to Meet

The Cumberland County Democratic Party will have their monthly meeting, Monday, February 24.. The meeting will begin at 6:30 P.M. at the Crossville Housing Authority, 67 Irwin Avenue. All area Democrats are encouraged to attend.

 

Its Spay-Ghetti Time

It’s time again for the ever-popular Wags and Whiskers “SpayGhetti” fundraising event at Genesis Italian Grille Restaurant on Interstate Dr. in Crossville.

Tickets are good at lunch or dinner anytime in the month of February and include great spaghetti, meat balls, salad, bread and a drink.

You get all that for only $10 and the proceeds go to help provide low-cost spay/neuter of dogs and cats in our community.

Tickets are available at the Bed and Biscuit Kennel off Peavine Rd, and Happy Hound Realty.

For more information, call 931-788-2201.