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Past Issue Features

Sexy, Successful Singles

Every year, Marquee Mountain South selects 14 exceptional individuals from
the outpouring of nominations, sent in by people from all over the Mountain
South region. It’s always tough to choose-there is an amazing array of
brilliant, vibrant folks here (who just happen to be single), working hard
for the region’s growth and prosperity. 

Jan Hendren Parsley, 46
Not your ordinary girl-next-door, Erwin, Tenn., native Jan
Hendren Parsley has seen the world, committed great acts of civic duty,
helped kick the family business up several notches, and still finds time for
entertaining friends, traveling and raising two stellar kids. 

Dr. Dan Snider, 43
From the flats of Dayton, Ohio, to the hills of East Tennessee,
Dr. Daniel Snider has found a rewarding home in Johnson City. He appreciates
the slow grace of our area’s distinct seasons and long, winding country
roads-and balances them with the fast pace of a demanding ICU as a critical
care physician at Johnson City Medical Center.

Prentice McKibben, 57
Prentice McKibben knows the value of hard-earned rewards. From
Mississippi State to a successful climb up corporate ladders to his current
position as Eastman’s VP of corporate development and strategic planning,
McKibben reflects on a 20-year career that brought continual challenges and
continual rewards-and wouldn’t change much at all. 

Allen Gregory, 38
“Everyone has a personal saga of dreams and determination,”
states Abingdon, Va., native Allen Gregory. “They simply need a voice.” As a
passionate writer for the Bristol Herald-Courier as well as Marquee Mountain
South, Gregory gives just such a voice to a fascinating variety of
people-from high school athlete underdogs to all manner of artists to
everyday people in the community. 

Sara Fields, 26
To say she’s dynamic is an understatement. Sara Fields-a rare
Asheville, N.C., native come home to roost-is so brimming with energy and
ideas that it’s a confounding challenge to guess what she might be up to
next.
Since her unexpected Asheville homecoming, Fields has been keeping busy with
her day job as marketing coordinator for Market Connections, her work on the
boards of two non-profit organizations, her own artistic efforts in
playwriting and blogging for Asheville’s Citizen-Times.com.    

Erin Eberhart, 23
There are many proverbs that boil down to this: “Who teaches,
learns,” and Erin Eberhart is one beautiful example of it. “I absolutely
love my job,” exclaims Eberhart, enthusiastic about her first year as a
kindergarten teacher for Hamblen County Schools. “There isn’t a day that
goes by where I don’t question who is learning more-me or my students!” 

Christy Dunlap, 36
An interior designer by training and trade, Burnsville, N.C.,
resident Christy Dunlap instinctively surrounds herself with beauty. Not
only with her choice of location (”Western North Carolina’s one of the most
beautiful places in the world,” declares Dunlap) but also with finely
crafted wares and the grace of common goodwill.

Jim McGill, 57
It comes as no surprise that Sevierville, Tenn., is Jim McGill’s
favorite town. As membership coordinator for Sevierville’s Chamber of
Commerce, McGill gets to harness his love for his hometown to his love of
working with the public, hitching them together with his organizational
expertise to boost the Chamber’s attendance successfully 

Aurora Moldovanyi, 30
“Even at a young age, I had a strong sense of attachment to the
pleasures that arrive from wild places,” explains Aurora Moldovanyi of her
lifelong love of the natural world-culminating in her current profession as
a recreation ecologist and planner for the Tennessee Valley Authority.  

Elva Marie, 51   
As longtime mid-day radio announcer for Kingsport’s 98.5 WTFM
and evening host of the station’s “Love Notes” show, Elva Marie (as she is
known to her fans) has been a welcomed friend in thousands of homes and cars
all across our region. Based in Southwestern Virginia, Elva Marie
appreciates the area for its many benefits. “Our community leaders really
care, and so many things impact our community in a positive way,” she says.

Vik Vatrana, 26
The Johnson City restaurateur’s Indian cuisine restaurant,
Sahib, has a reputation that rests solidly on delicious, merit-based
success: excellent food and excellent customer service. And Vatrana serves
as the proud front man to the quality establishment, always taking some time
to check on visitors personally, solicit feedback and offer a smile.  

Cory Lewis, 26
Upon meeting Cory Lewis of TC Lewis & Co, you get the distinct
feeling that this guy could talk to anyone, about anything, and make a
friend just about anywhere he goes. His easy affability and self-confidence
project all the strength of a self-made man.

Robin Lynch, 40
It might be hard to find someone more locally committed than
Unicoi, Tenn., native Robin Lynch. Since grade school, Lynch has been
helping his family with their Unicoi farm, transforming it into what is now
known as Farmhouse Gallery & Gardens, a beautiful spot that’s become a
popular gathering place for reunions, weddings and retreats.        

Senitria Goodman, 27
If attorney Senitria Goodman has collected a long honors list,
it’s just testimony to her determination and distinction in her chosen
profession. An associate at Hunter, Smith & Davis since 2004, Goodman takes
on a broad range of clients in corporate transactions and commercial
litigation matters and seems to relish the variety. 

Our singles may be reached at singles@marqueemagazine.com.  Please be sure to identify which single you are trying to reach and we will forward your message to that person.

Emily Katt is publishing assistant for Marquee Mountain South.

For the complete story please read the Winter issue of Marquee Mountain
South.

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Making Tracks: Alternative Winter Sports Offer Peaceful Solitude, Thrilling Adventure

Snow advisory: Get off the beaten path.

For those who want to escape the crowds and revel in the winter-white freshness of snow and ice, the invitation to go beyond the slopes is irresistible. Locally, there are several tempting options available-cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice climbing-all of which provide an unparalleled experience for thrill-seekers, regardless of age or skill level.

These “alternative” winter sports require a spur-of-the-moment attitude to capitalize on snowstorms and literally seize the day. They also require some specialized skis, snowshoes, or climbing gear. Troy Clark at High Country is a PSIA (Professional Ski Instructors of America) instructor in the Nordic Division who advises skiers. “The best place to go is at the Moses Cone Memorial Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway,” Clark says. “The old carriage roads there are great for cross-country trekking. And, you can go anywhere on the Parkway as long as it’s behind the gated areas, such as the Linn Cove Viaduct.”

 Snowshoeing is an old-fashioned winter activity that is enjoying a comeback, and Sugar Mountain Resort invites newcomers to try it out on guided tours along scenic trails. “It’s something all ages can do,” says Kim Jochl, director of marketing at Sugar. “Our guided tours are geared to the ability and exertion level of the group. It’s really great for people who are uncomfortable getting onto skis but want to get out in the snow.”

Ice climbing is growing in popularity as an “extreme” sport, with a growing number of aficionados who come for the starkly beautiful environment. To try ice climbing, a participant needs only to bring warm clothing; outfitters usually provide the helmets, harnesses, boots, crampons and ice axes. Jeremiah Haas, a climbing guide with Fox Mountain Guides out of Brevard, N.C., says that ice climbing offers a great cardiovascular workout. “You’re so focused on the features of the formations,” says Haas. “People think it’s so delicate, but it’s as strong as rock.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

High Country Ski Shop-Pineola, N.C.
pineolainn.com

1st Tracks Ski Shop-Boone, N.C.
1sttracks.com

Sugar Mountain Ski Resort-Banner Elk, N.C.
skisugar.com

Granite Arches-Asheville, N.C., Johnson City, Tenn., Chattanooga, Tenn.
granitearches.com

Fox Mountain Guides-Brevard, N.C.
foxmountainguides.com

Nancy C. Williams is a freelance writer and snow-lover in Johnson City, Tenn.

For the complete story please read the winter issue of Marquee Mountain
South.

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Mast Farm Inn: A Family Affair

Tucked on 12 acres in the serene historic district of Valle Crucis, N.C.,
surrounded by mountains, rivers and streams, is the Mast Farm Inn.

Originally the homestead of the infamous Mast family who settled the valley,
the inn has a history of welcoming guests for over 100 years. It’s not your
ordinary bed-and-breakfast.The Mast Farm Inn is one of only 408 B & Bs in the country listed in the
Select Registry, a national association that rates inns on quality. Mast
Farm is also on the National Register of Historic Places as “One of the most
complete and best preserved groups of 19th century farm buildings in Western
North Carolina.”

After living in Paris, London, Switzerland, Manhattan and Coconut Grove,
the new owners-eight members of the Deschamps and Siano families-made a
major lifestyle change. After many years vacationing in the area, they
decided that a B & B the whole family could be involved with was a good
change of pace. In 2006 they purchased the operating inn.

The list of things that make the Mast Farm Inn unique is long. Papa Henri
Deschamps oversees Club Ferdinand, the first fleet-sharing car club in the
world, consisting of a million-dollar fleet of Porsches. For a yearly fee,
guests have access to 10 different cars for a day or a week-but you don’t
have to be a member to enjoy the ride. The cars can be rented daily or
weekly by registered guests for $60 to $90 a day.

The best buys are always in winter, so call January through March for
unadvertised discounts, and visit the website for clever, creative and
affordable packages. But no matter what time of year you visit, a stay at
the Mast Farm Inn will be truly memorable.

 New websites devoted to gift baskets:  

mastfarm.net/basketgallery/index.html

mastfarminn.com/giftcertificates/index.html

 
Linda Kramer is a freelance writer who lives in Valle Crucis, N.C.

For the complete story please read the winter issue of Marquee Mountain
South.

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The Pleasures of Local Produce: Fantastic Flavor at Harvest Table

Two brightly painted buildings on the tiny town square of Meadowview, Va.,
signal that new life is taking hold in the rural community north of
Abingdon. The renovated buildings house the Meadowview Farmers’ Guild-a
project that includes a country store and restaurant, called the Harvest
Table, featuring food from local farms. Fresh, homegrown and creative best
describe the new establishment as well as the restaurant cuisine.

Meadowview Farmers’ Guild was the culmination of several community members’
efforts to revive the local economy and provide an outlet for local farm
produce. The man behind the venture is Steven Hopp, a farmer and professor
at nearby Emory & Henry College. Having farmed in the community for many
years, Hopp was familiar with the variety of foods being produced in the
area. With many farmers replacing tobacco with produce, “I came upon the
idea to have a restaurant offering local foods with a seasonal menu,” Hopp
says.

The philosophy at Harvest Table reflects some of the thinking that Hopp
brings to light in the recently released book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle,
which he co-wrote with his wife, author Barbara Kingsolver, and daughter
Camille Kingsolver.

With the stated goal “to serve the best locally produced foods available,”
the Harvest Table seeks farmers who care about the quality of the food they
produce and sustainability of their land. The restaurant serves meats that
have been raised responsibly without hormones or antibiotics and avoids
serving foods that have been genetically modified, factory packaged or
require long distance transport and excessive fuel consumption.

Ann N. Yungmeyer is a freelance writer who lives in Kingsport, Tenn.

For the complete story please read the Winter issue of Marquee Mountain
South.

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Keeping Time with the Music. A Thriving Appalachian Tradition

It’s only fitting that our Southern Appalachian mountains, with a strong heritage in old-time music, are also home to the mountain folk dance, clogging.

The exuberant, percussive dance-characterized by foot tapping, stomping and shuffling to the rhythm of jamming music-inspired team competitions in the late 1920s at the first Mountain Dance and Folk Festival in Asheville, N.C. “This was the birthplace of clogging,” says Jeff Atkins, member of Asheville’s Folk Heritage Committee.

Clog dancing was partly influenced by English, Scottish and Irish step dance traditions brought by early settlers to Southern Appalachia. Historians say it was the Queen of England who actually spurred the name “clogging” in 1939, when she visited the White House and watched a Waynesville, N.C., group performing, which reminded her of clogging in England. “English clogging goes back to the Industrial Revolution,” says Atkins, “when the mill workers would unwind after work in their wood-soled shoes.”

For many cloggers in the Mountain South region, a tradition which started with barn jamborees has extended beyond festivals and fairgrounds to major competitions and worldwide performances. Plenty of recreational cloggers just enjoy it for the fun and exercise (it burns about 400 calories an hour). The common thread among cloggers-they all love to dance.

Different Styles
Traditional cloggers often describe clogging as a combination of square dancing and buck dancing. (Buck dancing, like flat footin’, is a solo freestyle dance featuring fancy footwork that involves brushing and clicking the floor to make rhythmic sounds.) With a mix of cultures, clogging in the United States has adopted many styles, but two distinctions are often made: traditional Southern Appalachian, and precision.

“Southern Appalachian cloggers typically dance traditional [square dance] figures with freestyle footwork to live music-banjo, fiddle, guitar,” says Rodney Sutton, member of long-standing North Carolina group the Green Grass Cloggers. “Couples will feature footwork in moves like the Kings Highway and the Queens Highway. Precision clogging is more like line dancing-they got out of the big circles.”

Precision (or modern) clogging evolved in the 1950s with a variety of music, elaborate costumes, jingle tap shoes and choreography. Contemporary precision teams often incorporate hands-on-the-hip routines, higher kicks and greater emphasis on heel tapping.

Ann N. Yungmeyer is a freelance writer who lives in Kingsport.

For the complete story please read the November/December issue of Marquee.

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