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Shopper News brings you the latest happenings in your community

Nov 09, 2023

FARRAGUT

Nancy Anderson, Shopper News

The colorful contraption came from the Philippines more than 25 years ago. Dr. Ray Pais, a retired pediatric oncologist, disassembled it and packed it into suitcases with tubes sticking out for the long journey to the United States.

"I got by customs with this thing on a day when there was a bomb threat at the airport. They just opened the case, took a look at it and let me through. I was astonished," said Pais.

What is it? In the Philippines it's known as a "Sikod-Sikod" or "Long-Long." It's a colorful pedicab that was completely refurbished and cared for these 25 years by Fares Schlank, owner of West Bicycles at 11531 Kingston Pike in Farragut.

The contraption is painted a cheerful red and decorated with a number of interesting gewgaws including a duck wearing a helmet, a whirly wand, horns, fringe, and an American Flag. Pais drove the Sikod-Sikod from Cedar Bluff to West Bicycles, which is not unusual for the spry retiree.

Schlank is a talented technician with 30 years’ experience and a multitude of Yelp reviews lauding his special talent. His shop has hundreds of bicycles for every need, and he makes sure the fit is perfect for each and every rider. He will even teach a new cyclist the ins and outs of bicycle ownership and riding.

"Of all the cycles I’ve refurbished, this has got to be the most interesting. I certainly wondered what I was getting myself into when I started, but slowly it came together. I had to find a whole new bike to fit the cab, which was hard, but it finally happened. I put an automatic transmission (derailleur) on it to make it easier to ride. The whole thing was and is a labor of love," Schlank said.

Pais said he wouldn't take his Sikod-Sikod to anyone else.

He spent many years entertaining his patients with his charming and optimistic countenance, odd neckties … and rides on the Sikod-Sikod around Children's Hospital.

"I really can't do that anymore; it's too dangerous with the buildings going up and the now heavy traffic. But taking the children for a ride used to be one of my greatest pleasures. It certainly brought my son Jacob and I closer together. Jacob loves the Sikod-Sikod.

"Over the years Jacob and I have taken the Sikod-Sikod on fun adventures to playgrounds, swimming pools, Volunteer Landing, Waffle House, Sonic, Denton's, World's Fair Park, Melton Hill Dam, Cub Scout meetings, Cades Cove, July 4th parades, trick-or-treating, morning dropoff at school, and other rides.

"Sitting side-by-side on long rides was awesome father-son bonding time. Jacob and I became very close. Once when he was riding through the fountain at Volunteer Landing he said ‘Dad, this is the best day of my life!’ Well it was the best of my life too. I’ll remember that forever," said Pais.

Info: Westbikes.com

POWELL

Al Lesar, Shopper News

More than a decade in the aesthetics field has convinced Emily (Damewood) Spiller there is a need in the Powell community.

Emory Aesthetics Center (7553 Barnett Way) opened its doors the first week of May with three Halls High School graduates and current Powell residents ready to give back to their friends and family.

"We’re about short, sweet and simple," said Spiller. "We’re simple people who want to help grow and succeed with our business in our home.

"This is our hometown. We didn't want to have to venture out of this area. We saw there's a need for the services we offer."

Spiller is joined by her sister Jennifer White and Haley (Lucas) McMahon as professionals in the healthcare industry who are finding a different path to distribute their care.

"Our focus is to be ethical and moral," Spiller said. "We’re all Christians. Whatever we do, we’ll do what's right."

Spiller is a registered nurse. White is a pediatric nurse practitioner and McMahon is a family medicine nurse practitioner. With a doctor overseeing them, they are able to write prescriptions for whatever course of action they choose for an individual.

Weight loss is the most prominent issue that the three deal with. It's a broad topic with several possibilities.

"Everything we do is individualized treatment," Spiller said. "We want to cater to our clientele. What works for one might not work for another. It might take a bit to determine which way we want to go. We can pick and choose from what we’ve got."

The three nurses are able to give Botox injections, as well as doing Juvederm treatments that are used to fill in facial lines.

Also, they use Latisse, which helps eyelashes grow longer, thicker and darker.

At some point, they will pinpoint the specialized skin care line that they will sell throughout their facility. They are the guinea pigs in the testing process now.

"We’re not going to push something to make a dollar," Spiller said. "We’re going to do the best we can for every one of our clients."

White graduated from Halls High School in 1997. Spiller was in the Class of 2000, and McMahon graduated in 2009. Besides working in the hospital, all three have experience in aesthetics − White and Spiller for 14 years and McMahon for six.

"We all loved the work in the hospital, but the hours were too tough," Spiller said. "When we had kids, we looked for something else.

"Nursing school and hospital work gave us a great foundation. We learned that we’d have to put our boots on if we were going to survive. We learned so much that helps us in this business."

Treatments are based on prescriptions. Everyone involved has proper licenses and medical background. Insurance is not used in any of the procedures.

"We make sure to stay up to date with any of the new trends in the business," Spiller said.

Hours are: Monday 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. The business is closed Thursday and Friday for now. On the first and third Saturday of the month, it's open 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Info: 865-859-9141.

NORTH KNOXVILLE

Carol Z. Shane, Shopper News

Area music lovers are still reeling – in a good way – from the concert presented by world-renowned cellist and humanitarian Yo-Yo Ma at World's Fair Park on May 26.

Presented as part of Big Ears, Knoxville's international spring music festival, the Memorial Day weekend kickoff event was titled "Our Common Nature: An Appalachian Celebration" and was preceded by a street party featuring the Cattywampus Puppet Council and many beloved Knoxville musicians, including Kukuly Uriarte of the Gypsy Fuego, Evie Andrus and Drums Up Guns Down, the drumming troupe led by Austin East's Obayana Ajanaku.

The day's star performer did not disappoint.

"Yo-Yo Ma is not of this world," said Rick Carl, retired from Baker Donelson law firm. "He is on some other astral plane, a shaman or something." Carl is a former Webb School of Knoxville music teacher and a trumpeter with Boys Night Out. His wife, Joanna, is a classical pianist.

"Jo described him as a father who invited his children to come play and make music with him; it's cliché, but the way he introduced and described each artist was like they were a family jamming in their living room."

Ma's musical friends included bassist Edgar Meyer and mandolinist Chris Thile, both of Ma's "Goat Rodeo" project; two-time Grammy Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning singer/instrumentalist Rhiannon Giddens; and vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and poet Eric Mingus, whose famous father, Charles, was an American jazz icon.

"Yo-Yo Ma is a talent magnet!" said Jill Bartine, instructor at Real Hot Yoga and flutist with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra (KSO). And there were plenty of cellists in the audience. Alicia Randisi-Hooker, KSO cellist, said, "I felt such a childlike delight and complete engagement throughout the entire evening. Being in a crowd like this with such enthusiasm and enormous love and humanity had to be a highlight of my life."

"I think it is apparent that he has gotten to a point in his career and life where it means more for him to pass on the spotlight to younger artists who are deserving of recognition, and it was really beautiful to see that in action last Friday," said Cecilia Blair Wright, cellist, composer and singer with Second Rodeo who was there with Caesar Stair, recently named "Volunteer of the Year" by Knox Heritage.

Wright's mom, Stacy Nickell, a certified music therapist and cellist with the KSO, was there; she cherishes the memory of driving Ma to a performance when she was in graduate school.

Covenant Health West nurse practitioner and KSO cellist Alice Stuart said, "Yo-Yo used his platform to introduce many people to other voices of thought and music. I loved the fact that he didn't dominate at all. That is just like his personality."

Aside from enjoying and marveling at the obvious wealth of musical talent on display, concertgoers were profoundly moved by the experience.

Allyson Virden, who with her husband, Chris, owns Mid Mod Collective and Olde Virden's Red Hot Sprinkle brand of chili pepper seasonings, said the event made her proud to be an East Tennessean.

"What a night to celebrate all coming together for the greater good! I loved that they celebrated our wonderful diversity here in the foothills. When Yo-Yo described our region of Tennessee as paradise, it made me sit a little straighter. Last night brought tears to my eyes. We all need to listen to one another and try to find a common ground."

Terry Silver-Alford, musical director for the Clarence Brown Theatre, said the event was "remarkable, moving, momentous and inspiring. I’ve never experienced anything quite like it."

Montessori teacher Kim Barnes said, "It was musically inspiring to me and emotionally moving. I will be processing it for days to come."

And Kristi Johnson Burkhalter, director of special projects at The Burkhalter Group business service in Maryville, said, "Last night touched my soul in places I didn't know I had, and awakened a spark that I didn't know needed lighting."

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FARRAGUT POWELL NORTH KNOXVILLE