Shopper Blog: World traveler opens agency offering unique trips abroad (2025)

POWELL

World traveler opens agency offering unique trips abroad

Al Lesar, Shopper News

Jenelle Jones has chosen to make her Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder diagnosis into something positive.

“The ADHD brain thrives on chaos,” said Jones, who lives in the Powell area.

That’s why she feels suited to organize travel tours to what could be considered exotic destinations.

Her agency, Travel Is Hygge (HOO-guh, a Danish word that means little things that give comfort), will be hosting its first trip in January. There are 10 spots available for a weeklong trip to Vienna (Jan. 12-19) that will culminate with the attendance at a ball.

“Vienna has over 400 different balls,” Jones said. “Most of them last from 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. Tickets can be hard to get. Once in the ball, we also take care of seating arrangements, which a lot of people might not think about.”

Besides tours around the city, Jones’ excursion includes a drop-in dance class where folks can brush up on their waltz moves, to be ready for the ball.

Always be prepared

After having visited Vienna four times already, Jones has made connections with local people to make necessities like the hotel stay, meals, tours, transportation − and even the dance class − happen without a hitch.

“I was part of a group tour (as a paying customer) to Dubai in April and I learned what not to do,” Jones said. “The DJ they had leading the tour was trying to book nightclubs for us as we were coming off the plane.

“It takes a skill to be able to adjust on the fly, but you still have to be prepared.”

Over the course of the last three years, Jones has made an effort to take about three trips a year. She owns and operates Blushed Marketing, which gives her the income to take those adventures. Blushed has five steady clients and several others that “ebb and flow.”

While on those trips, one of which is usually a month around Europe, she has made the contacts needed to go into business on her own.

'Travel is very freeing'

When Jones is on her own seeing the sights, she’s in her element.

“Travel is very freeing,” Jones said. “When I have the flexibility and can maneuver myself, it’s a great experience. I’ve always enjoyed other cultures.”

The trip to Vienna, which costs $1,850 (double occupancy), is just the first of several Travel Is Hygge might be running. There’s also a March journey to Egypt in the works, as well as a vegan trip she’s trying to coordinate with a Knoxville vegan group.

“Pivoting on a trip is the norm,” Jones said. “You have to be able to adapt to what you have. It’s easy for me. Pressure is what drives the ADHD brain. I’m comfortable being resourceful.

“I try to do travel in sustainable and ethical ways. I’m trying to reduce my carbon footprint on all my trips.”

Airfare is not included in the Vienna trip.

For more information, go to: jj@tihygge.com, or by locating Travel is Hygge on any social media.

BEARDEN

West Knoxville writer earns acclaim with book of poems

John Shearer, Shopper News

West Knoxville writer Gardner Dorton recently had his poetry book published, and it's been nominated for a Pushcart Prize, given to the best works published by a small press.

Dorton considers the work − “If I Were God, I Would Also Start with Light” − unique for Tennessee or the South. Written in the persona format, which means it is not necessarily him speaking, the book deals with a gay man in the South who has bipolar disorder and thinks he is a prophet.

“It is a book of self-discovery,” he said, adding that the poems are set in Knoxville, Charleston and Tallahassee. It's published by the Philadelphia-based Thirty West Publishing House.

The 30-year-old Dorton, who lives in the Rocky Hill area with his banker husband, Andy Dorton, said the theme of his book has also resulted in some self-discovery about how far such topics as LGBTQ issues can be pushed in the conservative South.

He has noticed that not as many bookstores in the South seemed as interested in carrying the book, although it is available at Union Ave Books in downtown Knoxville and online. And he wonders if the book might be banned in Tennessee amid the culture wars of this era, when school systems are banning books that they believe are not suitable for younger people.

But he is quick to point out that the book is not graphic or crude. “There are maybe three cuss words,” he said. “I don’t personally think of it as controversial. Nothing is mocked. And I would call it a very spiritual book.”

He also said the book has been positively received in numerous circles, as he has heard via social media from quite a few random readers touched by the poems.

The book, which actually began as his master of fine arts thesis at the College of Charleston, is his first full-length poetry book after previously writing some Chatbooks, which are small pamphlets of poetry or other writings.

Its evolution came after his own life slowly evolved. As a young person, he didn't realize poetry writing might be his calling, even though he said he had an advanced vocabulary at a young age and his second-grade teacher wrote that he would be a poet one day.

His said his career outlook began to change when he was about 17 and was attending Christian Academy of Knoxville, and he took a challenging English Advanced Placement class under teacher Anne Jaeger. He suddenly saw the beauty in the written word and how it can move people.

“I fell in love with everything we did,” he said. “The first time studying poetry (including writer John Donne), it moved me and I realized there was something special to it.”

He then went to the University of Tennessee at Knoxville thinking he might study something else, but greatly enjoyed a poetry class there, too.

He still fell slowly into the rhythm of such a career. He did some award-winning copyrighting for an advertising firm in Miami, as well as some blog writing for the startup tech firm StoragePug.

He also turned to some freelance work and helped a tech CEO self-publish a poetry book. He also has had a short story published.

While he is not sure he can turn poetry writing into a career, Dorton, who also enjoys playing the guitar as a hobby, hopes to make it into at least a part-time job. But he has managed to keep plenty busy publicizing the book, as is often required of a poetry writer.

The attention from others has been quite satisfying. “It has resonated with quite a few people,” he said of the book, adding that it is now in 40 bookstores in around 19 states.

FARRAGUT

Farragut youth art show is a colorful extravaganza

Nancy Anderson, Shopper News

The first − of what is hoped to be annual − Youth Art Show sponsored by the Town of Farragut Parks and Recreation is in the books, with about 75 creative and colorful entries Dec. 3.

Parks and Rec art teacher Peyton Pettyjohn spent months organizing a youth art program which, of course, required an accompanying exhibit to show off the many art projects produced by students 5 to 10 years old.

Those placing Best in Show in any category won a sketch book with markers and a water bottle. First place won a sketch book with markers; second and third place winners received a smaller sketchbook.

Pettyjohn assembled goodie bags for all the participants so everyone “won” something. The goodie bags were filled with all things fun, from Town of Farragut merchandise to stickers to watercolors.

“Art Adventures” and “Afterschool Art” is over for the season, but will begin again in January on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The programs are popular with the homeschool community, and those attending school are welcome to attend “Afterschool Art.”

“We do just about every medium in my art classes. I want the kids to be exposed to everything from watercolor, to clay, to oil pastels, to papier-mâché; just everything I wanted to do as a kid, I make sure there’s a class about it,” said Pettyjohn.

“Many of my students are homeschooled. The art classes give them a chance to explore their creative side while interacting and making friends with other students. I just want them to relax and be themselves while tapping into their creative side.”

The show featured several mediums including painting, watercolor, 3D art, and Picasso self-portraits.

Charlotte Melton won Best in Show for her 3D mountain scape made with layers upon layers of colorful felt.

Wyatt Kinzler won first place for his marker and chalk rendition of a dinosaur.

Little Gabriel Ma won second place with his 3D rainbow made with scraps of construction paper.

“I wish every entry could have won,” said Pettyjohn. Every piece is unique and wonderful in its own way.

“The parents tell me ‘that looks like a big mess.' I tell them that’s why they are in class and not at home. The mess is how you know it was a fun project. I love it when that quiet kid starts to open up and talk more, it just makes my heart sing.”

Pettyjohn joined the Farragut Parks and Rec crew last March. She is an art major studying graphic design at Bellevue University.

Info: https://www.townoffarragut.org/770/Parks-Recreation

POWELL

Contact sport? The girls are up for it in Powell flag football

Al Lesar, Shopper News

Learning the playbook may be a bit of a challenge, but Cameron Talmage hasn’t had to worry about the competitive nature of the Powell High School girls flag football team.

The newest sport sanctioned by the TSSAA was launched this fall in the Knox County Schools. The girls flag football season started Nov. 11 and will consist of 10 games. All games are played on Monday nights. Three schools gather at one site and each team plays two games a night.

Each game consists of two halves and lasts an hour, with a three-minute intermission. The game is played on an 80-yard field. Each team has seven players on the field. All are eligible to catch passes or run the ball.

“The most important thing is for the girls to get over the fear of contact,” Talmage said. “There is a limited amount of contact involved. Both teams are playing what would look like a hurry-up offense. Instead of blocking, it’s more like a pick in basketball.”

Plenty of talent

Talmage said 53 girls showed up for the original information meeting, which blew him away. However, just 19 were there for tryouts.

“Some decided to focus on other sports,” he said.

Talmage went into the season with 18 players but expected to gain three more once soccer’s season was finished.

The Panthers do have some talent. Running backs Shataya Crawley (who ran a 4.49 40-yard dash; “She’s lightning fast,” Talmage said) and Yeye Morgan were half of Powell’s 4x100 track relay team. Quarterbacks Jaylan Heatherly and Gabby Kratz play softball for the Panthers and can throw a football 40 yards.

“The girls are learning football from the ground up,” Talmage said. “The offensive playbook is pretty extensive.”

Talmage’s previous football coaching experience was with middle school boys.

“Middle school kids are weird,” he said. “High school girls are very competitive. They don’t want to lose. They’ll make sure they soak in what we tell them. Our motto is ‘winners win.’”

Chemistry crucial on a team

It was August and Powell didn’t have a coach for its first girls flag football team. Talmage, a 2007 Powell High grad, is a security guard at the school. He spent 16 years in the U.S. Army and is still in the National Guard.

One of the activities he got into once his Army deployments were over was playing flag football.

“I was a baseball guy in high school,” Talmage said. “I thought flag football would be something fun to do.”

Once his involvement was known, he was encouraged to give it a shot.

“I believe that, on any team, chemistry is a big thing,” Talmage said. “The way to do that is by going through the hard stuff together.”

Until practices began Oct. 21, the hard stuff started at 6:20 a.m. when his players gathered for conditioning.

Technique, especially when it comes to getting a flag − which amounts to a tackle − is critical.

“You put your body (on the ball carrier),” he said. “Sync your hips and drive the shoulder forward. Grab for both flags; you’re bound to come up with one.”

HALLS

Rims and a trim: Car guys add barbershop to detailing business

Al Lesar, Shopper News

For whatever reason, Joe Ellis has always had the idea of a barbershop in the same building as a custom car shop.

“I figured that, guys like cars,” Ellis said. “So why wouldn’t they like to be around cars when they get a haircut?”

Seems logical, sort of.

Ellis and his partner Josh Ottinger decided to give it a shot.

In 2019, Ellis and Ottinger opened SGP Customs (7126 Regal Lane) in Halls.

“We met in the car world,” Ottinger said. “We got to know each other and thought we could work together well.”

After four years, business was slumping. Last winter, they came up with the idea of a rebrand. Along with the new look, Ellis decided to give his idea about a barbershop a shot. The rebrand, Knoxvegas Elite Kustoms, finally happened in January.

“We wanted the barbershop to open with the rebrand,” Ellis said. “We couldn’t pull everything together in time. We couldn’t make it work.”

In August, the barbershop was opened.

Partnership is a success

Ellis dropped out of South-Doyle High School in the 10th grade. He had his own apartment by the time he was 17. He worked in the concrete business for a few years and then a manufacturing plant for about a decade.

When he went into business with Ottinger, who grew up in Newport, there were plenty of raised eyebrows.

“I quit my job and said I was going to tint car windows, even though I knew nothing about it,” Ellis said. “I put every dollar I had into it.”

The business made it mostly because of the relationship between the two.

“We get along pretty well,” Ottinger said. “A lot of people think we’re brothers.”

“We have our disagreements,” Ellis said. “We talk it out and we’re done with it. A partnership like that is hard to find.”

“We’re just a couple of car guys trying to bring the car community together,” Ottinger said.

Unique idea drawing interest

Neither Ellis nor Ottinger was able to put a finger on it, but the rebrand is turning out to be a tremendous move.

“Ever since January, things have blown up,” Ellis said. “We’ve had to hire three guys (making it a total of six) to the car side. We’re getting a lot higher (-class) clientele than we had before. I have no idea why it happened.”

The inspections and everything else involved with getting a barbershop off the ground took a while to be completed. When the shop’s at full strength, there will be four barbers to cut hair. There are three cement firewalls between the barbershop and the car area.

“We didn’t have to do much selling (to get barbers to come aboard),” Ellis said. “In fact, we’ve had people from four or five other shops stop by to see what we do.”

While the idea is just starting to gain traction, Ellis said he has heard a similar business has opened in California.

Ottinger said he has plans for a custom car shop/barbershop/weight room along with other amenities. But, for the time being, they’re content with providing the best service.

“Most of the commercial wraps that are done are boring,” Ottinger said. “Our designers guarantee that people will notice the work we do.

“If you can dream it, we can bring the dream to life.”

For car information, call 865-212-0280, and for hair information call 865-309-2254.

FARRAGUT

New $7 million system offers hope for a better commute in Farragut

Nancy Anderson, Shopper News

Traffic in Farragut is bad and getting worse, according to residents. Several Farragut commuters sounded off on the “Everything Farragut” Facebook page about the overall traffic increase over the past four years.

“They had it going better for a while, but then Kingston Pike backed up for miles. It’s extremely frustrating, especially for those of us who live directly off N. Campbell Station,” wrote Kristi Mullins Casey.

“When it takes six to eight turns to get through the light just to get to Kroger,it’s ridiculous. Then people start cutting through the schools on weekends or afternoons, Sonja Drive or Village Green shopping center lots, and are typically going a little too fast out of frustration. It’s gotten awful and only going to get worse when people move into the town center apartments.”

The Town of Farragut’s answer is to replace the outdated closed loop traffic system with the new Automated Traffic Management System (ATMS).

Closed loop systems rely on sensors under the street to change the signal when traffic approaches the intersection.

Former Vice Mayor Louise Povlin said the old system is archaic with components more than 25 years old. There’s no other answer than to replace the entire system.

The goal of ATMS is to improve traffic flow by upgrading the existing signal system to one that will allow the Town to manage its 26 traffic signals from a central location.

This project is 100 percent funded through the Tennessee Department of Transportation via the Congestion Mitigation Air Quality Grant Program to the tune of about $7 million.

But the project hit a snag. The contractors are far behind and are being fined about $1,000 per day.

Town Administrator David Smoak wrote in a statement last week, “The contractor is several months behind the scheduled completion date in the contract.When the ATMS project becomes operational, there will be a 60-day 'burn in' period that will allow video monitoring at major intersections and enable staff to train on the system. Most importantly, it will allow our signals to be synced to move traffic more efficiently.

“This won’t solve all of our traffic concerns; there is simply too much volume in all directions at certain times of day. What it will do is allow staff to make adjustments if there is considerable backup in one direction.

“Our contractor anticipates burn-in should begin in the next 30 days.”

Info: www.townoffarragut.org

NORTH KNOXVILLE

Retractable bollards on Union, Market to make downtown safer

Jack Coker, Shopper News

You are not a car. This may come as a revelation to many Americans, who feel that their four-wheeled friends are extensions of themselves.

Often, if there isn’t a way to drive somewhere, we don’t go. Our poor legs are left out of the equation, despite how useful they are at navigating space compared to a one-ton pickup.

As Americans are reintroduced to the urban cores, abandoned in the 1970s, we have realized that keeping every square inch of road open to motorists may actually hinder our own freedom of movement.

In response to this revelation, and the success of the Market Square pedestrian zone, the City of Knoxville has decided it’s time for a change.

Last week, workers began the installation of 17 retractable metal bollards downtown on Union Avenue, between Walnut and Gay streets, and on Market Street, between Clinch Avenue and Market Square. The devices will increase pedestrian safety during special events while also improving city efficiency – and downtown aesthetics.

Explaining the new system, Deputy Chief of Operations Chip Barry said, “Right now, the city uses standard barricades that can be moved to block the streets, but the (new) bollards pop up out of the ground and lock into place, fully preventing any vehicles from entering the pedestrian zone.”

The bollards are stronger and therefore safer for pedestrians, but they’re also more aesthetically pleasing than the small barricades.

“The Market Square pedestrian zone is one of our busiest pedestrian intersections, and being able to get rid of the large barricade equipment will allow people to see cross street traffic and ensure pedestrian safety when moving through the city,” Barry said.

Because the bollards are quick and easy for city employees to pop up and take down, streets will be closed for shorter durations before and after special events. Now, instead of the large orange traffic barricades, the city will simply raise the bollards to ensure that the wayward Nashvillian will not interrupt your buying of the freshest okra at our beloved Farmers Market.

Anticipate intermittent closures of Union Avenue and Market Street to accommodate the installation work by Design and Construction Services Inc. contractor crews. The installation is expected to be completed by mid-December.

HALLS

Chiropractor makes kids better, and sometimes she makes house calls

Al Lesar, Shopper News

Doctors making house calls is a concept that has pretty much become extinct.

Unless Dr. Rebecca Young is considered.

It took a while for Young to finally find her calling as a prenatal and pediatric chiropractor. But when she finally opened her office in Fountain City, she came to the conclusion that bringing her services to some of her clients, rather than them coming to her, just made more sense.

“When my clients aren’t in a position to get out of the home, I’ll come to them,” she said. “Pregnant women, or new mothers with other children, may not be able to get around. I can come to them to make it easier.”

While working with babies and the mothers, Young considers herself a holistic chiropractor.

“The body is designed to heal itself,” Young said. “I will just support your body and how it’s supposed to function.

“It’s not just crack and pop for neck and back pain. The baby adjustments look very different. I’m trying to optimize the body’s function.”

Searching for passion

Growing up in central Pennsylvania, Young thought she wanted to be an elementary school teacher. After a couple years of teaching, the passion was missing.

She and her husband moved to Delaware, where she worked for a chiropractor.

“The chiropractor was involved in functional medicine, like a diet for detox or physical therapy,” she said. “The doctor suggested that I could go back to school and go out on her own.”

Still with a love for kids − healing them, not teaching them − Young was 33 when, with two children (ages 8 and 10), the family moved to Atlanta for her schooling.

In less than four years, Young had her degree and an office in Atlanta.

“I had a high overhead,” she said. “There was pressure to have enough patients to cover that and still be able to pay myself. In Pennsylvania and Delaware, the towns were small. Atlanta had the hustle and bustle of a big city.”

That convinced her to move to East Tennessee, where she started with Freedom Chiropractic in West Knoxville in July 2022. Young got the urge to go out on her own and keep it small, opening Renewed Hope Chiropractic (5344 North Broadway) in mid-October.

Taking unique approaches

When babies go through the birthing process, it can be stressful. Young said sometimes they can be locked up in the upper neck. That affects their ability to turn from side to side.

“It’s delicate in that area of the body,” she said. “That can be a problem with getting a good burp.

“Babies are supposed to eat, sleep and poop. If something is disrupted, there could be stress in any of those areas. We have to figure out what it is.”

Young said she’s different from many chiropractors. She will make an adjustment on a first visit, while many won’t. She won’t try to sell a long-term care plan. She will “meet the patients where they are” and “support their autonomy.”

She said she works with kids with ADHD to help them sit still better, helps kids improve bathroom habits, and helps overcome sleep or bedwetting issues.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment, go to renewedhopechiro.janeapp.com, or call 865-297-3318.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Shopper News brings you the latest happenings in your community