Yup, here's another zucchini recipe. Such a versatile vegetable. Just a little ground beef goes a long way here. You have a meat and vegetable dish. A rice dish would go well here.

Union County, a beautiful picture painted by rural Tennessee, but also one tainted by litter. What may start on a roadside is likely to end up in a children’s park, a waterfront area or affecting our wildlife populations.

Norris Lake, at a quick glance it it one of the cleanest lakes in the state due to its high water quality, but after a longer look in the coves you may find trash and debris left by previous visitors.

“It takes an entire community to make a difference…” a powerful statement posted by the Keep Union County Beautiful program.

I will never ever forget my awesome first-grade teacher. Nor will I forget something odd she used to do. When she needed to take out one of her contact lenses, she would place one of her hands in a cupped position in front of her eye. With the other hand, she would smack the back of her head. Then her contact lens would pop out of her eye and into her waiting palm. Seriously.

I like a fully baked ham. It is so easy to work with. There are a zillions glazes for ham. Here is another good one.

On August 5, 1989, my absolute favorite eatery in the world came into existence. A quick Google search will tell you that the 33 Diner, 3024 Maynardville Highway, Maynardville, Tennessee, is rated 4.5 of 5 on Tripadvisor and is ranked number two of 14 restaurants in Maynardville.
One review states: “Great food. Love down home casual approach. Nice portions, home cooked goodness. You will leave happy.”
I totally agree with this review. 33 Diner is definitely a happy place for me. If you leave the 33 Diner still hungry, it will be your own fault.

August, an exciting time for all. Back-to-school shopping is well underway and school buses are not the only yellow thing on the community’s mind as the annual Youth and Corn Festival is right around the corner.
On August 6 from 10 o’clock to 1 o’clock, families can swing by the farmer’s market for a special treat. Everything from, farmer’s market vendors, a cooking demonstration, fair entries and history of corn exhibits there is a little bit for everyone.

Internationally known and award-winning Bluegrass group Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers are heading to Union County. The group will perform for the Union County Opry August 20 at Patriot Auditorium in Union County High School.
Named Entertainers of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) in 2019, Joe Mullins and The Radio Ramblers have consistently delivered chart-topping radio hits and energetic performances for nearly 15 years.

The Leadership Union County Class of 2022 enjoyed Industry Day on July 21. The day began with coffee and a quick breakfast at the Union County Museum. From the museum, facilitators Robbie and Gail Corum chauffeured the group to Clayton Homes in Maynardville. Bill Monroe and other Clayton employees summarized the history of manufactured home building and then provided a tour of the completely climate-controlled manufacturing facility.

UT Extension Union County will be offering a series of gardening workshops in August and September on Wednesday mornings in Maynardville.
Topics will include planning, soils, mulch, water efficiency, fertilizers, pests, reducing waste, pollinators, reducing pollutants and wildlife. The curriculum will come from the Tennessee Yard Smart program.

The 18th Union County Heritage Festival encourages all area quilters to enter the Union County Heritage Festival Quilt Show on October 1 at the Union County Museum and is sponsored by the Union County Historical Society.
Intricately crafted ribbons are given in a variety of categories. A special recognition is awarded for the Best Heritage Quilt, the quilt that best exemplifies the festival theme or the general heritage of Union County. The 2022 theme is “Follow your Heart” and is a tribute to Carl Smith and the many love songs he recorded.

By James and Ellen Perry
While sitting on my porch this late July afternoon I’ve noticed that the daylight hours have shortened by 23 minutes since late June.
The days getting shorter means we are slowly moving toward fall and then winter. Although the daylight hours are changing, our hottest and driest month is usually August.

Most people envision that when Europeans first came to America there was a vast, unbroken expanse of trees stretching from the coast to the western plains. This is our vision of a wilderness, forests untouched and unchanging. Research however indicates that the history of our forests has been one of constant change

Do you ever consider things about yourself? For instance, I have always considered myself to be creative and funny. I like to think I am correct about the both of them. But there was one thing that I had wrong about myself. I thought I had strong upper arms. I was wrong.
Not too long after Tim and I were married, we bought a ceiling fan for our bedroom. I agreed to help him install it.
No big deal, right?

The Union County Farmers Market pavilion at the new Heritage Park is a busy place on Saturday mornings. The market is in full swing as the farmers are bringing in loads of produce. Once again, UT Extension is offering the Farmers’ Market Fresh program at our market. The primary objective of Farmers’ Market Fresh is to encourage fruit and vegetable consumption. The program is designed to encourage everyone to make healthy meal choices and provides simple, easy to follow healthy recipes each week.

Did the title make you think of the old “Columbo” TV show? I have always loved that show. Even now I watch it if it’s on. My husband Tim sighs and asks, “How many times have you seen that episode? You know how it ends.” While he’s right, I still have to watch it. But I am not going to talk about “Columbo.” I am going to talk about what happened in our living room year ago.

I am presently paying a price for all the off-trail hiking and field wanderings I do. I have the worst attack of chiggers I’ve ever had…well over a hundred bites. They are almost microscopic, yet pack a wallop of misery.

Have you ever wondered what it takes to make a quilt? What makes a hand made quilt different than other options that can be purchased? Well, every summer 4-H students get the opportunity to discover and explore the craft of quilting at 4-H Quilt Camp. Like all 4-H events, education is at the center of the fun students have. Students are sent fabric samples prior to the camp, to assist them in making their own fabric selections for their quilts. This year, students completed a double slice layer cake quilt for themselves and worked on a quilt of valor service project.

You know, when you travel across the country, sometimes you must choose to spend the night somewhere just because it’s time to stop and sleep. Hence, our time in Bakersfield CA.
If you end up here, try Maggie’s Diner for breakfast. Exceptional food, service, and atmosphere. We chose a table outside and even though the heat was still raging, it was cooler than Phoenix. And remember, it’s still a dry heat. To be fair, it was also 7 a.m.

The church of which I am currently a member put out a magnet a few years ago with the church’s logo and this catchphrase: Loveland—Where Everybody is Somebody.
I thought this a comforting sentiment. Church should be the one place that everyone feels like someone, no “big ‘I’s or little ‘you’s’”. Unfortunately, that is not always the case.

By Steve Roark
Volunteer for Cumberland Gap National Historical Park

I don’t know of anybody that doesn’t have a fear response when they stumble across a snake in the woods or the tool shed. The usual reaction is to jump back and express a four-letter metaphor. I do it myself, even though I know that snakes are mostly harmless, and the poisonous ones rarely strike a human unless really provoked. But all that knowledge goes out the window when I first see a snake, and I’m instantly in a “get out of here” mode.

Having been bundled up by the Covid-19 pandemic and suffering from “cabin fever,” we decided it was time for another travel adventure.
After landing in Vancouver, Canada, we walked to the 44-story Harbor House Tower with its panoramic observation tower on its top floor. Next, we visited the nearby Chinatown which is the second largest Chinatown in North America. I stopped for a moment to photograph the welcoming Chinatown gate.

I will let you in on a little secret: I love loud noises. Not the sudden ones as in a balloon popping or a firecracker exploding. Let’s put it this way; if you’re ever attending a firework show and you see a short woman with glasses and her fingers burrowed inside her ears, it’s probably me.

We package up our ground beef in 1/2 pound freezer bags. Several of our favorite recipes only call for a half pound of ground beef. There is a good casserole for 1/2 pound ground chuck.. Of course, you have to like eggplant. I do.

What many would call a “hometown” politician is looking to serve Union County once more as mayor.
Mike Williams, previous Union County Mayor and past Tennessee State Representative and Senator for 12 years, has decided to run for county office once more.
Williams, a Union County native, started out as a schoolteacher where he taught government. He would often welcome elected officials into his classroom to speak to the students on local government, but one thing he noticed was that they only ever came knocking every four years.