St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic opens 10th site The mobile medical clinic now serves the Pigeon Forge community at a ‘new oasis’: Holy Cross Church By Gabrielle Nolan
GABRIELLE NOLAN
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ince its opening 10 years ago, the St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic continues to grow and expand its reach to the medically uninsured in East Tennessee. On Sept. 11, the clinic celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its newest site in Pigeon Forge on the campus of Holy Cross Church. Special guests in attendance included Bishop Mark Beckman, members of the Pigeon Forge Chamber of Commerce and the local sheriff’s office, the superintendent of Sevier County schools, representatives of Mountain Hope Good Shepherd Clinic, and other local officials. The mobile medical clinic partnered with local organizations to bring other services to the site, such as a mobile shower trailer and mobile job van. Also near the clinic site is a local laundromat service. “For the Pigeon Forge community, we have so many people that work but are unable to have insurance and unable to have a lot of the things that people take advantage of, like a warm shower,” said Brandy Dominguez, executive director of the Pigeon Forge Chamber of Commerce. “So, having these facilities available for their medical needs and their cleanliness needs is just a great resource to have right here in Pigeon Forge, right in the center where it’s so accessible to our community and those who are in need of these services.” St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic executive director Martin Vargas said that the clinic can “turn any healthcare desert into an oasis.” “So, picture this: you can come
Community support Two members of the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office pose for a photo in front of the mobile medical clinic with Father David Mary Engo, OFM, parochial administrator of Holy Cross Parish, and Martin Vargas, executive director of the St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic. here, do your laundry, drop your clothes off. We have a partner that Rebecca Pipkins on our team brought to us who provides mobile showers. So, you can come get a shower, they’ll give you a fresh set of clothes. Then you come to us for your primary-care appointment, then you can come right out the door there to the church and get your spiritual needs met, and when you’re done praying you can go out to the American Mobile Job van and get a job,” Mr. Vargas said. He noted that the clinic graduates 15 percent of its patients a
year. “They’ve gone from uninsured to insured, and it’s absolutely amazing to walk that journey with them. It’s such a blessing,” he said. Mr. Vargas shared that the Pigeon Forge clinic site was essential because some patients were traveling from Pigeon Forge to the Gatlinburg clinic to be seen, and the Gatlinburg clinic was reaching capacity with patients. “So, this is a tremendous celebration today, 10 clinics in East Tennessee,” he said. “We serve a wide variety of people; every clinic’s
different and unique, tailored to the community with volunteers from the community. And we have over 120 active volunteers, absolutely amazing.” The St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic serves the communities of Knoxville, Athens, Decatur, Crab Orchard, Crossville, Gatlinburg, Helenwood, Rutledge, Washburn, and Pigeon Forge. Ms. Pipkins, community outreach coordinator for St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic, helped facilitate the clinic’s 10th site opening. Legacy Clinic continued on page B2
Bishop Beckman visits Crossville Oktoberfest By Dan McWilliams
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he 33rd annual Oktoberfest, sponsored by Knights of Columbus Council 8152 of St. Alphonsus Parish in Crossville, drew a special guest on the first of its two nights Oct. 18-19. Bishop Mark Beckman came to the Knights’ grounds on Highway 70 to partake in the event celebrating traditional German food and drink, dress, and music. He said he was “absolutely” enjoying himself at the fest. “One of the things that I have enjoyed tonight, being here in Crossville for the Oktoberfest, is that it’s a huge community event. When I look around the room, I see a huge turnout, not only in the Catholic community—it’s open to everybody, and everybody comes,” the bishop said. The event raises money for a number of charities supported by the Knights council. “There’s a joyful, festive spirit,” Bishop Beckman said. “They opened at 11 this morning, and it goes till 8 tonight, and tomorrow it’ll be 11 to 8 as well. I’ve heard all styles of music tonight, and there’s great German food, I have to say.” The bishop relished his meal at the Oktoberfest. “Very much, yes. If you like German food, we had bratwurst and schnitzel and sauerkraut and red cabbage, all sorts of wonderful things,” he said.
Father Mark Schuster, pastor of St. Alphonsus, hosted the bishop while he was in town. Father John Appiah, a Diocese of Knoxville priest now serving as a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force, also attended (see story, page B3) as did Father Michael Woods, pastor of nearby St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Fairfield Glade. Father Woods could be spotted doing the Chicken Dance with a group of people as the Rheingold Band played. John Peaslee, Council 8152 Grand Knight and district deputy, said the Friday-night crowd was “very big, unexpectedly large, and I think we’re ahead, so everything we do between now and Saturday night is going to be profit to our charities and our building funds and things like that.” The event raises thousands of dollars each year, mainly due to its strong attendance. “We see about 3,000 people in two days,” Mr. Peaslee said. “We’ve already seen over 1,100 come through the gate [Oct. 18]. They come from all over. The band comes from Ohio. We have people serving in our bar who come in from Boston for two days on their own dime. My wife’s office, Physicians Associates, her staff is over here with kids serving popcorn and soda. We have a great support staff. We have an outstanding IT staff, and you couldn’t ask for a better-functioning thing.” But one occurrence did top all the
DAN MCWILLIAMS
The diocese’s shepherd has first experience with the Knights event that has raised thousands for charity
Birds of a feather Father Michael Woods, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Fairfield Glade, does the Chicken Dance at the Oktoberfest sponsored by the Knights of Columbus of St. Alphonsus Parish in Crossville. factors he mentioned. “You know what makes it even better? When the bishop shows up and goes around and thanks all of these guys who have put in hundreds of hours over the last two weeks making this happen,” Mr. Peaslee said. The event supports more than 10 charities in Cumberland County as well the KIND (Knights for the Intellectually Disabled) organization and flood relief in upper East Tennessee. Charities supported include St. Alphonsus Community Services, the Arc of Cumberland County, the Hilltoppers, the Hospice of Cum-
berland County, and Plateau Pregnancy Services. Proceeds also help maintain the buildings and grounds where the festival is held each year and where the Knights council and Fourth Degree assembly meet. Father Schuster said this year’s Oktoberfest is at least the third one he has been to as St. Alphonsus pastor. “I can’t remember. I’ve been to several of them. It’s wonderful every year. I think they get even bigger and bigger and bigger,” he said. The Knights are “always very generous with the money they make Oktoberfest continued on page B3