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Neighborhood Advisory
Knoxville Neighborhood Advisory – Vol. 8, No. 11 – Tuesday, April 7, 2015
- Lonsdale Market Reopens This Saturday
- Neighborhood Advisory Council Meets Wednesday
- Squirrel Joins Easter Egg Hunt in West Hills
- Newman Seay, Vestal Leader, Dies
- Tired of Blight? Join the “Fight the Blight” Workshop
- Register Now for April 17 Fair Housing Conference
- New Commander for KPD’s East District Patrol
- Free Women’s Health Fair Set for This Saturday
- Health Department hosts Women’s Health Conference
- Next Eight Days: Tennessee River Tour Promotes Clean Water
- Neighborhood and Government Calendar
Published by the City of Knoxville’s Office of Neighborhoods to report news important to Knoxville’s residential neighborhoods. Deadline for news & calendar items: 5 p.m. Mondays.
- Lonsdale Market Reopens This Saturday
The Lonsdale Multicultural Community Market is back.
The festive event — sponsored by the Latino Task Force and Lonsdale United for Change — will be held this coming Saturday, April 11, from11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Lonsdale Park, 1317 Louisiana Avenue.
Crafts will be available for sale, along with homemade food from Guatemala, Honduras, Iraq, Mexico, Peru, Salvador and possibly Africa and the Philippines — and also soul food from the U.S.
The market was created last year in an effort to build community in Lonsdale and surrounding neighborhoods, introduce U.S.-born citizens to other cultures, and provide support to those making food and creating crafts.
- Neighborhood Advisory Council Meets Wednesday
Homelessness and urban agriculture are among the topics to be discussed at the Neighborhood Advisory Council’s monthly meeting thisWednesday, April 8, from 4:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. at the CAC building, 2247 Western Avenue.
Members of the Homeless Collective will be on hand to share concerns about the ways in which homeless people are stereotyped and to share plans for reaching out to community groups.
Brian Blackmon with the City of Knoxville’s Office of Sustainability, will discuss urban agriculture and proposed changes to city ordinances to encourage both community gardens and market gardens on privately held property.
Other topics may be discussed. All are welcome to attend.
- Squirrel Joins Easter Egg Hunt in West Hills
The West Hills Community Association held its annual Easter Egg Hunt this past weekend, but not all of the eggs were claimed by children.
Several volunteers, including WHCA President Ashley Williams, spent four hours hiding 3,000 eggs in a 4.5-acre area of West Hills Park last Saturday morning, just in time for some 200 children to descend on the scene. “It took all of about 45 seconds for the eggs to be found,” Williams quipped.
But a permanent park resident robbed the kids of two of the eggs. One volunteer chased a squirrel running across a field and up a tree with a bright pink plastic egg in its mouth. Williams snapped a photo of the squirrel chomping through the plastic and eating the chocolate inside. The bushy-tailed rodent made off with another egg later in the morning. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” Williams said.
Other event volunteers included Chuck Anderton, Richard Clark, Lee Hume, and Will Overstreet. County Commissioner Jeff Ownby donated bottled water and cupcakes to the event.
- Newman Seay, Vestal Leader, Dies
Newman Seay, longtime president of the Vestal Community Organization, passed away March 31 after a bout with cancer. He was a staunch advocate for his community, the owner and operator of Knox Electric Service, and a veteran of the U.S. Army.
- Tired of Blight? Join the “Fight the Blight” Workshop
The City of Knoxville’s Office of Neighborhoods, in coordination with various city departments, is conducting a four-session workshop focused on the challenges we face with blighted properties and how to better work together to address them.
The workshop will be held over the course of four Wednesdays starting April 22 and continuing through May 13. The first three workshops will be held in the City County Building (Small Assembly Room) from 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m., and the final workshop on May 13 will be held from 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. at the CAC/L.T. Ross Building, 2247 Western Avenue.
To participate in this workshop, please fill out the one-page application located here: http://www.planetreg.com/E3319621138154. Or call Travis Nissen at 215-3077 for a hard copy to be mailed to you.
Seating is limited to representatives of established neighborhood organizations. Applications must be received by Wednesday, April 15.
At the workshop, neighborhood group representatives will learn how and why properties become blighted, examine the nuts and bolts of city codes enforcement, and hear about public and private efforts that address blight. Individuals who take this class will then be eligible to participate in ongoing meetings of the Neighborhood Working Group, which is composed of neighborhood group representatives and city officials who meet every other month to discuss problem properties and possible solutions.
- Register Now for April 17 Fair Housing Conference
Carlos Osegueda, regional director of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Office, will be the keynote speaker at the 2015 Fair Housing Conference on Friday, April 17.
Among other features, the conference will include a panel on landlord-tenant law and fair housing, a report on a statewide listening tour conducted by the Tennessee Human Rights Commission, homeless individuals speaking about barriers to housing, and advice on working with people with disabilities who employ service animals.
All are encouraged to register and attend. The conference is free for community and neighborhood representatives. Free transportation to and from the conference site will be provided from the CAC building on Western Avenue. The conference begins at 8 a.m. at Gettysvue Country Club, 9317 Linksvue Drive. Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. The conference ends at 3 p.m.
Please register in advance by calling Jennifer Bell at KCDC at 403-1234, ext. 228, or by visiting www.echoknoxville.com, where you can also view the full agenda.
The conference is sponsored by the Equality Coalition for Housing Opportunities (ECHO), which is composed of individuals who work for organizations such as governmental agencies, housing providers, social service agencies and advocacy groups.
- New Commander for KPD’s East District Patrol
Captain Kenny Miller and Captain Eve Thomas have switched roles at the Knoxville Police Department.
Captain Thomas is now the Commander of KPD’s Internal Affairs Unit, and Captain Miller is now the Commander of the East District in the Patrol Division. “This transition is to allow the two of them to continue to expand their skills in different roles in the Police Department and prepare them for future advancement,” noted Police Chief David Rausch. “Both Captains have been with KPD since January 1993.”
As commander of the East District, Captain Miller supervises all officer patrols in South Knoxville and in the areas of the city east of I-275.
- Free Women’s Health Fair Set for This Saturday
A Women’s Health Fair will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. this Saturday, April 11, at Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, 2137 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue.
Students in King University’s family nurse practioner program, all of whom are already experienced registered nurses, will be available to answer questions, share health information and limited health screenings. The event is free and open to the public.
Knoxville Comprehensive Breast Center’s Mobile Mammography unit will be present to do screening mammograms, but appointments are required. Interested women desiring a screening mammogram at Saturday’s event should call Knoxville Comprehensive Breast Center at 865-583-1003 to schedule an appointment for that day. Financial assistance is available for women who qualify for assistance in getting a mammogram.
Also, there will be a limited number of free cholesterol screenings available. The most accurate results are obtained if the cholesterol readings are done while the person is fasting (no food or beverage for 8-12 hours prior to the test, except water or black coffee). These results will be given onsite to the participants to share with their health care providers. Light refreshments will be provided.
For more, contact Dr. Bonnie Graham at brgraham@king.edu or 865-690-5803.
- Health Department hosts Women’s Health Conference
Do you want to understand addiction, neonatal abstinence syndrome, and what they mean for our community?
To address these issues, The Knox County Health Department will host a State of Women’s Health Conference on Friday, April 24, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Crown Plaza Knoxville, 401 E. Summit Hill Drive.
The conference is open to the public, will feature interactive discussions, and is free with lunch provided. The charge is $10 for those who need continuing education credits.
See State of Women’s Health to learn more, click here to register, or contact Katie Larsen at katherine.larsen@knoxcounty.org or 215-5170.
- Next Eight Days: Tennessee River Tour Promotes Clean Water
If you are interested in clean water, trees, and donating to local environmental organizations, you will really like the next eight days in Knoxville.
The nationally recognized Living Lands and Waters barge will dock at Volunteer Landing from April 8-15 as part of the Tennessee River Tour, an initiative to help clean up the Tennessee River and raise water quality awareness through stops in Knoxville and seven other cities along the river in three states.
Chad Pregracke, founder and president of Living Lands and Waters, as well as 2013 “CNN Hero of the Year,” will bring some of his staff and fleet to the Tennessee River for the first time. Since its founding in 1998, his organization has helped clean waterways in dozens of towns along 23 rivers in 20 states.
Knoxville is home to the headwaters of the Tennessee River, making it the natural kickoff city for the two-month tour. Local events include:
*** Ijams Nature Center’s 26th annual River Rescue from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 11. On average, River Rescue has 1,000 volunteers each year, collecting 8 tons of trash from 30 cleanup sites along Knoxville’s creek and river banks. This year, all of the trash collected Saturday will be transported to the barge where it will be displayed for the public to view for the first time ever.
*** Citizens can tour the Living Lands and Waters barge at Volunteer Landing Park on Sunday, April 12, from 1-4 p.m. The first 500 visitors receive a free tree to plant. There are actually four barges: one for carrying trash, one for sorting recyclables, a “floating classroom,” and solar-powered living quarters for the staff when they are away at long-distance cleanups.
*** Also on Sunday afternoon, a “Tennessee River Expo” at Volunteer Landing will provide information from local groups that work to improve our waterways.
*** Kasey Krouse, the City of Knoxville’s Urban Forester, has worked with Living Lands and Waters to select five sites across Knoxville to plant trees, helping stabilize creek and river banks. Volunteers will first remove invasive exotic plants, and then will plant 500 trees in the 1-4 p.m.hours at each of the following sites: Ijams Nature Center, Wednesday, April 8; Third Creek Greenway at Tobler Lane, Thursday, April 9; Williams Creek at Lay Avenue, Friday, April 10; Adair Park & Greenway, Monday, April 13; and James White Parkway, Tuesday, April 14.
*** Several local watering holes will host “pint nights” – when a portion of proceeds are donated to local nonprofits that work to clean up our waterways and environment. The timing, locations and benefitted nonprofits are:
— Wednesday, April 8, 5 p.m.-Midnight, Bearden Beer Market, Water Quality Forum
— Friday, April 10, 5-8 p.m., Scruffy City Hall, Legacy Parks Foundation
— Saturday, April 11, 6-8 p.m., Ijams Nature Center, Ijams River Rangers
— Tuesday, April 14, 5 p.m.-Midnight, Bearden Beer Market, Keep Knoxville Beautiful
*** Stephen Lyn Bales, Senior Naturalist at Ijams, will speak in the Living Lands and Waters floating classroom on the barge at Volunteer Landing, at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, April 13. His lecture will cover wildlife species that are now returning to the Tennessee River as the river’s health and ecology continues to improve following decades of concerted efforts. The event is free but available on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Neighborhood and Government Calendar
Include your neighborhood-related event or meeting in this space. Call 215-3456.
Visit http://www.cityofknoxville.org/calendar/ for a complete list of meetings of various city boards and commissions. See the Community Events Calendar: http://www.cityofknoxville.org/events/events.pdf
If you are a person with a disability who requires an accommodation in order to attend a City of Knoxville public meeting, please contact Stephanie Brewer Cook at scook@cityofknoxville.org or 215-2034 no less than 72 hours prior to the meeting you wish to attend.
Tuesday, April 7 — 4:30 p.m.
Dandridge Avenue Neighborhood Watch (First Tuesdays)
Beck Cultural Exchange Center, 1927 Dandridge Ave.
Lawrence Washington, 524-4498
Tuesday, April 7 — 5:30 p.m.
Public Meeting
Community Development Department, City of Knoxville
Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan
John T. O’Connor Center, 611 Winona Street
Linda Rust, 215-2120, lrust@cityofknoxville.org
Tuesday, April 7 — 6 p.m.
Mechanicsville Community Association (First Tuesdays)
Fairview Recreation Center, 1628 Dora St.
Charles Wright, 637-1802
Tuesday, April 7 — 6-7 p.m.
Norwood Neighborhood Watch – 6 p.m.
Norwood Homeowners Association – 7 p.m.
Monthly on a Tuesday: May 5, Jun 2, Jul 14, Aug 11, Sep 8
New Hope Presbyterian Church, 1705 Merchants Road
Lynn Redmon, 688-3136
Wednesday, April 8 – Wednesday, April 15
Tennessee River Tour
Tree plantings, school workshops, “pint night” fundraisers for local nonprofits
at local watering holes, River Tour speaker series, and more.
Living Land & Waters
Wednesday, April 8 — 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Food Policy Council
(Second Wednesdays but check website for confirmation)
Knox County Health Department, 140 Dameron Avenue
http://www.knoxfood.org/; info@knoxfood.org
Wednesday, April 8 — 11:30 a.m.
Community Forum (Second Wednesdays)
Bearden Branch Library, 100 Golf Club Road
Sue Mauer, 690-0269
Wednesday, April 8 — 4:30 p.m.
Neighborhood Advisory Council, City of Knoxville
(Second Wednesdays except December)
CAC / L.T. Ross Building, 2247 Western Ave.
http://www.cityofknoxville.org/neighborhoods
David Massey, 215-3232
Wednesday, April 8 — 6 p.m.
Public Meeting: Plan to improve accessibility, safety and convenience
of traveling by bicycle in Knoxville.
East Tennessee History Center, 601 S. Gay Street
www.cityofknoxville.org/bicycleplan/feb2015_finalreport.pdf
City of Knoxville
Thursday, April 9 — 1:30 p.m.
Metropolitan Planning Commission (Second Thursdays)
Agenda: http://agenda.knoxmpc.org
Thursday, April 9 — 5:30 p.m.
City Council Special Call Meeting
Topic: Revisions to the Sign Ordinance
Small Assembly Room, City County Building
Thursday, April 9 — 6 p.m.
Lonsdale Homes Resident Association (Second Thursdays)
Community Building, 1956 Goins Dr.
Phyllis Patrick, 323-7224
Thursday, April 9 — 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Greenwood Heights Neighborhood Watch (Second Thursdays)
Corner of Buttercup Circle and Sundrop Dr.
Alice Wershing, awershing@aol.com
Thursday, April 9 — 7-8 p.m.
Colonial Village Neighborhood Association
(Second Thursdays except December and January)
South Knoxville Church of God, 5623 Magazine Road
Terry Caruthers, 579-5702, t_caruthers@hotmail.com
Friday, April 10 — 7:45 a.m. and 8 a.m.
North Knoxville Business & Professional Association (Second Fridays)
Breakfast at 7:45 am, Meeting at 8 a.m.
Open to North Knoxville Residents, Neighborhood Groups, Business Owners
Meeting location varies. Check Website for location. http://northknoxvillebpa.org/
Becky Dodson, becky.dodson@hma.com, 545-6750.
Friday, April 10 — 6 p.m.
Beaumont Community Organization (Second Fridays)
Community Room, Solid Waste Transfer Station, 1033 Elm St.
Natasha Murphy, 936-0139
Saturday, April 11 — 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Lonsdale Multicultural Community Market (Second Saturdays)
Pavilion, Lonsdale Park, 1317 Louisiana Avenue
Latino Task Force and Lonsdale United for Change
Sunday, April 12 — 2 p.m.
Historic Sutherland Heights Neighborhood Association
(Second Sundays, even-numbered months)
Marble City Baptist Church, 2740 Sutherland Avenue
John Yates, 865-588-8883, john.a.yates1950@gmail.com
Monday, April 13 — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Home Energy Savings Fair
Community Action Committee building, 2247 Western Ave
Louise Gorenflo, ClimateKnoxville@gmail.com
Monday, April 13 — 1:30 p.m.
Montgomery Village Residents Association (Second Mondays)
4600 Joe Lewis Rd. #175
Ronnie Thompson, 604-6492
Monday, April 13 — 3 p.m.
Northgate Resident Association (Second Mondays)
Social Hall, 4301 Whittle Springs Rd.
David Wildsmith, 219-0417
Monday, April 13 — 5-6 p.m.
Cold Springs Neighborhood Watch (Second Mondays)
Michael Meadowview Neighborhood Watch (Second Mondays)
CAC East Neighborhood Center, 4200 Asheville Hwy.
Michael Meadowview: Marian Bailey, 525-5625
Cold Springs: Terrell Patrick, 525-4833
Monday, April 13
Fountain City Town Hall (Second Mondays)
Board Meetings: 6 p.m. Monthly
General Membership Meetings: 7 p.m., April, September, November
Church of the Good Shepherd, 5337 Jacksboro Pike
Daniel Dunn, 387-6390, daniel.dunn06@yahoo.com
Monday, April 13 — 6 p.m.
Lyons View Community Club (Second Mondays)
Lyons View Community Center, 114 Sprankle Ave.
Mary Brewster, 454-2390
Monday, April 13 — 6 p.m.
Vestal Community Organization (Second Mondays)
South Knoxville Community Center, 522 Old Maryville Pike
Newman Seay, 577-4593
Monday, April 13 — 6:30 p.m.
Community Potluck
Historic Fourth & Gill Neighborhood Organization (Second Mondays)
Central United Methodist Church, 210 Third Ave.
Liz Upchurch, 898-1809, lizupchurch1@gmail.com
Monday, April 13 — 6:30 p.m.
Historic Old North Knoxville (Second Mondays)
St. James Episcopal Church, Parish Hall, 1101 N. Broadway
Andie Ray, 548-5221
Monday, April 13 — 7 p.m.
Belle Morris Community Action Group (Second Mondays)
City View Baptist Church, 2311 Fine Ave.
http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/Belle_Morris
Rick Wilen, 524-5008
Tuesday, April 14 — 2 p.m.
Western Heights Resident Association (Second Tuesdays)
Building to the right of the mail boxes when you enter Western Heights
Jamesena Nolan, 237-5558
Tuesday, April 14 — 4-5 p.m.
City of Knoxville Greenways Commission
(2nd Tuesdays every two months)
http://www.cityofknoxville.org/boards/greenways.asp
Larry Cox Senior Center, 3109 Ocoee Trail
Lori Goerlich, Parks & Recreation Dept., 215-2807
Tuesday, April 14 — 6 p.m.
Brown Avenue Neighborhood Watch (Second Tuesdays)
Hoitt Ave. Baptist Church, 2121 Hoitt Ave.
Jimmy Ramsey, 637-0243
Tuesday, April 14 — 7 p.m.
City Council (Every Other Tuesday)
http://www.cityofknoxville.org/citycouncil
Agenda: http://www.cityofknoxville.org/citycouncil/agenda.pdf
Wednesday, April 15 — 12 Noon
Eastport/Lee Williams Neighborhood Watch (every 3rd Wednesday)
Lee Williams Senior Center, 2240 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave
Sylvia Cook, 206-3433, sylviacook5901@comcast.net
Thursday, April 16 — Breakfast – 7:30 a.m. Meeting – 8 a.m.
East Knoxville Business & Professional Association (Third Thursdays)
Open to Neighborhood Residents and Leaders
Meeting location varies
Doug Minter, Dminter@knoxvillechamber.com, Knoxville Chamber, 637-4550
Thursday, April 16 — 8:30 a.m.
Historic Zoning Commission (Third Thursdays)
http://www.cityofknoxville.org/boards/historic.asp
Kaye Graybeal, 215-3795, kaye.graybeal@knoxmpc.org
Thursday, April 16 — 12 p.m.
KUB Board of Commissioners (Third Thursdays, except July)
Historic Miller’s Building, 445 S. Gay St.
See www.kub.org. Click on “About Us” at top of the page.
Thursday, April 16 — 4 p.m.
City Board of Zoning Appeals (Third Thursdays)
Small Assembly Room, City County Building
Pre-Agenda Meeting: 3 p.m. in Room 511
http://www.cityofknoxville.org/boards/zoning.asp
Thursday, April 16 — 6 p.m.
Public meeting for Police Advisory & Review Committee (PARC)
City County Building, Main Assembly Room, 400 W. Main St.
http://www.cityofknoxville.org/boards/parc/.
Lisa Chambers, 215-3869, lchambers@cityofknoxville.org
Thursday, April 16 — 7 p.m.
Old Sevier Community Group
(Third Thursdays, January-November)
South Knoxville Elementary School Library, 801 Sevier Avenue
Gary Deitsch, 573-7355, garyedeitsch@bellsouth.net
Saturday, April 18 — 10 a.m.
South Haven Neighborhood Association (Third Saturdays)
Hillcrest United Methodist Church, 1615 Price Ave.
Pat Harmon, 591-3958
Monday, April 20 — 7 p.m.
Historic Fourth & Gill Neighborhood Organization
Board Meeting (Third Mondays except January)
“Birdhouse”/Fourth & Gill Center, 800 North Fourth Avenue
Liz Upchurch, 898-1809, lizupchurch1@gmail.com
Monday, April 20 — 7 p.m.
Alice Bell Spring Hill Neighborhood Association
(Third Mondays except June, July, December)
All are welcome to attend.
New Harvest Park, 4775 New Harvest Lane
Ronnie Collins, 637-9630
Monday, April 20 — 7 p.m.
West Hills Community Association (Third Mondays)
Executive Committee: July, August, September, November, December
General Meeting: February, May and October
First Church of the Nazarene, 538 Vanosdale Rd.
Ashley Williams, 313-0282
Tuesday, April 21 — 6 p.m.
Delrose Drive Neighborhood Watch (Third Tuesdays)
Riverview Baptist Church, 3618 Delrose Dr.
Corina and John Buffalow, 523-0102
Tuesday, April 21 — 6:30 p.m.
Lonsdale United for Change (Third Tuesdays)
Lonsdale Recreation Center, Stonewall Ave.
Steve Ritter, 973-0877
Tuesday, April 21 — 7 p.m.
Edgewood Park Neighborhood Association (Third Tuesdays, except December)
Larry Cox Senior Center, 3109 Ocoee Trail
Wednesday, April 22 — 9 a.m.
Infill Housing Design Review Committee (Fourth Wednesdays)
Re: infill housing in central city neighborhoods with IH-1 overlay
http://www.knoxmpc.org/zoning/infill.htm
Jeff Archer, 215-3821, jeff.archer@knoxmpc.org
Thursday, April 23 — 9 a.m.
Special Events Community Meeting (Fourth Thursdays, January-October)
“Meet with city services that may assist in planning your event.”
Civic Coliseum Ballroom, Third Floor
Free Parking available at Civic Coliseum Parking Garage
Office of Special Events, 215-4248
Friday, April 24 — 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
State of Women’s Health – Addiction, Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Free with lunch; 10.00 if you want CEUs
Crowne Plaza Knoxville, 401 W. Summit Hill Dr.
Register at
For more, Katie Larsen, katherine.larsen@knoxcounty.org or 215-5170
Monday, April 27 — 5 p.m. (zoning at 7 p.m.)
Knox County Commission
(Fourth Mondays, January-October. Third Mondays, November-December)
Agenda: Click on “Information” and then “Commission Agendas”
Public Forum held at beginning & ending of meeting
Tuesday, April 28 — 6 p.m.
Inskip Community Association (Asociación de la Comunidad de Inskip)
Community Meeting (Fourth Tuesdays)
Inskip Baptist Church, 4810 Rowan Rd.
Betty Jo Mahan, 679-2748, bettymahan@knology.net
Tuesday, April 28 — 6:30 p.m.
Chilhowee Park Neighborhood Association (Last Tuesdays)
Administration Building, Knoxville Zoo
Paul Ruff, 696-6584
Tuesday, April 28 — 7 p.m.
City Council (Every Other Tuesday)
http://www.cityofknoxville.org/citycouncil
Agenda: http://www.cityofknoxville.org/citycouncil/agenda.pdf
Thursday, April 30 — 3:30 p.m.
Better Building Board
(Last Thursday, January-October. First Thursday, December)
Small Assembly Room, City-County Building
Agenda: http://www.cityofknoxville.org/boards/betterbuilding.asp
Cheri Hollifield, 215-2119, chollifield@cityofknoxville.org