community briefs

community briefs
- Thu, Nov, 5, 2009

• Heidi’s Musical Gymnastics will have a fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 9:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 7. Admission is free; a donation to St. Jude’s is requested. Children will perform their gymnastic skills to raise money from sponsors. Call 865-671-4116 to reserve a place. For more info, visit www.heidismusicalgym.com.

• The Knoxville Civil War Roundtable will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday, Nov. 10. Dinner is served at 7 p.m. and the program begins at 8 p.m., Nov. 10, at Bearden Banquet Hall, 5806 Kingston Pike. The speaker will be Thomas Cartwright, historian and author, whose subject will be “Patrick Cleburne at the Battle of Franklin.” Reservations are required and may be made by calling 865-671-9001 before noon Monday, Nov. 9. Dinner cost is $15 for members and $17 for non-members. Program only cost is $3 for members and $5 for non-members. Visitors always are welcome.

• Premier Surgical Associates in Knoxville is seeking patients with peripheral artery disease to participate in a treatment study. The Durability II research study will test the safety and effectiveness of the Protégé EverFlex Stent system to improve blood flow in the leg and foot compared to balloon angioplasty. Stents are commonly used to improve blood flow among PAD patients. Dr. Christopher W. Pollock is the principal investigator of the Durability II study for Premier Surgical Associates. For more information on participating in the Durability II study, contact Brenda Wear of the Premier Clinical Research Center, at 865-862-6929 or bwear@premiersurgical.com.

• Santa and his reindeer event at West Town Mall, 6 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 12. Local celebrities and mascots kids love will hit the red carpet, with Santa arriving last in Reindeer One! Afterwards, everyone will head inside for a special milk and cookie reception, where kids will have the chance to mingle and jingle with all the mascots and Santa.

• Village Green Garden Club will meet at 10 a.m., Monday, Nov. 9, at the home of Sherry Hunter. The program will be “using the computer to access garden information” presented by computer consultant Bob Hunter. Members are asked to bring holiday decorations to share ideas. Neighbors are always welcome. For more information, call the president, Marilyn, at 865-966-6386.

• UT Hospice conducts ongoing orientation sessions for adults (18 and older) interested in becoming volunteers with the proram. No medical experience is required. Training is provided. For more information, call 865-544-6277 or 865-544-6279.

• UT Hospice Adult Grief Support Group is for any adult who is suffering loss. The group meets the third Tuesday of every month from 6 to 7:30 pm (next meeting - Nov. 17 "Hope for the Holidays). Meetings are held in the UT Hospice office at 2270 Sutherland Ave. A light supper is served. For more information or to reserve your spot, call 865-544-6279.

• Knox County Public Library announces Layla Kiffin is joining the board of Imagination Library in Knox County. Kiffin is the wife of Tennessee Vols football head coach, Lane Kiffin. The program was started by Dolly Parton in 1996. It sends books in the mail every month to registered children under the age of five.

• Mobile Meals need volunteers and holiday donors. Opportunities available are to deliver meals on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, deliver meals during holidays between Dec. 21 and 31 (No meal delivery on Nov. 27 and Dec. 24), provide fruit bags for Thanksgiving, provide one or more gifts for Mobile Meals participants, volunteer to sort fruit or gifts. To volunteer or receive gift list or fruit bag information, e-mail Jennifer, jennifer.oakes@knoxcac.org or call the Mobile Meals office 865-524-2786.

• Hope for the Holidays: coping with the death of a loved one is always difficult. The holiday season can be particularly challenging for those grieving the loss of a family member or other individual with whom they were close. The University of Tennessee Medical Center is hosting a special program to help bring hope to those who are grieving. The program is free and open to all. For more information, call UT Hospice at 865-544-6222. Certified through the Association of Death Education and Counseling, Ron Russell, a chaplain with UT Hospice, will hold Hope for the Holidays, a special bereavement support meeting, from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 18, in the education room of UT Medical Center’s Heart Lung Vascular Institute (Suite E-170).

• The Town of Farragut announces the warning period for its Photo Enforcement Program (red light camera system) will end Monday, Nov. 16. Citations resulting in a $50 fine per offense will begin Tuesday, Nov. 17.

• The Farragut Folklife Museum will host the “Charles Dickens and Royal Doulton Exhibit,” on loan from Bob Leonard, former Farragut mayor and long-time Folklife Museum committee member, from Nov. 9 to Dec. 23. This holiday exhibit will showcase more than 200 pieces of Royal Doulton Dickensware and Royal Doulton Dickens characters. In conjunction with this exhibit, the Museum will host book signings and a special presentation 6 p.m., Monday, Nov. 16 at the Farragut Town Hall.

• The Rotary Club is seeking applicants for visit to Taiwan. Outstanding, employed professionals are encouraged to apply for the four-week visit. The trip is to promote goodwill. For more info, go to rotary.org or call Jack Bailey at 865-483-6645.

• Lenoir City Holiday Market is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 14, at Lenoir City High School. The event is sponsored by the GFWC Suburbia Woman’s Club, the same group that brings the Lenoir City Arts and Crafts Festival in June each year. Admission to the Holiday Market is free. There will be vendors from all sorts of categories such as wood, wood instruments, jewelry, purses, candles, lotions and body care, gardening, books, Christmas decorations, baked goods and much more. Funds raised from this event to help make Christmas a little brighter for those in need this Holiday season. The Family Resource Center of Lenoir City will be joining us and will provide another opportunity for you to choose an angel off of their Christmas tree. It’s still not too late to reserve a booth. If you are interested in participatin, contact them through jcus@charter.net or 865-986-3880.

• Learn to smile more and stress less this Holiday Season and find out how to prevent holiday burnout and discover the number one cause of your holiday hoopla. You will leave this presentation knowing how to handle what stresses you most so you can roll into 2010 with a hopeful spirit for the new year. This program will be led by Eric Benson who has 20 years of experience helping organizations build teams and take care of customers. The program begins at 7 p.m. and ends at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, at Farragut Town Hall. This is a free event. Registration is appreciated prior to the program. To register and receive more information, call 966-7057.

• The East Tennessee Technology Access Center needs new, battery-operated toys to give to more than 100 children with disabilities in 24 counties who cannot use their hands to play with typical toys. These toys will be rewired so that they can be connected to special switches for the children to press in order they can play with the toy. ETTAC’s elves need time to adapt toys before the holiday distribution party Dec. 7. Are you trying to find a great gift for someone? If you donate a toy, we will give you a beautiful gift card to send your friend or family member saying that you have donated a toy to ETTAC to give to children with disabilities in their name for the holidays. Buy early and avoid the holiday rush. Please drop off toys at ETTAC’s Knoxville office at 4918 N. Broadway. ETTAC is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information about ETTAC’s Toy Tech program, call 865-219-0130.

• The Appalachian Arts Craft Center in Norris will offer a “Crocheted Old-Fashioned Button (or Bead) Necklace” class with Patti Ball, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 14, at the center. A new take on the old necklace is to use beads instead of buttons — or throw in interesting pieces of junk or stuff to make it upbeat and fun. This necklace was popular during the 1930s. So go rustling through grandma’s button box and come join us for some fun. Students must have knowledge of crochet and have no fear of fine threads. Patti Ball is a long-time crafter and teacher. Students should bring a snack or lunch. Cost is $35 for Craft Center members, $45 for nonmembers, plus a materials list will be given to those who register. Registration deadline is Nov. 10. To register, call the center at 865-494-9854 or stop by at 2716 Andersonville Highway 61 near Norris, one mile east of I-75 North at exit 122. Or check out the center web site at www.appalachianarts.net.

• Jill Andrews with Matt Butcher will be at Cafe 4 downtown at 9 p.m., Friday, Nov. 20. Tickets are $10 advance/$12 at the door.

• Annual Holiday Market sale showcasing senior citizen craftsmen, will be held 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 5, at O’Connor Senior Center, 611 Winona St. Free parking available. You will also find plants, homemade candy, cookies, cakes, bread, jams and jellies, pickles and relish. For more information, call 865-523-1135.

• The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society will hold their Annual Membership Dinner Meeting and Silent Auction, beginning at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10 at the Elks Club in Oak Ridge, 684 Emory Valley Road, Oak Ridge. It will feature Dr. Susan Hamilton, Director of the University of Tennessee Gardens. The public is invited and cost is $20 for UT Arboretum members and $25 for non-members. The meeting will begin with a social hour and silent auction at 6:00 p.m., a buffet dinner at 7:00, followed by the business meeting, featured speaker and the results of the silent auction. Silent auction items include artwork, fine crafts, wine and accessories, yard work and much more. The auction will help expand Arboretum planting and programs. Payment for the dinner meeting and silent auction items is by cash or check only. Reservations are required and may be made by calling 865-482-9096.

• Knoxville News Sentinel Empty Stocking Fund will be held from Dec. 17 to 22 at the Jacob Building in Chilhowee Park. The event will give baskets of food, toys and books to families and children in need during the holiday season. To learn more about how you can receive an ESF basket, call 865-524-2521. The Community Action Committee screens and manages the recipient process.

• Covenant Health Check will be held 9 a.m. to noon, Friday, Nov. 6, at Roane State’s Oak Ridge campus. The event includes free screenings for blood pressure, vision, bone density, body composition, heart rhythm, hearing and peripheral vascular disease. The campus is located at 701 Briarcliff Ave. Discounted blood work will include a $20 blood chemistry profile (12-hour fast is recommended and all regular medications should be taken); complete blood count (CBC), $15; prostate specific antigen (PSA), $20; thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), $20; high sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP), $20 and hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C), $20. Individuals with diabetes should consult with their physicians before fasting. Colon cancer screenings kits ($2) available. For more information, contact Covenant Health at 865-541-4500. Event is co-sponsored by Covenant Health and WVLT Volunteer TV.

• “FOOTBALL: The Science Behind the Game” now through Jan. 4, at the American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge. AMSE is located at 300 South Tulane Ave. in Oak Ridge, hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday. AMSE admission is adults $5, seniors (65 plus) $4, youth (6-17) $3, and children (5 and under) are free. AMSE members are free. Group rates are available for 20 or more with advance reservations. Visit www.amse.org for more information or call AMSE at 865-576-3200.

• “From the Attic to the Archives” exhibit features artifacts collected over the 60 year history of the American Museum of Science and Energy from Oct. 9 to Jan. 10. The exhibit will illustrate how the Museum obtains artifacts through donations and their storage and exhibit.

• Jazz Lunch: Tribute to Wes Montgomery to be at 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 2, Cafe 4. Event is $15 with lunch included. This is a seated event.

• James Agee Centennial Celebration is now until Sunday, Nov. 22. To see complete schedule of events go to www.knoxlib.org/agee100.

• Buy in Farragut campaign begins. The Town of Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen invites local businesses to join the fourth annual, expanded Buy in Farragut Campaign, slated for Saturday, Nov. 21 through Thursday, Dec. 31, by holding a sale, offering discounts or participating in another related activity that will help attract Farragut citizens and the surrounding communities to buy, dine or stay in Farragut.

• Children’s Hospital Volunteers’ Annual Holiday Cards are now available. Knoxville native and watercolor artist Sean Willard from Littleton, Colo. designed this year’s unique holiday card especially for Children’s Hospital. The Children’s Hospital holiday cards are $0.75 each. For more info or to place an order, send an e-mail request to wharalson@etch.com or call the Volunteer Services Department at Children’s Hospital at 865-541-8136.

• Mabry Hazen House will host its annual Evelyn Hazen Birthday Celebration at 8 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 8. Bob Booker, a renowned local historian and former neighbor of Evelyn’s, will reminisce about the dynamic and sometimes cantankerous lady who donated this wonderful house and hillside to the Knoxville community. This event will be a celebration of the past and the future. The house will be open, birthday refreshments will be served, and there is no admission cost. For additional information contact, Calvin Chappelle, 865-522-8661.

• Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors Christmas Tour will be at Café 4’s Square Room downtown,9 p.m., Dec. 18. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. It is a partially seated event.

• Theatre Knoxville Downtown prepares its next production of Forbidden Knoxville, a satirical look at all things Knoxville. They are accepting submissions for inclusion in the script. Items should be short and adaptable to a stage setting and may include songs, sketches or other bits that parody, mock, or otherwise poke fun at local personalities, politics, arts, sports or Knoxville life in general. Jayne Morgan will direct the production and is compiling script materials. If a submission is included in the production, Theatre Knoxville Downtown will compensate the author with recognition in the program, a complimentary ticket to the show and our undying gratitude (sorry, no cash!). Note that all materials submitted are subject to editing or modification. Submissions must be received by Nov. 20 and may be emailed to scripts@theatreknoxville.