Hope everyone is cozy, well-fed and with friends for this Thanksgiving. Let’s see what some of our neighbors are up to:

Kim Bumpas and Visit Knoxville officially opened the Sunsphere Welcome Center on November 20, 2024, with a visit from the Budweiser Clydesdales. Here’s a small video clip of the Clydesdales.

Virginia Babb with Gerry Brooks

Virginia Babb with educator Gerry Brooks at the recent Reach Them to Teach Them event. Babb, a former school board member, serves on the Reach Them board. Brooks is both wise and hilarious in his social media posts on Facebook or his website here.

Wayne Blasius, director of planning and development for Oak Ridge, is looking for a name for the city’s comprehensive plan.

To weigh in on the name, visit the website and choose your favorite from the following three options:

  • Oak Ridge – A City Moving Forward
  • Oak Ridge Centennial Vision: Defining Our Future, Celebrating Our Past
  • Oak Ridge 2045: A Century of Heritage, A Future of Promise

Uh, Wayne, how about we just call it “comprehensive plan?”

Jabari Davis

Jabari Davis, president at Legends of Tennessee, says there are four types of wealth: Financial wealth – money; Social wealth – status; Time wealth – freedom; and Physical wealth – health. “Be cautious of jobs that offer you 1 and 2 but rob you of 3 and 4.”

Steven Matijcio

Steven Matijcio, director of the Knoxville Museum of Art, and his wife, Anita Hollmann Matijcio, were welcomed to Knoxville with a progressive dinner hosted by three couples who live downtown. Cynthia Moxley, one of the hosts, writes about the dinner and the Matijcios in The Blue Streak.

Matijcio previously was director and chief curator at the Blaffer Art Museum, University of Houston. He succeeded David Butler, who retired at the end of December after serving as the KMA’s executive director since 2006.

City seeks nominations for Diana Conn good neighbor award

Each year, the Office of Neighborhood Empowerment accepts nominations for the Diana Conn Good Neighbor of the Year Award, which is presented annually to a city of Knoxville resident who – in the spirit of cooperation and with commitment to inclusive community – has devoted time and talent in service to his or her neighbors and neighborhood.

All nominees are honored by Mayor Indya Kincannon at the annual Neighborhood Awards Dinner, which will be held in early March.

Nominations will be accepted through Monday, December 2, 2024. If you would like to nominate a neighbor, fill out this application and turn it in to Shannett Riley at SRiley@KnoxvilleTN.gov.

Notes
  • Knoxville and Knox County offices will be closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 28-29, for Thanksgiving.
  • Tuesday, November 26 – City Council, 6 p.m.; Inskip Community Association / Asociación Comunidad Inskip (ACI), 6:30 p.m.
  • Monday, December 2 – Holston Meadows Neighborhood Watch, 6 p.m.; Parkridge Community Organization, 6:30 p.m.; Oakwood Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association, 7 p.m.