TDOT has scheduled a public meeting for Thursday, October 25, from 5-8pm in the Heritage High School Auditorium.

At this meeting TDOT will present the ‘Purpose and Need’ for the PPE as well as ‘initial alternatives.’ The public will have opportunities to comment on the Purpose and Need and the alternatives. Written comments can be sent to TDOT for 21 days after the Oct. 25 meeting.

Starting at 5:15 PM (EDT), TDOT will make a formal presentation on the status of the project. The presentation will describe the work completed since the Scoping Meetings in June 2006, the purpose and need statement for the project, and initial alternatives identified for the project.

Following the formal presentation, from 6:00 to 7:00 PM, citizens will be afforded an opportunity to work with TDOT officials in smaller groups and share their ideas on alternatives to be considered. Representatives of TDOT will be available to assist with the exchange of ideas and to provide information on the purpose and need of the project.

The workshop will conclude with a full group discussion and question and answer session between 7:00 and 8:00 PM.

Live music, pumpkin painting, a Parade of Costumes, and an auction will highlight the 6th Annual Rural Preservation Party & Auction. This year’s event is set for Saturday, October 27, from 3:30-7pm at the Kelmont Farm Barnyard, 1565 E. Brown School Road in Maryville.

"We're looking forward to CAPPE's 6th Annual Rural Preservation Party & Auction," said Bill Busser. "We moved the event to the fall so that we could have a harvest theme.”

“Everyone will enjoy this year's activities,” said Mike Cook. "We’ll hear from Pistol Creek Catch of the Day, enjoy pumpkin painting and cakewalks, returning folksinger and guitarist Errol Glustoff, and local favorites The Woodpickers. We invite all ages to take part in the Parade of Costumes at 5pm.”

"There is growing interest across Blount County in developing programs to protect agricultural land,” added Susan Keller. “The recent well-attended public workshop with Gerry Cohn of American Farmland Trust focused on the contribution agriculture makes to our local economy. The Rural Preservation Party is about more than the past – it is also about the present and the future of Blount County.”

For youngsters, activities include pumpkin painting, hay rides, face painting, a 'duck pond' with prizes for catching the ducks, and the Parade of Costumes. Free facials are being provided by April Parks, owner of Elligance Salon.

The auction preview begins at 3:30pm, with the live auction at 6:00pm after the entertainment. Auction items include gift certificates from area restaurants, veterinarian services, limited edition prints by Janacek, original artwork, pet boarding and grooming, a hand-made lap quilt, bed comforter set, History of Blount County by Dean Stone, restaurant hot tray, bakery gift basket, dollhouses, therapeutic massage gift certificates, an overnight in Gatlinburg, a weather forecast station and more.

"The bake sale is always popular," added Keller. "Everything is home-made. There will be home made bread and lots of different kinds of cookies, cakes and pies. Sandwiches and cold drinks will also be available."

CAPPE is a non-profit organization of Blount County residents concerned about the impacts of the proposed Pellissippi Parkway Extension. For more information, call Susan Keller at 982 4267 or Mike Cook at 984 9003.

Kelmont Farm Barnyard
1565 East Brown School Road
Maryville, TN

There will be live music, the famous bake sale, pumpkin painting, an auction, cakewalks, a costume parade and contest, and other activities being planned.

The Planning Commission will hold a called meeting to begin revision of the Policies Plan and other plans of the County on October 30 at 5:30 P.M. in Room 430 of the Courthouse.

You may have missed the announcement of this very important meeting since it is not listed under the Meetings listing on the county website. It is rather hidden under the Plans listing.

Why are we changing the Blount County Policies Plan? Have the residents of this county changed their opinions as to what they want for Blount County? Do we no longer love the rural beauty or have we made the choice to become the bedroom for Knoxville and Oak Ridge?

Could it be....... 411 South as strip mall city or Pollywood West?

Could it be....... because SBUD is now in the sewer bid'ness?

Could it be....... to offer even more protection to Townsend and The Privileged Side of the Smokies?

Read the documents then come to the meeting.
Link...

In preparation for the summit, five town hall forums are being held in the region to discuss tourism issues impacting the Smokies and its gateway communities

Link...

Tomorrow morning at the library from 10:00 until noon we have a unique opportunity to voice our concerns and listen and learn what it means to be a gateway community.

The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development has long been a great resource to those who understand that in order for tourist to get to the Smokies they must pass through our communities and what they see in route is just as important was what they see when they get to the Park.

Saturday November 10, Southland Books is having their Art Market from 10 to 3.
What a great chance to see and buy local art from local artists working in pottery, glass, blown glass, photography, painting and many other mediums!

The holidays are coming folks. You can go to the big box and buy crap or you can support our local artists.

While there, don't miss the mega selection of vinyl records they now carry! AWESOME. CDs may be nice but nothing beats album covers for reading while listening.

If you are a local artist, give Lisa at call to see if she has additional space for this Art Market. 984-4847

Map and directions

Blount County Public Library

Three seniors from Maryville College working on a community awareness grant will be joined by a representative from TVA to give an inspiring and educational presentation on where our electricity comes from, how to use less, why you should, and how the Green Power program works. The talk is free and begins at 6pm.

One of the students wrote about their efforts for Hellbender Press.

Update folks.
An "America Recycles Day" Computer Recycling Event is
being held at Technology Solutions of Tennessee, LLC.

Date: Saturday, November 17th 2007
Time: 10am to 4pm
Where: Harper Plaza, 718 East Harper Avenue 37804,
downtown Maryville at the corner of East Harper and
East Street.
Contact: (865) 386-5865 for details.

TSOT, LLC will be collecting Computers, Laptops,
Monitors, Printers, etc. from consumers and small
businesses. Please feel free to bring your old TVs,
cellphones, ipods, stereos, DVDs, VCRs, and cameras.

20% OFF COUPON FROM SOUTHLAND BOOKS

[& Free Coffee from Detour Coffee]

FOR ALL
PARTICIPANTS (LIMIT 1)

No lead acid batteries or household wastes (chemicals)
will be accepted.

Here is your opportunity to get rid of your old computer, monitor, printer, cell phone....

Technology Solutions will be hosting this recycling effort and they are next to Southland Books.
What a great service to the community and for your efforts you will also receive a discount on some purchases at Southland that day! AND you get a free cup o'joe from Detour Coffee!

Hummm... let's get this straight! I can take in that pile of pc crap in the garage and as a reward for not hauling it to the landfill I get a discount on my purchase at Southland Books and a free cup of coffee?? No doubt folks, this is the best deal in town!

Thanks again to the gang at Technology Solutions of Tennessee and Southland for making community count!

Saturday, November 17, 2007. The Leonid Meteors are coming and Comet Holmes is still easily visible in the North East sky after dark. Local Amateur Astronomers want to take you to these events.
The Tamke Allen Observatory in the west, the Knoxville Observers in the north and The Smoky Mountain Astronomical Society in the south are all going to be observing the comet and the Leonid meteors.
You can find the Tamke Allen Observatory web page at Link...
From that web site you can find links to both the Knoxville Observers and the Smoky Mountain Astronomical Society. From their respective web sites their are maps to the observing locations. For Tamke Allen, the observatory its self is the location. For the Knoxville Observers, the parking lot by the swimming pool at Norris Dam location is posted under events and for the Smoky Mountain Astronomical Society, look for the what their location web page calls Look Rock #1. If the parking lot of Look Rock #1 is full, all of the overlooks facing away from the light pollution of Knoxville and Maryville will be fine.

The comet looks like a star to the naked eye, but has a soft halo around it easily visible in binoculars. So bring your binoculars and visit any of these local amateur astronomers as they observe this unusual comet.
Predictions for meteor storms have been improving over the years and we hope the latest predictions calling for a good Leonid storm this year are true.

Dress warm. Bring a warm blanket to lay upon. Bring another warm blank with which to cover up.
A pillow may help. Bring some snacks and hot coffee or hot chocolate.
Meteor watching only requires your eyes and some degree of patients. It helps to have company and good conversation. Singing, "When you wish upon a star...", is entirely optional.

Just a reminder for those of you ( like me ) who have a turkey sleeping in your deep freeze- it really does cook better if it is thawed out before it goes into the oven.

Just a reminder for those of you ( like me ) who have a turkey sleeping in your deep freeze- it really does cook better if it is thawed out before it goes into the oven.