The Cities of Alcoa and Maryville, and Blount County have yet to address the issue of the new law that allows individuals with handgun carry permits to carry handguns in our local parks.

If you want your local government to address this issue by opting out to not allow these individuals to carry handguns in your local parks, contact the members of your city council, city commission, or county commission and let them know.

The new law takes effect September 1, 2009. You will need to contact your local representative soon to get this issue on the agenda of the last city council/commission, county commission meeting.

City of Alcoa Board of Commissioners contact information.
City of Maryville City Council contact information.
Blount County Commission contact information.

Fine Arts Blount is hosting their first Kite Festival at Pearson Springs Park in Maryville, TN.

Bring your own kite or simple kites will be available on-site. There will be kite building, demonstrations, kite flying, and prizes.

What better way to celebrate spring than by coloring the skies with festive kites powered by the wind?

Celebrate the lighting of the City of Alcoa Christmas Tree in the Upper Fields area of Springbrook Park where the trails will be lit with luminaria. Following the ceremony, there will be special music, refreshments, visits with Santa Claus, and train rides for the children.

Event is free.

Date: December 1
Rain Date: Dec. 2
Time: 6:15 PM

According to Parks & Rec, it's on. No rain/snow delay.

What a gorgeous day it was yesterday! The sky was beautiful, the air was clear, the weather was oh so wonderful.

Adults, teens, children, and dogs enjoying an evening at Alcoa's Springbrook Park.

Forgive the pictures taken with a cellphone. I couldn't resist sharing the delights of our citizenry enjoying a wonderful Sunday in the park.

More pics after the jump...

JOHN SEVIER AND SPRINGBROOK POOLS WILL OPEN TODAY, MAY 23.

Yeah!

The earthquake Friday woke is up. A precarious table rattled at 5:40. Anybody else in Blount County? We are far from the epicenter and none of the news that I have seen mentions this area as being involved.

Public Stargaze at Tamke-Allan Observatory in Midtown on 2/16/08 beginning at 7 p.m. There will be presentations beginning at 7:30 p.m. on light pollution and the loss of our night skies.

Everyone is invited!!! Great family FREE fun!!!

Also, on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 everyone is invited to come see the last lunar eclipse until 2010. Festivities begin at 8 pm.

Please see Link... for more details!

SPEAKER: Al Wiberly, a First Friday regular (except for summers when he is in Maine) since our beginning 4 years ago. Al's topic will be THE ENVIRONMENT--the big picture. He will discuss "Why the environment is going to hell."

Friday luncheons are held on the first Friday of the month, 11:30 am at Ryan's Steakhouse at Hunter's Crossing (Walmart) in Alcoa.

Citizen groups are welcome to join us at all First Friday Luncheons. Our programs tend to be non-partisan with an emphasis on good government and honest officials--both elected and appointed

Blount County Democratic Party Friday Luncheon
Ryan's Steakhouse at Hunter's Crossing (Walmart) in Alcoa
11:30AM TO 1:00PM

And no snow to show for it. Glad I covered my palm trees.

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.

It was only magnitude of 2.8, but--with the windows open--I happened to hear and feel this little tremor move through last night/early this morning.

The epicenter was just south of Maryville.

I guess this is old news. After all, Vulcan's giant hole off Court St. in Maryville severed Duncan Branch creek over 10 years ago now. It is still sad to me, though, and to those who grew up in the area and played in the creek as children.

Duncan Branch was a spring-fed creek that is found on maps that date back over 100 years. It flowed year-round with clear, clean water. Then Vulcan expanded the quarry right over the stream bed, and now the creek flows into the hole.

The picture below was taken during Vulcan's open house on 9/11/07 (complete with free BBQ). The quality isn't very good; the light was fading and it was taken through the tinted windows of a moving bus. Still, if you look carefully you can make out the little waterfall (see circle, and close-up view). That's what's left of Duncan Branch, flowing into the hole.

Keep in mind that this picture was taken during one of the worst droughts in recorded history. A few years ago I questioned a quarry representative on the lack of water in the creek, and his response was "Sometimes springs dry up." Right.

Unfortunately, TDEC has been of no help (which is really no wonder, since the state mining regulations were written by mining consultants). Their position is that they can only regulate water pollution. The complete elimination of water apparently is not their concern.

Vulcan uses the water that flows into the quarry for their own purposes, for processing rock and dust control. If there is any excess, they pump it into what used to be Duncan Branch creek.

I'm afraid rock quarries don't make very good neighbors. Some free BBQ every few years does not compensate for the blasting, constant truck traffic, clouds of dust, incessant noise, hideous eyesores, and destruction of the environment.

What a magnificent day in the foothills of the Smokys.

Lots of bluegrass music.

… with crafts, demonstrations of sorghum making, quilting, weaving, antique tractors, and more.

Hope you visited. Sorry if you missed it.

If you did miss the Townsend Heritage Festival, you can still make it to the Nawger Nob Arts and Crafts Festival in Townsend today, September 30, 2007.

More photos after the jump...

Meet the luckiest bear on earth!

photos at Link...

story at Link...

Way to go guys! Amazing work you all did to save this bear.

On a clear day...

Yesterday...

The air quality is bad, bordering on unhealthy, with no immediate relief in sight. One problem is that TVA can't generate as much hydro-electric power because of the drought, so coal-fired power plants are running overtime.

Now would be a good time to turn your thermostat up a couple of degrees and install a CFL light bulb or two.

Click read more for larger views...