Please join us on Thursday, August 19, from 7-9:30pm at The Market on High Street in Maryville.

SAVE IT, DON'T PAVE IT!

Thursday, August 19 from 7-9:30pm

Join us for BBQ (pork and chicken), cole slaw, iced tea, and beer at The Market at High Street in Maryville.

The Spurgeon Boys (local old-time musicians) and CAPPE's long-time friend, singer-songwriter Jay Clark, will be with us.

$25 suggested/person at the door; cash or check.

RSVP PLEASE by Friday, August 13 to cappe@discoveret.org OR call 977 7399.
(we need your reservation to ensure we will have enough food on hand)

Please carpool and park at The Market or across High Street on the west side of Blount Memorial Health.

This event is a benefit for Citizens Against the Pellissippi Parkway Extension, Inc., a non-profit organization.
Contributions to CAPPE are not tax-deductible.

CAPPE
PO Box 494
Alcoa, TN 37701
Link...
cappe@discoveret.org

The Little River Chapter of Trout Unlimited is hosting Troutfest 2010, the Great Smoky Mountains Fly Fishing Expo at the Townsend Visitors Center on Saturday May 15th and Sunday May 16th. This highly regarded two day event is one of the largest fly fishing expos in the Southeast.

Featured instructors Lefty Kreh, Bob Clouser, and Joe Humphreys among other notable fly fishing experts will hold seminars throughout both days of the event. There will also be dozens of expert fly tyers, entertainment, food and fun. All events are free, parking donations are accepted.

There is also a fundraising banquet and auction on Friday May 14th, 6PM at the Visitors Center. Tickets are $50 and should be purchased in advance.

It's fun for the whole family, and even if you're not a fly fisher you can learn about stream ecology and meet the folks behind conservation efforts in the National Park.

Proceeds from the Fly Fishing Expo benefit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Fisheries Department and Friends of Great Smokies National Park Fisheries Scholarship Endowment Fund. Some funds will also be used for youth fishery education programs. Last year's event raised $40,000 for the GSMNP Fisheries Dept. and Friends of the Smokies.

Event volunteer and Trout Unlimited member Jack Gregory told me that the local TU chapter is a major source of funding for the National Park fisheries program because of past federal budget cuts. TU has also been instrumental in ongoing research and restoration projects, which include the highly successful efforts to reintroduce and preserve native brook trout populations.

More info:

• Troutfest 2010 official website

• Little River Chapter, Trout Unlimited

Cloudy skies and cold weather didn't stop anyone from coming out to the Maryville Christmas Parade in downtown Maryville today. According to the paper there were over 160 entries in the parade, and folks from all over lined the parade route. Here are some snapshots... 

(Click here for larger view)

The Last Friday Art Walk is a recurring event to celebrate the arts on the last Friday of every month in Downtown Maryville.

Maryville Arts Coalition is proud to present the second annual Last Friday Art Walk Tribute to Music event! August 28, 2009. 5-9pm. Artists and Musicians will be lining the streets of Downtown Maryville. The theme? Paint the Music!

Note from the Little River Watershed Association:

Keep Blount Beautiful needs your help to prevent Cigarette Litter in Downtown Maryville... the Friday Night Art Walk and KBB is looking for 24 volunteers to help hand out free pocket ashtrays at the event for one hour... Please contact Jillian Atchley at 681-4809, email intern@keepblountbeautiful.org to volunteer, please specify a time you are interested in.

The Blount County Commission holds regular monthly meetings on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 7:00pm in the County Commission room of the Blount County Courthouse.

Next meeting: Thursday, August 20, 2009
359 Court Street
Maryville, TN 37804-5906

All meetings of the City of Alcoa Board of Commissioners are open to the public. Commissioners meet in regular session on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Commission Chambers of the Municipal Building.

Next meeting Tuesday, August 11, 2009
223 Associates Blvd
Alcoa, TN 37701-1948

Wonderful news!

The Maryville Farmers' Market is now open Wednesdays in Alcoa.

Check it out!

Location: Anderson Lumber Company, Alcoa
Hours: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

From June 17 to September 16

Thanks!

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.

At the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center, Townsend, Tennessee

Livestock Show
Vegetables and Produce
Baked Goods
Canning
Honey Show
Metal and Woodworking Projects

Admission $3.00 per person
Free to Heritage Center members and children under 6

...no, really. They really ARE coming. This time to the Republic of Georgia:

Link...

Georgia's president said Friday that his country is under attack by Russian tanks and warplanes, and he accused Russia of targeting civilians as tensions over the breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia appeared to boil over into full-blown conflict.

Link...

Georgia, which borders the Black Sea between Turkey and Russia, was ruled by Moscow for most of the two centuries preceding the breakup of the Soviet Union. The country has angered Russia by seeking NATO membership — a bid Moscow regards as part of a Western effort to weaken its influence in the region.

Not to detract from the gravity/depravity of yesterday's election, but what a nightmare for these people.

The Committee to Elect Judge Mike Meares is having a free BBQ Bash this Saturday, July 19, from noon until 2 p.m. at the Greenbelt Pavilion in Maryville.

There will be live music from Mountain Gap and free BBQ, face painting, cotton candy and door prizes for those who most creatively show their support for Blount County Circuit Court Judge Mike Meares. Come on out and enjoy great food, great music and lots of fun with your neighbors at the Meares Campaign BBQ Bash.

For more information, contact the Committee to Elect Judge Meares at (865) 681-0553.

They are trying to come up with a replacement for Willie Nelson.

Please vote for the Allman Bros. here.

I've seen them 3 or 4 times and it was a great show every time. Good ole band from the South.

Remote Area Medical is holding a free clinic expedition at Heritage Middle High School on July 12th and 13th. Free medical, dental, and vision services will be provided. Turnout is heavy for these events, which start around 6AM. Some people arrive the night before and camp out.

For more information about Remote Area Medical, visit their website.

See also: KnoxViews discussion re. RAM, a 60 Minutes feature about a January RAM expedition in Knoxville, and the "Third World emergency." This is a national disgrace, but Remote Area Medical is doing what they can.

It may not be too late!

AnimalWorks will be holding its 4th Annual Golf Tournament at Royal Oaks Country Club on Saturday, June 14, 2008.

AnimalWorks is a Low Cost Spay and Neuter Organization, and the only NO KILL Animal Shelter in Blount County.

This tournament flyer will provide contact details and other specifics.