The Environmental Journal of Southern Appalachia

Event Archive (258)

Helene BlackMarbleBYC Sept 26 2024 NOAA20 v2

Team coverage of Sept. 27 disaster spanned three devastated East Tennessee watersheds

KNOXVILLE — Hellbender Press continued its tradition of excellence in journalism in 2024 with award-winning coverage of the unprecedented disaster spawned by Tropical Storm Helene in the Southern Appalachians.

Editor and Publisher Thomas Fraser and writer and reporter John Stambaugh accepted the awards at an East Tennessee Society of Professional Journalists downtown banquet in May.

The society sponsors the competition each year to recognize the best journalism in East Tennessee published in 2024. This year’s contest was judged by the Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists.

Hellbender Press received three first-place awards in the digital-only category, all related to Helene: Hurricane Helene Breaking Coverage; Deadline/Breaking News Reporting; and Series/Package/Project Writing.

Two of the judges drew parallels with news coverage of other historic events. 

Last modified on Wednesday, 11 June 2025 12:41

Beaver Creek Flotilla Logo

The Beaver Creek Kayak Club, in partnership with Knox County Parks & Recreation and Legacy Parks Foundation, are excited to hold the 8th annual Beaver Creek Flotilla!

Over 400 boats and 600+ people are expected to float down Knox County’s signature water trail. Participants will enjoy a fun-filled morning of recreation — don’t miss the opportunity to help support the Beaver Creek cleanup and showcase your company or organization at one of the best outdoor events!

All Flotilla event proceeds are dedicated to the continued improvements on Beaver Creek including debris clearing, creek bed cleanup and installation of public access docks.

Through our partnership with Legacy Parks Foundation, sponsorship donations are tax deductible and earmarked directly into the Beaver Creek Preservation Fund.

Each participant must register in advance to float the Beaver Creek Water Trail. A $10 per person registration fee and signed waiver is required.

More details and Registration

Earlier Beaver Creek reporting by Hellbender Press

Last modified on Monday, 02 June 2025 22:32

A black bear cub is released into the Cumberland Mountains as seen in this video from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Two other cubs were also released after wildlife officers retrieved them from the side of the road after a sow was struck by a vehicle in Sullivan County.  TWRA

Wildlife officers rescue bear cubs after mother killed by vehicle

Matthew Cameron is a public information officer with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

BLOUNTVILLE — The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) responded May 18 to a report of a sow black bear struck and killed by a vehicle along U.S. Highway 19E in Sullivan County. The response led to the successful rescue and release of three orphaned bear cubs into a remote area of the Cumberland Mountains.

TWRA received the initial call around 7 a.m. and had personnel en route within 30 minutes. By 8:30 a.m., officers were on the scene, but no cubs were immediately visible. Additional staff arrived with trapping equipment, and the deceased female bear was removed from the accident site. Three traps were then set in the area.
 
At about 11:40 a.m., a local resident provided a video showing three bear cubs on the same side of the road as the traps and the sow. This visual confirmation verified that the animals were indeed cubs and not older yearlings.
Last modified on Tuesday, 27 May 2025 13:38

A Laurel Dace (Chrosomus saylori) collected by Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute scientists at Bumbee Creek in Rhea County, Tenn.A laurel dace (Chrosomus saylori) collected by Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute scientists at Bumbee Creek in Rhea County, Tenn.  Tennessee Aquarium

Spring City set to celebrate a rare denizen of Walden Ridge almost decimated by drought

Wes Boling is marketing communications manager for Nokian Tyres Dayton Factory.

SPRING CITY — Nokian Tyres will serve as presenting sponsor of Laurel Dace Day, a community celebration of an endangered fish, set for Saturday, May 17, in Spring City.  

The inaugural event led by the Tennessee Aquarium raises awareness of the laurel dace, a critically endangered fish found only in the Walden Ridge area 20 miles from Nokian Tyres’ North American factory in Dayton. 

Laurel Dace Day features a 5K race and half-mile family fun run, followed by a festival at the Spring City Nature Park with live music, a farmers’ market, local vendors and conservation education. The event is free to attend, other than registration fees for participation in the races. 

Community members can learn more about the event and register for races at TNAqua.org

Last modified on Tuesday, 27 May 2025 15:09

Globe Spin

What can YOU, and those around you, do to make your lifestyle more sustainable?

Today is a good opportunity to make a resolution or a promise to yourself and those around you to adopt a new habit or practice that will reduce your environmental impacts. Perhaps, you have already taken such a step a while ago and you may now scale it up or add something else to it?

EarthSolidarity!™ is focusing on individual and small-group initiatives that facilitate practical, local, down-to-Earth actions that can readily be replicated by many and thus add up to significant improvements in the community, the bioregion and — through equivalent locally and regionally tuned initiatives — contribute to our national and even global environmental health.

You may have found that it’s not so difficult, and perhaps you discovered some ways of making it easier or more successful than you thought possible at first. If so, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Encourage those next to you to adopt the same or similar action. We are looking for leaders like you that are willing to help organize or just advise small environmental action groups at the neighborhood level or within local businesses and organizations.


University of Tennessee leads the way in this year’s local Earth Day observances

KNOXVILLE It’s once again time to celebrate Earth Day — Earth Week, really — and as it has in past years, Hellbender Press has a few suggestions for some fun ways for families to celebrate the planet we call home on April 22 and beyond.

The theme of this year’s Earth Day, which is its 55th observance, is Our Power, Our Planet.

If you have items you’d like to add to the list, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

This list will be updated.

STEAM Earth Day event

— 6-7 p.m., Tuesday, April 22, Carter Branch Library, 9036 Asheville Highway, Knoxville. Register here.

The University of Tennessee Office of Sustainability Earth Week

— The sustainability office has an entire month devoted to Earth Day.

— 3 p.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday April 22, UT Gardens, 2514 Jacob Drive: Join a cleanup of Third Creek.

— 11 a.m.-2 p.m. April 22, 21st Mortgage Plaza, UT Earth Day Festival will feature fun games, food and drinks.

Babies and Blooms Earth Day Festival 

— 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, April 26, INCubator, 100 Cherokee Blvd., Chattanooga 

Last modified on Saturday, 26 April 2025 23:22

New citizens to take oath of allegiance against Big South Fork backdrop

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ONEIDA — Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will host an official naturalization ceremony on Thursday, April 24. One hundred and fifty individuals will take the oath of citizenship. 

The event is open to the public, and community members are encouraged to attend and witness meaningful milestones. The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. at Bandy  Creek Visitor Center, with the Honorable Thomas W. Phillips presiding. Local Boy Scout Troop and Crew 333 will conduct the presentation of colors. 

“National Park Week is a celebration of America’s national heritage. And national parks  preserve this great nation’s stories and natural and cultural wonders,” said Superintendent Niki  Stephanie Nicholas. “Welcoming new citizens in such a special place is suitable to their  inspirational journeys, qualities and characters.” 

Naturalization is the official process through which a foreign citizen or national becomes a United States citizen after meeting the requirements set by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act. This process culminates in a formal court proceeding where individuals take the Oath of Allegiance, receive their Certificate of Naturalization and are officially welcomed as U.S. citizens, marking the beginning of their new chapters in the American community. 

This official step unites new citizens through a shared commitment to the nation’s values, opening doors to new opportunities and a brighter future. Welcome them into the fabric of our nation.

Copy of Conservation on Tap Facebook Cover 1

KNOXVILLE — Discover Life in America has a newly established partnership with Schulz Bräu Brewing Company to host its monthly Conservation on Tap speaker series.

The latest installment of the series at the new venue is 7 p.m. April 16. Join Conservation on Tap at Schulz Bräu Brewing Company, 126 Bernard Ave, Knoxville.

Join us for an insightful presentation by Phil Francis, Chairman of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, and former acting superintendent of GSMNP, as he provides an update on the current challenges facing the National Park Service and our national parks.

Francis will discuss the critical resources that need protection and the staffing necessary to ensure the preservation and maintenance of these cherished public lands. This event is a must-attend for anyone passionate about the future of America’s national parks and the efforts needed to safeguard them for generations to come. Learn more at: protectnps.org.

Come support local conservation efforts and enjoy a wide selection of 20+ beers on-tap (and plenty of nonalcoholic beverages) and some authentic German fare from Schulzes Schnitzel Kitchen.

Last modified on Sunday, 27 April 2025 01:05

IMG 4356cave1 IMGCenturyThis seemingly primeval scene is actually within the city limits of Knoxville at Ijams Nature Center. The popular park is part of the Urban Wilderness and will be home to the Outlandish Adventure Festival set for May 2-3.  Thomas Fraser/Hellbender Press

Outlandish Adventure Festival’s celebrations of the outdoors include climbing competitions, SUP races, guided hikes and yoga

KNOXVILLE — The city’s great outdoors is calling — and the Outlandish Adventure Festival is answering with two days packed full of adrenaline-pumping fun, scenic exploration and unforgettable experiences. Set for May 2-3 at Ijams Nature Center, this action-packed celebration of the region’s rivers, rocks, and trails invites adventurers of all levels to get outside and play.

The Outlandish Adventure Festival is a collaborative effort by the area’s rich collection of outdoor enthusiasts and organizations, including Visit Knoxville, Ijams, Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness, AMBC, Knoxville Adventure Collective, River Sports Outfitters, The Maker City, Legacy Parks and The City of Knoxville. They’ve created a weekend to inspire exploration, connection, adventure and celebration of Knoxville’s natural beauty.

Last modified on Friday, 09 May 2025 22:35

knoxparksandrec planThose with ideas they want to contribute to the Knoxville Parks and Rec master plan can do so by way of an interactive map. Shown here are many of the center city’s public recreation assets. Note the size of the Urban Wilderness, a valuable natural and recreational resource accessible to the visitors and the city’s 200,000 residents.  Hellbender Press

The city invites the public to share input on the future of Knoxville parks, including greenways and the urban wilderness; citizens can put a pin in a park with their ideas

KNOXVILLE — The public engagement phase for Play Knoxville, the City’s Parks & Recreation Master Plan, is now underway. The master plan will help guide investments in parks, greenways, community centers and programming over the next decade.

The planning process started in January with the formation of a steering committee of community leaders. Since then, city staff and consultants from Perez Planning + Design have conducted dozens of focus groups, one-on-one meetings with City Council and cabinet members, and site visits to nearly 70 parks across Knoxville.

Over the coming weeks, community members will have multiple opportunities to provide input through neighborhood and community meetings; public events; direct outreach and social media engagement; an interactive mapping tool and an online survey.

The Play Knoxville website is now live.

Last modified on Sunday, 27 April 2025 16:50

Get down and dirty with history at Big South Fork celebration of spring

Ferrier 17 1A farrier demonstrates his skills during a past installment of the annual Spring Planting and Music Festival at Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, set this year for April 26.  National Park Service

ONEIDA — Step back in time and experience history in motion at the 25th Annual Spring Planting and Music Festival from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. April 26 at Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.

Traditions of early Appalachian settlers come to life at this free, family-friendly event. Visitors are invited to immerse themselves in the heritage of the Big South Fork region with live demonstrations, traditional crafts, music and hands-on activities that showcase the self-sufficient way of life practiced by generations past. 

Set against the picturesque backdrop of the Oscar and Lora Blevins farm sites and the Bandy Creek area, the festival offers a rare opportunity to experience traditional Appalachian life. Visitors will see a variety of demonstrations and hands-on activities that highlight the skills and craftsmanship of early settlers.

One of the festival’s most anticipated highlights is the plowing and planting demonstration with mule and horse teams at the Lora Blevins field.

Children and adults alike will enjoy exploring old-time toys and taking part in interactive exhibits that make history come alive. Live music will be provided by some of the region’s most talented musicians.

Laurel Dace Reintroduction Tennessee Aquarium Reintroduction Biologist II Teresa Israel examines a critically endangered laurel dace before its reintroduction to the wild in March 2025. In July 2024, about 300 of these fish — considered by scientists to be among the most imperiled in North America — were rescued out of rapidly drying streams on Walden Ridge north of Chattanooga.  Tennessee Aquarium

Improving drought conditions on Cumberland Plateau enabled return of fish after 2024 rescue

Casey Phillips is a communications specialist at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga.

CHATTANOOGA — After being saved from near-certain extinction last summer and overwintering in the expert care of biologists at the Tennessee Aquarium, more than 230 critically endangered laurel dace are finally back where they belong.

Last July, a prolonged regional drought caused many Southeast Tennessee streams to dwindle and, in some cases, dry up entirely. Atop Walden Ridge north of Chattanooga, water flow ceased at Bumbee Creek and Youngs Creek, the last sites known to support populations of Chrosomus saylori, the laurel dace.

When conditions in these rapidly disappearing waterways reached a tipping point, the Aquarium led a series of emergency rescue operations to save as many of these red-bellied, highlighter-yellow-finned minnows as possible. In coordination with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and with assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the University of Georgia, about 300 laurel dace — the majority left on the planet — were relocated into the safety of human care at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga and Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery in Jamestown, Kentucky.

According to the most recent report from the USDA’s U.S. Drought Monitor, much of Southeast Tennessee is still experiencing moderate drought conditions. However, a slightly wetter-than-average February made it safe to return these rescued minnows to the wild.

Last modified on Sunday, 27 April 2025 16:47

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All great scientific solutions start with collaboration

KNOXVILLE — The challenges facing the planet and its inhabitants have long been too complex for any one individual or group to address, and that’s why the great advancements in modern science begin with conferences, symposiums and collaboration.

The first Environmental Future Symposium is an effort from the University of Tennessee Office of Sustainability to present a vision of the future for area residents and University of Tennessee students. 

Planned for the Agriculture and Natural Resources Ballroom and Plaza from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. March 27, the symposium is spearheaded by the office’s Alternative Energy and Transportation Coordinator Ben Gouffon. His vision for the event is simple: at the intersection of human-accelerated climate destabilization and a revitalization of the collapsing biosphere sits every individual and their  actions. His hope is that this symposium is an avenue for every attendee to discover what they can do for Knoxville, the university and the planet they call home.

Last modified on Wednesday, 23 April 2025 22:52

helene.jpgDebris hangs from trees on the banks of the French Broad River near the main building of Hot Springs Resort and Spa. The river gauge at Hot Springs was offline during the main rain events immediately preceding the Sept. 27, 2024 floods but registered a peak just under 21 feet. The record stage is 22 feet, but that record will likely fall after review of provisional weather-gauge data by the National Weather Service. Much of the debris generated by flooding on the French Broad River in Western North Carolina made its way downstream toward Douglas Lake in Tennessee.  Thomas Fraser/Hellbender Press

Volunteers needed for 36th Ijams River Rescue set for March 8

KNOXVILLE  — The thousand-year rains brought by Hurricane Helene flushed incalculable amounts of garbage from multiple major watersheds in East Tennessee and Western North Carolina in late September 2024. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and Tennessee Valley Authority, for instance, resorted to booms and cranes to corral and collect thousands of tons of garbage along more than 200 miles of Douglas Lake shoreline. The cleanup continues.

High water downstream also carried debris and detritus of every description into Knox County via the French Broad River, which then deposited it along urban and regional lake and stream banks.

Removing this pulse of pollution and flotsam from the Tennessee River, already known as a conduit of microplastics, could take years or generations. You can start the process March 8 along multiple TVA lakes in the area. We all live downstream.

Here’s the release from Ijams Nature Center, one of the main sponsors of the annual event:

Volunteer and make your community a cleaner, healthier place to live, work and play during the 36th annual Ijams River Rescue from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 8. A severe weather date is set for Saturday, March 15.

Ijams Nature Center’s annual cleanup event brings together hundreds of individuals, families, Scout troops, businesses and church groups to remove tons of trash and tires from sites along the Tennessee River, creeks and streams. Sites are typically located in Knox, Anderson and Blount counties. 

Last modified on Thursday, 13 March 2025 00:44
Tap this interactive map to find events that happen all over the world during GBBC. However, people anywhere can participate by themselves or encourage family and friends to join them at their favorite birdwatching site.

 

Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) weekend is underway

Each February, for four days, the world comes together for the love of birds. Over these four days people everywhere are invited to spend time in their favorite places watching and counting as many birds as they can find and reporting them to us. These observations help scientists better understand global bird populations before one of their annual migrations.

Participating is easy, fun to do alone or with others, and can be done anywhere you find birds.

Step 1: Decide where you will watch birds.

Step 2: Watch birds for 15 minutes or more, at least once over the four days, February 14–17, 2025.

Step 3: Identify all the birds you see or hear within your planned time/location and use the best tool for sharing your bird sightings:

  • If you are a beginning bird admirer and new to bird identification, try using the Merlin Bird ID app to tell us what birds you are seeing or hearing.
  • If you have participated in the count before and want to record numbers of birds, try the free eBird Mobile app or enter your bird list on the eBird website (desktop/laptop/smartphone).
 

If you already use Merlin or eBird, all entries over the 4 days count towards GBBC. Keep doing what you are doing! No need to register or sign-up separately for GBBC.

Note that the Great Backyard Bird Count and Project Feeder Watch are two different projects. Their observations are recorded separately. However, if you are enrolled in Project Feeder Watch and your observation days overlap with the GBBC period, you can choose to designate your feeder also as a stationary GBBC count location and submit your feeder observations to both projects. The principal purpose of GBBC, though, is to identify all birds one can see and hear. Because relatively few species of birds are attracted by feeders, it is important to obtain counts from locations beyond your feeder and beyond your own backyard to gain a better understanding of bird biodiversity.

Find more GBBC event details, helpful tips, bird lists for your area, step-by step instructions and reports from past counts on the GBBC website.

Last modified on Saturday, 22 February 2025 21:40
Wednesday, 05 February 2025 14:57

Stand in the Middle at McClung Museum

Clint CarrollClint Carroll, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, will talk Feb. 27 at McClung Museum about the Cherokee philosophy of the ‘Middle Way.’

KNOXVILLE — A central aspect of Cherokee worldview is ᎠᏰᎵ ᎦᏙᎬ (ayehli gadogv), or “Standing in the Middle,” a philosophy that humans occupy a role in a web of complex interactions between mutually dependent organisms. Standing in the Middle emphasizes the importance of balance and reciprocity in persisting relationships.

A lecture at 4:30 p.m. Feb. 27 at McClung Museum, 1327 Circle Park, Knoxville, will feature Dr. Clint Carroll, who will explore how Standing in the Middle informs ecology, conservation, management practices, epistemology and science communication in the face of unprecedented anthropogenic (human-caused) change.

Light refreshments will be available before the lecture.

Clint Carroll is associate professor of Ethnic Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder. A citizen of the Cherokee Nation, he works closely with Cherokee people in Oklahoma on issues of land conservation and the perpetuation of land-based knowledge and ways of life.

Last modified on Thursday, 13 March 2025 00:54
Wednesday, 05 February 2025 14:25

February Green Drinks meetup highlights TennGreen

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KNOXVILLE — Meet representatives of a budding land conservancy and raise a glass and network to support conservation.

This month’s installment of Green Drinks Knoxville, is set for 7-8 p.m. Feb. 12 at Albright Grove Brewing Company, 2924 Sutherland Ave.

This meetup Knoxville features TennGreen Land Conservancy Executive Director Alice Hudson Pell and Matthew McClanahan, East Tennessee Vice President. They will share updates on current projects and TennGreen’s 2024-2029 Strategic Plan.

Last modified on Thursday, 13 February 2025 22:59
Monday, 12 May 2025 21:56

Roles and history of riparian forests in Tennessee

Green Drinks Knoxville logo

Wednesday, May 14, 5:30 p.m.
South Side Garage
1014 Sevier Ave, Knoxville

For more information and RSVP go to “Green Drinks Knoxville” on Facebook

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Join us on our NEW date, the second Wednesdays of the month

KNOXVILLE — Tennessee has a natural abundance of water resources and biodiverse ecosystems. Unfortunately, 60% of Tennessee’s waterways are not meeting federal standards.

Stream habitat has been consistently declining in the last several decades. Restoring and conserving high value riparian areas will be an essential part of combating the negative impacts of urban development.

Barriers to resources prevent communities from effectively tackling these projects on their own, severely limiting cohesive statewide efforts for water quality improvement.

Maddy Johnson will introduce practical methods of restoring a riparian area in various settings at no to low cost.

Green Drinks Knoxville is a social and professional organization that convenes open-minded folks to encourage education and conversation about the environment, green technologies, sustainable lifestyles, and more. Our events are free and open to the public. We welcome all and support racial diversity, gender equality and LGBTQ inclusivity.

Last modified on Friday, 16 May 2025 11:58
Tuesday, 04 February 2025 12:47

2025 Keep Knoxville Beautiful Annual Summit

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6th Annual Summit on February 7, 2025!

Is it hot in here or is it just the infrastructure? How we develop a city can either keep it cool or create intense heat pockets. Join us as we learn from experts about the necessity of building a heat resilient city where we can continue to live, work and play. We hope to see you for a day of learning! 

Lunch will be included for all attendees from Brown Bag. 

There is a limited number of tickets available. We anticipate this event selling out, so get your ticket while you can!

Last modified on Tuesday, 11 February 2025 22:27

33rd Annual Wilderness Wildlife Week Program Guide

PIGEON FORGE — Learn about the culture and ecology of the Southern Appalachians from a warm hotel and conference center, and then get outside and keep learning during the annual knowledge-fest that is Wilderness Wildlife Week.

This year’s event is set for Jan. 28-Feb. 1 at The Ramsey Hotel and Convention Center, 3230 Parkway in Pigeon Forge.

Come celebrate the natural features, creatures and cultures of the Great Smoky Mountains. This year, we’ll be inviting some of the leading wildlife experts to lead informative discussions with you. Writers, artists, photographers, musicians, biologists and naturalist will entertain and inform. This is a great opportunity to learn and ask questions about nature.

Wilderness Wildlife Week celebrates the abundance of wildlife, variety of plants, trees and wildflowers, and the rich history of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee through a series of classes, seminars, demonstrations, guided hikes, panel discussions and workshops.

Last modified on Monday, 03 February 2025 00:52
Wednesday, 22 January 2025 12:24

Play real simcity with Knoxville plan for housing

61441676 2534604046552233 8039343196519530496 nA streetscape of downtown Knoxville. City leaders want input into how the city will spend federal housing dollars.  Thomas Fraser/Hellbender Press

KNOXVILLE — The City of Knoxville will host a public meeting at 6 p.m. Jan. 28 at the City’s Public Works Service Center, 3131 Morris Ave., to present information and data gathered about the city’s housing and neighborhood development needs that will be used to draft the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan.

All attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback.

Every five years, the city’s Housing and Neighborhood Development department creates a Five-Year Consolidated Plan to outline how the city plans to allocate federal funds to meet local priorities in the categories of affordable housing, homelessness, economic development and other community development activities that serve low- and moderate-income households. Those annual funds come from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnerships, and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funding sources.

This meeting continues a community engagement process that began in 2024 with public meetings and consultations with service providers and community groups. More than 600 residents have been involved thus far.

Residents will be able to review the draft Consolidated Plan in April and provide additional feedback before the plan is submitted to HUD by May 15, 2025.

In addition to commenting in person, residents may provide feedback via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or in writing to Linda Rust, City of Knoxville Housing and Neighborhood Development Department, P.O. Box 1631, Knoxville, TN  37901.

Last modified on Wednesday, 29 January 2025 23:41

cranes sandhill 5During winter migration, visitors to Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge can view thousands of greater sandhill cranes. This year’s celebration is Jan. 18-19 in Birchwood.  Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

Beat the winter blues with food, music and celebration of a natural spectacle

BIRCHWOOD — The Sandhill Crane Festival is underway through Sunday in Birchwood, Tennessee. This is the 34th year of the festival. Come celebrate the return of this migrant bird. Breathe in the fresh air. Hear its call. See its dance. 

With up to 20,000 sandhill cranes returning to the area each year, you’re bound to be caught up in the spectacular display of the sandhill cranes, eagles, waterfowl and more on the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge. Volunteers will be on hand with spotting scopes, but you’re welcome to bring your own binoculars. Dress for the weather, rain or shine. A potent cold front enters the area Sunday.

Free buses shuttle attendees from the Birchwood School on Highway 60 to each of the locations. No parking is permitted at the refuge unless attendee is in possession of a handicap placard.

The American Eagle Foundation will once again be at the Birchwood School for two live performances each day, along with Nashville recording artist, Second Nature. Vendors will be set up in the gym and home-cooked meals prepared in the kitchen, including Ms. Linda’s homemade breakfast biscuits and vegetable soup

Last modified on Monday, 03 February 2025 01:05

4 cbc pileated caneycreek Evan Kidd photo 600x846A pileated woodpecker is seen seeking dinner; it is a common denizen of winter Southern Appalachian forests and likely made many Christmas bird lists.  Evan Kidd via Smokies Life

Citizen-led Audubon Christmas Bird Count tallies our feathered friends for yet another year

Holly Kays is the lead writer for Smokies Life.

GATLINBURG — Since its origin in 1900, the Christmas Bird Count has become a holiday fixture for ever-expanding numbers of birders across the globe, giving a valuable gift to generations of wildlife scientists — a massive trove of data on bird populations in the Western Hemisphere.

This annual avian census, set to commence for the 125th time, began in an era when many bird species were facing steep declines, especially waterfowl prized for their feathers. The Christmas Bird Count was the National Audubon Society’s answer to the traditional Christmas Side Hunt, a team competition that encouraged participants to kill as many furred and feathered creatures as possible in a single outing.

“The Christmas Bird Count really got started as an alternative to those kinds of hunting efforts,” said Curtis Smalling, executive director of Audubon North Carolina. “This year is the 125th annual Christmas Bird Count, and that makes it the longest-running community science project in North America.”

Anyone can participate in the CBC, regardless of their birding skill level, by joining one of the thousands of circles, each 15 miles in diameter, that comprise the event. The organizer of each circle chooses a day between December 14 and January 5 to conduct their count. On the appointed day, all participants in the circle have 24 hours in which to tally as many birds as they can. In addition to listing the individual species spotted, they also count the number of individual birds seen and participant hours logged.

The Great Smoky Mountains region includes circles in Gatlinburg, Cades Cove, Knoxville, Franklin, Highlands, Waynesville, Hot Springs and Asheville.

3 Common mergansers Warren Bielenberg 768x512A male (left) and female common merganser perch on a rock. Though this species may winter in coastal areas, it tends to prefer freshwater habitat and winters in the Smokies in small numbers.  Warren Bielenberg via Smokies Life

Last modified on Monday, 06 January 2025 15:54
Wednesday, 18 December 2024 14:21

Learn about using your forest as a carbon sink

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KNOXVILLE — The next installment of Conservation on Tap is set for 7 p.m. Jan. 8 at Albright Grove Brewing Company, 2924 Sutherland Ave., Knoxville.

Join forester Sean Bowers to learn about the Family Forest Carbon Program, a partnership between the American Forest Foundation and The Nature Conservancy. The program allows owners of small tracts of forest access to carbon markets, empowering them to improve the health and wellbeing of their forests and help tackle climate change.

All proceeds from Conservation on Tap benefit Discover Life in America.

Last modified on Monday, 13 January 2025 00:00

Gear up/look out: Deer hunting shot off Saturday

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KNOXVILLE Tennessee’s 2024-25 statewide gun hunting season for deer opens Saturday, Nov. 23. The season traditionally opens each year on the Saturday prior to Thanksgiving. During gun season, sportsmen may also use muzzleloaders or archery equipment. 

The statewide bag limit for antlered bucks is two. No more than one antlered deer may be taken per day, not to exceed two for the season. In Units 1, 2 and 3 there is an antlerless bag limit of three per day, and a limit of two antlerless for this season in Units 4, 5 and 6. The bag limit may only be exceeded as part of the Earn-A-Buck program or as replacement buck in a CWD positive county.

During season setting, new hunting units were implemented for this season. Hunters should refer to the 2024-25 Tennessee Fishing, Hunting and Trapping Guide for specific information about their hunting unit and complete license requirements.

Anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1969, is required to carry proof of satisfactory completion of a hunter education class or be in possession of the Apprentice Hunter Education Permit (along with other required licenses) while hunting any species in Tennessee. Hunter education can be completed online for free along with in person options offered by TWRA. 

The statewide deer hunting season will continue through Jan. 5, 2025. The second Young Sportsman Hunt is Jan. 11-12.

Monday, 11 November 2024 15:14

Conservation on Tap: Learn how we can make our cities safe for birds

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KNOXVILLE — Learn how we can make cities safer for birds during this month’s Conservation on Tap at 7 p.m. Nov. 13 at Albright Brewing Company, 2924 Sutherland Ave., Knoxville.

Across North America, bird populations have declined by 2.9 billion since 1970. Cities, however, can play a vital role in reversing this trend by creating safer, healthier environments for birds. Learn about a Nature Conservancy partner program that is reducing urban hazards and engaging the community in helping out our feathered friends.

All proceeds from the event benefit Discover Life in America.

Last modified on Sunday, 17 November 2024 00:09
Tuesday, 05 November 2024 11:42

Lace ‘em up and run a 5k for Little River

LRR5K

TOWNSEND  Join Keep Blount Beautiful and Little River Watershed Association for the 6th Annual Little River Run 5K on Nov. 16 at the Townsend Abbey, 7765 River Road in Townsend.

The Little River Run 5K brings together hundreds of people each year to celebrate the beauty of Blount County and promote environmental sustainability. All proceeds from the event benefit KBB and LRWA’s many free programs, events, and initiatives that focus on environmental education and conservation.

Help make this year the biggest yet! Here’s where to learn more, register, and/or sign up to volunteer.

Last modified on Sunday, 17 November 2024 00:14
Wednesday, 25 September 2024 13:21

Nov. 2: Celebrate fish at the bird park — Sturgeonfest 2024

 

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This event was rescheduled from its original date.

KODAK Take a break from football, grab the kayaks, get outside and join your friends and family for Sturgeonfest 2024 on the French Broad River!

The FREE celebration of the ancient fish, their lore and their future is set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 2 at Seven Islands State Birding Park boat ramp.

  • Release a baby sturgeon into the French Broad River!

  • Enjoy food from Kennedy Grill Food Truck, Crave Food Truck, Giddy Up Coffee Truck, Central Creamery, and the King of Pops!

  • Enjoy music by the Tennessee Stifflegs!

To put a fish in the water, reserve a FREE ticket for everyone in your party for a specific time slot. 

Last modified on Friday, 08 November 2024 00:46
Saturday, 21 September 2024 23:21

CANCELED Rural Resources 2024 Incredible Farm Dinner Downtown

Rural Resources The Incredible Farm Dinner DowntownThe annual Incredible Farm Dinner Downtown is a Greeneville tradition celebrating local farms and community. Hosted by Rural Resources Farm & Food Education Center, many local sponsors, business, farms, churches and the Town of Greeneville make this grand event possible. This dinner sells out every year — a testament to its success and the value of the Rural Resources programming it supports.  Rural Resources

 

With the devastation across Greene County, we have decided to cancel this evening’s Incredible Farm Dinner Downtown.

Thanks to your support, we will donate the meals to those displaced, as well as first responders. 

Please join us in praying for Greene County as we all help each other get through this difficult time.

Our Sincerest thanks for your continued support of the Rural Resources Farm Education Center.

Warmest Regards,

The Rural Resources Staff & Board of Directors

GREENEVILLE — This year the superlative annual fundraiser for the Farm & Food Education Center of Rural Resources will benefit Rural Resources’ Teen Training Program. The event will start at 6 p.m. on Saturday Sept. 28 at 615 West Main St. and feature Chef Elise Clair. She is creating a colorful seasonal menu sourced by our Greene County and East Tennessee neighbors.

Hailing from Richmond, Virginia, and a graduate of East Tennessee State University, Clair has a solid 25 years of experience in the culinary industry and scratch kitchens. Now with 15 years as vice president of JDD Enterprises, Clair maintains operations for The Main Street Pizza Company locations in Johnson City and Kingsport, River Creek Farm based in Limestone, River Creek Catering, and County Line Pie in Chuckey.

Claire focuses her menus and garden on seasonal Appalachian standards, highlighting local products from other Central Appalachian region growers and producers. On the farm, Clair and her partner maintain a non-certified organic practice fruit and veggie garden across multiple acres.

We invite you to desire, smell, taste and experience the quality of the freshly harvested meal prepared for you at The Rural Resources Incredible Farm Dinner. Hurry to secure your seats at the table!

Last modified on Wednesday, 23 October 2024 14:09
Tuesday, 17 September 2024 19:23

Nov. 2: Talk about the weather with NOAA scientists

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This event was rescheduled from a previous date.

MORRISTOWN — The regional office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is hosting a free open house featuring tours, scientific discussions and chats with area forecasters intimate with the intricacies of Southern Appalachian weather.

Stop by the regional office, 5974 Commerce Blvd. in Morristown, any time between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2 to learn about the National Weather Service as a whole, tour operations and learn what a typical work day looks like at the weather-service office.

Highlights include chances to meet meteorologists and weather-service partner agencies; explanations of when and how severe weather alerts are issued; an introduction to weather radar and radio; hydrology discussions; and hands-on science activities for children.

Last modified on Friday, 08 November 2024 00:47

Tennessee Fish and Wildlife commission returns to Paris Landing

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BUCHANAN — The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission will return to Paris Landing State Park for the first time in 15 years for a one-day meeting on Friday, Sept. 20. The meeting will start at 9 a.m.

A new video titled “Safe Boating Near Locks and Dams” will be presented. The video was produced by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency in partnership with, Tennessee Valley Authority, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard and Hardin County Emergency Management Agency.  

Retired TWRA Wildlife and Forestry employee Mark Gudlin will be recognized for his induction into the National Bobwhite and Grasslands Initiative Hall of Fame. He served in a variety of roles during a 38-year TWRA career and was serving as Habitat Program Manager upon his retirement in 2021.

Will Bowling from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation will be recognized for a donation from the Foundation and the Mildred T. Edwards Trust. The gift will go toward purchasing a 1,322-acre tract at North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area.

There will also be a preview for rules and regulations governing licenses, permit fees and boating certificates.

Friday, 13 September 2024 13:40

Join the Rally for the Valley 2.0

TVA protest

NASHVILLE — Join the rescheduled Rally for the Valley on Sept. 21 2024 at Centennial Park for a day filled with fun, music, learning and community spirit.

The rally, organized by the Clean Up TVA Coalition, which includes Southern Alliance for Clean Energy and other allies, calls on the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to stop its gas buildout and lead the way to a fossil-free future.

The decisions in front of TVA are significant. They will impact the health and safety of our communities, how much we pay to keep the lights on, and whether we meet our climate targets and achieve energy justice. We are mobilizing with communities from across Tennessee to urge TVA leaders to change course before its too late. 

Are you in? Register today!

Last modified on Saturday, 21 September 2024 23:03

cherokee1 2Scenes from the Cherokee Fall Festival, an annual celebration of Cherokee culture and history at the Sequoyah Museum in Vonore.  Photos by Thomas Fraser/Hellbender Press 

A celebration of Cherokee people and the man who wrote their alphabet

VONORE — Flutes, dance, food and firearms were featured at the annual festival near the birthplace of a linguistic giant on the shore of the Little Tennessee River and the grounds of the Sequoyah Museum. 

Cherokee dance, lore and storytelling communicated the rich story of the Native American nation, which was forcibly disbanded along with other indigenous residents of the Southern Appalachians under the administration of President Andrew Jackson. The main concentration of the tribe is now in Oklahoma, but the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians — including those whose ancestors resisted forced relocation — is now centered in Cherokee. 

Sequoyah, born in nearby Toskegee in the Cherokee Nation circa 1770, developed an alphabet for the Cherokee language so it could be written and read, an astonishing feat to this day. By some accounts, the literacy rate of the then-fractured nation approached 100 percent soon after Sequoyah’s death in Mexico in 1843.

Most of Sequoyah’s community was destroyed and its culture imperiled by the invasion of the nation by federal forces after the sham Treaty of New Echota, named after the then-capital of the Cherokee Nation in north Georgia. The Cherokee and other regional tribes were rounded up in the late 1830s during an Army campaign under the command of Gen. Winfield Scott and forced upon the Trail of Tears.

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Last modified on Friday, 13 September 2024 23:51
Tuesday, 10 September 2024 01:04

Growing a Food Forest

Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, 5:30 p.m. at Barrelhouse by Gypsy Circus (621 Lamar Street). RSVP on Facebook

Green Drinks Knoxville will host an in-depth discussion with Dave Maasberg on how he maintains his food forest including some rare heirloom apple varieties, figs, pears, blackberries and more. He will bring samples to try and fruits for purchase to savor at home.

Raised around agriculture and the vanishing small-scale, midwestern family farm, Dave has always held a special place for fruit trees and perennial plants. After a Foraging and Wild Edible Plants class at Indiana University, his desire to create a food forest and sustainable homestead quickly turned into a reality. After over 20 years of planting and maintaining various fruiting plants on a reclaimed hillside, he is excited to share his journey with us. He currently helps others with plantings, from small scale to larger projects.

Green Drinks Knoxville is a social and professional organization that convenes open-minded folks to encourage education and conversation about the environment, green technologies, sustainable lifestyles and more.

Our events are free and open to the public. We welcome all and support racial diversity, gender equality, and LGBTQ inclusivity.

Last modified on Thursday, 12 September 2024 00:17
Monday, 09 December 2024 23:42

Edible Abundance Foodscapes @ Green Drinks Knoxville

Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, 5:30 p.m. at Albright Grove Brewing Company (2924 Sutherland Ave, Knoxville TN). RSVP on Facebook

To round out this year of great guest speakers we are thrilled to bring on Daniel Aisenbrey, the founder of Edible Abundance Foodscapes. Come hear why every landscape can and should be a foodscape! 

Edible Abundance LandscapesGet inspired by the story and experience of this great local initiative.  Edible Abundance Foodscapes

For Daniel, it all started back in 2012 with a hatchback full of lumber, some borrowed tools and a passion for helping people grow food. In the decade since, Daniel has built on that passion by establishing farms and community gardens, fighting for food access in local government and even managing Knoxville’s top farmers’ market. In 2023, the culmination of that passion and experience burst from the soil as Edible Abundance Foodscapes! When he’s not building your new garden, Daniel (and partner, Beth) run Hey Moon Farm, a family farmstead for sheep, chickens, heirloom produce and two feral children. His favorite weird fruit are kiwiberries.

Green Drinks Knoxville is a social and professional organization that convenes open-minded folks to encourage education and conversation about the environment, green technologies, sustainable lifestyles and more.

Our events are free and open to the public. We welcome all and support racial diversity, gender equality and LGBTQ inclusivity.

Last modified on Monday, 06 January 2025 15:30
Monday, 02 September 2024 14:44

Calling all climbers (and hikers and bikers): Come help clean Obed crags

Volunteers learning trail maintenance.The annual Obed Adopt-a-Crag event is set for Sept. 14 and will include access trail maintenance such as that performed here by volunteers at a previous event.  National Park Service

WARTBURG — The East Tennessee Climbers Coalition and Obed Wild and Scenic River will host the park’s annual Adopt-a-Crag event on Saturday, Sep. 14 2024

Volunteers are needed to help with a variety of projects including general trail maintenance and litter pickup. Please meet at the Lilly Pad Hopyard Brewery, 920 Ridge Road, Lancing, at 10 a.m. to register and receive a project assignment. Due to limited parking, carpooling is suggested.  Please bring your own lunch and water. Volunteers are also encouraged to bring hand tools, gloves, sunscreen, and insect repellant.

After completing their projects, volunteers are invited to spend the day climbing their favorite routes or enjoying other recreational opportunities in the park.  Following the event, the ETCC will be hosting a volunteer appreciation event at the Lilly Pad.

Last modified on Monday, 16 September 2024 22:59
Thursday, 29 August 2024 11:43

Flutter over for educational fun at the annual UT Arboretum Butterfly Festival

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OAK RIDGE — More than 2,500 people are expected to attend the ninth annual Butterfly Festival hosted by the University of Tennessee Arboretum Society and the UT Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center. Gates will open at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at the UT Arboretum, 

The festivities will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT. Plenty of activities will provide educational opportunities for the public to learn how we can all protect butterflies and other pollinators.

Kevin Hoyt, director of the UT Forest Resources Center and Arboretum, invites everyone to come for a fun day of educational activities. “This family-oriented event will feature butterfly tents and the UT Insect Zoo as well as children’s crafts, artisans and other vendors and food trucks.” Hoyt said butterfly releases are no longer part of the event and that guests are asked to leave pets and butterfly nets at home. 

Last modified on Sunday, 29 September 2024 21:32
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