Neighborhood Advisory #67 - Friday, February 12, 2010
Janice Tocher
Yea! More TULIPS available... If you weren't able to get by to get free tulips last Saturday, Maria Compere is giving away more bulbs! If you go by and get bulbs that you want to donate to SWNA, be *sure* to get the bulb name/type and let report back to our SWNA list. Kathy is planning our planting and needs to know this information for planning.
RE: Item #2 - do we have any areas to participate in the Great American Cleanup? How's Sam Duff Memorial Park - could it use some sprucing or cleaning? Other areas of our neighborhood that could use a cleanup??
And read the advisory for more info about workshops and tips...
Cheers!
Janice
=====================
Knoxville Neighborhood Advisory #67 - Friday, February 12, 2010
1. West Hills to Hold Winter General Meeting
2. Join the Great American Cleanup
3. More Tulip Bulbs for Sale, Giveaway
4. Workshop Offers Tips on Eco-Friendly Yards
5. TDOT Accepts Recommendation for Bike Lanes
6. Help KPD Help Your Neighborhood: Report ALL Crimes
7. Neighborhood & Community Events & Meetings
8. Upcoming Government Meetings
** This Advisory is produced on most Fridays of the year.
** Ideas and contributions are welcome. Call 215-3232.
** Deadline for Next Issue: Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010.
** May be copied and forwarded via neighborhood e-mail lists and newsletters.
** See past issues at our Website: www.cityofknoxville.org/neighborhoods
** Don*t have Internet access? Call 215-3232 if you need a copy of a particular document.
** Published by Office of Neighborhoods, Community Development Dept., City of Knoxville.
1. WEST HILLS TO HOLD WINTER GENERAL MEETING
The West Hills Community Association will hold its winter general meeting on Monday, Feb. 15, starting at 7 p.m. at the First Church of the Nazarene, 538 Vanosdale Road.
Jim Davis will discuss his experiences as a participant in the Knoxville Police Department*s Citizens Police Academy. Davis is president of Wesley Neighbors, one of the member groups of West Hills Community Association.
2. JOIN THE GREAT AMERICAN CLEANUP
A neighborhood cleanup is a tried-and-true activity for any neighborhood organization, no matter how large or small, and no matter whether the group is just now getting underway or has been around for years.
Sprucing up your neighborhood is a visible and concrete service that your neighborhood organization can perform for your neighbors. A cleanup event builds community by encouraging neighbors to work alongside one another. It helps build credibility for your organization. It feels good. It looks good. It builds community pride.
Keep Knoxville Beautiful (KKB) is urging Knoxville*s neighborhood organizations and crime watch groups to increase community pride by participating in this year*s Great American Cleanup, which lasts from March 1 through May 31.
Here are the steps for getting help and recognition from KKB:
** Schedule your cleanup by calling Allison Teeters, executive director of KKB, at 521-6957 or, if you can, by registering online at www.keepknoxvillebeautiful.org/gac.php.
** If your group plans a cleanup event, send two to three people to the free kick-off luncheon, starting at 11:45 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, at Calhoun*s on the River. Reservations only! RSVP by calling KKB at 521-6957 no later than Friday, Feb. 19.
** Bring *gently used* clothes to the luncheon to donate to Goodwill.
** Collect free cleanup supplies - gloves, vests and trash bags - at the luncheon.
If you as an individual would like to volunteer to help KKB, call Allison or go to the Website and fill out the registration form which also includes volunteer options. [Sign up now and get a free Disney Pass through the *Give A Day, Get A Disney Day* Program.]
3. MORE TULIP BULBS FOR SALE, GIVEAWAY
There are still more than 50,000 tulip bulbs available for free or for a deeply discounted price off of regular retail prices.
Knoxville*s chief flower promoter, Maria Compere, estimates that she and her beautification group sold or gave away 33,000 bulbs during blustery winter weather last Saturday -- but there are still another 50,000 to 60,000 bulbs which Mrs. Compere hopes to distribute this coming Saturday, Feb. 13, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
To make sure people do not have to stand in line in cold weather, the distribution on Saturday will take place in a vacant but heated storefront building in the Windsor Square Shopping Center, which is located in the 9500 block of Kingston Pike, west of Cedar Bluff.
Pick up a package of 25 bulbs for free. Additional bulbs can be purchased for 25 cents each. Proceeds go to efforts to beautify Pellissippi Parkway and other parts of the city. Any individual or group can participate.
4. WORKSHOP OFFERS TIPS ON ECO-FRIENDLY YARDS
Tennessee Yards and Neighborhoods (TYN) helps homeowners create attractive and healthy yards by working with Tennessee*s environment rather than against it.
TYN will host a Home Landscape Workshop on Saturday, Feb. 27. The six-hour workshop will begin at 10:00 a.m. at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, 2931 Kingston Pike.
*The goal of this program is to help communities across the state meet their landscaping needs while also protecting their wealth of natural resources,* said Parci Gibson, Knox County Stormwater Management. TYN is a University of Tennessee program in partnership with UT Extension, Tennessee Water Resources Research Center, and the Tennessee Valley Authority.
The program will offer tips and advice on a variety of topics, including the importance of water in our community landscape, principles for an earth-friendly landscape, proper
care and feeding of Tennessee grass varieties, use of soils and mulch, managing the quantity and quality of storm water flowing into and from your yard, and analyzing your site for sun and water.
The workshop is limited to 25 participants and costs $35 per person or $50 per couple. For more information, contact David Vandergriff at 215-2341 or dgr...@tennessee.edu. To register, call 865-215-2340.
5. TDOT ACCEPTS RECOMMENDATION FOR BIKE LANES
In response to a recommendation from Mayor Bill Haslam, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) has agreed to provide bike lanes on the Henley Street Bridge after it is rebuilt.
*In response to your request, I am directing our Design Division staff to revise the final striping plans for the Henley Street Bridge to include five travel lanes, two bicycle lanes and sidewalks,* TDOT Commissioner Gerald F. Nicely stated in a letter to Mayor Haslam earlier this week.
Haslam sent a letter to Nicely on Feb. 2, formally asking the TDOT commissioner to revise the department*s initial plan to include six traffic lanes on the bridge. The bridge will be rebuilt and widened as part of a rehabilitation project expected to begin in 2011 and last perhaps as long as three years.
*We*re very pleased about TDOT*s decision to stripe the bridge for bike lanes,* Haslam said, *and we appreciate TDOT*s willingness to work with the city and make changes based on recommendations from our Engineering Department and on what residents wanted to see happen on the Henley Bridge.*
The majority of residents who attended two recent public meetings about the upcoming project had expressed strong support for utilizing the extra width for bike lanes as well as better pedestrian connectivity to downtown.
City engineers had noted during the meetings that re-striping the bridge allows the flexibility to transition back to six traffic lanes if that were to become necessary to accommodate increased traffic in the future - something that would not be possible if the sidewalks were widened.
In addition to the widely-held sentiment in favor of the inclusion of bike lanes, the city*s engineering department also took into account projections of increased traffic on the bridge in future years, the need to move forward with the project, and the requirement that any revisions adhere to the requirements of the state*s Historic Preservation Office.
Public comments received by the City and transmitted to TDOT filled a total of 35 pages. For a copy, see this PDF file: www.cityofknoxville.org/henley.pdf
6. HELP KPD HELP YOUR COMMUNITY: REPORT ALL CRIMES
Your home is burglarized, but nothing important is missing... Someone breaks into your car, but all the burglar got was a few CD*s... Your yard art goes missing.
Why bother calling the police?
In fact, there are many good reasons for reporting even petty theft to the Knoxville Police Department (KPD). And there is a convenient way for you to do so.
The Teleserve Unit of the Knoxville Police Department - at 215-7268 - is a telephone investigations unit that provides citizens with a convenient alternative for reporting certain non-violent crimes.
The Teleserve Unit operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It provides a quick way for citizens to obtain advice by telephone, call in non-urgent complaints, request property checks, and make reports for crimes that are not in progress.
The Teleserve Unit is staffed by experienced officers who provide a wealth of information and knowledge, benefiting citizens troubled with police-related issues and concerns. In turn, this enables KPD*s patrol officers to remain proactive in their efforts to address other serious issues and crimes in our city.
In 2009 the Teleserve Unit took 52% of all police reports. The public is encouraged to call in reports. These reports are processed in the same manner that they would be if a cruiser would be dispatched to the scene. You can obtain a copy of the report for insurance purposes.
To use a car break-in as an example: If there is no suspect in the area, a call to Teleserve for a report may be in order. The Officer taking the report can ask the Mobile Crime Lab to pay a visit if needed. While taking the report, the Teleserve Officer may determine a need for a cruiser at the scene and have one dispatched.
If the crime you are reporting is non-violent and there is no physical evidence, or if you are unable to call from the scene, just call when you can. But make the report as soon as possible so that KPD is aware of activity in your area.
This helps KPD establish crime patterns or the presence of a new set of criminals preying on your neighborhood. Such information may help your neighbors from becoming the next victims. Here are key phone numbers:
** 215-7000 - the general KPD number.
** 215-7268 - the direct dial to Teleserve. If calls are backed up due to demand, a message will prompt the caller to leave her name and phone number. An Officer in Teleserve will call back to take the report. If the caller chooses to stay on the line, the calls will be answered in the order that the calls have come in.
** 215-4010 - the non-emergency dispatcher.
** 911 - the old reliable emergency number. Try to use 911 only in a true emergency, such as a fire, or a crime in progress, or if you spot a suspicious person or vehicle. However, if you don*t have these other numbers handy, you can still call 911. The operator can switch the call to the non-emergency dispatcher for processing.
Greater communication between the public and KPD is extremely helpful in responding to criminal activity. Reports to Teleserve do assist in the apprehension of criminals. Reporting all criminal activity does make the community safer.
7. NEIGHBORHOOD & COMMUNITY EVENTS & MEETINGS
Include your neighborhood-related event or meeting in this space. Call 215-3232.
Monday, February 15 - 7 p.m.
Historic Fourth & Gill Neighborhood Organization
Board Meeting (third Mondays)
Meeting Place Varies
Contact Gavin Luter at dgavi...@gmail.com.
Monday, February 15 - 7 p.m.
West Hills Community Association
Winter General Meeting
First Church of Nazarene, 538 Vanosdale Rd.
Tuesday, February 16 - 6-8 p.m.
KUB Tree Trim Policy Review Panel
Public Listening Session
KUB Headquarters, 445 S. Gay St.
www.kub.org
Saturday, February 27 - 11:45 a.m.
Great American Cleanup Kickoff Luncheon
Calhoun*s on the River
Groups planning cleanup efforts may send representatives
RSVP by Feb. 20 to 865-521-6957
Saturday, February 27 - 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
*Tennessee Yards Done Right* Workshop
Limited seating. $35/person or $50/couple
David Vandergriff, 215-2341 or dgr...@tennessee.edu
Monday, March 1 - 5:30 p.m.
COIN - Council of Involved Neighborhoods
(First Mondays)
CAC/Luke Ross Building, 2247 Western Avenue
http://www.councilofinvolvedneighborhoods.org
Contact Dave Gartner at dgar...@fs.fed.us, 862-2066 (w) or 573-2772 (h).
Thursday, March 4 - 6 p.m.
Partnership for Neighborhood Improvement (PNI)
Monthly Board Meeting (every first Thursday)
Cansler YMCA, Fifth Ave. & Jessamine St.
Contact Gwen Winfrey at 215-2120.
Monday, March 8
Deadline for Proposals
Neighborhood Small Grants Program
East Tennessee Foundation and City of Knoxville
http://www.easttennesseefoundation.org/grants/competitive/nsgp.html
Wednesday, March 10 - 11:30 a.m.
Community Forum (every second Wednesday)
Baptist Senior Health Center, 7009 Kingston Pike
Contact Sue Mauer at 690-0269.
Wednesday, March 10 - 4:30 p.m.
Neighborhood Advisory Council
(Every Second Wednesday except July and Dec.)
CAC/Luke Ross Building, 2247 Western Avenue
http://www.cityofknoxville.org/neighborhoods
Contact David Massey at 215-3232.
Thursday, March 11 - 6 p.m.
Burlington Homeowners & Residents Association
Monthly Meeting (second Thursdays)
Greater Warner Tabernacle AME Zion Church
3800 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. (side entrance)
8. UPCOMING GOVERNMENT MEETINGS
All meetings will be held in either the Large or Small Assembly Room unless otherwise noted. For a complete list of meetings of various city boards and commissions, visit http://www.cityofknoxville.org/calendar/.
If you are a person with a disability who requires an accommodation in order to attend a public meeting, please contact Stephanie Brewer Cook at 215-2034 or sc...@cityofknoxville.org no less than 48 hours prior to the meeting you wish to attend.
Today through March 25
Knoxville Area Transit
Offering presentations to neighborhoods and civic groups about the new Transit Center and proposed changes to bus routes. Call to schedule a speaker.
Contact Belinda Brill at 215-7828 or bbr...@katbus.com.
Monday, February 15, and Monday, March 1 - 5 p.m.
Knox County School Board Work Session
(Usually Every Third Monday and Monday before regular meeting)
Andrew Johnson Building, 912 South Gay Street
http://knoxschools.org/
Tuesday, February 16 - 5 p.m.
Public Meeting
Status of the Gay Street Streetscapes project
Emporium Building, 100 S. Gay Street
www.cityofknoxville.org/policy/100block/
Wednesday, February 17 - 6 p.m.
Public Meeting - One Year Plan
North, East and Central Sectors
Metropolitan Planning Commission
New Harvest Park Community Center
4775 New Harvest Lane
Call Mike Brusseau, MPC, 215-2500
Thursday, February 18 - 8:30 a.m.
Historic Zoning Commission (third Thursdays)
http://www.cityofknoxville.org/boards/historic.asp\
Thursday, February 18 - 12 p.m.
KUB Board of Commissioners (third Thursdays except July)
Historic Miller*s Building - 445 S. Gay St.
See www.kub.org. Click on *About Us* on top of the page.
Monday, February 22 - 2 p.m.
Knox County Commission
(Every fourth Monday, Jan.-Oct.) (Third Monday, Nov.-Dec.)
www.knoxcounty.org/commission
(Agendas can be downloaded. Click on Agendas and then on Agenda
Committee.)
Tuesday, February 23 and Tuesday, March 9 - 7 p.m.
City Council (every other Tuesday)
http://www.cityofknoxville.org/citycouncil/
Agenda: http://www.cityofknoxville.org/citycouncil/agenda.pdf
Wednesday, February 24 - 6 p.m.
Public Meeting - One Year Plan
West and Northwest Sectors
Metropolitan Planning Commission
Bearden Middle School Cafeteria, 1000 Francis Rd.
Call Mike Brusseau, MPC, 215-2500
Thursday, February 25- 3:30 p.m.
Better Building Board
(Last Thursday, Jan.-Oct. First Thursday, Dec.)
http://www.cityofknoxville.org/boards/betterbuilding.asp
Wednesday, March 3 - 5 p.m.
Knox County School Board (Every first Wednesday)
Andrew Johnson Building, 912 South Gay Street
http://board.knoxschools.org
Thursday, March 11 - 1:30 p.m.
Metropolitan Planning Commission
(Every Second Thursday)
http://www.knoxmpc.org
Agenda: http://agenda.knoxmpc.org
Wednesday, April 14 - Thursday, April 29
Early Voting
Knox County Primary Election
School Board, County Commission, Sheriff, etc.
http://knoxcounty.org/election/2010_elections.php
Tuesday, May 4 - 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Election Day
Knox County Primary Election
School Board, County Commission, Sheriff, etc.
http://knoxcounty.org/election/2010_elections.php
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Deadline for Next Issue: Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010.
Submit to: neighb...@cityofknoxville.org
Or Call David Massey at 215-3232