The Neighborly Notice - Tuesday, July 21, 2026

[Debbie Helsley]



The Neighborly Notice - Vol. 19, No. 28 – Tuesday, July 21, 2026 Newsletter (PDF version): https://bit.ly/NeighborlyNotice-2026-07-21  To subscribe to this newsletter via email, fill out this form http://eepurl.com/b2Rk9T. You will then receive an automated email. Reply to this automated email to secure your free subscription. 1.  Volunteers Needed for Montgomery Village Playground Build    2.  What to Expect at the 2026 Neighborhood Resource Fair  3.  Better Building Board and Public Officer Hearings Set for July 30–31  4.  KEMA to Offer Community Emergency Response Training  5.  Yes! Knoxville Hosts KAT Krawl  6.  Early Voting Is Ongoing; Election Day is Thursday, Aug. 6    7.  Save the Date: CareCuts Hosts Golf Tournament  8.  Grandparents as Parents Calls for School Supply Donations    9.  Knoxville Neighborhoods Calendar (click link for online calendar)  1.  Volunteers Needed for Montgomery Village Playground Build     Montgomery Village is getting a new playground! Would you like to help build it? Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (KCDC) and KABOOM! are recruiting 150 volunteers for Monday, July 27 - Wednesday, July 29, with the majority of the need being on Wednesday, July 29.  This work will be at the Community Unity Park, 4530 Joe Lewis Rd. Work is available for volunteers of all levels of skill and ability.      Please note that all youth under the legal working age for this state will be welcome to participate in youth activities but will not be able to participate in the construction areas.     If you work all day, breakfast, lunch, and water will be provided.  Gloves and other safety materials will be provided for the projects that require them.     If you are interested, you will need to register on the Kaboom! Volunteer website. If you have questions, please reach out to Bicki Rudd at br...@kaboom.org.  2.  What to Expect at the 2026 Neighborhood Resource Fair    The Neighborhood Resource Fair will take place on Saturday, Aug. 29, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the World's Fair Exhibition Halls 1 & 2, at 935 World's Fair Park Drive.     More than 90 governmental agencies and departments, nonprofit organizations, and community groups will be on site, ready to inform neighbors about their programs and answer questions about their services.     Admission is free, and pre-registration =is highly recommended.  Walk-ups are also welcome, but attendees who pre-register will receive extra door prize tickets and are guaranteed food vouchers.  You can pre-register now.    Use those extra door prize tickets for a chance to win one of our 10 fantastic prizes! Follow us on Facebook to see the prizes we've already shared, with a new one posted every week leading up to the event.     The door prize drawing schedule will be:    9 a.m. Keurig Coffee Maker, Mystery Prize   10 a.m. Fujifilm Instax Bundle, Fiskars Garden Set  11 a.m. Two Mystery Prizes  12 p.m. Amazon Fire Kid’s Tablet, Digital Picture Frame  1 p.m. Two Mystery Prizes    In addition to the resources and networking opportunities, there will be face painting, games hosted by the Parks and Rec KORE truck, short performances by local groups, expired/unused medication drop-off, a visit with the Knoxville Smokies baseball mascots, free recycling of any non-alkaline battery or battery-powered device, and more!    Also, new this year: Second Harvest’s mobile pantry will distribute food supplies to visitors.  3.  Better Building Board and Public Officer Hearings Set for July 30-31    The City of Knoxville's Better Building Board (BBB) will meet on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. in the Main Assembly Room of the City County Building. The accompanying Public Officer Hearing (POH) is scheduled for Friday, July 31, 2026, at 9:30 a.m., also in the Main Assembly Room.     The Better Building Board plays an important role in the City's efforts to address unsafe and deteriorated structures. The board hears appeals from property owners who wish to challenge orders issued by the Public Officer regarding buildings determined to be unfit or dangerous. After reviewing a case, the board may uphold, modify, or overturn the Public Officer's order.     Public Officer Hearings are held to review properties that have been cited by Neighborhood Codes Enforcement. Following a hearing, property owners may be directed to repair, secure, improve, vacate, or demolish unsafe structures. If owners fail to comply, the City may undertake the required work and recover associated costs.    The July meetings provide an opportunity for property owners, neighborhood stakeholders, and interested residents to observe the City's property standards and code enforcement process in action. Cases heard by both bodies can have significant impacts on neighborhood safety, redevelopment efforts, and the preservation of Knoxville's housing stock.     Residents seeking additional information about attending or participating in a hearing may contact the City's Codes Enforcement Office at 865-215-2119 or via email at codesenf...@knoxvilletn.gov. Current agendas and hearing materials are available through the City of Knoxville's Better Building Board and Public Officer Hearings webpage.    The City of Knoxville ensures meaningful access to City programs, services, and activities to comply with Civil Rights Title VI and ADA Title II laws and reasonably provides translation, interpretation, modifications, accommodations, alternative formats, auxiliary aids and services.      To request language translation services, contact the Human Resources Department at Tit...@KnoxvilleTN.gov or 865-215-3100. For disability accommodations, contact the Human Resources Department at A...@KnoxvilleTN.gov or 865-215-3100 at least 72 hours prior to the event.  4.  KEMA to Offer Community Emergency Response Training    Knoxville-Knox County Emergency Management Agency (KEMA) will offer Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) classes on the first Tuesday of each month from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.    To find out the session locations and registration, complete the interest form through Volunteer East Tennessee. Once you sign up, you will be notified about each subsequent meeting.    The next class is Tuesday, Aug. 4, where you’ll learn about response in general, whether it’s for disasters or other events. This builds upon the first meeting in July about disaster preparedness.     To earn the CERT certificate and patch, you’ll need to attend all sessions. If you can’t, you are still welcome to attend as many sessions as you can. Learning even a little can keep you and your community prepared and safe in unfortunate circumstances.    During class you’ll learn from experts about potential hazards to our community and how the city and county might respond. You’ll also learn about facilitating safe responses to potential threats from personal preparedness to connecting with local agencies. Don’t miss out on this chance to make your city safer and participate in CERT.  5.  Yes! Knoxville Hosts KAT Krawl    Yes! Knoxville will be hosting the second annual KAT Krawl, a bus bar crawl.  This event will feature brief presentations about Knoxville’s public transportation system and discussions about how to make the bus network accessible and viable for more Knoxvillians.      They will gather at Knoxville Station and take the bus to several bars and breweries safely.  If you would like to learn more about the event, you can go to the Yes! Knoxville website and visit their upcoming events page.  6.  Early Voting Is Ongoing; Election Day is Thursday, Aug. 6    Early voting is currently ongoing through Saturday, Aug. 1, with Election Day being on Thursday, Aug. 6. This will be a State & Federal Primary Election as well as a Knox County General Election.  The Town of Farragut will also hold its Municipal Elections.     Monday, July 27, is the last day to request an absentee ballot.     Offices on the Knox County General ballot include:  Criminal Court Judge, Division I (to fill an unexpired term)  County Mayor  County Commission - Districts 3 and 7  County Commission - Seats 10 and 11  Trustee  General Sessions Judge, Division IV (to fill an unexpired term)  Sheriff  Circuit Court Clerk  Criminal Court Clerk  County Clerk  Register of Deeds  Board of Education - Districts 1, 4, 6, 7, and 9    For a list of early voting locations, please visit the Knox County Election Commission’s website.  7.  Save the Date: CareCuts Hosts Golf Tournament    Save the Date: CareCuts of Knoxville will host a Golf Tournament on Friday, Aug. 28, at 8 a.m., at Egwani Farms Golf Course. Proceeds support CareCuts' mission of restoring dignity to people experiencing homelessness and hardship through practical services and compassionate care.    The tournament is a four-person scramble and includes a light breakfast, lunch, gift bags, door prizes, and there will be a silent auction. Participants are also encouraged to bring gently used clothing or shoes to support CareCuts' outreach efforts.    CareCuts is celebrating 10 years of serving Knoxville's unhoused and vulnerable residents. Funds raised through the tournament help the organization continue this important work in our community.    Golfers, teams, individual players, and sponsors are all welcome. Sponsorship opportunities are available at several levels. For more information or to register, contact Kim Walters at (865) 740-6290.  8.  Grandparents as Parents Calls for School Supply Donations    Through July 31, Grandparents as Parents is accepting donations for their school supply drive. They are requesting these specific items:  Crayons  Red/green pens  Composition notebooks  Headphones  Colored pencils  Pencils  3-ring binders  Earbuds  Plastic folders  Glue sticks   Pencil boxes  Ziploc bags  Tissue boxes  And backpacks with computer compartments    Once you’ve collected the items you’d like to donate, drop them off at either the O’Connor Senior Center or any Knox County Senior Center.  Grandparents as Parents is a program of the Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee (CAC) under the Office of Aging. In addition to the school supply drive, they also offer educational support meetings, a monthly newsletter, community outreach, case management, and an annual conference for grandparents and other relative caregivers. Anyone of any age can join and benefit from these specific resources. If you have questions or need more information call Grandparents as Parents at (865) 524-2786.  9.  Knoxville Neighborhoods Calendar (click link for online calendar)    To add a neighborhood event or meeting to the Google calendar, call 865-215-3232.    Other Calendars    Additional online calendars that cover events outside the neighborhood realm include:    Arts & Culture Alliance (There’s More to Knoxville)  Arts & Fine Crafts Center Classes (City of Knoxville)  City of Knoxville General Calendar  Parks and Rec Community Programming    The City of Knoxville requires a permit to operate a short-term rental property. Details and a list of short-term rental permits are located on the City’s website here.  About This Newsletter ** This Advisory is produced on most Tuesdays of the year. ** Ideas and contributions are welcome. We reserve the right to edit submissions. ** Deadline for news & calendar items: 5 p.m. Mondays ** May be copied and forwarded via neighborhood e-mail lists and newsletters. ** See past issues at our Website:  http://www.knoxvilletn.gov/neighborhoods ** Don’t have Internet access? Call 865-215-4382 if you need a copy of a particular document.

[Debbie Helsley]



The Neighborly Notice - Vol. 19, No. 29 – Tuesday, July 28, 2026 Newsletter (PDF version): https://bit.ly/NeighborlyNotice-2026-07-28

To subscribe to this newsletter via email, fill out this form http://eepurl.com/b2Rk9T. You will then receive an automated email. Reply to this automated email to secure your free subscription.

1. West Hills Celebrates National Night Out 2. What’s New at the 2026 Neighborhood Resource Fair 3. Empower Knox Accepting Applications for Emerging Leaders 4. City Seeks Crossing Guards for the 2026–2027 School Year 5. Volunteers Needed for Montgomery Village Playground Build 6. City Plans Stormwater Update Meetings 7. Planning Commission Posts Preliminary Agenda 8. Early Voting Ends Saturday, Aug. 1 9. What’s Next Knoxville 10. Yes! Knoxville Hosts KAT Krawl July 30 11. Knoxville Neighborhoods Calendar (click link for online calendar)  1. West Hills Celebrates National Night Out West Hills Community Association will be celebrating National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 4, from 6-7:30 p.m. at West Hills Park near Sheffield Dr. They will be celebrating first responders at KPD, KFD, and Public Service. There will be games set up, food trucks, and the very exciting water spray by KFD. This will happen on Sheffield Dr. Near the greenway and across from the West Hills Elementary School. Children of all ages especially love this event. Although the first Tuesday in August is the national day to celebrate National Night Out, the City of Knoxville celebrates the first Tuesday in October, as do many other cities, due to the hot weather. If your neighborhood plans to celebrate Tuesday, Oct. 6, we would love to hear about it. Contact Debbie Sharp at dsh...@knoxvilletn.gov.  2. What’s New at the 2026 Neighborhood Resource Fair

The Neighborhood Resource Fair will take place on Saturday, Aug. 29, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the World's Fair Exhibition Halls 1 & 2, at 935 World's Fair Park Drive. More than 90 governmental agencies and departments, nonprofit organizations, and community groups will be on site, ready to inform neighbors about their programs and answer questions about their services.

ONE is working to include more new resources each year. This year, we will offer the following: Second Harvest’s Mobile food pantry will distribute food boxes Public Service will collect for free, non-alkaline batteries and small battery-powered devices KPD will collect expired and unused medications Admission is free, and pre-registration is highly recommended. Walk-ups are also welcome, but attendees who pre-register will receive extra door prize tickets and are guaranteed food vouchers. You can pre-register now. In addition to the resources and networking opportunities, there will be face painting, games hosted by the Parks and Rec KORE truck, short performances by local groups, a free lunch, lots of SWAG, a visit with the Knoxville Smokies baseball mascots, and more! We look forward to seeing you there!   3. Empower Knox Accepting Applications for Emerging Leaders Council Knoxville residents ages 18-24, as of Sept. 1, 2026, interested in growing their leadership potential are invited to apply for the next cohort of the Mayor’s Emerging Leaders Council program. Participants will develop their skills learning about civic engagement, elected offices, City Council and much more. The program will support nine driven young adults in their development as future leaders of Knoxville. Applications are due by Monday, Aug. 17. If you have questions, you can contact Emily Norris at eno...@knoxvilletn.gov or at 865-215-3524.   4. City Seeks Crossing Guards for the 2026–2027 School Year The City of Knoxville is currently seeking dependable and community-minded individuals to serve as School Crossing Guards for the 2026–2027 school year. Those interested can apply on the City’s website. School Crossing Guards play a vital role in helping ensure the safety of students and families traveling to and from school each day. This position offers an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the community while supporting safe routes to school. We are looking for individuals who are: Reliable and punctual Committed to student safety Comfortable working outdoors in various weather conditions  Able to communicate effectively with students, parents, and motorists School Crossing Guards are assigned to designated school crossing locations and assist students safely crossing streets before and after school. If you are interested in serving your community and helping keep Knoxville's students safe, we encourage you to apply. For additional information regarding qualifications, pay, and the application process, please visit the City of Knoxville’s employment opportunities page or contact Hayley Howard at hho...@knoxvilletn.gov.  5. Volunteers Needed for Montgomery Village Playground Build Montgomery Village is getting a new playground! Would you like to help build it? Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (KCDC) and KABOOM! are recruiting 150 volunteers for Wednesday, July 29. The location is at Community Unity Park, 4530 Joe Lewis Rd. Work is available for volunteers of all levels of skill and ability. Please note that all youth under the legal working age for this state are welcome to participate in youth activities but will not be able to participate in the construction areas. Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

If you work all day, breakfast, lunch, and water will be provided. Gloves and other safety materials will be provided for the projects that require them. If you are interested, you will need to register on the Kaboom! Volunteer website. If you have questions, please reach out to Bicki Rudd at br...@kaboom.org.

6. City Plans Stormwater Update Meetings The City of Knoxville Stormwater Department has planned four public meetings to share updates on the stormwater surveys and ask for input. Over the past three years, the City has been doing an analysis of stormwater infrastructure. You are invited to join one of the following meetings to find out what we have learned and provide input on various components of stormwater. Tuesday, Aug. 11, 6-8 p.m., EV Davidson Recreation Center, 3124 Wilson Ave. Wednesday, Aug. 12, 6-8 p.m., Cecil Webb Recreation Center, 923 Baker Ave.  Monday, Aug. 17, 6-8 p.m., Christenberry Recreation Center, 937 Oglewood Ave. Thursday, Aug. 20, 6-8 p.m. Deane Hill Recreation Center, 7414 Deane Hill Dr. The current phase of the Stormwater project includes evaluation of the Stormwater Asset Survey, quantifying the City’s infrastructure maintenance needs into real dollars, and identifying options for how to fund future maintenance and improvements.

The City of Knoxville ensures meaningful access to City programs, services, and activities to comply with Civil Rights Title VI and ADA Title II laws and reasonably provides translation, interpretation, modifications, accommodations, alternative formats, auxiliary aids and services. To request language translation services, contact the Human Resources Department at Tit...@KnoxvilleTN.gov or 865-215-3100. For disability accommodations, contact the Human Resources Department at A...@KnoxvilleTN.gov or 865-215-3100 at least 72 hours prior to the event.

7. Planning Commission Posts Preliminary Agenda Knoxville-Knox County Planning posts the preliminary agenda on their website three weeks prior to the meeting for the public to review. It is good practice to look at this document when it is posted to see if there are any properties in your neighborhood. This gives you a short bit of time to reach out to neighbors to discuss if you want to support or request more information on a particular parcel. You can submit comments about a case on the website and request to speak during the meeting. Neighbors are encouraged to review the agenda to stay informed about new developments and changes coming to neighborhoods. The Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission meets on the second Thursday of the month at 1:30 p.m. in the Main Assembly Room of the City County Building, 400 Main St. The next meeting will take place on Thursday, Aug. 13. For more information about the planning process, you can visit their website or contact planning staff directly at con...@knoxplanning.org or 865-215-2500.   8. Early Voting Ends Saturday, Aug. 1 Early voting ends this Saturday, Aug. 1, for the local General Elections, the State and Federal Primary Elections. If you would like to vote during early voting, you may go to any poling location. If you do not vote during early voting, you will have to go to your precinct on Election Day, Thursday, Aug. 6, to vote. To learn where to go for early voting, you can access the Knox County Election Commission’s website. Your voice matters, so please get out and vote!   9. What’s Next Knoxville The City of Knoxville is updating its Comprehensive Plan, a long-range document that guides decisions on land use, transportation, and investment priorities in the city for years to come. The What’s Next Knoxville team has spent the last few months listening and learning. Find out what they've heard so far and if there's anything else you want to add prior to the next phase. Review the survey results and map comments online or stop by the What's Next Knoxville headquarters at 30 Market Square to talk to the project team. It's open on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Learn more at WhatsNextKnoxville.com.  10. Yes! Knoxville Hosts KAT Krawl Yes! Knoxville is hosting the second annual KAT Krawl, on Thursday, July 30, 6-10 p.m. This bus bar crawl starts at Knoxville Area Transit’s Knoxville Station. Participants will use the Transit App to purchase a $2 day pass and ride the Route 20 N. Central / Clinton Highway bus to stop at several bars and breweries. The event includes a brief presentation about Knoxville’s public transportation system and discussions about how to make the bus network accessible and viable for more Knoxville residents. Learn more about the event at the Yes! Knoxville website.  11.  Knoxville Neighborhoods Calendar (click link for online calendar)

To add a neighborhood event or meeting to the Google calendar, call 865-215-3232.    Other Calendars    Additional online calendars that cover events outside the neighborhood realm include:    Arts & Culture Alliance (There’s More to Knoxville)  Arts & Fine Crafts Center Classes (City of Knoxville)  City of Knoxville General Calendar  Parks and Rec Community Programming    The City of Knoxville requires a permit to operate a short-term rental property. Details and a list of short-term rental permits are located on the City’s website here.

About This Newsletter ** This Advisory is produced on most Tuesdays of the year. ** Ideas and contributions are welcome. We reserve the right to edit submissions. ** Deadline for news & calendar items: 5 p.m. Mondays ** May be copied and forwarded via neighborhood e-mail lists and newsletters. ** See past issues at our Website:  http://www.knoxvilletn.gov/neighborhoods ** Don’t have Internet access? Call 865-215-4382 if you need a copy of a particular