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1. Neighborhoods Celebrate National Night Out Tonight
2. ONE Highlights Acts of Neighboring
3. Save The Date for This Year’s Arbor Day Celebration
4. Register Now for Community Emergency Response Training
5. City Provides Housing Instability Youth Resources Map
6. Health Department Offers Free Online Diabetes Classes
7. Local Option Sales Tax Supports Affordable Housing
8. Ageism Awareness Day is Oct. 9
9. Spotted Lanternfly Has Been Found in Knox County
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1. Neighborhoods Celebrate National Night Out Tonight
Knoxville neighborhoods will be celebrating National Night Out (NNO) tonight, Tuesday, Oct. 7, with chili cook-offs, music, family fun, and porch lights.
If your neighborhood does not have an event planned, join the City of Knoxville and community partners for a National Night Out Kickoff Celebration from 5–7 p.m. at Tank Strickland Park, 4618 Asheville Hwy. The event will feature free food, games, giveaways, music, and appearances by Knoxville Police, Fire, and Public Service staff.
📌 Event details on Facebook
Below are the neighborhoods that have let us know they are participating in National Night Out:
- Burlington Residents Association
- Cold Springs Neighborhood Watch
- Cumberland Estates West Neighborhood Watch
- Inskip Community Association
- Mechanicsville Community Association
- Michael Meadowview Neighborhood Watch
- Northwest Hills Safety Community Group
- Norwood Homeowners Association
- Old Mechanicsville Neighborhood Interest (OMNI)
- Parkridge Community Organization
- Seven Springs Homeowners Association
- South Woodlawn Neighborhood Association
- Town Hall East Community Organization
- Williams Creek & Lennon-Seney United Methodist Church
- Vestal Community Organization
NNO is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live.
Neighborhoods host block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts and various other community events with safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel, exhibits and much, much more.
We hope everyone has a safe and great neighborhood Night Out!
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2. ONE Highlights Acts of Neighboring
Throughout September, the Office of Neighborhood Empowerment (ONE) encouraged Knoxville residents to intentionally connect with their neighbors and share those experiences.
Here are a few highlights submitted by neighbors:
- “About a year and a half ago I started a Discord (communication platform) server for my apartment complex on Maplehurst Properties. This community has always been a transient one, where you can live here for years without learning anyone's name. This virtual messaging platform has allowed us to get to know each other in a surprisingly meaningful way. During this time we have been able to have a "giveaway" table so there is less waste, holding packages when someone is away, literally giving someone a cup of sugar, reporting suspicious activities, setting up a laundry issue system, helping someone jump start their car, host a 4th of July cookout, and recently organizing ourselves to present a letter to the UTK Board of Directors of our concerns about our homes being bought. It can be isolating for someone living in an apartment, but we're making the best of it. Having a way to instantly communicate with my neighbors has brought comfort, peace of mind, and a new sense of community. I highly recommend every neighborhood have some digital way to communicate with everyone, and Discord is a great tool for that.”
- “A delightful neighbor walks our neighborhood daily, picking up trash. Despite some of the mess that he might encounter, he is always so upbeat.”
- “The Belle Morris Neighbors recently held their first coffee social. It was a lovely time, filled with neighbors getting to know each other. I'd like to highlight Linda Hamilton for opening up her home to host, and the Belle Morris Events Committee for putting the event together.”
- “Eddie Baum has a way of making everyone feel at home. He’s the kind of neighbor who connects people, remembers what folks need, and brings us all a little closer together. Our neighborhood wouldn’t feel the same without his warmth and welcome. He was the first neighbor to welcome me when my family moved into our neighborhood a few years ago, and he has been a steady presence ever since.”
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3. Save The Date for This Year’s Arbor Day Celebration
Save the date! The City will celebrate Arbor Day on Monday, Nov. 3, at 1:30 p.m. at Malcolm Martin Park, 2247 Western Ave.
In Knoxville, we have been celebrating Arbor Day the first week of November to signify the start of tree-planting season. However, look-out for next year’s celebration to be in the Spring.
Arbor Day is a day to celebrate trees and the vital role they play in the world. Trees are important by using reforestation and urban forestry to improve shade in heat islands, to improve walkability, and biodiversity. Trees have a number of important functions aside from looking pretty.
More information will come soon!
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4. Register Now for Community Emergency Response Training
Hybrid Option:
- 12 hours online at your own pace
- Virtual discussion on either Monday, Oct. 13, from 1–3 p.m. or Thursday, Oct. 16, from 6-8 p.m.
- An 8-hour in-person skills session on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
In-Person Option:
- 20 hours of total in-person training
- Session 1: Saturday, Oct. 18, from 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Session 2: Sunday, Oct. 19, from 1–5 p.m.
- Session 3: Saturday, Oct. 25, from 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
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5. City Provides Housing Instability Youth Resources Map
The Housing Instability Youth Resources Map can be found on the City’s website.
For more information please contact the City’s Youth Engagement Manager, Emily Norris, at eno...@knoxvilletn.gov.
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6. Health Department Offers Free Online Diabetes Classes
Approximately 760,719 people in Tennessee, or 13.8% of the adult population, have been diagnosed with diabetes. Thanks to better treatments, people with diabetes live longer and enjoy a better quality of life than ever before. If you are living with diabetes, it’s important to make choices that keep you and your loved ones healthy.
Call KCHD at 865-215-5170 to request more information on diabetes management.
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7. Local Option Sales Tax Supports Affordable Housing
Over the past two weeks, we have reviewed the upcoming ballot referendum scheduled for the November 4th ballot. This week, we are taking a closer look at one of the key investment areas – Affordable Housing.
As a part of the Neighborhood Investment Plan, the city will invest an additional 10 million annually over the next 5 years, totaling - $50 million in new funding for affordable housing. This is in addition to the existing $5 million annual commitment. Below outlines for what the money would be budgeted.
The funds will support the development of an estimated 1,000 new affordable homes over 5 years. This will be allocated across the following strategic areas:
- Commercial corridor redevelopment – estimated 500 homes
- Affordable housing gap financing including NOAH (naturally occurring affordable housing) estimated 325 homes
- Permanent Supportive Housing for chronically homeless – estimated 100 homes
- Senior Housing – estimated 75 homes
- Continued support for the Office of Housing Stability strategic plan implementation
The City’s affordable housing program has a proven track record, having facilitated the creation of nearly 3,000 new affordable homes in the past 5 years. For every $1 of public money invested, the program has successfully leveraged $15 in private sector investment. More details can be found on the City’s website on the neighborhood investment plan across the city.
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8. Ageism Awareness Day is Oct. 9
The CAC Office on Aging, John T. O’Connor Senior Center, and the American Society on Aging will join allies worldwide to mark Ageism Awareness Day this Thursday, Oct. 9. The day spotlights the harm of age-based stereotypes and celebrates the diverse experiences of aging.
Ageism affects healthcare, employment, and media representation. Together, we can dismantle stereotypes and uplift the value of aging.
Tip: Ask someone over 60 years old for life advice, you might be surprised by what you learn.
Join us in honoring the value of older adults and learn more at ASA’s Ageism Awareness Day webpage.
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9. Spotted Lanternfly Has Been Found in Knox County
As of September 18, 2025, the Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) has been confirmed to be in Knox County.
While these insects do not harm humans by biting or stinging, they pose a significant threat to agriculture by damaging crops, trees, and ornamental plants by feeding on their sap.
You will likely begin running across this invasive species in the near future. The UT Agricultural Extension office has asked that neighbors remain vigilant. Due to its propensity to destroy plants, the best course of action is to take photos to report and then crush any adults or egg masses that you find.
The SLF has many different appearances, the eggs, the nymph, the lane nymph, and the adult. To view photos of the different stages, go to the USDA website.
The pest can be found on many species of trees, but their main host is the Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima). You can also find this pest on stationary vehicles or outdoor equipment that moves infrequently. Use caution when moving these items after long periods of being still.
One way to combat these insects is to plant common milkweed. The sap of this plant is toxic to the SLF. Another way to combat them is to pull up any invasive Tree of Heaven.
For more information, see the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s website.
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10. Knoxville Neighborhoods Calendar (click link for online calendar)
To add your 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:
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.
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