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Fest of Knoxville
What with all the talk about the need for unity, it was heartening to see a somewhat unusual coalition come together Tuesday to announce the new Knoxville Music and Heritage Festival. The festival will run Sept. 30-Oct. 6 and encompass a range of events in and around downtown Knoxville.
At a press conference on Market Square, the list of speakers and supporters ran from our own Jack Neely to Mayor Victor Ashe, TVA executive Keith Hill, the East Tennessee Historical Society's Kent Whitworth, and representatives of Community Shares and the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. (By way of declaring our own interest, it's worth mentioning that Metro Pulse staffers have been involved in planning the festival from the inception.)
Proceeds this year will benefit the Historical Society. For more information, you can visit the website at www.knoxfest.com.
Look for full Festival coverage in our paper and other local media next week. The kick-off on Sunday, Sept. 30 is scheduled to include the city's 210th birthday party on Volunteer Landing.
Bleeding the Givers
A couple of days after the attacks on New York and Washington last week, Gov. Don Sundquist issued an email message to state employees regarding Friday's "National Day of Prayer." The governor encouraged all Tennesseans to take a moment "at break time or during lunch" to remember the suffering of fellow citizens.
Taking that business-as-usual concept a long step further, George Hattaway, commissioner of the Department of Children's Services, emailed his department's employees, commending them for stepping forward to help others and showing their "genuine care for humanity..." He then advised anyone wanting to donate blood or to volunteer their services in any way away from the office to get prior approval from supervisors to use their annual leave time to do so.
The commissioner wanted to ensure that all DCS offices are covered during the crisis, according to his message. We guess our Volunteer State is broke in more ways than one.
Signs of the Times
Out in the 2nd District, they're knocking on doors and putting out signs. Joe Bailey, who generally wears knit shirts with his name embroidered on the chest when he goes out door-knocking, has planted his fair share of signs. He reports that he was working a neighborhood last week and went to the home of an elderly voter who was reluctant to open the glass storm door until she saw the name on his shirt.
"She opened it up just a crack and said 'You're the one that's listing all the houses in the neighborhood, aren't you.' "
"I said 'No ma'am,'"
Bailey explained that he is running for City Council, and that the signs she's seeing are yard signs, not for sale signs. She was unconvinced.
"She told me her house wasn't for sale," Bailey said. "And she said when the time comes for her to do it, she's calling Heath Shuler."
September 20, 2001 * Vol. 11, No. 38
© 2001 Metro Pulse
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