In this Knoxville Insider Issue…

🌤️ Knoxville Weather - Rain with a High of 53

📰 Local Fire Displaces Ten Residents Near Edgewood and Parkridge

📰 West Knoxville Memory Care Facility Announces Sudden Closure, Leaving Families Scrambling for Alternatives

👮🏾‍♂️ The 12 Scams of Christmas (#11 and #12)

📰 Local Bar Owners Show Holiday Spirit with Generous Donation to the Empty Stocking Fund

🐕‍🦺 Pets: Training and Holiday Tips of the Day

📅 New Events Added - The Grand Victoria Christmas Open House and Santa & the Grinch

📅 Upcoming December Events, including Christmas Parades

💡 We Want to Spotlight Your Business!
 

New Events Added:

• The Grand Victoria Christmas Open House: December 18th, 3pm - 8pm, 6325 Tazewell Pike. Come check out the newest venue in Knoxville, enjoying a Christmas open house and local vendors with gifts and crafts.
  

• Santa & the Grinch: Have your photo made with Santa & the Grinch every Sunday until Christmas, 2pm - 5pm at Painting with Friends Studio, 4301 East Emory Road 1st come 1st serve. Cost: $3.00/person.

Local Fire Displaces Ten Residents Near Edgewood and Parkridge

A fire occurred Saturday afternoon near the Edgewood and Parkridge neighborhoods, displacing ten people. The Knoxville Fire Department responded to the fire in a two-story structure's basement on Washington Avenue. The building appeared to be an apartment with visible smoke and burn damage. The Red Cross is assisting the displaced residents.

West Knoxville Memory Care Facility Announces Sudden Closure, Leaving Families Scrambling for Alternatives

A recent announcement has caused significant concern among the residents and their families at a West Knoxville assisted living and memory care facility, Prosperity Pointe, located off Cedar Bluff Road. The facility informed its residents through a letter that it would be closing permanently in January. This sudden decision, attributed to the new owners deeming the business nonviable, has left many families urgently seeking alternative living arrangements for their loved ones.

This closure underscores the broader challenges and sensitivities involved in caring for those with memory-related conditions, emphasizing the need for stability and continuity in their living environments. The abruptness of the decision has raised concerns about the treatment and consideration given to this vulnerable segment of the community.

Local Bar Owners Show Holiday Spirit with Generous Donation to the Empty Stocking Fund

Scott and Bernadette West, owners of a bar in Market Square, demonstrated their community spirit on December 7 by donating $4,200 to the News Sentinel Charities Empty Stocking Fund. This fund aids local families during the holiday season.

The donation was made during an event at Scruffy City Hall, which also hosted the latest installment of Band Eat Band, a weekly battle of the bands competition at the West-family venue.

The 12 Scams of Christmas

This holiday season, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) highlights 12 common Christmas season scams. We will highlight two of these scams each day, with today’s issue containing #11 and #12.

11. Hot Holiday Items - A Scam Risk: Be cautious when buying in-demand items like low-priced luxury goods, designer clothes, and popular toys from resellers. They could be counterfeit or knockoffs.
    

12. Puppy Adoption Scams: As many consider adding pets to their families, be wary of the high rate of fraudulent pet ads online. Always meet the pet in person before purchasing.

Pet Training Tip of the Day

Tip: Have a goal in mind when you go into a training session.

Today’s Pet Training Tip of the Day is brought to you by Rachel Neubauer of Zoom Room Knoxville-Hardin Valley.

Christmas Season with Pets Tip of the Day

Tip: If you're having visitors this holiday season do this to prevent your dog from jumping on visitors: If your dog jumps up at you, look away, step towards your dog while giving zero attention and your dog will drop their front paws down

Today’s Christmas Season with Pets Tip of the Day is brought to you by Carol Logue of KT Walking Paws.

Upcoming December Events

Have an event to add? Let us know! [email protected] 

Sunday, 12/10:

• Cookies & Cocoa with Santa: 2pm - 4pm at Friendly Farm, 1104 Rebel Hollow Rd in Tazewell. Cost: $10 More Info & Buy Tickets

Friday, 12/15:

• "Holiday Dance Party!" with The Streamliners Swing Orchestra: 6:30 pm - 9 pm at The Concourse, 4328 N. Broadway. Cost: $20 at the Door. More Info

Saturday, 12/16:

• Christmas Holiday Market: 9am - 3pm in Halls, Black Oak Plaza. This is free to attend, outdoor event.

• Yoga for Martial Arts: 9 am - 10 am at Warrior Heart USA, 297 Oak Ridge Turnpike Suite 400 in Oak Ridge. Cost: $20 drop-in or included in membership. More Info

Monday, 12/18:

• The Grand Victoria Christmas Open House: December 18th, 3pm - 8pm, 6325 Tazewell Pike. Come check out the newest venue in Knoxville, enjoying a Christmas open house and local vendors with gifts and crafts.

Multi-Date Events:

• Downtown Peppermint Trail: Now through 1/7/2024. More Info

• Holiday Open House at Sanctuary Day Spa & Boutique: December 16th and 17th from 9am - 5pm, 9700 Kingston Pike. Holiday food, drink, retail sales and more! Get your holiday shopping wrapped up with our free gift wrapping 🎁 & enjoy some Spa treats and door prizes at the same time! More Info

• Ice Skating in Market Square: An open-air ice rink, Now through 1/2/2024. More Info

• Safety City’s “Christmas in the City”: December 5th, 6th, 7th, 12th, 13th, 14th; 4 pm - 8 pm, More Info

• Santa & the Grinch: Have your photo made with Santa & the Grinch every Sunday until Christmas, 2pm - 5pm at Painting with Friends Studio, 4301 East Emory Road 1st come 1st serve. Cost: $3.00/person.

Expanding Small Business Saturday into Small Business December

As the holiday season approaches, we have a unique opportunity to transform the success of Small Business Saturday into a broader, more impactful initiative: Small Business December. This initiative is more than just a campaign; it’s a community-driven movement to support our local economy and the small businesses that are its backbone. Small businesses give our community its unique character, create jobs, and invigorate our local economy. By choosing to shop locally throughout December, we not only find unique gifts for our loved ones but also contribute to the prosperity and resilience of our neighborhood.

Our collective efforts can make a significant difference. We encourage each of you to be ambassadors for this cause. Share your local shopping experiences on social media, recommend your favorite small businesses to friends and family, and consider buying your holiday gifts from local artisans and shopkeepers. Local businesses often offer beautifully crafted, unique items that make thoughtful and memorable gifts. Remember, every purchase you make at a small business is an investment in our community’s future.

Let’s come together to make Small Business December a new tradition that supports and celebrates the heart of our community - our local businesses. It’s more than just shopping; it’s about building a stronger, more connected community. Your support can help turn a challenging year into a brighter season for our small business owners. Let’s show them how much they mean to us and make this December a month of local love and community spirit.

We Want To Spotlight Your Business!

Would you like us to spotlight your local business in front of thousands of Knoxville area residents in an upcoming issue of Knoxville Insider?

We ❤️ Local Businesses!

We know our community is brimming with businesses that have fascinating stories and big hearts. If you're a local business owner making waves, crafting unique experiences, or simply putting a smile on our faces, we want to chat with you! "Knoxville Insider" is eager to shine a light on the unsung heroes of our town. Let's collaborate and let the community know what makes your business special. Send us a message to [email protected] and let's celebrate the spirit of Knoxville together! Not a business owner, but love a local business? Tell us all about it at the email address above!