In this Knoxville Insider Issue…

🌤️ Knoxville Weather - Partly Cloudy with a High of 58

📰 Today is the Last Farmer’s Market of the Year

📰 Zoo Knoxville's Winter Care: Keeping Animals Warm and Comfortable

👮🏾‍♂️ Hit-and-Run Incident on South Gay Street

👮🏻‍♀️ Former Knox County Librarian Indicted for Theft and Official Misconduct

📰 East Tennessee Children's Hospital Spreads Holiday Cheer with Tiny Christmas Trees for Patients

🗓️ Upcoming Events? Send us the Details!

🐕‍🦺 Pets: Training Tip of the Day

📅 Upcoming December Events

💡 We Want to Spotlight Your Business!
 

Today is the Last Farmer’s Market of the Year

The final winter Downtown farmers market of 2023 is scheduled for December 23rd. It offers a variety of booths from local vendors and farmers. The event also allows last-minute Christmas shopping and accepts SNAP benefits.

Participants can join the Double Up Food Bucks program, doubling their benefits on fresh produce. The market will reopen on January 20th, 2024, and operate every Saturday until March 30th.

Zoo Knoxville's Winter Care: Keeping Animals Warm and Comfortable

Zoo Knoxville implements special measures during winter to ensure the safety and comfort of its animals. Cold-blooded creatures, such as a 150-year-old tortoise named 'Big Al', are moved indoors due to their lack of thick fur coats.

Animals like red pandas, however, find the cold climate ideal. Each animal at the zoo has access to a heated indoor habitat, allowing them to choose between staying outdoors or moving inside for warmth.

East Tennessee Children's Hospital Spreads Holiday Cheer with Tiny Christmas Trees for Patients

The East Tennessee Children's Hospital initiated a heartwarming holiday program, where hospital staff and volunteers, dressed as elves, delivered approximately 1,500 uniquely themed, tiny Christmas trees to patients.

This annual event aims to bring joy and festive cheer to young patients who are spending the holiday season in the hospital. The trees, adorned with various themes, are given to patients to keep, adding a personal touch to their hospital stay and brightening their spirits during a challenging time.

Hit-and-Run Incident on South Gay Street

A crash occurred on South Gay Street involving a single vehicle, a black Volvo, that hit a brick wall and fence, around 11 p.m. Friday. The driver of the Volvo reportedly left the scene before police arrived, and was not located. Thankfully, there were no reported injuries from the accident.

Former Knox County Librarian Indicted for Theft and Official Misconduct

A former librarian with the Knox County Government was indicted after an investigation found she had received over $100,000 for time not worked. Between 2014 and her resignation in January 2023, she was compensated for periods when she wasn't working, including times she claimed to be working remotely without authorization.

The investigation, which involved reviewing entry and exit records and conducting interviews, revealed discrepancies like receiving a full month's pay for only being physically present at the library for about an hour in July 2022. Satterfield was indicted on charges of theft over $60,000 and official misconduct.

Upcoming Events? Send us the Details!

Do you know of upcoming January events? Or, are you hosting upcoming January events? Send us the details! Let’s get them showcased in the Knoxville Insider! [email protected] 

Pet Training Tip of the Day

Tip: Lead with CONFIDENCE! You do not need to yell or be aggressive to be a good leader - project your voice and be clear with your expectations.

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

Upcoming December Events

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

Multi-Date Events:

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

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

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!