In this Knoxville Insider Issue…

🌤️ Weather | Heavy Thunderstorms with a High of 75

📰 Great news for Knoxville Nature Fans

📰 Help Shape the Future of Knoxville Parks

📰 Haley “Scout” Moore’s Unbreakable Spirit

🗓️ Tea & Cheese - A Perfect Pairing

🗓️ Incredible Towns Business Networking Meetings

🗓️ Upcoming Events

📣 We Want to Spotlight Your Business! Apply Here

✅ Advertising Opportunities
 

Great news for Knoxville Nature Fans!

Ijam's Nature Center has been awarded a $50,000 state appropriation to help renovate Serendipity Trail, making it more accessible for individuals with mobility challenges.

Thanks to the efforts of Representative Elaine Davis, Senator Richard Briggs, and the full Knoxville legislature, this funding will help ensure that everyone - regardless of ability - can enjoy the beauty of Ijams’ historic Homesite area. The trail will soon feature improved surfaces, gentler slopes, interpretive signs, seating, and rest areas, all designed to welcome visitors using wheelchairs, walkers, or strollers.

Construction on the upgraded Serendipity Trail is scheduled to begin this winter.

Help Shape the Future of Knoxville Parks

The City of Knoxville has officially launched the public engagement phase of Play Knoxville, a new Parks & Recreation Master Plan that will guide how our parks, greenways, community centers, and programs grow over the next 10 years—and your voice is needed!

City staff and planning consultants have already toured nearly 70 parks and hosted focus groups with leaders across Knoxville. Now, it’s time for the community to weigh in.

You can get involved by:

• Attending community meetings and public events

• Sharing feedback via social media and direct outreach

• Using an interactive map to suggest ideas for specific locations

• Taking a comprehensive online survey (15–20 minutes)

Visit www.PlayKnoxvilleTN.com to explore the interactive tools and complete the survey. Your input will help shape a more inclusive, active, and connected Knoxville for years to come!

Haley “Scout” Moore’s Unbreakable Spirit: How One Knoxville Woman Turns Cancer Into a Catalyst for Strength

As May’s Women’s Health Month comes to a close, the message remains: caring for our health is a year-round commitment. On this first day of June, we’re honored to share the powerful story of Haley “Scout” Moore - a local woman whose strength, resilience, and unwavering dedication to fitness is inspiring Knoxville and beyond.

Haley’s journey took an unexpected turn last fall when, just one day after starting her new role as a personal trainer at Gold’s Gym – Chapman Highway, she was diagnosed with Stage 2 HER2-positive breast cancer.

She had no symptoms, no family history, and no risk factors—just an instinct that something wasn’t right. Haley was in the middle of training for a bodybuilding competition when she noticed an unusual soreness. That self-awareness led her to seek answers, and likely saved her life.

Since that day, Haley has approached her diagnosis the same way she approaches the gym: with grit and purpose. While undergoing chemotherapy and now radiation treatments at Parkwest Medical Center, she’s remained a regular at Gold’s Gym, showing up with tenacity even on her hardest days.

“The gym became my therapy,” she says. “It was the one thing I could still control.”

Haley’s story is more than just a personal triumph—it’s a call to action. She’s been sharing her journey on social media to support and encourage other women facing similar battles, reminding us all to listen to our bodies, speak up, and prioritize our health.

You can follow Haley’s journey on Instagram at @buffhippielady. Her fight continues, with treatment expected to wrap up this October—and her goal remains to return to her passion: helping others reach their fitness goals as a personal trainer.

Let Haley’s story be a reminder that strength comes in many forms—and that your health is worth fighting for every single day.

Discover all upcoming events on our Community Events page

Upcoming Events:

Mark your calendars for an unforgettable evening of art, music, and togetherness at Beardsley Farm’s annual First Friday Garden Art Gala, happening Friday, June 6 from 5–7 PM. This free community event brings people of all ages together to celebrate creativity in the heart of nature. More Info

Join the conversation on Saturday, June 7 from 3–5 PM at the Knoxville Bahá’í Center (1323 Hannah Ave) for a thoughtful and welcoming discussion on the spiritual significance of dreams. More Info

Get ready for a full day of good reads, great beers, and even better vibes at Printshop Beer Co on June 7th from 12 PM to 9 PM! More Info

Cruise in to celebrate the longest day fundraiser by the Alzheimer’s Association on Saturday, June 7th from 1pm-3pm at American House West Knoxville, 8024 Gleason Drive.

Marble City Opera invites audiences to experience the passion and tragedy of one of opera’s most iconic works—Ruggero Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci—as the company closes its 2024-25 mainstage season with two powerful performances on Thursday, June 5, and Saturday, June 7, 2025, at the A.K. Bissell Park Bandshell Pavilion in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Tickets are available now at MarbleCityOpera.com.

Networking:

See Recurring Weekly & Monthly Networking Events

Veterans:

Free Veteran’s Breakfast: The United Veterans Council of East Tennessee presents 14 free breakfasts for Veterans and guests on four Saturdays, monthly, Coffee line starts at 8am, Chow line starts at 8:30am. Locations and Dates

Tea & Cheese - A Perfect Pairing

This Wednesday, June 4th, from 6pm-8pm, get ready to take your taste buds on a unique adventure? Join The Kraken’s Cup and Euphoric Cheese Shop for an unforgettable evening of expertly paired specialty teas and artisanal cheeses—a culinary combo you didn’t know you needed!

📍 The Kraken’s Cup, 4815 N Broadway, Suite 107
🗓️ Thursday, June 6
🕡 6:00 PM
🎟️ Reserve your spot here

Your ticket includes:

• A curated flight of premium teas

• A delicious spread of artisanal cheeses and snacks

• Tasting worksheets to guide you through the pairings

Whether you're a tea enthusiast, a cheese lover, or just looking for a fun night out, this workshop is a flavorful way to support two fantastic local businesses. Bring a friend and come hungry for something new!

Incredible Towns Business Networking Meetings

Incredible Towns business networking meetings are the place to be to get to know fellow Knoxville professionals! Their networking meeting locations are growing and times are updating! 😄 Here are the ones happening this week!

Breakfast Clubs:

Corryton, 1st Thursdays, 8am at Wrenhouse Bakery, 7404 Tazewell Pike;

Lunches:

Caryville, 1st Mondays, noon at Shoneys; Knoxville South, 1st Tuesdays, noon at Gondolier, 7644 Mountain Grove Dr; Oak Ridge, 1st Wednesdays, noon at New China Palace, 123 Central Ave; Maryville/Alcoa, noon at Picked Pig Kitchen at Two Doors Down, 118 E Broadway Ave;

Become a Knoxville Insider Sponsor

Are you a brand new or established business looking to become known in our Knoxville Insider community? We are looking for locally-owned business that would like to become a Knoxville Insider sponsor! Sponsorships can include:

• Hero or section banners

• Logo

• Video

• Print

• Spotlight Directory

• and more…

Reach out to us at [email protected].

We Want To Spotlight Local Businesses!

Would you like us to spotlight your local business in front of thousands of Knoxville area residents in an upcoming issue of Knoxville Insider? Apply Here. Not a business owner, but love a local business? Tell us all about it - send us an email at [email protected]!