KINGSPORT — Kingsport is hosting the Southern Appalachian Film Festival at several City venues through October 31.

The purpose of SOAPIFF is to publicly recognize, promote, and preserve the work of independent filmmakers and encourage film production and film culture in Southern Appalachia. 

This year’s festival includes a plethora of Appalachian movies spanning multiple genres. For a complete schedule of screenings, please click here.

Audiences includes directors, actors and others from various states and overseas, so you never know who might pop up for a show. Come on out!

Films are being shown at:

Kingsport Public Library

Kingsport Renaissance Center

Meadowview Convention Center

For more information on SOAPIFF, please click here.

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KINGSPORT – Kingsport has garnered a $131,000 grant for ball field lighting at Lynn View Community Center from the Local Parks and Recreation Fund of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.

Formerly Lynn View High School, the city has been hard at work expanding senior citizens services to the facility, while also beginning athletic field improvements as promised when the property was donated to the city by Sullivan County.

Recreational facilities are set aside for the enjoyment of our states citizens and visitors alike, Gov. Phil Bredesen said in making the announcement. These grants will enhance and expand outstanding recreational projects like parks, community centers, ball fields and playgrounds. Im pleased we are in a position to grant these 50 awards and thank the Tennessee General Assembly for helping make this effort possible.

The funds were award through the Local Parks and Recreation Fund grant program, established by the General Assembly in 1991 to provide local governments with funds to purchase land for parks, natural areas, greenways and recreational facilities. The funds also may be used for development of trails and projects in parks, natural areas and greenways. All LPRF grants require a 50 percent match by the recipient.

For a complete list of the 2010 grant recipients, please click here.

Contact:

Helen Whittaker, Library Manager

423-229-9488

HelenWhittaker@KingsportTN.gov

Kingsport, TN — OverDrive, Inc is making a splash in Kingsport on Thursday from noon to 6 p.m. as the Digital Bookmobile National Tour makes one of only two Tennessee stops showcasing free audiobook, eBook and video downloads available from the Kingsport Public Library.

The Digital Bookmobile is a 74-bart long semi-truck equipped with broadband Internet PC computers, high definition monitors, premium sound systems, and a variety of portable media players, all of which help visitors explore The Kingsport Public Librarys digital media collection.

‚ Interactive learning stations give visitors an opportunity to search the librarys digital media collection, discover supported mobile devices, and sample eBooks, audiobooks, music, and video.

Rather than diminishing the importance of public libraries, the digital age has enhanced it, Library Manager Helen Whittaker said Tuesday. Through the Internet, were now at your fingertips anywhere, anytime without ever walking out your door. We provide learning and recreational materials ranging from personal enrichment to fiction to college and job readiness services at no-cost to users, and were keeping pace by delivering services through the latest electronic platforms.

At the Digital Bookmobile event, readers of all ages will learn how to download digital books from the library through interactive demonstrations and high-definition instructional videos. A gadget gallery featuring iPod‚®, Zune‚® and Sony‚® Reader€ž¢ will help visitors discover portable devices that are compatible with the librarys download service.

For a preview, please visit www.digitalbookmobile.com

Kingsport Library card holders can check out and download digital titles by visiting http: www.kingsportlibrary.org‚  and clicking the downloads button.‚  Currently, downloadable titles are shared by all patrons within Tennessee ‚¬ which sometimes creates long wait lists.

However, thanks to a generous donation by the Kingsport Book Club, the Kingsport Public Library will be adding multiple copies of popular titles that will be available for download ONLY to Kingsport Library card holders ‚¬ which should help in eliminating wait lists for Kingsport patrons.‚  These extra volumes should be available by November.

Once downloaded, digital titles can be enjoyed on a personal computer or transferred to supported mobile devices. Many audio titles can also be burned to audio CD. At the end of the 14 day lending period, titles will automatically expire and are returned to the digital collection. No late fees or damaged item fees make the digital medium the easiest of all formats.

Several Cooks Valley neighborhoods subject to water service interruption through October

KINGSPORT — Water service will be periodically interrupted in the Cooks Valley area between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. beginning Wednesday, October 5, 2010 and running through November 1, 2010 due to water line construction in and around Harbor Drive, Ronald Drive, Cedarwood Drive, and Merrywood Drive. Motorists are asked to plan ahead and use extra caution in work zones while work is underway.