SANTA TRAIN SPONSORS LAUNCH PHOTO CONTEST

KINGSPORT, TN – The sponsors of the Santa Train –CSX, Food City, the Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce and Kids Wish Network – today announced the launch of the 68 Years of Memories Santa Train photo contest.

The contest, which runs from Oct. 28 through Nov. 8, encourages Santa Train fans to submit their favorite Santa Train photo from years past. The winner will be selected one week prior to the Santa Train, and will receive a special guest spot at the Santa Trains final stop at the Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce, the opportunity to toss gifts off the platform to the crowd, and a gift basket.

Photo entries do not need to feature any specific image; they simply need to illustrate the entrants favorite memory of the Santa Train. Specific rules and guidelines can be found by visiting the Santa Train on Facebook at www.facebook.com/santatrain. Photos should be e-mailed to santatrain@mpf.com.

About Santa Train:

Each year, the Santa Train travels from Pikeville, Ky., to Kingsport, Tenn., on the Saturday before Thanksgiving in celebration of the holiday season. The Santa Train will make 14 stops in Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee on Nov. 20, 2010, distributing more than 15 tons and $300,000 worth of toys and gifts to thousands of people. The annual project, co-sponsored by CSX, Food City, the Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce and Kids Wish Network, is one of Appalachias most anticipated holiday traditions. This year marks the trains 68^th trip through the region.

For continuous updates about the Santa Train, please visit the Kingsport Chamber on Facebook, Twitter and www.KingsportChamber.org. Find more on the Facebook fan page, The Santa Train and on Twitter @TheSantaTrain.

The Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit business organization comprised of nearly 1,000 members.  The Kingsport Chambers mission is to utilize resources and focus efforts on enhancing a strong and viable business environment for the Kingsport area. For more information on the Kingsport Chamber, visit www.KingsportChamber.org or call (423) 392-8800. Were social too; follow us on our Facebook page, Your Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce and on our Twitter account, @kptchamber.

What an opportunity! On Sunday, November 14 from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., the second annual Prom and Mom Expo will be held at MeadowView Conference Center in Kingsport, Tennessee. Where else can you find boutiques selling formals, casual clothing, jewelry, accessories, and home dĩcor and holiday gifts all under one roof? The Womens Symphony Committee has created a fantastic event for girls of all ages Рyou wont want to miss it!

The Prom and Mom Expo, a relatively new phenomenon, will highlight unique regional vendors including Annies Room, C.K. Raggs and Company, The Encounter, Glass Slipper, Kathys A Specialty Shop, Littons Uptown, Moon Tuxedo, Sophisticated Starlet, Turning 360, and many more. In addition to fabulous shopping, a silent auction and live performances will take place throughout the event. Fashion shows will begin at 5:00p.m. on the main stage.

Admission is $5.00 at the door and everyone is invited to take advantage of this one-stop shopping. Gift bags will be given to the first 100 in the door. All proceeds will benefit the Symphony of the Mountains and the SOTM Youth Orchestra.  For more information, please contact Julie Brown at 423-361-6420 or jvbrown@chartertn.net.

KINGSPORT — The Kingsport Fire Department has been presented with a Life Safety Achievement Award for the year 2009 by the Residential Fire Safety Institute (RFSI) in partnership with the Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company. The award was announced by Alan Shuman, President of the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM), RFSIs parent organization. For 19 years, the Life Safety Achievement Award has recognized local fire prevention efforts that have contributed to reducing the number of lives lost in residential fires. The Kingsport Fire Department qualified for this award in year 2009 because it recorded zero fire deaths in structures or a reduction by at least 10% during the year. In addition, the department was able to demonstrate the existence of an active and effective fire prevention program and a clear commitment to reducing the number of fires in the homes in their community.

Although residential fires in the U.S. account for only 20 percent of all fires, they result in 80 percent of all fire deaths. The RFSI is committed to reducing that number.

Experience tells us that fire prevention activity and public education can significantly reduce life and property loss from residential fires, the Residential Fire Safety Institute said. Prevention and education are very cost effective compared to the traditional approach of relying solely on fire suppression. The Life Safety Achievement Award recognizes fire departments for their fire prevention efforts and encourages them to continually improve those efforts.

 RFSI is a public interest group whose mission is to reduce residential fire deaths and injuries. RFSI advocates the use of residential fire sprinklers, smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and teaching people firesafe behavior.

RFSI partners include the United States Fire Administration, the National Association of State Fire Marshals and private industry/associations with an interest in and commitment to residential fire safety.

To visit RFSI online, please click here.

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.