KINGSPORT – Recent health screenings show that rates of overweight and obesity in Kingsport City School students have fallen in the previous two years. 

Since the beginning of the 2008-2009 school year, the rate of overweight/obesity among KCS students (students who measure into the 85^th percentile and above) has dropped by 4%.  In 2008-2009, the system average for overweight and obesity was 39.5% of students screened.  In 2010-2011, the system average has dropped to 35.5%. 

The rate of obesity alone (students measuring in the 95^th percentile and above) has dropped by 2.7%.  These statistics exceed the state reduction averages for both categories of overweight and obesity. 

The Department of Coordinated School Health  conducts  screenings each year that include height and weight measurements so that these percentages can be obtained. 

As we all know, these statistics are absolutely attributed to a number of factors including the hard work, support and dedication of students, parents, school nutrition services, school system administration, school level administration and staff, and the tremendous contributions of our many community partners, said Misty Keller, Coordinator of School Health for Kingsport City Schools. 

For more information, contact Misty Keller at (423) 378-2147.

KINGSPORT – The Kingsport/Sullivan County GED Program is now offering student registration in Bountville every Monday at 5:30pm at the Blountville campus.‚  New student registration for the Kingsport/Sullivan County GED Program is primarily conducted at the Regional Center for Applied Technology‚ every Monday at 9:00am and 5:30pm.

To learn more about Kingsport Adult Education click here.

Bays Mountain Parks observing sessions of our night skies and the sun have returned!‚  StarWatch is a free outdoor program allowing the public to enjoy the splendor of the night sky at the parks observatories.‚ 

Hosted by the Bays Mountain Astronomy Club, members operate the parks telescopes, as well as their own, to offer an exciting tour of the night sky.‚  Viewers can gaze at the moons craters and imagine themselves flying over in a spacecraft, and also witness celestial places of star birth and star death.‚ 

Sessions are held each Saturday night in March and April starting at 7:00 p.m. on March 12; 8:00 p.m. on March 19 and 26; and at 8:30 p.m. on April 2, 9, 16 and 23.‚  If the weather does not cooperate, an alternative activity will be held in the Planetarium.‚ 

Solar Viewing is a great way to learn about the sun, our nearest star.‚  Programs are free, after normal park entry, and are held each clear Saturday & Sunday from 3:00 – 3:30 p.m. at the domed observatory.‚  Viewers will get to witness the sun up close and in detail.‚  Those lucky enough to see a sunspot will see a dark patch on the suns photosphere that will probably be at least the size of the earth!‚  Unlike StarWatch programs, in the event of cloudy or inclement weather, there will be no alternative program.

Annually, more than 150,000 visitors pass through Bays Mountain Park making it one of the State of Tennessees Top 50 Most Visited Attractions, according to the State of Tennessee Department of Tourist Development.

One of the nations largest city-owned parks with 3,550 acres, Bays Mountain Park features 38 miles of hiking trails, a state-of-the-art planetarium, wildlife habitats, fun exhibits, a 44-acre lake, trails for mountain biking and much, much more.

On Thursday, March 17 Nashvilles 18 South will bring their soulful southern-roots sound to the Renaissance Center, 1200 East Center Street, Kingsport, TN.‚  Reserved seating tickets are $15 and $13 for students/seniors. 18 South’s music is created by a wide array of influences. The organic and earthy quality of their sound rings with overtones of Blues, Bluegrass, Jazz and Gospel. ‚ It lends itself perfectly to their stripped down acoustic approach that is truly “Americana“. The Band member rƒ©sumƒ©s read like an Encyclopedia of Musical History and once you see them live, you’ll know why they are individually some of the most well respected musicians on the scene today.‚  Performance is March 17 at Renaissance Centers Theatre and will start at 7PM.‚  Tickets are available online (reserved seating) at www.KingsportARTS.org or by calling 423-392-8414.‚  This concert is made possible through a grant with the Tennessee Arts Commissions Touring Arts program.

A word about 18 South:

18 South was born in the dining room of a house on the quiet Nashville Street, 18th Avenue South.‚  The band is the coming together of six musicians whose one common desire is to create a band defined by nothing other than its music.‚  18 Souths music reflects the divergent musicianship and experiences of its individual members.‚  Meet 18 South:

  Texas native Jon Randall Stewart got his start playing bluegrass around the Dallas area.‚  Having moved to Nashville over 20 years ago he has become one of Music Citys top session players, singers and producers.‚  A Grammy and CMA award winner, Jons career has run the gamut of touring the world with Emmylou Harris and Sam Bush, to releasing several major label albums, to writing the smash hit ‚¬Whiskey Lullaby with Grand Ole Opry legend and Country Music Hall of Fame member, Bill Anderson.‚  In 18 South, Jon brings all of his talents to the front: his pure tenor lead and harmony voice, distinctive acoustic guitar and mandolin playing and his songwriting.

  Jessi Alexander was raised in Jackson, Tennessee.‚  The argument could be made that Jackson lies at the crossroads of American Roots music and her style represents the best of Memphis and Nashville.‚  Jessi made the country charts with critically acclaimed Sony/BMG album, Honeysuckle Sweet.‚  Additionally, she has become an in demand studio vocalist and songwriter.‚  Her song ‚¬The Climb, co-written with John Mabe and recorded by Miley Cyrus, had a run of 15 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Pop Chart.‚  Jessi brings to 18 south not only great songs but also delivers them with a voice, as one might imagine, country, bluesy and drenched in southern soul.

  Keyboardist Jimmy Wallace is a road veteran as well as an ace studio player.‚  He is equally at home on Piano and B-3 Organ.‚  Jimmys playing is a definite reflection of his Louisiana roots.‚  Additionally, Jimmy is a soulful vocalist and songwriter.‚  18 South performs several of his compositions including one from a series of songs he is currently writing based on the characters of the Peanuts comic strip and animations.

  Guthrie Trapp came to Nashville from the Gulf Coast.‚  With the ability to play many different acoustic and electric styles, he is at ease in any genre of music.‚  Guthrie is one of the most in demand guitarists in Nashville.‚  From Bluegrass to Blues, Rock, Jazz and Country, Guthries playing covers it all.‚  The last few years have seen Guthrie performing with Patty Loveless on her ‚¬Mountain Soul II tour as well as the challenging dynamics and genre bending sounds of the Jerry Douglas Band.

  Larry Atamanuik is the official groove master of 18 south.‚  Cutting his teeth in the Toronto club scene as a teen, Larry first reached the national spotlight as a member of the seminal rock band Seatrain.‚  A drummer sensitive to the dynamics of acoustic instruments, Larry has been the first-call for many Nashville artists include Emmylou Harris, Sam Bush, Alison Krauss and Union Station and the Alison Brown Quintet.

  Bassist Mike Bub is a 20-year veteran of the music scene in Nashville.‚  In addition to spending 13 years with the Grammy award winning Del McCoury Band, Mike has had the opportunity to work and record with many of bluegrass musics first generation artists.‚  The past few years have seen Mike stretching his boundaries on the upright bass touring with Vince Gill, Peter Rowan, Tony Rice, Tim OBrien, Shawn Camp and Danny Barnes.

Performances are made possible through grants from the Tennessee Arts Commission, SouthARTS and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Book your seats ONLINE or call 423-392-8414 (M-F, 8am-5pm)‚  Tickets will also be available at the door each Thursday night, beginning at 6pm.

 

 

2011 Save the Dates

Engage in the Arts Every Thursday in March!

 

3/17/11 18 South from Nashville, TN

Larry Atamanuik [Drums] and Mike Bub [Doghouse Bass] hold down a

deep and unmovable groove behind Jimmy Wallace’s rich vocals and slamming Orleans Style Piano that in turn gives Guthrie Trapp the opportunity to freely express his fluid and versatile guitar style. With Jon Randall’s mournful tenor vocals and solid guitar playing, the band provides a perfect venue for Jessi Alexander to nail the audience to the wall with her smoky heart wrenching vocals. Renaissance Center Theatre / 7PM / $13 – $15

3/24/11 Tellabration! Tellers Rela Edwards and the Doc McConnell Yarnspinners present an evening of Storytelling, open mic opportunities and membership invitation. Renaissance Center Theatre / 7PM / Free Admission.‚ 

3/31/11 Lightnin Charlie and the Upsetters Band will take the Audience on a Journey Through 80 Years of American Music, beginning with the 1927 6th Street Recording Session in Bristol Renaissance Center / 7PM / $8 – $10

Detailed Information Coming Soon… www.KingsportARTS.org

(all events are subject to change)

About Kingsport Renaissance Center

Kingsport Renaissance Center is one of the citys most prominent landmarks, serving as a center for the arts, senior citizens activities, and as a facility for meetings, weddings, receptions and seminars.

For directions and more information about the Renaissance Center call (423) 392-8416 or visit http://www.kingsportparksandrecreation.org/renaissancecenter/renaissancecenter.htm or www.KingsportARTS.org.