Bays Mountain Park is partnering with a local yoga instructor to offer residents an immersive yoga program inside the park’s planetarium theater.

The 60 minute event will take place from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. on March 5 inside the planetarium theater at Bays Mountain Park. The cost is $12 per person and class size is limited to 10 people. Participants of all levels are welcome to attend. Wear exercise clothing and bring your own mat and water with a sealable lid.

The planetarium will simulate a day’s journey – from dawn to dusk – while participants do Sun Salutations, Warrior series, and balance poses. Concentric, eccentric and isometric contractions will be featured so participants can work to optimize both their strength and balance.

Finally, the class concludes with a twilight to starry night sky for the restorative portion of the yoga class.

To register, visit https://bit.ly/3voVWSx. You can also register by clicking on the CivicRec link in the Connect Kingsport app or go to www.kingsporttn.gov and click on “CivicRec,” then search for “yoga” in the search bar.

For information about other events, activities and programs offered by Bays Mountain Park, visit www.baysmountain.com.

According to a new regulation approved by the Environmental Protection Agency, all drinking water utilities in the United States must identify and establish a replacement plan for all lead service lines within their systems by Oct. 16, 2024.

Lead service lines were identified as a potential public health hazard in the early 1990s and this new law’s goal is to help reduce the risk of lead contamination in the public’s drinking water.

To meet this deadline, the City of Kingsport is asking for the public’s help in identifying their service line material from the meter to their home. Kingsport owns the water lines up to the meter; from the meter to the home the lines are owned by the property owner.

“It would be a tremendous amount of labor and cost for the city to have to go and dig two or three holes on every single service line,” said Harris Darby, civil engineer for the city of Kingsport. “With 30,000 lines to inventory, we’re asking property owners for help.”

Kingsport is asking residents to report the type of pipes in their homes by going to the city’s website, www.kingsporttn.gov and clicking on the Lead Line Survey link on the main page. You can also find the survey on the home page of the ConnectKingsport app.

The survey is only three questions and will take just a few minutes to complete. You will need to have your utility/water billing account number in order to complete the survey.

Drinking water utilities must have an inventory of all lead lines within their system by the deadline. From there, replacement plans and funding mechanisms will need to be established, showing the EPA these lead lines will be replaced.

Identifying lead pipes in a home is a simple task for homeowners.  A service line typically enters the house either in the basement or in a crawl space. If your lines are metal, you can determine if they are lead by following these steps:

1. Use a screwdriver or other small tool to scratch the pipe. A lead pipe will be silver and shiny.
2. Place a magnet on the line. A magnet will not stick to a lead line.
3. Tap the pipe with a coin. A lead line will make a dull sound.

If Kingsport does not verify a service line’s material by the deadline, the city will be required to send a mailer out to customers on an annual basis saying you may or may not have a lead line serving your house. There is no penalty or fine associated with this notice.

Remember – homes built after 1986 should not have lead pipes as lead pipes were banned from usage that year. Kingsport has approximately 855 miles of water pipes within its system and nearly 40,000 water meters. About 1/3 of those meters are for homes built after 1986.

If you need help or have any questions about the survey, please call 423-343-9800 or email wsengineers@kingsporttn.gov.

Adventure into the fun and unpredictable world of acrylic pouring with Elena Corradino, a local artist who will teach you everything there is to know about this exciting style of abstract art.

The Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts is offering a one-day class in acrylic pouring on March 9 in Room 228 of the Kingsport Renaissance Center (1200 E. Center Street). The class runs from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with a 30 minute break for lunch (bring your own or eat local).

The cost is $85, and the class is for participants ages 13 and up. No pets, please. All materials you need will be provided.

During the four-hour class, you’ll make 10 paintings of various shapes and sizes, and each will be different. You will also learn five different types of pours, including a double flip cup, and three ways to make “cells.”

Participants will discuss color theory and what makes abstract art pop, and Elena will go into detail about the materials and brands she uses when making art. When you leave, you’ll have the knowledge of how to make your own beautiful acrylic art.

To register, visit https://bit.ly/3wofp6h. Online sales will end 48 hours prior to the class. For information about other classes, programs and activities of the Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts, visit www.artskingsport.org.