Adventure into Acrylic Pouring This October

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Adventure into the fun and unpredictable world of acrylic pouring with instructor Elena Corradino in a class provided by the Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts.

Those taking the class will learn everything there is to know about this exciting style of abstract art. Participants will make ten paintings of various shapes and sizes, and each will be different. During the class participants will learn five different types of pours, including a double flip cup and three ways to make “cells”. The class will discuss color theory and what makes abstract art pop and the instructor will go into detail about the materials, brands she uses and more. Everyone will leave knowing how to continue making acrylic art on their own and will take home some beautiful art.

The class will be held 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 2 at The Inventor Center, 118 Shelby Street. There will be a thirty minute break for lunch so participants can bring their own or eat local. The cost for the class is $85 per person and all materials will be provided.

Register online at www.EngageKingsport.com or call 423-392-8414. Please note, online sales will end 48 hours prior to the class.

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New ‘Resin with Pigments’ Class Offered at Renaissance Center

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Instructor Elena Corradino will be teaching a hands-on class about how to use the exciting and trending art medium of resin.

Students will learn how to use resin safely with Pro Marine Resin. Each student will use molds and also explore the world of pigments to create beautiful pieces, while learning about how resin works and how to use it in a secure environment.

The cost of the class is $80 per person and includes all materials. The class will be held 6 – 8 p.m. on Tuesday, September 21 at Kingsport Renaissance Center, Room #230.

Register online at www.EngageKingsport.com or call 423-392-8414. Please note, online sales will end 48 hours prior to the class.

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Community Invited to Ribbon Cutting, Open House at Kingsport City Hall

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The Kingsport City Hall has opened its doors, and all members of the community are invited to a ribbon cutting and open house to celebrate at 415 Broad St., from 4-5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 28.

“I am so thankful for the great people who worked on consolidating multiple departments and buildings to better serve our community at the Kingsport City Hall,” said Ryan McReynolds, deputy city manager. “Now it’s time to show the community how efficient conducting business in the new building is and celebrate the culmination of months of work to achieve this goal.”

The new Kingsport City Hall is ADA-compliant and has more than 270 nearby parking spots. In addition to 75 parking spots at the new City Hall building, parking also is available on Clay and New streets and at the Kingsport Public Library and 5 Points.

“What makes this move even more exciting is the innovation behind the building,” City Manager Chris McCartt said. “Project partners have consolidated multiple city buildings, the most public-facing departments, into one convenient location, while revitalizing a structure that was destined to remain vacant. The advanced technologies throughout the building, including in the Board of Mayor and Aldermen board room, set a higher standard for the daily operations of city government.”

Ribbon-cutting attendees should assemble outside City Hall at 4 p.m. for brief welcome remarks. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 4:15 p.m. Attendees will enjoy refreshments and tours of the first three floors of the building until 5:30 p.m.

The following departments are now located at Kingsport City Hall:

 

Floor 1

  • Building Division
  • City Clerk
  • City Information Desk
  • Code Enforcement
  • Customer Service/Bill Pay
  • JACK 24-Hour Payment Kiosk (drive-through)
  • Night Deposit Box (drive-through)

Floor 2

  • Budget
  • City Manager
  • Economic Development
  • Planning

Floor 3

  • Board of Mayor and Aldermen Board Room
  • Human Resources
  • Legal/Risk Management
  • Public Information & Communications

Floor 4

  • Finance
  • Purchasing
  • Leisure Services

Floor 5

  • Archives Staff
  • Maps

Floor 6

  • Information Technology (IT)
  • Kingsport Employee Health Clinic
  • Kingsport Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organization (KMTPO)
  • Public Works Administration
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Celebrate the Season at Bays Mountain Park’s Fall Fest

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There’s no better place to experience fall than Bays Mountain Park, and for its 50th Anniversary year, BMP is celebrating the new season with Fall Fest.

“Some may remember the fall festivals that Bays used to host from the late 70’s through the early 90’s,” Park Manager Rob Cole said. “We’re happy to be bringing this event back for our 50th year and hope that families will enjoy it.”

Bring the kids for a fun-filled day that’s free with park admission! Enjoy kids’ activities from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., including pumpkin painting, animal mask crafts, airbrush tattoos and more. When you visit, you’ll receive an activity map at the gatehouse to guide you through your day.

From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on October 9, visit the Bays Mountain Amphitheater for live music. Tap your toes among the trees to sets every hour and a half, including headliner Monroeville at 4 p.m.

Come hungry and enjoy food trucks in the park, or pack a picnic lunch for the family to enjoy at BMP’s picnic tables. No need to bring your dessert, though—head down to the Lily Pad Pavilion at 3 p.m. for a cake walk! You can win baked goods donated by local bakeries.

“This anniversary year has been full of wonderful celebrations that have brought our community together,” said former Kingsport Mayor and BMP 50th Year Celebration Committee Chair Jeanette Blazier. “Fall Fest will round out a great calendar of events and bring people to the park during one of its most beautiful seasons.”

All kids’ activities are while supplies last. The Fall Fest is also a great day to explore the park with Nature Quest! Complete ten items on this scavenger hunt to earn a prize. Learn more about Nature Quest at baysmountain.com/nature-quest.

To learn more about Bays Mountain Park, visit baysmountain.com or call 423-229-9447.

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Kingsport Public Library Hosts ‘Behind the Book’ with Rita Sims Quillen

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Join Kingsport Public Library and the Friends of the Kingsport Public Library for the next installment of the Behind the Book series, featuring Rita Sims Quillen, on September 16 at 7 p.m.

Behind the Book will feature discussions with regional authors and illustrators to find out more about their books. The discussion will be held virtually via Google Meet (link available at www.kingsportlibrary.org).

Rita Sims Quillen is the next author in the series. There will be a discussion of her novel Wayland, the sequel to her earlier novel Hiding Ezra. Hiding Ezra was published in 2014 from Little Creek Books and was a finalist in the 2005 DANA Awards competition. A chapter of the novel is included in the new scholarly study of Appalachian dialect just published by the University of Kentucky Press entitled “Talking Appalachian.” Quillen is also a musician, playing guitar, mandolin, piano, dulcimer, autoharp, bass and bodhran, and she recently began writing songs. She lives and farms on Early Autumn Farm in Scott County, Virginia.

“We want to provide a platform to local authors to connect with the public,” said Kate Woodworth, librarian at Kingsport Public Library. “The authors represent a variety of genres so the community can experience a wide range of literary interests.”

Upcoming Behind the Book discussions will feature David Hrivnak and David Hoover. Visit www.kingsportpubliclibrary.org or contact Kingsport Public Library at 423-224-2539 for more information.

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Registration for Bays Mountain Bike Rally Open Through Sept. 25

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There’s no better place to be as the leaves start to change than Bays Mountain Park. Why not celebrate the turn of the season with a little challenge? On October 2, BMP is hosting the Bays Mountain Bike Rally—and you have less than two weeks to register!

The registration deadline for the Bays Mountain Bike Rally is September 25. See below for more event information.

Previously released:
The challenge: 50 miles for 50 years. Are you ready? Registration for the Bays Mountain Bike Rally is now open! Bays Mountain Park is partnering with All Trails Cycling for this 50th Anniversary event, sponsored by BB&T/Suntrust (now Truist Bank).

On Saturday, October 2, head up the mountain and hit the trails for a mountain biking event for all ages and skill levels. Looking to just have some fun with the family? Register for the guided group fun ride, which begins at 8:30 a.m. and travels four miles route on a non-technical forest road. If you’re up for a challenge, assemble your four-person team for the timed “50ish” mile relay at 10 a.m. The relay course will include a good mix of singletrack with some technical sections for the experienced rider.

Local bike shops and SORBA Tri-Cities will be on site for an expo-type experience, as well as food trucks to grab a bite to eat after the big race. Spectators are welcome!

Registration for either ride is $25 per adult, $15 for ages 13 to 18 and free for children 12 and under. All ride participants will receive an event t-shirt! For the relay race, top finishers will be recognized and every team that finishes will receive a BMP 50th Anniversary souvenir to take home.

The pre-registration deadline for the Bays Mountain Bike Rally is September 25. To sign up to ride, please visit bikereg.com/bays-mountain-bike-rally.

To learn more about Bays Mountain Park, go to baysmountain.com or call 423-229-9447.

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Kingsport Parks and Recreation Offers Inclusion Class

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A program designed to serve individuals with intellectual disabilities through exercise, sports and recreation is available through the Kingsport Parks and Recreation Department.

Classes will take place on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to noon and the program will continue through the duration of the school year. The class is for ages 22 and above and admission for each class is $2. Registration is not required and students can drop in to the weekly class at any time. Packing a lunch is encouraged but not a requirement.

For more information, please visit www.kingsportparksandrecreation.org or contact Renee Ensor at ReneeEnsor@KingsportTN.gov or call 423-229-2489.

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Miracle Field Wins National Project of the Year Award

At the recent Board of Mayor and Alderman meeting, the American Public Works Association (APWA) Board of Directors members presented the national “Project of the Year” award to the City of Kingsport for the Miracle Field project.

The national “Project of the Year” award recognizes a project that emphasizes outstanding planning, construction and management. Kingsport’s success with the Miracle Field Complex is an excellent example of how a public works department can operate as a team to produce high-end results. This is only the second time that the Tennessee Chapter’s project nominee has been selected as a national “Project of the Year” with the other project being the Metro Nashville Flood Recovery Project in 2011.

“In many ways, this project turned out to be such a breath of fresh air,” said Deputy Public Works Director Ryan McReynolds. “I’m very proud of how the design and construction of this field, which serves Kingsport’s citizens differently than a standard baseball field, came together through various city organizations, such as Barge Design Solutions, GRC Construction and Visit Kingsport, along with the support of the community.”

This recognition speaks directly to the merit of the project and the heart of the Kingsport community to provide sporting opportunities for all children within the region. The need for a Miracle Field was championed by Visit Kingsport Executive Director Jud Teague, who remained the driving force behind the project from beginning to end.

The Miracle Field Complex features a rubberized baseball field, along with an adaptive playground, pavilion and concessions. It was built to accommodate special needs children, wounded warriors and others. The support for the project was overwhelming and shows how generous the Kingsport community is. Making baseball accessible to all is a great way to bring people together, from those playing on the field, to the parents and volunteers supporting them. This field was a highly successful project that will benefit the community for years to come.

For more information about the Miracle Field or any other Kingsport parks, please visit https://www.kingsportparksandrecreation.org/.

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Dogs Dive into the Kingsport Aquatic Center at 8th Annual Drool Pawty

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It’s a doggy takeover at the Kingsport Aquatic Center! Registration for the KAC’s 8th Annual Drool Pawty is now open.

On Saturday, October 2 from 1 to 3 p.m., bring your best pals to the pools for some aquatic fun at the Outdoor Water Park. Dogs get to swim, play and make new puppy friends in the toddler play area for a real dog day afternoon.

Admission is $5 per dog and free to owners. Limit two dogs per person, and dogs’ handler must be over 18 and bring leashes with them. Your dogs must be up-to-date on all vaccines, and vaccination records are required to register.

To learn how to register your pups, visit swimkingsport.com and find the “Special Events” page. Call 423-343-9758 if you have any questions.

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Kingsport Public Library Updates StoryWalk in Glen Bruce Park

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The Kingsport Public Library is excited to announce the book in the StoryWalk®* in Glen Bruce Park has been updated for the fall.

Just in time for the fall season, the new StoryWalk® book is The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt. Enjoy figuring out why the crayons quit as you walk around Glen Bruce Park. The StoryWalk® consists of 20 displays placed around the park. Each display contains a page of a picture book along with questions or activities for families to enjoy together. Visit all 20 displays to read the entire story.

At the end of the story there is an opportunity for visitors to share their thoughts and vote for the next book. The library changes the stories quarterly, and new books will be announced on Facebook at facebook.com/kingsportlibrary/.

Visitors are encouraged to share photos via social media and tag the Kingsport Public Library on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Participants also are encouraged to visit the library to check out books to share together in the park or at home.

Glen Bruce Park is located at 414 Broad St., in downtown Kingsport, adjacent to the library. Free parking is available.

For more information, please contact Chris Markley at 423-229-9388 or ChrisMarkley@KingsportTN.gov.

*The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Storywalk® is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson

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