Venture to new celestial horizons and explore the Universe’s darkest mysteries at Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium. A full slate of planetarium and astronomy programs will keep any space-lover busy this spring.
“Exploring New Horizons” returns as the planetarium’s alternate feature this March. This in-house production takes an exciting look at the New Horizons spacecraft’s flyby of Pluto. The planetarium operator will follow the show with an update on New Horizons’ recent flyby of Ultima Thule, the farthest Solar System object to be explored. Perfect for the whole family, this show focuses on planetary exploration and discovery and how it affects our understanding of the Solar System. The show is followed by a live tour of the current night sky.
The main feature through May, “The Dark Matter Mystery,” explores questions that researchers all over the world are trying to answer. What keeps galaxies together? What are the building blocks of the Universe, and what makes it look the way it does today? Approximately a quarter of the Universe is filled with a mysterious glue—dark matter. Scientists know it’s out there, but what it’s made out of is one of the biggest questions in contemporary astrophysics. In this planetarium show, join scientists on their hunt for dark matter with experiments in space and deep underground. Will they be able to solve “The Dark Matter Mystery?”
Beginning on March 2, “Exploring New Horizons” will play Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. “The Dark Matter Mystery” plays Tuesday through Friday at 4 p.m. and weekends at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Catch these fascinating show before their run ends on April 28. Both shows last approximately 35 minutes.
For those that prefer a more hands-on experience, Bays Mountain Park’s free outdoor observing sessions return this spring. “SunWatch” and “StarWatch” are great opportunities to learn about stars both near to and far from our planet.
Witness the Sun in close detail at “SunWatch” every clear Saturday and Sunday from 3 to 3:30 p.m. at the dam. A member of the planetarium staff or the Bays Mountain Astronomy club will help guests look safely through a telescope at the Sun. Keep an eye out for dark patches—those may be Sunspots larger than the Earth!
On Saturday evenings in March and April, the Bays Mountain Astronomy Club hosts “StarWatch.” This free program gives guests the chance to observe the night sky in all its splendor from the top of the mountain. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, an alternate activity will be held in the planetarium theater. “StarWatch” dates for this spring are March 2 & 9 at 7 p.m.; March 16, 23 & 30 at 8 p.m.; and every Saturday in April at 8:30 p.m.
All observing sessions are free, though Park entrance fees apply. Planetarium tickets are $5 per person. Children ages five and younger receive free admission with a paying adult, and Park Association members also receive free admission. For more information on Bays Mountain’s planetarium shows or group ticket costs, please visit baysmountain.com or call (423) 229-9447.
Sullivan Street Storm Regrading
NoticesThe City of Kingsport will begin work on West Sullivan Street between Hammond Avenue and the entrance to Family Dollar on March 18 at 7 a.m. The project is expected take 60 days to complete. Glass Machinery and Excavation, Inc. will be the contractor performing the work for the city.
A section of West Sullivan Street, between the intersection with Hammond Avenue and the entrance for Family Dollar, will have a temporary traffic pattern change during the construction process until the completion of the project. Traffic traveling east from the Clinchfield Street intersection will be diverted into the center turn lane toward Church Circle with construction zone traffic control devices and signs. Drivers are asked to use caution in the area during this time. Work will take place adjacent to the Town Park Lofts development.
Thank you for your cooperation during this improvement process. If you have any questions, please contact Pamela Gilmer with the City of Kingsport Engineering Division at 423-229-9475.
Kingsport Selected for U.S. Navy Band Tour
City NewsAmerica’s Navy is coming to Kingsport, Tennessee, one of 25 cities in ten states to host a performance by the United States Navy Band during its 2019 tour — one of the signature outreach programs of the U.S. Navy.
The U.S. Navy Concert Band performance is scheduled for March 18, 2019, at 7 p.m. at the Eastman Employee Center’s Toy F. Reid Auditorium.
The Navy Concert Band, the premier wind ensemble of the U.S. Navy, presents a wide array of marches, patriotic selections, orchestral transcriptions and modern wind ensemble repertoire. As the original ensemble of the Navy Band, the Concert Band has been performing public concerts and participating in high-profile events for more than 90 years.
One of the U.S. Navy Band’s primary responsibilities involves touring the country. All of the band’s primary performing units embark each year on concert tours throughout specified regions of the country, allowing the band to reach out to audiences in areas of the country that do not have opportunities to see the Navy’s premier musical ensembles on a regular basis. The concerts are family-friendly events, meant to be entertaining to veterans, families, individuals and those interested in joining the Navy.
All Navy Band performances are free and open to the public though all attendees must have a ticket. Free tickets are available at the Eastman Employee Center and the Dobyns-Bennett Band Building.
Free KATS rides ahead of St. Patrick’s Day
City NewsKingsport Area Transit Service will offer free rides on the bus routes all day long Friday, March 15 if you are wearing something green or are carrying a green KATS bag. Celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day a few days early with a free ride on a city bus!
Make sure you take advantage of this deal, and tell your friends and family members. If you have never ridden public transportation, this is the perfect opportunity to try KATS at no cost to you. You can learn more about KATS at www.kingsporttransit.org.
Temporary Bridge Closure on Fort Henry Drive
NoticesThe bridges over the South Fork Holston River on Fort Henry Drive will temporarily close on Wednesday, March 13 for an inspection by the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
The concrete arch bridge, which is the older bridge on the left as drivers come from Colonial Heights, will close at 9 a.m. During this time, two-lane traffic will pass over the steel bridge. Inspection on the concrete bring will take approximately three hours. Once completed, the concrete bridge will reopen to traffic. TDOT will inspect the steel bridge next, and it will be limited to one lane of traffic.
The city advises all residents to drive with added caution along Fort Henry Drive during this time. Find alternate routes if possible to prevent and avoid heavy traffic.
Once TDOT completes inspection on the Fort Henry Drive bridges, they will inspect the bridges on John B. Dennis Highway near Eastman and on Wilcox Drive near the wastewater treatment plant. There will be no road closures for these inspections.
To learn more about TDOT, please visit https://www.tn.gov/tdot.html.
Storm Water Improvements on Windridge Drive
NoticesThe City of Kingsport will begin storm water improvements on Windridge Drive on Monday, March 11. Crews expect to complete the improvements by Friday, March 15. McFall Excavating will be the contractor performing this work for the city.
The construction zones will be marked by signs, and flaggers will direct traffic while the work continues. Drivers are asked to use caution in the area during this time. If you have any questions, please contact Hank Clabaugh with the City of Kingsport Engineering Division at 423-229-9324 or hankclabaugh@kingsporttn.gov. Thank you for your cooperation during this storm water system improvement process.
Bays Mountain Day Camp Registration Opens
City NewsBays Mountain’s Summer Day Camp is the perfect combination of adventure and education! Registration is now open, and with tuition only $60 per child, it’s a win for you and your kids.
Each week of Day Camp is filled with outdoor, nature-oriented activities and adventures. Day camp hours are Monday thru Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Campers should bring a bag lunch with a drink. Parents or grandparents should plan to stay on the first morning for a short orientation of the week’s activities and expectations.
Sessions are limited to 30 campers per week. Session dates are as follows:
Session dates for students entering 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades in Fall 2018:
Session dates for students entering 4th, 5th, and 6th grades in Fall 2018:
A current Family Membership is required to register your child or grandchild for Day Camp. Family Memberships are $35 and allow you and your family free entry into the Park for one vehicle and up to six free passes per program (planetarium show, barge ride and nature program) every time you visit the Park.
To register your child for Day Camp, please pick up an application in the Nature Center or download the application from baysmountain.com. Payments should be made with the submission of applications. Please make check(s) payable to “Bays Mountain Park Association.” Refunds will be given up to two weeks before the session. After that, refunds will be given only if the slot can be filled.
For more information on Bays Mountain Park, please visit baysmountain.com or call 423-229-9447.
Water Outage Notification: Red Oak Plantation Drive
NoticesCity crews will be making waterline repairs along Red Oak Plantation Drive on Tuesday, March 5 between 8 a.m. and noon. During this time, customers in the following area will experience a temporary disruption in their water service: between 628 and 644 Red Oak Plantation Drive.
During times of water service disruption, the city recommends that customers make any necessary precautions to protect their water system (such as turning off their water heater). If you have any questions, please call (423)229-9454.
Explore the Stars at Bays Mountain Park
City NewsVenture to new celestial horizons and explore the Universe’s darkest mysteries at Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium. A full slate of planetarium and astronomy programs will keep any space-lover busy this spring.
“Exploring New Horizons” returns as the planetarium’s alternate feature this March. This in-house production takes an exciting look at the New Horizons spacecraft’s flyby of Pluto. The planetarium operator will follow the show with an update on New Horizons’ recent flyby of Ultima Thule, the farthest Solar System object to be explored. Perfect for the whole family, this show focuses on planetary exploration and discovery and how it affects our understanding of the Solar System. The show is followed by a live tour of the current night sky.
The main feature through May, “The Dark Matter Mystery,” explores questions that researchers all over the world are trying to answer. What keeps galaxies together? What are the building blocks of the Universe, and what makes it look the way it does today? Approximately a quarter of the Universe is filled with a mysterious glue—dark matter. Scientists know it’s out there, but what it’s made out of is one of the biggest questions in contemporary astrophysics. In this planetarium show, join scientists on their hunt for dark matter with experiments in space and deep underground. Will they be able to solve “The Dark Matter Mystery?”
Beginning on March 2, “Exploring New Horizons” will play Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. “The Dark Matter Mystery” plays Tuesday through Friday at 4 p.m. and weekends at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Catch these fascinating show before their run ends on April 28. Both shows last approximately 35 minutes.
For those that prefer a more hands-on experience, Bays Mountain Park’s free outdoor observing sessions return this spring. “SunWatch” and “StarWatch” are great opportunities to learn about stars both near to and far from our planet.
Witness the Sun in close detail at “SunWatch” every clear Saturday and Sunday from 3 to 3:30 p.m. at the dam. A member of the planetarium staff or the Bays Mountain Astronomy club will help guests look safely through a telescope at the Sun. Keep an eye out for dark patches—those may be Sunspots larger than the Earth!
On Saturday evenings in March and April, the Bays Mountain Astronomy Club hosts “StarWatch.” This free program gives guests the chance to observe the night sky in all its splendor from the top of the mountain. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, an alternate activity will be held in the planetarium theater. “StarWatch” dates for this spring are March 2 & 9 at 7 p.m.; March 16, 23 & 30 at 8 p.m.; and every Saturday in April at 8:30 p.m.
All observing sessions are free, though Park entrance fees apply. Planetarium tickets are $5 per person. Children ages five and younger receive free admission with a paying adult, and Park Association members also receive free admission. For more information on Bays Mountain’s planetarium shows or group ticket costs, please visit baysmountain.com or call (423) 229-9447.
Beginning Mountain Biking at Bays Mountain Park
City NewsMountain biking is a great way to exercise while connecting with nature—but hurtling down a mountain on a bike might seem intimidating if someone has never done it before. This March, Bays Mountain Park is offering the Beginning Mountain Biking Series to teach participants the tips and tricks every beginner needs to know.
This three-session series will give each participant the opportunity to learn from experienced riders, ask questions, and develop their skills. The first two sessions will start in the Discovery Theater before moving outside to learn a skill. On March 17, learn about the equipment needed for mountain biking, bike language and trail types and etiquette. The March 24 session covers additional equipment and equipment maintenance, what to wear and what to pack.
The last session on March 31 teaches about where to ride and how to build a trail. Participants will end with a six-mile group ride along Chestnut, Big Oak and Chinquapin Trails, with experienced riders sharing trail and maneuver tricks to keep everyone moving safely.
Beginning Mountain biking is provided in part by Reedy Creek Bicycles LLC and Achieving Balance Mountain Bike Skills Instruction. By the end of this series, participants will be able to navigate Bays Mountain Park’s 32 miles of biking trails with ease and confidence.
All sessions run 3 to 5 p.m. and are free to Park members (must show membership card at the gift shop) and $3 per session for non-members. Preregistration for the Beginning Mountain Biking Series is available at Eventbrite.com. There are 56 spots per session, and 28 are open for preregistration. Everyone must check in at the Nature Center gift shop for each session, regardless of preregistration.
For more information on Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium, please visit baysmountain.com or call (423)229-9447.
Call for Projects – FY2020-2023 Transportation Improvement Program
KMTPO, KMTPO Notices & AnnouncementsThe Kingsport Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organization (MTPO) is in the process of developing a new Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for fiscal years 2020-2023. The TIP is a four-year financially constrained priority list of projects within the MTPO planning area funded with federal, state, and local dollars. This is the opportunity to submit potential projects to be funded with Federal Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) funds. Most projects require a 20 percent local match and shall be sponsored by a governmental entity that can demonstrate a financial commitment to the project. Completed applications must be received by the MTPO no later than April 5, 2019. To be eligible for funding, projects must be included in the 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan. Chapter 7 of the plan includes project recommendations and can be found on the MTPO’s website by following this link: https://www.kingsporttn.gov/city-services/kmtpo/plans-and-documents/long-range-plan/.
Click here for the TIP Project Application