Thursday, October 26, 2006

The KKB Youth Advisory Board for 2006 met for the first time today at the Fulton High library.  Jill Gilbert of KKB did an overview PowerPoint and the group introduced themselves and had a discussion of the issues most interesting to them.  Schools represented this year are: Fulton High, South Doyle, Webb, Austin East, Halls, West and Catholic.  Students can still join.  The group meets at least once a month and students must have written permission from a parent/guardian AND a school official.  Here is a link to the application form.

- posted by KKB Staff at 8:18 PM

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Several KKB board and staff members volunteered to help out with the James White's Fort annual HearthScares event.  Fort staffer Robert McGinnis leads walking tours of Knoxville's downtown haunted buildings and tells scary stories.  It was a lot of fun!

- posted by KKB Staff at 10:15 PM

Friday, October 20, 2006

KKB made a presentation to the Norwood Kiwanis Club at lunch today.  Tom Salter was introduced by County Commissioner Ivan Harmon who is a member of that club.  Also attending from KKB were intern Leah Festa, Jillian Gilbert and Stephanie Gilbert.

- posted by KKB Staff at 3:45 PM

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

The South Knox Beautification Committee, led by Bob Santore, dedicated a new flagpole at the corner of Chapman Highway and Blount Avenue today.  The American and Knox County flags will fly there every day and be the centerpiece of a newly landscaped area on property owned by Baptist Hospital.  Mayor Ragsdale spoke at the event.  Here are some pics from the event:

- posted by KKB Staff at 11:30 AM

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Howard Cobbs of Keep Tennessee Beautiful visited Knoxville today to meet with several Litter Grant administrators from surrounding counties.  Counties that do not have KAB affiliates were targeted to see if KTB could get more counties involved in the Great American Cleanup.  Attending from Knox County were Tom Salter, Stephanie Hood, Jillian Gilbert, Rodney Rockett and John Evans.  The presentation and donuts were good.

- posted by KKB Staff at 1:15 PM

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Tom Salter of KKB made two speeches today.  In the morning he presented to The Fontinalis Club at the Fountain City Baptist Church.  In the afternoon he made a presentation as part of a continuing education series at the O'Connor Senior Center on Winona.  Here is a picture of The Fontinalis Club:



- posted by KKB Staff at 3:45 PM

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

News Sentinel article on the Orchids & Onions event appeared today.

- posted by KKB Staff at 7:15 AM

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

The Orchids & Onions Awards Banquet was held today at 6:30 p.m. at The Foundry.  Three hundred people attended the event - nominees, sponsors and friends of Keep Knoxville Beautiful.



Many thanks to Robin Wilhoit, WBIR TV 10, News Anchor who served as our emcee.  The event co-chairs were KKB board members Gary Drinnen and Sam Maynard,  The invocation was given by Chaplain Gale Lyons of the Knox County Sheriff's Office.  The South Doyle Junior ROTC color guard led the pledge and Deanna Stanley provided entertainment.  Winners received the familiar Beautification Award sign, a limited edition watercolor print by Charles Osten and a live orchid plant. 



Bob Santore (below right) was presented the Mary Lou Horner Hall of Fame Award for his work with the South Knox Beautification Committee and his strong support of Keep Knoxville Beautiful.  Scott Frith (below left) was presented the Community Service Award for his coordination of the Halls Tribute Trees Project. 



Diana Morgan presented the Knoxville News Sentinel Environmental Achievement Award.  The judges for the 2006 Environmental Achievement Awards were Meredith Leahy, Community Program Manager, Knoxville Recycling Coalition, Dirk Pohlmann, with Shaw Environmental and Infrastructure, Inc., Rodney Rockett, Knox County Greenwaste Facility Coordinator and Ted Tyree, KUB Green Power Program Coordinator.  The individual winner was Scott Frith for his work on the Halls Tribute Trees Project.  The organization winner was the EarthFest Organizing Committee for its successful coordination of Knoxville's Earth Day celebration for the last 7 years.  The business winner was Staples, for their sponsorship of seven electronics recycling events over the past 4 years. 



The panel of independent judges that selected the Orchids & Onions Awards this year were Doug Berry of Blue Ridge Development, Christina Benzansos-Pint an architect with The Lewis Group, Mike Carberry, with the Metropolitan Planning Commission, Charles Faulkner, Retired UT Anthropology Professor, David Watson, Exec Dir of the Community Design Center of East Tennessee and Polly Doka, neighborhood activist.  The public and a nominating committee recommend properties to the judge panel for consideration.  The judges make their choices independent of the KKB board, staff and event sponsors. 

The Onion Awards were presented by KKB founding board member Mary Lou Horner as Aunti-Litter.  The Onion Winners are (clockwise from top left) Harmon's Garage on Broadway, Inline Skate Center on Chapman Highway, KenJo Market on Central, old HT Hackney site near 17th Street and 30 Market Square. 





In the event any of these properties are improved, KKB will consider them for The Butterfly Award in a future Orchids & Onions competition. No Butterfly Awards were presented this year. 

The winners of the 2006 Orchid Awards were selected on a geographic basis.  The winners for North Knoxville are Crown College in Powell and J.S. Ridenour Construction headquarters near Emory Road and I-75.:



The winners for South Knoxville are Dara's Garden on Maryville Pike and the South Doyle Junior ROTC Memorial Garden on the South Doyle Campus:



The winners for East Knoxville are the entrance to the Spring Place Neighborhood and the Beck Cultural Exchange Center on Dandridge Avenue:



The winners for West Knoxville are Westwood Antique & Design Market in Homberg and the Young-Williams Animal Center on Division Street just off Sutherland Avenue:



The People's Choice Orchid winner is the FireDog Pizza Deli in Fort Sanders:



Blue Ridge Development sponsored the Orchid Award for West Knoxville.  Knoxville City Council and the Knoxville News Sentinel sponsored the Orchid Awards for downtown and central Knoxville.  Lamar Advertising sponsored the Orchid Award for South Knoxville and Knox County Commission sponsored the Orchid Award for North Knoxville.  The board of directors of Keep Knoxville Beautiful want to express our most sincere thanks to these companies for their strong support of this event and the year-round litter-prevention efforts of our organization.

We also want to extend a big thank you to the following companies, groups and individuals who sponsored tables and half-tables at this event: Byrd Builders, Knox County Mayor’s Office, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Knox County Court Clerk Cathy Quist, Knox County Commissioner Mark Cawood, Knoxville Utilities Board, Lewis Group Architects, Merit Construction, The Tennessee Valley Earth Partnership and The University of Tennessee.

- posted by KKB Staff at 10:15 PM

Thursday, October 5, 2006

We had our regular board meeting today.  The board reviewed the selections by the O&O judges, all the other nominees and selected a People's Choice Award winner.  All choices are top secret.

- posted by KKB Staff at 2:45 PM