February 23, 2015 www.knoxfocus.com 2012 HONDA ACCORDPAGE A1 $ From 13,890 Several to Choose From * Auto * All Pwr * Cruise * CD RUSTY WALLACE HONDA 8886971272 I75CALLAHAN, N.KNOX www.rustywallacehonda.com FREETake One! February 23, 2015 Lake Forest enjoys snow days By Mike Steely [email protected] “One of the things I love about Lake Forest Neigh- borhood is impromp- tu snow day sledding,” says Molly Gilbert, pres- ident of the neighbor- hood association. “I’ve been neighborhood chair for five plus years and I’ve never had to ‘orga- nize’ a snow day,” she con- tinued, adding, “We always know how many kids we have in a neighborhood on a snow day. Everyone bun- dles up after a leisurely breakfast and somewhere around 10 a.m. residents start to hear squeals of laughter as kids make snow angels , sled down the abandoned icy roads and build snowmen.” Businesses, Government, “There are plenty of ARCTIC hills in our neighborhood but the premier place to Schools affected by sled is behind Lake Forest Presbyterian Church. There’s a nice tall hill BLAST winter weather and a wide grassy field By Mike Steely below. Moms and dads [email protected] creating black ice and slip- can’t resist swooshing pery travel. down and trudging back By far the biggest The National Weather up again,” Gilbert says. news story last week was Service announced that “One year someone the freezing weather. It more ice and snow were even pulled their fire pit touched everyone and expected Thursday and out to the end of a cen- was harsher on some than Friday with highs only tral driveway and we roast- others. It was a week that reaching into the teens ed hot dogs and marsh- will be remembered for a and the lows near zero. mallows in the middle of long time. About 20,000 homes in the sledding,” she said. Last Monday and Knox County lost power “We always say that Monday evening was a and crews worked all day the saddest part of the nightmare of freezing rain Tuesday and Wednes- snow day is seeing the and sleet here in Knoxville day restoring power. The salt truck, but really our and everyone awoke Tues- repairs continued through fingers and toes are cold day morning to 12 degrees Thursday and Friday. and we are glad to go back and the aftermath of the While Knox County inside for a cozy cup of storm. Schools were closed for hot chocolate,” she said. The governors in Ten- Presidents Day on Monday, The Lake Forest neigh- nessee and Kentucky it became obvious by early borhood is located on the declared a state of emer- that afternoon that the ice Top Photo: The children of Lake Forest enjoy the snowy weather. Photo by Molly Dogwood Trail and fea- gency. The ice storm was was coming and county Gilbert. Above: Ice and snow kept Knox County at a crawl last week. What began as tures some of the most followed by snow and then schools were called off an ice storm was followed by refreezing and more snow. Many homes were without beautiful spring foli- capped with more ice, for Tuesday. With tem- power as trees fell from the weight of the ice and driving anywhere was dangerous. By age. Many of the homes bringing down tree limbs peratures not expect- midweek the temperature dropped at night to Zero. Photo by Dan Andrews. there have great views of and some power lines. ed to rise above freez- the Smoky Mountains. Tuesday morning the elec- ing the rest of the week Most of the homes were tric repair trucks were out the possibility of opening city council members in she said, “were the two office was searching for a built in the 1940s and in the area restoring power schools was, on Tuesday, order to get a quorum for payroll clerks who slept time to hold the meeting 50s and are ranch-style where they could reach in doubt. By 4 p.m. that the regular meeting Tues- here to make sure that when the members were dwellings, many with front problems on ice-covered day, the school system day evening but all of the everyone got paid.” available. porches, original hard- streets and roads. announced schools would council showed up for the The Knox County Com- The city’s 311 telephone wood floors and arched The Great Smoky Moun- also be closed Wednesday session. mission called off its number was busy Monday doorways. The Gary Under- tain National Park closed as well. At the Tuesday night Tuesday work session and Tuesday with some wood Park and Greenway not only the road across By Wednesday after- meeting Mayor Madeline and announced it would 820 calls, about 100 more are near the neighborhood the mountain but the visi- noon Superintendent Rogero recognized the reschedule before its than usual, many about and offer sports fields and tor center and the park. James McIntyre tweeted efforts of the Public Works Monday, February 23 reg- downed trees and power picnic areas with shelters. Shelters were opened that due to the weather Department in spreading ular meeting. However the lines. Spring is also a great across the region by the the Knox County Schools 1,430 tons of rock salt and weather continued and it The Arts and Cultur- time for Lake Forest res- Red Cross including at would remain closed for more than 33,000 gallons appears the commission al Alliance cancelled the idents to visit the Wil- least two in Knox County. the rest of the week. of brine on city streets. will meet in regular ses- Wednesday Arts Profes- liam Hastie Natural Area Some neighborhoods At least three members She said the city crews sion today without the sional Development Semi- and stroll the Urban Wil- in town were without of the Knoxville city coun- responded to 85 tree falls prep meeting. nar and many other orga- derness Loop. Wildflow- power and a sunny Tues- cil office stayed overnight and tree limbs falling on On Tuesday Knox County nizations cancelled meet- ers are in bloom in March day did little but thaw the at the City-County build- streets and noted that Mayor Tim Burchett can- ings. The busiest people and April and new bridges top layers of the ice and ing, sleeping where they KAT kept buses running celled the called meet- in our community were the have been added in some snow. By Tuesday night could. The city was con- on the limited schedule ing of the E911 commit- salt truck operators and areas along the walk- much of the melted ice sidering sending the street and routes. tee, scheduled for 8 a.m. street plow operators. ing and biking trail. on the roadways refroze, department out to collect “The unsung heroes,” Wednesday. The mayor’s Continue on page 2 PAGE A2 The Knoxville Focus February 23, 2015 Focus on the Law Food Policy Council I was at a com- the issues of food improvement of food supply like many other communi- for everything from how community. See its web- munity meet- security, access and distribution network ties, Knoxville and Knox to find out if you could site at http://abbey-fields. ing in Karns last and equity. The in Knoxville.” www.cityof- County are investigating use land owned by Knox com. Mr. Blackmon may month and heard Knoxville and knoxville.org/boards/food. the possibilities of reus- County for a community be reached at (865)215- a great presenta- Knox County asp. The council’s next ing blighted properties for garden (contact the Office 2065 or bblackmon@cit- tion by Liz Albert- Mayors appoint public meeting is on March urban agriculture. These of Community Outreach at yofknoxville.org. I hope son with the Met- members to the 11, 2015 at 11:30 a.m. at properties may be private- (865)215-HELP) to where this inspires some of you ropolitan Plan- 11 person food the Knox County Health ly held lots or larger pub- to obtain free soil testing to find out more about food By Sharon ning Commis- Frankenberg, policy council. In Department, 140 Damer- licly held land. The food for your community garden access and urban agricul- sion. She distrib- Attorney at Law addition there are on Avenue, Knoxville, TN policy council coordinates (email Bob Read at bob. ture in our community. uted some infor- numerous asso- 37917 in the Second Floor information and resourc- [email protected].). Sharon Frankenberg is mation-packed background ciate members who repre- Conference Room. es for government officials According to Brian Black- an experienced attorney materials on the Northwest sent multiple departments Interest in food systems as well as members of the mon, an associate member licensed in Tennessee Sector Plan which included of government, community planning, including food public on these issues. of the council and Project since 1988. She is a sole a brief discussion of Urban members and facets of the access and urban agri- The website www.knox- Manager of Knoxville’s practitioner who handles Agriculture. The topic food industry. According to culture, has been growing food.org contains several Office of Sustainability, foreclosures, evictions, pro- really sparked my interest. its website, the “Knoxville- in recent years. The US online resources including there are currently at least bate, collections and gen- Apparently Knox County is Knox County Food Policy Department of Agriculture an impressive publication 30 community gardens in eral civil matters. She rep- home to the first food policy Council monitors and eval- has designated areas as called the Knoxville-Knox partnership with KCDC and resents Social Security dis- council in the world.