August 5th Update

Knoxville Area Transit (KAT) Trolley Update

As a reminder, the trolley routes will be changing on Monday, August 15, 2011. The new Vol Line will travel from downtown to 17th Street. Effective with this change, there will be no trolley service on Cumberland west of 17th Street. However, trolley service will begin operation on Saturdays, as well as on Friday and Saturday evenings until 10:00 p.m. For information on the new routes, visit KAT's website here.

CAMA Update

The regular monthly meeting for the Cumberland Avenue Merchants Association was held at Goal Post Tavern at 3:00 pm on Wendesday August 3. There was a bit of confusion about the start time of the meeting and it was discussed that future meetings would start at 3:00 pm on the first Wednesday of the month.

The merchants welcomed a new KPD liaison, Officer Frank Ramsey, who is a 20 year plus veteran of the police force. Officer Ramsey provided an update on the district over the last month and mentioned that KPD is starting a new online service with www.raidsonline.com which will allow public access to crime maps for the city. A request was made for KPD to increase patrol on metered parking during the day as a new school year is about to start and it would be a helpful reminder to students and visitors using the district's on street parking.

Corporal Cedric Roach with UTPD was provided an update to the merchants on UTPD's efforts to encourage students to "See Something. Say Something." This campaign will kick off with an outreach to students in the Fort Sanders Neighborhood on Tuesday, August 9th. Volunteers and UTPD staff will provide resource information to students in the form of a handbill and magnet, as well as online resources. The event starts at 10 am and is scheduled to last 2-3 hours. If interested in volunteering for this event, please contact Lt. Emily Simerly 865.974.0163.

City staff provided an update on the Cumberland Avenue Corridor project. A draft of the form code has just been received from Code Studio and will be the subject of a public meeting after staff review. The streetscape project continues to progress through the TDOT right of way process, and as the details of this process have evolved, the city recognizes that it is very doubtful that the project will be ready for construction in 2012. An update was also given to the merchants regarding the KAT Trolley changes taking place on August 15.

Additionally, staff from the Metro Pulse were on hand to discuss marketing opportunities for the district and individual businesses. If anyone is interested in this opportunity, please contact Tiffany Higgins, Account Executive, at higginst@metropulse.com.

For more information about CAMA visit here.

Weekend Events - there are a lot of great events all over town this weekend!

Friday, August 5
Shakespeare On the Square
Market Square
7:00PM
Shakespeare on the Square presents "The Comedy of Errors"

Lonsdale Homecoming
Sam Hill School
6:00PM
3 day event with vendors, parade, city and county officials, old timers dinner and gospel program on Sunday evening.

Saturday, August 6
Market Square Farmers Market
Market Square and Market Street
9:00AM - 2:00PM
Locally grown produce, meat, eggs and plants, as well as locally made artisan foods & crafts.
Saturday, August 6

Shakespeare On the Square
Market Square
7:00PM
Shakespeare on the Square presents "Othello"

1st Annual Everything Wheels Expo
Chilhowee Park Grounds (Park Side)
Sat: 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Sun: 10:00AM - 4:00PM

Tour de Fleur Wildflower Walks
Ten Mile Creek Greenway / Will Skelton Greenway
Time Varies
Walk the greenways with a nature guide discussing the wildflowers that have been identified with markers. Event is free and open to the public. The highlight of this walking series will be the sunflower fields at Will Skelton Greenway.

Opening of the Bethel Cemetery Civil War Museum
Bethel Cemetery - 1917 Bethel Ave
10:00AM - 4:00PM
Opening of a Civil War Museum at the site of the Bethel Cemetery.

Sunday, August 7
Shakespeare On the Square
Market Square
7:00PM
Shakespeare on the Square presents "The Comedy of Errors"

Sports Car Club of America
Chilhowee Grounds - Zoo parking lot
11:00AM - 3:00PM

Thanks for your continued interest in all things related to Cumberland Avenue. Have a safe and fun weekend!