Volunteers head into homeless camps weekly. They're armed with food, resources and love. 

Volunteers head into homeless camps weekly. They're armed with food, resources and love.

East Tennessee Now is a community oriented public affairs program designed to address local problems and issues and explore possible or existing solutions. The program features community leaders, representatives of area non-profits, healthcare professionals and other experts in their respective fields.

East Tennessee Now

A Hand Up Christian Homeless Ministry

Frank Murphy interviews Katy Watt, president of Explore Oak Ridge, and actress Kadi Brazil, who portrays Katie the Calutron Girl in promotional videos for Explore Oak Ridge. Several of the videos are dedicated to the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, which was established in 2015 on the sites of three formerly secret communities located in Hanford, Washington; Los Alamos, New Mexico; and Oak Ridge, Tennessee. 

Explore Oak Ridge maintains a calendar of upcoming events and festivals at https://exploreoakridge.com/ 

On Sunday, May 24, 2026 at 7:00 p.m., the Oak Ridge Community Band presents its annual Memorial Day concert in A.K. Bissell Park. 

The Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival takes place on Friday, June 5 and Saturday, June 6, 2026.

The 26th annual Lavender Festival will be in Jackson Square on Saturday, June 20, 2026. 

On July 4, 2026, the Oak Ridge Community Band will perform in A.K. Bissell Park starting at 7:30 p.m. A fireworks display will be launched from the property of Oak Ridge High School starting about 9:45 p.m. Bring lawn chairs or blankets. 

Frank Murphy interviews Katy Watt, president of Explore Oak Ridge, and actress Kadi Brazil, who portrays Katie the Calutron Girl in promotional videos for Explore Oak Ridge. Several of the videos are dedicated to the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, which was established in 2015 on the sites of three formerly secret communities located in Hanford, Washington; Los Alamos, New Mexico; and Oak Ridge, Tennessee.&nbsp;
Explore Oak Ridge maintains a calendar of upcoming events and festivals at <a href="https://exploreoakridge.com/">https://exploreoakridge.com/</a>&nbsp;
On Sunday, May 24, 2026 at 7:00 p.m., the Oak Ridge Community Band presents its annual Memorial Day concert in A.K. Bissell Park.&nbsp;
The Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival takes place on Friday, June 5 and Saturday, June 6, 2026.
The 26th annual Lavender Festival will be in Jackson Square on Saturday, June 20, 2026.&nbsp;
On July 4, 2026, the Oak Ridge Community Band will perform in A.K. Bissell Park starting at 7:30 p.m. A fireworks display will be launched from the property of Oak Ridge High School starting about 9:45 p.m. Bring lawn chairs or blankets.&nbsp;

Explore Oak Ridge

Frank Murphy interviews Kathryn Frady, Executive Artistic Director of Marble City Opera, Knoxville's chamber opera company, with the goal of bringing American chamber opera and innovative performances of traditional operas to new audiences. Learn more about Kathryn and her upcoming schedule at https://www.kathrynfrady.com/ 

Kathryn Frady will direct Marble City Opera's production of Josephine by Tom Cipullo at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 30, 2026 at the Historic Grove Theatre in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Josephine is a one-woman opera about the legendary entertainer Josephine Baker, set in the final years of her life. Tickets and information are available at https://www.marblecityopera.com/josephine 

Marble City Opera presents Opera in the Park at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 6, 2026 at Lakeshore Park's Marble Hall in Knoxville, Tennessee. Admission to the concert is free. Sponsorship information is available at https://www.marblecityopera.com/operainthepark 

Kathryn Frady with direct and star in Marble City Opera's production of The Tragedy of Carmen, adapted from Carmen by Peter Brook, Jean-Claude Carrière, and Marius Constant, at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 18 and Saturday, June 20, 2026 at the Historic Grove Theatre in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The Tragedy of Carmen distills Georges Bizet’s opera into a taut, psychologically driven 90-minute chamber work featuring many of the opera’s most beloved musical moments. Tickets and information are available at https://www.marblecityopera.com/tragedyofcarmen 

Frank Murphy interviews Kathryn Frady, Executive Artistic Director of Marble City Opera, Knoxville's chamber opera company, with the goal of bringing American chamber opera and innovative performances of traditional operas to new audiences. Learn more about Kathryn and her upcoming schedule at <a href="https://www.kathrynfrady.com/">https://www.kathrynfrady.com/</a>&nbsp;
Kathryn Frady will direct Marble City Opera's production of&nbsp;Josephine by Tom Cipullo at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 30, 2026 at the Historic Grove Theatre in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Josephine is a one-woman opera about the legendary entertainer Josephine Baker, set in the final years of her life. Tickets and information are available at <a href="https://www.marblecityopera.com/josephine">https://www.marblecityopera.com/josephine</a>&nbsp;
Marble City Opera presents Opera in the Park at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 6, 2026 at Lakeshore Park's Marble Hall in Knoxville, Tennessee. Admission to the concert is free. Sponsorship information is available at <a href="https://www.marblecityopera.com/operainthepark">https://www.marblecityopera.com/operainthepark</a>&nbsp;
Kathryn Frady with direct and star in Marble City Opera's production of The Tragedy of Carmen, adapted from Carmen by Peter Brook, Jean-Claude Carri&egrave;re, and Marius Constant, at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 18 and Saturday, June 20, 2026 at the Historic Grove Theatre in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The Tragedy of Carmen distills Georges Bizet&rsquo;s opera into a taut, psychologically driven 90-minute chamber work featuring many of the opera&rsquo;s most beloved musical moments.&nbsp;Tickets and information are available at <a href="https://www.marblecityopera.com/tragedyofcarmen">https://www.marblecityopera.com/tragedyofcarmen</a>&nbsp;

Marble City Opera

Frank Murphy interviews Hollie Cook, Director of Preservation Services at Knox Heritage. May is National Historic Preservation Month. The mission of Knox Heritage is to protect Knoxville’s unique character for future generations by preserving, restoring, and transforming historically significant structures and places. 

Knox Heritage will hold its 2026 East Tennessee Preservation Awards on Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. in The Emporium, 100 S. Gay Street, Knoxville. The event is free to attend. Complimentary wine, beer, and small bites will be served. RSVP by Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at https://www.knoxheritage.org/events/2026awards/ 

The 2026 East Tennessee Preservation Awards will recognize outstanding individuals, organizations, and projects contributing to historic preservation efforts within a 16-county region. Eligible projects include historic (50+ years old) residential or commercial projects that were completed between January 2025 and February 2026, or an individual or organization that has recently and significantly contributed to furthering historic preservation in the region. Eligible counties include Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Monroe, Morgan, Roane, Scott, Sevier, and Union. 

The Knox Heritage Fragile & Fading list identifies and prioritizes local properties, landmarks, and neighborhoods in need of preservation strategies. This initiative aims to create awareness and strengthen community support to save these historic places from being lost forever. The list includes the Knott-York House, situated on the median strip of Middlebrook Pike near 3rd Creek Road. Constructed circa 1845 with locally sourced brick and traditional craftsmanship,the home reflects both the architectural sensibilities and the practical construction methods of the Antebellum period. 

Frank Murphy interviews Hollie Cook, Director of Preservation Services at Knox Heritage. May is National Historic Preservation Month. The mission of Knox Heritage is to protect Knoxville&rsquo;s unique character for future generations by preserving, restoring, and transforming historically significant structures and places.&nbsp;
Knox Heritage will hold its 2026 East Tennessee Preservation Awards on Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. in The Emporium, 100 S. Gay Street, Knoxville. The event is free to attend. Complimentary wine, beer, and small bites will be served. RSVP by Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at https://www.knoxheritage.org/events/2026awards/&nbsp;
The 2026 East Tennessee Preservation Awards will recognize outstanding individuals, organizations, and projects contributing to historic preservation efforts within a 16-county region. Eligible projects include historic (50+ years old) residential or commercial projects that were completed between January 2025 and February 2026, or an individual or organization that has recently and significantly contributed to furthering historic preservation in the region. Eligible counties include Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Monroe, Morgan, Roane, Scott, Sevier, and Union.&nbsp;
The Knox Heritage Fragile &amp; Fading list identifies and prioritizes local properties, landmarks, and neighborhoods in need of preservation strategies. This initiative aims to create awareness and strengthen community support to save these historic places from being lost forever. The list includes the Knott-York House, situated on the median strip of Middlebrook Pike near 3rd Creek Road. Constructed circa 1845 with locally sourced brick and traditional craftsmanship,the home reflects both the architectural sensibilities and the practical construction methods of the Antebellum period.&nbsp;

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