East Tennessee Now

Beat the Winter Blues with this fabulous night at Stanley Greenhouse with music, food and beverages, and special discounts on plants. Sue Beverly explains how it benefits the Ronald McDonald House of Knoxville.

Catching up with Kim. President of Visit Knoxville, Kim Bumpas joins us to talk about 2018 in Knoxville. Find out how Ktown is getting physical in the new year and on "PACE!"

Oak Ridge Associated Universities is holding it's annual $25,000 Extreme Classroom Make-over. Could your classroom use some new technology like ipads or 3-d printers? Communications specialist for ORAU Michael Holtz explains how teachers can apply for the grand prize. Two runner ups will also be awarded $5,000 each. 

Also- the flu has turned deadly for three people in Tennessee. Denise Barker with Kroger Pharmacy explains how the flu can affect you and how the flu shot can help you.

Blount County based Remote Area Medical just returned form treating 2,377 hurricane victims in Puerto Rico. They (250 volunteers) held five clinics in December and provided dental, vision and health care as well as veterinary care to those affected. Now Stan Brock, the founder of RAM and CEO Jeff Eastman are getting ready for the 900th clinic that will be held in Knoxville January/February. RAMUSA.org

It's almost time to ring in the New Year. Judith Foltz, the Director of the Office of Special Events shares all of the excitement the city has planned through January 7, 2018. 

Look out Morristown, Bean Station, Greeneville; 

COUNTRY COOL

is headed your way. 

Trish Suhr

,

Karen Mills

and

Leanne Morgan

, all headlining comedians will be at the NPAC in January. Michele Silva catches up with Leanne about the show, the holidays and getting ready for 2018!

More than 30 pups being cared for by volunteers in the Small Breed Rescue of East Tennessee are looking for forever homes.  The rescue can always use foster families as well permanent ones, as Karen Marquand and Missy Martin tell us. SBRET is teaming up with Crafty Bastard Brewery for the Jingle Mutt Strut on December 17th. But there are many other ways you can celebrate the season with this organization!

Zach Irons is collecting items again to hand out pack packs to the homeless before Christmas. He's collecting socks, gloves, hats, and personal hygiene items. This is his third year putting the homeless on his Christmas wish list.

Monday, December 11th is Double Your Donation Day at Second Harvest Food Bank. Aaron Snukals explains how the food bank plans to reach their goal of $600,000.00 and why they need your help on this day!

Help feed shelter pets in your community. Betsi James with Food City says its easy to make your donation right at the checkout! The campaign raised $91,000 last year!

Beth Haynes of WBIR and Katie Banks of the Helen Ross McNabb Center tell us all about the 12 Days of Christmas Auction going on. Great way to get some shopping done for the holidays and helping bring Christmas to children in need!

Knox Area Rescue Ministries is gearing up for the Winter. Mark Roberts, Director of Donor Relations explains how we can help the thousands of homeless in our area around the holidays and all year long. 

Plus, We chat with The Voice's Chris Blue about being grateful and thankful. We also get the dish on his favorite - turkey or ham? Pumpkin or Pecan Pie.. and more.

Do you have some spare time you would like to help serve the elderly in our community? CAC of Knox County could use your help with transporting folks to doctors appointments and with other errands and needs. Nancy Welch, Assistant Program Director for the Volunteer Assisted Transportation explains how you can get involved.

Time to gather around the “Purple” Christmas Tree at Lexus

of Knoxville. The dealership’s quarterly Big Give is focused on helping Alzheimer’s

Tennessee with the Big Red Bow Project collect gifts for those battling the disease and might not have

family nearby to celebrate. Kay Watson from Alz TN explains. Also, a special

guest from Lexus of Knoxville is Michael Rodriguez, a Purple Santa volunteer who

loves what he does for the patients Check out AlzTennessee.org. It’s all about sharing

the holiday spirit with folks who might be alone!

Remote Area Medical is gearing up to head to Puerto Rico to

help bring free healthcare to the thousands of people affected by the recent

Hurricanes. RAM Founder, Stan Brock tells us what they need for the trip: nurses,

doctors, eye doctors, volunteers, veterinarians, and plane to get all of their equipment there.

RAM also needs monetary donations to continue their efforts. Check out: RAMUSA.org 

RAM meets with folks in Puerto Rico to plan the free December health clinics

You might have heard of the Winfrees. Steve is an avid baseball card collector. And, and his wife., well, you can call Heather an Angel. Their story went national of how Heather told Steve she was going to give him a kidney. She had Topps make him a personalized baseball card. Now, the surgery has been done. The two are recovering and spreading the message about the importance of organ donation and living organ donation. Harry Connick invited them out to New York to be on his show. That and so many other exciting things are happening for Steve and Heather.

The temps finally dropped and now it feels like Fall! That means chili cookin' and chili eatin' weather ! Savannah Fielder tells us how to enjoy the 

Second Harvest Food Bank'

s annual Chili Cook-off presented by Bush Beans and how it helps feed our hungry neighbors.

The 9th Annual Dogwood Arts' Bazillion Blooms is underway! What you need to know about ordering, pick-up and planting dogwoods with Trails and Garden Manager, Vicki Baumgartner. Plus, meet the new Executive Director for 

Dogwood Arts

, Sherry Jenkins.