Neighbor Notes

Remember we told you recently about the marriage of Douglas Owenby and Danelle Matias and how the wedding was held in their home at 704 E. Scott Avenue? Well, what we forgot to tell you was that the famous (infamous?) satellite dish that was perched in their front yard is gone. According to Danelle, everyone they talked to in the neighborhood mentioned the dish and they promised to remove it as soon as possible. Remarkable that with getting the house ready for the wedding and getting ready themselves for the wedding that they remembered, much less had time to do it! Thanks Douglas and Danelle from a grateful neighborhood.

Join your friends and neighbors on Monday, August 7 beginning at 11:30 AM in celebrating the completion of the renovation at 240 Oklahoma Avenue with an open house. This project, run by Knox Heritage, has shown what can be done with rundown houses with lots of cooperation by various groups in the city.


240 Oklahoma today	Clockwise from left, during the open house, Greg Noe (new owner of 240 Oklahoma, along with his wife Kristie Noe), Mayor Victor Ashe, Nic Arning (President of Knox Heritage), and Dave Palmer (President of Old North Knoxville, Inc.)

Since we have added a dog to our household recently, I have been spending a lot of time walking around the neighborhood which is something I did not do very much in the past. It is exercise after all! Now that I am getting out and seeing the neighborhood on a somewhat closer and slower basis than by driving through, I have to say that I am impressed! I don't think the neighborhood has looked this good since I moved here 6 years ago. And it is not just the "big houses" in the overlay area either. Take a walk along Baxter and see how well manicured the lawns are and I swear there are more newly painted houses in our neighborhood than all the rest of Knoxville! And everywhere you turn there are craftsmen and homeowners working on houses. With the sidewalks we did get repaired adding to the spruced up look of the neighborhood, it is just one more reason to be glad we live in the best neighborhood in Knoxville and Knox County.

Speaking of working on home, have you seen David Whaley's and Tomica Miller's home recently? WOW!! I think they have replaced and painted every wooden shingle on the side of the house. The chimneys have been repaired and they have a brand new roof. I know they are not finished, but it is looking good David and Tomica!

Our erstwhile webmaster (should that be web mistress? Doesn't sound right) Kim Davis and Fred Sahms have just had their house painted and it really looks good. The painter who did their home has been making the rounds of the neighborhood. I think it is the same one who did David Vogel's house. We won't hold it against them.

Did you happen to walk along Anderson around the 4th of July holidays? It looked wonderful. Everything was manicured and there were flags along the street and on the houses. Thanks to the residents along that stretch for taking the time and effort to make their part of the neighborhood look great. We should all take a lesson.

Have you seen the two new homes that have been built on Harvey? Anyone who knows me knows that I am not a fan of vinyl siding, but I do have to say that these houses overall fit pretty well into the neighborhood. They have rooflines that fit and pretty good porches and the colors blend in fairly well. As we go along, our neighborhood will see more and more "infill" homes built, so it is good to see that these builders at least are being considerate of the neighborhood when they build.

Keep Lowell and Penny Baxter in your thoughts and prayers while Lowell goes through his battle with pancreatic cancer. Lowell is a fighter and we know he will win through this battle. The whole neighborhood is behind you, Penny and Lowell!

Have you seen the new fence at Andy & JoAnne Anderson's home on Glenwood? Word is they decided to install the new one after neighbor Ernie Roberts leaned against the old one and almost fell over!

Speaking of Andy. You can still get a brick with your name on it to help our neighborhood school Fulton High. Contact Andy at 523-2005 for details of this worthwhile cause.