Jay Fitz

Expect to see a new ADA accessible birdwatching blind at Seven Islands State Birding Park in Knox County near Kodak. The park raised $11,429 toward design, construction and installation of the new blind through a just-completed fundraiser hosted on social media by Tennessee State Parks. In all, $138,000 was raised to help fund improvements to state parks across Tennessee.

Dancers Studio's Silver Dancer Gala will honor Irena Linn. Hear her story here Tickets are $75 for Cocktails at the Emporium, 4-7 p.m.

The Boyd Foundation has donated $250,000 to support the Knox Regional Health Science Education Center. The campus is currently under construction and is expected to open in the fall of 2025.

Catherine Howell has joined MoxCar Marketing + Communications as a senior account executive to lead strategic marketing and public relations initiatives for multiple sector-spanning clients, including nonprofit, architecture, government, engineering, healthcare, construction and professional services.

First Horizon Bank has invested $1.6 million in 160 nonprofits across the bank's 12-state service area to celebrate First Horizon's 160th anniversary. With some 3,500 requests for help, First Horizon Foundation selected four Knoxville-area nonprofits. Award winners of $10,000 each were recognized at a “Grant for Good” breakfast on June 20 at First Horizon Plaza, 800 S. Gay Street, Knoxville.

Congratulations, Tony Vitello and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville baseball team!

Tennessee State Parks has added 10 new all-terrain wheelchairs. With the addition, 22 parks now offer chairs free of charge to enhance accessibility for those with limited mobility.

Learn to shoot like a pro with your phone at the upcoming “Basics of Nature Photography” scheduled for 5-7 p.m. Thursday, July 25, at Norris Dam State Park. These classes fill up fast, so get registered

UT-Knoxville is the lead institution for a $25 million cooperative agreement awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation to support research that underlies its nuclear security and nonproliferation missions.

More than 20 middle school girls completed Webb School of Knoxville's CEO Camp for Young Women last week. The experience taught participants about entrepreneurship, introduced them to local businesswomen and encouraged them to pursue their own ventures.