Welcome back. Glad you're here.

There's a Saturday morning ritual in the Shipley household that doesn't require an alarm, doesn't require much planning, and doesn't always result in us leaving with anything. But it happens every week, from late April until the market closes up in November. We go to the farmers market. Sometimes we buy tomatoes. Sometimes we split a hotdog at 9 in the morning and call it breakfast. Sometimes we just walk around, say hey to people we know, and head home. That's the whole point.

In today's post:

If you've lived in Kingsport long enough, you know the farmers market isn't just a place to pick up produce. It's a weekly reminder that this city has roots.

Back in the summer of 1977, a group of local farmers concerned about how food was getting from fields to families participated in a series of Food Fairs across the Tri-Cities. Out of those conversations came the Tri-Cities Farmers Association for Retail Marketing, a nonprofit built around one simple idea: direct to consumer, local to local. The association eventually became the Kingsport Farmers Market we know today, sometime in the early 1990s.

Since August 2012, the market has operated out of the renovated Quebecor facility on the corner of Center and Clinchfield Streets, a building with its own history sitting right in the heart of downtown. The Tennessee Magazine named it the best farmers market in East Tennessee. It has earned that.

This season, the market runs Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., April 25 through November 28, with Wednesday markets added starting in May.

Opening day this Saturday comes with a little extra going on: live music, giveaways, and activities for kids. Bring the family, get there early, and say hi to your neighbors. That's what it's for.

For us, the farmers market has never really been about the shopping. My wife and I make it a point to get out every Saturday morning in season, and we bring our kids along because we want them to understand something early: community isn't a concept, it's a practice. You show up. You talk to people. You wave at the vendor you've seen a hundred times and ask how their week went. Some mornings we leave with a bag full of vegetables. Some mornings we leave with a hotdog and nothing else. Both of those mornings count the same.

Saturday, April 25, starting at 7 a.m. at 308 Clinchfield Street. Get out there.

Final Friday Food Truck Rally Returns

The Final Friday Food Truck Rally is back, with trucks setting up in the city parking lot on Cherokee and Cumberland Streets next to Bellafina Chocolates. This is a Downtown Kingsport Association staple and a genuinely easy Friday night. Roll downtown, grab something good to eat, and spend some time in a part of the city that keeps getting better. Check the Downtown Kingsport Association's social pages for the truck lineup as it gets closer.

Kingsport Utilities Is Getting an Upgrade

The City of Kingsport is launching a brand new Customer Information System this Sunday, April 27, and it's a significant upgrade to how residents manage their utility accounts. The new system brings a new online portal and mobile app called Kingsport Utilities, where you can view bills, make payments, and submit service requests. Also new: Grace AI, a phone-based virtual assistant that can answer questions about your balance, due dates, water usage, and even process payments over the phone.

On the payment side, the city is adding Pay-By-Text, digital wallets including Apple Pay, Google Pay, Venmo, and PayPal, and cash payment options at local retailers like Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, and Dollar General.

One thing worth knowing: the current system is in maintenance mode right now through Sunday morning at 8 a.m., meaning account changes and payments are unavailable during that window. If your bill due date falls in that range, the city has extended it to April 28. For questions in the meantime, call 423-343-9860.

Leadership Kingsport Now Accepting Applications

If you've been thinking about Leadership Kingsport, now is the time to move on that. About 30 to 35 individuals are selected each year based on submitted applications and personal interviews, with day-long monthly sessions running October through May, a team-building retreat in September, and a trip to Nashville in March. It's one of the best investments you can make in your own understanding of this city and the people running it. I can say that as a current class member. Applications go to the Kingsport Chamber, attention Vanessa Bennett. Full information is at KingsportChamber.org.

Kingsport Farmers Market Opening Day | Saturday, April 25 | 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. | 308 Clinchfield Street The season starts here. Live music, giveaways, kids activities, and every vendor who made it through winter to show back up for you. Go early.

High Voltage Grand Reopening of Outdoor Space | Saturday, April 26 High Voltage is reopening its outdoor space, and if you've never spent a Saturday evening on that patio on Cherokee Street, this is a good reason to fix that. Craft beer, good people, and one of the better hidden gems in downtown Kingsport. Check their social pages for exact timing and what's on tap.

BrewHaHa | Friday, April 24 | 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. | MeadowView Marriott Convention Center The Kingsport Chamber's annual comedy night brought three national comedians to the stage: Tara Brown, Jason Allen King, and headliner Collin Moulton. Tickets are $50 per person and include pizza and two drinks. This one is 21 and up, ID required at the door. Tickets are available at KingsportChamber.org.

This week's listing takes us just outside of Kingsport into one of the most established neighborhoods in the area. Located in Laurel Canyon in Johnson City, 217 Laurel Canyon sits in a community with a pool, a playground, and the kind of neighbors who actually know each other. Historic downtown Jonesborough is a short drive away. The home itself is an Orth Homes "Avery" model built to Energy Star standards, with an open main level, a primary suite on the first floor, a powder room for guests, and a private patio off the kitchen overlooking a fully fenced backyard. Upstairs you get a second primary suite, two more bedrooms, a third full bath, and a bonus room that could go in any direction. Brick exterior, strong curb appeal, and a floor plan that actually makes sense.

What do you think they're asking for 217 Laurel Canyon?

Vote down below

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That's it for this week. Thanks for trusting me with your inbox. Let's tell some stories.

Talk soon,

Ryan