🌱 Patch AM: How ETSU is turning Johnson City students into brewmasters

Morning Johnson City! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How ETSU is turning Johnson City students into brewmasters
• How 1,300 Jeep-loving women brought Christmas magic to Johnson City kids
• Johnson City family mourns the passing of Glendora Staggs Leigh

Also on today's calendar: Pop Up Holiday Market.

Today's riddle: What did the balloon say to the doctor? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Sunday: Cooler with clouds and sun, with a high of 52 and low of 23 degrees.
• Monday: Plenty of sunshine, temps: high: 55, low: 38.
• Tuesday: Cloudy with a few showers, with a high of 53 and low of 49 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Learn to Distill a Career in Beer and Wine in Tennessee (livability.com) — East Tennessee State University in Johnson City is training students for careers in brewing and distilling through a hands-on program with local partners like Yee-Haw Brewing and Tennessee Hills. The article explains how ETSU and other Tennessee colleges blend science, agriculture, and business to meet growing demand in the state’s $4.2 billion craft beverage industry.
   

• Local women's Jeep group helps spread Christmas cheer at Ronald McDonald House (wjhl.com) — Families staying at Johnson City’s Ronald McDonald House got an early dose of Christmas magic as the Lady Jeep Warriors rolled up to Johnson City Medical Center in fully decorated “sleigh” Jeeps. The women’s Jeep group, with more than 1,300 members across East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, delivered gifts and holiday cheer to children and families who can’t easily get out to community festivities.
   

• Glendora Staggs Leigh (radio7media.com) — A local connection to Johnson City comes through Glendora Staggs Leigh’s brother, Larry Staggs, who lives here and is among her surviving family. Leigh, an 81-year-old Lawrence County native and longtime Tennessee state employee, passed away December 16 in Murfreesboro. Her family plans a private graveside service and later Celebration of Life in Lawrenceburg.
   

📸 Around Johnson City

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Johnson City

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Sunday December 21

• Pop Up Holiday Market
  2398 NC-9, Black Mountain
  11:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday December 25

• Closed Today – Happy Holidays!
  Hands on Discovery Center , 1212 Suncrest Dr , Gray

Wednesday December 31

• Midnight at The Big Top
  Holiday Inn Johnson City by IHG , 101 W Springbrook Dr , Johnson City
  8:00 pm

📣 Johnson City Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Sunday December 21

• Scrooge at The Jackson Theatre
  Jackson Theatre , 121 W Main St , Jonesborough
  3:00 pm
• Scrooged at The Jackson Theatre
  Jackson Theatre , 121 W Main St , Jonesborough
  7:00 pm
• CHRISTMAS SHOW — The Down Home | Eclectic Music Room
  Down Home , 300 W Main St , Johnson City
  7:00 pm

Monday December 22

• Comedy Open Mic Night
  Crossroads Craftworks , 411 E Doe Ave , Elizabethton
  7:00 pm
• The Santa Clause at The Jackson Theatre
  Jackson Theatre , 121 W Main St , Jonesborough
  7:00 pm

Tuesday December 23

• PMP Certification 4 Days Classroom Training in Johnson City, TN
  Spark Plaza , 404 S Roan St , Johnson City
  9:00 am
• Home Alone at The Jackson Theatre
  Jackson Theatre , 121 W Main St , Jonesborough
  5:00 pm
• Jonesborough Storytelling Guild
  Historic Jonesborough , 117 Boone St , Jonesborough
  7:00 pm

Wednesday December 24

• Pottery Wheel Crash Course with Made On Elk Pottery
  Crossroads Craftworks , 411 E Doe Ave , Elizabethton
  6:00 pm

Saturday December 27

• The Wizard of Oz
  Bonnie Kate Theater , 115 S Sycamore St , Elizabethton
  8:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Johnson City PatchAM possible:

• Conversational Spanish Now! — (727) 365-9016
  Conversational Spanish Now! Spanish Adult language course.

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Please share & repost to help reunite this lost dog!
  Piclle was LOST on December 19, 2025 in Gray, TN 37615 near Bridgewater/Dove Ln area Sharing for a neighbor. For the latest information or to… (Nextdoor Johnson City)
• I just wanted to share a video of Cooper.
  I miss him so much. RIP my sweet boy. Be sure volume is on (Nextdoor Knob Creek)

• Life Care Centers of America posted a job opening for Activities Assistant in Johnson City. Apply here.
• NHC posted a job opening for Support Service Assistant- Part Time- Colonial Hill Retirement Center - No Experience Required in Johnson City. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Johnson City here.

🗞 Nearby News

Jonesborough

• ‘Christmas in Olde Jonesborough' wraps up with downtown church stroll (wjhl.com)
• Jonesborough residents hear from speakers about possible effects of proposed BWXT facility (wjhl.com)
• McKinney Center To Debut New Original Play In February (greenevillesun.com)

Elizabethton

• Elizabethton High School class subject of Sundance Film Festival docuseries ‘Murder101' (wjhl.com)

Ok Johnson City! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I feel lightheaded!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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