JARRETT GOODMAN
Staff Writer
Mandy Finotti, board member of South Pittsburg’s Arts in the Burg program, has recently requested permission for alcoholic beverages to be sold during the organization’s upcoming Santa Cause event.
The request was made directly to the town’s Board of Mayor & Commissioners, as Finotti explained in detail to the board what the event is and how the beverages financially supports the event.
The Santa Cause is a yearly fundraiser in which Arts in the Burg invites and promotes a variety of non-profit organizations from across the Sequatchie Valley region, showcasing awareness for each one and the work they conduct. The event is held in conjunction with the Marion County Chamber of Commerce, and each one hosted an angel tree is set up that goes towards financially supporting different causes throughout the community. She explained one of the ways in which Arts in the Burg helps fund the Santa Cause is by serving different orders of alcoholic beverages, the additional proceeds earned going directly towards the event’s operations.
According to City Administrator Michael Hudson, the request to properly serve beverages was submitted and is labeled under the community’s SPARQ (South Pittsburg Area Revitalization Quest) program. The permit didn’t go directly to the board due to the organization’s submission amount being less than the maximum of 12 permits per year. The organization has already utilized two permits for 2025.
The permit’s approval was given the thumbs up by South Pittsburg’s city board in a 3-1 vote, Commissioner Ronny Myers voting no against it. The annual Santa Cause event is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 4 at 4:30 p.m. and will take place at Arts in the Burg’s facility in downtown on Cedar Avenue.