LOCAL LIFE

Knox News - Sequoyah Hills homeowners will be appearing before the Metropolitan Planning Commission Thursday to oppose a neighbor asking to turn his house into a duplex plus operate home occupations that would involve music lessons, scheduling musical performances and a Jewish sperm bank. "We are very much opposed to all of this," said Jim Bletner, board member of the Kingston Pike Sequoyah Hills Association. . .

Residents are upset at Perkins' page on MySpace.com, which has images of his property under a heading of Dave's Place and a description of a "lovely setting around a large private home in the exclusive neighborhood of Sequoyah Hills." There also was a listing of events, including bamboo flute playing on Sundays; balloons, juggling and music on Mondays; a Family Music Gathering and Drum Circle on Tuesdays and others. . .

Neighbors also are alarmed at two Web sites Perkins operates for a fertility business . . . Perkins said these are part of his business called Family Building LLC, which he describes as a referral service for couples seeking medical options to try to conceive. This is all done by telephone and computer and all medical procedures take place in proper facilities and not in his home, Perkins said. . .

"The Torah commands us to be fruitful and multiply," he said.