News - Friday, January 31, 2014

The Chattanooga Bar Association attended to yearly business during its 116th Annual Meeting, held Wednesday, Jan. 22 at Sheraton Read House. Lunch was served, awards were presented, and new leaders were installed for the upcoming year.

President Craig Miller opened the meeting with his customary blend of sincerity and humor, saying, "While the practice of law can be challenging, this past year has been a successful one for our members, and our organization remains strong. Its strength is reflected in the abilities of each of you, and it's good to see so many members of the Bar gathered in one place to reaffirm our commitment to this community. Though, with so many of us here, should some calamity strike, some might call this a good start, as my wife lovingly pointed out to me this morning."

The Kiwanis Club of Chattanooga has announced that the recipient of this year’s Distinguished Service Award for outstanding community leadership is T. Maxfield “Max” Bahner.

The award has been presented annually for 90 years and is given in recognition of an individual’s outstanding leadership and service to the community. The award was presented to Bahner at a luncheon held on Tuesday, Jan. 28. DSA Committee Chairman Brian Hunt said, “Max Bahner emboldens the spirit of community service in a humble and quiet manner, yet impactful beyond description. He truly loves this community, which is demonstrated through his wide-spread support.”

The board of directors of the Animal Care Trust last week announced the hiring of a new executive director for McKamey Animal Center: Jamie Lampman. Lampman most recently was the director of the Ingram County Animal Control and Shelter in Mason, Mich. A member of several-animal related organizations, she brings over 25 years of experience to the position.

Sandy Caldwell began volunteering as a Tennessee Aquarium docent nearly 21 years ago. Today, she serves as Sous Chef to porcupine fish, giant stingrays, toothy sharks, and other inhabitants of the Ocean Journey building. Caldwell has logged more than 4,000 hours as an Aquarium volunteer.

Two local students who won in the Chattanooga Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Week poster contest last October also earned recognition statewide recently. At the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office awards ceremony on Saturday, Jan. 25, the winners of the state’s poster contest for Fire Prevention Week 2013 were announced.

Crabtree Farms will be offering its annual Community Garden Start-up Workshop on Saturday, Feb. 22 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m and Sunday, February 23 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The workshop will be held at the EPB Community Room. EPB is located at 10 West Martin Luther King Boulevard.

Last week, I was trying to finish an episode of “Breaking Bad” I'd slept through the night before. While I was waiting for the show to start, I started thinking about getting a pool. This is not the first time the idea has popped into my vast cavern of pondering. About two years ago, I went as far as having a pool designed. Surprisingly, when the design was about done, Patti and I realized we were going well beyond the confines of a reasonable budget. The idea was tabled.

A pet turtle is a neat pet. I remember having two of them when I was young, and fixing their little cage up with all the sand and stuff. My son, Bobby, has one he found years ago, aptly named “Mr. Turtle”, and it was no larger than a half-dollar. Now the thing is huge! But Mr. Tuttle is happy in his little home!

And it’s one…two…three strikes you're out at the old ball game!

1. In 1919, baseball Hall of Famer Tris Speaker offered the following appraisal of a strategic change regarding a famous player: “Taking the best left-handed pitcher in baseball and converting him into a right fielder is one of the dumbest things I ever heard.” After a while, Speaker was proven wrong, but about whom was he speaking? Cal Ripkin; Mickey Mantle; Babe Ruth; Darryl Strawberry.

My good friend J. Kingbossdaddy Davis gave me a great Christmas present last month: “The Southerner’s Handbook: A Guide to Living the Good Life.” Its six sections are filled with wonderful essays covering many topics all should know.

Edamame. Pronounced: ay-duh-MAH-may. 

Funny word. But only to Americans. It’s not such a funny word to Japanese because it is a Japanese word. Although the Japanese name, edamame is used commonly to refer to the dish. It literally means, “twig bean” - eda = “twig” + mame = “bean”.

One thing became clear during the first membership meeting of 2014 of the Greater Chattanooga Association of Realtors on Wednesday, Jan. 22: Realtors are passionate about their industry. The event focused on the pros and cons of listing syndication. To present both sides of the debate, the Association invited three industry experts to speak: Ed Bourn of the Times Free Press, to whom the Association sends its listing data; Kathleen Wayson of ListHub, to whom the Association also sends its listing data; and Jason Murphy, a Realtor from the Nashville market who said listing syndication might be a threat to the traditional real estate industry. A spirited question and answer session followed the speakers. While not everyone saw eye-to-eye, the agent response appeared to be unanimous: the meeting set an exciting tone for upcoming events. For a complete analysis of the pros and cons of listing syndication, read Association President

In Greater Chattanooga and across the country, the real estate industry is abuzz about listing syndication. Just last week, we had an Association membership meeting on the topic, and learned a few things we didn't know. This got me to thinking that the general public also might also benefit from a little Listing Syndication 101. The basics, if you will.

Today’s I Swear Crossword, “Legal Programs—3 of 4,” is the third of a four-part series. The first two ran in early December and early January. If you’ve not solved these three puzzles, please go back and do so before reading on. Or waive your right to complain about my spoiling them in any way.

There seems to be some confusion in “I, Frankenstein” about the name of the central character, Victor Frankenstein’s monster. I assumed it was Frankenstein, as did several of the characters in the movie, but then someone gives him the name Adam, which furrowed the brows of everyone in the room, and presumably the theater in which I was sitting. From then on, he’s called one or the other until the end of the movie, when he calls himself Frankenstein.

After 31 years of helping hundreds of home buyers and sellers with all of their real estate needs and after several years of training other agents, Realtor Susan Barnette is embarking on another career opportunity.

Barnette was recently hired as the new director of career development for Crye-Leike’s Chattanooga region. She will help recruit, train, mentor, and motivate agents to have a successful career in real estate.

2013 including increased sales, higher home prices, and less foreclosures. 

According to the National Association of Realtors, even though home sales slowed down the last few months of 2013, the year as a whole ended with the best sales total in seven years.

Sunday, February 1

The first Post Office for Chattanooga was established April 1837, when Chattanooga was known as Ross’s Landing. John P. Long was the first Postmaster, and served without compensation. He hired his own carriers to get the mail at Rossville, Ga., where it was first received and then carried to the “first citizens.” Since then, 19 men have served as Postmaster, with Mr. John E. Connor being the 19^th. Free delivery was established September 1, 1883 and covered three and seven-eighths square miles. Mr. Long was appointed by President Martin Van Buren.

Saturday, February 1

The local branch of Service for the Blind, Tennessee Department of Public Welfare, has been moved to 706 McCallie Avenue, counselor Milton Alford announced. The appointment of Miss Amy Adorante as home teacher for the blind in the 12 counties now served by the local office was also announced Saturday.

Black History Concert

Sunday, February 2

The Center for Creative Arts on Sunday, Feb. 2 at 3 p.m. at Olivet Baptist Church will present a Black History Concert entitled “A Musical Walk through History.” The concert will feature various styles of African-American music ranging from spirituals to Motown. Admission is free. For more information, email Neshawn Calloway at calloway_neshawn@hcde.org.