News - Friday, January 8, 2016

Attorney Brittany Thomas-Faith makes a good first impression. But the impression that comes later is the one people will most likely remember.

Dressed in a crisp grey suit, Faith enters a warmly lit conference room at Grant, Konvalinka & Harrison, the law firm where she works. Even with the good lighting, the space seems to brighten as she introduces herself and sits down at the table. While one might attribute the heightened illumination to her relaxed blonde hair, which is cut off at her shoulders and curls inward at the ends to frame her face, a more plausible explanation would be the energy and enthusiasm that seemingly radiates from within her. As Faith settles into her chair, she’s the definition of poise, and her voice has a cheerful quality that makes speaking with her a pleasure.

When the Women of Distinction nominating committee received a letter submitting Real Estate Partners owner and managing broker Darlene Brown for consideration, someone asked, “What took so long?”

A life-long Chattanoogan, Brown is unquestionably overdue for the honor, which the American Lung Association in Tennessee awards each year to ten of the city’s most accomplished women.

The Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) Young Lawyers Division (YLD), in conjunction with dozens of local attorneys, will be drafting free wills and other basic estate planning documents for first responders employed within Hamilton County and their spouses on Saturday, Jan. 16 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel. Qualified first responders include active, retired, and volunteer firefighters, police officers, paramedics, corrections, and probation officers from federal, state, county, city, and town departments and agencies.

We’re just a few weeks away from the first caucuses and primaries, so presidential election season is in full swing. As a voter, you may be keenly interested in the election process. But as an investor, should you be concerned?

Joseph Williams has completed a specialized course in obtaining and servicing real estate listings, conducted by the Council of Residential Specialist of the National Association of Realtors.

The class was conducted in Savannah and Atlanta, Ga., and is one of the required courses that must be taken by real estate agents and brokers in order to qualify for the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) designation.

On Thursday, when I was installed as the 2016 GCAR President, I shared with our membership my five goals for 2015. It’s important for the public we serve to know what GCAR stands for and the work we do for our members and the Greater Chattanooga community. Here’s a recap of my five goals for GCAR in 2016:

Homeownership is the American dream, but it’s also a lot of work. Your home is a significant investment and requires a consistent level of upkeep to maintain its efficiency and to protect its value.

As you make new resolutions for 2016, set aside some time to build a schedule of your ongoing home maintenance duties. Creating a calendar of anticipated maintenance needs will help you remember key milestones and better prepare for any big expenses.

In the dead of a Wyoming winter, a bounty hunter and his prisoner find shelter in a cabin inhabited by a group of disreputable characters. What takes place there is best left discovered in a theater. But there are a few things I can tell you about “The Hateful Eight.”

A few years ago, I’m shooting buckets in the driveway one afternoon. And up walk a couple of the neighborhood kids. We begin to chat. It’s one of those conversations that I know is somehow going to educate someone about something before it’s over.

Artist Carolyn Insler could not have picked a better place for her studio, Visions Stained Glass. Located in a spacious second story loft in the repurposed Office Co-ordinators building on Main Street, both abstract and more tangible stained glass works hang by thin wires from a high ceiling, creating a colorful, glittering gallery suspended in mid-air.

Starting this month, Outdoor Chattanooga is offering a series of free winter workshops . Every Thursday evening from Jan. 14 through March 3, Outdoor Chattanooga will present a new opportunity for people of all ages to learn a new skill, including everything from freshwater snorkeling to planning a hiking day trip.

CHI Memorial’s Rees Skillern Cancer Institute is offering a free eight-week course designed to helps participants learn how to overcome tobacco addiction.

The program is offered in a small group setting, and covers lifestyle changes that make quitting easier, stress management, avoiding weight gain, and staying smoke-free.

Tennessee businesses can now form for profit benefit corporations with the Division of Business Services. This new entity type is part of the For-Profit Benefit Corporation Act that went into effect Jan. 1.

The classification comes from the social entrepreneurship movement that combines running a profitable business with improving society. A for profit benefit corporation is similar to a standard for profit corporation, but is managed in a way that considers the public benefit purpose(s) listed in its charter as well as the financial interests of its owners.

This column was originally published in the Hamilton County Herald on January 2, 2015.

The phrase “making lemonade” expresses entrepreneurial abilities and triumph over adversity. In this week’s article, though, it means just what it says. If you think lemonade is only a summertime drink, let me give you a few facts on how healthy it is for you in the wintertime. It might become one of your favorite winter drinks – right up there with hot chocolate!

The holiday came and went. Our trees are back in those spots where they spend around 330 days a year. That’s right, I said trees. Our daughter Alexis moved back home for a while and she wanted her tree up too. KM agreed, so I never stood a chance. I added to Alexis’ ornament collection with one that I’m sure will be a favorite for years to come. It’s Daryl Dixon from “The Walking Dead,” holding his crossbow. It’s one of Alexis and my favorite shows. KM isn’t a fan though.

Saturday, Jan. 8, 1966

Mayor Ralph Kelley said he had been advised the construction bids for the new Chattanooga State Technical Institute should be ready for opening within a month. Bianculli & Tyler are preparing plans for the building to be built on the acreage on Amnicola Highway given to the city and county by Chattanooga Industrialist Frank Harrison.

Saturday, Jan. 8, 1916

A combination of seriousness and fun made the annual banquet of the Chattanooga Academy of Medicine and Hamilton County Medical Society a very pleasant affair at the Mountain City Club Friday night. Dr. Y.L. Abernathy was toastmaster, Dr. Cooper Holtzclaw and Dr. Ed Newell were the speakers of the evening. Dr. G. Victor Williams, the incoming president, Dr. E.B. Anderson, the outgoing president, and Dr. H. Berlin were toasted by the members.

Can we talk throw pillows for a minute? I absolutely adore throw pillows. I really do not know anyone who doesn’t. Now, I do not even waste my time on pillows for my bed because I know I do not want to worry about having to put them on the bed every day. At the same time, I do not want to look at pretty pillows sitting there unused.