News - Friday, November 6, 2015

Bill Sonnenburg sits in the driver’s seat of his 2009 Volkswagen Jetta, his eyes on the open road ahead of him. Seeing the opportunity, he hits the accelerator. The engine growls, and the car picks up velocity quickly and with surprising ease, making the needle on the speedometer jump from zero to 40 in less than three seconds. It then drops as Sonnenburg slowly brings his car to a stop, a wave of satisfaction washing over his face. One thing is clear:

The Volkswagen Group last week reaffirmed its commitment to expanding its Chattanooga facility, where it plans on producing a newly developed midsize SUV for the U.S. market.

As previously announced, the Group plans on a total investment of approximately $900 million in the production of a newly developed, seven-passenger SUV. In the state of Tennessee alone, Volkswagen Group anticipates a $600 million investment and creation of 2,000 additional jobs.

NeighborWorks America has awarded Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise (CNE) $15,000 to enhance and promote the Highland Park neighborhood. The grant is part of NeighborWorks’ national Neighborhood Marketing Program, and includes marketing consulting services. Highland Park is one of 10 communities across the country NeighborWorks selected to participate in the program.

Attorney A. Emma Flynn is not happy. She’s in a doctor’s office, engaged in a heated conversation with the physician. Instead of looking him in the face, though, she’s turned away and fixed her eyes on a distant point.

That point appears to be the back of the nearly empty auditorium where she and other volunteer actors are performing a dress rehearsal of “Harvey,” which opens tonight at the Chattanooga Theatre Centre.

Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, a Chattanooga-based law firm, has been named a leading law firm in 14 practice areas, according to the 2015 “Best Law Firms” rankings by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers.

Chambliss received first-tier rankings in fourteen practice areas including the following: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Commercial Litigation; Construction Law; Corporate Law; Employment Law – Management; Energy Law; Health Care Law; Litigation – Antitrust; Litigation - Labor & Employment; Patent Law; Real Estate Law; Tax Law; Trademark Law; and Trusts & Estates Law.

This just in from crossword land: I’ve deleted OLD BAG from my word list. Along with COOT, CODGER, and GEEZER. Still thinking about CURMUDGEON. Confused? Okay, here’s the story.

In a recent crossword the phrase OLD BAG appeared in the fill. Based largely on the “Seinfeld” episode where Jerry stole a loaf of marble rye bread from a woman (my most recent point of reference), I neither batted an eye nor thought twice about the term.

You may be quite willing to plan an investment strategy for your retirement years. After all, it can be enjoyable to think about traveling the world, pursuing your hobbies or participating in any of the activities you’ve associated with an active retirement. However, once you do retire, you’ll need to “shift gears” somewhat to focus on your legacy. Specifically, to protect your loved ones and ensure your intentions are clear and carried out, you’ll need to do some more planning – and you’ll need to share your thoughts with your family.

Dressing up for Halloween was optional at the Hamilton County Clerk & Master’s office, but everyone got into the spirit of the day anyway.

Dr. Shock, his sidekick Nurse Goodbody, a group of minions, and more all made appearances. Not pictured: Clerk & Master Robin Miller, who dressed up but had to leave before the photo was taken. 

Three blind mice, a jester, two witches, and Maverick from “Top Gun” arrive at the annual Halloween party at Keller Williams Downtown. We have just one question: Where’s Iceman? 

Realtor Katherine Smith (left) knows just what every child of a Realtor wants.

Many people grew up with the idea that one day we would all be living in homes like the Jetsons, with a closet that showers and dresses you and a robot that makes your breakfast. While homes aren’t quite there yet, smart home technology has advanced leaps and bounds in recent years, and has become more popular than ever.

Realtor Paula Palmer of Real Estate Partners and builder Billy McCoy of McCoy Homes previewed McCoy’s development at Ridges of Crystal Brook in Apison, Tenn., last week.

The agent-only event gave Realtors a look at the 76 lots available for development in the community and the seven houses McCoy Homes is currently building.

Society of Work, a membership-based co-working space, will relocate to the sixth story Edney Innovation Center. Society of Work is on a growing list of companies located in the heart of Chattanooga’s Innovation District, including most recently Open Table, SouthTree, and White Board. Additionally, Society of Work will be the third tenant so far in the Edney Innovation Center, a public-private partnership located at the corner of Market and 11th Streets. Both the Company Lab and The Enterprise Center began official operations from the Edney Innovation Center earlier this month.

To help enhance the safety and comfort of a senior visitor, especially one who may have some of the physical challenges that come with aging, here are a few quick and inexpensive things you can do to make the time less stressful for you and more comfortable for your guest:

Phil Newman, a longtime Knoxville- and Nashville-area communications and public-relations professional, has joined the Tennessee Association of Realtors in the new role of director of communications.

In this role, Newman will serve to advance TAR’s strategic priorities in communications and community outreach, while supporting the Association’s initiatives in public-policy advocacy, education, and professional-standards training.

NormalPalooza will take place Saturday, Nov. 7 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Normal Park Museum Magnet school. The school fundraiser will feature live music and entertainment, regional artisans, food vendors, and a kids zone. Visit normalpark.com for music schedules and artist listings.

On Saturday, Nov. 7 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Hunter Museum will host a local makers showcase featuring handcrafted items by 423 Soaps, Bear Paw Jewelry, Dreamweaver Creations, EE Iron­works, and Jewelry by Christina.

Hamilton Place will kick off the holiday season Saturday, Nov. 7 with a 5K race and the 17th Annual Santa Arrival Parade.

The Reindeer Dash will begin at 8 a.m. at Academy Sports + Outdoors and wind through the 200-acre shopping complex.

The event will precede the annual Santa Arrival parade, slated to begin at 11 a.m. along the perimeter of the mall.

The UTC Music Department will open the 2015-16 season of its Faculty Concert series with clarinet faculty Nikolasa Tejero in recital with pianist Tim Hinck.

They will perform Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m. at Roland Hayes Concert Hall, located in the UTC Fine Arts Center (752 Vine Street).

Spectrum, Hunter Museum’s annual art auction and gala, is just around the corner.

The festivities will begin with a silent auction on Thursday, Nov. 12 that will feature over 50 works by artists from across the southeast.

Guests will have the opportunity to bid on works while enjoying cocktails and light hors d’oeuvres.

Christians United for Israel, along with churches in North Georgia and the Greater Chattanooga area, invites the community to a Night to Honor Israel on Thursday, Nov.12, at 7 p.m. at The Colonnade, located at 264 Catoosa Circle in Ringgold.

The purpose of this event is to show solidarity between Jewish people and Christians in their support of Israel.

Choral Arts will perform “A Christmas Collage” Saturday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. at Brainerd United Methodist Church (4315 Brainerd Road). The program will include sacred and secular holiday music.

FIVE, located at One North Shore, is bringing a new tradition to Chattanooga’s Thanksgiving celebrations.

A traditional seated Thanksgiving meal prepared by the restaurant’s culinary team will be served free of charge from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the restaurant.

The Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute (TNACI) has announced plans tobuild the only freshwater science center in the Southeast. The 14,000 square foot facility will be located on the south campus of Baylor School in Chattanooga. The biological field station will house propagation systems for reintroduction programs, three fully-equipped labs for researchers, a spacious teaching lab for rising high school and college students, as well as meeting space for collaborative projects with other scientists.

A few weeks ago, Eve Yancy, a friend of mine, asked if I would consider being a judge in the 5th Annual World Champion Cheese Dip competition. I didn’t even know the first through the fourth had ever happened. Silly me! Come to find out this is a pretty big deal, and after it was all said and done, I felt most honored to have been a part of this wonderful event. Not only did I participate in the judging, the Daily Record was a sponsor, so we kind of double-dutied the event.

Previously on “Are we there yet?”

KM and I were driving to the beach for a week. The plan was to fly home six days later, leaving the rental car at the Panama City Beach Airport. That would be the rental car I had picked up in Memphis. Why Memphis? Because I could not find a flight to Little Rock on the date I needed. Why was I flying only one way? Cheap. Plus I had free vouchers for the rental car as well. Now if I could only find a two-for-one Amberjack dinner at The Back Porch, I’d have it made in the (beach umbrella) shade.

Saturday, Nov. 6, 1965

The $2 million Chattanooga State Technical Institute will be built on a 75-acre tract on Amnicola Highway and the Tennessee River donated by J. Frank Harrison, industrialist and civic leader.

Sunday, Nov. 7

William G. Raoul, president of Cavalier Corp., has been named national chairman for the University of Chattanooga 1966 annual giving fund. Dr. LeRoy A. Martin, UC president, said the campaign, which begins Monday, will seek the largest goal in UC’s history - $300,000.

Saturday, Nov. 6, 1915

The Copenhagen correspondent of the Daily Telegraph in London sent the following: The Swedish government has decided to give Thomas A. Edison of the United States the Nobel Prize for Physics.

The Herron triplets walk away with the prize in the “Better Baby Contest” at the Chattanooga District Fair at Warner Park Friday. They are two years old, and scored 90 points. The babies are Evelyn Marie, Emory, and Charles Wright Herron, children of Commissioner and Mrs. Ed Herron.

The temperatures throughout October this year were very mild and nice considering usually that is when we usually feel our first cold snap. It never fails that it is always right before I go trick or treating with my children, however, this year it was nice with temperatures in the sixties.