News - Friday, December 19, 2014

The members of the Chattanooga Chapter of the Women’s Council of Realtors (WCR) set aside their December meeting to honor those who served the organization in 2014 and to look ahead to those who will lead the organization in the year to come. Meeting for lunch at Choo Choo Hotel on Wednesday, Dec. 10, the organization named its Affiliate and Realtor of the Year, and installed its leadership for 2015.

CHI Memorial Foundation will host the 10th Annual Pink! Gala, “Cheers to 10 Years!,” on Saturday, Jan. 31 at the Chattanooga Convention Center. Proceeds from the black-tie event will be used to meet the needs of the MaryEllen Locher Breast Center at CHI Memorial.

The American Bar Association this week released national figures for first-year and total J.D. enrollment for the fall of 2014.

The 204 ABA-approved law schools reported total J.D. enrollment (full-time and part-time students) of 119,775. This is a decrease of 8,935 students (6.9 percent) from 2013 and a 17.5 percent decrease from the historic high total J.D. enrollment in 2010. The 2014 total enrollment is the lowest since 1982, when there were 169 ABA-approved law schools.

Comprehensive changes to continuing education requirements for attorneys in Tennessee will go into effect Jan. 1, 2015. In an order filed Dec. 16, the Court overhauls Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 21, making the most significant changes since the Rule was adopted in 1986.

Hamilton County was presented with a $230,000 Local Park and Recreation Program Fund grant for Enterprise South Nature Center on Dec. 11 in Nashville.

Pictured (L-R) are: Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Deputy Commissioner Brock Hill; Superintendent Lee Greene; and TDEC Commissioner Bob Martineau.

The City of East Ridge was presented with a $100,000 Local Park and Recreation Program Fund grant for Monroe Street Park on Dec. 11 in Nashville.

Pictured (L-R) are: Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Deputy Commissioner Brock Hill; State Rep. Marc Gravitt; Treasurer Thad Jablonski; Parks & Recreation Director Stump Martin; Mayor Brent Lambert; City Manager Andrew Hyatt; and TDEC Commissioner Bob Martineau.

The following Realtors will lead the Chattanooga Chapter of the Women’s Council of Realtors in 2015: Vice President Elect Susan Barnette; Treasurer Barbara Pargeon; Vice President of Membership Deborah Radford; President Kim Bass; and Secretary Laurena Morehead.

Let’s face it, finding the motivation to leave your home during the winter months can really be tough, or non-existent. This inspiration is especially hard to find when temperatures range from chilly to downright frigid. Instead of braving the elements, many opt to hibernate at home. Staying cozy at home can often mean high heating bills, but it doesn’t have to.

Off-duty Chattanooga firefighters are doing what they can to help the three children who lost their parents in a terrible fire last month. Rebecca, 10, Haley, 9, and Mark, 8, are now staying with their grandparents, Susan and Gary Patterson, who live just around the corner from where the fire took the lives of Randall and Candy Lockhart at 220 Houser St. on Nov. 26.

At its best, “Exodus: Gods and Kings” is a sprawling, visually sumptuous costume drama, the likes of which director Ridley Scott (“Blade Runner,” “Gladiator”) is a master at conjuring. At its worst, it’s a leaden drama that plods its way to an unsatisfying conclusion. Unfortunately, it spends the greater bulk of its running time plodding.

During the holiday season, you no doubt have a lot going on in your life — work functions, gatherings with friends and neighbors, tracking down the elusive “perfect gift,” etc. But you may find it valuable to add one more event to your calendar: a family meeting to discuss those financial preparations that affect you and your loved ones.

As Christmas 2014 approaches, it’s difficult as a legal commentator not to reflect on the turmoil and angst permeating the country over the legal system as a result of grand jury decisions in New York and Missouri. However, those decisions are merely the flash points for the complicated issues of growing up black in America and the policing of our communities. Each of us brings our perspectives and biases to the judging table concerning the events surrounding the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown. Here are my biases.

We were touting “wearable tech” way before it was cool. But guess what? The coolness factor has finally caught up with our hype. We say that because we recently purchased the long-awaited Moto 360, Motorola’s entry into the Android Wear smartwatch swarm. We were sold on the technology behind smartwatches a couple of years ago, but now our non-tech friends don’t make fun of us when we wear our new Moto 360 to the annual office holiday soiree. The distinguishing characteristic of the Moto 360 is it’s stylish round-face, as opposed to the rectangular, geeky looking watch face of some of the other smartwatches we’ve acquired. The black leather band also helps mask the appearance of this smartwatch as just another layman’s watch.

As the year comes to an end and we finish the holiday season, it seems like a good idea to try to end the year on a positive note. The ironic thing about the holidays is that, even though it’s the happiest time of the year, sometimes, it’s really the toughest time of the year to find satisfaction. The things that are good are really good at this time of the year. The things that are bad seem much worse at year’s end. There’s a multiplier attached to everything that exaggerates the meaning of everything. I’ve come up with three simple steps that are guaranteed to maximize your enjoyment of the holidays.

^“Dear Judge Vic, I am writing about the U.S.Postal Service. My wife and me send several things each month to the same address in a major city in another state. To the home of our kids. A house we’ve stayed at. A place with a porch, where the mail guy leaves packages. A few weeks ago, we sent a box with some presents in it.

I can hardly believe it’s almost 2015. As the old adage goes, “time flies when you’re having fun.” This has never been more true for me. Time is flying. and I’m having fun!

I remember when I was in elementary school and we received “Weekly Readers.” They were usually four-page newsletters about new inventions and goings-on in the world. We would all get one, and our teacher would go over them with us about the latest happenings. I think “Weekly Readers” are still used in the schools. However, they probably use iPads and computers now to investigate that stuff. They probably read the online edition.

Reprinted from another holiday season.

I’ve again watched the old favorites like Rudolph and Charlie Brown and Frosty, but seem to be sympathizing more with The Grinch and Ebeneezer.

I have feebly competed in the season’s shopping wars, only to be sent home battered and bruised, like an SEC West football team.  

Back in the day when I held a real job instead of being retired, I remember one December evening riding on a shuttle bus to an event at the governor’s residence with a number of media folks from around the state. We were all involved in journalism either in newspaper, TV, radio, or as freelance writers, and we joined together on this mode of transportation for this one night to enjoy a holiday get together.

Master Gardener Classes 2015 Beginning Saturday, Jan. 10

Sign up now for the Master Gardener Class taking place in early January (either the evening of the 5th, or the morning of the 6th). Class space is limited. For more information, call the UT Extension Office – Hamilton County at (423) 855-6113.

Some years ago, I decided to make photo coasters at Christmas for presents to give to my family. I made everyone coasters with a mix of photos that I knew would create an instant conversation starter. Over the last three years, I noticed everyone is still using all of the coasters and they are holding up amazingly well.

Christmas trivia… trying to get you all ready!

1. In Luke 1:20, what happens to Zechariah when he doubts what the angel Gabriel has told him? He rejoices with the angel; he’s unable to walk; he’s unable to speak; he’s unable to see.

Fill in the blanks in the quote using the following words:

chosen, commitment, direct, endeavor, their

person’s, their, excellence, quality, proportion

“The _____ of a _____ life is in _____ _____ to _____ _____ to _____, regardless of _____ _____ field of _____.”     ~ Vince Lombardi

Saturday, December 19, 1914

Miss Rose Harwood, daughter of Judge Thomas Harwood of Trenton, will come next week to visit Misses Mary Thankful and Mary Anderson Everett en route home from Agnes Scott.

The wedding of Miss Hilda Perry and Mr. Phillip Bailey Whitaker took place last evening at 8:00 in the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Sumner Perry in Ferger Place. The spacious and beautiful home was harmoniously decorated throughout for the occasion, to which 200 guests had been invited.

Saturday, December 19, 1964

Leighton L. Trent, who retired Friday as executive of the Industrial and Downtown branches of the YMCA, was honored Thursday at the First Presbyterian Church. Approximately 60 persons were present to honor Mr. Trent, who’s been active for over 40 years in the work of the Young Men’s Christian Association.