News - Friday, December 6, 2013

The American Lung Association in Tennessee during a reception Tuesday, December 3 at Henderson, Hutcherson & McCullough announced the 2013 Women of Distinction. The ladies will be honored at the 29th Annual Women of Distinction Awards Luncheon, scheduled to take place Tuesday, April 29 at the Chattanooga Convention Center from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event, which benefits the American Lung Association in Tennessee, is a Chattanooga tradition that honors one Tennessee Woman of Distinction; ten Chattanooga women who have distinguished themselves within their family, career, and community; and three to five high school seniors.

The Chattanooga Bar Association on Thursday, December 12 will host attorney John Bode’s annual “Labor and Employment Law Update.” The seminar will take place from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the J. Guy Beatty Conference Center, located on the 5th floor of the Volunteer Building. Participants will earn 2.0 hours of general CLE credit. The cost is $65 for CBA members and $95 for non-members.

Jed Roebuck has joined the law firm of Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel as an associate attorney.

Roebuck, a Lookout Mountain native, joins as a member of the firm’s health care practice group. He specializes in health care law, complemented by a strong background in business litigation, allowing him to advise his clients in planning, contractual and other transactional matters.

The City of Chattanooga Department of Youth & Family Development (Chattanooga YFD) is proud to be honored by Tennessee Recreation and Parks Association in a number of categories, including new facilities, programs, aquatics, marketing, and arts. Chattanooga’s YFD received five of the organization’s highest awards, which recognizes the best overall programs, facilities and marketing in the state of Tennessee. In addition, YFD received two awards in arts programming and excellence in lifeguarding.

How many people are there that you need to say something to? As we fall head first into the holiday season, it seems that our relationships with others often become magnified. We spend time with those we are close to and often continue to ignore those with which we have grown apart.  

Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger and The Partnership for Families, Children and Adults on Tuesday, December 3 at the Hamilton Country/Chattanooga Courts Building hosted “A Season of Remembrance,” a time to remember friends and loved ones whose lives have been disrupted by violent crimes such as domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse, and homicide. “This is an opportunity to remember those we love,” said Regina McDevitt, director of crisis services at Partnership. “The ceremony not only brings attention to the prevalence and severity of these crimes but also calls for everyone in our communities to stop the violence.” The tree will remain in the Arboretum at the Courts building during the holiday season; community members may hang their own handmade or store bought ornaments in memory of those who have passed because of violent crime, or in honor of the survivors. Pictured: Judge Christie Mahn Sell hanging an ornament. (David Laprad)

Last week, I thanked all who had weighed in on the issue of stopping unwanted calls from marketers. One contributor (“Tanya”) sent me what was represented as something that had helped “cut down on phone calls to me.”

I don’t profess to be a relationship guru. Truth be told, I still occasionally need help in figuring out a dilemma. It seems that during the holiday season from Thanksgiving to New Year’s, tempers, stress, and disagreements between couples soar.

I read someone’s ranking at “The Week” of the ten best Turkey Day dishes. 

Coming in at number ten was the big bird itself – turkey.  As they put it, “We eat turkey at Thanksgiving not because it’s the tastiest poultry or the easiest to cook, but because the bird’s large size allows us to feed many hungry people all at the same time.” I hate to agree with this sacrilege, but I kind of do. Unless you’re “The Old Man” from “A Christmas Story,” you probably agree a little, too. 

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, wherever and with whomever you celebrated. In my opinion, the time of year when families and friends gather and share a meal together is the most wonderful time of the year. Sometimes, Thanksgiving and Christmas are the only times of the year some of us get to visit with certain relatives.

Elaine Boyd-Osby was reared on a farm in Pikeville, Tenn. Her father grew crops and raised cattle on the 50-acre plot, where Osby shared gardening chores with an older sister and a younger brother. She has fond memories of her time there, and occasionally returns with her siblings to reminisce.

When it comes to lobster fishing, what usually comes to mind is a strong fishy smell, dirty clothes, rolling waves, cold temperatures and almost Canadian accents. But for Kyle Murdock it’s about suits – about four times a year.

Murdock, 24, dropped out of school and started his own business, Sea Hag Seafood in St. George, Maine. Because of his entrepreneurial spirit and his choice to employ ex-cons, he had to wear a suit Monday to accept his award as one of the Hitachi Foundation’s 2013 Young Entrepreneurs.

We have all heard and sung Christmas carols since we were little kids and surely we have our own personal favorites. Carols make the spirit of Christmas come alive and our family gatherings more memorable. Here’s a fun quiz to test your knowledge about some of our well-loved Christmas carols. Have fun!

Think back to the films Disney released in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, to movies like “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Lion King,” and “Aladdin.” What comes to mind when you think of those films, assuming you liked them? Great stories, well-developed characters, memorable songs, and unrivaled hand-drawn animation.