News - Friday, March 1, 2013

Three attorneys at Chattanooga-based law firm Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel – William P. Aiken, Richard W. Bethea and William H. Pickering – have been recognized as 2013 Client Service All-Stars by BTI Consulting Group. BTI named Aiken, Bethea and Pickering as three of 307 lawyers nationwide included in the All-Star team. They were the only lawyers based in Tennessee to receive this honor and make Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel one of fewer than 25 firms in the nation to have three or more All-Stars.

Representative Mike Carter (R-Ooltewah) has been named to the powerful House Finance, Ways and Means Committee, as well as the Civil Justice Committee and Subcommittee for the 108th Tennessee General Assembly.

 “The Finance, Ways and Means Committee plays an important role in keeping Tennessee a business-friendly state and I am honored that Speaker Harwell has named me to this committee,” stated Representative Carter. “I look forward to working with my colleagues during the upcoming legislative session to make Tennessee an even better place to live, work, and raise a family.”

When you go to the polls and cast your vote for mayor and City Council on March 5, you’ll also have an opportunity to make changes to the City Charter. A City Charter is a guiding document that establishes the governing structure for the City, somewhat like a Constitution for the City. Chattanooga’s Charter is a combination of Private Acts of the Tennessee General Assembly beginning in 1869 and also includes amendments adopted through the years. In 1972, Chattanooga voters adopted home rule, and since then, all Charter changes have been approved by referendum. The proposed changes that are presented in the March 5 charter referendum will clear up and clarify the City Charter.

Special to the Hamilton County Herald

State Rep. Glen Casada, (R-Franklin), the Republican caucus chairman of the state House, is part friend and part cajoler to the 70 representatives with whom he serves.

“I help members with their legislation,” he says. “And I help the caucus rally around a few positions.”

If the sequester threat in Washington does nothing else, it reminds us that the future always comes. Some of us will not be here in the future when it does come, but it always comes. As a country, we have an addiction to putting things off so we don’t have to worry about them today. That addiction creates a breeding ground for cancers that can be painful and impossible to cure.

Have you seen the TV series, “The Biggest Loser?” Aired on NBC since October 19, 2004, the show features obese people competing to win a cash prize by losing the highest percentage of weight relative to their initial weight. It’s still going strong, and thousands of pounds have been shed as a result.

The due date was Feb. 7. First child. The expectant couple declined all invitations, exhortations, and overt begging from friends and relatives to disclose, or even hint at, the name they planned to give their daughter.

Then there was the Christmas card. This item, mass mailed in mid-December, contained a photo of the couple. Over the tummy of the wife was a tiny Washington Redskins jersey prominently bearing the number 10.

It’s Monday, and I’m counting the days until I can go back to Baked in Chattanooga for lunch. I’ve been able to count to two since I was two, and Wednesday seems as far away as that tender age.

The wait would be easier, save for two things, the first of which is my memory of owner Allison Darras’s Spinach Portobello Mushroom Lasagna. To quote what I wrote to a friend last Thursday after trying it for the first time: “The lasanga was incredible. It was meatless, white, with tons of cheese, and the top layer of pasta was burned slightly on the edges, as it should be. She served it to me on a regular dinner plate, like you might find in the cupboard of your own home, minutes after it came out of the oven. Every time I dug my fork into it, thick chunks of mushrooms spilled out.”

Humor is tragedy plus time” – Mark Twain

The Oscars were Sunday night, and I watched pretty much the entire nine hours. If we had a water cooler at the paper, then the main topic of conversation around it would probably be Seth McFarland and his hosting debut. Instead, I had to resort to that electronic water cooler known as the Facebook. (Sorry, couldn’t resist bringing back the “the.”) It was fun to read posts from people I know from the west coast to Queens (my baby girl) and their opinions on the seemingly confident antics of McFarland. At least everyone took a short break from politics.

I guess I’m on an Italian cooking spree. Last week, I told you about Modena Balsamic Vinegar; this week, I have olives on my mind.

I love olives. Green or black, Italian or Greek, it doesn’t matter to me. I love them all. In fact, when I started writing this article, I started craving olives, so I’m eating green olives as I write.

In 2012, sales associates with Coldwell Banker Pryor Realty sowed seeds of labor, and then reaped the rewards. On Tuesday, February 19, they also harvested a bumper crop of certificates and trophies as owners Bill and Peggy Pryor hosted the company’s annual Awards and Recognition Program at Public House. According to Ann Martin, broker of Pryor Realty’s Chattanooga office, the company handed out more awards this year than any other year in its history.

The Home Builders Association of Greater Chattanooga hosted its 47th Tri-State Home Show February 22 through 24 at the Chattanooga Convention and Trade Center. The show featured more than 470 booths showcasing every conceivable product for the home. From kitchens, bathrooms and patios, to sunrooms, windows and doors, to an improved man cave, the show was nothing less than memorable. Above: Racecar driver John Andretti chats with attendees. (David Laprad)

Here are a few questions about our weird and wonderful body that maybe you don’t know – or at least haven’t read since high school biology class. See how well you score.

1. Vocalization is not the only responsibility of the larynx. In which of these functions does the larynx also play a role? Hearing; Swallowing; Chewing; Digestion.

Sometimes, a line from a movie is so laughably bad, you can’t help but wonder what was going through the writer’s head when he or she wrote it. “Dark Skies” contains a humdinger of a line. I’ll set it up for you:

A husband and wife are arguing about whether or not they should put one of their kids in therapy. Strange Things® have been happening in their house that seem to be centered on their youngest of two sons, but the husband isn’t sure they can afford the treatments. So the wife screams, I kid you not: “He’s not a cable bill, he’s our son!”

Dear EarthTalk: I understand the environmental justice movement seeks to protect poor and non-white communities from being unfairly targeted to host activities like sewage treatment plants, landfills, and polluting factories. Have there been notable victories?

Saturday, March 2

The 12-story, 410-room Hotel Patten and furnishings have been purchased from Hotel Patten, Inc., by the Hotel Patten Co., a new corporation headed by John K. Williams. The sale was effective March 1. Officers of the new corporation are Williams, president; J. Garnett Andrews, vice-president; and Silas A Law, secretary-treasurer. Stockholders and directors, in addition to Williams and Andrews, are Howard Dayton, Harry W. Durand, Carter Parham, William B. Pfeiffer and Harry R. White.

Saturday, March 1

Miss Fannie Hunt is ill at the Highland Sanitarium, where she underwent an operation.

Mrs. H.P. Eager is ill at her home on Missionary Ridge.

Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Varnell have returned to their winter home in Florida, and Chester Varnell has returned to Vanderbilt University. They were called to Chattanooga by the illness and death of Crawford Varnell.

Saturday, March 9

Have a smokin’ hot marriage

At the First Things First event Celebrate Marriage, Dr. Pat Love, author of the book “Hot Monogamy,” will teach couples the art of creating a passion-filled marriage. This free event is for couples that are married or engaged, and offers the chance to laugh and leave with a fresh outlook on marriage.  Celebrate Marriage will be held at Brainerd Church (formerly Brainerd United Methodist Church) at 4315 Brainerd Road from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with lunch and snacks provided. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.  Participants must pre-register for the seminar online at firstthings.org.