News - Friday, July 12, 2013

The bobcat, the snow goose and the lake trout are in agreement: Richard Wagner is a skilled hunter and fisherman. The bobcat has been perfectly preserved and his lithe body and intense gaze positioned eye-level from the top of a bookshelf near the door of Wagner’s office to greet clients and colleagues. Mounted on a wall, the starkly white snow goose looks as though it’s trying to take flight, though it wouldn’t get far in the cramped confines. And the lake trout, also mounted, appears to be forever frozen in the moment when Wagner’s hook found its mouth in the waters of Canada.

Mark Making recently completed We Shall Not Be Moved, a mural located at Champy’s Famous Fried Chicken on M.L. King Boulevard in Chattanooga. Depicting the February 19, 1960 Chattanooga sit-ins, We Shall Not Be Moved commemorates the bravery of the teenage Howard School student demonstrators. Sixty Howard and STEM School students designed the mural in collaboration with professional artists Amanda Brazier, Rondell Crier, Frances McDonald and Judy Mogul. The composition was then painted by these and many other Howard and STEM School students, Mark Making volunteers and community members. Participation in the project left a mark on the students. “I learned how to create something that could change how the [people in a] community see each other,” said Janeice, a STEM student. Eric, a Howard student, said, “I am more than proud because we are making a difference.” (David Laprad)

To express France’s eternal gratitude to those who liberated it from oppression from 1944 and 1945, the Consul General of France in Atlanta, Denis Barbet, bestowed the Legion of Honor on ten American WWII Veterans from Tennessee in a ceremony held July 9 at the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel in Nashville. William D. Moon (Sergeant, Company A, 397th Infantry) of Chattanooga was one of the ten. Founded by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, the National Order of the Legion of Honor is the highest honor in France. It recognizes eminent services to the French Republic. Recipients of this honor are designated by the President of the Republic, François Hollande. (David Laprad)

The Chattanooga History Center has announced that its 8th Annual History Makers Award will honor the McCallie Family legacy. The award recognizes local individuals or groups who have made significant contributions to Chattanooga, the region, the state, or the country.

The law firm of Baker Donelson will host the Summer 2013 Franchise Business Network Meeting on Tuesday, July 16. Joel R. Buckberg will moderate the meeting, which will feature three speakers covering a variety of topics.

Gary Liu, president of Priority Payments East Coast, will deliver a presentation titled PCI Compliance for Franchised Businesses; Micheline Johnson, of counsel at Baker Donelson, will speak on Branding in the Digital Age; and Matt Job, vice president of sales at Local Search Masters, will talk about Reputation Management in Social Media.

Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive insect that destroys ash trees, has been found in Hamilton County. The identification was made recently and has been confirmed by USDA.

The find in Hamilton County is of particular concern because it is not adjacent to the already quarantined areas in East Tennessee. At least a dozen trees adjacent to the rail lines in Chattanooga and an EAB trap located in a park near the rail hub tested positive for the insect.

I was watching a movie relating to the early 1900s the other day. An old guy was asking a young guy to define the secret of America. After a few guesses, the old man slapped him across the face and yelled “Money, that is the secret, money. In America money is everything!” Americans did not invent the love of money, but we do hold it above just about everything else.

ARDEN, N.C.—This suburb of Asheville is home to my newest favorite burger place. Don't get me started on the Old-Fashioned—mustard, onions, chili, slaw. Check out frenchfryz.net.

Still on vacation. This column has to be about Paris. See the past two weeks' columns. Last week's dateline was Marseille, which was a bit of a fudge. As the column strongly hints toward the end, I was on a train.

Last week, my son sent me an email about the “many uses of powder.” I thought this would be a good time to share it, it being summer and all. The sun is so brutally hot, we need some softness from somewhere, or odor relief in our tennis shoes, or a soothing sprinkle in our bed.

Have you been to Conga Latin Food?

If not, come with me as I try it for the first time.

I learned about Conga Latin through Groupon. I love trying new restaurants and new foods, but hadn’t come across anything in a while, so the email piqued my interest.

Kathy and I were having lunch Monday, and she was telling me something and I didn’t quite get it, which caused her to comment, “You don’t listen,” which caused our young waitress, who was listening, to grin. Later, back at work, I ran across an old email, which caused me to grin.

The first week in July holds many celebrations for the Bona Family. It marks our son-in-law Doug Baltzer’s birthday; Don’s brother Bob Bona’s birthday and the Fourth of July – our country’s Independence birthday! So, we celebrate! And most of the celebrations are in the warm, sunny outdoors. There’s no place I’d rather be!

New Realtor Laurena Morehead has teamed up with top producing Realtor Rommel Ramos to work as Team Ramos for Crye-Leike.

Morehead and Ramos will work out of the company’s East Brainerd office. Ramos focuses on helping sellers list, market and sell homes, while Morehead guides buyers through the process of purchasing a home.

Helen Scott Hixon has joined Upward Realty.com, where she will work with a team of real estate specialists. The company is owned by Raymond Warren, Broker.

Hixon’s varied real estate background has ranged from property management, retail center, outlet mall and office leasing. She served as general manager and marketing manager at Prime Retail Outlet Malls in Darien, Ga., and Perryville Md., and oversaw capital improvement and maintenance projects. While managing Chattanooga’s Northtowne Center for Angel Realty, Helen negotiated new leases with Staples, Factory Card Outlet, Framearound Gallery and more to accomplish full occupancy. She was Leasing Director for Healthcare Realty Trust’s 750,000 square feet medical office portfolio in Memphis, Tenn., headed Standard Management Company’s destination retail and festival marketplace leasing in Columbus, Ohio, and completed numerous lease transactions in Chicago-based Arthur Rubloff Co.’s managed properties in Cincinnati, Ohio, serving as leasing director for One Lytle Place, Cincinnati’s first mixed use high rise property located on the Ohio River. 

Nearly one-third of adults living in Hamilton, Bradley and Marion counties are family caregivers who could be at risk for heart disease, diabetes, depression and various other physical and emotional maladies as a result of caregiver distress, a potentially dangerous condition brought on by the pressures of caring for a senior loved one.

Standing outside on a clear night and looking up at the stars and moon is simply amazing. The sight can be breathtaking. Lately, my son (and general manager of this newspaper) has taken quite an interest in photographing the Milky Way Galaxy. His photographs are amazing, as you can attest to in the picture below.

If you’re on the fence with seeing The Lone Ranger, save your money. It’s a bloated, leaden bore.

I didn’t think this was possible. It’s a movie about the Lone Ranger. His theme song is The Overture to William Tell. He rides white horse called Silver. He has an Native American sidekick named Tonto. And he lives in the Old West, saving the day.

The TasteBuds Local Food Guide will come to life during the First Annual TasteBuds Farm Tour. A $20 car pass will allow you to pile in your pals and kids for a self-paced road trip during the weekend of September 21 and 22 from noon to 5 p.m.

Due to the uneven supply and demand of the real estate market, some agents have been taking matters into their own hands: looking for unlisted homes and offering them to potential buyers.

This tactic, called pocket listings, is mostly common with celebrities who are trying to keep a low profile, but the prices of homes have been high in recent years, and still continue to climb.

Saturday, July 13

H. Clay Evans Johnson, president of Interstate Life and Accident Insurance Co., has submitted his resignation as chairman of the Golden Gateway Committee to Mayor Kelley. Mr. Johnson was named to this committee by former Mayor Olgiati on Nov. 15, 1961.

Friday, July 11

The Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce heard a report from Sec. W. Scott Raulston on the “posters” referendum in regard to the East End Avenue viaduct that is to be constructed. The vote was 457 for and nine against.

Crafted by Southern Hands at Warehouse Row

This summer

Warehouse Row’s Civil War era buildings is serving as the host of an event series dubbed Crafted by Southern Hands. The event showcases fashion, art, décor and food created below the Mason-Dixon Line.