News - Friday, August 2, 2019

It’s 4 p.m. on a Friday and 1885 Grill has just opened its doors. Despite the early hour, the dinner crowd at the St. Elmo eatery is already taking shape, with hungry patrons eager to sample the restaurant’s southern coastal fare.

Before long, servers are bringing plates of salmon and baby kale salad and ribeye steak with freshly grilled vegetables to the tables. Children seated beside their parents can be seen munching on grilled chicken and washing down their meals with sips of apple juice.

Local restaurants are not only working with Eat REAL to improve their nutrition standards, they're also partnering with nonprofit organization green|spaces to improve their sustainability practices.

Over the last six months, ten restaurants have begun green|spaces' green|light certification.

Robert Divine, leader of Baker Donelson’s immigration group, is listed in the 2019 edition of “Who’s Who Legal,” which recognizes the world’s leading lawyers based on feedback from clients and peer attorneys.

“Who’s Who Legal recognized Divine in the area of corporate immigration.

Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel has achieved the international cybersecurity standards for law firms set by Meritas, a global alliance of independent business law firms.

“It’s important to our firm to continuously implement best practices, especially when it comes to the protection of our clients’ information,” says Tony Young, executive director for Chambliss. “Meeting a global quality benchmark helps us attain the level of cybersecurity needed to protect the interests of our clients.”

Upward Realty agent Julie Alcantara was recently awarded the Graduate Realtor Institute designation. In completing the required curriculum, Alcantara joins other Realtors in the residential real estate industry across the nation who hold this designation.

In response to several incidents involving allegations of excessive force by local law enforcement officers, Hamilton County District Attorney General Neal Pinkston has set up a hotline for citizen complaints.

“We have been made aware of several incidents involving claims that excessive force was used,” Pinkston says. “As the investigations of those incidents proceed, I believe we need to find out if these are isolated incidents or if there’s a systemic problem.”

BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee leaders recently gathered at Chattanooga State Community College to meet the latest recipient of Chattanooga State Foundation’s BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Minority Accounting Endowed Scholarship.

The scholarship was established in 2016 by the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation to improve diversity in the field of accounting. This year’s recipient was Chattanooga State student Andrew Caldron.

State Senator Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga) recently told a group from the Tennessee Press Association that he will continue to push for public accountability and an end to any secret lawsuit settlements made by Tennessee government or quasi-governmental entities.

The Public Education Foundation recognized Jim Hill, PEF’s immediate past chair of the board of directors, for his dedication to PEF and service to the Chattanooga community by awarding the James L. E. Hill Scholarship to Darius White, a graduate of STEM School Chattanooga.

It’s hard to believe, but it’s already back-to-school time. As a Realtor, I often see how important schools are to families looking to buy a home.

Luckily, our area has many outstanding schools, which makes my job easier. It’s easy to show houses to people who are excited about the great schools their kids will attend.

Late summer and early fall in the Tennessee Valley provides ideal weather to enjoy the porch or deck at home. Like your home’s interior, you should keep your exterior clean and in good shape for optimal comfort. To help you enjoy your outdoor living space, here are some tips for porch or deck maintenance.

Continued success in the music festival business – whether it’s a local grassroots event, the blockbuster of Bonnaroo or Knoxville’s innovative Big Ears festival – is unpredictable, and it’s far more than fear no one will turn up.

If you have a child or another family member with disabilities, you obviously have concerns and questions. How can you help your loved one achieve the greatest quality of life possible? Can you arrange for adequate services? What’s the best way to pay for them? Can you get some financial help?

There was a time when the release of a new Disney film was an event. Beginning with “The Little Mermaid” in 1989, the studio would release a new hand-animated classic about once a year, and audiences would pack theaters to watch the adventures of Belle and the Beast, Aladdin and the Genie, Hercules, Mulan, Tarzan and more.

Some of us in the personal finance realm have a weird little hobby: We try to scam the scam artists.

We’re not out to steal their money just their time. When fraudsters call to say we’re about to be arrested for tax debt, our Social Security number has been “suspended,” or a loved one is in trouble, we play along.

The vehicle you drive every day can be a platform for the exploration of the nation’s campsites if you consider factors such as space, appropriate on- and off-road capability, and general comfort. Some auto manufacturers now also offer specific features that make their vehicles particularly camping-friendly.

A few years ago, my best friend said something that really stuck with me. The gist was this: it doesn’t matter whether you make $25,000 or $100,000 a year – you’ll still feel like you don’t have enough money.

That’s easy for someone making $100,000 to say, I thought at the time.

Nominations are open for the Chattanooga Chamber’s 2019 Spirit of Innovation Award. Nominate your business or one you know for Spirit of Innovation at bit.ly/2Ye9uyR.

To be eligible for the Spirit of Innovation Award, a company must maintain a meaningful presence in the Chattanooga region either by being headquartered here or the innovation is being developed here.

Friday, August 1

The state department of education has set September 9 as the date for receiving bids on a $1 million expansion of the Chattanooga Technical Institute. Bids will be received and opened by the state purchasing department at a 2 p.m. meeting on that date and the successful bidder will have one year in which to complete construction. More classrooms, laboratories, and office space are included in the expansion.