The Master Gardeners of Hamilton County are offering free gardening classes the third Saturday of every month. On Oct. 21, 10 a.m.-noon. The topic will be “Children in the Garden.” Master gardener Bertha Livingston will present. Classes take place at the UT Extension, located at 6183 Adamson Circle.
Advance registration is required. To register, email education@mghc.org. Include your name, email address, phone number and the names and ages of the children attending. More at www.mghc.org.
Expert on social media to speak at GPS
Girls Preparatory School invites the public to a special educational session – “The Effects of Social Media on Girls” – Tuesday, Oct. 24, 7 p.m. at GPS Frierson Theatre. Katey McPherson, executive director of the Gurian Institute, will speak to parents about girls’ digital citizenship.
Topics to be addressed include how use of social media can produce anxiety and emotional isolation while negatively affecting neural pathways and body image. McPherson also will touch on how boys and girls use online platforms differently and offer tips for parents to keep the lines of communication with their girls open.
McPherson will present a special program for GPS faculty members and all community educators Wednesday morning, Oct. 25, from 7:30-8:20 as well as a session at 9 a.m. for parents who are unable to attend the Tuesday night event. While the events are free to the public, GPS asks that people register to attend via www.GPS.edu/UnderstandingGirls.
SouthWord Literary Feast
The Southern Lit Alliance will present SouthWord Literary Feast Nov. 3 and 4, with Friday’s events taking place at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s University Center and Saturday’s events occurring at both Lindsay Street Hall and the Bessie Smith Cultural Center.
The event will consist of readings, discussions and panels with published members of the Fellowship of Southern Writers. SouthWord’s keynote address will be delivered by Wendell Berry, an American novelist, poet, environmental activist, cultural critic and farmer. Berry has written many novels, short stories, poems and essays.
Other authors in attendance will include poet T.J. Jarrett, author of “Ain’t No Grave”; short story and novel writer Jill McCorkle, whose works include “The Cheer Leader” and “July 7th”; Lee Smith, author of the New York Times bestseller “The Last Girls”; Charles Frazier, author of the 1997 National Book Award for Fiction winner “Cold Mountain”; fiction writer and environmental activist Silas House, author of more than 100 published short stories and poems; and bestselling novelist, poet and short story writer Ron Rash.
In addition to the panel discussions and readings, the event will feature book signings, a luncheon on Friday recognizing new inductees into the Fellowship of Southern Writers and a BBQ luncheon Saturday featuring writers John Shelton Reed and Roy Blount Jr.
Formerly known as the Celebration of Southern Literature, SouthWord Literary Feast is hosted by the Southern Lit Alliance, the Fellowship of Southern Writers and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Tickets for the SouthWord Literary Feast are available on line at www.SouthernLitAlliance.org or by calling 423 267-1218.