Editorial

Friday, May 31

Neighborhood block party

Orange Grove Center will celebrate its 60th anniversary by hosting a neighborhood block party in collaboration with Memorial Hospital. Area families are invited to the free event on Derby Street from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Zumba and face painting, massage therapy, Tai Chi, and a variety of health screenings and health awareness booths will be available. Tents will be set up for guests to have dental, blood pressure, BMI, hearing, and foot health screenings, and receive information on Alzheimer’s and other end of life care planning. Individuals who wish to give blood will be able to do so through Blood Assurance. Children are invited to participate in putt-putt, basketball, ring toss, and face painting. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 308-1160.

Wednesday, May 29

Senior Health & Fitness Day

The City of Chattanooga Department of Youth and Family Development’s Eastgate Senior Activity Center, as well as the Hamilton County Parks & Recreation Department, are hosting a senior health and fitness expo in conjunction with the 20th Annual National Senior Health and Fitness Day. This event will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Eastgate Senior Activity Center inside Eastgate Mall. National Senior Health and Fitness Day is the nation’s largest annual health promotion event for older adults. This local celebration will include a fun walk, fitness demonstrations and classes, a health fair, games, prizes, refreshments, and information on the area’s healthy lifestyle and leisure choices. For more information, call the center at 423-855-9444.

Saturday, June 8

Criminal justice seminar

The Chattanooga-Hamilton County NAACP will host the 6th Annual Criminal Justice Seminar at the Chattanooga Choo-Choo. This year’s event, titled Let the Dreams Live, will shed light on how legal issues, social challenges, and the law effect the social welfare, upward mobility, and life sustaining options of average citizens. Trust in the law, faith in the legal process, and hope for a better tomorrow are all key elements of allowing the dreams to live throughout our community. This year’s event will be headlined by Vincent Southerland, senior counsel for the National NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund. He will bring the keynote address. Other seminar highlights will include the presenting of the 3rd Annual Thurgood Marshall Freedom and Justice Advocate of the Year Award to Rev. Paul A. McDaniel, and a Stop the Funerals, Stop the Violence pledge led by Rev. Kenneth Love of St. Paul AME Church. This event is free and open to the public. RSVP at chattanooganaacp@comcast.net, or by calling 423-267-5637.

Saturday, June 15

The 100 Dinner at Crabtree Farms

Tickets are now on sale for Crabtree Farms’ 3rd annual 100 Dinner, a unique event in the fields of Crabtree Farms with music, wine, beer, and local food beginning at 6 p.m. This special meal for 100 people will feature local food from within 100 miles of Chattanooga, with delicious dishes grilled on site by Chef Charlie Loomis of Elemental, Chef Daniel Lindley of St. John’s, Chef Erik Niel of Easy Bistro and Bar, and Chef Eric Taslimi of Chattanooga Food Ventures. Entertainment will include bluegrass music by Lou Wamp and Swing Shift. A silent auction of local goods will take place during the dinner. Beer from Chattanooga Brewing Company, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages will be included with the cost of the ticket. All proceeds will fund Crabtree Farms’ educational and outreach programs.