Scenic Roots

Chambliss Center for Children partners with Isaiah 117 House. Dancer and teacher Paige Retchko on her work for ABC@UTC. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”          

(lorinelsonspielman.com) Richard Winham shares a conversation with Lori Nelson Spielman - author of “The Life List” and “Sweet Forgiveness” - talking about her third and latest novel:  “The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany.”  (First aired 11/25/20)

(Moonlight Roller) Adrienne Cooper loves to roller skate. In 2019, she launched Moonlight Roller here in Chattanooga - which includes a roller skate lounge and a mobile skate business. Her brand has done well since the pandemic began. Recently, the mother and veteran - now 25 years old - was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 list.

(Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center) Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center here in Chattanooga is in the process of imagining its future. It is collaborating with SCAPE - a landscape architecture firm - on its master planning process.      Mark McKnight is president and CEO of Reflection Riding. Pippa Brashear and Nans Voron are with SCAPE.  

Reflection Riding in Chattanooga imagines its future. Moonlight Roller’s Adrienne Cooper on the roller skating biz. Talking Writing Rewind:  Author Lori Nelson Spielman. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”          

(jimmydormire.com) From the fall:  Richard Winham presents Jimmy Dormire - guitarist, singer and songwriter - from the virtual Jazz in the Lounge Series, streamed at Chattanooga’s Barking Legs Theater.

RISE Chattanooga - the arts and culture nonprofit - provides free music education programs to the community and more.      Joe Freeman is community music educator - and Ben Banks is digital storyteller - for RISE Chattanooga.  

(Smart Cities World) Thanks to its high-speed broadband, Chattanooga is starting to play a new role in the future of smart cities. Late last year, this city was one of only two in this country - and among three dozen cities around the globe - selected to test new technologies developed by the G20 Smart Cities Alliance, announced by the World Economic Forum.     The work here in Chattanooga builds...

How Chattanooga will chart a roadmap for smart cities. Tennessee’s economy; Music education at RISE Chattanooga. This week’s Barking Legs Rewind:   Jimmy Dormire. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”          

(Peggy Ratusz and Daddy Longlegs / Facebook) Richard Winham shares a recent virtual performance by Peggy Ratusz and Daddy Longlegs from the Isis Music Hall in Asheville, NC for the Mountain Spirit Acoustic Series.

The week before Thanksgiving, Taylor’s Spring Park was dedicated in Cleveland, Tennessee - named for Andrew Taylor, regarded as the “first citizen” of Cleveland. The City of Cleveland, Bradley County and private donors came together to complete the project through the Community Foundation of Cleveland and Bradley County.   Cathy Barrett is the foundation’s president.  

Runoff day is tomorrow for Georgia’s U.S. Senate seats. Tonight, President Donald Trump holds a rally in Dalton for Republican Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, while President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris have been campaigning in Georgia for Democratic challengers Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock. Control of the Senate is in the balance. On Wednesday, Congress cert...

UTC Prof. Chris Acuff on the U.S. Senate runoffs in Georgia. Cathy Barrett, Community Foundation of Cleveland & Bradley Co. Mountain Spirit Acoustic Series:  Peggy Ratusz & Daddy Longlegs. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”          

(Call Me Spinster) For this Christmas, Richard Winham shares a performance by Call Me Spinster - recorded at Chattanooga’s Granfalloon - on “Scenic Roots:  Live In The Library.”

(National Park Partners) On this special edition of "Scenic Roots," we bring you "A Forever Moccasin Bend Conversation" - with former Congressman Zach Wamp, Mickey Robbins, Sally Robinson and Tricia Mims of National Park Partners.  Here in Chattanooga, "Forever Moccasin Bend" is the fundraising effort led by National Park Partners - starting with "Opening the Gateway" - that will add park and new...

Each month here on WUTC, Clifford Brooks brings us "Dante's Old South." Born in Athens, Georgia, Clifford is the founder of The Southern Collective Experience - and publisher of "The Blue Mountain Review." You can catch him and "Dante's Old South" here on WUTC on third Saturday of the month - at 6 PM - as part of Richard Winham's "Moon Dog Matinee."

(D.J. Cherry / Facebook) Richard Winham shares performances by D.J. Cherry on this week’s “Scenic Roots:  Live In The Library" - recorded recently with her fiance at The Grandfalloon in Chattanooga, and live last year at The Chattanooga Public Library.

(ArtsBuild) ArtsBuild is a nonprofit here in the Chattanooga area that supports artists - and during this pandemic, it has stepped up again and again to offer new ways to help them. Some of its latest efforts are aimed at rural artists - and artists who need technology access and skills.      Miriam Manda is the manager of grants and community engagement at ArtsBuild - and Amy Lowdermilk is the pr...

Blood Assurance here in Chattanooga is asking people who have recovered from COVID-19 - or have tested positive - to donate convalescent plasma.   The hospitals in our area and beyond need it.      Dr. Elizabeth Culler is medical director of Blood Assurance. (Blood Assurance)

Live here on WUTC, Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke joined us for our monthly conversation.

Our monthly conversation with Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke. Blood Assurance’s Dr. Elizabeth Culler on convalescent plasma. Miriam Manda and Amy Lowdermilk on ArtsBuild's outreach. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”        

(csdevereaux.com) Richard Winham shares a conversation with CS Devereaux, author of historical novels, memoirs and short stories. Among her works:  "Sky People," "Another Adventure" and "Old Jim." A native of Birmingham, Alabama, she now lives in Chattanooga.

Forever Moccasin Bend:  Sally Robinson and Tricia Mims. Talking Writing:  Chattanooga author CS Devereaux. These voices - and more - on this edition of "Scenic Roots."        

In the past few weeks, we have shared a few conversations about the Moccasin Bend National Archeological District here in Chattanooga. For nearly four decades, Sally Robinson has played a key role in revitalizing the downtown and riverfront development, including three terms on the Chattanooga City Council and the long road to Moccasin Bend as it is today. "Forever Moccasin Bend" is the fundraisin...

(Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce) How should the Chattanooga of tomorrow open the door for talented young people of color to succeed here - and stay here - after college? The young Black men and women of the Styles L. Hutchins Fellowship Program will tell you. They are students of our campus, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga - and the Fellowship is a collaboration between UTC, Mayor...