Scenic Roots

(Fillauer) The TASKA hand is the first waterproof prosthetic hand. It was designed in - and is manufactured in - New Zealand, and it’s been on the market for a few years. The exclusive distributor for the hand in this country is Fillauer here in Chattanooga. Sam Hale is director of product development and education at Fillauer.

(ChaTech) How are IT professionals adjusting to life and work under COVID-19? On Friday, the Chattanooga Technology Council - or CHATECH - will host this year’s Scenic City Summit - this time, all virtual. Carla Askonas is executive director of CHATECH - and Grace Yanagida is one of the planners for the summit for IT professionals across disciplines.

This year’s virtual Scenic City Summit for IT professionals. Fillauer and the TASKA hand; The 6th Cavalry Museum. Mountain Spirit Acoustic Series: singer-songwriter Ellis Paul. These stories - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

(Walk Or Row / Facebook) Richard Winham shares a performance by Americana group Walk Or Row, recorded downtown at The Chattanooga Public Library.

Dr. Phyllis Miller grew up on a farmstead in Polk County, Tennessee. During her career in ob-gyn medicine in this area, she became the first woman to head the Tennessee Medical Association. Author Lynelle Mason tells that story in the biography, “Climbing Mountains.”

(Tabi Upton / Facebook) Tabi Upton is a counselor, writer and media personality here in Chattanooga. Recently, she facilitated an artistic series hosted by RISE Chattanooga - called “The Soul of a Woman” - focused on mental health for women and people of color - examining poetry, rhythms, writers and musicians. I spoke with her earlier this month.

(Bruce Blohm / Facebook) Let’s talk about the arts - and outdoor learning. Bruce Blohm has seen it all in action. He is a board member of the Arts-Based Collaborative here at UTC - ABC at UTC.

(UC-San Diego) Dr. Davey Smith is conducting one of the dozens of clinical trials now in progress across the country to find a cure - not a preventative vaccine - for the coronavirus. He is a professor of medicine - and chief of infectious diseases and global public health at the University of California-San Diego. Davey earned his biology degree from this campus, the University of Tennessee at Ch...

UTC alum Dr. Davey Smith on fighting the coronavirus. Bruce Blohm of ABC@UTC on the arts and outdoor learning. Tabi Upton on her life, her work and “The Soul of a Woman.” These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

(kimmclean.com) On this week's "Talking Writing," Richard Winham presents the third and final part of a conversation with singer-songwriter Kim McLean.

(Bessie Smith Cultural Center) Each week online, the Bessie Smith Cultural Center here in Chattanooga features community members reading children’s books - to spur dialogue on race relations. The digital series is called “Bessie’s Front Porch” - and last week, the center’s president Paula Wilkes read “The Other Side,” by Jacqueline Woodson. Watch the entire readings from “Bessie’s Front Porch” on...

(Thom Benson / TN Aquarium) Native turtles in this country face many threats - to their habitats, from poaching and trafficking. Zoos, aquariums and nature centers are partnering on ways to save turtles together. Here in Chattanooga, turtle expert Dave Collins is director of forests and animal behavior at the Tennessee Aquarium. Mark McKnight is president and CEO of Reflection Riding Arboretum and...

(Chattanooga Design Studio) Here in downtown Chattanooga, at the corner of Georgia Avenue and Market Street, there’s a public space where people like to gather outside Patten Towers. “The Porch Project” is a collaboration to improve that space - make it healthier, more welcoming, more functional - for the people who use it, a pilot project that relies on their input and feedback. The Chattanooga D...

Building a porch in the heart of downtown Chattanooga. Saving a shellabrated species here in the Southeast. Talking Writing: Singer-songwriter Kim McLean / Part III. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

(Barking Legs Theater) Richard Winham shares a recent performance by singer-songwriter Demond Moultrie - a pianist and a guitarist - from jazz in the lounge at Barking Legs Theater in Chattanooga.

(Knoxville News Sentinel) Here in East Tennessee, there is a podcast that looks at the Black experience in Appalachia.  The “Black in Appalachia” podcast is a product of a partnership with East Tennessee PBS. A few weeks ago, I spoke with the co-hosts - Dr. Enkeshi El-Amin, a lecturer at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville; and Angela Dennis, a journalist and literary activist - along with Willi...

Meet the storytellers of the “Black in Appalachia” podcast. Tennessee Valley StoryCorps takes “One Small Step.” Barking Legs Theater: singer-songwriter Demond Moultrie. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

(StoryCorps / WUTC) Today on Tennessee Valley StoryCorps, Sara Coffman and Stephan Davenport take One Small Step. One Small Step is an effort by StoryCorps to connect people so they can remember that people with whom they disagree are human beings. In doing this, we can begin to mend the fraying fabric of our nation — one conversation at a time. Tennessee Valley StoryCorps brings you conversations...

(Roger Street Friedman) Richard Winham shares a performance by singer-songwriter Roger Street Friedman from the Mountain Spirit Acoustic Series for the Isis Music Hall in Asheville, NC.

(SoundCorps) Listen to Richard Winham share a conversation with Stratton Tingle of SoundCorps about the Chattanooga Area Musicians' Relief Fund.

(ArtsBuild) ArtsBuild here in Chattanooga is part of a new Artists Work Grants Program to provide funding for artists, their studios and nonprofit artist groups - to produce artworks for public spaces in this city.   Miriam Manda is manager of grants and community engagement for ArtsBuild.

(Back Alley Productions) “Night of the Living Dead” comes back to life this Halloween weekend. Back Alley Productions in LaFayette, Georgia will perform the zombie apocalypse - for a virtual audience - on Friday and Saturday night. Christopher Smith is the director - and actor Cody Robinson plays Ben.

“Night of the Living Dead” at Back Alley Productions. ArtsBuild’s Miriam Manda; SoundCorps’ Stratton Tingle. Mountain Spirit Acoustic Series: Roger Street Friedman. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

(Ryan Crabtree) On this week’s “Scenic Roots: Live In The Library,” Richard Winham hosts a set by Chattanooga-born bassist Ryan Crabtree, recorded downtown at The Chattanooga Public Library.

In Red Bank this weekend, it’s Ballet in the Park. The Chattanooga Ballet will stage outdoor concerts - socially distanced - in White Oak Park, on Saturday and Sunday starting at 5 PM. Brian McSween is artistic director of the Chattanooga Ballet.