Scenic Roots

Here in Chattanooga, the Tivoli Theatre Foundation has created a recovery fund to maintain its iconic venues, which have lost millions of dollars in revenue in canceled bookings during this pandemic. Nick Wilkinson is the Foundation’s executive director.

We spoke with Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke - as we do here each month - live on WUTC.

Our monthly conversation with Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke. Nick Wilkinson on the Tivoli Theatre Foundation Recovery Fund. Bessie's Front Porch:  "One Vote, Two Vote, I Vote, You Vote." These voices - and more - on this edition of "Scenic Roots."

Richard Winham presents the first part of a performance by Peppino D’Agostino, a finger-style guitar player, from a show streamed online on Barking Legs Theater’s Facebook page.

(Rick Rushing / Facebook) Rick Rushing learned how to play guitar here in Chattanooga. He performs locally and regionally with his blues band:  Rick Rushing & The Blues Strangers. In the past year, Rick has been one of the teaching artists working in our community through the Wolf Trap program at UTC’s Southeast Center for Education in the Arts, now known as the Arts-Based Collaborative at UTC...

Musician Rick Rushing on teaching a universal language. This week's Tennessee Valley StoryCorps by Will Davis. From Barking Legs Theater:  Peppino D'Agostino. These voices - and more - on this edition of "Scenic Roots."

(StoryCorps / WUTC) Today on Tennessee Valley StoryCorps, a homecoming. Dan Gilmore talks to his daughter Alice Gilmore about their road trip from California to Tennessee. Tennessee Valley StoryCorps brings you conversations from people who went to the StoryCorps recording booth in Chattanooga's Miller Park in the spring of 2019. You can subscribe to the Tennessee Valley StoryCorps podcast on iTun...

(David Jacobs-Strain) Richard Winham presents the final part from a recent livestream performance by David Jacobs-Strain - a soulful singer and gifted slide player - for the Isis Music Hall's Mountain Spirit Acoustic Series in Asheville, North Carolina.

Songbirds here in Chattanooga will soon close the doors on its guitar museum and music venues - but not before making a dream come true. Jeff Crusan is a young guitar player from Michigan. On Friday, he showed up at Songbirds - as the winter of a contest to jam with guitar great Joe Bonamassa.   We spoke with Jeff soon after his session with Joe - and before performing on Friday night with Paul Ch...

(HPAC Engineering) UV-C light is a form of ultraviolet light that could help zap the airborne spread of the coronavirus.   TVA is offering financial aid to schools, restaurants, nursing homes and other buildings with public places that install UV-C lights in air ducts to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Jason Snyder is manager of TVA’s EnergyRight Program.  

TVA's Jason Snyder on UV-C light to fight COVID-19. Jeff Cruzan on jammin' with Joe Bonamassa at Songbirds. Mountain Spirit:  David Jacobs-Strain / Part II. These voices - and more - on this edition of "Scenic Roots."

(Lew Card / Facebook) On this week’s “Scenic Roots:  Live In The Library,” Richard Winham presents an encore performance by Lew Card, recorded downtown at The Chattanooga Public Library.

(TN Valley Railroad Museum) The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum here in Chattanooga is rolling ahead while navigating safety during life under COVID-19. Steve Freer is operations supervisor at the Museum.

(Chattanooga Symphony & Opera) The Chattanooga Symphony & Opera had to pause when the coronavirus hit back in March. Recently, the CSO announced plans to resume playing, though not as originally scheduled. Samantha Teter is the CSO’s executive director.  

Richard Winham speaks with Bryan Shannon of Songbirds, which will shut the doors on its museum and music venues in the heart of Chattanooga on August 15th.

(UTC) Here on our campus - the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga - Prof. Jill Shelton teaches a class on “The Psychology of Aging.” Last summer, her students volunteered to work in facilities for aging residents. That’s not possible now due to the coronavirus - so for the class project this summer, her students created activity kits with games and puzzles to spur cognitive stimulation - deliv...

(Rossville Blvd Action & Planning Group) Here in Chattanooga, the Rossville Boulevard Action and Planning Group seeks to build a thriving community for its residents and businesses, celebrating its diverse culture. A few weeks ago, I spoke with Heather Herweyer - the group’s director - and Jazmine LeBlanc, director of the ELLA Library.

(CASA of Bradley & Polk Counties) CASA is a nonprofit that trains volunteers for the local court system to speak for children who have suffered abuse and neglect. “CASA” stands for “Court-Appointed Special Advocates.” Here in Southeast Tennessee, CASA of Bradley and Polk Counties - based in Cleveland - marks ten years of service on August 18th. Christopher Janetzko is the executive director of...

CASA BP's Christopher Janetzko & Natalie Barrionuevo. Heather Herweyer & Jazmine LeBlanc on Rossville Blvd. Bryan Shannon on closing the doors on Songbirds. These voices - and more - on this edition of "Scenic Roots."

On this week's "Talking Writing," Richard Winham speaks with singer-songwriter Sharla June.

(Bessie Smith Cultural Center) Twice a 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 yesterday, Candy Johnson, senior adviser to Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke, read “Vote” by Eileen Christelow. Watch the entire readings from “Bessie’...

(Chambliss Center for Children) With school set to resume in the Chattanooga area, child care providers face new challenges. Katie Harbison is president of Chambliss Center for Children.  

(Kathleen Greeson Photography) “Safe at Home” is a series of photos capturing life for people at home around the world during this pandemic. All of the images are taken remotely by Kathleen Greeson, an award-winning photographer, from her home here in the Chattanooga area. (Kathleen Greeson Photography)

Photographer Kathleen Greeson on "Safe at Home." Katie Harbison of Chambliss on pandemic child care. Talking Writing:  Singer-songwriter Sharla June. These voices - and more - on this edition of "Scenic Roots."

(Barking Legs Theater) Richard Winham presents music from the archive of Barking Legs Theater in Chattanooga:  José Valentino with his quartet, Ben Freiburg and trumpet player Nathan Warner.