Scenic Roots

“Ferdinand-Philippe-Louis-Charles-Henri,” oil on canvas by Kehinde Wiley - acquired by the Hunter Museum in Chattanooga. (Hunter Museum of American Art) The centerpiece of the latest exhibition at the Hunter Museum of American Art here in Chattanooga is a work by the first Black artist to paint a presidential portrait. “VIVID: A Fresh Take” - an exhibition of contemporary pieces from artists aroun...

Jim Hall (Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority) A few weekends ago, the Chattanooga Airport unveiled a 28-million-dollar terminal renovation and expansion. Among those on hand: Jim Hall, chairman of the Chattanooga Airport Authority Board of Commissioners. Jim’s decades of experience range from Capitol Hill to Tennessee Governor’s Ned McWherter’s office in Nashville to chairman of the Nation...

Dr. Mina Sartipi (UTC) Chattanooga is the only city here in Tennessee to earn a specific Federal grant this year designed to pay off in better safety for pedestrians. Two million dollars for Chattanooga will flow from the Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation - or SMART - grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The funding supports demonstration projects around the co...

The next leap in smart city tech for better pedestrian safety. From the NTSB to the Chattanooga Airport with Jim Hall. “VIVID: A Fresh Take” at the Hunter Museum in Chattanooga. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

Deb Socia (The Enterprise Center) For the past five years, Deb Socia has served as president and CEO of The Enterprise Center here in Chattanooga. The nonprofit’s mission - quote: “Unite people, organizations and technology to provide an advanced and inclusive future for our community.” From digital equity during the pandemic to Chattamatters - whose stories we share with you here on “Scenic Roots...

(City of Red Bank) And now, a lesson in local history. When Chattanooga was founded in 1839 at Ross’s Landing, it occupied just about two-and-a half square miles of what is now downtown. Since then, the city has expanded outward, swelling to the roughly 150 square miles it is today. But as it grew, a few places were notably left out of that expansion - including Red Bank. How do cities in Tennesse...

Jeremy Boudinet (Jeremy Boudinet / Contributed Photo) What was it like for Chattanooga’s entrepreneurial scene to put this city on the map as a destination to grow startups? Jeremy Boudinet will tell you. A decade ago, he was director of marketing at Ambition, now an industry leader in software and coaching for sales teams. His success here led to more opportunities - and more successes - in Nashv...

Textla’s Jeremy Boudinet on Chattanooga startup stories. From Chattamatters: Annexation in Tennessee, explained. Deb Socia reflects on her role at The Enterprise Center. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

(Chattanooga Theatre Centre) Whodunnit? Hercule Poirot is on board - and on the case. “Murder on the Orient Express” - Agatha Christie’s tale of detective fiction - is set on a luxury train, stopped in its tracks, during the 1930’s. On Friday, a stage adaptation premieres at Chattanooga Theatre Centre, starting at 7:30 PM - recommended for ages 13 and older. Scott Dunlap is the director. Our own D...

A worker at Kenco in Chattanooga. (Kenco) In this series, we explore the impact that workplace policies have on our local families and children - and how United Way of Greater Chattanooga is looking to close the gaps. For this episode, we talk about flexibility with Terran Anderson, Vice President of Community and Corporate Engagement at United Way of Greater Chattanooga - and Rebecca Wilson, Grou...

The inaugural meeting of the North Chattanooga Neighborhood Association in February 2024 at the Frances B. Wyatt Rec Center. (North Chattanooga Neighborhood Association (via NOOGAToday)) How many neighborhood associations are on the books here in Chattanooga? More than a hundred. This month, NOOGAtoday began a series on them - with a profile of the North Chattanooga Neighborhood Association. Haley...

An onion pulled from the soil at City Farms Grower Coalition. (City Farms Grower Coalition) Joel Tippens is an organizer for local food - the ability to grow it, access it and enjoy it. He runs the nonprofit City Farms Grower Coalition here in Chattanooga - and on Friday, at Crabtree Farms, he will host a roundtable discussion on urban agriculture and what he calls “food justice.” (City Farms Grow...

Come to the table: Joel Tippens talks urban agriculture. NOOGAtoday’s Haley Bartlett on neighborhood associations. United for Working Families; “Murder on the Orient Express.” These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

The Ed Johnson Memorial, at night, near the Walnut Street Bridge in Chattanooga. (Public Art Chattanooga) It happened here in Chattanooga on the Walnut Street Bridge. The date: March 19th, 1906. Ed Johnson - a young Black man - had been falsely accused and wrongfully convicted of a crime that he did not commit. His case reached the United States Supreme Court, which had issued a stay of execution....

Jose Otero (Amigos Unidos) Chattanooga is a place for homegrown and hyperlocal podcasting. A story in Monday’s edition of The Chattanooga Times Free Press sampled a variety of local podcasts - including “Scenic Roots,” a radio show available as a podcast. In the past few years, we’ve brought you a few conversations with a few of the other podcasters profiled by the Times Free Press: Michael Crosa...

Bienvenidos al podcast “Amigos Unidos” en Chattanooga. Audio rewind: Remembering the story of Ed Johnson. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

A patient at The Speech and Hearing Center. (The Speech and Hearing Center) The Speech and Hearing Center in Chattanooga helps people who have a speech or hearing impairment. Next month, the nonprofit presents the event “Heard!” - starting at 6 PM at the Chattanooga Whiskey Event Hall. Minnich Oakley is with the Center.

Chattanooga Bach Choir Last fall, the Chattanooga Bach Choir opened its latest season with a cantata concert - a few members offered a preview on social media. This spring, the Choir holds its annual Gala on Thursday, April 18th at the Westin - and then, one month later, its next concert: “Bach’s St. John’s Passion: A Musical Odyssey” on Saturday, May 18th at the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul....

The Medal of Honor awarded in September 2023 to Capt. Larry Taylor - now on display at the Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center. (Capt. Taylor died in January 2024.) (Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center) Next Monday is National Medal of Honor Day - recognizing this nation’s highest military award for valor. Chattanooga is where the medal was first pre...

Moll King (Moll King) Moll King is a poet here in Chattanooga. Last year, she performed from her recent collection of poems - “As You Did to the Leased of These” - on housing and homelessness here in Chattanooga at Barking Legs Theater for its 30th anniversary Incubator Project. This Wednesday, starting at 6:30 PM, Moll will read from her collection at Townsend Atelier - in the Arts Building at 11...

“Poetry and Poverty” at Townsend Atelier in Chattanooga. For the National Medal of Honor, a commemorative week. In the key of Johan Sebastian: The Chattanooga Bach Choir. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

A Riverfront Nights concert at Ross’ Landing on the Tennessee River in downtown Chattanooga. (Britt Bossert / Riverfront Nights) In a few months, Riverfront Nights - the free summer concert series - returns to Ross’ Landing on the Tennessee River here in downtown Chattanooga. This year’s lineup for the series features 14 concerts, every Saturday night from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day we...

An illustration for the play “Boundaries.” (ShawNuff Productions) This weekend brings a play in progress to Chattanooga. “Boundaries” is now in development after readings in New York and Los Angeles. On Sunday, a staged reading of the play will be held at Barking Legs Theater, starting at 2:30 PM. I spoke with Bruce Shaw of ShawNuff Productions here in Chattanooga - along with Christine DiGiovanni...

Frazier Avenue in Chattanooga’s Northshore. (Chattanooga Times Free Press) For the past few weeks, Chattanooga residents have been giving their feedback online in a public survey by the City of Chattanooga on two options to redesign Frazier Avenue for pedestrian safety. Ahead of Friday’s deadline for people to participate in the survey, here’s William Newlin of Chattamatters. _____ Click here to t...

From Chattamatters: Redesigning for safety on Frazier Ave. “Boundaries” - a play in progress - at Barking Legs Theater. Fourteen concerts: the expanded lineup for Riverfront Nights. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”