Scenic Roots

Stephen Hargis, Chattanooga Times Free Press sports editor. The Trust for Public Land’s park listeners in Chattanooga. All the world's a podcast at Chattanooga Theatre Centre. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

A Nikola Tre battery-electric vehicle. (Johnny Jaffe) How will electric vehicle infrastructure develop for the trucking and logistics businesses here in Chattanooga and across the tri-state area just a few years down the road? Decision makers and community leaders will gather next week to tackle that question at this year’s State of Freight Forum - presented by Thrive Regional Partnership and spon...

Musician / poet Alicia Jo Rabins in “A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff.” (aliciajorabins.com) “A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff” and “The Levys of Monticello” are among the titles that will be screened at this year’s Chattanooga Jewish Film Series. Five award-winning films - produced in this country, France and Israel - will be shown in person at the Jewish Cultural Center and virtually for the next five wee...

Part of “Festival” at Stove Works. (Stove Works) Now at Stove Works here in Chattanooga: “Festival.” This collection of contemporary pieces - which premiered a few days ago and will remain on display through Saturday - comes from Josiah Golson, the programs director at Stove Works.

(2CREATE) If you’re inside the Chattanooga Convention Center these days, look up - and you’ll see a colorful 3D mobile hanging up high, in front of the entrance of the main banquet room. “Give Way to the Wind” - which symbolizes the mulberry tree - is a collaboration between two artists: Anna Carll, who makes collages with fine art papers - and Claire Vassort, who paints on silk. Together, they ar...

Claire Vassort and Anna Carll on “Give Way to the Wind.” Josiah Golson on “Festival” at Stove Works in Chattanooga. Ann Treadwell on the Chattanooga Jewish Film Series. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

(TEDxChattanooga) This fall, TEDxChattanooga returns with a new roster of speakers and a few changes. This year’s talks by community speakers - independently organized under the TED program’s global initiative of “ideas worth spreading” - will be held on Wednesday, November 16th at Common House in downtown Chattanooga. Maggie Carruth O’Connor is lead event organizer of TEDxChattanooga. Speakers fo...

A jeep at the 6th Cavalry Museum. (Explore Georgia) It’s the start of the next chapter at the 6th Cavalry Museum in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. The museum preserves the military history of the Fighting Sixth Cavalry - displaying items from the World War II era. This summer, Jenny Pack joined the museum as its new executive director. Jenny Pack (The 6th Cavalry Museum)

Jessie Knowles (Jessie’s Messy Mind Show) Jessie Knowles describes her solo show as an “artistic outreach” to raise awareness of mental health. An interdisciplinary artist here in Chattanooga, Jessie lives with what she calls her “mental differences” - and she tells her story in her own words in “Jessie’s Messy Mind Show,” which premieres Friday night at The Seed Theatre. I spoke with Jessie - and...

Jessie Knowles & Jack Endelouz on “Jessie’s Messy Mind Show.” Jenny Pack, new executive director at the 6th Cavalry Museum. Maggie Carruth O’Connor previews this fall’s TEDxChattanooga. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

(The Read House) This year, the Read House in downtown Chattanooga is celebrating its 150th anniversary - the longest continuously operating hotel here in the Southeast. Next week, the festivities turn to filling a time capsule - Wednesday, August 17th from 4 PM to 6 PM at the hotel. Tyler Logue is the Read House historian.

From 2019 - Fred Cash, at left, Sam Gooden, Cheaa Mayfield and his mother Altheida Mayfield enjoy a humorous comment at the moment unveiling of The Impressions sign in front of the Bessie Smith Cultural Center in Chattanooga. (Tim Barber / Chattanooga Times Free Press) Memories and tributes have been flowing in the past week - here in Chattanooga and around the world - for Sam Gooden. A native of...

Barry Courter remembers Sam Gooden of The Impressions. Tyler Logue on building a time capsule at The Read House. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

A red spider lily at Reflection Riding. (Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center) Here in Chattanooga, Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center stretches some 300 acres, from Lookout Creek to the western slope of Lookout Mountain. Among its many wonders: It is home to a plethora of native plant life and a breeding program for endangered red wolves. Mark McKnight is president and CEO at...

Tasia Malakasis (CO.LAB) Tasia Malakasis calls herself a “serial entrepreneur.” An Alabama native, she is into her first weeks as the new CEO at The Company Lab - or CO.LAB - the Chattanooga nonprofit for local startups. Tasia’s portfolio ranges from high-tech to running her own goat cheese company. As she comes on board at CO.LAB, Startup Week Chattanooga has been pushed back to next spring - but...

Tasia Malakasis, the new CEO at CO.LAB in Chattanooga. Mark McKnight & Tish Gailmard of Reflection Riding. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

(Matt Harbison / Chambliss Center for Children) This year, Chambliss Center for Children celebrates 150 years in the Chattanooga area - and here on “Scenic Roots,” we’re bringing you conversations about the story of Chambliss. Joining us for this conversation: Liz Blasbery, executive director of residential services - and Jen Davis, associate director of residential services.

Steve Dean, one of Freedom Sings USA lead songwriters, instructs a class at the Lifestyle Center in Chattanooga. (Cameron McLean / WUTC) Almost 10,000 veterans live here in the Chattanooga area. Our own Cameron McLean tells us about a nonprofit that connects with veterans - and veterans with each other - through song. Steve Dean, one of Freedom Sings USA lead songwriters, instructs a class at the...

Cast iron markers are the only remaining physical evidence of a potter's field in Red Bank. (Contributed photo by Martin Granum / Chattanooga Times Free Press) The White Oak Connector Trail project links Stringer’s Ridge Park in Chattanooga with White Oak Park in Red Bank. In the past few years, the trail’s development led by the Trust for Public Land yielded the existence of an African-American c...

Reclaiming a piece of African-American history at “The Field.” The gift of song for veterans at Freedom Sings USA. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

Banner for The Chattery’s Human Development series. (The Chattery) At The Chattery, the learning nonprofit here in Chattanooga, most of the classes focus inward - on how to improve your skills or how to create. But the Human Development program at The Chattery, announced earlier this year, features classes and workshops that focus outward - on how we treat each other and how we should treat each o...

(SoundCorps) Each month, SoundCorps - the music nonprofit here in Chattanooga - showcases five locally-produced songs in “SoundBites,” which supports our own musicians. Stratton Tingle is executive director of SoundCorps.

A visitor at a kiosk at “Chattanooga’s Black Soundtrack.” (Bessie Smith Cultural Center) Earlier this summer, the Bessie Smith Cultural Center here in downtown Chattanooga opened its latest exhibit. “Chattanooga’s Black Soundtrack” shares the stories of this city’s African-American music makers: the contributions they made across genres and styles, the struggles they endured and the changes they s...

“Chattanooga’s Black Soundtrack” - at home at The Bessie. At The Chattery, a community journey for human development. SoundBites: El Rocko, Matt Bohannon, Tryezz - and more. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

(Girl Stance) Girl Stance is a nonprofit here in Chattanooga that teaches yoga to young Black girls. Roe Anderson - its founder and president - says Girl Stance is now reaching for its next level. (Girl Stance)