Scenic Roots

Let’s talk about “All Things Tudor.” That’s the website for Deb Hunter - who, under the name of Hunter S. Jones, writes history and fiction about England’s Tudor era - the time of King Henry VIII and the first Queen Elizabeth, from the late 1400’s to the early 1600’s. Tomorrow, Deb - who is from Chattanooga and now lives in the Sequatchie Valley - will be part of an online talk.    

Author and historian Deb Hunter on “All Things Tudor.” Mountain Spirit Acoustic Series:  Lazybirds, Part I. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”  

Richard Winham shares a session from singer and multi-instrumentalist Rob Alley with his band The Revelators, recorded live downtown at The Chattanooga Public Library.

(SoundCorps) SoundCorps supports musicians here in the Chattanooga area. One way the nonprofit helps them each month is through what it calls “SoundBites.” Stratton Tingle is executive director of SoundCorps.  

(Songbirds Foundation) Reed Caldwell, executive director of the Songbirds Foundation, sat down with our own Richard Winham for a conversation ahead of the grand opening of the new and reimagined Songbirds here in Chattanooga on Saturday, September 18th.

(eleanormccalliecooper.com) Eleanor McCallie Cooper is an author and a community leader in Chattanooga who comes from a family with deep ties across generations to the story of this city:  how it was once, how it changed over time - in part through people such as her and others - what it is today and what it can still become.   Her latest book, just released, is called “Dragonfly Dreams” - and as...

Eleanor McCallie Cooper on her book, “Dragonfly Dreams.” In Conversation: Reed Caldwell of the Songbirds Foundation. SoundCorps’ Stratton Tingle on the latest SoundBites. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”  

(goodreads.com) Richard Winham shares a conversation with author Paul Luikart on his collection, “Metropolia.”  Paul is a case manager for the Chattanooga Housing Authority, working with the homeless - teaches creative writing at Covenant College on Lookout Mountain, GA.      

(Proof Bar & Incubator) Throughout the pandemic, food and beverage entrepreneurs have had to adapt every step of the way. Proof Bar & Incubator - on MLK Boulevard here in downtown Chattanooga - has helped and is helping those entrepreneurs become better at their business. Mia Littlejohn is one of Proof’s co-founders.        

(Chattanooga Area Food Bank) In the past year-and-a-half, food insecurity has risen sharply across Tennessee and elsewhere - especially for children.      The upcoming increase in Federal SNAP benefits will help families in need as jobless benefits expire and the Delta variant of COVID-19 affects the economy - but as Hunger Action Awareness Month begins across the country, what is the current and...

Melissa Blevins of the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. Mia Littlejohn, co-founder of Proof Bar and Incubator. Talking Writing:  Author Paul Luikart on “Metropolia.” These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”     

(keithbrownpiano.com) Richard Winham presents the second half of a performance by celebrated jazz pianist Keith Brown and his trio earlier this month at Barking Legs Theater in Chattanooga.      

(The Center for Mindful Living) For nine years, the Center for Mindful Living here in Chattanooga has provided a community for practitioners and students of mindfulness. But last year, due to the pandemic, the Center had to relinquish its own space on East Main Street - and today, it ceases its operations.   On Thursday, September 16th, a celebration of the center will be held at the Church on Mai...

(National Park Partners) The Moccasin Bend Lecture Series is back. Starting next month, National Park Partners will present the fall series - now in its 16th year - at the IMAX Theater here in Chattanooga, accompanied by a live broadcast on Zoom.    The speakers in the monthly series will discuss our National Parks and conservation; Indigenous culture and history - and Chattanooga’s place in the C...

This fall’s Moccasin Bend Lecture Series in Chattanooga. The Center for Mindful Living closes after nine years. From Barking Legs Theater:  The Keith Brown Trio, Part II. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

(amysteinberg.net) Richard Winham shares the second part of a performance by Amy Steinberg - singer, songwriter, minister and musician, playwright and actress - from the Mountain Spirit Acoustic Series at the Isis Music Hall in Asheville, NC.      

“John and Mary Margaret” is a recently-released novel about an interracial couple who meets at Ole Miss during the tumult of the 1960’s. The author - Susan Cushman - will be the next speaker in the South Bound Lecture Series from Southern Lit Alliance here in Chattanooga.      Susan - a native of Jackson, Mississippi who lives in Memphis - will appear via Zoom on Wednesday starting at 6 PM. I spok...

(HCS EdConnect) HCS EdConnect bridges the digital divide in online learning here in Chattanooga and Hamilton County. The first-of-its-kind initiative between Hamilton County Schools and EPB - along with community partners such as The Enterprise Center and Tech Goes Home - brings no-cost, high-speed internet to any household with a child eligible for free or reduced-cost school lunch. HCS EdConnect...

Rachel Emond and Scottie Summerlin on HCS EdConnect. Susan Cushman with Lynda LeVan of Southern Lit Alliance. Mountain Spirit Acoustic Series:  Amy Steinberg, Part II. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”     

(The Briars) Richard Winham shares a session from The Briars - the acoustic Americana duo of Jerris Schmidt and Robert Lovett - recorded live downtown at the Chattanooga Public Library.

(WTCI PBS) Here in Chattanooga, he served - for decades as pastor at Second Missionary Baptist Church, as a leader for civil rights and as a Hamilton County Commissioner. The Rev. Paul A. McDaniel died this past weekend at the age of 91. Earlier this year, he spoke with us here on “Scenic Roots” during our series of conversations about Ed Johnson , who was lynched on the Walnut Street Bridge in 19...

(Alex Paul Loza) Alex Paul Loza is a visual artist, sculptor and educator, born in Peru and based here in Chattanooga. These days, one of his works in progress is a sculpture of Rep. Thaddeus Stevens, known as the “Father of the 14th Amendment.” We talked about what’s next for that sculpture - and murals - and more.  

(CWLI) The Chattanooga Women’s Leadership Institute elevates the role and influence of professional women in this city’s business and civic sectors. Next month - on Thursday, September 9th - the Institute will hold its annual IMPACT dinner at the Chattanooga Convention Center - this time, with masks and social distancing required, due to the pandemic.   Kim Shumpert is the institute’s executive di...

(The BLVD Project) Rossville Boulevard begins south of downtown Chattanooga - and continues to the Tennessee-Georgia state line. The BLVD Project is a grassroots effort - working under the nonprofit ELLA Library - that seeks to build a thriving community for residents and businesses along the more than two miles of the Rossville Boulevard corridor.   The Project’s directors are Heather Herweyer -...

Heather Herweyer & Jazmine LeBlanc on The BLVD Project. Kim Shumpert & Sharon Law on CWLI’s IMPACT Dinner. Artist Alex Paul Loza; Remembering Rev. Paul A. McDaniel. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”