Scenic Roots

(nickolasbutler.com) Richard Winham shares a conversation with Nickolas Butler, author of the novel of “Godspeed” - a tale of self-destruction in the service of a dream - several dreams, in fact.       (Penguin Random House)   

(Sanatan Mandir of Chattanooga) Chattanooga’s Hindu community is growing. Next spring, the congregation of Sanatan Mandir of Chattanooga plans to open its new temple on Hickory Valley Road, leaving its current home of nearly thirty years on Canyon Drive.   Anil Patel is president of Sanatan Mandir.  

(Chattanooga Ballet) “Capture” is a new performance by the Chattanooga Ballet, inspired by the current exhibition at the Hunter Museum:  “Power, Passion & Pose.” Tomorrow evening, the Ballet - which recently added more dancers to its ranks - will premiere the work at the Hunter, starting at 6 PM.   Brian McSween is the Ballet’s artistic director - and John Farrimond is its executive director....

(Startup Week Chattanooga logo) Startup Week Chattanooga returns this fall - with a few changes for the celebration of entrepreneurs and innovation in this city. The Company Lab - or CO.LAB - steers the week, which this year will run from October 18th through the 22nd - but most of its events come from local individuals, businesses and organizations. If you’re listening and interested in participa...

Lindsey Cox of CO.LAB on Startup Week Chattanooga. Chattanooga Ballet’s “Capture” at the Hunter Museum. Talking Writing:  Nickolas Butler on his novel “Godspeed.” These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

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

(Sewn to the Sea) In the main lobby of the Chattanooga Airport, you will find a brand-new home for art. It is called CHA Art Space, an exhibition space that is the brainchild of local artist and curator Carrie Pendergrass, whose own work appears online as Sewn to the Sea.      CHA Art Space opened last month with its inaugural exhibit - “Into the Blue:  Abstraction in the Airport” - featuring work...

Carrie Pendergrass on CHA Art Space at Chattanooga’s Airport. From Barking Legs Theater:  The Keith Brown Trio, Part I. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”        

(isisasheville.com) Richard Winham shares the first 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.       

(WTCI PBS) The COVID-19 pandemic has forced some businesses to close, others are barely hanging on - while some business owners have seen an opportunity to start something new. “Greater Chattanooga” - the series from our public media partner, WTCI PBS - tells the tale in its latest story, out this week:  “Finding Hope:  How COVID-19 Changes Two Local Businesses.”      Coming soon at greaterchattan...

(NewSouth Books) Had he lived this long, he would have turned 80 years old last month. But Emmett Till barely made it to 14.     Till, an African-American from Chicago, was lynched while visiting relatives in Mississippi on August 28th, 1955 - after he was accused of offending a white woman in her family’s grocery store. In the years that followed, African-American children who personally felt the...

(River City Company) What should Chattanooga’s downtown Riverfront district look like in years to come?   The ONE Riverfront Plan - released last month by River City Company after a community input process - offers an answer. Emily Mack is River City’s president and CEO.  

Emily Mack on the ONE Riverfront Plan for Chattanooga. Robert H. Mayer, author of “In The Name of Emmett Till.” Mountain Spirit Acoustic Series:  Amy Steinberg, Part I. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

(Anna Baldree / Facebook) Richard Winham shares a session by Anna Baldree - singer, guitarist and writer - recorded live downtown at The Chattanooga Public Library.      

(City of Chattanooga) This afternoon, live here on WUTC, Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly joined us via Zoom for our monthly conversation on "Scenic Roots", the day after he was diagnosed with a breakthrough case of COVID-19.         

(jasonmottauthor.com) Richard Winham speaks with New York Times bestselling author Jason Mott on his new novel, “Hell of a Book” - drawn from his own experience as an African-American author on a crosscountry book tour.      

(Downside Up) Downside Up helps children with developmental disabilities - and their families. The nonprofit’s learning and activity center here in Chattanooga - known as Training Wheels - is on East 11th Street. Theresa Nix is the founder and CEO.

(Flourish Foster Care And Closet Support) For foster families, the pandemic has complicated the challenges they already face - in particular, finding adequate housing. Flourish Foster Care Closet and Support - a nonprofit in Northwest Georgia - provides support services to reduce trauma, clothing and other items free of charge to children and families in foster care in the tri-state area. Aimee La...

(Ally Architecture) This summer, the Hamilton County Schools rolled out the first of its Mobile Learning Labs - at East Ridge Elementary School. Each classroom-on-wheels is a mini-school bus, fitted with furniture and educational tools, to provide extra learning for elementary students outside the classroom and to engage parents in their children’s learning. Jennifer Defur and Rita Schubert are tw...

(Creative Commons ) Get Off the Grid Fest begins Friday at Camp Jordan Park in East Ridge - with a few precautions added due to rising cases of COVID-19. Online ticket sales are now closed while walk-up tickets are no longer available for the three-day festival, run on solar power - featuring live music, eco-friendly vendors and more. Temperature checks will be taken at the gates, and social dista...

Bill Fleming & Ed Witkin on Get Off The Grid Fest 2021. Mobile learning labs for students in Hamilton County. Talking Writing:  Jason Mott, author of “Hell of a Book.” These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

(Strung Like A Horse) Richard Winham shares the second part of his conversation with the Americana band Strung Like A Horse, one of the headliners at the Get Off the Grid Fest at Camp Jordan later this week.      

Demand for blood donations remains critical during this pandemic. “Remembering the Badges” - an annual blood drive sponsored by the American Red Cross - is one of the largest drives here in Tennessee.      Sherri McKinney with the Red Cross’ Tennessee region - based in Nashville - tells us more.    

(Chattanooga Theatre Centre) A musical exploration of what makes work meaningful across all walks of life comes to Chattanooga Theatre Centre this week. “Working:  A Musical” premieres on Friday - and runs through Sunday, September 5th. Rodney Van Valkenburg is CTC’s executive director.

(pond5.com) How to solve the crisis in affordable housing here in Chattanooga? The supply of that housing barely exists - far from able to keep up with demand - and while money from the COVID-19 response has paid for rental assistance, it cannot be used to build affordable housing.   Wendy Winters is executive director of the Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalition, which coordinates the homeless...