Also, most trick-or-treaters don’t feel like it’s really Halloween without a visit to the Great Pumpkin. The big orange fella will greet folks at 302 Marvin Lane as soon as dusk falls, just as it has for the last 56 years. And not unlike Santa somehow knowing who’s been naughty or nice, the “gargantuan gourd” might just call its visitors by name.
The nip of fall is finally in the air, which is perfect for one of the best holidays of the year. Halloween is Wednesday, October 31, and Lookout Mountain is one of the best spots around for trick-or-treating. Fairyland is especially popular with the little goblins and ghosties, and to make sure they are safe, the Lookout Mountain, Ga., Police Department will close the streets to all through-traffic in this neighborhood. Golf carts will be permitted, but they must obey the one-way street signs.
Also, most trick-or-treaters don’t feel like it’s really Halloween without a visit to the Great Pumpkin. The big orange fella will greet folks at 302 Marvin Lane as soon as dusk falls, just as it has for the last 56 years. And not unlike Santa somehow knowing who’s been naughty or nice, the “gargantuan gourd” might just call its visitors by name.
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From the ashes of her beloved café, owner Ruth Oehmig’s resolve rose, calling her to protect the men and women who willingly ran into the flames of her burning business. On May 27, 2014, Oehmig watched in horror as her restaurant on Lookout Mountain, Café on the Corner, was engulfed in flames. It wasn’t until later that Oehmig learned these brave men often work with inadequate equipment due to low budgets. “I have an enormous amount of gratitude for the Lookout Mountain Fire Department,” Oehmig said. “They not only fought the raging gas fire that gutted my café, but they also hugged and cried with me as we watched my business go up in flames. Not many people realize just how far these brave men really went that morning.” The fire was caused by a gas leak within the 100-year-old building, resulting in flames up to 20 feet, blocking any access to the shutoff valve. Some firemen created a wall of water, while another walked in, acting as a human shield from the heat and flames. The men also kept the crowds safe after a fallen utility pole exposed a live wire. Café on the Corner has since reopened; however, Oehmig has made it her top priority to raise awareness and funds for the volunteer firefighters in Lookout Mountain, Tenn., and Lookout Mountain, Ga. Her Fill the Boot campaign does just that. “The Lookout Mountain fire department’s current budget isn’t enough for equipment such as beacons, which emit a screeching alarm if a fireman stops moving,” said Oehmig. Oftentimes these beacons are either bought secondhand, or out of the firemen’s own pockets. The existing ones often don’t work at all. “No one would want their husband to have to choose the air pack with a non-functioning beacon/locator as they go in to fight the fire,” states Oehmig. “I’m telling you, we are messing with the odds.” Because of the Lookout Mountain fire department’s brave and selfless service in fighting the Café on the Corner fire, Oehmig has organized a fundraiser to provide the necessary equipment to keep the firefighters as safe as possible. “This equipment isn’t cheap,” states Oehmig, “but it is our responsibility to do whatever we can to keep the people safe who are risking their lives to save our homes, businesses and often our lives. These men are our neighbors, friends, and active members of our community. Our role is to keep them safe while they are keeping our families safe. And I’ll tell you now, I am on a mission to see to it that that happens.” The Fourth Annual Fill the Boot Fundraiser will be held on Tuesday, November 6, at 5:30 p.m. at Cafe on the Corner to raise funds for necessary equipment. For a donation of your choice, there will be hamburgers, hotdogs and chili for dinner, a fire truck and coloring activities for the kids, and beer for purchase for the grown-ups. For any further information or ways to support the Fill the Boot Fundraiser, please contact Ruth Oehmig at (423) 825-5005. by Gwin Tugman Chief Todd Gann became chief of the Lookout Mountain, Ga., police force eight years ago when Chief Wallace Taylor retired. He began his police work in 1997 for the town of Trenton, Ga., taking a position on Lookout 10 years ago. Serving the community is important in his family, ashis mother was the first female deputy in Dade County, as well as Trenton’s police commissioner for 25 years. Chief Gann said that he loves his job on our mountain and appreciates how con- nected the police force is to the community. In such a tight-knit community, he feels he gets to know the residents, and when there is a call for assistance, he often knows the person calling. There are seven police officers in the Lookout Mountain, Ga., department, and all are cross-trained as firemen and policemen. They all are also first responders and have taken the EMR (emergency medical responders) course, which teaches basic first aid and advanced CPR. There is also a volunteer fire department that helps with manpower, if needed, for both sides of the mountain. Todd has a great working relationship with Chief Chuck Wells, the police chief in Lookout Mountain, Tenn. Chief Gann said that the fire and police departments on the Tennessee and Georgia sides of the mountain have a mutual agreement to jointly help each other in emergency situations. Todd and his wife, Melissa, have one son, Mason, 12, and live on a small farm on Sand Mountain. He has an interesting hobby: he is very involved with mixed martial arts, which is a full contact combat sport that allows striking and grappling, both from standing and from the ground. In fact, Chief Gann will participate in the 10th Annual Guns and Hoses Battle of the Badges on Friday, December 7, at the Chattanooga Convention Center. All proceeds benefit both the Forgotten Child Fund and the YCAP youth boxing program that is sponsored by the YMCA. Chief Todd Gann has a wicked sense of humor and a permanent smile on his face and considers it a privilege to serve this community. Actually, Chief, the privilege is ours! The Center for Mindful Living’s “Paths to Peace” event will take place Saturday, October 27, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Chattanooga Theatre Centre with a full schedule of activities for all ages. “We hope this event will provide an opportunity to bring people together to experience activities that nurture and unite us in a common quest for world peace and to be mindful of our common humanity,” said Elizabeth Kabalka, executive director of the Center for Mindful Living. In addition to children’s activities, a new Pies for Peace component will include a variety of pies provided by dozens of area churches and faith-based institutions. “We are bringing people together over a free piece of pie to create conversation and a unifying experience,” explained Kabalka. The Paths to Peace event is free of charge, and will feature labyrinth walks for adults and children led by Ellen Simak and Margy Oehmig, along with an introduction to mindfulness practices, yoga, Qigong, art, dance and more! The afternoon will conclude with free pieces of pie for all attending. If your church or faith-based organization is interested in donating pies for the event, or for more information, go to centermindfulliving.org or check it out on Facebook. The Center for Mindful Living is a 501c3 nonprofit that educates the community about the benefits of mindfulness and provides opportunities for people to develop a mindfulness practice. These practices lead to more joy, balance, and compassion. Our mission is to empower people to decrease their stress and increase their well-being. by Ray Ann Kurtz For over 50 years, Scenic City Chorus has entertained audiences in the surrounding Chattanooga area with dynamic, a cappella, four-part harmony! Our style of entertainment is family-friendly and refreshingly different. Audiences enjoy our contemporary spin on songs that include an array of modern pop, old standards, inspirational and patriotic favorites. Whether a heartfelt ballad or toe-tapping up tune, there is something for everyone. Scenic City Chorus is a chartered member of Sweet Adeline International since 1962. Sweet Adelines International is a highly respected worldwide organization of women singers committed to advancing the musical art form of barbershop harmony through education, competition and performance. This independent, nonprofit music education association is one of the world’s largest singing organizations for women. Members say that singing the powerfully balanced sounds of barbershop harmony provides a rich, rewarding experience that changes their lives and helps women find their voices, both on the risers and in their everyday lives. Scenic City Chorus has grown from a small chorus to a large chorus over the past 56 years. Director Jennifer Cooke hails from Nashville and is a member of the International Board of Sweet Adelines Inc. She was voted Coach of the Year for Region 4 in 2017 and received the title of Master Director at the 2017 Region4 competition in Lexington, Ky., where our chorus was honored with the title of Master Singers. Members work every week improving their skills in hopes of obtaining an even higher score at next year’s competition. The chorus meets every Monday at Spring Creek Baptist Gymnasium, 1312 Spring Creek Rd., from 6:30-9:30 p.m. New members of all ages are welcome to share the love of singing four-part harmony. In addition to singing for a variety of community events, members produce an annual show. This year’s show is Saturday, November 3, at Notre Dame High School at 4 p.m. “The Singing Zone” is an opportunity for you to enjoy the chorus as it sings 10 new songs. In addition to the performances of this award-winning chorus, the show will feature a very special guest quartet, The Buzz. This quartet was crowned the 2003 Sweet Adelines International Championship Quartet. Show tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for senior and students, and free for children age 12 and under. Call (423) 284-7069 or go visit www.sceniccitychorus.com to order tickets. After the show, there will be a delicious catered meal and more entertainment. Afterglow tickets are $15 for adults and seniors and $10 for children. Afterglow tickets must be purchased before October 29, and only 100 seats are available. by Rusty Crump The Austin Hatcher Foundation presents its 10th annual Celebration of Life and Hope on Saturday, October 27, at Stratton Hall from 7-11 p.m. This event celebrates the lives of those who have survived pediatric cancer and raises awareness for the Foundation’s mission to erase the effects of childhood cancer and optimize each child’s quality of life. “We want to celebrate the lives of our survivors and raise awareness about the effects of pediatric cancer. Our goal behind this is we want to celebrate life, empower our survivors, honor those who have been taken, and vow to never give up,” said Julia Sharp, regional resource development coordinator. The foundation has four divisions – psycho-oncology, industrial arts, diversionary therapy and healthy lifestyle education. The Austin Hatcher Foundation provides all services at no cost to the families, beginning at the time of diagnosis and continuing throughout survivorship. “Two out of three childhood cancer survivors will develop long-term side effects from the very treatment that saved their lives, including hearing loss, learning disabilities and secondary cancers. The psycho-oncology division is focused on restoring the emotional, educational and social development of the child and the child’s family after a pediatric cancer diagnosis. The industrial arts division addresses hindered fine motor and dexterity skills with hands-on wood or metal projects to build teamwork, confidence, and concentration. Diversionary therapy provides families and children with a variety of special activities, including leisure, recreation, education, and more. Then there is our healthy lifestyle education division, equipping children with the knowledge necessary to make healthy lifestyle choices while reducing their risk of cancer tomorrow,” Ms. Sharp said. The Celebration of Life and Hope is the foundation’s signature fundraising event. All funds raised benefit the Foundation’s four divisions that reach families and children in 42 hospitals across 28 states, with a special focus on the Chattanooga community. “We have a VIP hour starting at 6:30 p.m., which includes specialty cocktails by Matilda Midnight, specialty cuisine from the Monen family restaurants, and priority seating in the racing simulator used in our programs. Regular ticket holders, starting at 7 p.m., will get an open bar, both live and silent auctions, dinner and music from local band the Young Hearts,” Ms. Sharp said. Tickets cost $100 for each individual regular ticket and $700 dollars for a group of eight general admission tickets or $150 for individual VIP tickets and $1,000 for a group of eight VIP tickets. Click here to purchase your tickets today! by Ferris Robinson At some point, chances are you’ve been to Rock City. Either as a child, a parent or a tourist, you’ve probably walked through this wonderland, pausing on the Swinging Bridge to catch your breath and gasp at the incredible view. However, I doubt you’ve had the pleasure of actually walking in Frieda’s footsteps, Frieda Utermoehlen Carter being Rock City’s co-founder and visionary of the Enchanted Trail. Rock City is offering Walking in Frieda’s Footsteps, historical guided walking tours of Rock City Gardens. Available most days during normal operating hours, the tours are a mere $5 per ticket upgrade from general admission, and there is minimum group size of 15 people. Imagine touring behind the scenes with your own personal guide and horticulture expert as you learn about the infinite number of native plants, most actually planted in the early 1930s by Frieda herself. Fascinated with European folklore as well as wildflowers and rock gardens, she planted columbine, coralbells and hemlock trees that are still there today. Schedule a tour during the beautiful month of October, and see Rock City again! |
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