Kate Fuller, the owner of The Hive and a mountain powerhouse, organized the inaugural Hive Hustle, a 5K race and one-mile fun run. It was held on a beautiful October morning and raised money for the mountain’s schools, including Lookout Mountain Elementary, Fairyland Elementary, Mother’s Day Out at the Presbyterian Church, and Good Shepherd School. Kate was hoping for around 200 entries, and was pleased that almost that many signed up for either the race or the fun run.

The race started at Scenic Highway at the Common’s entrance and eventually proceeded down Lula Lake Road to the new Georgia city hall, Fairyland Mountain Hall, and back to the Commons. It was such fun to see so many eager and energetic participants in the race, some pushing their babies in strollers, some walking behind them and one, Carrie Pollard, running the race with her dog. It was a race full of comradery and good sportsmanship, with Eli Kaczinski winning the 3.1-mile run in 16:02:59! Also one of the top finishers, Andrew Ray, pushed his two children in a stroller, which didn’t seem to slow his time at all.

The fun run started next at 10 a.m. on the Commons track, where runners and walkers ran around the track and then exited the gate by the fountain and went up the hill behind the stores and back down to the Commons. Rad Stewart, an LMS third grader, came in first with a time of six minutes and 30 seconds!

Kate handed out medals on the baseball field while mountain residents Ashley and Shannon Johnson gave out samples of their chili from their downtown restaurant, Real Good Smokehouse and Bar.

Kate, as usual, did a first-rate job and, with many company sponsors and the community’s support, the Hive Hustle raised $12,000 for the schools! She thanked everyone for participating and having fun and promised that next year would be even bigger and better. After a big round of applause from the crowd, Kate said, “There is no ‘The Hive - Lookout Mountain’ without the people of Lookout Mountain, who humble me with their support every day. And there is no me without my family, who never waver.” Well said, Kate and a great job!
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by Gwin Tugman

Lily Hall is so excited to share the news of her new business, Pepperpot Party. Pepperpot Party helps you decorate for any special occasion by installing custom balloon arches or displays, as well as making any “props” you might need to make the event more festive.

Lily and her husband, Jeffrey, and their two children, Twiggs, 6, and Sherwood, 2, moved here two years ago from Atlanta and bought the former Grizzell home on Ft. Stephenson Terrace. They chose Lookout Mountain so their children could grow up in a special community, and since her parents have a second home in Sewanee, they were familiar with the area and loved it. In Atlanta they didn’t even know their neighbors!

“I love to create,” Lily said, adding that she loves to make things in her craft room and think outside the box. “I have always loved going over the top for Twiggs’ birthday, and I love to make everything for it. This past year she had a tea party for her birthday, and I made everything: tea cups out of paper from cupcake holders; paper flowers for wall decorations; and all of her balloon garlands.

“I love the look balloons give, they give you a lot of color and a lot of dramatic effect. I have seen garlands at several of our friends’ parties and thought, I could do that, and I did it! I made a garland for Kate Fuller at the Hive, and she loved it. Then, I kept making them for friends. My husband has been encouraging me for a while to do something in the party realm because I love doing [my children’s] birthdays. I came up with the name Pepperpot because I wanted a fun party name! Right now, I just have an Instagram account, and I am working on getting my website up and going. My handle is @pepperpotparty,” said Lily.

Lily comes from a background in decorating and started as a buyer for several companies, before working for Home Depot in the Home Decorators Collection. She travelled all over the world with the company, getting lots of decorating ideas along the way, but decided to stay home after having Twiggs, so this job is a perfect fit!

I am sure some of you saw the balloon popcorn display at the carnival; it was fabulous and looked just like popcorn! This talented woman is amazing in her creative skills, so if you want anything from balloons to a fantastic themed occasion, give her a call at (404) 723-9947.
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by Gwin Tugman

In 2016, Bea Burbank, who plays the title role in Roald Dahl’s “Matilda the Musical” at the Signal Mountain Playhouse this month, was thrilled to see her cousin Lily Brooks O’Briant star as Matilda in a touring company’s production. Bea, 6 years old at the time, was stagestruck as her 9-year-old cousin sang and acted her heart out as the telekinetic little girl who escapes to the library as a refuge. Now in 2022, Bea, inspired by her cousin’s performance, has her own turn as Matilda, and Bea’s muse Lily Brooks has arrived an ascendant Hollywood actress.

Also known for her portrayal of Mandy Wright in Netflix’s “The Big Show Show,” now 16-year-old Lily Brooks was the lead in the film “Marina,” winning a Wasserman Award and other prestigious accolades. Her credits also include the role of Kylie in “Mandated,” a TV web series. More major roles are on Lily Brook’s horizon as she has been cast as the leading role in Apple TV’s “Life by Ella,” which will premiere on September 2, 2022. She will play Ella, a teenager struck by cancer and trying to seize the day.

We congratulate Lily Brooks on her success, but for now, the character shoe is on the proverbial other foot as she is coming to Signal Mountain to support her young cousin Bea as she plays the lead in the Playhouse production, which runs July 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, and 30.

In addition to playing Matilda at SMPH, Bea played Olaf in “Frozen, Jr.” at GPS, where she is a rising seventh-grader, and Sally in the Chattanooga Theatre Centre’s “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” She also performed in “The Alibis” at McCallie and “The Sound of Music” at GPS. She studies voice at Cadek with Mary Record and has participated in choir at Church of the Good Shepherd on Lookout under choirmaster John Wigal since she was 3. Bea has taken theater classes at GPS, where she learned about Playhouse auditions from upper class students Colette Smith and Caroline Rowe, Playhouse veterans. “I was to excited to find out that I had been chosen for the role of Matilda when Colette Smith found me on campus and gave me a congratulatory hug. The Playhouse production team and cast members have been so welcoming and encouraging throughout rehearsals,” Bea said.

Bea is the daughter of Christie and Brice Burbank of Lookout Mountain.

The Signal Mountain Playhouse is proud to introduce Bea Burbank in her debut performance with the troupe, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary year with Roald Dahls’ “Matilda the Musical” this July. Break a leg, Bea!
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by Anne Rittenberry

Kate Fuller is finally ready to open The Hive, which will be a fitness center and more located in the former Market on the Mountain on North Watauga. Kate explained that she and her husband, Clayton, were so tired of driving all over the city for activities for their children, as well as for themselves. She said that often she had to choose between her children as to what activities they could do or not do because she couldn’t be in Hixson and near Hamilton Place at the same time!

Kate has desperately been looking for a community space that could be used for all ages and for all manner of activities. The Hive will be opening in January 2022, and, according to Kate, “It will offer a fun, active community space for the residents and families of Lookout Mountain. We are still setting the schedule, but it will include offerings such as Mountain Barre, Bounce Trampoline, Tai Chi, traditional yoga, HIIT conditioning, senior cardio and strength fitness, yin yoga and more for adults. For kids, we are planning dance classes and tumbling, and also some fun classes for our littlest friends!

We are very excited to be bringing high quality Brazilian Jiu Jitsu martial arts training to our facility, for both youth and adults, which will be offered on Monday and Wednesday evenings, with plans for a weekend class in the future. Plans for monthly one-night-only activities like ballroom dance or “corks and canvas” are in the works, too. The Hive will also be bringing healthy, fresh food from Vibrant Meals to Lookout, available as grab-and-go from our fridges every afternoon and evening. And to round out our community space, we will also have fresh-pressed juices and delicious snacks from The Local Juice on Main Street, and Frios Pops,” Kate said.

Kate said the Fullers are all thrilled to be creating a space that will offer so many of the things that we all spend hours every day driving to and from – right here on the mountain. She is a believer in helping other entrepreneurs, and can’t wait to showcase so many of Chattanooga and North Georgia’s small businesses right here in the heart of Lookout Mountain.
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by Gwin Tugman

With a musical name like Merrie Beth Eubanks, it is no surprise that she is an amazing harpist. Having grown up in a small town in south Georgia, Merrie Beth is the daughter of a musician mother who required her four children to learn to play an instrument. Merrie Beth’s first instrument was the violin at age 4. Unfortunately, she never loved the violin. Three years later, Merrie Beth saw the harp at her older sister’s orchestra rehearsal, and she immediately begged her mother for one!  

“Even though there was not a harp teacher anywhere close to our rural, small town, my mother made it happen! At one point, the closest teacher was about two and a half hours away. Despite the distance, my mother drove me several hours to and from lessons every week for the next NINE years! I don’t know how she fit it in with the busyness of having four children, but I am extremely thankful that she did!

“Once I reached high school, we realized I needed more training if I hoped to pursue music in college. Therefore, I attended Interlochen Arts Academy, a performing arts boarding school, for my last two years of high school. It was an amazing, transformative experience. I was surrounded by other students from all over this country and the world who were dedicated, hard working and serious about their aspirations. After graduating from Interlochen, I attended the Cleveland Institute of Music, a music conservatory in Cleveland, Ohio,” Merrie Beth said.

Merrie Beth spent time as the principal harpist for the Albany Symphony and Valdosta Symphony. In addition, she served as the second harpist for the Mobile Symphony. With her immense talent, she regularly performs for all types of events such as weddings, charity fundraisers, holiday parties, and in fine dining restaurants and church services. 

Merrie Beth and her husband, Eric, have four children, ages 4 to 16. Last year, her oldest son attended Baylor as a boarding student. After visiting him several times throughout the year, the whole family fell in love with Chattanooga, and especially Lookout Mountain. They moved here in April and are so thrilled to be able to live here! What a gift to have their family with us on the mountain!

With a big smile, she said, “One of my favorite things about being a musician is getting to teach students. In over 20 years of teaching, I have enjoyed teaching students of all ages - children as young as 5, adults in their 70s, and all ages in between! I teach both private and group lessons. My adult students particularly enjoy playing together in an ensemble,” Merrie Beth said.

When asked how students acquire a harp, Merrie Beth replied, “It is much easier than you think. There is a harp store in Atlanta that has a wonderful selection and even rents harps in case someone wants to try it before making a purchase.” 

Richard Llewellyn said, “Glorious is the Voice of Man, and sweet is the music of the harp.” Lookout Mountain is fortunate to have such an accomplished harpist and her wonderful family living right here in our midst!

Those interested in harp lessons can visit Merrie Beth’s website at www.merriebetheubanks.com.  
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by Ann  Henley Perry

Dick Clark said, “Music is the soundtrack of your life!” Thankfully Lookout Mountain is home to lots of musical talent! 

Bethany Cothern grew up in a family of five in Murfreesboro, Tenn. A delightful child, she began playing the piano at age 9, which was customary for her family.

Bethany exclaimed, “It was truly the best, most life-altering gift I have ever received! I always loved piano lessons, and at age 16, I decided I would be a pianist in some capacity when I was older. Although I was a dedicated piano student, my attention was divided at school in pursuit of other musical activities, such as voice and violin lessons and choir. I was also on the basketball team. In college, I began a more serious study of piano, where I was surrounded by others who also loved to make music! In graduate school at the University of Louisville, I found my love for [being a] piano teacher. My assistantship was to teach college students piano for 15 hours a week in group or private settings.”

As a self-proclaimed “school addict,” Bethany has always enjoyed studying, being in academic environments, writing papers, and mastering new things. To this day, once she has enjoyed about six weeks of summer, she craves an assignment! Therefore, two of her most rewarding summers were spent gaining international experience. She spent six weeks in a collaborative piano program in Graz, Austria, one summer. Later, she enjoyed a three-week exploration of piano teaching techniques in Brest and Quimper, both in France. Her vast studies led her to complete two masters degrees from the University of Louisville. She received a Master of Piano Performance in 2015, and a Master of Piano Pedagogy in 2016. She just completed a master of music in piano performance and pedagogy with an emphasis in injury-preventive keyboard technique at Salem College in Winston-Salem, N.C. Bethany continues to grow and learn as she pursues different degrees related to teaching piano. 

Her love of learning is apparent with how she has spent the past several years. Bethany began a unique biomechanics-focused degree at Salem College in 2019. In the years 2016-2019, she served as an adjunct professor at the University of Louisville, and also ran a private piano studio where she taught students of all ages. As a piano teacher to a 12-year-old student, the direction of her career and her entire life were changed.  

Bethany elaborated, “After working together for nearly three years, I randomly decided to ask my student about her specific questions about her practice habits. She was always well prepared for her lessons, so it had never occurred to me to ask her about her practice week since she appeared to have a great system that yielded the proper results. Her response to my question about her weekly practice time was, ‘Well, it hurts me too much to play for longer than 10 minutes at a time. Therefore, I make sure I do this six times a day in order to practice for an hour each day.’”

“I have no idea what I responded,” Bethany continued, “but I probably sputtered some follow-up questions. Her casual detailing of her pain hit me like a bus later. I realized I needed to further unpack this with my student, and I also felt internal feelings of shock and pain as her teacher! I couldn’t believe that my adolescent student of almost three years assumed that her pain was normal, and that she never even thought to mention that her daily practice routine was filled with discomfort. I wondered if some sort of cliche ‘no pain, no gain’ perspective had somehow seeped into her music making, and I wondered what I needed to do about it. Therefore, I began coaching her out of the pain she was feeling at the piano by trying alternate ways of moving the keyboard, using different wrist positions, and working on her alignment. Through movement experiments, as well as research into musicians’ injuries and healthy technique, we were able to get the pain out of her playing. Efficient movement patterns at the piano have always interested me.
“Dance choreographer Rudolf Laban’s concepts of expression motion as they apply to piano technique really changed my thinking about the mind-body connection and its impact on tone at the piano. I ultimately enrolled in a six-day workshop at Salem entitled “Injury-Preventative Keyboard Technique,” Bethany said, adding that what she learned became part of the professional development portion of her curriculum vitae.

Dr. Barbara Lister-Sink led the workshop and Bethany learned some physical and psychological answers to things that even limited her own playing. This workshop transformed her, and she called her parents on her way home and announced she was moving to North Carolina to continue her studies at Salem.

Bethany pursued her master’s degree focused on the Lister-Sink Method, which is an approach to the piano developed by Dr. Lister-Sink. This particular method aims to maximize musicality by removing physical obstacles to playing. During her time at Salem, Bethany re-trained her own piano technique through this method, which draws from neuroscience for brain-based learning, biomechanics for healthy body movement, and sports pedagogy for building a basic form for this lifelong motor skill. Therefore, Bethany’s teaching always prioritizes expression and the student’s personal connection to the piece being studied. She believes that this deeper understanding of how our brains and bodies work has forever changed the way she thinks about the piano.

She said, “I finally have a way to give clear physical instructions to serve artistic aims, and I look forward to passing these philosophies of compelling music-making with healthy physical coordination down to my students in Tennessee!”

For further professional development, Bethany studied the work of Edwin Gordon, who coined the Music Learning Theory. Bethany uses a piano method called Music Moves for Piano, which was developed by a student of Gordon’s, Marilyn Lowe. This method separates rhythm and pitch and teaches expressive movement of the whole body. Students build a bank of rhythmic and tonal patterns, and it is so much fun! 
Bethany said that she enjoys using a healthy piano technique with a vast understanding of musical patterns, and she enjoys tailoring music choices to things students will enjoy. They have learned music from Minecraft and Pokémon, an array of film music, traditional Irish tunes, worship music, and music from different countries.

After her stint at Salem College from 2019-2021, Bethany was ready to live closer to family.  Her parents live in Murfreesboro, while her brother Jeremy Cothern and sister-in-law Laura live on Lookout with their three children, Ward, McLean and Alec. The mountains and hiking were also a big draw for Bethany! She is now serving as an adjunct professor at Lee University, as well as serving as a collaborative pianist at Lee, University, Bryan College, and Covenant College. She is also the program director of the Performing Arts Academy of Bryan College. She runs BC Piano Studio for private piano lessons and is an enthusiastic musician wellness advocate and researcher. She has spent time presenting information at several universities, as well.  

Bethany is excited to share her knowledge and experience with piano students while she continues to learn and share her knowledge. Those who want to take piano need a piano at home. She prefers an acoustic piano of some type or at least an electric keyboard with 88 weighted keys and a sustain pedal. She encourages parents to look at Facebook marketplace or craigslist for instruments.  

A notebook for weekly assignments and a device for weekly listening of the assigned music are also required. Bethany teaches out of her studio on Princess Trail and offers both in-person and virtual lessons. She offers 30-, 45-, and 60-minute group and private lessons. Bethany enjoys teaching both children and adults. In fact, she is hosting an “adults only” virtual piano recital this December. 

When she is not involved in her music, Bethany enjoys reading, hiking, drinking coffee, movies, and live concerts. Those interested in lessons may contact her at (615) 785-4060 or Bethany.cothern@gmail.com. We are thrilled to have her vast musical talent here on Lookout!
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by Ann Henley Perry

The inaugural John Harrison ’84 Magnanimitas Award was presented in November to Baylor junior Marguerite Pippenger, a Lookout Mountain resident, who was nominated and chosen by a committee of faculty members as one who embodies Harrison’s qualities of resilience, grace, kindness, dignity, and compassion. The annual award will recognize a student with relentless positivity, passion, and selflessness while giving to others, the school, and the community with a true greatness of spirit.

John Harrison ’84, also a resident of Lookout Mountain, a member the Baylor advancement department, died on November 22, 2020 at age 55, after courageously battling the life-long effects of Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and resulting kidney disease. 

“It is a pleasure to recognize Marguerite Pippenger as the first John Harrison ’84 Magnanimitas Award winner,” said Shaw Wilson ’84 of Lookout Mountain, assistant head of school. “Marguerite truly embodies the spirit of giving while demonstrating a real love for her community and for Baylor, much like John did.”

The award comes with $500 for Pippenger to use in whatever creative, philanthropic efforts that are most meaningful to her. “The Magnanimitas Award gives us the opportunity to celebrate John Harrison and tell the story of Baylor’s great culture of philanthropy every year,” said Wilson.

Unknown to many, Pippenger and her family shared a special friendship with the Harrisons, who lived near them on Lookout Mountain. As his illness progressed, they pitched in to assist in any way they could. Before long, Pippenger and her sister, Janie ’21, were picking up Harrison on their way to school and dropping him off outside of his office in Hunter Hall.  “I think my favorite memories of John are probably riding to school every morning with him. My favorite was when we accidentally let him go to work with two different shoes on; he was so mad at us but we couldn’t help but laugh,” says Pippenger.  “Dunkin’ Donuts were a pretty important staple in our relationship if I’m being honest,” she laughs. “Every morning we would pressure Janie, who was driving, to get us doughnuts or stop somewhere and get a treat before school.”  

When Harrison passed away over the Thanksgiving holiday in 2020, Pippenger’s thoughts turned to Harrison’s colleagues in Baylor’s development office. “I was trying to think of something special to do for his co-workers that would help brighten their day on that first day back from break. My mom had the idea to bring in doughnuts, but I was nervous because I knew how hard it would be to even walk up to Hunter and see his empty office. I placed them on the conference table and then ran into Scotty Smith ’89 and we talked about how John loved doughnuts. I saw how much it meant to them, but it also really helped me get over that hump of going back to school without him.

“One thing people need to know about John was how strong he was,” adds Pippenger. “Three days a week he had to sit in a dialysis chair which left him emotionally and physically exhausted. But after every dialysis treatment, he came out of his house with a smile. He was the most positive man I have ever met in my whole life. I mean, his job was talking to people all day, and he loved every second of it. He had so many physical challenges in his life, but he managed to persevere and seize the day. He truly did have greatness of spirit.”

The John Harrison ’84 Magnanimitas Award and Scholarship Fund launched in early 2021 thanks to the generosity of Harrison’s family and friends. In fewer than 12 months, $1.3 million was raised for this endowed fund, which will support the annual award and an annual scholarship for a returning Upper School student who is selected for the honor.
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The award ceremony was attended by members of Harrison’s family, friends from the Class of 1984, and Baylor Upper School students. Invited guests attended a reception following in Hedges Library.

Douglas may look like a turtle, albeit quite oversized. But he is no turtle. He’s a tortoise, an African spurred tortoise (sulcata tortoise) to be exact. The difference between the two has to do with water: turtles can swim a little or at least get to the side of the pond. But a tortoise cannot.

This tortoise weighs over 50 pounds, but there are larger tortoises; they can get up to 200 pounds. And one of them probably got the better of Douglas. He came to the Mountain Hospital for Animals when he was mauled and at death’s door. Dr. Nikita Viens and Dr. Chris Keller think he was probably in a fight with another tortoise, but can’t be sure. At any rate, he was terribly wounded and they actually wondered if he could possibly recover.

Thanks to the folks at MHA, including tech Hunter Kirk, Douglas is well on the way to recovery and has turned out to be a very chill dude. Initially coiled into his battered shell, he now pops his head out, turns it left and right and up and down, and fixes his eyes (previously unopened) at every single person or animal or thing possible.

He’s enjoying the fall weather as he is taken out for fresh air at the little grassy strip of land on Watauga, and yes, he stops a bit of traffic. If you happen to see a massive prehistoric creature resting under the grove of cherry trees, stop and say hi. Douglas is just taking it all in, and clearly grateful for the folks at Mountain Hospital for Animals.
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by Ferris Robinson