Ellie Hildebrand loves to read, and clearly certain books have impacted her since childhood. She says the names of authors and books she loves with reverence, and her excitement is contagious as she speaks their names: “The Giving Tree”; Wendall Berry”; John Steinbeck”; “Sequoia.” And her face lights up as certain sentences and passages come to her mind.

It’s not surprising that Ellie majored in English, but it is surprising she chose technical marketing as a career and excelled in it. After a very successful career in California as a tech marketer, she and her husband Jay moved to Lookout Mountain with their three children at the same time Ellie was looking for a career change. Like most women, Ellie goes weak at the knees for jewelry, but not many of us can cobble a career in that field.

Ellie confesses that she loves to shop. And, she knows exactly what she’s looking for, at least in the jewelry department. She was searching a special piece of jewelry that called her name, that was meaningful and that she could put on and never take off. Aren’t we all on a similar quest for that perfect piece? She also wanted to find this elusive bauble at the perfect price point, something not so expensive it stayed in the jewelry box, but not so cheap it turned color or broke or worse, caused a reaction on sensitive skin. No matter how far and wide she searched, she couldn’t find what she was searching for. So, Ellie flat out created it. And ended up with an amazing line of jewelry when she did.

With no background in jewelry at all, Ellie downplays her ability to decide to do something and basically just dive right in and do it! “I love fashion and literature,” she says, shrugging her shoulders. “I am my own target audience,” she explained. Sister Homage, her jewelry business, offers what Ellie calls “high quality staples that are low maintenance but have meaning.” But this jewelry is more than that. It speaks. It doesn’t sit in a velvet box and stay in its place on the shelf. No. Her pieces find their way into your hands and as you feel their weight and details and symbols, you hear their stories. As you hold these beautiful things up in the light, you find you connect to that heavy ring, adorned with the birthstones of your children or the Castle ring or the Frida necklace, which pays homage to Frida Kahlo and her poem “You Deserve a Lover.” “You deserve a lover who takes away the lies and brings hope, love and poetry,” Frida writes.

I happen to own a pair of her hydrangea earrings. My daughter-in-law gave them to me, and besides the fact that I am fool for native hydrangea, the description of them on the Sister Homage website reads, “May you live from a place of abundance, beauty and grace.”

​Each piece Ellie creates was inspired by words of authors who move her, whether they are living or not. And as you browse her website, sisterhomage.com, you can’t help but find hope and inspiration and words to live by. 

By Ferris Robinson

Massey’s Kitchen opened last summer amidst great anticipation and much enthusiasm from the community. It was only fitting that the restaurant’s first birthday was marked by a celebration with special invited guests: the entire community! Live music, spontaneous dancing, scoops of that divine gelato, carnival games and patio cocktails were in order for the afternoon that moved into the evening. The staff was on hand for the event, of course, including many that were celebrating their own one-year anniversary of working at Massey’s Kitchen.
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One year ago, the community waited with bated breath for the restaurant to open, and it was worth that wait. The patio is full every evening, even in the dead of winter, thanks to the igloos that were there last year. There was just something special about dining under the stars in a cozy little private dome!

My office is only a few feet away from Massey’s Kitchen, and I am a regular diner there. It is wonderful to have a restaurant that is open every single day for lunch and dinner! And a yummy brunch on the weekend!
My house is almost as close to MK as my office is, so I really have zero excuse to use the restaurant’s delivery service. But have you seen that zippy little car? For a mere $3 charge, you can order anything you want for delivery on the mountain!

I’m very familiar with the menu, and my favorite starter is the baked feta. Divine. There is a tie with the salads – Shrimp Louie and Mediterranean Chicken Salad take turns. The smash burger is really good, and the French fries are special – hand cut and soaked in salt water before frying. The Italian sausage pizza is to die for, but if you want, add a little of the sausage to the Tuscan pizza, which boasts artichokes, roasted red peppers, onions, roasted mushrooms, and pistachio pesto. The flour for the dough is imported from Italy, as is the olive oil and other ingredients. My friend who is gluten intolerant can eat this pizza dough with no problem. The flatbreads are all yummy, but last summer they offered one with grilled peaches and arugula. Incredible.

Massey’s offers several flavors of gelato, and a seasonal option as well. Get the chocolate. It’s like nothing you’ve ever had, with a dense rich chocolate flavor.

There’s lots more on the menu, but these are my favs, along with the gyro bowl in the secondo section.

Lots is going on at Massey’s, including the new Massey’s Lookout Mountain Market! On Saturday, August 24, a farmers market took place on the patio! Indeed, lots is happening at this neighborhood restaurant, but a lot remains the same, including great service, great food and a great location!

by Ferris Robinson

Justin and D’Anna Farrar recently bought the Mountain Escape Spa from its original owner, Cindy Stiles. After over 30 years in business, Cindy is so pleased to sell the spa to someone who cares and loves our mountain like she does. Cindy is so appreciative of the support this community has shown her business through the years, but knew it was time for her to choose another path for her and her family.
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D’Anna and her husband, Justin, fell in love with the magic of Lookout Mountain and moved here seven years ago. “As residents, we have a deep gratitude and respect for the special beauty, charm and gifts of the mountain and its community,” she said. “We always wanted to own a small business, and buying Mountain Escape Spa was an exciting opportunity to do so and give back in a way.”

Well versed travelers, D’Anna and Justin have visited spas all over the world, so suffice to say, this couple knows spas.

“Visiting spas around the world, we are deeply passionate about wellness and the importance of self-care,” D’Anna said.

D’Anna also has a background in beauty, with extensive experience working as a brand manager of various skincare and beauty brands. Longtime customers of Mountain Escape Spa, the couple have nothing but appreciation and admiration for both Cindy and the spa, noting the satisfaction and joy it has brought to the community for three decades. D’Anna and Justin are grateful to Cindy for her vision, commitment to the community and business acumen, and are honored to carry the torch and continue her legacy.

The Farrars were also inspired by other nearby businesses like Canopy and Massey’s, which are bringing fresh new energy to the town center in Lookout Mountain, Tenn. They are currently remodeling the spa to refresh the space and ready the building for new exciting amenities.

“We will be offering massages, facials and aesthetician services, a new hair salon offering both women’s and men’s hair services, a new nail salon, and a Scandinavian inspired sauna, D’Anna said. The spa will also offer a new luxurious mountain serenity lounge room where guests can sip tea, relax and unwind before and after services, but that’s not all!

“Furthermore, we are revamping the retail portion of the spa with an enchanting new boutique. We will have many new items including apparel, jewelry, accessories, home items, gifts, Christmas items and more just in time for the upcoming holiday season,” D’Anna explained.

Keep your eyes out for special limited-edition packages inspired by the seasons, including the Autumn Spice Spa Retreat. This package provides the ultimate fall glow-up experience with a pumpkin spice facial, autumn aromatherapy massage and pumpkin butter hand and foot treatment.

They are so excited and are so grateful to the community for all the love and support! D’Anna can’t wait to start this new chapter in their lives and on the mountain, and her excitement is contagious!

The Farrars are planning a grand reopening this October and accepting pre-bookings now. Please visit mountainescapespa.com or call (423) 821-1772 to book your appointment today.

by Gwin Tugman

My mother had back surgery four years ago, and, although the surgery was a success, she had a time of it. An unexpected knee surgery immediately followed, as did several terrible falls. Her hospital and rehab stay was long, much longer than expected. A widow, she needed a place to recover, and Thrive was the perfect option.

She’d been having physical therapy for a few weeks before she got to Thrive, and, like is common after surgery and trauma, this PT is not pleasant. My siblings and I were really concerned about her healing, and knew the physical therapy was vital. How would she like a brand new physical therapist in a brand new place when her pain level was still almost unbearable?

Logan Drew popped in immediately after she moved into her room.

“I still remember your mom sitting up on the edge of her bed the first time I met her,” Logan said. She could literally not move without assistance then.

We all warned Logan about her pain and fragility, and he listened to us. Then he listened to my mother. Then he coaxed a smile out her. All within minutes of introducing himself to her.

As her therapy went on, she gushed about Logan, teasing him about being her “tormenter.” He played right along, joking every step of the way. Until before we knew it, she was out of the bed for the first time in well over a month, gushing about “cute Logan,” her personal tormentor who was summoning her for PT. And she couldn’t wait to go!

Truly, he brought her back to us. Not only physically with his routine of steady strengthening her, but by being a delightful sidekick, a partner in crime, as they yukked it up in the PT room amidst encouragement and praise and raising the bar so incrementally and steadily it seemed like nothing at all to her.

Clearly, my family is devoted to Logan Drew. And not just because of his rapport with my mother. Told I needed a knee replacement, I first tried physical therapy for my knee and went to Logan. And he strengthened my knees in short order. I no longer have pain in my knees - but I do keep doing my “homework” that Logan prescribed.

Logan had a firsthand experience with physical therapy at a young age.

“Growing up I had ankle injuries from playing basketball and went to physical therapy to rehab my ankles. I really enjoyed my time in that atmosphere, the physical therapists and seeing the empowerment of other patients reaching their goals,” Logan said.

Clearly impressed by the entire experience, Logan knew at an early age that he wanted to be a physical therapist, as well as an accountability partner and offer support to folks as he helped them regain their optimal function. He has worked as a physical therapist for close to 10 years, and yes, there have been surprises along the way, notably the long-lasting relationships that go beyond the physical therapy treatment.

I can vouch for that. Every time my mother and I would run into Logan in the hall or the dining room, she would ask about Haili, Logan’s adorable wife, and Walker, Logan’s now 3-year-old son. My mother feels as connected to Walker as she does her own grandchildren, demanding to see his ultrasounds, newborn pictures and now his “big boy” photos. She is very possessive of George, Logan’s 3-month-old son, always asking for regular updates.

When Logan announced he was opening an outpatient clinic in the town center of Lookout Mountain, Tenn., my whole family was worried about him continuing our mother’s physical therapy because she is starting a new regime of PT in efforts to avoid a second back surgery.

Thankfully, we were reassured that Logan is offering mobile PT services to Lookout residents and is willing to travel to my mother and others across the mountain as needed. My mom knows that means Logan will be cracking the whip, and she also knows her longtime “tormentor” will go above and beyond to help her achieve her goal.
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by Ferris Robinson

The 2024 annual Dizzy Dean baseball parade took place during a successful baseball season, with so many of our children playing! Well over 300 boys and girls played on 30 teams ranging from the 4-year-olds’ clinic to the 10-11-year-old teams.

The parade started at the Fairyland School parking lot and proceeded down Lula Lake Road and Scenic Highway to the Commons. Firetrucks with sirens on full-blast, police cars, decorated floats, pick-up trucks packed with entire teams and golf carts full of candy-throwing children were a treat for spectators who lined the streets and cheered the players on to their great season.

Once at the playground, the teams and their coaches gathered around the big field where Scott Shell, director of parks and recreation, thanked everyone for coming and congratulated the teams. The Firecrackers 7-9 girls’ softball team led the Pledge of Allegiance, and Brooke Pippenger, the town manager for Lookout Mountain, Tenn., said a prayer about how blessed this mountain truly is and how lucky we are to have so many young ones. David Paschall thanked Scott for 30 years of service before he introduced the teams, their sponsors and their coaches. Coach Shell threw the first pitch and instructed the kids to have fun and “Play Ball!”

This entire program could not be possible without three key elements. The recreation board, consisting of John Tugman, Bo Butler, Peter Lindquist, Kate Boschi, Eddy Hilger, Jack Silberman, Keith Davis, and Stephanie Wharton, spends countless volunteer hours meeting and discussing what needs to be done for the afternoon sports for our elementary students. It is a thankless job, but they do it well. The next essential element to all the sports programs is Scott Shell, who manages all the behind-the-scenes paperwork, game schedules, make-up games, umpires and score keepers and playing fields for the many games. It is a job that many of us take for granted because we don’t realize how hard and time consuming this is. And lastly, of course, are the children, their parents, and their coaches who put their heart and soul into their efforts. There are seldom tears because the children know they have done their best. All of this makes for another stellar season of baseball on our mountain!

I’m here to report that on a recent beautiful Saturday morning, the fields looked perfect, and games were underway everywhere, thanks to Scott Shell. Stephanie Wharton and Starr Hoover stayed very busy in their concession stand, The Munchery, selling hot dogs, popcorn, drinks, and candy. It was the kind of day that exemplifies what a fantastic and special community we all have. I think we can agree that we wouldn’t live anywhere else!
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by Gwin Tugman

Many folks in the Chattanooga area know of Bob Wright. His name is associated with fine art, from its exquisite framing to its perfect hanging. He has an extraordinary eye for placing artistic works where they are even more special, and well, even more extraordinary.

At his retirement party, he reluctantly accepted the microphone and made everyone in the room feel special as he pointed out folks who were responsible for his career. The founder of Framewrights pointed at Kate Frazier, Margy Oehmig, Jamie Frierson and Neal Oehmig among others, calling out their names, before landing on Reggie Washington.

“I met Reggie 35 years ago when he was working at the Golden Gallon in St. Elmo and I stopped in for a six-pack. I spent my last $5 on it, he put it in a paper bag, and on the way to the car the bag split open, and the beer crashed all over the concrete. I cleaned it up and threw it all away in the trash and was heading back to my car when Reggie came rushing out with another six-pack,” Bob told the engaged crowd as Reggie beamed.

One of Bob’s first jobs in Chattanooga was at the Hunter, which he said probably reassured the public that he knew a bit about art. He met Sissy Tarumianz early on, and he framed a few pieces for her. She asked him how he felt about hanging them, and he agreed to give it a go.

Crediting Sissy for getting him into the framing business, he said she told him how to price everything, from framing to hanging to his time, adding that before he knew it, he had a booming framing business.

Winkie Persinger was his first official customer, with many, many more right behind her. Bob thanked several designers, including Jimmy Adams, Katie Kizer, Addie Chapin and Alice Davenport for their support. Pointing at Chris Moore, he said that Chris’s parents, Tom and Sarah Moore, gave him his first job in Chattanooga. “They gave me a chance,” he said, and the rest is history.

In retirement, he plans to spend time with his wife, Sue, as well as finish a photography project he started. A 100-year-old house and an older boat and car will also keep him busy. As will the renowned Corgi Parade in St. Elmo.
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by Ferris Robinson

Franny Nichols, the youngest daughter of Sarah and Stephen Nichols and a third-grader at Lookout Mountain School, recently won the 22nd Lin C. Parker wrapping paper design contest sponsored by the Chattanooga Times Free Press. There were about 50 entries from students in grades first through fifth, and each created an original holiday wrapping paper design on a sheet of plain white paper.

Franny got the idea for her design when her family began decorating for Christmas. Just like in the rest of our households, when her parents pulled the lights, ornaments and decorations out of storage, there was total disorganization. Franny looked at the mess and saw an interesting pattern, which inspired her to create the winning entry.

Borrowing her artistic mother’s vivid, fancy markers, she went to work. Using very bright colors, she drew 20 large ornaments, green or red circles or yellow semicircles or green and red striped circles or blue and orange circles with red stars in the center. The background was smudges of colors that represented miniature lights. She used the top of a medicine bottle to draw the circles and then use her imagination to draw the strings of lights.

As first place winner, Franny received $25, as well as a gift card from Scenic Community Credit Union and a swag bag of other prizes from ArtsBuild, the Creative Discovery Museum, and United Way of Greater Chattanooga.

Franny obviously loves to doodle and draw pictures, but she also likes to play recreational soccer, softball, football, and basketball. She is proud of achievement, as are her parents and her two siblings, Finn, 16, and Flori, 13, but she is more excited about what she might create next. Since Franny is just 8, we can only imagine what a bright future she has. Congratulations, Franny, on a job well done, and for using your imagination and your talent!
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by Gwin Tugman

Dustin Beard, the owner of the Fairyland Pharmacy, is proud to introduce Tatum Elliot as its new pharmacist. Tatum knew she wanted to be a pharmacist the minute she took a job as a cashier at a small, independent pharmacy in Griffin, Ga., Claxton Cole Pharmacy. And, she always loved the feel of a small town, where she loved getting to know people and care for them.

No stranger to Lookout Mountain, this Covenant College graduate met her husband, Caleb, in her chemistry class and realized the two of them “had their own chemistry!” Both athletic (he played baseball and she played soccer, softball and basketball), Tatum headed to Atlanta to attend Mercer College of Pharmacy. For her rotations, she came to Chattanooga and realized it felt like home. She and Caleb were married after she graduated from pharmacy school, and she went to work at the Walmart Pharmacy in Dalton, Ga., but she longed for a smaller pharmacy like Claxton Cole.

“One day I walked into Fairyland Pharmacy to see if they were looking for a pharmacist, and I met the new owner, Dusty Beard. The next thing I knew, I started working at Magnolia Pharmacy, Dusty’s pharmacy in Ringgold. It was so nice to a part of an independent pharmacy again! When Alan Voges retired in November from Fairyland Pharmacy, I took his spot as pharmacy manager,” Tatum said happily.

She and Caleb have settled into their new home on Lookout, where Caleb is an electrician for the railroad. They both have time for lots of activities after work, and have lots of interests.

“Caleb’s hobbies include off-roading in his jeep, hiking, and mountain biking. I love getting up to watch the sunrise, taking walks around the golf course, getting coffee and cinnamon rolls at Canopy, and making pottery. We also both have the travel bug, with some of our favorite places being Canada, Switzerland, and Turks and Caicos,” Tatum said.

The oldest of three siblings, Tatum’s brother, Kyle, is a dentist who used to work at Lookout Mountain Dental before buying a practice in Dillard, Ga. Her sister is studying architecture at Georgia Tech, and her parents are semi-retired accountants.

“As your new local pharmacist, I am excited to get to know and care for the Lookout Mountain community,” Tatum said.

As you can tell, she is so excited to be doing something she loves in a place she loves! Stop by the pharmacy and introduce yourself!
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by Gwin Tugman