News - Friday, November 13, 2015

Hamilton County Juvenile Court last week celebrated 30 years of involvement with the local CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) program, which works to ensure abused and neglected children in the county have a safe, permanent home and the opportunity to thrive.

Signature Brokers spent Sunday, Nov. 8 kicking it up at Prairie Pass, where they are listing a dozen new homes by a variety of builders.

The community-focused event featured barbecue from Rib and Loin, apple cider, kettle corn, cotton candy, giant jump houses, and 12 homes open to tour.

I learned about elder care the worst possible way, i.e., through personal experience. Legal education tells you how to plan an estate on the front-end and how to probate one at the back-end, but it doesn’t train you for the middle part, the minefield one faces in the general execution of one’s duties as the attorney-in-fact for an elderly person. Welcome to the brave, new world of hospital forms, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, government agencies, tough decisions, and misinformation. I figure there are maybe 30 ways to screw this up, and you are a genius if you spot 25 of them.

Jennifer Kent Exum has joined Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel’s estate planning team to assist clients with estate administration and related litigation matters, conservatorships, and estate, elder law, and special needs planning.

Exum has practiced in the estate law area for nearly a decade, and has extensive experience in estate administration and estate litigation. She has represented more than 100 estates simultaneously through her past work with the Public Administrator for Hamilton County.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has held that a Chattanooga hospital’s lawsuit against a TennCare managed care organization (MCO) involves a challenge to certain TennCare regulations, meaning the hospital must first give the Bureau of TennCare the opportunity to rule on its own regulations before the lawsuit can be considered by a court.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. And like all holidays, this one has plenty of traditions, such as Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (started in 1924) and football (the first broadcast Thanksgiving Day game was played between the Detroit Lions and the Chicago Bears in 1934). Traditions are important, and you may want to establish some in one of the key activities of your own life: investing.

The year is 1945. An American soldier on the outskirts of Rapallo, Italy, is approached by a gray-bearded gentleman. He asks the soldier to take him to the authorities. Someone recognizes this fellow as the one about whom Washington has been sending cables. Seize him! Don’t let him escape or commit suicide! He’s dangerous! He is, in fact, under indictment for treason. Has been since 1943.

Realtors with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Realty Center might have been gambling with fake money, but their reasons for celebrating were real.

In January of this year, the company formerly known as Prudential RealtyCenter.com became part of the Berkshire Hathaway brokerage network, and according to General Manager Byron Kelly, things are going swimmingly.

A few days ago, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) released its “2015 Profile of Homebuyers and Sellers.” The profile provides tremendous insight into the average consumer’s most important financial transaction.

The typical home buyer was 44 years old with a median household income of $86,100. First-time buyers comprised 32 percent of respondents and were more than 10 years younger – an average of 31 years old. 83 percent of buyers invested in a detached single-family home and anticipated remaining in their home for 14 years.

Although the grand opening of Sculpture Fields isn’t until April, the public will get a sneak peek of the monumental sculptures that dot the 33-acre park in Chattanooga’s Southside on Saturday, Nov. 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The free event will feature an exhibition of kites – some so large, they’ll be anchored to the ground. The sneak peek will kick off weekend openings for Sculpture Fields.

As our economy and the housing market continue to recover, home builders across the country are seeking skilled workers – such as carpenters, framers, and roofers – to help them build the American Dream.

After many workers left the home building industry during the Great Recession to pursue employment in other sectors, recent surveys show that not nearly enough of them have returned. 

The Women’s Council of Realtors held its annual chili lunch at the Homebuilders Association of Greater Chattanooga Wednesday, Nov. 4.

Members, affiliates, and sponsors enjoyed homemade chili and desserts. Sponsors were First American Home Warranty, Jones Raulston Title Insurance Agency, and Homebuilders. 

Suave secret agent with a license to kill? Check. Exotic locations? Check. Expensive cars? Check. Super cool gadgets? Check. A beautiful woman with a license to kill a man’s resolve? Check and check. (That cheeky James.)

Orange Grove Center is asking area businesses and individuals to participate in two free recycling days this November. A partnership between Orange Grove and Unum will take place Friday, Nov. 13 in celebration of America Recycles Day, and on Thursday, Nov. 19, Orange Grove will host a free shred and electronic recycling day.

Opening to the public on Friday, Dec. 4 at Hunter Museum of American Art, “Seeking the Spiritual: The Visionary Art of Elliott Daingerfield” will feature the painted reveries and dreamscapes of turn-of-the-century artist Elliott Daingerfield.

The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department’s Office of Community Assessment and Planning has released the 2015 “Picture of Our Health” community health profile for Hamilton County. The report is an update of the 2010 report, and is a broad picture of the health of Hamilton County residents.

When Chattanooga’s newest industrial chic apartment community opens in January, the city’s iconic landmarks won’t be hard to find. Six pictures of the city’s most recognizable features will be on display inside The Clemons as part of the Make Your Mark campaign.

Saturday, Nov. 13, 1965

A separate board of trustees for Bork Memorial Hospital should be established when enabling legislation can be enacted by the Tennessee Legislature in 1967, members of the board of trustees of Erlanger, Children’s Hospital, and Bork Hospital recommended following a meeting of the board Saturday. Since Bork is becoming larger, it is felt that it should be directed by a separate board of trustees of its own.

Saturday, Nov. 13, 1915

Members of the 11th Cavalry, who have been in New York attending the National Horse Show in Madison Square Garden, will return tonight. Fort Oglethorpe is awaiting them with an ovation for the honors they won. A Silver Cup, given by Lord Beresford of England, was won by Capt. McClure. Many other ribbons and trophies were won by Lieutenants Jarnigan and Shannon and Capt. Parker.

Last week, hubby and I were in Cleveland taking care of some business. We got a hotel near the area we needed to be in to be able to walk to our destination, and pretty much stayed put for the whole week. Most of the downtown area of Cleveland we had to be in was having major construction, so venturing out to explore like we usually do was not much of an option for us.

We sat at the Beaches International Airport in the Florida Panhandle, waiting on the plane that would never come. That’s probably a bit dramatic; the fact is I don’t know if it ever came or not.

We were sitting near our gate when KM got a text that said the flight would be delayed, which wasn’t good because we had to make a connecting flight in Houston, and were already dealing with a pretty tight window.

On Thursday, Nov. 19, the Photographic Society of Chattanooga will present Bill Lea and his program, “The Wonder and Art of Black Bear Photography.”

The presentation will begin at 7 p.m. at St. John United Methodist Church, located at 3921 Murray Hills Drive.

Choral Arts will perform “A Christmas Collage” Saturday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. at Brainerd United Methodist Church (4315 Brainerd Road).

The program will include sacred and secular holiday music.

The Chattanooga Bach Choir and Chamber Orchestra will perform “Celebrate the Seasons,” featuring “Gloria” by Vivaldi and Britten’s “A Hymn to St. Cecilia,” on Sunday, Nov. 22 at 3:30 p.m. at First Christian Church, located at 650 McCallie Ave.

FIVE, located at One North Shore, is bringing a new tradition to Chattanooga’s Thanksgiving celebrations.

A traditional seated Thanksgiving meal prepared by the restaurant’s culinary team will be served free of charge from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the restaurant.

Have you ever been in one of the home décor boutiques, Pottery Barn, or really any of those fabulous home stores and seen a rope rug and fell in love, just to fall out of love when you looked at the price tag? HA, I knew I was not the only one!