Andre "Al" Bertin of Red Bank has turned his Honda into a work of folk art.
Mark KennedyHEARD ON THE TOWN
ANDRE "AL" BERTIN claims to be the most frugal man in Red Bank. It's hard to argue, since his monthly power bill is sometimes less than $15. Bertin said his refrigerator and water heater are the only appliances always plugged in at his house.
Bertin says he paid $500 for his 1994 Honda Accord when it had logged about 125,000 miles. Now it has more than 300,000 miles on the odometer, he says. He has decorated his Honda with household items including a showerhead for a hood ornament. After being quoted a price of $1,200 for a professional paint job on the car, Bertin said he decided to pay $3.98 for a can of spray paint, instead.
FUNDRAISER
THE FOLKS AT the Make-A-Wish Foundation of East Tennessee are committed to making children's wishes come true.
In an effort to raise money to help grant wishes, the organization is holding its first Stars, Stripes & Wishes run July 1 at Enterprise South Nature Park. The event is co-sponsored by Affordable Botox Chattanooga.
"Our goal for this year was to grant 74 wishes to children in East Tennessee, and that is about to become a reality," said Stephanie Wilkins, the organization's director of development.
Wilkins said the folks at Scenic City Multisport helped organize the event, she said.
The organization granted its first wish in 1988 and has granted more than 850 wishes through the services of more than 120 volunteers, Wilkins said.
Children with life-threatening illnesses are granted wishes. Any child 2-18, who has been determined by a physician to have a life-threatening illness and has not been granted a previous wish, may be eligible.
Registration for the fundraising 5k and 10k run begins at 6:30 a.m. The runs start at 8 a.m. with a fun run beginning at 9:30 a.m. Parking will be available at Volkswagen.
For information or to register online, visit www.sceniccitymultisports.com or call 629-9474.
EAR TO THE GROUND
POP ARTIST AND AUTHOR Michael Albert will be at Chattanooga Public Library on June 25 from 5-7 p.m. to present an art workshop for tweens and teens, said Andria Davis, library spokeswoman.
"Participants will have the opportunity to create their own pop art collages from empty cereal boxes and other discarded cardboard packaging," Davis said. "While some materials will be available, guests are invited to bring their own empty boxes for greater variety."
Davis said the artist/author often chooses collage subjects that bring awareness to social and environmental issues.
"By using found materials he supports and promotes the Green Movement. In his hands-on workshops, he teaches his self-invented technique of making collages. Albert prefers to use cereal boxes and cardboard packages of famous consumer brand products," according to a news release.
Albert also will offer a free workshop for families at the Creative Discovery Museum on June 24 from 1-4 p.m. On Monday, he will be at the Collegedale Public Library from 1-3 p.m.
Contact Karen Nazor Hill at khill@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6396. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/karen nazorhill. Subscribe to her posts on Facebook at www.facebook.com/karennazorhill.