Town Talk

photo Tennessee River Gorge Trust's new Executive Director Ricky Huffines and wife, Judy.

"We live. We die. The best we can do is leave a worthwhile example for those who come after us."

- Adam Walinsky

FUNDRAISER

TENNESSEE RIVER Gorge Trust celebrates its third annual "Another Gorgeous Evening" Saturday at Tennessee RiverPlace.

The event will begin with an open bar and music by the Ben Friberg Trio. During cocktails, there will be an appearance by a professional falconer, says Sarah Quattrochi, Tennessee River Gorge Trust outreach and development director. A dinner buffet will be provided by Alshabibi Catering.

A live auction will follow with items that include a photo of the gorge, printed on aluminum by Kevin Livingood; two nights at the Dancing Bear Lodge in Townsend, Tenn.; a wine collection; celebrity-signed memorabilia of the Rolling Stones, artist LeRoy Neiman and boxer Muhammed Ali; and trips to San Francisco and Sonoma Valley; an Indy Car Racing experience; four nights at Lake Louise in Alberta, Canada; six nights in Ireland and more.

"This will be a fantastic evening for conservation in Chattanooga," Quattrochi says.

"The trust's new executive director, Rick Huffines, will welcome guests and help raise awareness about the significance of protecting this special place," she says.

"We want people to come out to the gorge, explore it and learn to love it. Everyone is a conservationist on some level, and it's time to celebrate what our supporters have done to protect the gorge over the last 32 years," Huffines says.

Money raised at the event will help the trust with land protection, education and stewardship. For more information, visit trgt.org or call 266-0314.

photo BrewHaus bartender Alex Rivers has grown his beard for three months to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

EAR TO THE GROUND

BREWHAUS is hosting "Liters for Leukemia" tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., an event to help Katie Hall in her campaign for "Woman of the Year," a fundraiser benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

BrewHaus, a restaurant/bar specializing in German-influenced food and beverages, is located on Frazier Avenue.

Hall is a native of Chattanooga and a leukemia survivor. She has been nominated for this award, and BrewHaus employees are helping her reach her financial goal.

"She has set a personal goal of $15,000, and we have set a goal at BrewHaus of $5,000," says Sarah Love, event spokeswoman. "We will be donating 25 percent of food and alcohol sales for the entire day of the event. There will be T-shirts, magnets, koozies and beer mugs for sale with 100 percent of proceeds going to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society."

The organization is the world's largest voluntary nonprofit health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services, according to lls.org.

There will be live entertainment throughout the day, $5 unlimited corn hole games, and local jewelry designers Alex and Chelsea Nelson will sell their handmade pieces and donate a percentage of the sales to the fundraising efforts.

A highlight of the event will take place at 7 p.m. when stylists from The Hair Lounge will shave off the beards of BrewHaus co-owner Hunter Hart and staff members, all of whom have been growing beards for the last three months.

"They have been growing their own signature beard or mustache for over three months to show their support," Love says. "Just by coming by BrewHaus on Saturday to have a beer or meal, you will be donating, and of course, we will be accepting cash donations as well."

Love says growing and shaving beards to raise money was her idea.

"Everyone has their signature look, and I asked if they would be willing to grow them out until the event, then shave them for cancer awareness. They all agreed," she says. "The [idea] took off and our regular [customers] started volunteering."

Hart jokes that his customers may not trust him after his beard is shaved on Saturday. He says he's enjoyed growing a beard because he was never allowed to when working at a "corporate" restaurant.

Server Aran Hamlett says he's never had a beard this long. "I've actually grown to love it, but shaving it off for cancer research is well worth losing it."

Kate, who now lives in Knoxville with her husband, Chris Hall, says it is an honor to be nominated for the 2013 Woman of the Year.

"I was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia at age 3. This is why this campaign is such a personal challenge for me. It's about touching people and saving lives."

Contact staff writer Karen Nazor Hill at khill@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6396.

Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/karennazorhill. Subscribe to her posts on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/karennazorhill.

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