EAR TO THE GROUND
PEOPLE OF ALL faiths are invited to attend the Spirituality of Light event Jan. 15 at the Jewish Cultural Center. The event is part of Havdalah, the Jewish ceremony that marks the end of Shabbat and ushers in the new year.
Dinner will be served.
The program will include a short musical performance by local pianist Alex Ridder. There will be an interfaith panel discussion about the use of light in religions. The panel includes Rabbi Bill Tepper of Mizpah Congregation, Dr. Doug Tilstra from Southern Adventist University’s School of Religion and the Rev. Leyla King of Thankful Memorial Episcopal Church.
The event is part of the joint Spirituality of Light program of the Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga and the Hunter Museum of American Art.
Though there will be no admission charge, donations will be accepted.
Call 4930-0270 or visit jewishchatt anooga.com for reservations.
The Jewish Cultural Center is a program of the Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga. Programs at the Jewish Cultural Center are open to everyone regardless of religious affiliation.
TOASTS
THE CHATTANOOGA Chapter of Freedoms Foundation honored a group of Chattanoogans for their outstanding work in the community. The group received national awards from the foundation, said event spokeswoman Jeanne Abbott.
“A special presentation made by Tom Randolph as Samuel Adams made history come alive for the audience,” Ms. Abbott said.
“It was amazing to have our Chattanooga leaders recognized at the national level,” she said. Chapter co-presidents and county commissioner Larry Henry welcomed the group to a luncheon at the Electric Power Board community room.
Local high school seniors Reagan Boyd Bailey of Silverdale Baptist Academy, Alex Manley of Baylor and Michael Allen Reed of Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences received the youth essay awards. Emily Malone Lewis was given the Adult Community and George Washington Honor medal for her work in the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Dalton Roberts was presented the Distinguished Citizen and Lifetime Achievement Award.
Among those present for the event were Jeannine Alday, Worth Lillard, Scott Schoolfield, Marti Rutherford, Harriett Harris, Chris McSpadden, Patsy Henry, Meredith Burns, Jeanne Abbott, Mary Copeland, Gene Roberts and Mary Waddell.
WINE AND CHOCOLATE
THE GEORGIA WINERY in Ringgold will hold “Wine & Chocolate Open House” events every Saturday in February from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
“We will be releasing our new chocolate wine and offering wine-infused chocolate truffles, free massages, chocolate hors doeuvres and wine tasting,” said spokeswoman Tara Taymore.
Taymore said winery owners and staff are excited about their new chocolate wine.
“It has taken us roughly four months to perfect the recipe,” she said, noting the flavorful red muscadine wine infused with chocolate “is to die for.”
The new wine has not yet been named, she said.
“It will be made in a limited quantity and available in early February,” she said.
There will be an admission charge to attend the wine and chocolate events.
The Georgia Winery is located 6469 Battlefield Parkway in Ringgold, Ga.
MODEL TRAIN CLASS
THE CHATTANOOGA Area Model Railroad Club will host an open house Saturday to help area folks learn more about model trains.
Jim Bailiff, event coordinator, said it’s the ideal time to learn how to use the model train. He said the event will cover benchwork, electronics, scenery, engine and rolling stock maintenance and repair.
The event will be in Town Hall Theater at the Chattanooga Choo-Choo on Market Street from 10 a.m.-noon.
“The clinics will be hands-on and divided into various interest centers conducted by members of the club specializing in that area of the hobby,” Bailiff said. “Participants will be given a free pass to the layout next door [the largest in the state] that the club helps maintain.”
The free event is open to people of all ages.
MUSIC INTERLUDE
THE CHATTANOOGA Music Club and the MacDowell Music Club will join together Sunday to present their third annual joint concert in Cadek Hall on the UTC Oak Street campus, said event spokeswoman Evelyn Gibbs.
The free concert begins at 2:30 p.m. There will be refreshments in the lobby following the program. The public is invited.
Program participants will be vocalists Delores Beery, Peter Catalano and Janet Sump; Caroline Hudson, harp; Bruce Ashton, piano; Jim Martin, bells; and a duet by Jay Craven, clarinet, and Steve Hollingsworth, piano.
The Chattanooga Music Club, the oldest music organization in Chattanooga, marks its 115th year this season, Gibbs said.
“The club has always sought to promote, encourage and support music activities in Chattanooga and the surrounding area. It is the parent organization of many of today’s flourishing arts groups such as the small group of instrumentalists which grew to become today’s Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra.”
The Chattanooga Opera Association was a dream fulfilled by members of the club, Gibbs said.
“The club has led in presenting varied and innovative programs of the highest level by local and nationally known artists, all given without charge to the public. Its contributions to the war effort during World War I and World War II were outstanding,” she said. “Following World War I, the Chattanooga Music Club was instrumental in the purchase and installation of the 81-rank Austin pipe organ in Memorial Auditorium in 1924. The year 2007 marked the restoration of the magnificent $2 million organ by the club.”
The MacDowell Music Club was organized in 1916 by Elizabeth Nichols.