Several years ago, Pulitzer-Prize winning photojournalist John Kaplan was diagnosed with lymphoma.  He photographed his own process of illness and recovery, and those images are the basis of an award-winning documentary called Not As I Pictured.

It will screen January 30th at 8 p.m. on PBS.  In Chattanooga, it will be shown on WNGH–the Georgia PBS affiliate that can be seen both over-the-air and on Comcast.

Kaplan is also giving away free DVDs of his film to people affected by cancer.

CTC’s mainstage production of Oscar Wilde’s play dates are  January 27 through February 12, 2012.    Director Scott Dunlap has set, “The Importance of Being Earnest,” in a modern-day public library.    The characters emerge from library patrons who pick up Wilde’s script and begin reading.     Here’s a synopsis from CTC’s website:

Dashing men-about-town John Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff pursue fair ladies Gwendolen Fairfax and Cecily Cardew in this comedy classic. Matters are complicated by the imaginary characters invented by both men to cover their on-the-sly activities—not to mention the disapproval of Gwendolen’s mother, the formidable Lady Bracknell. The quintessential Oscar Wilde comedy.

Co-Producer: Barnett & Company

Captioning Underwriter: Barnett & Company

Opening Night Reception Sponsor: Chattanooga Coca-Cola Bottling Co

One afternoon in the quiet reading room of the Mudie Public Library, ten strangers find they are simultaneously reading copies of The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde. One of the patrons begins to read the comic classic out loud. One by one, he coerces his fellow bookworms into assuming roles in the play and eventually they are thrown into the wild, Wilde world of identities (mistaken and taken). A new take on a long-time favorite.
Don’t miss this very original production directed and designed by R. Scott Dunlap, featuring: Jordan Coleman, Karen Henderson, Tarick Issa, Becki Jordan, Joanna Keeling, Joanna Key, Lebron Lackey, Anthony Mrotch, Christopher Smith and Thomas White.

Opening Night Gala, January 27, 7:00 pm reception featuring light hors d’oeuvres from Events with Taste, adult beverages, free parking and the opening night performance at 8:00 pm

Talk-back immediately following the 8:00 pm performance on Friday, February 3

Real-Time Captioning for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing on Thursday, February 9 at 7:00 pm

Girls’ Night Out – Friday, February 10 – 7:00 pm reception featuring snacks and adult beverages sponsored by Brewer Media. 8:00 pm Curtain.

January 27 through February 12, with a special Valentine’s Day benefit performance February 14, 2012 (see below).

Special Valentine’s Day Performance Tuesday, February 14

EARNEST TURNS 117!
(but admitting to no more than 100)
Celebrate ROMANCE & CYNICISMWith a special VALENTINES’ DAY Performance
TUESDAY, FEB 14
PRE-SHOW reception at 7:00 pm

Reporting by Monessa Guilfoil

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When a child is involved in a court case the judge is tasked with deciding what is in the best interest of the child but often there is little or no information to support a decision.  Court Appointed Special Advocates, CASA, can help bring information relative to the child to the courts.  Specially trained volunteers work with the families and the courts to provide a more detailed picture of what is going on so the judge can make an informed decision.

CASA of Bradley County is hosting the Red Shoe Gala on Saturday, February 11 beginning at 6:00 pm at the Old Woolen Mill in Cleveland Tennessee.  Proceeds will support the Court Appointed Special Advocacy program in Bradley County.

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The Ronald McDonald House Charities is accepting applications for the 2012 scholarships.  The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga offer40 high school seniors a chance to receive $1,00 scholarships to continue their education.  Applications must be postmarked no later than January 27, 2012 to be considered.  Awards will be made in May or June.

Types of Scholarships:

RMHC/HACER (Hispanic American Commitment to Educational Resources)
RMHC/African American Future Achievers Scholarship Program
RMHC/ASIA (Asian-Pacific Students Increasing Achievement)
RMHC Scholars

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The largest music venue in Chattanooga is the McKenzie Arena located on the campus of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.  Formerly UTC Arena and home of the UTC men’s and women’s basketball teams, the Roundhouse (as the arena is often called) is also where families come to enjoy concerts and other events.  Monster truck pulls, the circus and Disney on Ice are annual events.  The McKenzie Arena is also used for community events where local charities host fundraisers, sporting competitions and more.

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Courtesy of Ron E. Ott / Chattamugs.com

Chattanooga Mugshots is a visual art project started by Ron E. Ott. If you’re unfamiliar with Chattanooga Mugshots, here’s a synopsis. Ron finds mugshots taken in Hamilton County and he renders the photographs into colorful comic-book styled portraits. Garrett Crowe talked to Ron E. Ott about the Chattanooga Mugshots project.

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Some stories are meant to be heard out loud–fables from oral traditions, such as the Jack Tales, which originated in Europe.  Immigrants brought Jack Tales to Appalachia, and more than sixty years ago, folklorist Richard Chase collected these tales and published them in print form.

Now these tales are being brought back to life as dramatic readings.  Kate Forbes, a professional stage and voice actress, has produced a 2-CD collection called Handed Down: Tales of Southern Appalachia.

Forbes, a Chattanooga resident, received a MakeWork grant from CreateHere to fund this project.  She used mostly local voices and produced it at a local studio, Sound Resources.

Listen to an interview with Kate Forbes about her audio book:

Stephanie Wilkins joins us for this segment.  She’s the Director of Development for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of East Tennessee.  On February 5^th, 2012, the Super Bowl will become the Wish Bowl.  This annual fundraiser/party gives people a chance to both watch the big game and help raise funds needed to grant wishes to sick children.  A silent auction will also take place.

Wish Bowl

Stadium Club at Finley Stadium

Date: February 05, 2012

Time: 5:30 p.m.

Individual tickets and tables are available online at wishetn.org.

Sequatchie Valley Institute is sponsoring this seed sharing potluck following the Main Street Farmer’s Market on Wednesday, Feb. 1st from 5-10 PM at GreenSpaces.    The following is from SVI’s press release:

Bring seeds you saved,

and a Slow Food dish you

made!

(Slow Food is the opposite of Fast Food,

the more local, the better!)

Seed-sharing, Socializing,

Music!

and discussion of the year

to come!        Free event!

Eric Blevins from the Mountaintop Removal Road Show will kick off the feast with a talk at 5pm.

Main Street Farmer’s Market is moving to its new location at 325 Main Street on Feb. 1st.   MSFM’s Winter hours are 4-5 PM each Wednesday.

Sale Creek Honey at MSFM

Wacker Polysilicon of North America broke ground on their new facility in Charleston Tennessee in April 2011.  This chemical plant will be open in 2013 and will be producing hyperpure silicon for use in the photovoltaic industry such as solar cells for power production.  The chemical production process at Wacker Polysilicon requires trained specialists in the chemical industry.  Wacker has teamed with Chattanooga State Community College to help prepare the workforce for the plant opening.

Wacker Institute at Chattanooga State Community College offers Associate degree programs designed to prepare chemical operators for the positions that will be available in 2013.  Part of the recruitment efforts include job interviews for the students enrolled in these programs in the first semester of classes.  Successful candidates may end up with a job offer well before the plant is even complete.

Other positions at Wacker Polysilicon in the engineering field have already been filled with employees completing an intensive training program at Wacker Institute followed by 6 months of hands on training in the Wacker Polysilicon sister plant in Germany.  Human Resources at Wacker updates their career listing daily to reflect current available positions. The facility that will open in Charleston Tennessee is the first Wacker Polysilicon plan outside of Germany and represents an investment of $1.5 billion.

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