The West Tennessee American Heart Association held its third annual “Feast In the Field” in the Delta Room at Brooks Shaw’s Old Country Store on October 16. The event, usually taking place in the Farm at Casey Jones Village, was moved indoors due to inclement weather.
Read MoreIn 1972 just six years after “Southern Living” was founded, the magazine published its “Party Cookbook” with a simple subtitle: “Complete Menus and Entertaining Guide.” The book was written by a witty Chattanooga food columnist named Celia Marks, who clearly understood the art of the soiree. By today’s standards, the cover is not attractive—a dark photo of a crown roast surrounded by spiced crabapples and parsley—but it sold more copies than any other cookbook in “Southern Living” history. Some of that success can no doubt be attributed to the menus and recipes, which cover every kind of party you can imagine (from a He-Man Brunch to a Holiday Reception), but the secret sauce is Mark’s advice that still holds up 46 years later. “Hospitality, a synonym for the South, comes from the heart,” she writes in the first chapter. “Even the most discerning disciple of etiquette may fall short as a hostess if she fails to bestow this gift upon her guests.”
Read MoreOn a wonderful evening with a light breeze, patrons who had staked out their seating and dining spot, sat back and waited. The early arrivers laid out their blanket or table, waiting for family and friends to experience a most unique experience. The 39th Jackson Symphony Under the Stars is one of the largest picnics in the area. The visiting and eating stops when conductor Peter Shannon steps up on the podium.
Read MoreBrandy Stutsman joined the Chamber staff in 2007 as Administrative Assistant for Business Services. In 2013, she was Program Coordinator and in 2016, Brandy took over as Manager of Leadership Development. As Director of Leadership Development, Stutsman’s responsibilities include overseeing Leadership Jackson, Leadership Jackson Alumni Association, and the Leadership University programs.
Read MoreRIFA Canstruction 2018 was off and running this year with displays of “ shock and wonder” as some defied the laws of gravity. There was a two-finger split baseball hand structure, a shark coming up out of the water with his big mouth open and numerous structures that made you say “Wow!”. All of the structures were huge contributions that the RIFA Food Bank needs.
Read MorePerched high atop Lookout Mountain (pop: 5000 year round) sits the Chanticleer Inn Bed & Breakfast, which combines the ambiance of yesteryear with the comfort and amenities of today. It is the ultimate in mountain southern hospitality, just 10 minutes from downtown Chattanooga. Located at 1800 feet above sea level, The Chanticleer Inn Bed & Breakfast, which has been a proud member of the Select Registry since 2003, sits with distinction high atop Lookout Mountain on a beautiful plateau that borders Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama.
Built in 1927 and operated as a B&B since 1930, the inn underwent extensive renovations in 2002 and in subsequent years. Its hospitable new owners, Michael and Teresa Turner, purchased the inn in January of this year. The Turners moved to Lookout Mountain from Atlanta. “We looked at 10 or 12 properties of various styles,” said Michael. “In the end we decided on Chanticleer because it is two hours from Atlanta, a good location, great surroundings and activities. We thought it was a perfect fit for us!”
Union University’s 21st Annual Scholarship Banquet was held on October 21 at the Carl Perkins Civic Center to a sold-out crowd. Prior to a concert by MercyMe, Dr. Dub Oliver interviewed three Union students about their experience at the University. Student panelists were David Kagaruki, Binh Morris, and Anna Strand. The dominant point each made was the sincere attention the teachers provided to their students.
Read MoreCole and Leigh Dodds have been married 13 years, and they have 2 boys named Will
and Walker. Cole is the General Manager of Southern Concrete and the current Tennessee Concrete Association President. Leigh is an RN and is a Patient Care Advocate for Intrepid Home Health.
The Dodds are also cattle farmers with Cole’s parents at South Oaks Ranch. They love spending time outdoors with their two sons. Cole enjoys hunting and farming with the boys, and they love to fish together as a family. Cole and Leigh also enjoy watching their boys play sports. With the help of Leigh’s father, they decided to build a southern home in the community of North Jackson that would not only fit their family’s needs, but display the memories of their families past and future.
Area Relief Ministries held their annual Salt and Light Banquet the evening of Thursday, September 13 at the Carl Perkins Civic Center.
Read MoreJennifer Dickerson has been in the restaurant business for more than half of her life, all of it spent in Tennessee. Her career started in downtown Memphis at the Cajun restaurant, Café Roux, 23 years ago and it led her to Jackson, TN where she now co-owns a Southern fine dining restaurant—Chandelier, which won Best Fine Dining for two consecutive years in “The Jackson Sun’s” Reader’s Choice Awards.
Read MoreEddie Smith is a native of the Jackson, Tennessee area and Martina Smith was born in Flint, Michigan. Martina’s family moved to Jackson in 1983 when her father, John Elford, purchased Dixie Distributing Company in Jackson. Eddie and Martina have been married for 31 years, and they owned and worked hands-on Smith Remodeling Company for 21 years serving the Jackson and surrounding area. Eddie is an avid hunter and travels throughout the United States and Canada. He has met and made many cherished friends in his travels. Martina likes to travel with Eddie, but her passion now is her two grandsons, Parker Smith and Wyatt Muir. She loves spending weekends with their daughter, Erica Muir, and her grandchildren. They live in Murfreesboro and drive home every weekend so they can spend time together.
Read MoreThe Jackson-Madison County Library Foundation held its 8th Annual Books of Madison County on August 21 at the Jackson Fairgrounds. Many community members came out to support the library at the event that has grown consistently. Attendees enjoyed a catered dinner, entertainment and a silent auction.
Read MoreOn a recent beautiful sunny day a friend and I drove from Jackson to the lovely city of Lexington, Kentucky (pop: 321,000). I had not visited Lexington in several years. What a vibrant city! (Our drive of 340 miles took about 5 1/2 hours or so via I-40 E and I-65 N.)
Horse lovers agree: this is the place. Whether you are an experienced equestrian, a racing fan or just appreciate the beauty of horses, prepare to be thrilled at the stunning landscape they inhabit in the Bluegrass Region of Kentucky. If your schedule permits, be sure to take a country drive and explore the Horse Country back roads. Head out in any direction from the center of town, and soon you’ll be surrounded by the rolling bluegrass pastureland that you’ve heard so much about. Neatly mowed fields trimmed with black or white fences stretch to the horizon. Pick up a “Bluegrass Country Driving Tour” at the Visitors Center downtown.
Read MoreOn Saturday, July 28, Toast of Jackson, a fine wine and art festival and celebration of local and regional wineries, was held at the Jackson Fairgrounds.
The event raises funds for the Exchange Club of Jackson and the Exchange Club-Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse.
Read More“The All-New Official SEC Tailgating Cookbook,” by the Editors of “Southern Living,” is the ultimate guide to game day with 150+ crave-worthy tailgating recipes, including those specifically developed for each of the 14 NCAA Southeastern Conference football teams.
From Alabama to Vanderbilt, each SEC team is profiled with information on school traditions, iconic football moments, legendary coaches and players, and photos. In the “Tent Talk” sidebars, you’ll find fascinating football trivia to quiz your fellow tailgaters.
Read MorePhotography by Lindsay Allison & Chelsea-Catherine Croom
Read MoreThe Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) formally dedicated the new Special Agent De’Greaun ReShun Frazier TBI Crime Laboratory and Regional Headquarters at a groundbreaking ceremony. It will be located on 350 Smith Lane south of McKeller-Sipes Regional Airport.
Read MoreDana Crotts lived in Haywood County where she graduated from Haywood High School. In 1989 she moved to Hardin County.
Dana is president of the Medical Marketing Network and the founder of Partners in Care—West TN. In addition, she is a member of the Interagency Council and Health Council for Hardin and McNairy Counties. She is a graduate of Leadership McNairy County.
Read MoreFriends of Heart celebrated their two-year anniversary at Bistro Eleven Sixty on Thursday evening, July 26. The celebration was well attended, and guests enjoyed hearing about all of the fund’s accomplishments in and for the community since its 2016 founding. Friends of Heart, a fund of the West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation, works with West Tennessee Heart and Vascular Center to expand the level of care and services offered to the heart patients of West Tennessee. Their goal is “to bring cutting edge technology and resources to our own communities.”
Read MoreFor years I have traveled U.S. Hwy. 45, usually in route to Aberdeen or Columbus, Mississippi. Rarely have I stopped to explore Tupelo. When the now closed Barnes & Noble bookstore was open in the mall at the Barnes Crossing Shopping District in Tupelo, I took an exit off Hwy. 45. I saw signage for an Automobile Museum, but I never visited this attraction.
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Socializing Throughout West Tennessee!
