May 09, 2008
On the bus: CARTA raising rates, seeking budget increase
The top story on Chattanoogan.com as of this writing is that CARTA plans to raise rates; has asked the city and the county for additional funds; and states that cuts to some services (such...Posted by joe lance on 08:34 AM | Comments (3)
April 20, 2008
The poisoned community
My local neighborhood association (of which I am not an official member, but whose emails I receive) is quite concerned about a new "teen club" being planned for Brainerd Road. Area residents have reason...Posted by joe lance on 10:29 AM | Comments (2)
April 01, 2008
Local autistic man featured on CNN
CNN reporter Sean O'Key profiles an area man who lives with autism. Scientists continue to learn new things about the range of behaviors associated to this classification, which manifests itself anywhere from severe disability...Posted by joe lance on 01:08 PM | Comments (0)
March 19, 2008
Barack Obama's speech on race in America
So many people are talking about yesterday's address (click here to watch and read it) in Philadelphia strictly in terms of its usefulness in Senator Obama's bid for the White House. Will it help...Posted by joe lance on 07:37 AM | Comments (15)
December 11, 2007
If you want to view the final draft of the Homeless Blueprint..
..get thee to the City Council building by 4 pm, and make haste toward the Collins Committee Room. The city's Health, Human Services and Housing Opportunities Committee will be presenting. If you can't make...Posted by joe lance on 03:42 PM | Comments (0)
December 07, 2007
Input on the blueprint
Did you go to the public meeting this morning where your input was requested on how the city will fight homelessness? It is going on right now, 9-noon, at Bessie Smith Hall. I wish...Posted by joe lance on 10:55 AM | Comments (3)
November 01, 2007
Brainerd: Don't miss the Mayor tonight
A little "BUG" in your ear: Mayor Littlefield will meet w/ Brainerd residents Thursday night, Nov. 1, at 5:30 at the Brainerd BX, at Belvoir & Mayfair. Hope to see you there. Well, I...Posted by joe lance on 02:32 PM | Comments (4)
October 24, 2007
Brainerd Unity Group highlight reel
Posted by joe lance on 09:51 AM
October 10, 2007
Why is Miller Park closed, really?
Chuck Crowder must have been reading my mind. Either that, or the question "why is Miller Park closed?" is on more minds than I had thought. No one at all has brought it up...Posted by joe lance on 09:10 PM
September 20, 2007
Sign of the times in Council District 6
Posted by joe lance on 07:43 PM
September 18, 2007
New HyperLocal Blog
A well-known local activist has started a federation of Brainerd area neighborhood associations (and other collections, including local businesses, churches, and schools) called the Brainerd Unity Group, or BUG. (I'm guessing that this group...Posted by joe lance on 07:34 AM
August 26, 2007
Networking for the UnSocial
I've gone and joined some of the largest, most popular social networking sites in existence. Why? Those who know me are bound to be puzzled, as I'm not really, you know, social. (Clarification: I'm...Posted by joe lance on 11:30 AM
August 20, 2007
The Big Splash in East Lake
Did you catch the story of the weekend water balloon attack? You can start where I did, which was an odd story that popped up on Chattanoogan.com on Saturday. Okay, so there's that. If...Posted by joe lance on 10:44 PM
August 17, 2007
Associating A Neighborhood, Round 2
The sturdy and growing group that agreed to meet again after last month's impromptu session did indeed follow through and meet last night at a local religious center facility. After an introduction by the...Posted by joe lance on 08:18 PM
August 14, 2007
Survey Up, Chattanooga!
The fledgling CreateHere blog asks for local community input on what Chattanooga means to you. Can we be brave enough to talk about "value" and "happiness" in the same breath as "Chattanooga"? Fill out...Posted by joe lance on 02:17 PM
July 17, 2007
On (Re)Forming A Neighborhood Association
A flier went around the neighborhood a couple of weeks ago or so, stating that a neighborhood association was in need of creation, and announcing an organizing meeting for tonight. So far so good,...Posted by joe lance on 11:22 PM
Kitten Adoption Alert
As a courtesy to a friend, I am here to announce the existence of a really cute pair of kittens that are in need of a home. We can't take them, because our cat...Posted by joe lance on 07:49 AM
June 10, 2007
Protecting the Tourists
A resident of my local community (what are we called: Brainerdites?) wrote a thought-provoking email to the Chattanoogan recently. In it, the writer contrasts the official response to incidents of sort-of-threatening teenage behavior in...Posted by joe lance on 11:37 AM
May 28, 2007
Memorial Day — Time for Fireworks?
I'm sitting out on my deck, doing a little writing, despite the mosquitoes (I sprayed myself liberally with repellent), and the robins (there must be a neighborhood cat around, as they're squawking vociferously) —...Posted by joe lance on 09:13 PM
May 10, 2007
Guns and Cyber Ashes
Many words were spilled this week over a newspaper's decision to publish a searchable database of licensed handgun owners in the state, and the same newspaper's sprightly one-eighty on the issue. In the tender...Posted by joe lance on 09:56 PM
March 31, 2007
Down on Main Street
I had occasion to be at T-Bone's a few weeks back (it was No Big Deal – not completely my style, but can be fun, and one of my good friends is playing bass...Posted by joe lance on 10:34 AM
February 24, 2007
What is that guy's name who works the corner of Willow and McCallie?
Two articles have surfaced this week regarding the existence of panhandlers in downtown Chattanooga. One, the cover story in this week's Pulse, focuses on downtown business owners' reactions to the practice; and today's TFP...Posted by joe lance on 01:49 PM
February 12, 2007
Neighborhood Recycling Report
BRAINERD—The first full month of now-monthly curbside recycling in Area 2 is nearing its close, and residents are mixed in their participation. Some, like this reporter, have piles of bags and stacks of cardboard...Posted by joe lance on 08:08 PM
February 08, 2007
The Citizens Aren't Happy
Frank DePinto on Recycling: Recently, the city had a fine opportunity, a $100,000 opportunity, to undertake a professional, comprehensive study of the problems of curbside recycling in Chattanooga from the “curbside to Orange Grove,”...Posted by joe lance on 09:06 PM
January 07, 2007
Colorblindness of Youth
The boy has a simple way of distinguishing people, their likenesses, and even anthropomorphic objects: he describes them by the dominant color of their clothing. So, for instance, when he sees Will Ferrell in...Posted by joe lance on 09:53 AM
January 03, 2007
Twenty(-one) Ways to Improve the City
The Pulse's editorial staff should be commended for fomenting annual discussion on how to sustain our great city's arguably tenuous momentum. It's a terrific way to start the new year, and it gives me...Posted by joe lance on 10:10 PM
January 02, 2007
Arts & Education Council Chooses Coptix
Press release follows: Chattanooga, TN (January 2, 2007) -- For more than fifty years, the Arts & Education Council of Chattanooga (AEC) has provided opportunities for members of the Chattanooga community to participate in...Posted by joe lance on 07:58 PM
December 09, 2006
Local Blogmaster Queries Mayor
Josiah Roe, founder of Chattablogs and all-around good guy, had some questions for Mayor Ron Littlefield regarding the latter's proposed homeless campus downtown. The good news is that the mayor responded. Go read the...Posted by joe lance on 01:26 PM
December 07, 2006
Take A Coat for the Homeless
I don't care what you think about the reasons for homelessness; tonight is cold, and tomorrow night will be as well. Sharon Cobb reminds us what to do. I can probably scrounge up a...Posted by joe lance on 08:40 PM
September 14, 2006
The Wal-Mart Debate
Music City Oracle, among others, started a good discussion today based on a George Will column that in turn concerns the virtues of Wal-Mart. I am in the midst of a complex, soul-searching post...Posted by joe lance on 10:18 PM
September 07, 2006
Imagination Library
How sweet can a person be? See: Dolly Parton. Our little boy gets a book every month, and so does every child in Tennessee between 0-5 who is signed up for the program. We've...Posted by joe lance on 03:46 PM
August 18, 2006
Chattanooga Voters - Sign the Petition Today
I'd love to have help from everybody on this, but only registered voters in the City of Chattanooga are eligible. And that's as it should be, since it only affects us. But for all...Posted by joe lance on 08:31 AM
August 02, 2006
If only the band I play in were a little more rockabilly
See My Ships..towing wakeboarders? Check it out. The Violent Femmes are playing at the first annual "Between the Bridges" festival, which features live music, an amateur wakeboarding contest, and a lot more. Even though...Posted by joe lance on 01:13 PM
Throwing Recyclists to the Curb
The task force’s first task is to define itself The first meeting held by the Mayor’s task force on recycling was a rough start, by all accounts. At least one city official complained privately...Posted by joe lance on 09:53 AM
July 25, 2006
Rudeness on the Road
I'm sitting here watching traffic on Frazier, where a delivery truck is (temporarily) double-parked. So the right lane is blocked -- can people not deal with this? Two problems I see: 1) Some drivers...Posted by joe lance on 12:50 PM
July 22, 2006
Recycled Petition Approved - Election Commission Meets Friday
The effort to let voters decide on whether Chattanooga should keep, or scrap, its curbside recycling program seems to be gaining in public awareness. The Hamilton County Election Commission has called a special meeting...Posted by joe lance on 12:10 PM
July 08, 2006
Vote on continuing curbside?
I just caught an article published on Chattanoogan.com (and, apparently, a Herman Wang story the day before) about a group seeking a ballot initiative so that voters can decide whether or not curbside recycling...Posted by joe lance on 09:41 PM
July 05, 2006
"Should [Nashville] contribute tax dollars to nonprofit and community groups?"
So asks the Tennessean in its sidebar to an article describing the Nashville-Davidson Metro government's intent to do exactly that, with about $3.5 million. However, I think this comment from the budget director bears...Posted by joe lance on 10:31 PM
May 31, 2006
My one and only MasterCard ad emulation (you hope)
Big Brother cameras: $265,000. Replacement brass nameplates identifying those who paid for their own toy bridge: $450. Protecting the right of the leisure class to stroll: priceless....Posted by joe lance on 11:27 AM
May 23, 2006
Chattanooga Homeless Documentary at Memorial this Thursday
I'd be really interested in seeing this, since I have a limited but growing awareness regarding my [adopted] city's homelessness problem opportunity. I don't know if my schedule will allow it, and I have...Posted by joe lance on 04:59 PM
May 10, 2006
Checking in
Some of what's in the news is just too horrible. There have been several cases of fatal child abuse in the headlines lately -- all of them in Tennessee. I won't talk about the...Posted by joe lance on 11:00 PM
April 26, 2006
Foundation created in memory of 2-year-old cancer victim
I can't effectively write about this, but I did want to make you aware of it. Thanks to NewsChannel9 for the garden dedication story....Posted by joe lance on 09:59 PM
March 07, 2006
Unknown Local Heroes, Part 687
With the author's permission, I am posting her response to a recent story about some jerk who hit a six-year-old boy and ran, and the courageous soul who followed and detained the perpetrator until...Posted by joe lance on 12:09 AM
February 23, 2006
All Along the Waterfront
Chattanoogan.com, the Pulse Blog, and Adrienne have all posted on the City's proposal to start charging user fees for waterfront facilities, and to hand over management of the facilities to Friends of the Festival....Posted by joe lance on 02:58 PM
February 17, 2006
Time to Make the Doughnuts
There are twelve more hungry officers on the Chattanooga Police Department's roster as of last night. Congratulations are due all of the men and women who made it through what I understand was a...Posted by joe lance on 12:16 PM
February 07, 2006
"Quit Complaining - Run for Office"
Check out last week's editorial in the Bradley News Weekly. We need more public opinion statements along these lines. A reminder's in there, too: the qualifying deadline for County races is next Thursday (2/16/2006)...Posted by joe lance on 03:44 PM
December 23, 2005
What Now? Top ten local stories to watch in 2006
[Cross-posted from the Pulse.] It’s harder than it looks to avoid treating this as a set of predictions, but we assure you that the following assessment is the result of scientific best practices. Er,...Posted by joe lance on 09:51 AM
November 12, 2005
It's the Most Burnderful Time of the Year
My neighbors -- whom I love, by the way -- are taking full advantage of the expired burn ban and are cremating piles of leaves. There's nothing like acrid, eyes-swelling leaf smoke on a...Posted by joe lance on 04:30 PM
October 19, 2005
Separated at Birth
Today, and today only (or tomorrow, if I read the date right), Roger Abramson sounds like my long-lost twin. Don't take me the wrong way, cuz I love me some Pulse, but Liz Garrigan...Posted by joe lance on 03:42 PM
October 16, 2005
But Remember, the Reporters Are Intimidated
Chattanooga Times Free Press, Sunday, October 16, 2005, B1: "I have a pretty clear idea of where we’re going with the city and, barring any unforseen complications, if the economy remains solid, I think...Posted by joe lance on 09:35 PM
October 11, 2005
Jack Sharp
My elected representative in the Tennessee House, Jack Sharp (District 30), is undergoing treatment for lung cancer. I want to publicly express my wish for his speedy recovery and my encouragement to his family...Posted by joe lance on 02:49 PM
September 16, 2005
Music this Weekend
Tonight, get good and low with the Be Good Tanyas at Nightfall. 8pm, Miller Plaza. Read more about them on the web. If you can make it by 7, you'll enjoy opening band John...Posted by joe lance on 09:37 AM
September 07, 2005
Were We Finished Here?
NOTE: This entry has also been published in The Pulse, Chattanooga's Alternative Weekly. Yes, Chattanooga has undergone incredible improvements in recent years. But isn't there more we could do? I ask, rather rhetorically, in...Posted by joe lance on 03:07 PM
September 06, 2005
Thank You, Chattanooga!
We took the boy on his first volunteer-type excursion on Sunday (the first of what I hope are many), and dropped off some things for Katrina refugees at the CHA center on North Holtzclaw...Posted by joe lance on 07:46 AM
September 01, 2005
Kick Down for Hurricane Victims
As so many of you have before me, I've done my little part. If you haven't, you know what to do. My donee of choice is the American Red Cross. You may find many...Posted by joe lance on 04:37 PM
Side Effects of Gerrymandering
According to the Earle of East Lake, one of several contributing factors to Rossville Boulevard's arguable state of urban decay is gerrymandering. I had never thought of this as a cause, but the idea...Posted by joe lance on 09:01 AM
July 16, 2005
Nightfall LTEs
I have been waiting for the letter to appear on Chattanoogan.com that approximates my sense of the whole "biker" debate that's been going on there, and I have found it. I do hope that...Posted by joe lance on 11:05 PM | TrackBack
July 11, 2005
The Four Seventeen
You probably know this already, but there is a billboard near the ramp to Veterans Bridge that shows a likeness of new development The Four Seventeen, and one of those Three. Word. Slogans. from...Posted by joe lance on 08:57 PM | TrackBack
July 07, 2005
On Second Thought: "Business As Usual" Sends the Best Message
The title refers to my earlier post about the tragic events across the Atlantic this morning. I took a moment to be shocked and solemn, and now I'm rolling up my sleeves to get...Posted by joe lance on 11:23 AM | TrackBack
June 23, 2005
Igou Gap and Shallowford Residents Booted by SCOTUS?
This one's quirky, to my undereducated mind. I was listening to the radio during lunch and I seem to remember hearing that the reasoning behind the majority opinion is based in deferment to state...Posted by joe lance on 12:54 PM | TrackBack
June 19, 2005
Live-blogging Father's Day
5:57 pm - So here we all are at my Father's-in-law (not sure here -- I know where plurals go in this situation, but possessives?). The burgers and dogs have been grilled, the salads...Posted by joe lance on 06:26 PM | TrackBack
June 03, 2005
Street Closings 6/3/2005
From an e-mail: Street Closed for Atlanta Falcons Caravan The City Traffic Engineer’s office announced today the following: Carter St, from just north of 1st Tennessee Pavilion to W. 19th St will be closed...Posted by joe lance on 11:32 AM | TrackBack
May 28, 2005
Nightfall and Riverbend Blogging
Did anyone check out Buckwheat Zydeco last night? I'd like to set up a weekly open thread and let commenters quilt a review of each Nightfall performance this year. (I might get to attend...Posted by joe lance on 10:32 AM | TrackBack
May 25, 2005
Arts at Home in Chatt-town
Have you nothing to do this Saturday night? Well, get down to the Chattanooga Theatre Centre and experience something about our town that doesn't involve watching "Cops." I'd say it's been a long time...Posted by joe lance on 08:20 PM | TrackBack
May 23, 2005
Channel 3 Blogs
When what to my wandering eye should appear, But a Channel 3 Blog, and eight tiny news anchors (Disclaimer: only one anchor is technically tiny; and there might not be exactly eight)! I have...Posted by joe lance on 09:36 PM | TrackBack
A Matter of Pride
We wish that journalists would report accurately and post corrections to misstated facts promptly and visibly, but some corrections are arguably more important than others. To wit, a Clarksville (er, Cumberland Furnace) man felt...Posted by joe lance on 02:40 PM | TrackBack
May 22, 2005
Neighborhood Update
As promised, I am updating the blog with my impressions of last evening's neighborhood association "Covered-Dish Social." I am happy to report a sense of relief....Posted by joe lance on 10:30 AM | TrackBack
May 21, 2005
Neighborhood Associations
Tonight could be interesting. We have received an invitation to a covered-dish event at a local church, and the topic of the event includes the words Neighborhood Association. In accordance with my political bi-polarity,...Posted by joe lance on 10:15 AM | TrackBack
May 17, 2005
Get Yer Protest On (or Counter As You See Fit)
Some folks are speaking out at lunchtime today, holding signs and reading through a megaphone, to protest efforts, led by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, to change Senate rules. They are on the corner...Posted by joe lance on 12:37 PM | TrackBack
April 29, 2005
What If All Food Was Clear?
Clear scrambled eggs. Clear pork chops. Clear asparagus. What if every piece of food you ate tasted as you would expect, but was devoid of color? I mean no disrespect to those who cannot...Posted by joe lance on 09:20 PM | TrackBack
April 22, 2005
Election Commission: Post 3
I'm not necessarily sharing an approach on the subject with County Commissioner William Cotton (District 4), but I too am wondering why the site for the new Election Commission offices needs to be in...Posted by joe lance on 11:04 AM | TrackBack
April 20, 2005
Our Elections Need Transparent Precision: Post 1
The (mostly brand-new) Hamilton County Election Commission is apparently undecided on the choice of a new Administrator, after Fran Dzik resigned rather reluctantly. There's plenty to be said for neutrality, but it is at...Posted by joe lance on 11:08 AM | TrackBack
April 15, 2005
Tax Day USA
Good people, make sure you file, if you have not already done so. I already did, and this return was the hardest ever, so far, to fill out. I won't complain about the automatic...Posted by joe lance on 08:57 AM | TrackBack
April 14, 2005
Fran, Zach, Bob, Tom and Tyrone
I don't know about where you work, but where I work, it seems you have to be named Tom or Bob to get named to an executive position. I'm just a Joe. I won't...Posted by joe lance on 08:13 PM | TrackBack
April 11, 2005
Let's Just All Work for Jones Bros., Then
According to a Mason-Dixon poll, published today in the Chattanooga Times-Free Press, the Number One Issue that keeps Chattanoogans agitated and interested is Quality Education | Transparent Government | Higher Voter Turnout | Safety...Posted by joe lance on 03:41 PM | TrackBack
April 07, 2005
From Hoppy's Hops to McMahan's Mug
In case you hadn't heard, The Stone Lion's fate is now sealed. If you have a chance, and are so inclined, visit this bastion of ale-swilling and eclectic-crowd-mingling before the last -- no, really...Posted by joe lance on 11:48 AM | TrackBack
Thursday Catch-All Post
Bits of civic news from around the region: I'm glad to see that a couple of folks spoke out regarding Metro Nashville's planned use of police cameras in public spaces. Even though I'm still...Posted by joe lance on 11:11 AM | TrackBack
March 30, 2005
Riding on the Metro
A panel is moving forward on thoughts of creating a single organization from Murfreesboro and Rutherford County. (Ah, Murfreesboro: ever the little sister in Nashville's shadow ?) I'm sure that more than one person...Posted by joe lance on 11:20 AM | TrackBack
March 22, 2005
"Take the Highway..."
If you've nothing to do this Thursday at 6pm, until 8pm, why not consider going over to the Bicentennial Library to see the plans for US Hwy 27 thru downtown? C'mon, I know that...Posted by joe lance on 09:03 AM | TrackBack
March 19, 2005
Another Brick in the Wal
Chalk up another victory for Wal-Mart in its crusade to become The Company Store. Even though the post-Ritz Violet Camera once produced eight of the worst passport photos I have ever seen, and even...Posted by joe lance on 07:43 AM | TrackBack
March 09, 2005
Throwaway Plan
In case you hadn't heard, Chattanooga's recycling program is changing. I am disappointed that they will no longer pick up glass. I can see the safety concerns for the workers who separate the recyclable...Posted by joe lance on 09:40 PM | TrackBack
February 25, 2005
Bad Blue Apples?
What is happening at the Chattanooga Police Department? In just the past few days, we have been informed of punishments meted out for brutal acts committed last Fall; that there is a breaking story...Posted by joe lance on 07:28 PM | TrackBack