06.20.2023

Today’s Forecast

91º | Mostly sunny | 7% chance of rain | Sunrise 6:28 a.m. | Sunset 8:59 p.m.

🐐 Meet the newest Parks employees

Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors uses goats for landscaping

Get ready to find out about the goats in Chattanooga. | Photo provided by Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors

The Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors Department has sourced out a different method for landscaping with the help of goats.

The department announced the goats would be used to restore the area known as the “Pump Track” on Spears Avenue at the Stringers Ridge trailhead. The area is used for mountain biking with trails + the city hopes to get it back to its original grasslands and wetlands for future programming.

Why goats?

They are environmentally-friendly, causing less air pollution + a safer alternative to using chemicals like herbicides.
They can get to areas that are unsafe for the crew + allows for the department’s focus to be on other projects.
Prescribed burning on-site doesn’t work with the proximity to homes in the area.

NOOGAtoday |Goats2 — These goats are quite the workers — they cleared half an acre in just the first day.
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Photo provided by Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors

The department’s Communications and Marketing Director Brian Smith said the city used goats years ago in 2007, addressing needs along the McCallie Tunnel, but this is the first time the department has sought out goats.

Let’s break down the process. For two weeks, 24 goats and one Great Pyrenees dog will take care of + cut back invasive species. Think: kudzu, honeysuckle, berries, etc. Brian said this makes it easier for the department to see where the plants begin to stop anymore spreading.

The goats come from Knoxville-based landscape company Knox Goats, whose crew set up the two-acre perimeter with an electric fence + the pup to keep a watchful eye on them. Brian said the animals are well protected from native predators such as coyotes and humans alike.

NOOGAtoday | Pump Track — The department wants to clear out the overgrown areas around the trails.
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Photo provided by Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors

There have also been precautions taken to ensure the goats don’t touch the protected native plants in the area. Brian added that the furry friends might be used in future projects.

“When you look at how we can tackle things in trying to restore parks, this is a really unique way. It’s a natural way of doing it + a safer way of doing it.” — Brian Smith

Events

Today, June 20

Paddle to Maclellan Island | Tuesday, June 20 | 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Coolidge Park, 150 River St., Chattanooga | $10-$35 | Take a guided tour with L2 Outside + pack a lunch for a picnic before floating back.
June Community Yoga | Tuesday, June 20 | 7-8 p.m. | Renaissance Park, 133 River St., Chattanooga | $10 | Take a beginner-friendly outdoor yoga class with fellow community members — bring your own mat or blanket.

Wednesday, June 21

Painting Landscapes in Acrylic | Wednesday, June 21 | 6-8 p.m. | The Chattery, 1800 Rossville Ave., Chattanooga | $48 | Inspired by the local scenery, create beautiful acrylic mountains with a meadow covered in flowers.
Songwriters Collective | Wednesday, June 21 | 7-9 p.m. | Gate 11 Distillery, 1400 Market St., Chattanooga | Free+ | Musicians of all ages and genres can perform original songs at this open mic night.

Thursday, June 22

13th Annual Dining Out For Life | Thursday, June 22 | 8 a.m.-11 p.m. | Locations vary, Chattanooga | Price of purchase | Dine at 20+ local spots to help benefit Cempa Community Care + the Chattanooga CARES Foundation.
Business Brews | Thursday, June 22 | 5:30-7 p.m. | Somer Station, 110 Somerville Ave., Chattanooga | Free, RSVP | Expand your personal network while enjoying complimentary beer, wine, a popcorn bar, and themed trivia.
The Art of Pasta Making | Thursday, June 22 | 6-8 p.m. | The Chattery, 1800 Rossville Ave., Chattanooga | $60 | Local chef Jay Gatto will teach you the secrets + skills behind crafting two “mouthwatering” pasta dishes in this beginner-friendly guided culinary experience.

Friday, June 23

Nightfall | Friday, June 23 | 7 p.m. | Miller Plaza, 850 Market St., Chattanooga | Free+ | Bring your blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy food trucks, artist vendors, and live music by Red Pawn + Ping Rose.

Events calendar here

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Announced

Earn prizes for referring friends

Are you ready to get rewarded for spreading the word about the newsletter? | Graphic by 6AM City

We’re excited to announce that our referral program has been revamped. Yes, you can be rewarded for spreading the word about the newsletter.

How does it work? You can find the referral section near The Wrap in the newsletter. One referral is equal to one point. You’ll receive the point when your friends confirm they want to be signed up for the newsletter. It’s a tiered reward system — as you earn more points, you unlock bigger and more rewards. Look forward to receiving exclusive products you won’t find in our online store such as hats, mugs, blankets, a paid-for night out on the town, and more.

As part of our new and improved referral program, we’re offering all newsletter subscribers an additional 15% discount to our online store (Six & Main), just use coupon code REFTDY23 at checkout. The offer is good until Monday, July 24, 2023.

Questions? Send us an email here.

See giveaway terms & conditions.

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News Notes

Civic

Under a new incentive program approved by the city council, Chattanooga employees could earn a bonus of up to $5,000 for providing ideas that save the city and taxpayers money. Read the rules + eligibility requirements. (Chattanooga Times Free Press)

Biz

Novonix’s Chattanooga facility + Korean battery manufacturer LG Energy Solution will develop artificial graphite materials for LG batteries. This will allow for the establishment of a supply chain for high-performance materials for the battery industry in North America. (Chattanooga Times Free Press)

Community

Due to flower crops that were drastically affected this season, the Chattanooga Market’s bloom-themed market that was scheduled for Sunday, June 25 will now have a “Sunday Funday” theme. The market will have opportunities to support the local farms that suffered the loss of crops.

Cause

The deadline to submit projects for United Way of Greater Chattanooga’s annual Day of Caring — the organization’s largest volunteer event of the year — has been extended to Friday, June 30. Read submission instructions.

Health

Erlanger Urology will host its free Men’s Health Seminar on Wednesday, July 12 at its office at Erlanger East Hospital (in suite 209 of Physician Office Building A). Dr. Anand Shridharani will speak at the seminar beginning at 6:30 p.m. RSVP online.

Edu

Georgia Northwestern Technical College (in nearby Rome, GA) will host its Free Application Week starting Monday, July 10 through Friday, July 14. GNTC will waive its $25 application fee for all new applicants seeking to enroll in the upcoming fall semester.

Plan Ahead

Townsend Atelier will welcome Turkish artist Mustafa Ozel to its studio in 2024. During his stay, folks can take three different immersive workshops focusing on portrait + figure painting taught by Mustafa. Learn more + register.

Try This

Trade in your hiking boots for your best gallery outfit, Nooga. The Hunter Museum of American Art has a new exhibition “In Nature’s Studio” — featuring 65+ American landscape paintings spanning over two centuries. See exhibit highlights from our recent visit (and the portrait we loved most).*

Eat

🍦 Scoop, there it is

Get a taste of Chattanooga as a flavor of ice cream

Maybe Clumpies Ice Cream Co. can make one of your Chattanooga-themed ice cream ideas a reality. | Photo via Clumpies Ice Cream Co.

Calling all lovers of Chattanooga, warm weather, and ice cream. We want to know — if the Scenic City was a flavor of ice cream, what would it be? What local ingredients would it contain? Would it be ribboned with locally procured sea salt caramel or crumbled snickerdoodles from The Chattanooga Cookie?

Share your locally inspired ice cream flavor with us by Friday, June 30, and we may feature it in an upcoming newsletter — just make sure it includes one to three local ingredients (bonus points if you list the local spot to source the ingredients and include a catchy name for your frosty concoction).

Need some inspiration? Here are two examples to get your stomachs grumbling:

🇺🇸 US: A waffle cone of vanilla bean ice cream laden with chunks of apple pie.

🇯🇵 Japan: A taiyaki filled with taro soft serve and topped with a black sesame cookie.

Serve us a flavor

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Haley Bartlett

From the editor

Remember when we shared an inside look at the upcoming Little Debbie Park in Collegedale — the one that was giving “Parks and Recreation” vibes? Get ready for a sweet, sweet victory, because the wait is over. The park will have a grand opening ceremony on Friday, June 30 that is open to the public.

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