The Market Blog

American Cancer Society Bark For Life Is July 24
posted July 11, 2011

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The American Cancer Society Bark For Life is an event for dogs and their human companions. Bark For Life, held Sunday, July 24, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at the First Tennessee Pavilion, honors the care-giving qualities of canine “best friends” and includes a one mile walk and special activities and contests for dogs and their human companions. 

The pre-event registration fee is $20 per dog/human team and includes a bandana for the dog and a T-shirt for the human. The day of Bark For Life, the registration fee will be $25 per dog/human team. 

Volunteers for Bark For Life are also being recruited; opportunities include joining the planning committee and day of event volunteers. To register and/or volunteer for Bark For Life vist relayforlife.org/barkchattanooga or contact Christy Johnson at 499-2603 or christy.johnson@cancer.org.

The 2011 Bark For Life will be held in conjunction with the Chattanooga Market and is sponsored by Animal Medical Center of Fort Oglethorpe, Ooltewah Animal Clinic and The Arc Pet Spa and Hotel.

The events will kick off at 11 a.m. with the Chattanooga Market’s opening. Bark For Life registration will take place under a tent in the middle of Carter St. from 11 a.m.–12:45 p.m. The Bark For Life Opening Ceremony will begin at 12:15 with the walk taking place at 1 p.m. The walk will travel around the concourse of Finley Stadium, with plenty of shade and water stops along the way. After the walk, the event will continue with contests including “musical dogs” – a canine version of musical chairs and cutest trick. The best dressed dog and dog/owner look-alike competitions will be held at 3:30. 

Vendor booths will be open from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. There will be local pet-friendly businesses at the Bark For Life supporter booths located in the middle of the First Tennessee Pavilion.

The American Cancer Society Bark For Life honors the life-long contribution of Canine Caregivers. Canine Caregivers are Canine Companions, Guide Dogs, Service Dogs, Rescue Dogs, Therapy Dogs, Police Dogs, Cancer Survivor Dos, and Diagnostic Dogs, who with their owners, are joining the American Cancer Society to celebrate cancer survivorship, to honor people lost to cancer, to fundraise in support of cancer research, education, awareness, patient services, advocacy, and to help eliminate the suffering that cancer causes worldwide. 

“Canine companions represent unconditional love, joy, security, compassion, and no judgments of human abilities or appearances,” said American Cancer Society Representative Christy Johnson. “Bark For Life is a way to ‘take a bite out of cancer,’ smile, and make new friends, both canine and human, while supporting the life-saving mission of the American Cancer Society.”

Chattanoogan.com

Nana’s Frozen Custard Wins Ice Cream Social Awards
posted July 11, 2011

The outcome of Sunday’s Ice Cream Social at the Chattanooga Market was unlike any of the past six years. For the first time, one ice cream shop went home with both of the trophies. 

Nana’s Frozen Custard won “Best Pure Flavor” for their vanilla and “Best Flavor with Inclusions” for Death by Chocolate. Nana’s, along with Clumpies Ice Cream Co. and Mayfield, participated in the seventh annual event to benefit the Children’s Home/Chambliss Shelter. 

Local Food Community in the Spotlight!

Calling all local food partners! Interested in greater exposure for your organization or business? New this year is Gaining Ground’s Local Food Program. 

The program promotes awareness, purchase, and consumption of food grown within 100 miles of Chattanooga. In its simplest form, the program aspires to help the community’s citizens understand the benefits of locally-grown food to the community and to their families while also helping them identify and buy local food in the marketplace.  
 
Participation in the program is free. Farms within 100 miles of Chattanooga, and the restaurants, markets, grocery stores, and food artisans that feature their products are all eligible.

Gaining Ground’s Local Food Program supports our area farmers and partners-

·        TasteBuds Printed and Online Local Food Guides provide a wealth of information to consumers about finding locally grown food

·        Downtown Local Food Map is a quick and easy reference for locating restaurants that support local farms

·        Farm-to-Business Trade Directory helps area farms and businesses find one another to increase availability of locally grown food around town 

·        Harvested Here label helps consumers find local food in the market place

·        Harvested Here marketing materials and advertising campaign help bring awareness to the community about the importance of eating locally-grown food.

Interested in learning more or applying? Please visit www.growchattanooga.org\localfood

Questions? localfoodprogram@growchattanooga.org

Posted: Jun 27, 2011 7:28 AM EDTUpdated: Jun 27, 2011 7:33 AM EDTBy Cheri Burt, Producer

CHATTANOOGA (WRCB) - Dozens of people put their heads together to put an end to childhood cancer.

A head-shaving was held at the Chattanooga Market Sunday.  Volunteers, called “shavees”, shed their locks in support of kids who loose their hair during cancer treatment.  Its all a part of the program Jack Shaves for Childhood Cancer.

Caitlin Puckett’s mother was among the shavees.  The 13 year old, who is going through chemotherapy, says it surprised her how many people stepped up.

Jack Shaves was created by sixth grader Jack Skow-Ronnek.  He was inspired by reading a book about a young boy whose brother was diagnosed with cancer.

So far Jack has raised over $5,000 to help fight childhood cancer.

Written by Pulse Staff
June 27, 2011 – 8:04 am 

In only its third year in existence, a local charity has set a new record. Jack’s Chattanoggins is the brainchild of 12-year-old Jack Skowronnek. When he was ten, he read a book that inspired him to shave his head to show kids with cancer that being bald was OK.

He raised $1,200 that year.

Last year he got about a dozen other people involved and raised $3,200.

Sunday at the Chattanooga Market, the event saw more than 60 people shave their heads, raising more than $17,000, nearly half of that coming in direct donations during the event.

That money will stay right here in Chattanooga to be used at Children’s Hospital at Erlanger in the Pediatric Oncology Unit.

By Gabrielle ChevalierPublished Sunday, June 19, 2011 9:10 am EST

Most sixth-graders summer plans are focused around vacations and summer camps, but for 12-year-old Jack Skowronnek, that just is not enough.

Jack has partnered up with the Children’s Hospital Foundation at Erlanger to organize a head-shaving event called Jack’s Chattanoggins to raise money for children’s cancer treatments.

To find out more about the event and how you can help, visithttp://jackshaves.org/ orwww.jackschattanoggins.org

To find out more about the Children’s Hospital Foundation, contact Amanda Whitaker at Children’s Hospital at (423) 778-8057

The event, which takes place Saturday, June 26, at the Chattanooga Market, will be more than just head-shaving. There will also be food, music, and an auction, which will include an original painting that was donated by artist Jill English, who lost her son to cancer.

For Jack, this will be the third time he has shaved his head to support children with cancer.

The head-shaving began when Jack was just 10 years old, after he was inspired by a book he read called Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie, by Jordan Sonnenblick, in which a boy shaves his head to support his younger brother after he is diagnosed with leukemia.

“He finished the book and he just announced to me that he needed to shave his head,” his mother, Dawn Skowronnek, said.

Skowronnek said she wanted to teach her son that he could do more than just shave his head to support these kids, that he could also raise money to help pay the high cost of their treatment.

The first two year’s that Jack shaved his head, he signed up to do so through St. Baldricks, a national, non-profit organization that encourages people to shave their heads and donate to help cancer patients. In those two years, Jack raised more than $5,000.

This year, Skowronnek said Paul Smith, general manager of the Chattanooga Market, contacted her and asked if Jack would like to have his own event there.

“I was driving down the road and I listened to the story (on the radio) about Jack … and what he was doing and I wanted to do something,” Smith said. “It was just heartwarming and it sounded like it needed a larger audience.”

As a result of that, and the support of the Children’s Hospital Foundation, Jack’s Chattanoggins was created.

“I plan on doing this for the rest of my life,” Jack said. “It made me feel like you don’t have to know who the person is you just have to have a heart and care.”

One day, he said he hopes to have 1,000 people shave their heads at the event.

Smith, who has signed up to have his head shaved, said, “The best way for people to get involved … is to come in and put a little money down on our heads.”

How it works

Volunteers, called “shavees” will shave their heads in support of the children who lose their hair to cancer treatments. They will then receive donations in their names from friends and family members who want to support them.

All of the money raised will go to the Children’s Hospital Foundation and help fund treatments for the more than 50 Chattanooga-area children who are diagnosed with cancer each year.