Mary Helen Miller

At Alexian Village Health and Rehabilitation Center on Signal Mountain, Tuesday is known as Red Cross Day, because it's the day when Red Cross volunteers come each week. Two of the volunteers, Winnie Rose and Grace Cantey, have been coming every week since the 1970's, and they've become close friends over the year

McKamey Animal Center on North Access Road gives medical care and shelter to animals without homes.  Executive Director Karen Walsh talks about a new, recurring fundraiser series called "Yappy Meower."  Future dates and locations include Sticky Fingers on March 19, Mia Cucina on April 6th and The Blue Plate on May 1st.  Mary Helen Miller visited McKamey to find out more about the services -- some of them quite quirky -- that McKamey offers  its animals.

Spring break is coming up for Hamilton County schools, and Girls Inc. of Chattanooga is running a camp for girls.  The manager of elementary age programs at Girls Inc., Toccora Johnson, talks about the upcoming camp.

Seven students from UTC's College of Business recently received a John C. Stophel Distinguished student award. Mary Helen Miller talked to two of the recipients. Jonathan Mansfield graduated from the entrepreneurship program at UTC, and Michael Bennett is finishing up a degree in human resources.

Each year, there are up to 150,000 new cases of colorectal cancer in the United States. And, it kills up to 50,000 people every year. March is colorectal cancer awareness month, and Dr. Andy Lovette, a general surgeon at Memorial North Park Hospital, says that if you're at risk, screening is crucial.

Dr. Lin Jun Wang is a professor at UTC who believes wholeheartedly in a scientific theory he came up with. Most scientists would call him crazy, but he's on a mission to share his theory about the nature of the universe with as many people as possible.

H*ART Gallery on Main Street sells the work of unconventional artists, like homeless people, people with disabilities, and refugees. Now, the gallery is helping put some of that art into the homes of unconventional collectors, too: homeless people who are moving into a new home. Mary Helen Miller spoke with Ellen Heavilon, the executive director of H*ART Gallery, and Jamie McConnico, a seventh grader who helped start the new program.

Miki Boni and Tom Paulsin put a lot of work into transforming an old house in the Southside District into a contemporary, comfortable art gallery. Now when visitors come, they hope they’ll enjoy the art and stay awhile. A long while. Maybe overnight or for the weekend.

The blood supply in the Chattanooga area is lower than it should be, and it’s been that way all year. Blood Assurance collects blood for more than 50 health care facilities in the region. And they say that donations tend to drop off in the winter. Mary Helen Miller visited the Blood Assurance donation center and lab at the Chattanooga headquarters.  She got some first-hand insight into the blood shortage in the area.

For the last couple of years, the Planet Altered Gallery on Chattanooga’s Southside has held fundraising events called CAFE Grant Suppers.  At these events, people pay $12 for dinner.  During the dinner, artists and creative people who could use extra money to fund their work give pitches.  People listen to the pitches, vote, and then the winning artist receives most of the money people paid for dinner–often several hundred dollars total.  It’s a way for the Southside community to gather, enjoy food and fun, and support a local artist.