“All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, then success is sure.” — Mark Twain

TOASTS

JOY ADAMS has been honored with the Mizpah Temple Lifetime Achievement Award. Mrs. Adams, who soon will celebrate a birthday “in her eighth decade,” is active in the daily activities of Mizpah as a member of the board of directors and chairwoman of the aesthetics and archives committee, said event spokesman Richard Zachary.

Ms. Adams also is founder and principle curator of the Joy Adams Jewish Archives of Chattanooga, housed at Mizpah Temple, Mr. Zachary said.

“A chronological array of Jewish influences, people and historical events created by Mrs. Adams were formally displayed at the Chattanooga Regional History Center and are on display as part of a traveling exhibit throughout Tennessee,” he said.

Among those attending the event were steering committee members Jo-Ann Morris, Jo Ann Richelson, Louise Spector, Peggy Moore, Lee Abelson, and Mr. Zachary, as well as Temple vice president Sid Simon and Karen Simon, former Mizpah Rabbi Joshua Lief, Ronnie and Chaim Charyn, Helen Pregulman, Trudy Trivers, Ira and Catherine Long, Rhonda and Michael Seeber, Ruth Longway, Charles and Miriam Levine, M.J. Levine, John and Kathy Raisin, Andy Hodes, Amelia Allen, Claire Binder, Michael Dzik, Maish Richelson, Sue Cohn, Frank Miller and Dana Banks.

The honoree welcomed the

guests, and her son, Lee Abelson, served as moderator. CELEBRITY SIGHTING

EMMY AWARD-winning Chattanooga native Leslie Jordan returned to the Scenic City to attend his 35th Brainerd High School reunion and a book-signing reception at Nell’s Home Store in East Brainerd.

Mr. Jordan, who played an ongoing role on the popular TV series “Will and Grace,” and starred in “Sordid Lives,” recently released his book, “My Trip Down the Pink Carpet.”

“Jimmy Adams, owner of Nell’s Home Store, and Leslie have been friends for over 25 years,” said Jeffrey Dendy.

“Mr. Jordan has just finished a 30-city book-signing tour that did not include Chattanooga, hence Mr. Adams asked Leslie to come to his store for the book signing,” Mr. Dendy said.

“Mr. Jordan performed for the crowd and signed over 100 books,” he said. HEARD ON THE TOWN

CHATTANOOGA Symphony and Opera Guild member Mary Earl received the Opera Volunteers International Partners in Excellence Award that honors member organizations’ most valuable volunteers, according Stephanie Blaylock, Chattanooga Symphony and Opera marketing and communications manager.

“The award recognizes individuals for their exceptional contribution to opera and honors support groups for completing outstanding projects and attaining special goals,” Ms. Blaylock said in a news release.

“The award is especially important because you must be nominated by your guild president, CSO board chair and the executive director,” Ms. Earl said. “This is the highest award given to volunteers, and I am very honored to receive it.”

Ms. Earl has been active in the organization for nearly 20 years and has served in many different capacities, including the role of president. She serves on the CSOG board as Opera Volunteers International Representative and on the Opera Volunteers International Board as chairwoman of grants, Ms. Blaylock said.

“I enjoy working with the guild because of the dedication of the members and the wonderful things that are accomplished,” Ms. Earl said. “Since serving, I have been able to work with guilds all over the country and Canada, and I know the CSOG is one of the most accomplished groups I have seen.”

Ms. Earl is particularly proud of the annual vocal competition she founded nearly 15 years ago.

“After the 10th year, many of the winners came back to celebrate with us. The stories we heard about how winning the competition and how their lives have changed because of it, is especially important to me,” she said.

The CSO produces a variety of live musical performances of symphony, opera and pops for a variety of audiences. It is a funded agency of Allied Arts.

E-mail Karen Nazor Hill at khill@timesfreepress.com. Submitted photographs will not be returned.

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