Town Talk

"The smarter the guy, the bigger the rascal."

Friday, January 1, 1904

"The smarter the guy, the bigger the rascal."

-- Will Rogers

HEARD ON THE TOWN

THE GREATER Chattanooga Navy League John J. Spittler Council installed its 2012 officers and board of directors during a meeting at Garden Plaza of Greenbriar Cove in Collegedale, said event spokeswoman Patty Parks. Presiding over the installation was Bob Summit, former Hamilton County judge.

The officers are Sandy McMillan, president; Dan Saieed, vice president; Larson Mick, secretary; and Dick Lewallen, treasurer. Serving as directors are Parks, Charles Dammann, Gary Meyer and Jack Spittler.

Adam Widner, of Cincinnati, Ohio, talked to the group about the Wounded Warrior Project, Parks said.

"A former National Guard sergeant, Afghanistan Veteran and Wounded Warrior Project spokesman, Widner is one of tens of thousands of wounded warriors and caregivers who receive support annually through Wounded Warrior Project programs," she said.

The program was designed to nurture the mind and body and encourage economic empowerment and engagement for service men and women wounded in war, Parks said. "Some, like Widner, bring project details to communities across the nation through one of the programs called 'Warriors Speak.' "

The council presented a donation of $200 to the Wounded Warrior Project and many council members made additional donations, she said. For more information about the program, visit woundedwarriorproject.com.

The Navy League sponsors youth programs, including sponsorship of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps, the Navy League Scholarship Program and Navy JROTC units like the one at Howard Academy of Academics Technology in Chattanooga, she said.

For more information about the organization, visit chattanooganavyleague.org or call 326-0839.

HEARD ON THE TOWN

SHUPTRINE'S GOLD Leaf Designs gallery hosted a workshop led by award-winning artist Brett Weaver. According to gallery spokeswoman Bonny Shuptrine, Weaver provided a painting demonstration and technique workshop on oil and plein air.

Weaver's paintings are on exhibit at the gallery, 2646 Broad St.

"(Weaver) is a native Tennessean and a preservationist, which shows in his paintings," she said.

Among those attending the workshop were Brett Weaver, Mary Castronova, Bryan Lacy, Sherry Dahrling, Meghan Lacy, Elizabeth Lacy, Cheryl Rogers and Allyson Brown.

Contact Karen Nazor Hill at khill@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6396. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/karen nazorhill.