I am not one to listen to pop music. Or drink energy drinks. Or enjoy large crowds.

So why is it that I find myself hurtling down I-75 with the music turned up, sipping some blueberry-flavored drink that promises to bring sustained energy and focus, all the while listening to teenage girls in my car belt the lyrics to “Love Story” by Taylor Swift?

Because I am among the thousands of people (70,000 to be exact) who are flocking into downtown Atlanta to catch the Taylor Swift Eras tour, her first tour in five years.

I am now officially a fan, or a “Swiftie” as they are called. 

Forget the fact that Taylor Swift, who has sold over 200 million records globally, is one of the best-selling musicians of all time.

And also forget that she has been lauded as one of the greatest songwriters in history.

While those statements may be true, I never paid much attention to Taylor Swift’s music or accolades. 

But what I experienced at her concert changed me. Why?

For one, Taylor Swift comes across as such a genuinely lovely person. Over and over again, she thanked the crowd and spoke to us, not like we were in a huge and fully sold out arena, but rather in a quaint bar or living room. Swift told intimate stories about her songs and seemed sincerely grateful for the opportunity to reflect on her years of making music through this tour. Eras was an apt name because Swift took the audience on a journey through her 10-album history, sharing selections from each stage. Each era was marked by elaborate costume and set changes.   

“Some of these songs are about my life; some of these songs are about fictional characters I created,” Swift said at one point during the concert. “But my hope in all of this is that, at the end of the day, these songs will be songs that you think are about your own life,” she said. 

My 13-year-old niece was in tears at times because she was so moved by Swift.  

“This is my favorite song! Oh, I just love her!” my niece exclaimed, tears streaming down her cheeks.

And then I was in tears because I was so moved by my niece. She loves Taylor Swift and has for years. I watched her hug her mom, my sister, throughout the show, thanking her again and again for this experience. 

As I viewed Swift through my niece’s eyes, and through my daughter’s, I began to get what all the hype is about. Taylor Swift is an icon of this generation. She is beautiful and sings beautifully, but she stands for far more than just glamor. Sure, many of her lyrics are about young love, breakups, and seeking revenge, but then she also sings about finding self-confidence and building friendships.

Speaking of friendship, many Swifties arrive at concerts adorned with friendship bracelets in hopes of trading with other fans. My daughter and nieces made dozens of bracelets in the car ride to Atlanta and traded with others, which proved to be a really sweet part of the overall experience. The gesture was inspired by the lyrics, “so make your friendship bracelets,” in Swift’s song “You’re on Your Own, Kid.” 

Despite a botched rollout of tickets through Ticketmaster, Swift delivered with an epic three-hour show. What a gift. At the conclusion of the show, as we exited within the mass of people, I couldn’t help but marvel at the kindness within the crowd. People were smiling, laughing, trading bracelets, and thanking security guards. Even as we poured into the downtown Atlanta streets, you could hear groups of people laughing, sharing memorable moments and singing. 

I found myself humming Swift’s song, “Enchanted:” “This night is sparkling, don’t you let it go/ I’m wonderstruck, blushing all the way home/I’ll spend forever wondering if you knew/I was enchanted to meet you.”

Yes, I was enchanted to meet you, Taylor.

by Weesie Cook

In spring, summer, and extending well into fall, we enjoy the bright blue planters cascading with red begonias as we make our rounds to the Signal Mountain Post Office. The contrast in the red and blue makes us happy, and the robust condition of the flowers makes us envious. Each time we visit the Post Office - or even ride by - we wonder how these begonias and planters got there to cheer us on our way.

The Boy Scouts started this history when they made the original planters that lasted for many years before time and weather wore them down. Members of the Garden Club of Signal Mountain, a federated club, plant the begonias and maintain them weekly but noticed that the planters needed to be replaced.  When the issue was raised, club member Milissa Gee volunteered her husband Dick to create new ones.

Dick accepted the job willingly and brought both his carpentry expertise - he worked on the set building crew at Signal Mountain Playhouse for years - and his own supplies, including that arresting blue paint. He upgraded the planters so that they could be more securely attached to the areas where they are housed. The “new and improved” planters are now home to the fledgling begonias planted by garden club gals early in May.

Dick, a great community volunteer who served on the Signal Mountain Town Council and as mayor, pitches in when there’s a need. A few years back, he headed the renovation of the Playhouse’s “house,” a job that involved moving tons of earth, terracing the audience area, and placing stones as retainers. Now, he works to maintain and enhance his and Milissa’s beautiful hillside retreat filled with marvelous plantings and picturesque boulders. The SMPO planter project got him out of his paradise back into the community.

The planters are graced by lusty begonias that receive great care from the members of the Garden Club of Signal Mountain. Members plant the begonias in full spring, and 27 members of the club volunteer to take a week to water and fertilize the flowers, which thrive through the heat of July and still linger beautifully until they are taken away at the end of October.

In addition to these duties with the planters, the Garden Club of Signal Mountain also maintains the plantings and scheduled care of the plants at the Welcome to Signal Mountain signs on Shoal Creek and at James Boulevard at Taft Highway. In addition, the club maintains the plantings at the MACC pollinator garden and the Blue Star Memorial Highway Marker, as well as James Park. The club’s volunteer spirit is contagious … just ask Dick!

Thanks so much to Dick Gee for his generosity and skill in creating new planters for us to appreciate as we mail our packages and buy stamps. Thanks, too, to the Garden Club of Signal Mountain for bringing beauty that inspires us as we hasten through our days. The spirited red and blue (Rustoleum’s Brilliant Blue) presented by the begonias and their planters get our attention and make us grateful for our great community.
​
by Anne Rittenberry ​

“G-O, LET’S GO!” This past fall, youth cheerleading returned to Signal Mountain, with a very successful first season! Signal Mountain resident Lori Whitworth saw the need for an organized cheer program and with encouragement from the community, she established Signal Mountain Youth Cheerleading, an organization that offers cheer for children in grades K-5. 

Signal Mountain Youth Cheerleading had 85 participants in its first season, along with 17 volunteer coaches who were instrumental in the success of the fall program: Maria Fowler, Courtney Guthrie, Betsy Wilson, Samantha Crow, Chelsea Price, Mandy Hall, Kirby Johnson, Lynde Thompson, Lori Whitworth, Veronica Esqueda, Jennifer Sikes, Heather Grantham, Annette Neubauer, Marie Lawrence, Holley Rudolph, Jena Story and Lauren Smalley. These amazing coaches taught the kids cheer basics, stunting and dance routines, all of which were performed during the recreational flag football games. In addition to cheering on the weekends, the teams had the opportunity to participate in the SMMHS homecoming parade, as well as cheer alongside the Signal Mountain Middle School cheerleaders at a football game!

The organization also sought ways to teach the importance of community involvement by connecting with other organizations on service projects. The teams held a hygiene drive that supported Signal Mountain Social Services and collected over 100 bottles of shampoo and conditioner. The kids also created Christmas cards for residents of Alexian Village and added holiday cheer at Garden Plaza of Greenbriar Cove. (Additional first year sponsors of SMYC included: Gold Sponsor Smoky Mountain Gunite, Silver Sponsor Cane Creek Cottage and Bronze Sponsor Mickey Travels). Lastly, SMYC donated a cheer package to the online auction that supported the Mountain Education Fund. 
​
Signal Mountain Youth Cheer is grateful for all the support received from participants, coaches and parents in its first year and looks forward to growing the program as well as the relationships within the community. If you have a child who might be interested in the upcoming 2023 fall season, look for registration to open up in June. Follow on Facebook at Signal Mountain Youth Cheer, and on Instagram @signalyouthcheer. Parents, if you would like to get involved as a coach, sponsor, or become a boardmember, please reach out via email to signalyouthcheer@gmail.com. Volunteers will receive special discount registration pricing.

Signal Mountain Social Services offers hearty congratulations to this year’s recipients of the Lamar Rankin Service Award, Marcie Hansen and Carla Jones. It can be a difficult task to determine who is deserving of this award each year because so many individuals are deserving and work so hard to make SMSS the wonderful agency that we all know and love.

Marcie Hansen has worked in the food pantry and the Clothes House weekly since 2014. She joined the executive board around 2017 as nominating chair and became board chairman in 2020. She always serves as a row captain at the annual Christmas Basket program and is always willing to help with special projects or needs that come along. “Marcie serves with a willing heart and a desire to make our community a better place,” Elizabeth Neal, SMSS executive director, stated simply. “She is the ‘Marvelous Marcie Hansen.’”

Carla Jones comes to our agency from Lookout Mountain. She has been volunteering at the Clothes House for the past year and a half. She can be found weekly on Monday and Wednesday working diligently in the Clothes House. Seeing the store all ready for customers every Wednesday makes Carla happy, as she knows the hard work that goes into preparing all of the items. Carla is fluent in Spanish and English and helps many customers who do not speak English with their purchases. She is a great resource for the Clothes House. She also owns a catering business; you may reach her at hands2heartscatering@gmail.com.

Clothes House Director Victoria Skorupa says of Carla, “She is a joy to be around and makes coming to work so much fun for everyone.”
​
by Deseret Ward

The Signal Mountain Community Guild held its 53rd annual Dogwood Luncheon at the Signal Mountain Country Club in April to honor the Woman of the Year and raise funds for its high school senior scholarship, which is awarded every May. The event was a great success, attended by over 100 women who came together to celebrate the achievements of the Woman of the Year and support the spirit of community the Guild promotes.

Diane Gallagher, an active and involved resident of the mountain for several decades with her husband, Bill, and their children, was recognized as the 2023 Woman of the Year. 

Growing up outside the mountain, she learned life’s important lessons of hard work, family loyalty, giving of oneself and volunteering to help others from her own mother. 

The Woman of the Year chair, Leah Gallant, upon presenting the award, said, “The dictionary defines ‘service’ as ‘work done for others’ and the word ‘dedication’ as ‘wholehearted devotion.’ Diane embodies these definitions. She also practices her faith, which teaches that what we have been given in life must be shared with those in need. She has made a deep footprint of good deeds in our community and one that challenges us to follow.”

“I just can’t believe it,” Gallagher said, when presented with the 2023 Woman of the Year plaque.

“I am thankful for the many opportunities I have been given to serve and volunteer for so many worthy causes with such wonderful people,” she continued. “I look out at each of you here today and am thankful to call you my friends. You simply amaze me.”

Attendees also enjoyed a presentation from the event’s guest speaker, Signal Mountain town manager, Elaine Brunelle, who shared her insights on an illustrious career as a veteran and commanding Navy officer. Brunelle concluded her remarks with the motto, “rise above,” inspiring the attendees with great enthusiasm. 

“I am energized to go out and do. I feel very empowered,” said Aileen Litwin, attending the luncheon for the second year in a row.

The Dogwood Luncheon kicked off with a fun cocktail hour, during which guests enjoyed a selection of offerings from various vendor tables from businesses in the greater-Chattanooga area. Attendees also had the opportunity to peruse over 25 baskets for silent auction, each filled with hundreds of dollars worth of goods and services donated by area businesses and attractions. All funds raised from the silent auction directly support the Guild’s high school senior scholarship award.

The $1,000 dollar award has been helping graduating high school seniors achieve their dreams of higher education for many years, and the annual luncheon is a crucial fundraising event to support this worthy cause.

“This year’s Dogwood Luncheon was a huge success, thanks to the generosity of so many volunteers and members of our business community,” said Amanda England, 2023 Dogwood Luncheon chair. “It is heartening to see so many women come together to honor the achievements of our Woman of the Year and support the next generation of scholars. We are grateful to Ms. Brunelle and all the generous donors who helped make this event a success.
​
by Corina Lopes