Did you know that the Signal Mountain Recycling Center has new hours? It is now open Monday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thanks to our citizens for using the center so much, the Town decided to extend the hours.

Did you know that the county’s materials recovery facility (MRF), West Rock, says that Signal Mountain produces some of the cleanest recyclable materials? Bravo to the citizens of Signal Mountain! In fact, only 5% of Signal Mountain’s recyclables end up in the landfill; most other centers are at 10%. 

Did you know it costs the Town $58 a ton for garbage pick-up, while it only costs $35 a ton for our recycling? Also, are you aware that a second garbage can now costs $20 a month? To help you and the Town save money, why not keep your recyclables out of the garbage and bring them to the recycling center. Especially cardboard, since the Town receives $15 a ton for cardboard, and those proceeds are used to offset the cost of sending our recycling to WestRock. To make recycling cardboard even easier, the Town added a cardboard collection bin at the transfer station located at 714 Mississippi Avenue. The hours are Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. So, do yourself and the Town a favor and recycle your cardboard!

Did you know the Signal Mountain recycle center sorts materials into three containers:

1. Single stream
2. Glass without lids 
3. Cardboard

What does single stream mean? It means you do not have to sort your aluminum and steel cans, plastics numbers No. 1 and No. 2, or paper. That all goes in the single stream bin. 

Let’s break down paper even further. Here are some examples of what is acceptable: magazines; junk mail; envelopes;  cereal boxes;  newspapers;  toilet paper rolls;  paper towel rolls;  paperback books;  Tetra packs;  and Amazon paper packing envelopes. You can even leave paper clips and staples on the paper items and the caps on the plastic bottles!

If you like to put your recyclables in a paper bag, please empty the paper bag into the recycling bin and then toss the empty paper bag in. This is for the safety of the WestRock employees since they have to empty those bags. No one wants them to become injured on an unknown object in the bag. And, please remember plastic bags are absolutely not allowed in any of the bins. Plastic bags stop WestRock’s sorting process if the bag becomes entangled in the machinery. There have been questions regarding pizza boxes, and WestRock has clarified that pizza boxes are acceptable! Also, tape on cardboard is fine.

Here’s a quick rundown on some things that should not be placed in any of the containers: glass dishes;  mirrors;  clamshell (take-out) containers;  plastic cups and containers (other than No. 1 and No. 2) ;  plastics numbers No. 3 through No. 7;  hazardous materials;  film pouches;  Styrofoam;  used paper towels;  napkins;  Kleenex;  plastic wrap on packaging;  bubble wrap interior packaging; tinfoil;  tin trays;  and anything smaller than a Post-it note.  

Let’s all work together to help make the Signal Mountain Recycle Center not only the cleanest in the county, but also the center that saves the citizens and the Town the most money!

Citizens, let’s do our part to keep recyclables out of the landfill. Future generations will be forever grateful!
​
by Karen Ditmars

Did you know that in 2024, the Signal Mountain Community Guild donated just under $10,000 to local organizations? These recipients included A Step Ahead, Bridge Refugee Services, Bachman Community Center, Birthday Buddies, Happinest Bird Rescue, Lone Oak Clinic, Mountain Arts Community Center, Mountain Education Foundation, Signal Mountain Fire/Police, Walden Ridge Emergency Services, Signal Mountain Social Services, and Warrior Freedom Service Dogs.

The SMCG is looking forward to another year of community involvement and fundraising. It will kick off the 2024-25 year on Wednesday, September 25, from 10-11:30 a.m. in the Guild Room located in the Town Hall center at 1111 Ridgeway Drive. September’s speaker is Kim Rackel of the Bachman Community Center; she will discuss the center’s various facility improvements, as well as the expansion of programs for youth and adults. As a bonus, there will also be a short demonstration of chair yoga by instructor Chamar Drane. Don’t miss it!

All women in the 37377 zip code are invited to participate in the Guild via its monthly meetings, fundraising events, lunches (Ladies Who Lunch), and dinners (Dames That Dine). For up-to-date information on SMCG activities,  access their website at signalmountaincommunityguild.com or find them on FaceBook as “Signal Mountain Community Guild and Newcomers.” If your local business or nonprofit is interested in making a presentation at one of the Guild’s monthly meetings, please contact Aileen Litwin at [email protected].
​
by Jennifer Ricci

Louis Brill is an engineering technician for Signal Mountain’s public works department and noticed bicycles were consistently being disposed of at the town’s transfer station. Some of the bikes were in terrible shape with broken fenders, missing handlebars and bent wheels. But some were just rusted and missing a tire, clearly outgrown by its former rider.
​
“Every month we were seeing so many bicycles being put into our scrap metal container or, even worse, into our landfill container,” Louis said, thinking it was shame to both let bikes folks might be able to use go to waste and add to Signal Mountain’s carbon footprint by adding them to the landfill. Bikes take up a good amount of space, so Louis and other employees brainstormed to find a way to reduce the amount of waste going to the landfill from the town.

“It just seemed like a no-brainer to figure out some way we could repurpose these bikes,” Louis said, and the solution was actually right under his nose. Or more literally, right around the block from his home in Red Bank.

“I’m quite familiar with White Oak Bicycle Co-op, as they’re based out of a workshop a few blocks down from my home in Red Bank, and I had heard about their mission to get bicycles into the hands of those that are in need here in our region,” Louis said. He was aware that White Oak Bicycle Co-op, a local 501c(3) nonprofit, takes in bicycles that are no longer needed and refurbishes them so that they can be donated at no cost to children who otherwise wouldn’t have access to them, as well as to unhoused individuals in our region.

He reached out to Blake Bierce, the executive director at WOBC, and asked if he might be interested in partnering with the Town of Signal Mountain and taking the bikes.

“He was extremely interested,” Louis said happily, adding that since the recent partnership, about 60 bicycles that would have gone straight to the landfill have been collected by WOBC.

Once a bike is taken to WOBC, volunteer bike mechanics examine the bike and determine if it can be refurbished to working order. If that’s not possible, they strip the bike and use the parts they can on another bicycle.

Now, residents of Signal Mountain can drop their old, broken or no-longer-needed-but-still-running-great two-wheeler off at the Signal Mountain Public Works transfer station, at 714 Mississippi Avenue, and know it will provide joy to another rider, possibly one who wouldn’t have had the chance to own a bike otherwise.
What a win-win, all thanks to the considerate, forward-thinking folks at SMPW and the generous volunteers at WOBC.

“Overall, we couldn’t be happier with this program and the impact that it has on the wider community!” Louis said.

Learn more at WOBC at whiteoakbicycle.org.

by Ferris Robinson

The Signal Mountain Community Guild’s annual Dogwood Luncheon was held on Wednesday, April 24, at the Signal Mountain Golf & Country Club. This year’s keynote speaker was Hamilton County’s first female district attorney, Coty Wamp. Vendor offerings, silent auction baskets, and the announcement of the 2024 Woman of the Year were equally anticipated features of the fundraising event.

The 2024 Woman of the Year recipient is Ms. Lara Lee Buchheit. According to Diane Gallagher, the 2023 Woman of the Year, Ms. Buchheit is “…a ‘yes person,’ who is always eager to jump in and help. Her sense of commitment to the community and to the organizations on which she serves is paramount.”

Ms. Buchheit currently serves on the Board of Signal Mountain Social Services, helps furnish homes for asylum seekers through Bridge Refugee Services, and is coordinator for the Chattanooga chapter of JustServe, a free online service linking nonprofit organizations with volunteers. In her introduction, Woman of the Year chair Corina Lopes stated that those who know Ms. Buchheit personally will agree that, “Her warmth and kindness radiate and her compassion for others is unmatched. She always has a listening ear and, better still, is the world’s best cheerleader.” All those present congratulated Lara Lee Buchheit with a standing ovation as the Signal Mountain Community Guild presented Ms. Buchheit with a bouquet of flowers and a plaque.

Prior to the Woman of the Year Award presentation, Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp addressed the room of over 100 women. In addition to sharing a few personal anecdotes, Ms. Wamp spoke about some of the areas within the criminal justice system that her office is targeting to ensure safety and peace within the community - particularly for women and children. Ms. Wamp is an accomplished speaker, and her appreciative audience listened intently.

As for the luncheon itself, the Signal Mountain Golf and Country Club served a delicious meal that included a salad, grilled chicken, potatoes and broccolini, as well as a choice of lemon or chocolate cake.  However, the refreshments were only part of the festivities. Participants arrived early in order to have plenty of time to visit each vendor and bid on their favorite auction baskets before lunch began. Attendees enjoyed browsing each of the 22 vendor tables and sampling the merchandise and services offered by local venders. Offerings included clothing, jewelry, baked goods, home décor, skincare, as well as health, wellness, and insurance services.

Sprinkled throughout the vendor tables were the auction baskets, with a total of 30 baskets filled with additional local wares - including everything from  an overnight getaway to a sampling of wines and international foods - and gift certificates donated by area businesses. In addition to the vendor participation, other area businesses supported this SMCG fundraiser through sponsorships. Some organizations chose to decorate one of the 14 luncheon tables. Each table had a unique theme that was reflected in the centerpiece and in each individual place setting. To view a complete list of all businesses that sponsored the 54th Annual Dogwood Luncheon and browse additional event photos, please visit the Guild website at www.SMCGuild.org.

Many in attendance opted to visit the bar on the patio to purchase a beverage to sip as they shopped. In addition to the usual selection of wine and other libations, a signature cocktail was specially created for the event. The Blackberry Blossom, which consisted of a lemonade/blackberry puree, vodka and prosecco, was a big hit, and many determined that one Blossom led to another! SMGCC donated a percentage of the proceeds from the sale of the special drink to the guild fundraiser.

Dogwood Luncheon chair and SMCG vice president Amanda England worked tirelessly to make this year’s luncheon a success. She and her committee spent countless hours coordinating the details of the event, which included contacting local businesses for sponsorships, assembling baskets, selecting the menu, monitoring ticket sales, arranging vendor placements and luncheon seating charts, as well as managing all the other many details that go into event planning. Ms. England acknowledged that “This luncheon would never have been a success without the collaborative efforts of all involved. The goal of the Dogwood Luncheon is to raise money to help organizations here on the mountain. However, I also want to introduce SMCG to those who might not be familiar with our group and our purpose. This is a way to possibly grow our membership and increase SMCG’s impact within our community.”   

Guild president Kristy McPherson agreed with Ms. England’s observation and added, “It takes a great team to pull all this together. I enjoyed seeing people in our community come together for a common cause.”  The annual Dogwood Luncheon embodies the Signal Mountain Community Guild motto, “Committed to Service, Committed to Signal.” Many thanks go to all who contributed to and participated in this year’s luncheon to make this a successful event!

The Dogwood Luncheon event serves as a major fundraiser for the Guild. Raised funds support various Signal Mountain social and civic welfare organizations such as the Lone Oak Clinic, SMSS, Bachman Community Center, Walden’s Ridge Emergency Services, and the Mountain Education Foundation. In addition, SMCG awards a $1,000 scholarship annually to a Signal Mountain student looking to further their educational goals. Anyone planning to attend college or get an advanced degree is eligible for this scholarship. The scholarship recipient must live on the mountain, but graduating high school seniors may attend a public or private school located in the greater-Chattanooga region.

If you are interested in learning more about the Signal Mountain Community Guild or are interested in becoming a member, please visit our website, www.SMCGuild.org. All ladies living within the 37377 zip code are invited to join. 

Correction to the April 2024 article as submitted by SMCG:  The name for Dogwood Luncheon sponsor, Ascension Living Live at Home, was incorrectly submitted. Please reference this name when researching this service.
​
by Kathy Peeples and Corina Lopes​

The Mountain Arts Community Center is thrilled to announce the recent establishment of the Children’s Teaching Garden, generously funded by a grant from the Hamilton County Department of Health. This initiative aligns with the department’s mission to promote healthy eating habits from an early age, fostering a well-informed future generation.

Community gardens are a cornerstone of learning and unity, and Signal Mountain boasts a wealth of residents who bring invaluable expertise to these green spaces. Our new Children’s Teaching Garden is a vibrant educational environment where children can discover the origins of their food - beyond the aisles of the local grocery store.

Equipped with informative signage, the garden offers a hands-on learning experience about various fruits and vegetables, highlighting their nutritional benefits. To further enhance this educational journey, the garden features a specialized library that remains within the garden premises. This collection focuses on the significance of soil, earthworms, bees, and other vital elements of the ecosystem. Additionally, a vermicomposter has been set up in the “strawberry field” section, allowing children to participate in feeding worms with food scraps.

The garden is not just about observation but also participation. Children have access to flower, fruit, herb, and vegetable seeds at a child-sized potting table, where they can use recycled milk cartons to plant seeds and watch them grow at home. The magic of seeing a seed sprout and flourish into a plant is an invaluable lesson in patience and care.

Open to the public, the garden will also serve as a resource for educators, as well as be available for summer camps, homeschool groups, and preschool activities. Christopher Marinello, a Step One representative with the Health Department, is set to offer presentations on pollination, enhancing the educational scope of the garden (for more information, contact: [email protected]).

Adult supervision is required for children age 10 and under to ensure safety and a thorough educational experience in the garden.

This project was made possible by the dedication of many community members. Special thanks go to David Strachan for his countless hours crafting this communal treasure and to the Beta Club from Signal Mountain Middle High School for its efforts in setting up the garden beds and installing mulch and compost. Acknowledgments are also due to Avery Taylor (SMMHS) for the creative garden sign, Brenda Camp (Nolan Elementary) for organizing the collection of milk cartons, and Jim Webster (Old Towne resident) for supplying the mulch. The garden’s custom birdbath was beautifully crafted by Jennifer Boyd (Old Towne resident) at the MACC pottery studio. Our gratitude extends to Brian and Ellie Taylor (Walden) for their construction work, and Anne Hagood (MACC volunteer/Old Towne resident), whose initial suggestion about the grant made this garden possible. A heartfelt thank you to all the MACC staff for their support and contribution to this enriching project.

We invite the community to embrace this garden, nurture it, and enjoy its offerings as if it were your own. For those interested in volunteering for garden maintenance tasks such as weeding or watering, please contact me at [email protected].

Your participation is crucial for the success and sustainability of this beautiful educational space. Join us in cultivating a greener, healthier future for our children!
​
by Paige Taylor