On Tuesday, the Tennessee Dept. of Agriculture sent out a warning to all animal owners across Tennessee.

An invasive, parasitic fly has been detected in Mexico "that poses a serious threat to livestock and other warm-blooded animals, including pets."

It's called the New World Screwworm.

New World Screwworm "is a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, causing painful infected wounds. Adult flies are slightly larger than houseflies, with metallic blue/green bodies, orange eyes, and three dark stripes on their backs," said Tennessee State Veterinarian Dr. Samantha Beaty.

"Eradicated" from the US decades ago, the screwworm resurrected in Mexico recently; the US government recently shut down all live cattle, horse and bison imports along the southern border.

New World Screwworm sounds awful.

Let's be honest: it's also one of the most startling names of any invasive pest or species I've heard of.

Ash borer. Privet. Giant African snail. Yawn. Sure, the African Clawed Frog is a good name. But the starling? (Zzzzz ...).

New World Screwworm? That's a name worthy of sit-up-and-pay-attention. Nobody wants that in Tennessee. I can tolerate kudzu, but a screwworm? Especially from the New World?

New World Screwworm also sounds like the opening act on a Korn tour. Or that 80s cover band we saw at the Sandbar in 1993. Or a minor character in that CS Lewis book.

Pay attention, TDA said:

• Wounds that worsen or won't heal
• Foul-smelling discharge or a wound with visible larvae
• Signs of discomfort or strange behavior

"Infestation may be found in wounds resulting from routine procedures such as castration, dehorning, or branding, or from minor injuries like insect bites," Beaty said.

• On Memorial Day, remember the Chattanooga Chase, our city's oldest road race.

It's really a block party that happens to include a 8k. Most races focus on the running. The Chase? It's all about community.

The 8k starts at 9 am, with the block party at 10 am. A Fun Run follows at 11 am.

Food as a Verb will be hosting, running and partying, so join us. All members of The Table receive a discount code for a reduced entry fee. (Visit here for more info.)

Fast Break Athletics and Alan Outlaw are some of our best friends. They spend months creating this event. (I've run races throughout the South. Nothing compares to the Chase. No screwworms there, I promise.)

Sign up here.

• Congratulations to Alysia Leon and Bird Fork Farm, a $10k finalist winner in the Chattanooga Idea Leap contest.

Results from the Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union's grant contest were announced earlier this week.

Also winning $10k? Antonio Tate's Party Bites.

• This Sunday? It's the annual Clumpies Ice Cream Social at the Chattanooga Market.

For $10, you get a tasting flight of four flavors: Blueberry White Chocolate Chunk, Blueberry Muffin, Very Berry Lavender and Summer Berry Buckle.

Proceeds go to benefit the Down Syndrome Community of Greater Chattanooga. Folks can also vote for their favorite flavor, which will become a part of the summer menu at all three Clumpies.

Food as a Verb was proud to partner with Clumpies earlier this year, as the local ice cream company does things quite differently: from pasteurizing its own milk to sourcing multiple ingredients regionally to churning in small batches.

Tickets may be purchased Sunday or in advance here.

• Finally, a deep bow and thanks to Al and Heather Allison and the community they built at The Meeting House in Red Bank.

Since Christmas 2014, The Meeting House has offered something very special to the Red Bank community.

The Meeting House served as a coffee house and community hub. Adjacent is the Mission Red Bank: a non-denominational community church where Al serves as Anglican priest.

We visited them during Christmas, watching Heather bake communion loaves which Al would then serve during Sunday worship.

From our story in 2023:

He picks up the communion bread with tenderness, his priest's hands also tough and scarred like working class hands. When Al serves communion, it feels like a feast. "We like to give hunks," he likes to say.

Earlier this week, they announced the end of The Meeting House.

"Sadly, for economic reasons, it is no longer sustainable for us to continue operating," they posted. "After much thought, and with heavy hearts, we have made the decision to close our doors at the end of May."

In the midst of so many headlines, let's not overlook the faithful devotion of one couple and the team behind them. To Red Bank, they brought a House for people to connect, exhale and soften.

"This is not a story of failure or regret," they posted. "It is a story of a chapter well-lived. The Meeting House accomplished what it was created to do: to bring people together, to encourage local business, and to strengthen community."

Amen.

Story ideas, questions, feedback? Interested in partnering with us? Email: david@foodasaverb.com

This story is 100% human generated; no AI chatbot was used in the creation of this content.

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