Tuesday, Dec. 11

COMMUNITY · The Rossville Library will host their weekly Preschool Ready to R.E.A.D. Time class on Tuesday, Dec. 11, at 10:30 a.m. The theme this week is “Let it Snow!” We will read lots of chilly books and have a snowball fight.

COMMUNITY · The Rossville Public Library will host Christmas with the Grinch at the Library on Tuesday, Dec. 11, from 5-6:30 p.m. We will eat grinchy snacks and make grinchy crafts. Then we will end our evening watching the original “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”

COMMUNITY · The Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce announces Costco Wholesale (Fort Oglethorpe) will host a Christmas breakfast on Tuesday, Dec.11, from 8-10 a.m. Please make reservations to Earl Gray at w01083mk02@costco.com. The Christmas Breakfast is limited to the first 200 Chamber members to RSVP.

COMMUNITY · Skyrocket Web Design will host a Ribbon Cutting at the Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce in Ringgold (264 Catoosa Circle) on Dec. 1 1, at 1 p.m. in the chamber conference room.

COMMUNITY · Parkridge East Hospital (in East Ridge, Tenn.) will offer free car seat safety checks from 10 a.m.-noon Tuesday, Dec. 11. Christy Smith with the Hamilton County (Tenn.) Health Department will conduct the checks. No registration is required. Checks will be conducted in the parking lot between the hospital and the doctors’ office building, weather permitting. Call 423-855-3645 for more information.

COMMUNITY · Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park will close the following monuments for the winter season starting Saturday, Dec. 1: Wilder Brigade Monument, the Highway 27 picnic area, the Sanders picnic area and the Signal Point restrooms. These areas will reopen in mid-March, pending weather conditions. For more information, call 706-866-9241 or 423-821-7786 or visit nps.gov/chch.

COMMUNITY · The Chattanooga Zoo’s 12 Days of Christmas for the Animals will begin on Saturday, Dec. 1. For 12 days, the Zoo will feature a different animal on its Facebook page and what he or she would like for Christmas. Guests of the Zoo can bring their gift to the Zoo Gift Shop anytime during the month of December and receive a small gift in return from the Chattanooga Zoo. To view the list, visit www.chattzoo.org/support/12-days-of-christmas. Guests can watch the animals open their gifts during the Zoo’s annual Holiday Lights on Dec. 14, 15, 21 and 22. For more information call 423-697-1322.

COMMUNITY · Catoosa Citizens for Animal Care, Inc. is selling Adventures in Dining Coupon Books for $35. The books contain 87 buy-one-get-one free coupons for dining and entertainment in Chattanooga, north Georgia and Cleveland. The total value of the book is over $1,100. The group receives a $10 commission for each book sold. Books are available at the following locations: Ringgold Telephone Company and Tille Town in Ringgold; and The Animal Medical Center in Ft. Oglethorpe. CCAC is a non-profit volunteer organization formed to improve animal care awareness in Catoosa County. Its mission is to promote the humane treatment of animals through responsible pet ownership by: 1) reducing animal over-population through a spay/neuter program; 2) educate the community about the humane treatment of animals; and 3) help connect animals in need of homes with families. Call 24-hour Help Line (706-937-2287) or visit www.catoosacitizensforanimalcare.org.

Wednesday, Dec. 12

RELIGIOUS · All women are invited to “The Annual Women’s Christmas Dinner” from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12, at Christ United Methodist Church, 8645 East Brainerd Road (across from Publix) in Chattanooga. Cost is $15 per person. Featured speaker is Dr. Jada Daves and pastor and singer Angie McGregor. Tickets available at the church, call 423-892-9363 or visit christplace.org. For more information, call Susan Higgins at 423-304-8783 or stahiggins@catt.com.

COMMUNITY · The Rossville Library will host a Grinch Coloring Contest: Submit a holiday coloring sheet for a chance to win holiday treats. Pick up a coloring sheet at the library starting Saturday, Dec. 1. Fill out the form on the back. Open to ages 1 –18; Categories: Ages 1 – 5, 6 – 12, and 13 – 18. All submissions must be turned in by Dec. 18. One winner will be chosen from each category on Dec. 19.

COMMUNITY · The American Cancer Society Relay For Life® of Catoosa-Walker Counties gives everyone in the community a chance to help the organization save lives and create a world with less cancer and more birthdays. Register your team today by visiting Catoosa-WalkerRelay.org or call 1-800-227-2345. Former and current cancer patients, those who have lost a loved one to cancer, families, businesses, faith-based and civic organizations, and anyone wanting to make a difference in the fight against cancer are invited to take part in this exciting team event. Relay For Life of Catoosa-Walker Counties takes place from 6 p.m. on Friday, May 3, 2013, until midnight, at Lakeview-Fort Ogelthorpe High School off Battlefield Parkway in Fort Oglethorpe.

COMMUNITY · A Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Seminar will be held from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12, at Erlanger East (Gunbarrel Road) in Chattanooga. Area residents who are overweight and /or with health problems related to obesity are invited to learn more about the Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery Center at Erlanger. It is a free seminar and registration is required. Call Erlanger’s HealthLink at (423) 778-LINK (5465) to register. Visit Erlanger’s You Tube Channel at www.youtube.com/erlangerhealth and click The Weight Loss Program under Playlist to watch first-hand accounts from those who have gone through the program.

COMMUNITY · The City of LaFayette’s annual “Amazing Christmas” light show will continue through Jan. 2, 2013, at Joe Stock Memorial park. The synchronized musical light show is held from 6-10 p.m. nightly through most of December. Tune to FM 89.5 to hear the music played in the light show. For more information, call the city parks and recreation department at 706-639-1590.

COMMUNITY · The City of LaFayette will host a traditional and large-scale Lionel model train and village display inside a decorated Chattooga Academy/Gordon Hall. The display coinincides with the “Amazing Christmas” light show daily from 6-10 p.m., through Jan. 2, 2013.

COMMUNITY · Seniors and Friends of Fort Oglethorpe meet from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Wednesdays, at Constitution Hall on Forrest Road in Fort Oglethorpe, for games, crafts, refreshments and blood pressure and blood sugar checks. For information or transportation, call Peggy Stanfield at 706-866-1369.

Thursday, Dec. 13

COMMUNITY · Heirloom Vintage Boutique & Rentals will hold a ribbon cutting from 4-5 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 13, at 121 North Chattanooga Street in LaFayette. For more information, visit walkercochamber.com.

COMMUNITY · The Chickamauga Public Library will hold a “Ready to R.E.A.D.” story time program on Thursdays, Dec. 13, 20 and 27.

COMMUNITY · "Walker Talker" A Toastmasters Affiliated speaking club meets at 6:30 p.m on the second and fourth Thursday of each month at Wood Station Baptist Church, 42 Round Pond Road, in LaFayette.

COMMUNITY · A Bone Density Screen will be offered from 9-11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 13, at Erlanger East (Gunbarrel Road) in Chattanooga.This screening for osteoporosis is a pixi-screening of the ankle to determine if further treatment or examination for bone loss is necessary. Registration is required. Appointments are limited. Call (423) 778-LINK (5465) to register.

COMMUNITY · The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, Region One Planning Board, will hold a public forum from 2-4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13, at the Ball Ground Public Library, 435 Old Canton Road, in Ball Ground. Call 770-735-2025 for more information.

COMMUNITY · Calhoun Composite Squadron #134 of the Civil Air Patrol-U.S. Air Force Auxiliary currently has openings available for a safety officer, communications officer, and emergency services officer, among others. Cadet slots (ages 12-17) are also open. The Calhoun Composite Squadron meets at Calhoun Airport on Saturdays from 8-10 a.m. For more information, contact Capt. Hayden Collins at htcollins@earthlink.net.

COMMUNITY · Starting Jan. 1, 2013, Georgia Farmers will need to apply and obtain a GATE (Georgia Agriculture Exemption Card) from the Georgia Dept. of Agriculture. This is the result of HB 386 which was passed this year by the legislature which allows Georgia farmers to take advantage of additional sales tax exemptions. If you are a farm producer with $ 2,500 in Ag income, you need to prepare to obtain a GATE card. Contact the Walker County Farm Bureau Office at 706-638-3237 if you have questions concerning the Georgia Agricultural Exemption Card.

COMMUNITY · Registration deadline for the North Georgia Community YMCA Christmas Break Camp (Dec. 26-28 and Jan. 2-4, 2013) is Tuesday, Dec. 18. The camp is for children ages 5-12. Cost is $25 per day for members, $30 per day for non-members. The camp will be held at Fort Oglethorpe United Methodist Church gym. To register, call 706-935-2226 or go to ngaymca@ymcachattanooga.org.

COMMUNITY · Registration deadline is Jan. 8, 2013, for North Georgia Community YMCA Homeschool P.E. The course is for ages 5-15. Classes are held daily from Jan. 15-Feb. 21, 2013, at Fort Oglethorpe United Methodist Church gym. Cost is $15 per session for YMCA members and $40 per session for non-members. For more information, call 706-935-2226 or visit ngaymca@ymcachattanooga.org.

COMMUNITY · Registration deadline for the North Georgia Community YMCA Father/Daughter Dance (Friday, Feb. 8, 2013) is Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013. for girls ages 5-11. Cost is $75 per couple, $35 for each additional daughter. The dance will be held at the Colonnade in Ringgold. To register, call 706-935-2226 or go to ngaymca@ymcachattanooga.org.