MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Thursday, Nov. 11

The public is invited on Veterans Day, Thursday, Nov. 11, to hear bugler Steve Price present a TAPS ceremony in front of the Ringgold City Hall at 6 p.m.

Point Park, atop Lookout Mountain and part of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, is waiving the entrance fee on Thursday, Nov. 11, to celebrate Veterans Day. In 1890, 18 years after Yellowstone National Park was established as the first in the world, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park was created. It took U.S. and Confederate veterans, all of whom fought in these battles, coming together to spearhead a movement to create the United States’ first national military park to preserve and commemorate these battlefields for those who fought and for those who lives were lost. Visit Point Park on this fee free day to indulge in the views and scenery of the Chattanooga Valley from 2,100 feet above, hike the natural and wildlife-abounding Lookout Mountain Battlefield 30-miles of trails, while learning the historical significance of this area during America’s Civil War in what became known as “The Battle Above the Clouds.” During the day, park rangers will provide programs at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and will also be available at the Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. to answer questions and provide information about the park and the Battles for Chattanooga. For more information about programs at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, contact the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center at 706-8669241, the Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center at 423-821-7786, or visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/chch.

Saturday, Nov. 13

On Saturday, Nov. 13, at 2 p.m., Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park invites kids (and inquisitive adults) to a special 30-minute Junior Ranger program to design your own American Indian rattles. This program will take place inside Point Park, atop Lookout Mountain. Please meet the park ranger just inside the park entrance gate. There is a $10 per person entry fee for all adults, ages 16 and older; children, ages 15 and younger enter for free. During this program, potential Junior Rangers will construct a rattle reminiscent to those used by the Cherokee and other American Indian populations. All needed craft items will be provided by the park. For visitors who are unable to make the physical program, it will also be available on the park’s Facebook Page, Youtube Channel, and the multimedia section of the park website. For more information about programs at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, contact the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center at 706-866-9241, the Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center at 423-821-7786, or visit the park website at www.nps. gov/chch.

Downtown Chickamauga will host a family-friendly outdoor chili cookoff and street fair. Produced by the Gordon Lee Band Boosters and benefiting the Gordon Lee Marching Trojan Band, Chilimauga will include food, musical entertainment, a craft fair and chili cookoff. Chilimauga will be held Saturday,

Nov. 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. General admission tickets cost $10 and covers chili tasting and voting. Advance admission may be purchased in advance online or at the event. Those who would like to enter their best red chili into the cookoff are encouraged to compete. All skill levels are welcome. The entry fee is $25. Prizes will be awarded for winners of People’s Choice, Hottest Chili and Best Presentation Booth. Craft vendors and creative vendors are being accepted; however, food vendors and mass-produced commercial products are prohibited. Camden Smith, Zoe Ha, Bryanna Fuquea and Dallas Walker are scheduled to perform. Sponsorships are available for $100 each; logo and contact information of sponsors will be added to the website, event banners and voting ballot. For more information, go to chilimauga.com or fb.me/e/wndsrqfp.

Camp New Dawn will hold a turkey shoot, silent auction, kid’s activities, and chili lunch on Saturday, Nov. 13, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 245 S. Cedar Lane in Chickamauga. No entry fee. Pay as you go for activities. Everyone welcome. Contact Alan at 706-539-2235 for more details.

On Saturday, Nov. 13, at 2 p.m., Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park invites kids (and inquisitive adults) to a special 30-minute Junior Ranger program where they will design their own American Indian rattles. This program will take place inside Point Park, atop Lookout Mountain. Meet the park ranger just inside the park entrance gate. There is a $10 per person entry fee for all adults, ages 16 and older, children, ages 15 and younger enter for free. For the Cherokee, music was instrumental in religious and ceremonial practices. Drums, bells, pipes and rattles were some of the physical instruments used during these ceremonies. During this program, potential Junior Rangers will construct a rattle reminiscent to those used by the Cherokee and other American Indian populations. All needed craft items will be provided by the park. For visitors who are unable to make the physical program, it will also be available on the park’s Facebook Page, Youtube Channel and the multimedia section of the park website. For more information about programs at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, contact the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center at 706-866-9241, the Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center at 423-821-7786, or visit the park website at www. nps.gov/chch.

Wednesday, Nov. 17

The Workforce Development Board of Northwest Georgia and Council of Chief Elected Officials of Northwest Georgia announce a joint meeting Wednesday, Nov. 17, at noon at the Gordon County Campus of Georgia Northwestern Technical College in Calhoun.

Thursday, Nov. 18

The Catoosa County Board of Education will hold a called board meeting on Thursday, Nov. 18, at 2 p.m. to discuss personnel.

Join in “A Night of Gospel Music” on Thursday, Nov. 18, at

7:30 p.m. at The Colonnade featuring Chris McDaniel, Jason Crabb and The Hullenders. Tickets are available online at catoosacolonnade.com, by calling 706-935-9000, or at the box office anytime before or the night of the concert. The box office will open at 6:30 p.m. the night of the show. Prices are $20 per person in advance, $25 per person at the door and $12 per person for ages 12 and under. The Colonnade Center is on the Benton Place Campus at 264 Catoosa Circle in Ringgold. For more information, email office@ colonnadecenter.org or call 706-935-9000.

Saturday Nov. 20

On Saturday, Nov. 20, through Sunday, Nov. 21, and on Tuesday, Nov. 23 through Thursday, Nov.

25, visitors are invited to join Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park staff to commemorate the 158th Anniversary of the Battles for Chattanooga through a series of tours and hikes. There will also be a 158th anniversary Junior Ranger activity booklet that can be picked up inside the Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center. Participants will receive a special Junior Ranger patch by bringing the completed booklet back to the visitor center. A complete program schedule, including times and descriptions, is available at www.nps.gov/chch/ 158thbattlesforchattanooga.htm.

Thursday, Nov. 25

The Communitywide Thanksgiving Meal, hosted by community churches, is a free lunch that will be served on Thanksgiving Day,

Nov. 25, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Second Baptist Church at 500 W. Main St., Lafayette. Due to COVID-19, meals will be carryout. Sign up at lafayettethanksgiving.com before Nov. 17. For more information, call the church office at 706-638-2732.

Saturday, Nov. 27

Boynton United Methodist Church invites the public to Christmas at the Farm, a free family-oriented community event. It will be held at Willow Tree Farm, 607 Post Oak Road in Ringgold, on Saturday, Nov.

27, from 5:30 p.m. to

7:30 p.m. The event will include visits with Santa, storytelling, local musicians, hot dogs and beverages, and kids’ activities. For more information, call 706-866-2636.

Monday, Nov. 29

Beginning Monday,

Nov. 29, the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office will begin accepting the names of children, age 12 months to 14 years, who would benefit from the Stocking Full of Love program, which provides county children in need with toys at Christmas. Anyone needing assistance with Christmas should call either 706-965-7138 or 706965-7139 for an appointment. Names of children will be accepted Nov. 29 through Dec. 10, Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. After Dec. 10, donated toys will be sorted and additional toys will be purchased with money raised through donations. Anyone wishing to donate new toys can bring them to the

Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office at 5842 U.S. Highway 41 in Ringgold, or call 706-935-2424 to arrange for the Sheriff’s Office to have the toys picked up at their home or business. Donations can be made by check payable to Catoosa County Stocking Full of Love, in care of the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office, P.O. Box 909, Ringgold, GA 30736-0909.

Thursday, Dec. 9

Friends of the LafayetteWalker County Library will host a holiday centerpiece workshop Thursday, Dec. 9, at 11 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Participants will make their own holiday centerpieces. Pre-registration is required; the cost is $35 per person. Register by calling the library at 706-638-2992 or message the Lafayette library on Facebook.

GENERAL

♦ MEETINGS The Rossville Downtown Development Authority general meets the first Tuesday each month at 8 a.m. at the Rossville Public Library.

♦ MEETINGS The Catoosa County Democratic Party generally meets the third Thursday each month at 6:30 p.m. For more information, go to www.catoosadems.org or contact Greg Bentley at Gbentley61@gmail.com.

♦ CHURCH Open Bible Full Gospel Church, 2803 Ga. Highway 151 in Lafayette, invites the public to worship on Sundays: Sunday school at 10 a.m., morning service at 11 a.m., and night service at 5 p.m.

♦ COOKBOOK North Georgia Animal Alliance has put together a cookbook, “Recipes to the Rescue,” to sell as a fundraiser for the animal rescue group. In addition to 200 recipes, including four for dog and cat treats and a few for homemade cleaning agents, NGAA’S cookbook, which sells for $12, features 20 pages of cooking tips and hints and information about the organization and its work. To learn more about “Recipes to the Rescue” and North Georgia Animal Alliance, visit https://www. northgeorgiaanimalalliance.org/home.html.

You can also email ngaa. animals@gmail.com or call 796-937-2287. NGAA is on Facebook at https:// www.facebook.com/ Northgeorgiaanimalalliance.

♦ CLUB The Kiwanis Club of Fort Oglethorpe was chartered in 1954 and is Catoosa County’s oldest service club. The club meets each Friday at noon at Park Place Restaurant. To learn more about Kiwanis contact Club President Chris Mckeever at 706-8612860 or visit its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/ftoglethorpekiwanis.

♦ MEETINGS Chickamauga & Chattanooga Civil War Roundtable meets monthly to discuss the complex history of the Civil War and Reconstruction period. Meetings are the first Thursday each month at 7 p.m. Zoom meetings for now. Reputable historians/authors for each meeting. Email address: cccwrtable@gmail. com. Facebook group: Chickamauga & Chattanooga Civil War Roundtable Group.

♦ MEETINGS Catoosa County Historical Society meets every second Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Old Stone Church, Highway 41, in Ringgold. The Old Stone Church is also open for tours Friday-sunday, from 1-5 p.m. For more information, call 706-9355232.