MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Thursday, Dec. 2
The Walker County Board of Education will hold two meetings in the month of December. The upcoming planning session is being rescheduled from Dec. 7, and will now be held on Thursday, Dec. 2, at 6 p.m. in Atlanta, Ga., at the 2021 Annual GSBA Conference. The December regular session will be held Monday, Dec. 13, at 6 p.m., at the Walker County Department of Education, 201 S. Duke St., LaFayette.
Saturday, Dec. 4
The Villanow Christmas Market will be Saturday, Dec. 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Armuchee Valley Community Center, 11471 E. Highway 136, LaFayette. Vendors will sell onsite custom T-shirts, sewing items, fishing lures, tumblers, baked goods, cutting boards, Christmas decor and more. Concessions will be by JC BBQ.
Tuesday, Dec. 7
Anna Shaw Children’s Institute (ASCI) will hold its next CHAMP (Classes to Help, Advise & Motivate Parents) webinar Tuesday, Dec. 7, at noon. The topic will be “The Power of Play: Gross Motor Skills, Pretend Play and Favorite Toys.” Presenters will include Nancy Carnevale, MD, developmental pediatrician; Ashley Lantz, physical therapist; and Becki McBride, occupational therapist. Visit the event section on Facebook.com/HamiltonCares for live streaming information. For more information, call 706-226-8900.
Thursday, Dec. 9
Friends of the LaFayette-Walker 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 Due to the holidays, the Walker Historic Preservation Commission will not meet in December. The next scheduled monthly meeting will be Monday, Jan. 17, at 6 p.m. at the Wardlaw Building (former Long John Silvers Building) in LaFayette.
HOLIDAY The Marsh House Museum will offer candlelight tours on the weekends of Dec. 11-12 and 18-19 from 6-8:00 p.m. by reservation only. The house will be decorated in the style of the 1880s, and Christmas customs of the time will be discussed during the regular historical tour, ended with serving of traditional hot cider and ginger cookies. Call 706-638-5187 or send a message by Marsh House Facebook Messenger at least two days in advance to reserve a space. Masks are requested, and tours will be limited to six persons per tour. A donation of $5 per person is requested. Cash preferred.
HOLIDAY The Gordon-Lee Mansion in Chickamauga annual candle light tours will be Dec. 3, 4, 10 and 11 from 6-8 p.m. each evening. The mansion will be decorated in fresh cut natural greenery, flowers and berries with period accents and all lit by candle light thorough out the mansion. Period live music and hot cider with cookies will be provided for visitors to enjoy during their tour. The cost is $5 for adults and $1 for children 12 and under, with all proceeds going to benefit the Friends 501c3 charity for mansion enhancement. Call 423-488-0861 for more information.
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 706-861-2860 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.
CHURCH LaFayette Presbyterian Church will continue broadcasting services at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Facebook Live. Members and visitors are invited to attend the service at 11 a.m. by making a reservation at https://www.signupgenius.com/ go/5080E4BAAAA2DA02-lafayette. There is plenty of space for additional families. Masks are required, and proper social distancing is maintained throughout the service. A recording of the service is posted on YouTube and on the church Facebook page (LaFayettePresbyterian-Church) for later viewing. The church is not closed, just meeting in a different way. Prayer requests can be sent via the website, https://www.lafpres.org/, or by calling 706-638-3932. Pastor Clay Gunter and the elders are available as needed. Full reopening will be announced at a later date.
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 FridaySunday, from 1-5 p.m. For more information, call 706-935-5232.
MEETINGS Georgia Transparency Coalition meets the third Thursday of each month. Location and guest speakers announced on our Facebook page each month. GTC is a non-partisan watchdog group committed to fostering transparency, accountability, accessibility, integrity and the highest ethical standards in government, politics and law. Open to interested residents in Catoosa, Dade and Walker counties. For information email GeorgiaTransparencyCoalition@gmail.com or call Dean Kelley at 706-866-4656.
LOSE WEIGHT TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets on Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. at Harbor Lights Baptist Church, 600 Crane St., LaFayette. Have fun while losing those extra pounds. Call 423-432-0520 for details.
MEETINGS Chickamauga American Legion Post 217 meets the first Saturday each month at 8 a.m. at West 14th Street in Chickamauga.
MEETINGS Southern Lit Book Club meets at Caffeine Addicts, 7819 Nashville Street in Ringgold, the last Tuesday each month at 6 p.m. For more information, call Donna Greeson at 706-935-2810.
CHURCH Join Foster Mill Drive Baptist Church in LaFayette for worship. Sunday school is at 10 a.m., with classes for all ages. Morning worship service is at 11 a.m. Sunday night worship is at 6 p.m. Wednesday night worship is at 7 p.m. For more information, call 423-667-4521.
MEETINGS The American Legion, LaFayette Post 339 meets on the third Monday of each month. The meeting is held at 6 p.m. in the Wardlaw-Bible meeting room at the LaFayette-Walker County Public Library. This meeting is open to active and prospective members of The American Legion and their guests.
CHURCH Lee’s Chapel Community Church located at 3253 Catoosa Parkway, Tunnel Hill, holds Sunday services at 2 p.m.
MEETINGS The Seniors and Friends of Fort Oglethorpe group meets each Wednesday from 10 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at Constitution Hall on Forrest Road. This allvolunteer group offers games, crafts, blood pressure/blood sugar check, bingo and refreshments. For information or transportation, call Karon Parker at 423-595-7109 or Taire Pulver at 423-227-7720.
MEETING The 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 FridaySunday, from 1-5 p.m. For more information, call 706-935-5232.
CHURCH True Life Church at The Renaissance Center, 630 North Ave., Rossville, invites you to services on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and Wednesday Food & Fellowship at 6:30 p.m. followed by adult bible study at 7 p.m. Visit us at www.thetruelife.org or call 423-260-2774.
CLUB Guests are welcome when the Ringgold Kiwanis Club meets every Tuesday morning, from 7-8 a.m. for breakfast and fellowship at the First Baptist Church of Ringgold, located at 7611 Nashville St. Call Wayne Pennington, 423-838-3535, for more information.
COMMUNITY Narconon would like to remind families that the use of addicting drugs is on the rise. If you know anyone who is struggling with drug addiction, Narconon is available to help. Call for a free brochure on the signs of addiction for all drugs. Narconon also offers free screenings and referrals. Call 800-431-1754 or visit DrugAbuseSolution.com.
CHURCH The Men’s Ministry of Keith Baptist Church invites you to join them on the second Saturday of each month at 9 a.m. for a free breakfast, fellowship and Bible study. The church is located at 1573 Keith Road in Ringgold. For more information, please call Dustin Salter at 423-827-2930.
COMMUNITY The Northwest Georgia Chapter of the American Red Cross seeks volunteers to do disaster work, office administration and community outreach at health fairs and other events in Chattooga, Dade, Catoosa, Gordon, Murray, Walker, Whitfield counties. Training will be provided. For more information, call 706-728-3408 or visit redcross.org/nwga.