MARK YOUR CALENDAR

SATURDAY, DEC. 18

The Marsh House Museum in LaFayette will offer candlelight tours on the weekend of Dec. 18-19 from 6-8 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.

SUNDAY, DEC. 19

Walker County Schools’ planetarium is presenting its popular “Season of Light” program Sunday, Dec. 19, at 2:30 p.m. at the Smith Planetarium. The program begins with a “live” survey of the sky tonight and then highlights prominent and easy-to-find planets, stars and constellations of the winter season. The program explores the history, fascinations and customs people have had with light during the onset of winter and with the December holiday season. The total time in the planetarium is about an hour. Admission for the general public programs is $5 for adults and $4 for students. Donations are appreciated. Mask wearing is optional. The planetarium is at 409 Pond Springs Road, Chickamauga. For more information about the planetarium, go to https://www.facebook.com/ SmithPlanetarium.

TUESDAY, DEC. 21

Walker County Republicans will host their Christmas party Tuesday, Dec. 21, at 6 p.m., at the Advancing Education Center in Chickamauga. Bring a finger food, dessert and a wrapped or bagged gift at $10 value or below. It’s a white elephant Christmas party, so the gift can be a gag gift, useful gift or a gently used gift from your home that you’d like to exchange. Dress “Christmasish” for photos. Santa and Mrs. Claus will attend. State Sen. Jeff Mullis and state House Rep. Mike Cameron (and maybe more) will speak.

SUNDAY, JAN. 2

The Obedience Club of Chattanooga’s next session of Obedience, Rally Obedience, Agility, Nosework, Canine Good Citizen, Conditioning, Therapy Dog, and Freestyle classes for puppies and dogs will begin on Monday, Jan. 3. Sign up online or come to open house at 1:30 pm to register on Sunday, Jan. 2, and orientation for classes from 2 p.m. to 2:45 pm. Bring your dog’s current shot records, including Bordetella. Please, no dogs at registration/orientation unless you plan to take the Canine Good Citizen Test and/or Trick Dog Test which each cost $15. Immediately after orientation there will be demonstrations of obedience, rally obedience, and beginner agility (weather permitting) on the agility field, as well as the Canine Good Citizen Test and Trick Dog Test. Don’t forget to bring current shot records, including Bordetella, and $15 for each test. To sign up for classes or for more information about classes, visit the club’s website at occclub.org or call 423463-0288.

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 Vann House, at 82 N. Highway 225, Chatsworth, from Dec. 9-24, guests will host holiday tours with the Vann House being adorned with fresh wreaths, hand collected greenery, nativity scenes and many ornaments in between. Winter hours at the Vann House are Thursday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with guided tours hosted on the hour. Last tour of the day always begins at 4 p.m. This event will be held rain or snow. Regular admission: $6.50 — $5.50 plus tax; children ages 5 and under are free. For information, call 706-695-2598 or email vann_ house_park@dnr.ga.gov, or visit Facebook at “Friends of the Vann House,” Instagram at “Vann_House_Park” or online at www.gastateparks. org/chiefvannhouse.

♦ 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.

♦ 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/5080E4BAAAA2DA02lafayette. 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 (LaFayette-Presbyterian-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 Friday-Sunday, 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.

“Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.”

— Joshua J. Marine

“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of those depths.”

— Elisabeth Kubler-Ross