Friday, Nov. 2

COMMUNITY · The first annual Catoosa County "Hunger Games" will be held Friday, Nov. 2, at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe football stadium. Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School is “competing” with Ringgold High School. Bring canned and non-perishable foods to the gate of the LFO-RHS game and put them in the cart of your choice (LFO or RHS). The school that collects the most food will be awarded the inaugural Hunger Games plaque to remain at their school for the year. All food will be donated locally to assist the people of Catoosa County. The food drive is sponsored by Career Tech and Agriculture Education Student Organizations at LFO and RHS.

COMMUNITY · Walker County Farm Bureau is collecting monetary donations until Friday, Nov. 16, for the Georgia Food Bank Association and its seven food bank affiliates to help Georgians in need. Donations may be dropped off Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. at the WCFB office, 101 South Cherokee Street in LaFayette. For more information, call 706-638-3237.

COMMUNITY · The Catoosa County Republican Party has opened a Romney/Ryan 2012 Headquarters in Ringgold, at 20 Legion Street on the corner next to Richards Restaurant behind the Catoosa County Courthouse. Hours are from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and from 5:30-8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. Yard signs and bumper stickers for the candidates, including Tom Graves for Congress, are available. Visit catoosacountygop.com for more information.

COMMUNITY · The Chattanooga Area Veterans Council will hold a USO dance from 6:30-10 p.m. at the American Legion Blair Post 95, 3329 Ringgold Road in East Ridge. The cost is $12 per person for advance reservations and $15 per person at the door. Proceeds help fund veteran-related activities coordinated by the CAVC. To make reservations, call Mark or Patty at 423-326-0839 or e-mail mparks8192@yahoo.com.

COMMUNITY · Deadline to register for Memorial’s Faith Community Nurse/Parish Nurse Class is Friday, Nov. 2. (A tuition deposit is also required.) This class is geared toward registered nurses interested in providing a health ministry in their churches or synagogues. The class consists of four 8-hour sessions held on Nov. 14, Dec. 12, Jan. 16, 2013 and Feb. 13, 2013. All four sessions must be completed to meet course requirements. Call Connie Blake, FCN Coordinator at (423) 495-6163 or e-mail connie_blake@memorial.org for more information.

ENTERTAINMENT · Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga (ETC) will present John Patrick’s “The Curious Savage,” beginning Friday, Nov. 2 and running through Nov. 18; Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and Sundays at 6:30 p.m. Performances will take place in the St. Andrews Center, 1918 Union Avenue in Chattanooga. Tickets cost $10 and are available at www.ensembletheatreofchattanooga.com or by calling 423-987-5141. Doors open 30 minutes prior to curtain time. Free parking is available behind the St. Andrews Center.

COMMUNITY · The Catoosa Chamber of Commerce Networking at Lunch will begin at 11:50 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 8, at The Colonnade, 264 Catoosa Circle, in Ringgold. Georgia Department of Labor Commissioner Mark Butler will speak. Cost is $30 for non-members, $15 for members. To pay on-line go to catoosachamberofcommerce.com/payonline and RSVP to info@catoosachamberofcommerce.com. Deadline for reservations is 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2.

COMMUNITY · The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Criminal Justice Department offers perspectives on international crime with a presentation by Detective Paul “Roddy” Llewellyn entitled “The New Scotland Yard” at 10 a.m., Friday, Nov. 2, at in Patten Chapel. Admission is free. Llewellyn currently serves as Detective Sergeant as part of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) with Europol, Eurojust, and the Romanian National Police which targets an organized criminal network known to have trafficked over 1,107 Roma children into Europe.

COMMUNITY · The Civic Arts League, Inc. of Chattanooga will hold an art exhibit titled “Heritage” to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the “Battle of Ringgold” now through Friday, Nov. 9, at Ringgold Art & Frame Gallery, 7825 Nashville Street, in Ringgold. For more information call 706-935-2844.

COMMUNITY · The deadline to nominate the Walker County Chamber of Commerce "2012 Small Business of the Year" is at 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16. The winner will be recognized at the Chamber's Annual Dinner on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013. The honor is given to a company that demonstrates best practices in business sustainability and growth, commitment to employees and a track record of community involvement. To be eligible, nominees must be a small business (less than 200 employees) and members of the Chamber in good standing as of Oct. 30, with a minimum of one complete full year in business. Chamber members may nominate a business, including their own. Judging will be conducted by the Chamber's Board of Directors.

COMMUNITY · Registration deadline for North Georgia Community YMCA adult, children and youth athletic programs (includes basketball, indoor soccer, volleyball, swim lessons, water aerobics and karate) is Dec. 8. Most seasons begin January 2013. Cost varies for members and non-members. To register, call 706-935-2226 or go to ngaymca@ymcachattanooga.org.

Saturday, Nov. 3

COMMUNITY · Catoosa Citizens’ and Veterans’ Memorial, Inc. will award Veteran of the Year honors to one veteran from Catoosa and Walker counties on Nov. 3 at Benton Place campus (off Battlefield Parkway in Ringgold). The organization also will recognize Senior Citizen of the Year and Patriotic Citizen of the Year for both counties.The day’s events kick off at 9:30 a.m. with the Catoosa County Wounded Veterans 5K fundraising race, with all proceeds benefiting the Wounded Warrior Projects. Runners receive a shirt and awards in a ceremony beginning at 10:30 a.m., and the veterans program and awards ceremony begins at 11 a.m., followed by a concert and concessions.

COMMUNITY · The Dalton Science Café will meet at 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, for a presentation entitled “Bentonite and Ordovician Volcanoes of the Chattanooga/Dalton Area.” Geologist Jonathan Miles will speak. New meeting place is at the Tunnel Hill Heritage Center Musuem.

COMMUNITY · The Walker County Health Department will offer two series of eight-hour free basic diabetes education classes, taught by Linda Long, RN, Certified Diabetes Educator. The first series will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays, Nov. 6, and 8, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Walker County Health Department in LaFayette. The second series will be held on Saturdays, Nov. 3 and 10, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Chickamauga Public Library. Call 706-638-5577 to register.

COMMUNITY · Cloudland Canyon offers hay rides every Saturday now through Nov. 24. Hot dogs, S'mores, snacks and drinks will be sold. Leashed and licensed pets may also ride. Meet at the Interpretive Center. Rides start on the hour from 2-6 p.m. Park entrance is $5. Hay rides cost $5 for adults, $3 for children ages 4 to 12. The park is off Highway 136 near Trenton.

COMMUNITY · Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park will hold a free, 90-minute historical hike about the Union’s Moccoasin artillery battery at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3. Participants can take Moccasin Bend Road toward Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute and follow signs to the parking area. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy walking shoes. For more information, call 706-866-9241 or 423-821-7786.

COMMUNITY · Ringgold Rotary Club will host the 2012 Fall Back 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk Satruday, Nov. 3. The race will begin at 8:30 a.m. in the Ringgold High School parking lot. Racers may register the morning of the event or sign up on active.com. For more information, call 706-965-1730.

COMMUNITY · A ladies luncheon and conference will be held Saturday, Nov. 3, at Ridgeway Baptist Church. Reba Bowman is the guest speaker. Tickets cost $12. Call Fannie Green at 706-639-7361 for more information.

COMMUNITY · Oakwood Baptist Church will hold the Chickamauga Harvest Festival from 2-5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Chickamauga Campus of Oakwood Baptist Church, 115 Oakwood Street, in Chickamauga. Enjoy food, inflatables, music, arts and crafts, a cruise-in and motorcycle show and other family-friendly activities. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.oakwoodbc.org or call 706-375-5760.

COMMUNITY · The Dalton Civil War 150th Commission will present a symposium on the Confederate Medical Service from 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, in room 105 of the Brown Center at Dalton State College. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call Garrett Teems at 706-876-1620.

COMMUNITY · A poker run and cruise-in for Tony Starkey will be held Satuarday, Nov. 3, at Trion Tack Field, 239 Simmons Street, in Trion. The cruise-in opens at 9 a.m. Kickstands go up at 11:30 a.m. for the poker run. The run will return to Horseshoe N Ranch, 510 Back Valley Road in Summerville. A raffle and 50/50 will be drawn. Call 706-638-7045 for more information.

COMMUNITY · Parkridge East Hospital (in East Ridge, Tenn.) will offer free tours of the BirthPlace from 1-2 p.m. Saturday Nov. 3 and 10, and from 5-6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6. Prenatal services and classes will be discussed. The tour begins in the Rowe Conference Room. To register and for more information, call MedLine at 800-242-5662 or visit ParkridgeEastHospital.com.

COMMUNITY · Parkridge East Hospital (in East Ridge, Tenn.) will offer parents and guardians an Infant/Child CPR Class from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3. Cost is $15. Practice on mannequins is included. The class is not a certification for healthcare or daycare workers. To register and for more information, call MedLine at 800-242-5662 or visit ParkridgeEastHospital.com.

Sunday, Nov. 4

COMMUNITY · A toy run benefiting the Al Millard Memorial Stockings Full of Love will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 4, at Ridgleand and LaFayette High Schools. Bring a new, unwrapped toy or cash donation. For more information, call 423-595-0655 or 706-638-1909.

COMMUNITY · Walker County Schools’ Smith Planetarium will be open to the public at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 4. The planetarium is at 409 Pond Springs Road south of Chickamauga. Admission is free. Autumn Star Gazing and new equipment demonstrations will be the emphasis of the public program. “Season of Lights” will begin showing Tuesday, Nov. 27. The Smith Planetarium is open to the public at 2:30 p.m. the first Sunday of the month and at 7:30 p.m. the last Tuesday of the month. For more information, call 706-375-3493.

ENTERTAINMENT · Comedian Ron White will perform at the Tivoli Theatre on Sunday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m. For more information, call (423) 642-TIXS or visit chattanoogaonstage.com.

COMMUNITY · The Connor Society will present a lecture by author Melissa Fay Greene on Sunday, Nov. 4 at 3 p.m. in the UTC University Center, followed by a reception and book signing. Call (423) 425-4627 or email verbie-prevost@utc.edu for more information.

COMMUNITY · AARP Tax-Aide, a free, volunteer-run tax preparation and assistance service, is seeking volunteers in Walker County to help taxpayers who are seeking assistance preparing and filing their 2012 tax returns. Volunteers do not need to be an AARP member or a retiree to participate. AARP Tax-Aide volunteers should have some computer experience, such as e-mail and internet browsing. Also needed are volunteers who have management experience. AARP Tax-Aide volunteers receive free IRS-certified tax training and are reimbursed on a limited basis for qualified program-related expenses. For more information, visit aarp.org/tavolunteer8 or call 1-888-OUR-AARP. Deadline for application is Dec. 15.