Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013

COMMUNITY · A Mars Theater District Artisans meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 3, at the Mars Theater on Chattanooga Street in LaFayette.

COMMUNITY · Learn the waltz and the foxtrot! Registration for ballroom dancing classes at FortOGeorgia.com headquarters has begun. To sign up call 706-866-9919 or drop by the store (2738 Lafayette Road, next to Sears Shoes Clearance Store in Fort Oglethorpe). Darla Toker of The Tempo Dance Studio will teach the six-week course on Thursdays: Jan. 24, 31, and Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28, from 6:30 –8 p.m. Cost: Individual: $55 for entire course, or $99 for two people (team up and save). Note: One of the classes falls on Valentine's Day. A special class will be offered that evening -- but if you have other plans, a make-up class will be made available.

COMMUNITY · Creative Discovery Museum will hold “Celebrate Winter” camp for kids during winter break. Parents are invited to register their children for one or all five days, from Jan. 2-8, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. daily. “Celebrate Winter” will incorporate a variety of activities, such as making themed crafts, art projects, creating tasty winter treats, reading winter-themed stories, and of course, spending time in the Museum. Reservations are required for these holiday break days and payment is due upon registration. Program activities are divided into age groups for Kindergarten through 2nd grade and 3rd through 5th grades. Cost for each day is $30 for members and $35 for non-members. Call Nancy at 423-648-6045 or Beth at 423-648-6040 to register.

COMMUNITY · Overdue fines for items such as audiobooks, e-books, CDs, DVDs and event passes have now increased at PINES libraries around the state. Rates will vary by item. The fine for audiobooks on CD is 20 cents per day; while the fine for videos on DVD is 50 cents per day. The overdue fee for books, which increased on July 1 from 10 cents to 20 cents per day, will remain at that level after Jan. 1. Items checked out before Jan. 1, 2013, will be charged a late fee at the current rate even if they are returned on or after Jan. 1. Items checked out or renewed Jan. 1 or later will be charged the revised per day rate. The PINES software program will automatically apply the amount in effect at the time of checkout. Because a renewal is considered a new checkout, fines for renewals placed on Jan. 1 or after will accrue at the new rate. These overdue fine ncreases are the first made since 1999, according to PINES officials.

COMMUNITY · The Obedience Club of Chattanooga, 4 miles south of Chattanooga on Highway 193 in Flintstone, will hold registration for obedience, rally, and agility classes for puppies and dogs on Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013, from 1-3 p.m. Agility I and II Fundamentals will be held indoors. Bring a copy of shot records to registration. During registration, various OCC dog/handler teams will present training demonstrations. Classes begin on Monday night, Jan. 7, 2013. Visit chattanoogaobedienceclub.org or call 423 517-1448 for more information.

COMMUNITY · Georgia Farmers must now apply for 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 · 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.

Friday, Jan. 4, 2013

COMMUNITY · January is National Blood Donor Month and Blood Assurance is asking area residents to add “saving lives” to their New Year’s resolutions. Donors must be at least 17 years old (16 years old with parental consent) and weigh at least 110 pounds. Donors at any Blood Assurance will receive a long-sleeved t-shirt commemorating National Blood Donor Month. For more information, visit bloodassurance.org/blooddrives or call 1-800-962-0628.

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.

Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013

COMMUNITY · A Leukemia Cancer Benefit for Jeff Dean will be held from 6 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Jan. 5, at Elk’s Lodge No. 91, 1067 Graysville Road in Chattanooga. Proceeds will help the Dean family with medical bills and expenses. There will be refreshments, raffle tickets, prizes and live music. For more information, call 423-414-8370.