The Alpha Beta chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha is selling tickets for its 21st annual Taster’s Luncheon to benefit the Walter E. Boehm Birth Defect Center. This year’s event will be held Saturday, Sept. 13, at 10:30 a.m. in St. Stephen’s Catholic Church, 7111 Lee Highway.

Tickets may be purchased in advance for $15. A drawing for $100 in cash will be held among tickets bought in advance. Limited seating will be available at the door.

The fundraiser will begin with a Chinese auction, followed by lunch at 11:30 a.m.

A fashion show follows.

For more information about the ESA, the luncheon or to buy tickets, contact Betty Jolly at 266-5215 or Lorrie Haufe at 954-9720.

History group sets trip to Rome, Ga.

The Chattanooga Area Historical Association is sponsoring a bus trip to Rome, Ga., on Saturday, Oct. 18. The group will visit Myrtle Hill Cemetery and Oak Hill, the home of Martha M. Berry, founder of Berry College. A driving tour of the campus will also be included.

The $30 ticket includes transportation and admission tickets. Lunch is Dutch treat.

The bus will depart at 8 a.m. from the parking area behind Outback Steakhouse at Northgate Mall and return about 6 p.m.

Sept. 15 is the reservation deadline. For reservations, mail a check made payable to CAHA to John Farr, P.O. Box 17028, Chattanooga, TN 37415-8028.

For more information, contact Phil Harper at 875-5258.

Five poets set reading Sept. 6

Five local poets will read their work Saturday, Sept. 6, at 6:30 p.m. at Mocha Joe’s Bistro, 3914 St. Elmo Ave.

Featured poets are Michael Crumb, Bruce Majors, Julie Alexander, Ninian Williams and Ray Zimmerman.

Guests will also be able to view the visual art in Lookout Mountain Gallery, in the suite next door.

Bike demo day scheduled Sunday

Owen Cyclery is hosting a Trek/Gary Fisher bicycle demo day at TVA Raccoon Mountain’s Laurel Point picnic area on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The free event offers mountain bikers the chance to test bikes on Raccoon Mountain’s single track trail system.

For more information, call 875-6811.

Women’s history talk registering

The Chattanooga History Center will present “New Women of the New South,” a lecture by Dr. Paul E. Fuller, at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 9, at the center, 615 Lindsay St.

Dr. Fuller, a native Chattanoogan, is Professor Emeritus at Transylvania University. He has published many articles and papers on the women’s rights movement and individuals who participated in it. He will address gender, race and politics in the struggle for women’s rights in the South.

Although the program is free, registration is required. Call 265-3247.

Competitive swim team enrolling

Chattanooga Parks and Recreation Department and the North River Family YMCA’s aquatics program are combining efforts to bring the city’s competitive swim team, the “Chattanooga Sharks,” to Hixson, North Chattanooga and surrounding areas. Sharks is a USA Swimming competitive team open to interested youth ages 6-14.

The competitive swimming program will start Tuesday and have both team practices and stroke development.

Practices will be held at the South Chattanooga Recreation Complex on Monday and Wednesday at 5 p.m., and at the North River YMCA on Tuesday and Thursday at 4:30 p.m.

Stroke Development, a pre-team program that teaches the four competitive strokes, will be offered at the South Chattanooga pool on Monday and Wednesday at 4:15 p.m., and North River Family Y on Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

“Although we are starting now, the competitive swimming season runs from September through March and kids may join the team at any time,” said Peggy Grall.

Costs to participate include a registration fee for USA Swimming membership, which includes a T-shirt, and nominal team fee.

For more information, call Peggy Grall at 697-1385.

Siskin forming new book club

Siskin Children’s Institute is offering a lunchtime book group that will meet the second Tuesday of every other month. This group will read and review books that touch on disabilities.

The first meeting will be Sept. 8 at 12:30 p.m. at the institute, 1101 Carter St. The featured book will be “The Lottery,” by Patricia Wood.

For more information, call 648-1757.

Mini-internships set in medicine

Applications are being accepted for the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society’s Mini-Internship Program, which will be held Sept. 29-Oct. 1.

The program is designed to open lines of communication on important health care issues for participating physicians and community representatives. Participants will observe operations, emergencies and the relationship between physicians and their patients during office visits.

The program begins with a short orientation and privacy briefing at 6 p.m. on Sept. 29. Four half-day experiences with different physicians take place on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.

To apply for this program, contact Kevin Lusk at the Medical Society, 622-2872, or e-mail Kevin@chattmedsoc.org.

Riverside center holding open house

Riverside Community Reading Center, a new educational resource offering tutoring for grades 1-12, is hosting an open house on Wednesdays, Sept. 3 and Sept. 10, at 6 p.m. in Holy Temple Church of God in Christ, 2311 Bliss Av. The site is two blocks behind the post office on Amnicola Highway.

For more information, call 629-2649 or 838-2303.

Newcomers meet features fashion

The Chattanooga Newcomers Club will hold its monthly luncheon on Wednesday, Sept. 10. A fashion show will be presented by Coldwater Creek.

Chattanooga Newcomers welcomes women new to the city, inviting them to participate in special-interest activities such as monthly coffees, a book club, bridge and Ladies Day Out.

Luncheon reservations are on Sunday, Sept. 7.

For more information call 326-1772 or 499-4245.

Free lawn classes at Holcomb

Holcomb Garden Center is hosting free lawn classes on “how to have a beautiful lawn.”

The first class is 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5, at Holcomb’s in Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., The second will be 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12, at Holcomb’s in Hixson.

The classes are free but registration is needed. Call 8774782.

Free sign language classes offered

Free sign language classes will be offered in a 12-week series that begins Sept. 6 at Metropolitan Tabernacle Church, located off Highway 153 at the Shepherd Road exit.

Classes will meet each Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. through Nov. 22.

The classes are open to anyone interested in learning American sign language. Participants will learn numbers, days of the week, months of the calendar, and basic conversational signs. Bring paper and pen for taking notes.

Children are welcome, but no nursery is provided.

For more information, call 894-3377.

PTA council seeks teacher supplies

The Hamilton County Council of PTAs is in need of donations of school supplies to stock the Teacher Supply Depot.

More than 400 teachers have registered for the opportunity to “shop” for free supplies for their classroom at the depot. The council’s goal in operating the supply depot is to decrease expenses for supplies that teachers frequently buy on their own dime for children in their classroom.

Teacher Supply Depot accepts surplus or discarded items from businesses such as advertising pens, pencils, paper and envelopes. Also needed are crayons, notebook paper and other traditional supplies.

Anyone wishing to support the supply depot should e-mail teachersupplydepot@hcde.org or call 209-8598. All contributions are tax-deductible.

Beginner kayak trip Sept. 6

Join Outdoor Chattanooga’s OutVenture staff for the last beginner kayak adventure this year at Harrison Bay State Park. The trip will be Saturday, Sept. 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Outdoor Chattanooga will provide boats, paddles, life jackets and experienced staff and volunteers. Wear clothes you don’t mind getting wet.

The event is appropriate for adults and kids ages 8 and older who are accompanied by an adult. Boats will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Call 643-6888 for more information.

Bike2Work breakfast Friday

Join Chattanooga’s bicycle commuters for coffee, breakfast and conversation at Bike2Work on Friday from 7 to 8:30 a.m. at the south end of the Walnut Street Bridge.

Want to try bicycle commuting? Meet some folks who are already doing it at Bike2Work.

For more information, e-mail Philip Pugliese at ppugliese@outdoorchattanooga.com or call 643-6887.

Blueway canoe race registering

Registration has opened for Outdoor Chattanooga’s second Tennessee River Blueway Canoe and Kayak Race on Saturday, Sept. 20.

This year’s race will feature courses designed for beginners and experienced racers. Registration is online at www.active.com and www.outdoor chattanooga.com.

Proceeds from the race will fund improvements and maintenance of campsites along the Blueway.