Retired Senior Volunteer Program at Alexian Brothers Senior Neighbors is accepting applicants for the sixth class of Senior Leadership Academy.

Led by Dr. Marvin Ernst, UTC professor and coordinator of the Human Services Program, the program offers participants an opportunity to explore the civic, organizational and philanthropic entities of Chattanooga. It is designed to promote leadership and personal growth through volunteerism.

Class members must be over 50 years of age and retired, semi-retired or preparing for retirement. They must have resided or worked in the Chattanooga area, have a sincere interest or a record of active involvement in community activities.

Senior Leadership Academy begins Oct. 1 and will meet once a month for full-day sessions through May.

Call Colleen Combs at 668-2141 for brochures, applications and tuition information.

Applications must be received by Sept. 23.

McLeod kicks off Berry series

Berry College welcomes independent documentary filmmaker and media studies scholar Kembrew McLeod to the Rome, Ga., campus Thursday for the first public lecture in the Oxbridge Lecture Series.

His presentation, "To Quote or Not to Quote: Resistance and Repression in the Age of Intellectual Property," is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Berry's Science Auditorium. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Mr. McLeod's work at the University of Iowa focuses on popular music and the cultural impact of intellectual property law. He is the author of "Freedom of Expression: Overzealous Copyright Bozos and Other Enemies of Creativity" and creator of several short films on intellectual property law.

Lions' fundraiser at Wal-Mart today

The Brainerd Lions Club is selling soft drinks, hot fish sandwiches, French fries, hot dogs, chili and homemade cookies today from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Brainerd Wal-Mart.

Proceeds will help Lions provide eye exams, glasses, seeing eye dogs and other needs for the sight impaired.

The Brainerd Lions Club meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at Haven's Buffet and Grille, 480 Greenway View Drive, at 6:30 p.m.

For more information, call 718-4780.

Jewelry workshop starts Sept. 20

Thomas Mann will lead a two-day jewelry-making workshop on Sept. 20-21, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The workshop will be held at Two Oaks Studio, 110 Cherokee Blvd., Suite 122.

Participants will learn to make a photo-collage brooch. All skill levels are welcome. Class fee is $275, which includes materials.

For more information or to register, log onto www.tmworkshops.com.

Next Forward class starts Sept. 20

Forward, an eight-week support group for people who have lost a spouse, will begin a new series of classes on Sept. 20 at 10 a.m. at First-Centenary United Methodist Church, 419 McCallie Ave.

Forward classes cover practical matters as well as emotional issues, with the goal of helping the surviving spouse move forward with his/her life. Cindy Ruff and Gene Hunt will lead the free class.

For more information, call 756-2021.

Children's grief camp registering

Hospice of Chattanooga is offering a free, one-day grief camp for children on Saturday, Sept. 27, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The camp is designed to help children between the ages of 5 and 11 address their grief issues and learn ways to move through the grieving process toward healing. Activities at the camp will include drama, art and movement. Parents may participate in a parents' camp, which runs concurrently with the children's camp.

The adult camp provides parents/guardians with skills to help them cope with family loss, understand normal grief versus complicated grief and resources to work with their children.

For more information or to register, call Hospice at 892-4289.

Silverdale Academy hosts college fair

Silverdale Baptist Academy, 7236 Bonny Oaks Drive, will host the Chattanooga Christian College Fair on Monday, Sept. 22, from 6 to 8 p.m. The free college fair is one in the chain of National Christian College Fairs held across the country.

The college fair provides an opportunity for students and families to meet with college representatives, receive admissions materials and learn about the college financial aid process.

For more information, call Mindy Clark, local fair coordinator, at 902-3971.

Children's pageant at county fair

Kendall McGuffee, 6, reigning Little Miss County Fair, will crown one girl and one boy winners in the children's pageant that will be held as part of the Hamilton County Fair on Sunday, Sept. 28, at 5 p.m. in Chester Frost Park.

The contest is open to ages 3-6. The entry fee of $25 includes a T-shirt that contestants will wear onstage with a pair of jeans or shorts.

Contestants will be judged on personality and appearance and may be accompanied onstage by a parent. The winners will receive a $100 gift card and crown.

Register online at www.hamiltontn.gov/fair. Registration will also be held on-site until 3 p.m. the day of the event. The contest is limited to 50 contestants.

Silk-painting workshop Sept. 20

Traci Batchelor will teach a silk-painting workshop at Yarn Works Inc., 3069 S. Broad St., on Saturday, Sept. 20, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The class fee of $150 includes supplies and refreshments.

Participants will learn the Seri method of silk painting using a simple process of drawing lines with resist and coloring in each area with silk dyes. Class members will learn the basics of color theory and design.

Each student will complete at least two silk pieces including scarves, pillows and silk pieces for framing. The class is geared to any level of artistic experience.

To register, contact Yarn Works at mail@yarnworksinc.com or call 785-4215.

Blood Assurance offers music tickets

Blood Assurance and organizers of the Chattahippie Music Festival are offering the first 300 donors at various locations of Blood Assurance free admission (a $30 value) to the musical event on Thursday. Sponsored by Palo Duro Records, the three-day festival will take place 20 miles north of Chattanooga at Camp Columbus.

Tickets are available at the downtown, Gunbarrel Road, North River, Cleveland and Fort Oglethorpe locations of Blood Assurance.

Donors must be at least 17 years old or 16 with parental consent, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. All visitors may also register for a trip for two to Washington, D.C.

Directions to the festival, artist bios and other event information can be found at www.chattahippie.com.

Sept. 29 deadline for Go!Fest art

Local artists with disabilities are invited to apply to become an exhibitor at Go!Fest 2008's ArtExpo. Go!Fest will be held Oct. 11 at Warner Park.

Artists must submit separate applications, unless applying as a team. Up to four images may be submitted for each media category entered by the artist.

Acceptance will be determined by a three-person jury selected by the Go!Fest committee. Notification of acceptance will be made by e-mail.

ArtExpo applications will be taken online at mcd@mail.chattanooga.gov until Sept. 29.

UTC ministry hosts open house

The UTC Presbyterian Campus Ministry is hosting an open house on Sept. 20 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Pres House, 808 Vine St., as part of homecoming ceremonies.

On Friday night, a reunion of students who participated in the campus ministry during the years 1967-1977 will be held.

For more information, call 757-9535 or e-mail Sandy6467@bellsouth.net.

Chicken-Que sale today

Smith Chapel United Methodist Church is hosting its annual Chicken-Que today from 4 to 7 p.m.

Plates with chicken, beans, slaw, bread and tea will sell for $6. Visitors may dine in or carry-out. Proceeds will help support the church's ministries.

To get to Smith Chapel from Ringgold, take Georgia Highway 2 toward Varnell and turn north on Lake Kathy Road. The church is located 1.5 miles north at the corner of Smith Chapel at Stewart Road.

For more information, log onto www.smithchapelumc.net or call (706) 965-2434.

Open house Sunday in Wilson Park

The Lookout Mountain Conservancy is holding an open house Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. at John C. Wilson Park.

Conservancy members will host guided tours of the park and light refreshments will be provided. Enjoy walking trails, views of the Tennessee River and accessible picnic tables. Information about the Lookout Mountain Conservancy and its programs will also be available.

For more information, call 653-0091.

Step Up 4 Kids event Tuesday

The Every Child Matters Education Fund is sponsoring "Step Up 4 Kids" on Tuesday in events across the nation. The purpose is to draw public attention to issues, both positive and negative, affecting America's children.

The Southeast Regional "Step Up 4 Kids" event will be held Tuesday, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Partnership for Families, Children and Adults. Lisa McLeod, executive director of the Children's Defense Fund of Tennessee, will speak on "America's Cradle to Prison Pipeline" initiative. Local initiatives such as Chattanooga Endeavors and Strengthening Families Initiative will also be addressed.

For more information, call 634-6210 or e-mail kathy.daniels@state.tn.us.

Benefit singing in Etowah tonight

A musical benefit will be held at 7 o'clock tonight in Etowah, Tenn., to raise funds for Shane Standridge, who survived a recent car accident. The fundraiser will be held at the Gem Theater in downtown Etowah.

There is no admission, but donations for Mr. Standridge will be taken at intermission.

Special guest performers will be Roger Hardin of Nashville and Robert Anderson of Knoxville, two famous guitarists. Also performing will be Reliance bluegrass band, the Raper family, Dry Valley Boys and Annie Sugarfoot Keller.

Free writers' workshop Tuesday

Janis Hashe will lead a workshop for local writers and artists on how to craft effective press releases and query letters on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. The free workshop will meet at CreateHere, 55 East Main St., Suite 105.

Make reservations by e-mailing rsvp@createhere.org.

Bike tour of Berry College Sept. 20

Oak Hill and the Martha Berry Museum will host its Historic Berry Bike Tour at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20, at the Rome, Ga., campus. This activity is free and open to the public.

Tours of Berry's main campus will begin at Hermann Hall, led by Dr. Jennifer Dickey. Optional tours of the mountain campus will be offered as well.

Reservations are encouraged but not required. Participants must furnish their own bicycles and helmets. Call (706) 368-6775 for more information or to RSVP.

In the event of rain, the tour will be canceled.

Library Task Force hosts public forum

On Thursday at 7 p.m., Chattanoogans are invited to hear a presentation about how libraries throughout the world are transforming and then offer their own ideas for the local library system. The free event will be held at the Sheraton Read House on Broad Street.

Barbershop chorus hosting guest night

The Choo Choo Chorus, Chattanooga's barbershop chorus, will host a guest night on Monday at 7 p.m. in the chorus's rehearsal hall in All Saints Academy, 310 E. Eighth St.

There will be chorus and quartet demonstrations and visitors will be taught a barbershop-style song.

For more information, call 894-4638.

Jones Memorial barbecue Sept. 20

The 33rd annual Men's Club Barbecue of Jones Memorial United Methodist Church will be held Saturday, Sept. 20, at the church, 4131 Ringgold Road, in East Ridge.

Food will be served in the church fellowship hall from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Guests may eat in or purchase food for carry-out.

Chicken, beef or pork plates are $6.50. Pork or beef sandwiches are $4. Barbecue may be bought by the pound package for $8. Additionally, the women of the church will be holding a pie and cake sale.

For more information, call 624-6073.