Chattanooga State Community College will host two presentations on Monday by Dr. Rand Carpenter, an epidemiologist and the assistant public health veterinarian at the Tennessee Department of Health.

Dr. Carpenter's first discussion at noon in Room 126 of the Albright Omniplex Building will be "Health and Medicine." "Connections-Environmental, Animal, and Human Health" will be his 7 p.m. presentation in the auditorium of the new Health Science Center. Both talks are free and open to the public.

Dr. Carpenter's visit coincides with Chattanooga State's celebration of Year of Science 2009, monthly programs and activities designed to engage students' interest in expanding their scientific knowledge.

For more information about the presentations, call 697-4733.

Mill open house is Friday-Nov. 29

Knitting Mill Antiques, 205 Manufacturers Road, is holding its annual Holiday Open House from Friday through Sunday, Nov. 29. Hours will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.

There will be complimentary refreshments, store-wide sales and a gift basket giveaway.

For more information, call 267-1922.

Cowboy Jubilee show Sunday

The public is invited to join Classical 90.5 WSMC for the 16th annual Cowboy Jubilee Live Show on Sunday in Ackerman Auditorium on the campus of Southern Adventist University.

The preshow will start at 5:30 p.m., with the live radio show from 6 to 7 p.m., followed by half an hour of live music.

For more information, call 236-2905.

Three groups get VEC grants

Volunteer Energy Cooperative's VECustomers Share program awarded $2,078 in grants to local community service organizations.

Local groups receiving grants were Cub Scout Pack 3077, which received a $910 grant; Hamilton County 4-H, a $668 grant; and the Tennessee Hemophilia and Bleeding Disorders Foundation, which was awarded a $500 grant.

VECustomers Share is a charitable organization covering VEC's 17-county service area. The foundation's funds come from VEC members who allow VEC to round their electric bills up to the next whole dollar. The extra change is pooled with that of other members and distributed by the foundation's board of directors.

Grant applications are available at any Volunteer Energy Cooperative Customer Service center, by calling 334-7051, or online at www.vec.org.

Sorority helps Tyner Academy

The Gamma Theta Sigma chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. recently donated several boxes of school supplies to Tyner Academy.

Tyner Academy was chosen as the sorority's recipient since many of the students who participate in the sorority's youth affiliate, Rhoer Club, attend Tyner Academy after the closing of 21st Century Academy.

Gamma Theta Sigma chapter donates school supplies annually in support of its international project, Operation BigBookBag.

Silverdale Baptist school gets grant

Silverdale Baptist Academy received a $750 grant from the ExxonMobil Educational Alliance program to support the school's business academic program.

Alice Cooper, manager of Exxon On the Run No. 112, worked with school officials to secure the grant, which is one of 2,400 available to schools across the country served by Exxon Stations. The grants were made possible by funding from the ExxonMobil Corp.

Hip Holiday on North Shore

North Shore Merchants Collective is encouraging Black Friday shoppers to contribute to the local economy by offering personal services, free parking in the CARTA Northshore Garage and special deals on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 27-28, during Hip Holiday Open House.

Merchants will hold in-store drawings, complimentary refreshments, live music and other entertainment. Shoppers can check out the holiday windows dressed by area merchants during the annual North Shore window contest.

Guests may register to win a grand-prize gift basket valued at more than $2,000 at any participating merchant.

The Collective is also sponsoring a toy drop and asks shoppers to donate a new toy, which will be distributed to the Northside Neighborhood House.

For more information, check the Web site at www.northshorechattanooga.com.

Line dance party scheduled Dec. 12

The first Boots Scootin' Line Dance Party and Workshop will be held Saturday, Dec. 12, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Allemande Hall, 7400 Standifer Gap Road.

Admission is $8 per person plus a minimum of one nonperishable food item, which will be donated to the Chattanooga Area Food Bank.

For more information, check out the web site at www.bootsandbuckles dance.com/workshop/1209workshop.htm.

Catoosa Chamber seeks nominees

The Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations for its annual awards.

Nominations may be submitted in the categories of: Outstanding Large Business of the Year, 51 or more employees; Outstanding Medium Business of the Year, 21-50 employees; Outstanding Small Business of the Year, 1-20 employees.

The nominated business must be a member of the chamber.

Nominees for Catoosa Citizen of the Year are also being accepted. The nominee does not have to be a Chamber member, but must be a resident of the county.

Nominations must be received at the Chamber office by Dec. 15. Awards will be given at the Catoosa Gala on Feb. 6.

Pick up a nomination form at the Chamber office, 264 Catoosa Circle, or online at www.catoosachamberof commerce.com and click on Community News.

State parks open for Thanksgiving

Fall Creek Falls State Park in Pikeville, Tenn., is one of eight Tennessee state parks that will serve Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday.

Fall Creek Falls restaurant at The Inn will serve a traditional turkey and ham dinner with all the trimmings from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Cost is $14.95, excluding tax, gratuity and drink. For more information, call 423-881-5241.

Other state parks serving Thanksgiving dinner will be Cumberland Mountain, David Crockett, Henry Horton, Montgomery Bell, Natchez Trace, Paris Landing and Pickwick Landing.

Orange Grove gets defibrillators

The McCravey Health Care Services Department of Orange Grove Center is the recipient of funding to purchase several Automated Electronic Defibrillators.

The lifesaving devices will be used by trained staff only to prevent heart failure in the event of medical emergencies.

Funding from the Community Trust Fund of BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Tennessee Valley Authority, and Dr. J. Mack Worthington made the purchase possible.

Pet photos at McKamey

To celebrate the holiday season, McKamey Animal Care and Adoption Center is offering pet photos with Santa Claws today and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Bring in your pet to get a picture taken with Santa by photographer Cameron Adams. The photo fee is $20, which includes a CD of your pictures.

No appointment necessary. Proceeds benefit the homeless animals at the McKamey Center, 4500 N. Access Road.

For more information, call 305-6500.

City's pottery studio holds show

The first Tri-Annual Pottery Studio Exhibition by students of the city's Pottery studio in John A.. Patten Recreation Center will be held today, 5-8 p.m. at the center, 3202 Kelly's Ferry Road.

Two dozen students ranging in skill levels from beginners to advanced will show their work. Work will not be for sale on-site, but may be purchased on a one-to-one basis with the artist. Studio tours will be available and there will be complimentary refreshments.

For more information, call 260-0255.

Historical Society meets Sunday

The Walker County Historical Society will meet Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the LaFayette/Walker Library in LaFayette, Ga. Visitors are welcome.

The program will be the annual business meeting and an update on preservation projects in the county.

For more information, call 706-272-2684.

CCA students read Monday

Creative writing students at Chattanooga Center for Creative Arts will present an evening of readings of their works on Monday at 6:30 p.m. in the school's Sandra Black Theatre. Admission is $5 at the door.

The program will include the debut of the school's arts magazine, along with music and dance selections, special guests and refreshments.

For more information, call Don Andrews at 209-5942.

Ooltewah parade seeking entries

Entries are being accepted for the Ooltewah/Collegedale "Spirit of Christmas" Parade, which will be held Sunday, Dec. 6, at 3 p.m.

Pick up a sign-up form at Midnite Oil Service Station in Ooltewah on Lee Highway. There is a $20 application fee, which benefits the Samaritan Center.

A representative of each group is asked to attend a pre-parade meeting on Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. at the Collegedale City Hall. Parade participants will line up on Jac-Cate Road and Lodge Road at 12:30 p.m. on the day of the parade.

For more information, contact Steve Ray at 643-1111 or e-mail steveray@comcast.net.

Engineers meet Monday

The Chattanooga Engineers Club will meet Monday at noon at the Doubletree Hotel, Inspiration Room, 407 Chestnut St.

Henry Schulson and Sue Kral will speak on "The Creative Discovery Museum: The Power of Play." Mr. Schulson, executive director of the museum, will discuss the museum's mission and Ms. Kral, the museum's school outreach coordinator, will explain how the museum takes its mission into the schools. She will also describe the museum's partnership with the Bioenergy Science Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Jasper vets help dog shelter

The Paws of Love Dog Sanctuary in Jasper, Tenn., is sponsoring a gift drive with collection bins for donations in the offices of Marion County veterinarians.

The dog shelter is in need of stuffed animals, dog treats, can and dry dog food, grooming items and leashes.

Participating veterinarians are Sequatchie Valley Animal Hospital, 6963 Highway 41 East, Jasper; Kirk Veterinary Clinic, 1960 Main St., Kimball, Tenn.; and The Pet Clinic 1121 Willow Ave., South Pittsburg, Tenn.

For more information, call 423-942-1056 or 423-837-0263.

Donations sought for rummage sale

The Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie and Auxiliary 945, will hold their annual rummage sale Dec. 4-5 at East Lake United Methodist Church. Sale hours will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

All proceeds will help provide Christmas for needy families of the Boehm Birth Defects Center.

Donations are being accepted for the sale. Call 706-891-7068 or 423-315-0681.