Bullying prevention topic of seminar for educators

Siskin Children's Institute is sponsoring a free training for K-12 administrators on how to prevent bullying in their schools.

The seminar will be held Thursday, April 29, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Dr. Susan M. Swearer, an associate professor of school psychology in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, will lead the session.

Her topics will include evaluating school climates, how to recognize and assess bullying in their schools, and developmental differences in bullying across school years.

Participants will discuss practical strategies for reducing bullying and write an effective bullying policy for their schools.

To register, log onto www.siskin.org/bullying.

Boy Scout show April 24 in park

In celebration of the Boy Scouts of America's 100th anniversary, the Cherokee Area Council is hosting a Scout Show at Coolidge Park on Saturday, April 24, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Local Scout units will host 50 interactive exhibits, demonstrating skills, activities and adventures within Scouting programs. There will be Pinewood Derby, Cubmobile and Rain-Gutter Regatta races.

An Eagle Scout alumni reception will be held in Walker Pavilion at 3 p.m. The guest speaker is Alvin Townley, author of "Spirit of Adventure" and "Legacy of Honor."

Closing ceremonies will feature the Order of Arrow drum and dance team.

Fingerprinting offered in Dalton

North Georgia Toyota, 1510 E. Walnut Ave. in Dalton, Ga., is sponsoring a DNA LifePrint Child Safety event on Saturday, April 24, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The child safety event will use the new biometric fingerprinting and DNA identification kit used by federal agencies and law enforcement. Biometric technology allows fingerprints to be immediately submitted into the FBI database as soon as a child is reported missing, making prints immediately available to all law enforcement agencies in the U.S.

Parents will also receive a digital photo of their child, child safety journal and a home DNA identification kit. There is no data basing.

The safety event is free and open to the public.

Cleveland bee registering teams

Learning Center for Adults and Families is registering teams for its annual Adult Spelling Bee to be held Thursday, May 6, at the Personal Development Center of Lifecare Centers of America, on Keith Street in Cleveland, Tenn.

Team competition begins at 7 p.m., following refreshments at 6:30. Admission for spectators is $1.

For more information or to enroll a team, call the Learning Center at 478-1117.

Canine classes register Sunday

The Obedience Club of Chattanooga will begin its next six-week session of agility, obedience and rally classes for puppies and dogs on Monday at its training facility four miles south of Chattanooga on Highway 193 in Flintstone, Ga.

Registration will be held on Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. at the training facility. During registration, OCC dog/handler teams will present training demonstrations.

Classes offered will include canine good citizen; beginner, intermediate, advanced, and competitive agility; beginner and rally obedience; AKC S.T.A.R. puppy obedience and advanced puppy obedience; and beginner, advanced beginner, and competition obedience.

For more information, cost of classes, or directions, visit the Web site at chattanoogaobedienceclub.org or call 517-1448.

NAMI meeting set for Tuesday

A representative from the Council of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services will be the guest speaker at NAMI's meeting on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in the Joe Johnson Center, 420 Bell Ave.

Statistics show a high percentage of individuals with mental illness become addicted to drugs and alcohol through self medicating. The CADAS representative will discuss programs available to help these individuals.

The meeting is free and open to the public.

Candidate debate set in Catoosa

Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce will host a debate featuring the eight candidates running in the 9th District Congressional Special Election on April 26 at 6 p.m. at The Colonnade.

The free event is open to the public.

A moderator will ask questions of each candidate and questions will also be taken from the audience if time permits.

Child abuse seminar Monday

"What Witnesses Should Know" will be the topic of a seminar sponsored by the Children's Advocacy Center on Monday from 9 to 11 a.m. in Probasco Auditorium in Erlanger.

The program will include perspectives from medical and legal professionals on testimony in child abuse criminal trials. Lecturers will be Dr. Annamaria Church, medical director at T.C. Thompson Children's Hospital, and Leslie Longshore, assistant district attorney for Hamilton County.

The $15 registration fee includes a light breakfast; student fee is $10. Cost is $15 and includes a light breakfast. Students will receive a discounted cost of $10.

Registration deadline is today. Call 266-6918 or e-mail wceldahan@cachc.org.

Clarinet choir plays Sunday

The Chattanooga Clarinet Choir will present a free concert Sunday at 4 p.m. in the chapel of First Baptist Church, 401 Gateway Ave.

Dr. Stuart Benkert, UTC director of bands, is the conductor of the choir. Bobby Dugan will be the guest conductor.

For more information, check the Web site at http://chattanoogaclarinetchoir.home.att.net.

Covenant College banquet planned

Covenant College invites alumni and friends to a BUILD campaign celebration on April 30 at 6:30 p.m. on the Covenant campus.

Heavy hors d'oeuvres and dessert will be served. Dancing will take place in the Dottie Brock gardens to the music of Sweet Georgia Sound.

There is no cost to attend, but guests are asked to RSVP to 706-419-1439 or jenny.gienapp@covenant.edu.

Knitting guild meets Monday

The Chattanooga knitting guild, Together Knits, will meet Monday at 1 p.m. at Ashland Terrace Christian Church, 915 Ashland Terrace.

Knitters of all skill levels are welcome.

For more information, e-mail Ellen Hartsfield at fatelmo@bellsouth.net.

Linking Hands event at GPS

In celebration of National Donate Life Month, organ, eye and tissue donor families, transplant recipients and community advocates will gather in Girls Preparatory School's courtyard Sunday for Linking Hands for Life. The event begins at 2:30 p.m.

All participants will join hands to form a symbolic chain of life, followed by a balloon release.

One of the speakers will be Carrie Wolf, a GPS graduate who is a freshman at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Miss Wolf received a heart transplant at age 8.

For more information, call 756-5736.

Republican women meet

The Hamilton County Republican Women's Club will meet Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. at The Chop House on Gunbarrel Road.

Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey will be the speaker.

Visitors are welcome.

State garden club convention here

The Tennessee Federation of Garden Clubs is holdings its annual convention at the Chattanooga Choo Choo Monday and Tuesday.

The theme is "Train First for Green and Clean - Get on the Green Track." Speakers include National Flower Show School instructor Trece Chancellor and Pat Mitchell, aka Auntie Litter, who will present her Recycling and Beautification program.

Chairing the convention are Anne Leonard, past president of the Tennessee Federation of Garden Clubs and a member of the Signal Mountain Garden Club, and Pat Best, member of the Four Seasons Garden Club in Dayton, Tenn.

Maryville College hosts transfers

Students who are considering transferring from two- or four-year colleges and universities are invited to learn more about Maryville College at Transfer Day on Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The event begins with a welcome session in Fayerweather Hall. Activities will include lunch with a panel of transfer students and administrators at noon, sitting in on a class, campus tour, financial-aid discussion, concluding with a session on transcripts and the transfer process.

For more information or to register for this event, call 865-981-8127 or e-mail penny.gibbons@maryvillecollege.edu. Registration is also available online at maryvillecollege.edu.