Tuesday, May 8

EDUCATION · Registration begins May 8 for Walker County Schools’ camp for gifted children, “A Whole New World Summer Enrichment Camp 2012,” sponsored by Gateway Bank, LaFayette Woman’s Club, McDonald’s of La-Fayette, tax commissioner Carolyn Walker and Dr. George D. Mason. The camp will take place June 12-14 at the main campus of LaFayette Middle School. Current first through fifth graders who have been accepted into the gifted program are invited to attend. The cost is $35 per child and registration ends May 25. This year’s camp in-cludes a Camp New Dawn Civil War Experience, a visit to the Tellus Science Museum, a performance by the Atlanta Puppets and lots of hands on learning. Early registration is encouraged as space is limited. For more information and for registration forms, contact chastitysteadman@walkerschoolso.org or call 706-638-6440.

COMMUNITY · “Finding Joy in the Journey,” the annual caregivers’ conference of the Alzheimer’s Association, Georgia chapter, will be held Tuesday, May 8, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Calhoun Seventh-Day Adventist Church. The conference brings together national and local experts for a full day of education, information and support. The event is designed to equip caregivers with the skills to understand and address issues throughout the continuum of the disease. The conference includes an exhibit area, where sponsors and exhibitors will interact with participants and volunteers throughout the day. There will be a special area designated specifically to Family Caregiver Well-ness. Keynote speaker will be Louise Carey, author of the book “The Hedge People: How I Kept My Sanity and Sense of Humor as an Alzheimer’s Caregiver.” The conference is free for immediate family of a person with Alz-heimer’s or another dementia, and $15 for all other attendees. To register, call 800-272-3900 and ask for Beth Maul-din, or e-mail beth.mauldin@alz.org. The church is at 1411 Rome Road SW in Calhoun.

EDUCATION · The Walker County Board of Education will hold a planning session at the Walker County Schools Advancing Education Center May 8 at 6 p.m. For more information, call 706-638-1240.

Wednesday, May 9

COMMUNITY · Chattooga Academy is featuring a travelling exhibit on Civil War hospitals and medicine. The ex-hibit features informational banners and items of interest related to the Civil War. A volunteer will be on -hand to assist visitors with the exhibit on Sundays from 1-3 p.m. Chattooga Academy is open between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. most days Monday through Friday. The building is at 304 N. Main Street in LaFayette. Admission is free. The ex-hibit will run through the end of May. For more information, call 706-639-1519.

COMMUNITY · The Walker County Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the grand opening of Hank’s Tires and Service Wednesday, May 9 at noon. Barbecue and hot dogs will be served during the event. Drawings for two coupon books including two free oil changes, a free basic brake job and $70 off a set of (4) tires will also take place.

Thursday, May 10

COMMUNITY · Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park and Outdoor Chattanooga have extended their partnership to include free monthly guided historical bicycle rides to Moccasin Bend National Archeological District. The monthly bike rides for May and June will take place on Thursday, May 10, and Thursday, June 14, and will begin at 6 p.m. The tour will begin at Outdoor Chattanooga, located in Coolidge Park, at the base of the Walnut Street Bridge, 200 River Street in Chattanooga. Ride length is approximately five miles (two hours) on flat to mod-erately hilly terrain. The rides are appropriate for adults and children ages eight and older when accompanied by an adult. All participants are encouraged to wear helmets, but helmets are required for those participants 16 and under. While participants are encouraged to bring their own bicycles, a limited number of loaner bicycles from the Outdoor Chattanooga Mobile Bicycle Fleet will be available for riders five feet tall and over at no charge, thanks to sponsorship from the Friends of the Park and the Chattanooga Bicycle Club. Reservations for bicycles are required by calling Outdoor Chattanooga at 423-643-6888.

COMMUNITY · The LaFayette-Walker County Public Library Teen Advisory Board will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 10.

COMMUNITY · The Friends of the LaFayette-Walker County Public Library will have their monthly meeting at the library Thursday, May 10, at 7 p.m.

COMMUNITY · Boynton United Methodist Church will hold a memorial service for families who have lost chil-dren Thursday, May 10, at 7 p.m. in the church’s sanctuary. Mother’s Day can be especially tough for those who have lost a child to pregnancy issues, to stillborn birth, as children, or as adult children. The memorial service aims to offer comfort and healing to these families. The church is at 4246 Boynton Drive in Ringgold. For more information, visit www.BoyntonUMC.org or call 706-866-2626.

COMMUNITY · Memorial Health Care System will hold a new first-of-its-kind complementary program for family caregivers of cancer patients. The program was created by The Association of Oncology Social Work. The program will is offered at locations across the United States and will focus on improving quality of life and quality of care for oncology caregivers. It will offer tips and information to both cancer patients and their family and friends about

Thriving in the midst of a cancer diagnosis and treatment, how cancer affects the whole family, communication during the cancer journey, and family life after cancer. The one-day program will meet May 10 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Country Place Restaurant, 7320 Shallowford Road in Chattanooga. Lunch will be provided. There is no cost to attend, but seating is limited. For more information or to register, contact 423-495-8988.