The Citizen/Police Interactive Committee will meet at 6 p.m. today at Shepard Recreation Center.

The Brainerd community would like to extend our condolences to the family of Patricia Whatley-Bryan and to her co-workers.

Trunk or Treat at Stanley United Methodist Church, 501 Dodson Ave., Oct. 31, 4 to 6 p.m. For additional information, call 423-624-6729.

The 21st Century Neighborhood Association quarterly meeting will be Oct. 22 at 6:30 p.m. in the Clarence Jones Observatory. For additional information, e-mail Bill Eiselstein, association President at wce@mccallie.org.

According to Vincent Phipps, chairman, it's ACT-SO time. The Chattanooga Hamilton County NAACP is looking for talented high school students to compete in the ACT-SO 2010 competition.

The Brainerd Unity Group will present The Best of Brainerd Schools Oct. 5 at 6 p.m. at the Brainerd Recreation Center on Moore Road. Invited guests include city council members, county commissioners, school board members and representatives from Brainerd schools. A special presentation will be given by the Eastgate Library Committee. For additional information, please contact Candy Corneliussen at 423-504-9640 or e-mail candycorn@bellsouth.net.

If you need information on how to form a neighborhood crime watch group, Sept. 24 at Dalewood Middle School starting at 6 p.m., the North Brainerd Neighborhood Association will host a Neighborhood Crime Watch training meeting.

The library will host a series of brown bag lunches with your legislators Sept. 16 through 30 at various library locations. Citizens will have the opportunity to lunch and learn about public policy issues. On Sept. 18 at 1:30 p.m., council members Carol Berz and Russell Gilbert will host their meeting at the central branch. Don't forget to take your brown bag lunch with you.

This is a very special year for the Brainerd Lion's Club. According to King Lion Arnold Hickman, president of Brainerd Lion's Club, the Brainerd Lion's Club has reached its 50th anniversary. They are planning a special celebration for Sept. 18, 7 p.m., at The Country Place Restaurant, 7320 Shallowford Road. There will be a buffet menu with an $18 charge per person, which includes tax, drink and dessert. Former international director (2007-2009) Williams B. Watkins will be their guest speaker, sharing his thoughts about this milestone. Mark your calendar to attend this special event. There will be a night of memories, music, live entertainment and good times. Please RSVP to Arnold Hickman 423-321-2787 or 238-6331 or Susan Simpson 423-718-4781.

In reference to a Chattanooga Times Free Press interview with Chattanooga Police Chief Freeman Cooper concerning recent shootings involving police officers (Aug. 21) Chief Cooper said, "He is appalled that people aren't outraged about street violence and that they express anger only about the recent officer-involved shootings." He went on to inform us about 60 other shootings that were not police related. Chief Cooper also pointed out that the community shares a lot of responsibility about what is going on in their communities that is not controllable by the police department.

The City Council District 5 Sweet Diversity reception will be held Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Brainerd Recreation Center. Sweet Diversity is a free multicultural community event featuring desserts from the kitchens of District 5, crafts and entertainers. If you would like to bring a dessert that represents your unique cultural heritage, please bring along recipe cards for sharing. This event is sponsored by the City of Chattanooga Office of Multicultural Affairs. Call 423-643-5706 for more information.

According to Carmen Davis, the Chattanooga African American Museum will offer a series of educational and musical activities this weekend. On Aug. 21, an art exhibit, “Unveiling of Collaborations: Two Decades of African American Art,” will be on display through Nov. 13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Aug. 22, an Artists to Artists Talk with legendary jazz artist Roy Ayers will be held at the Electric Power Board auditorium at 3 p.m., allowing local artists an opportunity to talk one-on-one with Mr. Ayers. This one-hour event is free. Also on Aug. 22, from 3:30 p.m. to midnight, the Bessie Smith Heritage Festival concert featuring Mr. Ayers, R&B singer Angela Winbush, soul artist Algebra, jazz saxophonist Joe Johnson, Leela James, Tom Browne and Chattanooga’s very own contemporary jazz artist Frank B. will be held on the front lawn of the museum. The cost is $35 in advance and $40 at the gate. Call 423-266-8658 for additional information.

Divine Inspirational Virtuous Anointed Sisters (DIVAS) presents an afternoon with award-winning playwright and novelist Pearl Cleage on Aug. 15 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Chattanoogan hotel. General admission is $30. For more information, call 423-227-7870.

According to the Hamilton County Board of Education School's calendar, registration day was held Aug. 5, and the first full day of school is Aug. 12.

North Brainerd Neighborhood Association is hosting a drive-through National Night Out on Aug. 4 in front of Dalewood Middle School starting at 6 p.m. Where else can you find out what's going on in your neighborhood, meet your neighbors and join the neighborhood association, register to vote and sign up for recycling without leaving your car? Association members will provide car-hop services, registration forms, cold refreshments and goodie bags as you drive through and/or pull over and park.