On Saturday, the second Breakfast Connection will be at Jones Memorial United Methodist Church at 4131 Ringgold Road from 9 to 11 a.m.

The City of East Ridge is currently planning their annual Christmas Parade.

The City of East Ridge is urging all residents and business owners who experienced any uninsured loss because of the recent flash flooding and/or creek flooding that occurred from September 16-22 to contact East Ridge Code Enforcement, 867-7711, and press option 3.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded $35,132 from the Assistance to Firefighters Grants program to The East Ridge Fire Department.

The William E. Blair Post 95 of the American Legion announces their sixth annual barbecue fund raiser on Oct. 9 and 10.

Flood waters have receded, but for more than two dozen dogs from the East Ridge Animal Shelter, saved by workers who waded in water over their knees to get to the trapped animals, the situation remains dire. The dogs are among the hundreds of animals that animal control officers and other workers carried to high ground after flood waters poured into the city. The dogs, now being boarded in veterinary clinics, need permanent new homes to be found as soon as possible. Anyone interested in adopting an animal, please contact East Ridge City Hall, 423-867-7711, or e-mail them at eras@comcast.net or czagona01@comcast.net.

The first Energize East Ridge Golf Classic will be Oct. 1. The event will be at Battlefield Golf Club, with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. Registration and lunch, provided by Little Caesars Pizza, will begin at noon.

Jones Memorial United Methodist Church will hold it’s 34th Annual Men’s Club Barbecue Sept. 19 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The church is located at 4131 Ringgold Road. You can carry out or eat in the church fellowship hall. Chicken, beef or pork plates will be $7. Extra large pork or beef sandwiches will be $4. Bulk barbecue meat by the pound package will be $8 per pound. There will also be a pie and cake sale by the United Methodist Women The funds raised by the barbecue will go to purchase coats for needy children in East Ridge schools and other charitable projects for both the church and the community of East Ridge.

Trish Startup joined the City of East Ridge in June. She has quickly begun working hard to research grants and assist the city manager’s office in pursuing new initiatives. Before joining the East Ridge team, she served as the public information officer for the City of Asheville, N.C. As the PIO, she was responsible for working on the city’s grant team and creating all internal and external communications for Asheville. She possesses a passion for community relations and enhancing the quality of life of citizens.

The "We Believe in East Ridge" T-shirts that were given away at the Energize East Ridge open house are now on sale at the Energize East Ridge office, which is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. So many people asked for the T-shirts after the grand opening that the decision to order 100 more was made. The cost of the T-shirt is $10.

On Aug. 29, the first Breakfast Connection will be held at the South Seminole Baptist Church, located at 1201 South Seminole Drive, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Members of the East Ridge City Council will be in attendance, giving residents the opportunity to ask questions, offer suggestions and meet and mingle with their neighbors. This event is free and open to citizens of East Ridge. Those attending the Breakfast Connection will meet in the church’s parking lot, where fact sheets and information about the city will be distributed and hot coffee and doughnuts will be served. The Breakfast Connection will be held quarterly and the location will rotate throughout the city.

The East Ridge Masonic Lodge #755 will have their 9th Annual Barbecue Charity Fund Raising Dinner on Aug. 22 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Barbecue with all the trimmings, tea or coffee will be available. You can eat in or take out. The cost will be $7 per person. Tickets are available from any masonic brother or can be obtained at the door. The East Ridge Masonic Lodge is located at 4115 Ringgold Road. Please call 698-7612 for further information. Come and enjoy the barbecue and fellowship.

The new East Ridge telephone directory, spearheaded by the East Ridge Merchants Association has been completed. Hardwick Publishing began distribution on July 29. All those who advertised have created an opportunity to help bring the city together. The City of East Ridge also purchased advertising to promote the city. Blueprint Creative Vision, an East Ridge graphic design firm, donated the art design for the community pages in the center of the book and the outside cover art.

Vice Mayor Tom Card recently donated $500 to the East Ridge Masonic Lodge. The Masons are involved in various community projects throughout the year which help the community. Each Christmas, they provide help to underprivileged families and also provide widows of deceased Masons with fruit baskets.

Chattanooga Stand is a community visioning effort with a very straightforward goal to ask 25,000 people what they want for the future of the Chattanooga region through a four-question survey. For the past three weeks, staff and volunteers have averaged more than 1,600 survey responses per week. Stand's strategy is to find people where they are gathered, start conversations and create the time and space for them to respond to the survey. Stand's presence at large-scale public events draws valuable input from residents across the region. Over the coming weeks, Stand will surge toward its initial goal of 25,000 responses. There is a link at www.eastridgetn.org to complete the survey.