Local churches stand ready to provide Thanksgiving meals

Understanding Addiction Training The Unicoi County Ministerial Association, in partnership with Uplift Appalachia, Unicoi County Care & Share and the Unicoi County Prevention Coalition, will hold training on understanding addiction from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 13. Conducted by Uplift Appalachia, this event is open to anyone. Uplift Appalachia's mission is to provide education, training, consulting and connecting to churches and organizations, motivating and equipping them to love and serve those living with addictions, as well as mental health and other life challenges, on their journey to flourishing. Attendees will learn scripturally and scientifically sound information about addiction to get started walking with people. Topics will include discussion of the extent of the problem, the roots of addiction, what drugs do, daily life struggling with addiction, treatment and recovery options, personal safety, liability, boundaries and self-care. Training will be led by some of the experts in the field working at the intersection of health, faith, ACEs and addiction. After presenting these concepts, instructors will provide possible applications of the material with guidance about sustainability and opportunities for further equipping. This event is hosted by Centenary United Methodist Church, 203 N. Elm Ave., Erwin, and is free to attend. Visit http://bit.ly/47v07LE for more details about the training and to confirm your attendance. Unaka Bike Park focus of meeting The Friends of O'Brien Watershed will hold a public meeting about the Unaka Bike Park at 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 14 at Union Street Taproom in Erwin. Interested parties are welcome to learn how to get involved with the park and learn of the park's future plans. The Union Street Taproom is located on 111 Union St., Erwin. Tanasi Holiday Bazaar ]The Tanasi Arts and Heritage Center in Unicoi will present its annual Holiday Bazaar from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15. Participating artists and crafters are preparing for a great day of community and shopping. The event will be held in the Unicoi Visitors Center at 106 Unicoi Village Place, Unicoi. Flag Pond Ruritan Bean Dinner The Flag Pond Ruritan will host will host a bean and cornbread dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15. The club encourages community members to come and "take out" the beans and cornbread along with onions and chowchow. Community members are also encouraged to join the club. New members are always welcome. Watauga Valley Train Show The Historic Jonesborough Visitors Center, 117 Boone St., Jonesborough, will host the Watauga Valley Railroad Train Show. The event will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15. Robert Sorrell speaker for UCHA The Unicoi County Historical Association will meet at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17, at Erwin Town Hall. The speaker will be Robert Sorrell, a former reporter for The Erwin Record. He will be sharing an informative program about his book, "Historic Theaters of the Tennessee Tri-Cities," spotlighting local historical movie theaters. Among those theaters that were located in Erwin are the Barron Theatre, Lyric Theatre and, of course, the beloved Capital Theatre. He will have copies of his book available for sale. This program is open to the public, so early arrival is recommended due to limited seating. Visitors and new members are always welcome. Come enjoy an evening of history, as well as food and fellowship following the meeting. Unicoi Ruritan Fish Fry The Unicoi Ruritan Club will hold its monthly fish fry from 5 to 7 p.m., while supplies last, on Friday, Nov. 21. The event, held the third Friday of each month, is drive-thru only and is held in the parking lot of the Unicoi Methodist Church New Life Center, 115 Mountain St., Unicoi. The cost is $12 per meal. The menu includes fried fish, baked potato, coleslaw, hush puppies, a drink and dessert. Southside FWB Thanksgiving food distribution Southside Freewill Baptist Church will conduct a special Thanksgiving food distribution from 4 to 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 24. You do not have to register. Due to the limited amount of food available there will be a limit of two households per vehicle. Please have trunk or backseat empty prior to arrival. Please enter from the Jackson Love Highway rear entrance and follow directions from the traffic control volunteers. Please take note that the parking lot will not be open until 2:30 p.m. as that is when traffic volunteers arrive. Please don't arrive early. Visit and follow the church's Facebook page for updates and more information. Churches to provide Thanksgiving meals Grace Church, Centenary United Methodist Church, Fishery Community Church, North Ridge and Ninth Street Baptist will be providing Thanksgiving meals to those in need. The distribution will take place on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27. Anyone who needs a hot, delivered thanksgiving meal, can call Ninth Street Baptist at (423) 743-7551 to order the number of meals you need. Orders must be received by noon on Wednesday, Nov. 26. Meals will be delivered hot and ready to eat between the hours of 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. If you know any families who would benefit from this food distribution, please encourage them to call and order their meals. Trinity FWB Church Thanksgiving Meal Trinity Freewill Baptist Church will serve a free Thanksgiving meal for widows, those living alone or those who otherwise will not have a Thanksgiving meal. The meals will be served at the church between 11 a.m. and noon on Thursday, Nov. 27. Carry-out and delivery will be available. For more information and to place an order call the church at (423) 743-9751 or Jean Laws at (423) 743-5594. Trinity Freewill Baptist Church is located at 1221 N. Main Ave., Erwin. Erwin Christmas Parade Downtown Erwin will host the annual Christmas Parade at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29, to help kick off the holiday season. The theme of this year's parade will be "Miracles on Main Street." The Unicoi County Chamber of Commerce will once again include a sensory-friendly zone to make the event more inclusive and accessible to all. This section is designed to provide a comfortable and enjoyable experience for individuals with sensory sensitivities, ensuring that everyone can be a part of the celebration. The section will be along the Main Avenue block from Seventh Street to Eighth Street, which includes the Food Lion shopping plaza parking lot. This specific designated viewing area will have subdued lighting and minimized loud noises to create a more comfortable atmosphere for those with sensory sensitivities. Signage will be posted in this area and parade volunteers will be available to interact and support individuals with sensory sensitivities, fostering a welcoming atmosphere. The parade will begin at the Erwin Village Shopping Center on N. Main Avenue and travel through downtown Erwin, ending at Erwin Utilities on Love Street. For information on float entry, call the Chamber of Commerce at (423) 743-3000. Applications are required for entry. Train and Book Sale The Johnson City Railroad Experience will host a Train and Book Sale. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29, in the museum at 207 N. Boone St., Johnson City. Band Boosters Spaghetti Dinner The Unicoi County High School Band Boosters will present a spaghetti dinner and Christmas market from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6. The Christmas market is free and tickets for the spaghetti dinner are $10 each and are sold prior to the event. The meal includes spaghetti, salad, bread, drink and dessert. The event will be held in the UCHS cafeteria. For more information on tickets call UCHS at (423) 743-1632. Reece Blue Ridge Pottery Exhibit A new exhibit at the Reece Museum on the campus of East Tennessee State University in Johnson City celebrates the vintage charm of Blue Ridge Pottery produced in Erwin. The exhibit, which will remain on view through Dec. 12, is titled "Vintage Charm: The Collecting Legacy of Blue Ridge Pottery." Southern Potteries, the producer of Blue Ridge Pottery, began operations in 1917 in Erwin, and went on to become the largest producer of hand-painted pottery and china in the United States. Southern Potteries ceased operations in 1957, but in the ensuing decades the pottery has become coveted by collectors in the region and beyond. Don and Susan Burkett generously loaned 21 pieces from their private collection to diversify the offerings in Vintage Charm, which features about 80 Blue Ridge Pottery pieces throughout the gallery. "Vintage Charm" is now on view through Dec. 12. The Reece Museum is open and free to the public Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Weaverville Candlelight Stroll The 20th annual Candlelight Stroll will be held from 6 to 9 p.m., Dec. 12, in downtown Weaverville, North Carolina. A tree lighting will be held at 7 p.m. at the Main Street Clock Lot. The event will feature storytelling, festive singing and caroling, gifts, kids crafts and much more. The Community Center and The Dry Ridge Museum will also offer a full night of festivities, as well as a ride back and forth from the Community Center to Main Street. Attendees can easily enjoy all of the fun at both locations. A scavenger hunt will be held with holiday characters hidden throughout Main Street. Santa Claus, as usual, will be hosted by Keller Williams Realty. Donation jars Cops 4 Kids will be dispersed along Main Street.