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🌱 Patch AM: When and where volunteers can help retire thousands of cemetery wreaths

Make time for The Essentials at Farm to Fork on the Chattanooga Patch calendar

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Friday December 19th Patch AM
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Coffee in hand, Chattanooga? We've got the latest town updates for you. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • When and where volunteers can help retire thousands of cemetery wreaths
  • Where Chattanooga’s roaming library van Poppy is headed next.
  • Why CARTA’s big transit overhaul won’t hit Chattanooga until 2027

Also on today's calendar: The Essentials at Farm to Fork and 5 more events.

Find out what's happening in Chattanoogafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: What did one astronaut stranded on the moon say to another? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Chattanoogafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high of 49 and low of 27 degrees.
  • Saturday: Plenty of sunshine, temps: high: 60, low: 45.
  • Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high of 60 and low of 34 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Wreaths Across Chattanooga Thanks Volunteers For Successful 2025 (chattanoogan.com) — Volunteers are needed again at Chattanooga National Cemetery on Saturday, Jan. 17 at 8:30 a.m. to help remove more than 40,000 wreaths placed for Wreaths Across Chattanooga. Organizers are also already fundraising for the 2026 effort, with Food City keeping wreath costs at $10 and every donation going directly toward honoring local veterans.
   

2. Chattanooga Library Brings Books to the Neighborhood with Mobile Van (wdef.com) — A colorful mobile van from the Chattanooga Public Library is rolling into the Westside neighborhood, letting families sign up for cards and check out kids’ books without visiting a branch. Outreach staff say the pop-up library, Poppy, will keep visiting neighborhoods across Chattanooga in coming months, bringing stories, resources, and a fun after-school hangout right to residents’ doorsteps.
   

3. CARTA delays transit system overhaul as Chattanooga ridership sees seasonal decline (newschannel9.com) — Chattanooga’s transit agency CARTA is delaying major route and system changes until at least 2027, even as some local bus services grow less efficient and see seasonal ridership dips. Leaders plan to start serious discussions in March 2026, including possible bus stop upgrades and new mobility hubs near affordable housing. A new rider advisory committee will give Chattanooga residents more say in how the system evolves.
   

4. Chattanooga man charged with punching woman with learning disability, threatening rape (newschannel9.com) — Police say a woman with learning disabilities ran to officers near Carter Street and West 12th Street in Chattanooga after being beaten and threatened with sexual assault. Officers detained a nearby man, noted blood on his hand, and charged him with aggravated assault and aggravated sexual battery. The woman was treated on scene, and investigators say she could not provide a written statement.
   

5. Williamson Medical Center named ‘Top Hospital' by Forbes Magazine (wsmv.com) — A Chattanooga hospital has earned a spot on Forbes Magazine’s inaugural 2026 “Top Hospitals” list, alongside Williamson Medical Center in Franklin. CommonSpirit Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga is one of only two Tennessee facilities recognized, highlighting strong patient outcomes, best practices, and overall experience that local patients and families rely on.
   

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Please share & repost to help reunite this stray dog!
    FOUND on December 16, 2025 in Rossville, GA 30741 near Mission Tidge Sharing for a neighbor. For the latest information or to contact the finder,… (Nextdoor Piney Woods)
  • What are they going to build now?
    So sad to see the Land Clearing on Standifer Gap across from the Autumn Chase Subdivision. As if the Easter Tornado didn't do enough damage, now man… (Nextdoor Audubon)
  • Bunnell-Lammons Engineering posted a job opening for Group Leader in Chattanooga. Apply here.
  • Merry Maids posted a job opening for House cleaner in Chattanooga. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Chattanooga here.

Ok Chattanooga! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t think you know the gravity of this situation.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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