☕ Front Porch Morning: Frosty Start, Sunny 70, Chair Dancing at 1 and How to Hang Up on Medicare Scam Calls

Or: Scrape the Windshield, Skip the Sales Calls, and Mark Down the Cold Snap Coming Thursday and Friday

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Monday, November 9, 2026

Good morning, neighbor. Today, Monday, Nov. 9, starts frosty and ends sunny. The National Weather Service says sunny, high near 70°F in Dunlap.

Yesterday’s news was mostly about staying safe from Medicare sales calls while open enrollment is on, and a cold snap headed our way later this week. Nothing here needs worry. Just a few things to jot down.

⏱️ Your 30-second morning recap

• Yesterday: Medicare open enrollment ends Monday, Dec. 7. Anyone who calls out of the blue to sell you a plan? Hang up, then call 1-800-MEDICARE yourself.
• Today: Frost this morning, then sunny, high near 70°F. Chair Dancing at 1 p.m. at the Sequatchie County Public Library.
• Coming: Colder air arrives Thursday. Friday only reaches about 46°F, and Friday night drops to about 30°F.

📝 Jot This Down: today’s 3 things to remember

1. Medicare open enrollment ends Monday, Dec. 7. Free, honest help: TN SHIP, 1-877-801-0044. Medicare itself: 1-800-633-4227.
2. Social Security pays tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 10, for birthdays on the 1st through 10th (a day early for Veterans Day).
3. Chair Dancing today, 1 p.m. (Central), Sequatchie County Public Library. Check in at the front desk.

Tomorrow’s heads-up: Tuesday, Nov. 10 is mostly sunny, high near 70°F, low near 40°F. Social Security pays for birthdays on the 1st–10th. The Sequatchie County Health Department free talk is 6:30 p.m. Central at the Cagle Mountain Community Center, 8208 State Route 8 (from last week’s notice; call ahead to confirm).

📰 In Case You Missed It Yesterday (Sunday, Nov. 8)

📞 Medicare Open Enrollment: How to Protect Yourself From Sales and Scam Calls

With Medicare open enrollment running through Monday, Dec. 7, a Nov. 8 report from Healthcare News Center and the FCC both say scam calls go up this time of year. Callers pretend to be Medicare or an insurance company. They may offer “free” gifts, lower premiums or a “new card.”

Here’s how to protect yourself:

• Medicare will not call you to sell you anything.
• Never give your Medicare number, Social Security number or bank numbers to someone who called you.
• Don’t join a plan over the phone unless you made the call.
• Caller ID can be faked, so hang up and call the number on your card or on medicare.gov.

What it means for you: You’re in charge of the phone. A polite voice doesn’t make a call real. Hang up, then call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). For free help comparing plans, call TN SHIP at 1-877-801-0044. To report a scam, call the Senior Medicare Patrol at 877-808-2468.

👉 Read more (Healthcare News Center: 8 Ways to Avoid Medicare Open Enrollment Scams) · FCC scam alert

💊 Your Drug Plan May Change in 2027: Check Your Mail

The Associated Press (as reported by Quartz) says Medicare Part D’s yearly out-of-pocket limit goes up to $2,400 in 2027, from $2,100. The standard deductible goes to $700, from $615. Some plans are also shutting down, so watch for your plan’s “notice of change” letter.

What it means for you: If you take pills every day, open that letter now, not in December. Write down your medicines and check that your plan still covers them. Changes start Jan. 1. The last day to switch is Monday, Dec. 7. Cost of the free help from TN SHIP: nothing.

👉 Read more (Quartz: Medicare open enrollment runs through Dec. 7) · Medicare.gov

❄️ A Cold Snap Is Coming Thursday and Friday

Yesterday, Dunlap.Today shared an early snow outlook for Nov. 13–14. The valley floor should stay dry. Snow is possible only on the high peaks. Chattanooga’s Local 3 News says a few flurries are possible on the Cumberland Plateau, and that this may be our first widespread freeze of the season.

The National Weather Service for Dunlap says: Thursday, mostly cloudy, high near 57°F, gusts up to 25 mph. Friday, partly sunny, high near 46°F. Friday night, low near 30°F. Forecasts can still change.

What it means for you: No need to worry. Just get ready. Cover or bring in tender plants Thursday. Check that the heater works. Have warm blankets and a flashlight handy. Pets need a warm spot too. Keep checking this page each morning for updates.

👉 Read more (Dunlap.Today: Early Snow Outlook for Nov. 13-14) · Local 3 News

🎵 Thanksgiving Music and Lunch in Spencer: Sunday, Nov. 22

Yesterday, Dunlap.Today shared that Bellview Church, 173 Bellview Circle, Spencer, will hold a Thanksgiving service on Sunday, Nov. 22, at 10:30 a.m. (Central). The Hall Sisters, a singing group from Soperton, Georgia, will perform. Folks are invited to dress old-fashioned. Lunch follows in the fellowship hall. Everyone is welcome.

What it means for you: A friendly way to start Thanksgiving week. Cost wasn’t listed, so call ahead to confirm: Bro Bruce Nunley, 423-619-3854.

👉 Read more (Dunlap.Today: The Hall Sisters Bring Thanksgiving Music to Spencer)

📅 Today in the Valley (Monday, Nov. 9)

🌤️ Frost This Morning, Then Sunny and 70

The National Weather Service for Dunlap says sunny, high near 70°F, calm wind becoming north around 5 mph. Tonight: mostly clear, low near 39°F. In the Chattanooga area, a Frost Advisory runs until 9 a.m. Eastern (8 a.m. Central), with highs near 68°F. Local 3 News also mentions patchy fog this morning.

What it means for you: Slow down on the road this morning, and give your windshield a few minutes. Frost can make steps and porches slick, so watch your footing. By afternoon it’s warm enough for a walk. Wear layers.

👉 Read more (National Weather Service: Dunlap forecast)

🪑 Chair Dancing at the Library: 12:15 and 1 p.m.

The Sequatchie County Public Library in Dunlap lists Extra Chair Dancing at 12:15 p.m. and Chair Dancing at 1 p.m. today. It’s a gentle, seated exercise class for adults of all fitness levels, about 45 minutes. It also meets Wednesdays and Fridays at 1 p.m. (the library is closed Wednesday for Veterans Day).

What it means for you: You stay in your chair and move at your own pace. Great for balance and mood. Cost wasn’t clear on the schedule we saw, and no phone number was confirmed, so call ahead to confirm, or just stop by the front desk.

👉 Read more (Sequatchie County Public Library)

🍽️ Senior Center: Ask About Lunch and Rides

The Sequatchie County Senior Citizens Center, 103 Heard St., Dunlap, offers meals, rides and activities. Phone: (423) 949-2228. In Pikeville, the Bledsoe County Senior Citizens Center is (423) 447-6111. Need a ride? SETHRA Transit: (423) 478-1396.

What it means for you: We found no posted menu or hours for today, so call ahead to confirm before you go.

👉 Read more (Sequatchie County Government: Senior Citizens Center)

🏛️ Library Board Meeting Tonight, 5 p.m.

The Sequatchie County Public Library Board meets tonight, Monday, Nov. 9, at 5 p.m. It’s open to the public, with time at the start for public comments. The board meets every other month on the second Monday.

What it means for you: If you have a question or a kind word about the library, tonight is your chance. The library is closed Wednesday for Veterans Day and Thursday as usual.

👉 Read more (Sequatchie County Public Library)

🗓️ Put These on the Fridge: The Days Ahead

• Tuesday, Nov. 10: Social Security pays for birthdays on the 1st–10th. Health Department free talk, 6:30 p.m. Central, Cagle Mountain Community Center, 8208 State Route 8.
• Wednesday, Nov. 11 (Veterans Day): Dunlap parade 10 a.m. from the courthouse; program 11 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park. Banks, post offices and the library close. The Food Bank is closed too. Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga offers free adult admission to veterans and active military with a military ID or DD-214 (call ahead to confirm). Showers likely Wednesday night.
• Thursday, Nov. 12, 5–6 p.m. Central: “Food for All” class for older adults at the Sequatchie County UT Extension Office, Church St., Dunlap. Limited to 10 people. Call 423-949-2611 to register.
• Friday, Nov. 13: Cold, high near 46°F.
• Monday, Dec. 7: Medicare open enrollment ends.

What it means for you: Write these on the kitchen calendar today, so you don’t have to remember them.

👉 Veterans Day Parade (Dunlap.Today) · Food Security Class (Dunlap.Today) · Tennessee Aquarium

✅ Your Calm Monday Checklist

• ✅ Frost this morning. Take your time on steps and in the car.
• ✅ Chair Dancing at 12:15 or 1 p.m., Sequatchie County Public Library.
• ✅ Medicare call from a stranger? Hang up. Call 1-800-633-4227.
• ✅ Check your mail for your drug plan’s “notice of change” letter.
• ✅ Tomorrow: Social Security pays for birthdays on the 1st–10th.
• ✅ Wednesday is Veterans Day. Banks and post offices are closed. Do errands Tuesday.

Practical rule: You don’t have to remember it all. Just keep this page handy, and check back tomorrow morning.

— Dunlap.Today

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

When does Medicare open enrollment end?

Monday, Dec. 7, 2026. Changes start Jan. 1, 2027. For free help, call TN SHIP at 1-877-801-0044.

Will Medicare call me to sell me a plan?

No. Medicare says it will not call you to sell you anything. Hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) yourself.

When does my Social Security come this week?

If your birthday falls on the 1st through 10th, it comes Tuesday, Nov. 10, a day early because of Veterans Day. Birthdays on the 11th through 20th are paid Wednesday, Nov. 18.

Is today’s Chair Dancing on Central or Eastern time?

It’s in Dunlap, so it’s Central time: 12:15 and 1 p.m. Chattanooga and Rhea County (Dayton) clocks run one hour ahead, on Eastern time.

Will it snow in the valley this week?

Not on the valley floor, according to the early outlook. Flurries are possible on the Cumberland Plateau and snow on the high peaks. It will turn cold Thursday and Friday. Forecasts can change, so check back.

🔗 Helpful Numbers & Resources

• Medicare: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) · TN SHIP free Medicare counseling: 1-877-801-0044
• Medicare Plan Finder: medicare.gov/plan-compare
• Senior Medicare Patrol: 877-808-2468
• Social Security: 1-800-772-1213 · Report a scam: ssa.gov/scam or 1-800-269-0271
• Sequatchie Senior Center, 103 Heard St., Dunlap: (423) 949-2228
• Sequatchie County Fellowship of Churches and Food Bank, 103 Heard St., Dunlap: (423) 949-7716
• Bledsoe County Senior Citizens Center, Pikeville: (423) 447-6111
• SETHRA Transit rides: (423) 478-1396
• UT Extension, Sequatchie County: 423-949-2611
• Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative (billing and outages): 1-888-421-7832
• Southeast Tennessee Area Agency on Aging and Disability: 1-866-836-6678
• Sequatchie County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency: (423) 949-9912. For an emergency, call 911.
• AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline: 877-908-3360
• TDOT road conditions: SmartWay.tn.gov or dial 511
• National Weather Service Dunlap forecast: weather.gov point forecast

🌅 A Frosty Start and a Sunny Day to Take Slow

Here’s the whole day in one breath. Frost this morning, then sunshine near 70. Chair Dancing at 1. A hang-up for anyone who calls to sell you Medicare. Social Security tomorrow, Veterans Day Wednesday, and a cold snap by Friday. Nothing today needs hurrying, and nothing needs worrying over. Read Dunlap.Today every morning for plain-English Valley news, and find local businesses on Dunlap.Directory.

— Dunlap.Today