Did you know that the Townelaker Community Calendar is a great place to look up events in the Towne Lake and Woodstock, GA area? Here are a few of the wonderful things that are coming up next month:

Woodstock Market and Show

Described as a gathering place where people can share and sell those things they’ve come to love themselves, the Old World Outdoor Street Marketing features an eclectic mix of goods ranging from flowers and fresh produce, antiques, home decor, jewelry, and other art. The market kicks off on March 2nd from 9:00am-5:00pm and will be held the first weekend of every month. For more details, visit their website here.

Friday Night Live

The first Friday of every month in downtown Woodstock, many restuanrs and stores stay open late and celebrate with a themed downtown-wide festival. The first Friday this year will be a Mardi Gras theme on March 2nd. you can click here for the full 2012 schedule.

Movie Night Under the Stars

On Friday, March 2nd, Woodstock High School is hosting a movie night on the footaball field from 6:00-9:00pm, and will be showing We Are Marshall. All proceeds will benefit the Johnny foundation, a local charity that promotes suicide prevnetion and awareness. Concessions will be available, but you will need to bring your own blankets and chairs.

Remember, for the latest events, head on over to the TowneLaker calendar. We hope to see you out and about!

Last week, Elm Street Cultural Arts Village put on their first two shows of Brigadoon, the Lerner and Loewes’ classic romantic Broadway musical. Brigadoon tells the story of a mysterious Scottish village that appears for only one day every hundred years, though to the villagers, the passing of each century seems no longer than one night. Two American tourists stumble upon the village just as a wedding is about to be celebrated, and their arrival has serious implications for the village’s inhabitants.

The original production opened on Broadway in 1947 and ran for 581 performances. You can catch it February 17^th at 7:30pm and February 18^th at 2:00pm and 7:30pm. Advanced tickets are available online as well as at the box office.

This production of Brigadoon is sponsored by Jim Miller in memory of his late wife, Jean Miller. As Director G. Lora Grooms put it, “Bring someone you love to this precious show and hold his or her hand extra tight as you enjoy it.” To find out even more about Jim Miller and the Elm Street Cultural Arts Village production of Brigadoon, go to page twelve in the February issue of the Townelaker magazine.

In February’s issue we featured Coupsicle.com in our Community section. Did you miss it? Here’s some more information on this up-and-coming deal site.

Coupsicle.com offers discounts to Cherokee, North Fulton, Cobb and Forsyth counties. Subscribers can save 40-90% off things like restaurants, children’s clothing, activity centers, classes and more.

Local Canton resident Jennifer Gettens started Coupsicle.com after seeing the popularity of other online deal sites like Groupon skyrocket. “People love daily deal sites, but most of them cater to young, urban singles in the greater Atlanta area,” said Gettens. “We felt there was a need for a new type of deal site geared towards kids and families in a more specific local area.” Coupsicle.com currently runs three to four deals each week, but will be increasing to seven in the coming months. Best of all, subscription is free, just sign up via email to receive daily alerts. Payments for deals can be made online, similar to other deal sites.

“Coupsicle.com is locally owned and operated,” says Jennifer Gettens. “We love to meet our subscribers and we are involved in the community. You’ll frequently see us at local events and fairs interacting with families.” She added that her community involvement has allowed her to get to know almost every kid-friendly business owner in the area and communicate directly with thousands of parents throughout the community.

You can keep up with Coupsicle’s local deals on their Facebook page or follow them on Twitter.

The Volunteer Aging Counsel is still in need of volunteers to Adopt-A-Senior for this upcoming holiday season. 

Volunteers are asked to adopt a senior who is currently receiving services through the Meals-On-Wheels, Congregate Meal or Homemaker Programs. If you are interested in adopting a senior please contact Kim Watt, Recreation Coordinator with CRPA to register. Once registered you are asked to put together a gift package of a queen sized blanket, six washcloths and a decorative/accent pillow. Please wrap all packages before delivery.

No canned goods are being requested this year.

Call: 770-924-7768 or email kwatt@cherokeega.com. Drop off NEW & WRAPPED gifts through December 9th to: Cherokee Recreation & Parks Agency 7545 Main Street, Building 200 Woodstock

Buying bags of candy for the trick or treaters can be expensive!   We’ve compiled a list of local retailers, courtesy of http://www.livingrichwithcoupons.com so you can price compare as well as download some coupons to further help your wallet!  Happy Halloween!

Click on hyperlinks to get coupons!

Rite Aid 10/23-10/29

Fun Size or Snack Size Candy (7.6 to 22 oz) – $2.50

CVS 10/23-10/29

Mars Chocolate, Wrigley’s Fun Size, or Hershey’s Snack Size (9.34-12 oz) (must buy 4) – $2.50

Walgreens 10/23-10/29

Hershey’s, Mars, or Nestle Fun or Snack Size Candy (10.23 to 12.5 oz) – $1.99

Walmart 10/23-10/29

Snack Size Candy Bars-Variety of Flavors (10.5-11.24 oz) – $2.48

Target 10/23-10/29

10.5-oz. Reese’s, 10.78-oz. Kit Kat, 11.18-oz. Snickers and selected others – $2.49

Courtesy of the Cherokee Parks & Recreation Agency:

Cherokee County Volunteer Aging Council’s (VAC) Adopt-a-Senior Program 2011

The VAC is in preparation for its annual Adopt-A-Senior Program for this upcoming holiday season. Volunteers are asked to adopt a senior who is currently receiving services through the Meals-On-Wheels, Congregate Meal or Homemaker Programs.

If you are interested in adopting a senior please contact Kim Watt, Recreation Coordinator with CRPA to register. Once registered you are asked to put together a gift package of a queen sized blanket, six washcloths and a decorative/accent pillow.  Please wrap all packages before delivery. No canned goods are being requested this year.

Register Starting: November 14, 2011

Call: 770-924-7768 or email kwatt@cherokeega.com. 

Drop off NEW & WRAPPED gifts beginning November 28, 2011 to: 

Cherokee Recreation & Parks Agency

7545 Main Street, Building 200

Woodstock, GA 30188

When Superintendent of the Cherokee County School District, Dr. Frank Petruzielo, visits your class unexpectedly, it can cause some concern. When this visit is accompanied by the principal, several media representatives and a cookie bouquet, concern turns to pure confusion. This was the scene today at Etowah High School in John Murnan’s science class. John was about to find out he had been selected as the Cherokee County Teacher of the Year.

Each year, each Cherokee County school selects a Teacher of the Year to represent its school. Out of those 40 teachers, one is selected as the County winner. John will represent the County for the State competition and if he wins State, he will compete for the National Teacher of the Year. John previously taught in Florida at Atlantic and Glades County high schools. Seven years ago, he and his family decided to relocate to Georgia when he accepted a position at Etowah High School. Currently, John teaches AP Biology, Anatomy/Physiology and Biology. He also is the head girl’s soccer coach.

 John teaches mostly seniors, and he enjoys the challenges of that age group. “The kids change, but often times, I see the same behaviors. My students have one senior year. I get to have a senior year over and over again,” he joked. Student Becca Hannigan signed up for John’s class because she had heard great things about the class. “It’s great to see science through the eyes of someone who is passionate about it. He makes the lessons applicable to everyday life.”

Dr. Petruzielo commented that John is passionate about every student he teaches. “John has particularly embraced embedding technology into his teaching process, and he focuses on students learning to learn. He knows and practices the meaning of “active learning. He also embraces the concept of accountability.”

John’s wife Debra substitute teaches and his daughter, Jenna, is a student at E.T. Booth Middle School.

 Congratulations John on an honor well deserved!

Barely a week before Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year and one of the holiest days on the Jewish calendar, there are still many Jews who have no plans to attend synagogue services. Some are not affiliated with a synagogue; others will be traveling on business; and many simply don’t feel comfortable in a synagogue setting. Another alarming issue, particularly in light of today’s flailing economy, is that many cannot afford the cost of services, which can run a thousand dollars or more for a family of five. Whatever the case is, many of these would-be worshippers are feeling the pangs associated with being left out of the holiest days of the Jewish calendar. The Chabad Jewish Center, the local branch of the largest Jewish outreach organization in the world, has presented its own High Holiday services option, providing free Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services in a warm and inclusive setting. Chabad’s services are “user-friendly,” making it enjoyable and meaningful for both the beginner and the advanced. Song, commentary and the use of English-Hebrew prayer books, enable those of all levels to become active participants in the services. “According to Jewish tradition, on the Jewish New Year, the doors of Heaven are open. G-d accepts prayers from everyone,” said Chabad Rabbi Zalman Charytan of the Chabad Jewish Center. “The least we can do is open our doors as well, to the entire community and make Judaism accessible. During the Jewish High Holidays, accessibility can translate into different factors for different people, such as a non-judgmental atmosphere, affordability of the services, or the ability for a beginner to follow along. Our goal is to lower the barriers of entry, and encourage each and every Jew to actively participate in these most holy and introspective days.” The Chabad Jewish Center invites you to join us for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services.

WHERE: Rosh Hashanah at Pinetree Country Club, 3400 McCollum Pkwy, Kennesaw GA & Yom Kippur at the Embassy Suites – Town Center, 620 Chastain Rd, Kennesaw, GA.

WHEN: Rosh Hashanah: September 27 (Eve), 28 & 29 Yom Kippur October 7 (eve) & 8. COST: Free. Donations welcomed and encouraged.

TO RESERVE A SPACE: Register online at www.JewishWestCobb.com/1594174 or contact 678-460-7702, info@JewishWestCobb.com to reserve your seat. FOR MORE INFO ON THE JEWISH HIGH HOLIDAYS: For more information about Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, visit www.JewishWestCobb.com/NewYear.

David Youssi, an irrigation contractor who has been camping to raise money for irrigation in Haiti since March of this year, was surprised to see his tent shredded and thrown across acres of open field and his campsite destroyed when he arrived at camp Monday evening (Sept 5, 2011).  A tornado slammed through the Woodstock and Canton, GA area mere hours before he arrived, flattening everything at the camp. Although the destruction was severe, David will continue to be at the site where his tent once stood with plans to continue camping until Christmas in order to get the word out about Camp H.A.I.T.I.  Rebuilding the campsite has already begun. The goal of Camp H.A.I.T.I. (Haitian Agriculture Irrigation Technology Initiative) is to raise enough money to procure materials to install at least one of four Irrigation projects the non-profit is committed too.  A campfire known as the “Fire of Hope” burns every night and visiting hours are from 7pm to 11pm nightly. Stop by and show your support. To donate or for more information about Camp H.A.I.T.I. go to www.irrigationwithoutborders.org

This has to be some cruel “Mother Nature” joke, but am I really battling zits AND wrinkles? 

Yes, I am.

I thought my days of waking up with Mt. Vesuvius on my chin, nose or forehead were over.  I thought the days of the nasty sub-dermal pimple, never to actually surface but to move from one spot to another were left behind along with my leg warmers.

I thought the only thing I would need to try to conquer as I got older would be the signs of aging.

How can I be 40 something and suddenly have skin that is half teenager and half well… someone in my 40s? 

After I washed my face the other night, I didn’t know what the next step should be.  Should I apply the Clearasil before or after I apply the Pro-Retinol treatment? 

Zits and wrinkles make as much sense as high heels and a marathon or wine and Cheetos. 

I guess I need to search the drug store for a “Zinkle” product (zit and wrinkle elimination).  Wish me luck!