54 °F
Spotlight

EASTER EGG HUNTS

• The city of Holly Springs will hold its 9th annual Easter egg hunt March 27 at 11 a.m. in Barrett Memorial Park. Grand prize egg will include a $100 gift certificate to Toys “R” Us. Hunt is divided by age group; overflow parking at Holly Springs Elementary School. Activities include pictures with the Easter Bunny, a petting zoo from 10 a.m. to noon and playground fun. For more information, call (770) 721-7502. 

• The city of Canton will hold an Easter egg hunt April 3 at 1:15 p.m. downtown. There will also be an Easter bonnet contest and parade from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. and pictures with the Easter bunny, music, games, a scavenger hunt, face-painting and inflatables from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

• Northside Hospital-Cherokee will host its the 24th annual Easter Eggstravaganza March 27 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on the hospital grounds in Canton. In case of rain, the event will be held at the Pruett YMCA, 151 Waleska Street, Canton. There will be a moon walk, games, face-painters, arts and crafts, food and music. For more information, call (770) 720-5474.

• City on a Hill United Methodist Church will hold its annual Easter egg hunt March 27 at the park behind the South Annex on Ga. 5 in Woodstock. There will be hunts at 10:30 a.m. and at noon.

SPECIAL EVENTS

• The BridgeMill Ladies Service League will hold its “spring fling” fashion show and brunch April 24 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the  Lake Arrowhead Country Club, 486 Arrowridge, Waleska. Tickets are $25 and there will also be raffles and a silent auction. Proceeds benefit children’s programs in Cherokee County. For more information or tickets, call Mimi Stone at (770) 479-7018 or Kathy Fulton at (770) 720-0979.

• The Cherokee County Farm Bureau will hold an Agriculture Expo March 11 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, 3605 Marietta Highway, Canton. The event kicks off Agriculture Week, and there will be display booths and refreshments. For more information or to make a reservation, call (770) 479-1481, ext. 0.

FUNDRAISERS

• Sequoyah High School senior Ashley Morian has organized a 5K race March 20 at Lost Mountain Baptist Church, 5400 Old Dallas Road, Powder Springs. The race is to raise funds for the Cobb County Police Honor Guard and the family of Ofc. James Freddie Norman attend his memorial during National Police Week in Washington, D.C.., in May. Norman died last year from injuries her recieved after being hit by a drunk driver. Pre-registration for the race is $20; race-day fee is $25. For more information or to register, contact Ashley at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (678) 332-7693.

• The East Cobb Colts baseball team will host a “parents night out” St. Patrick’s Day dance for fifth-, sixth- and seventh-graders March 12 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Cherokee County Recreation Center, 7545 Main St., Woodstock. The dance is fully chaperoned with a police officer on-site and a live DJ. Tickets are $10 and refreshments and light-up novelties will be sold. For more information, contact Mary Ellen Seres at  (678) 462-6908.

• Dean Rusk Middle School, 4695 Hickory Road, Canton, will hold a Bingo fundraiser March 12 at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria. Prizes include flat-screen TVs, electronics and gift baskets. Pizza and drinks will be available. Cards are $1 each and $5 for a TV card. 

• Avery Elementary School will hold a spring bazaar April 24 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be food, crafts and fun for the family. For vendor information, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

• There will be a “Pancakes for Parkinson's” all-you-can-eat breakfast March 20 from 8 a.m. to noon at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1208 Rose Creek Drive, Woodstock. Tickets are $5, and all proceeds will be donated to the Michael J. Fox Foundation. For more information, call Chandler Wright at (678) 923-6995.

• The Foundation of North Metro Technical College will hold a reverse raffle and dinner March 16 in the Economic Development building on the North Metro Campus, 5198 Ross Road, Acworth, to raise money for Chattahoochee Technical College. Dinner begins at 6 p.m.; the raffle starts at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $100 and include dinner for two and a chance at the $5,000 grand prize. For more information, call (770) 528-7494.

CLASSES

• The Cherokee Child Advocacy Council’s Parents HELP program is forming parenting classes, which will include parenting of infants and toddlers, active parenting NOW!, and parenting of teens. Classes will be held in the evenings for six weeks, and the cost is $25 per person and $40 per couple. For more information, call Gwynne Maffett at (770) 592-9779.

GARDENING

• The Cherokee County Master Gardeners will hold the following classes (all begin at 10 a.m. and are free, unless otherwise noted):   “Growing your own fruits and vegetables (intermediate),” March 13 at Buckeye Creek Farm, 2115 Jep Wheeler Road, Canton; “Lawns in Georgia,” March 20 at the Woodstock Library, 7735 Main Street; “Using drought-tolerant and native plants,” March 27 at the Ball Ground Library, 435 Old Canton Road; “Luscious plants for your shade garden,” April 10 at the Hickory Flat Library, 2740 East Cherokee Drive, Canton. Seating is limited; registration is suggested. For more information or to register, call (770) 479-0418.

FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY

• The Cherokee County Friends of the Library will hold its second book sale March 26, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and March 27, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Hickory Flat Library on East Cherokee Drive.

 HEALTH

• North Fulton Hospital, 3000 Hospital Blvd., Roswell, will host “Mothers and Daughters Only,” March 14 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The presentation is a discussion about puberty and what to expect, with refreshments provided by Harry’s Farmer’s Market. To register, call (770) 751-2867. 

SENIORS

• The Triad/S.A.L.T. Council will hold a free lunch and learn about identity theft and scams, hosted by Woodstock Police Ofc. Kimberley Verdone, March 22 from 10 a.m. to noon at the William G. Long Senior Center, 223 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock. Lunch is included. For more information or to RSVP, call (678) 493-6346 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it before March 18. 

• The Canton-Cherokee TRIAD/ S.A.L.T. (Seniors and Law Enforcement Together) meets the first Tuesday of every month at 8 a.m. at the Cecil Pruett YMCA in Canton. The group involves seniors, sheriffs and local police to identify problem areas for seniors in the local community to develop and implement community-wide solutions. For  more information, contact Stacy Bailey  at  (770) 720-4883  or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

• The AARP Chapter 2227 of Canton meets the second Wednesday of each month at 11:30 a.m. at Ryan’s Steak House on Ga. 5.  For more information, call  (770) 428-3499.

• The Woodstock Chapter of AARP meets on the second Tuesday of the month at various restaurants in and around Woodstock at 11:30 a.m. The meetings include lunch ($12), usually include a guest speaker and adjourn by 1:15 p.m. For more information, call Rich Sanford at (770) 926-1944.

• The Cherokee County Senior Citizens Center’s satellite group meets every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Heritage Presbyterian Church, 5323 Bells Ferry Road, Woodstock. Everyone age 60 or older is invited to attend. For more information, call (678) 445-7252.

BLOOD DRIVES

• The following Red Cross blood drives will be held in Cherokee County: March 10, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Woodstock High School, 2010 Towne Lake Hills; March 12, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Walmart of Woodstock, 12182 Ga. 92; March 29, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Macedonia Elementary School, 10370 East Cherokee Drive, Canton; March 31, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Northside Hospital-Cherokee, 201 Hospital Road, Canton; April 9, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Walmart of Woodstock, 12182 Ga. 92.

RECREATION

• The Kiwanis Club of Woodstock will hold its 8th annual 5k charity road race April 17. The race is hosted by the First Baptist Church of Woodstock and the proceeds will go to benefit the children of Woodstock. Entry fee is $20. For more information or to register, call (678) 315-2583 or visit  www.kiwanisofwoodstock.org.

• The Service League of Cherokee County will hold its 2010 “Run for the Children” 5K and 1-mile fun run March 27 in downtown Canton. All proceeds go toward helping needy children in Cherokee County. The 5K begins at 8 a.m., and the fun run begins at 9 a.m., with race day registration starting at 7 a.m. at the gazebo on the square. Pre-race package pickup is from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. March 26. Registration for the 5K is $20 before March 19 and $25 after March 19; registration for the fun run is $15. Checks and entry forms may be mailed to: Run for the Children, P.O. Box 1132, Canton, Ga., 30169. For more information or to register, call Julie Prather-Peppers at (770) 605-3834 or visit www.active.com. 

SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS

• Ball Ground Lions Club #7289 is conducting a membership drive.  The group meets once a month for breakfast. Contact Sue Densmore at (770) 735-3177 for meeting dates and more information.

• The Woodstock Lions Club meets second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at New Victoria Baptist Church, 6659 Bells Ferry Road. For more information, call (770) 906-2958.

• The Woodstock Midday Optimist Club meets Wednesdays at noon at Folk's Restaurant, 180 Parkway 575, Suite 100, Woodstock. For more information, call (770) 345-6158.

• The Ball Ground Optimist Club meets the first Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. at Bobbie’s Bakery, 340 Gilmer Ferry Road. For more information, call Byron Fast at (770) 737-2448.

• The Optimist Club of Laurel Canyon meets every Monday at 11:30 a.m. at the Tavern restaurant,  just off Ga. 140 between Canton and Waleska. For information about the club, call Trish Long at (678) 493-9135. 

• The Hickory Flat Optimist Club meets every first and third Tuesday of the month at 7 a.m. at Family Traditions restaurant on Ga. 140 in Hickory Flat. For more information, call Alan Flint at (770) 720-9056.

• The Pilot Club of Cherokee County, a community service organization, meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Partake’s Restaurant on Reinhardt College Parkway in Canton. For more information, call (770) 393-1766 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

• The Rotary Club of Cherokee County meets Thursdays from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. For meeting information, contact Jules Leni at (678) 905-1169.

MILITARY

 • Our Marines Lyfe/Circle of Friends, a military support group for friends and family of service members, meets at the Hickory Flat Family Traditions on the first Monday of each month at 6:30 pm. All branches of service are welcome. For more information, call Vikki Thomas (678) 592-4534.

• AMVETS (American Veterans) Post 221 meets the second Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at 120 Rachael Drive, Holly Springs. All veterans are invited to attend. For more information, call (678) 469-5720 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

• American Legion Post 316 meets the third Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at Woodstock Community Church at the corner of Main Street and Towne Lake Parkway. For more information, call (770) 354-6454 or (678) 643-0794.

• American Legion Post 45, 160 McClure St., Canton, holds a pot luck dinner meeting on the last Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call (770) 479-4405.

 • The Marine Corps League, Woodstock Detachment 1311, a group for former Marines and their families, meets the third Saturday of the month at 10 a.m. at the Right Wing Tavern on Main Street in Woodstock. For more information, call (770) 926-4752 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

• Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5262 meets the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at Moose Loop Road in south Canton. All eligible veterans are invited to attend. For more information, contact Commander George Moore at (770) 479-1249 or visit www.vfwpost5262.org. 

BINGO

• American Legion Legion Post 45, 160 McClure St., Canton, holds Bingo sessions every Tuesday at 7:30 p.m and Saturday at 6 p.m. For more information, call (770) 479-4405.

• Canton Women of the Moose 972 hold Bingo games Sundays at 3 p.m. at the Moose Lodge on Moose Lodge Road, off Ga. 5 in Canton. Required buy-in is $10 for two cards. For more information, call (770) 479-8300. 

TOASTMASTERS

• Cherokee Toastmasters, a local club focused on enhancing speaking skills, meets every Wednesday at noon at Keller Williams Realty, 220 Heritage Walk, Woodstock. For more information, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

SADDLE CLUB

• Cherokee County Saddle Club meets the third Wednesday of every month at Family Traditions, 7830 Hickory Flat Highway, Woodstock.  For more information, contact Tamma Trump at (770) 655-0819 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

TRAIL OF TEARS

• The Georgia Chapter of the Trail of Tears Association will meet March 13 at 10:30 a.m. at the Indian Spring Hotel/Museum in Flovilla. The speaker will be Dr. Barbara Kawulich, associate professor at the University of West Georgia, who will give a presentation on the Muscogee (Creek) people. There is a $3 admission to hotel. For more information, call (770) 704-6338.

PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB

• The Cherokee Photography Club meets every second and fourth Monday at 7 p.m. at the Cherokee Arts Center in downtown Canton. For more information, call (770) 617-7595 or visit cherokeephotographyclub.com.

KNITTING

• North Georgia Knitting Guild meets every third Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of Hillside UMC, 4474 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock. All knitters and fiber artists welcome. For more information, call (770) 720-7610 or visit www.northgeorgiaknittingguild.com.

QUILTING

• The Cherokee Crazy Quilters meet Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Rock Barn, 658 Marietta Highway, Canton. Quilters of all levels are welcome, and fabric donations for charity quilts are appreciated. For more information, call Shiras Guion at (678) 880-7348.

 SINGLES

• Zack the Dog Walk for singles from 20s to 60s schedules events (dog walks,Team Trivia, dinners, kayaking, etc.) a couple times a month.  For more information, contact Karen at (404) 452-9980 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

• Cherokee Presbyterian Church has a Christian Singles group that meets once a month for dinner or various activities. Participant ages range from mid-20s to late 30s. For more information, contact Troy Snyder at (404) 915-6231 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

• The Cherokee Single Seniors ages 50 and older meets every Tuesday at Ryan's restaurant in Canton at 6 p.m. for dinner, conversation and to make new friends. For more information, call Donna at (770) 592-4094 or Bob at (770) 928-8722.

POLITICAL

• The Cherokee County Democratic Party meets the third Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Holly Springs Community Center, 100 Hickory Circle off Old Ga. 5. The group also holds a breakfast meeting the first Saturday of the month at 9 a.m. at the Ryan’s on Riverstone Parkway in Canton and a monthly “Meet-Up” on the second Friday at 7 p.m. at Rainbow Asia in the Bridgemill neighborhood. For more information, call (770) 345-3489 or visit www.cherokeedems.com. 

• The Cherokee County Libertarian Party meets the last Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at Rose Creek Library in Towne Lake. Visit www.ga.lp.org/cherokee.

• The Cherokee County Republican Party meets for breakfast the first Saturday of every month at 8 a.m. at Mason's, 149 Reinhardt College Parkway, Canton. The group also holds a “Critical Issues Forum” on the fourth Monday of the month at  7 p.m. at the Holly Springs Train Depot. For more information, call (678) 520-2236 or (770) 345-2677.

• The Cherokee County Republican Women meet the third Wednesday of each month at the BridgeMill Featherstone restaurant in Canton. Dinner is at 6 p.m., with guest speakers beginning at 7 p.m. For more information or to make reservations, call (678) 520-2236.

FAMILY SHELTER

• Cherokee County Violence Center offers shelter, support groups and life skills classes for women and children who are victims of domestic violence. To attend the free volunteer training session, call (770) 479-1804, ext. 3501. The center’s 24-hour hotline for victims is (770) 479-1703.

SUPPORT GROUPS

• A support group for the hard of hearing meets every Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the Woodstock Senior Center on Arnold Mill Road (next to the fire station). For more information, call Lillian Smith at (770) 517-9551.

• Cherokee County Senior Services hosts a caregiver meeting the fourth Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at Savannah Grand Assisted Living, 1835 Eagle Drive, Woodstock. For more information, call Stacy Trout at (770) 345-5320. 

• A diabetes support group meets every fourth Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Northside Hospital-Cherokee, Education Building, 201 Hospital Road, Canton. For more information, contact Leigh Bonacci at (678) 493-1503 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

• The Marietta  chapter of PFLAG – Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays – meets  the fourth Sunday of every month from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Pilgrimage United Church of Christ, 3755 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta. For more  information, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

• A support group for families with children on the autism spectrum meets the second Thursday of every month during the school year, except November and December, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at New Victoria Baptist Church, 6659 Bells Ferry Road, Woodstock. For more information, call Renee Perrelli at (678) 493-4925. 

• Northside Hospital-Cherokee holds a free drop-in breast cancer support group on the first Thursday of each month, from 10 a.m. to noon, in the Diabetes classroom in the Educational Center. For more information, call (404) 843-1880.

• A depression and bipolar support group meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the community building behind Woodstock Community Church, 8534 Main St. For more information, call (770) 560-7112.

• A cancer support group is held at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1208 Rose Creek Drive, Woodstock, on the first and third Tuesdays of the month from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. For more information, call (770) 403-3610 or (770) 924-7286.

• The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s Cherokee/Pickens Family Support Group meets the second Saturday of every month using one of the River Green subdivision’s amenity areas in Canton. For more information about juvenile diabetes or the family support group’s meetings, contact Tom Brodell at (770) 630-0987 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

• Emotions Anonymous, a 12-step group to help people cope with the stress of daily living, meets every Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1208 Rose Creek Drive, Woodstock. For more information, call Sherry at (770) 926-1889 or Cindy at (770) 928-6554.

• An Alzheimer’s support group is hosted at Woodstock Estates Assisted Living and Memory Care Community, 1000 Professional Way, Woodstock, the first Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. For more information, call (770) 926-0119.

• An Alzheimer’s support group for the caregivers of people with dementia and Alzheimer’s meets the second Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m at The Terraces at Riverstone, 125 Riverstone Terrace, Canton. For more information, call (770) 880-6778. 

• An Alzheimer’s support group for the caregivers of people with dementia and Alzheimer’s meets the fourth Thursday of the month at 6 p.m at The Terraces at Woodstock, 756 Neese Road, Woodstock. For more information, call (770) 924-2072. 

• Woodstock Hepatitis C Support Group meets the third Tuesday of every month from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Woodstock Community Church, 8534 Main St., Woodstock. For more information, call (770) 720-8258 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

AL-ANON

• The following are the times and locations of local Al-Anon meetings: Mondays at Heritage Presbyterian Church, 5323 Bells Ferry Road, Acworth, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (770) 403-5776; Tuesdays and Thursdays at Hillside United Methodist Church, 4474 Towne Lake Parkway, at 7 p.m. in room 2108, (770) 517-3028 or (770) 592-1473; Tuesdays, 8 p.m. at St. Clements Episcopal Church,  2707  Ridge Road, Canton. (770) 516-3502.

ALATEEN

• A local Alateen group meets Tuesdays at 7 p.m. at Hillside Methodist Church, 4474 Towne Lake Parkway, in room 2202. For more information, call (770) 845-1282.

AA

• A young people’s Alcoholics Anonymous group meets every Monday at 7:30  p.m. in Room 123 at First United Methodist Church of Canton, 930 Lower Scott Mill Road.

• “Friendship-In-Step” group meets Mondays through Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. at First United Methodist Church on Lower Scott Mill Road in Canton. 

• “The Road Home” group meets at 6 p.m. Mondays and Fridays at Antioch Christian Church, 3995 Sugar Pike Road, Canton. For more information, call (770) 475-9628.

• “United @ Noon” group meets at noon Mondays-Fridays at First United Methodist Church of Canton, 930 Lower Scott Mill Road. For more information, call (770) 479-6961.

• “On the Rocks” group meets Monday and Friday nights at 8 p.m. at Ball Ground United Methodist Church, 3045 Canton Highway, Ball Ground.

• “Cherokee Choices” group meets Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8 p.m. at Waleska First Baptist Church on Ga. 140. For more information, call (770)735-3440. 

• “Canton Group” meets at 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays in Davis Hall at St. Clements Episcopal Church, 2707 Ridge Road, Canton.  For more information, call (770) 402-4220 or (770) 345-8482.

• The schedule for Canton/ Waleska AA meetings is as follows: Monday-Saturday at First United Methodist Church, 575/140 exit, at 9:30 a.m.; Sunday at Our Lady of La Salette Catholic Church, Sam Nelson Road, Waleska, at 8 p.m.; Monday at El Faro, 185 Crisler St., Canton, at 8 p.m. (Spanish speaking).

NAR-ANON

• Nar-Anon, a 12-step support group for family and friends of substance abusers, meets Monday evenings at 7 p.m. at the Herb Shop, 161 Jackson St., Holly Springs.  For information or directions, call (404) 218-0246 or (770) 704-9950.

OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS

• Overeaters Anonymous meets Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. at H.O.W. Place, 6268 Bells Ferry Road (behind fire station at Old Bascomb Court). For more information, call (770) 592-6421.

VOLUNTEERS

• Volunteers are needed as Court Appointed Special Advocates, highly-trained volunteers to advocate for an abused child in foster care. For more information, call (770) 345-3274 or visit www.casacherokee.org. 

• Green Acres Equestrian Center, 345 Bluebird Acres Road, Woodstock, needs volunteers, adults and homeschoolers, preferably with some horse-handling experience, for its hippotherapy program that uses horses to treat children with disabilities. For more information, or to volunteer, call (770) 656-7002.

• Woodstock Angels needs volunteers to knit, crochet and sew for preemie and newborn  babies for charity.  Yarn donations accepted. For information, call  (770) 693-3175.

• Bethany’s Equine and Aquatic Therapy Services in Canton, needs volunteers for a program that uses horses to treat children with disabilities. Weekly shifts of 2-3 hours are needed Monday-Thursday. Call (678) 494-6616 or send an e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .