Celebrations

Celebrations! ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE FREE! Email: Edit@AroundaboutMagazines.com February deadline is Jan. 5. Please specify Around Woodstock.

Audrey Anne

Happy first birthday, AudieBoo! You are so loved! Grammy and Papa Smith, Grandpa and Mimi Chastain, PopPop Levenglick, and Gigi and Papa Cox

Asher

Happy, happy 10th birthday, Asher! We love you so very much! Mom, Dad, Britton and Jenson

Maddox Atlas

Welcome to the world, Maddox Atlas. Mommy, Daddy and Izzy love you so much!

Ava Grace performs in “The Dragon King,” February 2019. Right, Ava Grace in the spring 2019 production of “Newsies,” her favorite show with the Academy Street Theatre Group.

The Curtain Rises for 2022

Magic of Theatre Inspires Students

Cherokee County School District (CCSD) high schools present shows throughout the school year, as well as select middle schools and the districtwide Academy Street Theatre Group program for elementary through high school students. With the help of CCSD staff, and a student and parent, we learned how the theater program inspires students and further connects them to the community. “The theater is a magical place for students to grow and learn, trying their hands at many different aspects. They can learn tech and be the magicians behind the scenes, learn to build sets, become a prop master, help make or resource costumes, learn music and choreography, manage the stage, or completely transform into a different character and act! There is a place for everyone who desires to be a part of something bigger than they can imagine, a place where magic actually does exist.” — Jodi Burn, director of the Cherokee High

School theater program

The Curtain Rises for 2022

Kristi and Daniel Roberts with Ava at the performance of “Something Rotten” last spring.

Onstage With Academy Street Theatre

The Academy Street Theatre Group (ASTG) is an arts in education extension of the Cherokee County School District, offering students in grades 2-12 onstage and offstage opportunities in theater production. ASTG has staged more than 50 productions, including 30 presentations of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” as well as “Music Man,” “Newsies” and “Singin’ in the Rain,” to name a few.

“Live theater requires an extremely diverse set of skills. My favorite part about theater is that the stage is where written word, music, dance, movement and visual arts come together with science and technology, to create something new every single time the curtain rises. It’s a space full of potential that allows students to gather together, to tell stories and learn about life. It’s a place where, regardless of your strength or strong suit, there is a way for you to shine and learn. As the director of the ASTG, a countywide program, I am unbelievably fortunate in that I get to work with students from every public school in the county. I get to see unlikely friendships forged and skills developed as students share what they’ve learned from their school directors and take some new ideas and skills from ASTG back to their home stages.” — Reed Christian, director of Academy Street Theatre Group

As a parent, it is a wonderful thing when your child finds his or her “thing,” or passion. My daughter, Ava Grace Roberts, fell in love with acting and performing onstage at a very young age. We have been so blessed that the Cherokee County School District has an arts in education program like ASTG! Ava Grace has been a part of ASTG since the second grade, and she has been able to perform in approximately 20 productions, so far. ASTG and the amazing director, Reed Christian, have given our daughter a creative outlet to explore and build on her talents and do what she loves.

All the experiences and wonderful opportunities she has had with ASTG have given her the confidence and helped catapult her into exploring acting and theater professionally. Ava Grace recently played Louisa von Trapp in “The Sound of Music” with City Springs Theatre Company, where she shared the stage with several Broadway actors, and was directed by Tony Award-winner Shuler Hensley. We are incredibly grateful to CCSD, Reed Christian and ASTG for providing such an amazing opportunity for our daughter, and all the CCSD theater-loving kids!

What a Difference a Play Makes

Kristi Roberts and daughter Ava Grace share their experiences with the Academy Street Theatre Group. Now a student at Sequoyah High School, Ava Grace has been a part of ASTG since second grade.

— Kristi Roberts

I discovered that I loved acting when I was 5 years old, after I took a local children’s theater class. I couldn’t wait to get into second grade, so that I could start auditioning for productions with ASTG. I have learned so much from our awesome director, Reed Christian, our talented choreographer, Cindi Bekas, and so many others. Most elementary and middle schools do not have drama programs, and that is why I am so grateful that our school system has ASTG. I have been able to perform in two to three productions a year with ASTG, and I have met so many friends from all over the county who love performing, too. ASTG is like a family to me, and I am so grateful for the opportunities I have had to do what I love with them.

Help Save Lives

Resolve to Give Blood at a Red Cross Location Near You

National Blood Donor Month has been observed in January since 1970, and recognizes the importance of giving blood and platelets while honoring those who roll up a sleeve to help patients in need. The community is invited to help save lives by donating blood at the Cobb Red Cross Blood, Platelet and Plasma Donation Center at East Lake Shopping Center, 2145 Roswell Road in Marietta, or at another community blood drive scheduled in the area.

The winter months can be especially difficult to collect enough blood and platelets to meet patient needs. Inclement weather can result in blood drive cancellations, and seasonal illnesses, like the flu, can prevent some donors from making or keeping appointments to give. Blood donors with all blood types are encouraged to make an appointment to give.

Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions — including face masks for donors and staff, regardless of vaccination status — have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive.

How to Help

To make an appointment, or to learn more about blood drive locations, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device. Completion of a RapidPass online health history questionnaire is encouraged to speed up the donation process. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass, or use the Blood Donor App.

A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at checkin. Individuals who are 17 years old (16 with parental consent), weight at least 110 pounds, and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood, according to Georgia’s regulations. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters, supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood, teaches skills that save lives, distributes international humanitarian aid and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

Blood from Black donors is needed urgently to help patients with sickle cell disease.

Key Messages

• If you’re feeling healthy and well, your blood donation is needed now to help meet the needs of hospital patients. • The Red Cross continues to address a nationwide blood shortage. Donors of all blood types are needed to give now, to ensure blood is available when patients need it. • A diverse blood supply is important. Donors of all ethnicities are needed. A patient is more likely to find a compatible blood match from a donor of the same race or a similar ethnic group. • Help ensure blood is available to those with sickle cell disease when they need it. Blood donations from individuals who are Black are needed urgently to help meet the needs of patients with sickle cell disease.

Find more information at

RedCrossBlood.org/OurBlood. • Eligibility questions?

Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit

RedCrossBlood.org.

Local Blood Drives

Jan. 3

Northstar Church

3413 Blue Springs Road, Kennesaw 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Jan. 4

Hillside United Methodist Church

4474 Towne Lake Parkway Woodstock 2:30-7:30 p.m. Jan. 6

Cherokee Presbyterian Church

1498 Johnson Brady Road, Canton 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Jan. 7

Orange UMC

220 Orange Circle Road, Canton 2-7 p.m. Jan. 8

Good Shepherd Lutheran

1208 Rose Creek Blvd., Woodstock 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Jan. 10

Woodstock First Baptist

11905 Highway 92 2-7 p.m. Jan. 11

Kennesaw First Baptist

2958 N. Main St. 3-8 p.m.

Legacy Park

Jan. 11

Wellstar Cherokee Health Park

1120 Wellstar Way, Holly Springs 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Jan. 12

Kennesaw First UMC

1801 Ben King Road 2-7 p.m. Jan. 13

Hickory Flat Fellowship Church

5301 Hickory Flat Highway 2-7 p.m. Jan. 14

Canton City Hall

110 Academy St. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Jan. 18

Canton American Legion

150 McClure St. 12:30-5:30 p.m. Jan. 20

Hickory Flat Fellowship Church

5301 Hickory Flat Highway 2-7 p.m. Jan. 22

Woodstock Christian Church

7700 Highway 92 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Jan. 24

St. Clements Episcopal Church

NEW YEAR, NEW SERVICES, NEW LOCATION

Governors MedSpa and Concierge Medicine is relocating in Acworth in 2022, to better serve its patients and growing business. e growth will make possible more services and appointments.

Governors treats the entire family, o ering immuneboosting therapies, wellness exams for children and adults, sports physicals, and vaccines for everyone. Same-day sick appointments are available for established patients, inhouse or via telemedicine. Telemed visits are o ered with all concierge plans and provide exibility for patients.

Other perks and discounts are o ered with the Governors and Senators cash-pay concierge plans. e practice also provides primary care services for patients with insurance. Governors accepts all PPO insurances in Georgia.

InstaLift threads. Unlike PDO threads, InstaLift threads have Sculptra crystals on each thread that stimulate natural collagen, so patients will get an instant lift in their upper cheeks, nasolabial folds and/or jowls and upper neck, and a collagen lling in that area for a natural result that lasts up to two to three years.

Plasma pen. is FDA-approved plasma device uses low frequency wavelength and is highly e ective at tightening and skin lifting.

TCA peel for face and body allows patients to see results immediately. e treatment penetrates into the deep dermal layer of skin, so it doesn’t sit on the surface, which can cause redness, scaling and downtime.

Tetra CO2 CoolPeel is highly e ective in reducing sun damage, ne lines and wrinkles, and it helps patients have an even skin tone, with improved texture. With one laser, patients get the bene ts of a IPL treatment and a TCA peel.

VI peel removes texture issues, while simultaneously stimulating collagen, brightening the skin and reducing small lines and pigment.

VirtueRF is able to remove unwanted fat pads directly under the eyes and other smaller areas of the body.

Permanent fat reduction.

CoolSculpting is a targeted therapy that provides zero downtime, while Vanquish ME is a touchless technology and allows reduction of inches in less than 90 days for abdomen, anks and thighs.

Kysse allows patients to be con dent, while puckering up this year. Designed with the latest XpresHAn technology, Galderma created a Restylane product that, according to the doctors, moves and bends naturally, and is soft enough to be kissed, in addition to making lips more pink.

STAY SAFE

AND HEALTHY

Cough and cold season Ready IV

memberships are available. IV uids assist in hydrating and infusing high doses of essential vitamins that help ght o infections.

Hormone replacement therapy.

Balancing hormones is a great way to boost an immune system and assist in regulating sleep patterns.

Natural supplements. e clinic o ers a customized vitamin and probiotic regimen, based on patients’ needs, such as a need for Vitamin B12, sleeping issues, anxiety, in ammatory gut issues and general health.

Medical weight loss. Explore options, including oral medication, injectables, phentermine, HCG and Lipo-B.

NEW MEDSPA

SERVICES

Above, rendering of the new facility opening at 3105 Loring Rd., Kennesaw, GA in 2022.