Community Calendar

Around & About

AUGUST

3National Night Out will be held 6-9 p.m. in the Park at City Center in Woodstock. Join the Woodstock Police Department and local public safety agencies in heightening crime and drug prevention awareness, and in strengthening police and community partnerships. This event will feature K-9 demonstrations, food and drinks, a DJ and more.

5SORBA Woodstock Ladies Social Ride will take place 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Blankets Creek trail system in Canton. This weekly ladies social meets on Thursdays near the restroom area before the ride. All ability levels are welcome, including beginners. Bring your own beverage, snacks and chair to hang out after. Visit www.sorbawoodstock.org/calendar for details.

The Market at The Mill on Etowah is 5:30-8:30 p.m. every Tuesday night on the green, featuring local makers, creators, bakers and artists. Details are available on Facebook at The Mill on Etowah page.

7The 2021 Lake Allatoona Poker Run, benefiting Folds of Honor, is hosted by the Lake Allatoona Association. This is not a race, and a vessel is not required. You may purchase a hand and select your cards at the table. Registration and details are available at https://lakeallatoona-association.square.site.

Movies in the Park will be at Northside Hospital Cherokee Amphitheater in downtown Woodstock at 8:35 p.m. Aug. 7; 8:05 p.m. Sept. 4; and 7:30 p.m. Oct. 2. The movies being shown had not been announced at press time.

Yoga in the Park is at Brown Park in Canton, 9-10 a.m. on the first Saturday of each month, through October. The free yoga class is for everyone, beginners to advanced. Please sign up if you plan to attend; waivers must be signed before starting. More information is on Facebook.

14 The 8th annual Chick-fil-A Cherokee County Moo’ve It 5K, a fundraiser for the Cherokee County Educational Foundation and Special Olympics, will take place at Etowah River Park in Canton. The 5K begins at 8 a.m. Visit www.cfamooveit.com for a full schedule of events, and to register. 16 The 18th annual Chamber Classic Golf Tournament will be at Woodmont Golf and Country Club in Canton. Registration is at 8:30 a.m., followed by the 10 a.m. shotgun start. Visit cherokeechamber.com for options on how to get involved. Contact Gini Mizelle at 770-345-0400 or Gini@ CherokeeChamber.com for more information.

19 Back to School Sip + Shop is set for 5 p.m. in downtown Woodstock. Tickets are $10 per person and are available for purchase at the Woodstock Visitors Center. At the start of the event, pick up your tote bag and directory of participating merchants, and register for raffle prizes at the visitors center. Visit https://visitwoodstockga. com/event/back-to-school-sip-shop for details.

20-22 Etowah Wildlife Expo will be at The Mill on Etowah in downtown Canton. Join the fun for a celebration of wildlife with expert demonstrations, live entertainment, fine arts and vendors. Visit www.etowahwildlifeexpo.com for the schedule of events and more details.

21 A free No Fail Fall Gardening Class will be hosted by Cherokee Master Gardeners and Papa’s Pantry, 10-11:30 a.m., at 6551 Commerce Parkway. For more information, call 770-591-4707. Registration is required, and the class is limited to 15. To register, visit https://tinyurl.com/33jn8fv4.

SORBA Woodstock Social Ride for men and women will be at the Blankets Creek trail system in Canton, 10-11 a.m. Join the monthly social ride; all ability levels are welcome, including beginners. Food will be provided after the ride. Bring your own beverages. Visit www.sorbawoodstock.org/calendar for details.

28 Southern Steam & Chili Cook Off is set for 10 a.m.-8 p.m. at the Rock Barn in Canton. Festivities include live music, vendors, tea dueling, a costume “cosplay” contest, and an International Chili Society (ICS)sanctioned chili cook-off. Visit www.wayneevents.com/ southern-steam for details and tickets. Children under age 12 do not require a ticket. Chili cook-off contestants must be in the ICS. To join, visit www.chilicookoff.com/register.

Kid Biz Expo will support local young entrepreneurs at Sutallee Baptist Church, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. There will be kids vending, food trucks, music and a raffle. Visit https://fb.me/e/ ElUuOMfP for details.

2Brown Bag Concert Series takes place noon1 p.m.Thursdays in September at the Park at City Center in downtown Woodstock. Visit the special events tab on https://woodstock.recdesk.com for details.

11 9/11 Day of Remembrance begins at 7 p.m. in the Park at City Center in Woodstock. Remember those we’ve lost, and honor our first responders and the servicemen and women who continue to serve, fight and sacrifice for our freedom and safety. Visit www. woodstockparksandrec.com for details.

17 Relay for Life Cherokee County begins at 6 p.m. in Etowah River Park in Canton. For details, or to donate or join the relay, visit https://bit.ly/3efwiUx

25-26 Riverfest Arts and Crafts Festival returns for its 37th year. The Service League of Cherokee County fundraiser will take place at Etowah River Park in Canton, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Riverfest is a juried show, featuring original, creative, handmade work from artisans all over the region, as well as live music and food vendors. Admission is $5. Visit the Riverfest Facebook page for more details.

OCTOBER

22021 Run, Walk or Roll 5K will be held at First Baptist Woodstock, and the 5K begins at 8 a.m. The 8th annual fundraiser is presented by PowerSecure, and helps support Next Step Ministries’ day programs for people with special needs in the Woodstock area. For more information, a full schedule of events, to register for the in-person event, or to register for the event virtually, visit www.runwalkorroll.com.

The 15th annual Senior Extravaganza will be held at the Northside Hospital Cherokee Amphitheater in Woodstock, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Celebrate your age at this free event, and meet experts to answer your retirement questions. Visit https:// saltcherokee.com/events for details.

7-10 The Etowah Film Festival will be held at the Canton Theatre. Visit www. etowahfilmfestival.com/about for more information, submissions and to purchase tickets.

8Sunset Symphony will be at Northside Hospital Cherokee Amphitheater in downtown Woodstock at 7 p.m. Enjoy a free night of swing music with the Cobb New Horizons Symphonic Band. Bring your picnic basket and enjoy a relaxing evening out on the lawn. Visit the special events tab at https://woodstock.recdesk.com for details. www.woodstockarts.org Through Sept. 5

Women’s Work: New Takes on Textile Art is an exhibit in the Reeves House that will explore female-led and innovative approaches to textile and fiber arts. July 30

Jazz Night will be at the Reeves House, 6-10 p.m. Enjoy drinks and stroll through the gallery during a monthly evening of live jazz music under the stars. Aug. 13-29

“Legally Blonde” is a musical about Elle Woods, a sorority girl who enrolls at Harvard Law School to win back her ex-boyfriend. Recommended for ages 13 and older.

LANTERN SERIES

At the Elm Street Event Green in Woodstock; shows begin at 7:30 p.m. Check for updates at www.woodstockarts.org. July 31: JigJam

Aug. 7: Keith Anderson Aug. 28: Marc Broussard Sept. 25: The Black Market Trust Oct. 16: We Banjo 3 Oct. 30: Argonaut & Wasp

WELLNESS WEDNESDAYS

Join Northside Hospital experts for a weekly virtual health presentation every Wednesday at noon. Visit www.northside.com/community-wellness/classes-events for registration.

Aug 4: Dr. Elan Golan, Northside Orthopedic Specialists Aug 11: Dr. Karen Buhariwalla, Georgia Breast Care Aug 25: Dr. Clay Guynn, Sports Medicine South of Gwinnett

WOODSTOCK SUMMER CONCERT SERIES

The free concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Northside Hospital-Cherokee Amphitheater. More details at www.woodstockconcertseries.com.

Aug. 14: Steep Canyon Rangers Sept. 18: Christopher Cross Sept. 25: Rumours, a Fleetwood Mac tribute band

Making Pet Care More Affordable

Anew concept in veterinary medicine is available in Holly Springs. The third of five locations for Express Vets, the Holly Springs office opened in April, 2020, bringing to South Cherokee a model of offering care for pets at affordable prices. The company provides primary care for pets, much like a primary care physician. The veterinarians at Express Vets care for sick patients, perform annual exams, and provide vaccines, bloodwork and most pet medications, including heartworm and flea/tick treatments. Other cases, such as surgery, dentistry and emergency needs, are referred to local or specialty hospitals, based on the severity of the case. “We provide 98% of the services that a typical veterinarian offers, but we can do it for 30%-50% less cost,” said Dr. Lyn Lewis of Express Vets. “Because we do not get bogged down with emergencies, we can typically get you in and out for office visits much faster than a full-service veterinary clinic.”

Dr. Stacey Triscik, and the support team provide excellent patient care and customer service.

A Unique Approach

The company’s owners created Express Vets to make medical care for pets affordable, encouraging pet owners not to shy away from seeking proper care because of exorbitant costs. That foundation, as well as other tenets, is at the core of the business model.

Affordable.

Express Vets was created to bring affordable care to clients who feel left behind, due to the high cost of taking care of their pet. Wellness plans are available for as low as $38, and services are typically 30%-50% less than others charge.

Healthy work-life balance.

The veterinarians and staff work shorter hours. Emergencies don’t keep the team from missing an important family activity, promoting a healthy balance with work and home.

Locally staffed.

Dr. Stacey Triscik, the full-time veterinarian in Holly Springs, is licensed in Georgia and, along with other staff, lives nearby. She received her undergraduate and doctor of veterinary medicine degrees from Oklahoma State University, and worked locally in Cherokee County for many years before joining Express Vets.

Making Pet Care More Affordable

Locally owned.

North Georgia residents, Dr. Lewis and wife Kristen, built Express Vets to fill a need for costeffective, primary care services for pets. Dr. Lewis, a longtime practitioner of veterinary medicine, followed in his grandfather’s footsteps, graduating from the University of Georgia veterinary school exactly 50 years after his grandfather, Dr. George Radford (1952, 2002).

Holly Springs is one of five Express Vet locations in Georgia; the others are located in Canton, Kennesaw, Cumming and Buford.

Convenience.

“We love being in the Village Shoppes of East Cherokee,” Dr. Lewis said. “It is a great location, at the corner of Holly Springs Parkway and East Cherokee Drive. We are in a quiet unit at the front of the shopping center, next to Huntington Learning Center. We have great visibility and access, and it is a safe entrance for pets on leashes or in carriers. We also chose this location because we felt the area really needed a veterinary clinic conveniently located between Holly Springs and downtown Woodstock.”

Mission Accomplished

PHOTO BY JOYFUL DAY PHOTOGRAPHY

“I am very proud of what we offer. I really love the fact that we see clients who have not been to a veterinary clinic in years. This tells me that they feel safe in our environment, that they trust our services and our prices,” Dr. Lewis said. “I love keeping veterinary medicine local, being led by a doctor, not a billion-dollar corporation whose bottom line is the most important factor. We are evolving in a modern world, but not moving away from the important things: vet/client/pet relationships, high quality medicine, low prices,and fast, convenient services.”

The reviews affirm Dr. Lewis’ goals have been met. “Dr. Triscik and staff are wonderful. They are always patient and thorough with my pups. Checkups are explained in detail by the vet and next course of action, if necessary. Pricing is fair, especially for the area.” “Express Vets Holly Springs and Dr. Triscik are the best!! The caring atmosphere and attitude of all the staff is unmeasured anywhere else I’ve taken my ‘baby’ for treatment. They care as much about how my dog is doing as well as how well I am handling any problems and procedures.” “This is honestly one of the best vet offices I have been to. The office isn’t overly fancy like some of the vet offices I’ve been to, but it is clean and smells good, and they have veterinarians and staff that care about what’s best for your pet.”