Operation Christmas Child Kicks Off in Cherokee

Organization collecting toys, school supplies and hygiene products for children in need.

  While most people in the United States are preparing for holiday activities, Johns Creek volunteers with Operation Christmas Child—the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind—are filling shoe box gifts with toys, school supplies and hygiene items for needy children overseas. This year-round project of international Christian relief and evangelism organization Samaritan's Purse, headed by Franklin Graham, is ramping up as local businesses, churches and community groups prepare to collect 45,000 gift-filled shoe boxes during National Collection Week (Nov. 12 – 19). Anyone can drop off a packed shoe box at Mount Pisgah, the Johns Creek-area collection site. Then, using whatever means necessary—trucks, trains, boats, bikes and even …

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How Will Hurricane Sandy Affect Holiday Travel Plans?

With damage to airports and flooding rampant, Holiday travel could be difficult this year.

It's safe to say that the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy will be felt for a long time up and down the Eastern Seaboard. One of the most immediate effects of the storm may be difficulties in holiday travel arising from flood and storm damage. Marci Zied of Canton's A Love of Travel travel agency doesn't see too many problems for holiday travelers as a result of Hurricane Sandy; in fact, she is leaving for Spain on Friday through New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. "We were worried because JFK was closed earlier, but it will be open to international flights by the time we leave," she said. "By Thanksgiving it shouldn't be an issue." Zied did say that New York's LaGuardia Airport, which handles more domestic flights, is closed due…

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Great Escape

Escape to Earth, Paint and Fire

Have some creative fun and take care of a few items on your holiday gift list at the same time.

I spent close to 20 years working in downtown Atlanta, which means I traveled comatose on 1-75 along with thousands of other miserable commuters. Rain, sunshine and snow did not deter us from our required path. Oh, occasional road ice brought a reprieve, but not often enough. Now my math may be a bit off, but assuming I drove to my office at least 15 days each month, with an average commute time of three hours per day, I spent about 1.3 years in my car inhaling exhaust fumes and listening to really bad talk radio. By the time I arrived home each evening, I had very little energy left for enjoying the local scene. And activities I enjoyed in my youth, like Christmas shopping, became pure drudgery. Yes, as the years progressed, I was reduced…

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