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PAGE 8B THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2008 Protect plants from cold damage during winter 'Menopause The Musical' returns for limited engagement After 635 performances from April 2005 - February 2007 made it the longest-running musical in Atlanta history, “Menopause The Musical” is coming back to Atlanta for a limited-time engagement at the 14 th Street Playhouse on February 22. This hilarious musical rendition of “the change” has been entertaining and educating women from coast-to-coast for more than five years. From the work of writer Jeanine Linders, “Menopause The Musical” is a 90-minute production, which includes re-lyricized tunes from the 60s and 70s that will have women - and men - laughing out loud in their seats! Billed as “The Hilarious Celebration of Women and The Change,” the show begins with four women at a Bloomingdale’s lingerie sale with nothing in common but a black lace bra - so it seems. Turns out, the “Professional Woman,” the “Soap Star,” the “Iowa Housewife” and the “Earth Mother” also share hot flashes, night sweats, memory loss, chocolate binges and day- to-day challenges with aging parents, aging children and aging partners. These four women share their ups and downs through a collection of 26 re- lyricized baby boomer songs from the 60s, 70s and 80s. Disco hit “Stayin’ Alive” becomes “Stayin’ Awake,” Motown favorite “My Girl” is trans formed into “My Thighs,” “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” switched to “In the guest room or on the sofa, my husband sleeps at night,” and “Puff the Magic Dragon” becomes the anthem to exercise, “Puff my God I’m draggin.” “It may not be Shakespeare, but our focus is different. We want to bring women together and empower them. This is an event - a happening,” says producer Kathi Glist. “It resonates with just about any woman over 40, but it is enjoyed by all. And the men laugh just as hard,” she adds. “Menopause The Musical,” which debuted in a 76-seat theatre in Orlando, Fla., has become an international women’s movement, playing in more than 40 United States cities and 12 countries. With more than 9 million viewers and almost 50,000 audience members each week, women and men of all ages and stages of life find their spirits lifted by the show’s light-hearted look at menopause. “The show has become a point of relating, a celebration of life passage that launches women into a new exciting phase of their lives,” says writer, Jeanie Linders. “Most women know intuitively what every other woman is facing with the onset of menopause. They talk about it with their friends and, on occasion, with their spouses. But, when they are in a theatre with hundreds of women, and they’re all shouting ‘That’s Me!’ then they know what they are experiencing is normal. They call it sisterhood!” “Menopause The Musical” features an outstanding cast of actresses, all returning from the original Atlanta production with Gainesville Ingrid Cole as Earth Mother, Atlanta’s Mary Katheryn Kaye (Suzi Bass Award nominee for “Respect”) as Iowa Housewife, Scottdale’s Valerie Payton (Suzi Bass Award nominee for “Romeo and Juliet”) as Professional Woman, and Jonesboro’s Lynna Schmidt as Soap Star. The Menopause band will again be conducted by Suzi Bass Award nominee Dale Grogan, known for over 25 years of experience in the Atlanta musical theatre scene. “Menopause The Musical” in Atlanta is produced by GFour Production founders, Kathi and Alan Glist and Sandra and Kenneth Greenblatt. They began producing in 1981 and have since been nominated for 22 Tony Awards winning 30, 38 Drama Desk Awards winning 72 and 10 Outer Critic Awards winning nine. Performances are Wednesday through Sunday, with matinees on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. and evening performances on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m. and on Saturdays at 5:30 p.m. An additional, one-time Sunday evening show will be featured at 5:30 p.m. on February 24. Tickets for all performances are $42.50 and can be purchased at the theatre box office, by calling 404-733-4750 or you can visit www.menopausethe- musical.com. Discounts for groups of 15 or more are available by calling 404-606-2323. The 14 th Street Playhouse is located at 173 14 th Street in Atlanta. For direc tions visit www.14thstplayhouse.org. Hall Co. can drive under way The Hall County Fire Department is sponsoring a canned food drive during January. Anyone who would like to donate is asked to drop canned food off at the Hall County Fire Station, located at 5608 Hwy. 52, Gillsville, or at any other Hall County Fire station. All of the canned goods will stay in the area to take care of the local needs in the area of Hall County. Hwy. 441 in Commerce 706-335-3196 800-798-7435 www.wayneneal.com SERVICE HOURS: M-F 7:30-6:00 • Sat. 8:00-4:00 The only local GM dealer offering Saturday Service OIL CHANGE, LUBE & FILTER, TIRE ROTATION, FREE BRAKE INSPECTION & ALIGNMENT During the winter months, it is necessary to provide protection to certain landscape plants. Winter protection does not mean to keep your plants wann, as this is practically impossible, but to provide protection from damaging winds, possible snow and ice, the alternate freezing and thawing of the soil beneath the plants, and heat from the sun on very cold days. There are several things you can do to protect plants from cold damage: •Plant only varieties that are hardy to this area. Plant less hardy plants in the highest part of the yard since cold air seems to settle to the lowest part of the yard. •Protect plants from cold winds by building a fence or planting a tall evergreen hedge of trees or shrubs as a windbreak. •Shade plants from direct winter sun, especially early morning sun. Plants that freeze slowly and thaw slowly will be damaged the least. Obviously, the south side of the house with no shade is the worst place for tender plants. •Stop feeding plants the quick release nitrogen fertilizers in late summer. That way the plants will have time to “harden off” before the cold weather hits. •A covering of plastic is excel lent protection. Build a frame over the plant or plants, cover them with plastic and seal the plastic to the ground with soil. Shade the plas tic from direct sunlight and make sure the plastic does not come in contact with the plants. Provide protection to landscape plants by reducing their water loss. Plants transpire water through their leaves. A warm sun on a cold, windy day can result in a higher rate of water transpiration. So, be sure to water all shrubs and trees during the winter months. A good soaking once a week with a bucket, a water hose, or a soaking rain is sufficient. An additional layer of mulch is usually recommended during the winter months after the first freeze. Mulches will reduce water loss from the soil, thus aiding in transpiration. They will also reduce “heaving” of the soil as the soil freezes and thaws. Following these guidelines will help protect the landscape plants around your home during the cold winter months. When plants are pro tected during the winter months, they are able to develop a stronger root system which helps provide more nutrients to the plant dur ing the spring and summer growth period. Bob Waldorf is the Banks County extension agent. 'The Bottom' in Athens to be discussed Sunday, Jan. 20 The Athens Historical Society and the Athens-Clarke County Library’s Heritage Room will co-sponsor the program “A Trip to ‘The Bottom’: Across Dougherty and Back in Time” on Sunday, Jan. 20, at 3 p.m. ‘The Bottom’ in the 1920s and ‘30s was a close-knit, hard-working community of small shotgun-style homes and neighborhood businesses that grew up around a cotton mill on Pulaski Street in Athens. Families, often headed by a grandmother, looked after each other, raising grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Blues music was an integral part of this area. Artists who played at the Morton Theater often came to ‘The Bottom’ for jam sessions. The Rev. Charles Knox, the pro gram’s presenter, grew up in that section of Athens. He is researching the people and life in ‘The Bottom’ before urban renewal in the 1960s demolished the small homes and businesses and changed the lives of the inhabitants. The program will feature stories, photos and music from ‘The Bottom.’ This program is free and open to the public and will be in the Athens-Clarke County Library’s Auditorium. The program will be taped for inclusion in the ACC Library Heritage Room’s oral his tory archives. If anyone would like to share pho tos, memorabilia or other informa tion about people who lived in ‘The Bottom,’ they can bring it with them to the program or can contact the Rev. Knox at 706-410-5667. For more information about library events, call 706-613-3650 or go to http://www.clarke.public. lib.ga.us/ RENTAL VEHICLES Commerce Vision Center 1937 Homer Road • Commerce, GA 30529 (706) 335-7552 Wayne Neal now rents vehicles for that special occasion or whatever the event, car in shop, going on vacation, we can help. Come See Us At Hwy. 441 in Commerce Or Call 706-335-3196 Ask For Ashley DOLCE & GABBANA & PRADA EYEWEAR $25 OFF Select Pairs Of Glasses With This Coupon Icommerce j ^sT Commerce 706-335-7552 Not valid with other offers or insurance plans. Offer expires 3/31/08. Buford 770-271-3500 One Pair Of Eyeglasses 95 $69 Two Pairs Of Eyeglasses $ 99 95 Buy More, Save More save $65 to $95 3331 Hamilton Mill Road, Suite 1100 Buford, GA (770) 271-3500 Hours of operation: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday S.V Lenses Can Be Two Different Frames From Selected Group. Single Vision, Plastic, Clear Lenses. With This Coupon Not valid with other offers or insurance plans. Offer expires 3/31/08. On 1 Year Supply Of ACUVUE® Oasys™ Contact Lenses. Buy 7 Boxes Get 8 th Box Free. With This Coupon Commerce 706-335-7552 Buford 770-271-3500 Not valid with other offers or insurance plans. Offer expires 3/31/08. Buford 770-271-3500 Keep Banks County beautiful! Got a news tip? Coll 367-2490. bob waldorf * HOMER DRUG CO. Is celebrating our 30th ANNIVERSARY! Lucky winners chosen weekly to receive FREE groceries! Monday- December winners are: Frances Brown • Marsha Jones • Julie Cole • Rebecca Ford 706-677-3223 • Hwy. 441 • Homer, Georgia y-Friday 9 - 6; Saturday 9 - 12 Noon; Sunday Closed . 4 G) \x.* \ V.* ) -/C