Around Towne
by Susan Kyle

As I sit down to write this and realize that November is upon us, I think (of course) of Thanksgiving. I then take a moment to think of all of the things that I am thankful for. I am thankful for more things than I could possibly list in this column, but I am very thankful that this year I don't have to cook. No, we are not crashing my in-laws, or my neighbors. Instead we are ordering our entire dinner (including dessert) from a local restaurant. Now, I am certain that there are any number of caterers that could be used for this holiday, and for some reason the thought of a home cooked dinner (by someone other than me) for eight for a mere $50 is very appealing. And of course, the fact that I don't have to cook is even more appealing. I love to bake, but I hate to cook.

No matter how you spend your Thanksgiving, don't forget to take the time to remember our troops, and and give thanks for this beautiful community we live in and for all of those who touch our lives everyday. And I hope you too don't have to cook!

What's New?

Your small pets will certainly be thankful if you take extra precautions regarding their outdoor safety this time of year. Why? Coyotes have been seen and heard near the Corps of Engineer's property, which surrounds Towne Lake. Cats and small dogs are particularly vulnerable.

Lisa Delosh, owner of Earth, Paint and Fire is indeed thankful that after a few minor delays, the paint-it-yourself pottery studio will hold its official Grand Opening on Saturday, November 6 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. There will be give-a-ways, specials and refreshments. If your office is looking for something different to do for this year's office party, the studio offers a party room or the rental of the entire studio!

Top Tails Pet Center also will be holding its Grand Opening in conjunction with Earth, Paint and Fire. Top Tails is a full line pet store catering to all pets' needs including food, grooming, designer beds, collars and more. There will be door prizes, give-a-ways, raffles and free hot dogs and popcorn. Both businesses are located at the corner of Towne Lake Parkway and Buckhead Crossing, next to Publix.

Salon Allure is proud to welcome stylist Lanette Bonamico to the staff. Lanette hails from Naples, FL. She delivers personalized cuts and color based on the client's skin tone, eye color and anatomy. Salon Allure is under new management and is located at 2340 Towne Lake Parkway.

What's Ongoing?

The southeast corner of Bells Ferry and Eagle Drive will see a new professional building development, Eagle Drive Professional Park. The 20,000 square foot office development will be comprised of professional, medical, business, service and executive tenants. One of the businesses going in is a health club, Golden Age Fitness, owned by Towne Lake resident Sandy Riordan. The fitness facility is targeted to seniors and those who are physically challenged (overweight or just coming out of physical therapy). Sandy expects to open Golden Age Fitness in January 2005.

There's been a lot of buzz around towne regarding the proposed interchange at I-575. The proposal is to move the northbound on-ramp and southbound off-ramp at Towne Lake Parkway up to a new on- and off-ramps at Woodstock Parkway and Rope Mill Road.

Susan is the Editor of The TowneLaker magazine. She lives in southwest Cherokee with her husband William and their two daughters, Molly and Samantha.

The proposal has upset several business owners and homeowners, particularly in the Deer Run neighborhood. While several members of the Woodstock City Council support this proposal, it recently unanimously denied awarding the contract with an engineering firm. The next City Council meeting will be held on Thursday, November 4 at 7 p.m. where the proposal is sure to be discussed again.

The construction of the Wal-Mart Supercenter still is progressing. The parking lot lights have been installed and "tested" as surrounding neighbors can testify. The interior lights also have been installed and are working.

The Streetside Developers project at the northeast corner of Bells Ferry Road and Eagle Drive announced several future tenants, including Bobby G's (a restaurant), a chocolate shop, Super Cuts, a nail salon, a dry cleaner, a health club and an unnamed restaurant chain.

Don't forget to vote on Tuesday, November 2. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Please remember that all Cherokee County schools will be closed that day. Voters will not only choose the next President, but locally, a new school board member as well as two Constitutional amendments will be up for vote.

Towne Lake Diner
Mellow Mushroom
by Kara Kiefer

Nestled in the heart of Towne Lake, there's this pizza joint. It's eclectic in its décor, and it's very family friendly. The pizza, calzones and hoagies are made with only the finest ingredients, and the staff encourages its customers to "keep on shroom-in." The place I'm referring to is Mellow Mushroom, and the next time you are in the mood for really good pizza, this is the place for you.

The first thing customers notice when they enter the restaurant is the colorful and relaxed atmosphere. But it's the smell of the pizza baking that makes them want to stay. And this is no ordinary pizza, especially Mellow Mushroom's signature Gourmet White Pizza. The stone-cooked crust is light and crispy and it's topped with an olive oil sauce, garlic, sun dried tomatoes, and three kinds of cheese. The Gourmet White is one of ten specialty pizzas, including Mighty Meaty, Hawaiian and Jerk Chicken. The perfect complement to one of their pizzas is a salad, and like the pizza, the salads are also not your ordinary garden variety. There are seven varieties to choose from, including Caesar, mixed green, and my favorite, Greek. The menu is rounded out with choices in calzones, hoagies, and design-your-own pizza with a myriad of traditional and unique ingredients.

One of Mellow Mushroom's philosophies is "You are what you eat." The restaurant takes the extra step to ensure their products are not only tasty but healthy as well. Their dough is made without any sugar and made with spring water. The mozzarella cheese is reduced fat, and the meats are always precooked, drained and trimmed of excess fat.

"Shroom-in" for some of the best pizza in the Towne Lake area.