The Chamblee Alliance for Art and Culture held a Grand Opening of the Chamblee Farmers Market on June 19th. The Market is located in the Frosty Caboose parking lot in downtown Chamblee, 5435 Peachtree Rd., and will run through December, rain or shine.

"We are excited to bring the Chamblee Farmers Market to our city," said Alan Moise, Director of the Chamblee Farmers Market. "We look forward to providing healthy, locally-produced food and products to our community while cultivating a sustainable connection between producers and consumers. As a result, this effort will support the local economy and enhance the overall health of the local people and their environment."

The Chamblee Farmers Market will have approximately 10 vendors joining them for the summer season, providing produce, meat, eggs, honey, flowers, bread, cheese, coffee and more. All of the vendors are local, and use sustainable practices, following the principals of organic production when possible.

The Market is open on Saturdays from 8:30-11:30 a.m. For more information, please visit www.chambleefarmersmarket.com.

Prelude to the 4th

Follow the yellow brick road to Lawrenceville and celebrate our nation's independence as La-wrenceville's 6th Annual "Prelude to the 4th" takes you somewhere Over the Rainbow!

Held on the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse lawn 185 Crogan St.), Aurora Theatre will be present-ing a special, outdoor concert version of The Wizard of Oz on Saturday, July 3rd.

Families and friends can enjoy free lawn seating or rent tables and order catering packages from local restaurants on the eve of Independence Day. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. with lawn seating available starting at 5:30 p.m.

Tables for six are available for rental for only $125 by contacting the Lawrenceville Visitors Center at 678-226-2639.

Simply Dancing was opened 20 years ago by sisters Debbie Lee and Dotti Warren. Debbie and Dotti first began dancing in Albany, Ga., then moved to Atlanta and studied with Carolyn Fleetwood and other teachers. They performed in the Southern Ballet Company of Atlanta.

Simply Dancing became a real family affair when Debbie and Dottie's sister, Delayne Meaders, became a part of the studio when Debbie had to pursue another job. Another family member, Christina Jones, returned from performing with Wild Adventure Theme Park and became Simply Dancing's artistic director.

Simply Dancing was designed to be a wholesome and happy place for young people to discover the arts. The family-oriented studio began to see its young people get college scholarships and jobs in the dance industry. The company's dancers are known to be well-rounded in their dance education, which includes classical ballets, jazz training, tap dancing and more.

The studio offers a variety of dance classes for ages 3-1/2 through adult, and has added Pilates classes for adults who want to strengthen and lengthen muscles without wear and tear on joints.

Simply Dancing is located at 5330 Lilburn Stone Mountain Rd., Lilburn. For more information, log on to www.simplydancing.shutterfly.com or call 770-921-6669.

The "Jack Frost Soccer League" had a recent tournament in Bunten Road Park in Duluth. With a portion of monies raised, the JF group decided to give it to the Sentinels of Freedom, Gwinnett, a not-for-profit group dedicated to bringing severely disabled veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan back to Gwinnett County.

The mission of SOFG is to give these returning disabled vets a "Life Scholarship" - four years of college, job training, a home and auto, help with home problems, baby sitting if required, and mostly, the help of financial planners and other citizens of Gwinnett County who can help them with transitioning back into civilian life.

"Most of what we will see are vets in their early 20's - with a family -who went directly into the service, and have never had to deal with adult living in civilian life," said Tim Thornberry, President of SOFG. "It will be our job to work with these young, often frightened young men and women to help them adjust. It is because of people like the Jack Frost Soccermen that we will accomplish our mission."

For information how you can help a wounded veteran regain a normal life here in Gwinnett County, go to the Sentinels website, www.sofgwinnett.org.

Michelle Fisher, a resident of Norcross, was among 24 metro Atlanta teens who were honored May 16 at Greater Atlanta Hadassah's 19th annual Marian F. Perling Hadassah Chesed Student Awards Program. The Chesed Awards have been given annually since 1992 to teens who exemplify many of the values and ideals that are of paramount importance to the Hadassah organization and its members.

Chesed is a Hebrew word meaning an act of kindness. Students in grades 7-12 are eligible to receive the Chesed Award - one student each year from Atlanta area Jewish day schools and syn-agogue religious schools. Selection criteria for the Chesed Award include: love for Israel, concern for Jews and Jewish culture and heritage, concern for fellow human beings as exemplified through manner and deed, and good academic standing.

Michelle just completed 7th grade at Pinckneyville Middle School . She was nominated for the Chesed Award by Congregation Beth Shalom. She is the daughter of Diane and Jeff Fisher.

Founded in 1916, the Greater Atlanta Hadassah chapter of Hadassah comprises 3,000 mem-bers and associates who come together to raise funds in support of Hadassah's projects in Israel and the United States ; to promote issues of women's health and family well-being; to study; to educate; and to have fun. To join Hadassah or to inquire about the work and mission of Hadassah, contact the Greater Atlanta Hadassah office at 678-443-2961, or visit the web site at www.atlanta.hadassah.org.