In lieu of gifts … write a check!

By Christine Anne Piesyk | November 2, 2007 |

The holidays seem to begin in November, leading up to Thanksgiving and of course, Hanukah, Christmas and Kwanza. It becomes a frenzy on “Black Friday,” when hordes of shoppers line up at midnight or in the wee hours in an attempt to get the best deals and the early bird.

Many of us already have the things we really want or need, so we’ve turned to a different kind of shopping: we seek out places and organizations that would benefit from charitable contributions, a donation “in lieu of…” random gifts. Because we also like to see these supporting gifts in action, we keep most of our charitable giving “local.”

With that in mind, Clarksville Online is launching this holiday season with a list of organizations whose work we admire and support; it is an eclectic list of organizations that in one way or another has direct impact on the people of our community. «Read the rest of this article»

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Tarot, Reiki, massage at Open House

By Christine Anne Piesyk | November 2, 2007 |

Celestial Esscents will host a Holiday Open House Saturday, November 3rd with a program that includes free healing energy sessions by certified Reiki practioners and graduates of the Angelic Healing Vibration and Crystal Healing Therapy courses.

Free Tarot readings will be offered and guests can also try a mini chair massage and chair mini-massages will also be offered. The event is a six-month celebration of the shops opening.

To finish the day on a special note, Frank Castellano will use his mediumship abilities to connect attendees with their loved ones on the other side in a Gallery Reading, “Communicating Beyond The Veil”. The gallery reading will be held at 6pm and seats are limited. Reserve your seat by prepaying in advance.

Celestial Esscents is located at 1850 Wilma Rudolph Boulevard in Clarksville. For more information about any of our activities, please call: 931-552-7777.

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MCDP rallies to ‘Walk the State Blue’

By Christine Anne Piesyk | November 2, 2007 |

Montgomery County Democratic Party will join the “Walk the State Blue” movement as they host a meet-and-greet rally and voter registration Saturday, November 3, from 10 a.m. to noon at Veteran Plaza on Pageant Lane.

Walk the State Blue is a statewide Democratic initiative involving all Tennessee counties to “take back” their counties and turn the state of Tennessee “blue.”

The MCDP will offer information on the local party and issues that concern not just Democrats but all Americans. Voter registration will be available for all local citizens who need to register to vote in the Presidential preference on February 5, 2008.

Gene Lewis, MCDP chairman, said this is the first of several events to be sponsored by the party in the coming months. Refreshments will served.

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A Doll’s House: Ibsen’s once banned play births feminism for modern stage

By Christine Anne Piesyk | November 2, 2007 |

Henrik Ibsen’s groundbreaking play, A Doll’s House, will open Nov. 9 at the Roxy Regional Theater in downtown Clarksville.

A Doll’s House is considered to be the first “feminist” play, challenging the Victorian ideal of a woman’s role in marriage. When initially written back in 1879 — yes, 1879 — it was banned in Britain and the subject of controversy and requests to “change the ending.” All the more reason to see it. Not that it is the target of such controversy today; in fact by modern standards the play is tame.

In Ibsen’s time, though, when women were considered “fragile” subservient to men in marriage and men controlled the home, the money and the lifestyles, having a female character dare to walk out on a sacrosanct marriage was, well, unthinkable. Sacrilegious. «Read the rest of this article»

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