🌱 Taste Of Canton This Week + Canton Is Going Green + Disaster Prep

Hello again, neighbors! It's me, Nina, your host of the Patch newsletter. Here are all the things you need to know about what's happening in the community today. Today's briefing includes news about...

• Taste of Canton is here, rain or shine this time.
• The Canton Green Plan has been approved.
• Free classes to improve your disaster prep.

But first, today's weather: Humid; an afternoon thunderstorm. High: 83 Low: 59.

Check out what our local sponsor can do for you:

Looking for a meaningful volunteer opportunity in Canton? The Children’s Haven is excited to announce their next training opportunity to become a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). Next training will begin April 12 - May 10, Wednesday sessions from 9 a.m.-4. p.m. CASA volunteers advocate on behalf of children in foster care, ensuring their best interests are always at the forefront. Visit The Children’s Haven to learn more, or email Mandy here for more information and complete training details.

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Here are the top five stories in Canton-Sixes today:

1. Rescheduled from April 27, it's finally time for Taste of Canton! The annual event will be held at The Mill on Etowah this Thursday, and it will be filled with some of the most amazing food around. The local restaurants, bars and shops that will be participating include Bizarre Coffee, Goin' Coastal Seafood, Joe's Lonestar Tacos and many more. There is no cost for admission, but you'll purchase food tickets once you arrive at the event if you want to sample the goods. There will also be live music and specialty drinks at the rain-or-shine event. (Canton City Calendar)
2. The Canton Green Plan was approved unanimously by the Canton City Council, and there is now an official plan for the sustainable maintenance and facilities in Canton. There are several measures outlined in the plan, aligning with the Atlanta Regional Commission Green Communities Certification, including reducing waste and pollution in part by constructing "green buildings" built to the standards of the United States Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system and EPA, EnergyStar and EarthCraft Light Commercial program guidelines. Movements towards a greener future also include LEED certifications for certain buildings and EnergyStar or EarthCraft Light Commercial Standard certification for others. (Subscription: Cherokee Tribune & Ledger-News)
3. The Cherokee Office of Emergency Management and Cherokee E 9-1-1 are holding free Community Preparedness 101 classes this and next month. The evening classes will help participants protect their property in cases of severe weather and other disaster situations through topics like the different types of weather threats and hazards that occur in our area, the hazards and history of occurrences, the alerts and notifications used in the county and how to create a plan and a "ready kit." Participants will also get a look into how the E 9-1-1 Center works and how calls are handled. You can register here for the Woodstock class at The Chambers at City Center on May 31, from 6-7:30 p.m. There will also be two classes held in Canton and one in Waleska over the next two months. (Cherokee GA Communications Division)
4. With the weather warming up, it's important to remember that the heat outside can raise the temperature inside a vehicle drastically, and seemingly every year, children fall victim to heat-related car deaths. It is reported that the interior temperature can raise around 20 degrees in as little as 10 minutes. What can we do? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) educates the public about the danger and reminds caregivers to check the back seat whenever you drive and to never leave a child in the car, even with the windows down. You can find more information from the NHTSA about heatstroke safety here. (Cherokee Fire & Emergency Services via Facebook)
5. The Cherokee County Animal Shelter has puppies, and they're available early! The litter is absolutely adorable, you can see the pups and all adoptable animals here. Instead of the regular Saturday adoption day, they are all available today at 10 a.m. You'll follow the regular adoption procedures for the shelter. Scan the QR code posted on their front door, it will become active at a random time. Once the code is active, you'll have the option of checking in to put yourself in the virtual line. The adoption fee includes the animal's spay or neuter, heartworm and leukemia testing, initial vaccinations, deworming, flea preventative and microchip. (Cherokee County Animal Shelter via Facebook)

From our sponsor:

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Today in Canton-Sixes:

• T-Mobile Tuesdays: For T-Mobile customers, check the app every Tuesday for free stuff, including food, gas, entertainment and more. (8:30 a.m.)
• River Church Farmers Market: Don't forget to grab your fresh produce and crafty goods at the market today and every Tuesday. The church is located at 2335 Sixes Road. (9 a.m. - 1 p.m.)
• American Red Cross Community Blood Drive: You can make an appointment at the link for the blood drive at the R.T. Jones Memorial Library, 116 Brown Industrial Parkway. Donors will receive a $10 gift card. (11 a.m. - 4 p.m.)
• Tuesday Market at The Mill: Head over to The Green for fresh produce, meats, oils, seafood and much more at The Mill on Etowah, 225 Reformation Parkway. (3 - 7 p.m.)
• Music Bingo: Join the fun with Lights Up! Entertainment at Reformation Brewery, 225 Reformation Parkway. (7 - 9 p.m.)
• Karaoke Night: Sing your heart out every Tuesday and Thursday at Canton Icehouse, 150 Keith Drive. (8 p.m. - midnight)

In partnership with T-Mobile:

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From my notebook:

• If you suspect or are a victim of human trafficking, there is help at the National Human Trafficking Hotline. You can call 888-373-7888 to speak to an anti-trafficking hotline advocate 24/7, text the words "info" or "help" to the hotline at 233733 (BeFree), or if you or the victim is in danger, call 911. You can read more here. (Canton PD via Facebook)
• Cherokee Recreation & Parks is holding a Cake Decorating 2.0 class on June 6 at The WREC in Woodstock. The class is for ages 6 and up and will go over finishing a cake with buttercream, basic fondant and piping techniques and cake stacking. The class will meet from 5:30-7:30 p.m., The WREC address is 7545 Main St., Building 200. If that day or time doesn't work for you, the class will also be held June 10 and Aug. 15. You can register here. (Cherokee Recreation & Parks)
• If you've been thinking about Cherokee Charter Academy for your child, they are holding an enrollment info session today at 6:30 p.m. Applications for the coming school year are now being accepted for children in kindergarten through eighth grade. The school can be found at 2126 Sixes Road. (Canton-Sixes Patch)
• City of Canton GA: "There's no playing around here! City of Canton Public Works crews are working diligently to prep the new Heritage Park Playground to get it ready for a turf play base. The playground is slated for a grand opening in early June!" (City of Canton GA via Facebook)

Here are some events coming up this week that require a ticket purchase or registration in advance, be sure to check the venues' official calendars for their full schedules.

• Sequoyah Regional Library System
  • Wednesday: Toddler Sensory Hour - For children 4 and under. You can register here for the play group at the Rose Creek Library, 4476 Towne Lake Parkway in Woodstock. (11 a.m. - noon)
  • Wednesday: Reading Dog - For children 6 and up, sign up here for a 15-minute spot to read to Zoey the Reading Dog at the Rose Creek Library, 4476 Towne Lake Parkway in Woodstock. (4:30 - 5:30 p.m.)
  • Thursday: Adult Paint Along - For ages 16 and up. Paint a nice, spring scene, guided by video. You can register here for the painting session at the Rose Creek Library. (10:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.)
  • Thursday: Mommy & Me Art Night - For ages 6 and up. Bring your mom over to the Woodstock Library for a painting session. You can register here for the event; the library is located at 7735 Main St. in Woodstock. (5 - 6:30 p.m.)
  • Friday: Patron Art Gallery - Enjoy the exhibit featuring library patron artists at the R.T. Jones Memorial Library, 116 Brown Industrial Parkway. If you'd like your art to be shown, please submit your application here. (3 - 5:30 p.m.)
• Cherokee Recreation & Parks
  • Tuesday: Community Yoga - The free class is open to all fitness levels and takes place every Monday morning and Tuesday evening. The class will be held at The WREC, 7545 Main St., Building 200. (Various Times)
  • Friday: Parent's Night Out - Bring the kids over to the Cherokee Aquatic Center, at 1200 WellStar Way in Canton, and they'll swim, eat, make crafts, play games and watch a movie. You can register here. (5:15 - 10 p.m.)
• M&M Mercantile, 225 Reformation Parkway
  • Friday: Friday Funday, Bee Happy - Paint a bumble bee and a ladybug on canvas and enjoy some light bites and drinks. (1 - 4 p.m.)
• Other
  • Wednesday: Go with the Flow - Hosted by Strongside Fitness and Fermented Wine, join the yoga-then-wine event on The Green every Wednesday at The Mill on Etowah, 225 Reformation Parkway. Please bring a mat or towel. (6 - 8 p.m.)
  • Saturday: Up River Fest - A 5K marks the start of the festival at 4 p.m., benefitting Goshen Valley. Live music will be going on from 5 - 10 p.m., and there will be lots of vendors, food, drinks, a kids area and more. Artists include Kurt Wheeler featuring Haddy Nix, Chad Patterson, Ansley Fain, Cody Bolden and Bent to Fly. You can sign up for the 5K here. The festival is at The Mill on Etowah, 225 Reformation Parkway. (4 - 10 p.m.)
  • Saturday and Sunday: Cherokee County Mother's Day Powwow and Indian Festival. The festival will at Boling Park and will feature Native American dancing, a hoop dancer, Aztec dancers, tipis and so much more. Food vendors will be offering Native American food, and there will be a 5K on Saturday at 8 a.m. You'll get your tickets from the front gate when you arrive. (Various Times)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Fresh Perks Every Week (May 9)
• Merry Market Craft Fair & Bazaar (May 13)
• Veteran Block Party! Veterans eat free! (May 20)
• Cherokee County Alzheimer's Community Forum (May 25)
• Add your event

Thanks for following along and staying informed! See you tomorrow for another update.

— Nina Lightcap

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Canton-Sixes Patch newsletter? Contact me at Canton-GA@Patch.com