🌱 Bluffs Parkway Roundabout + Fire Prevention Week + Trunk-or-Treat

Hi all. Nina here with your Tuesday edition of the Woodstock-Towne Lake Daily. Keep reading to find out all the most important things happening in town these days, including updates on:

• 🚧 the Technology Ridge Parkway project
• ⛽ county gas prices
• 🧯 National Fire Prevention Week

But first, today's weather:

Partly sunny and pleasant. High: 75 Low: 60.

Here are the top three stories today in Woodstock-Towne Lake:

1. Phase one of the Technology Ridge Parkway project is underway and will begin with a new roundabout on Bluffs Parkway. The groundbreaking of the eventual half-mile road, from Bluffs Parkway to Heard Road and Fate Conn Road, took place on Friday. The project will see a new corridor aimed to improve access from the Cherokee County Regional Airport to The Bluffs. The corridor was identified as a prime location for industry as part of the Technology Urban Redevelopment Plan created in 2011. The funding of the 18- 24-month project includes a $1 million grant, a $2.9 million loan from the State Road and Tollway Authority's Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank program, along with money from the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST). (Cherokee County Press Release)
2. The average gas price in Cherokee County as of Monday was $3.231, while the Georgia average was $3.23 and the National average was $3.919. The state average climbed 5 cents over the week prior, and is 17 cents higher than it was this time last year. The stations noted with the lowest prices in our area on Monday were Texaco at 3780 Sixes Road, Canton, with a $2.97 cash price tag, followed by Sam's Club at 9464 Main Street and BJ's at 105 Long Drive, both in Woodstock and priced at $2.99. AAA has said, though, that if patterns this year mirror those of past years, the fall and winter should bring a lower demand for gas, and with that, lower prices. (Subscription: Cherokee Tribune & Ledger-News)
3. October 9 - 15 is National Fire Prevention Week, and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) would like to remind us: "Fire won't wait. Plan your escape." Woodstock Fire & Rescue shared the reminder on their Facebook page this week, and added a link to an NFPA video to share with your kids and family titled "Fire Safety Minute." The video goes over how to plan your escape in less than a minute and helps kids gain skills and knowledge to help them keep safe. Fire Prevention Week has been around officially since 1925 and was created to prevent fires through safety practices. Each year, there is a different focus to the week. This year's focus is on creating escape routes and action plans with your family. (Woodstock Fire & Rescue via Facebook and Fireline Fire Protection)

Today in Woodstock-Towne Lake:

• Coffee with a Cop: an informal meet and chat with officers from the Woodstock Police Department at Truett's Chick-fil-A, 9728 Highway 92. (9 - 10:30 a.m.)
• Family Storytime: for children of all ages, stories, games and crafts. Children must be accompanied by an adult to the event at R.T. Jones Memorial Library, 116 Brown Industrial Parkway, Canton. (10:30 - 11:30 a.m.)
• INvestor Engagement Committee Meeting: the committee meets the second Tuesday of every other month in the Chattahoochee Tech Board Room, 1 Innovation Way. (noon - 1 p.m.)
• Paying for College 101: for any financially responsible party in the college process, learn about loans, scholarships, forms of financial aid and how to fill out the FAFSA forms at the Woodstock Library, 7735 Main Street. (6 - 7 p.m.)
• Game Night with Lights Up! Entertainment: the $5 game pass is good for unlimited games at Reformation Brewery, 105 Elm Street. (6 - 8 p.m.)
• Andy Davidson In-Person: the author of the horror novel "The Hollow Kind" will be at the FoxTale Book Shoppe, 105 E. Main Street, Suite 138. (6:30 - 8:30 p.m.)
• Pad Thai with Chef Sunisa: hands-on class at Leaning Ladder, 105 E. Main Street. (7 - 9:30 p.m.)
• Music Bingo with DJ CaseyD: every Tuesday at Truck & Tap, 8640 Main Street. (7:30 - 10 p.m.)
• Senior Center Programs:
  • Book Lover's Club - every 2nd Tuesday of the month at the William G. Long Senior Center. (10 - 11 a.m.)
• MadLife Grill Patio Stage:
  • Greg Shaddix (noon - 3 p.m.)
  • Open Mic Night - you can sign up for a spot here. (6 - 9 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• The Little River United Methodist Church is holding a pumpkin sale fundraiser today through October 31. There will be games, face painting, cider, a bake sale and a photo opportunity. The fundraiser will run 1 - 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. on Saturday and noon - 8 p.m. on Sunday. The church is located at 12455 Highway 92. (Cherokee Chamber of Commerce)
• The Woodstock Public Safety Foundation is holding a Trunk-or-Treat Car Show for Team Ezra on October 29. 100% of the proceeds will go to Ezra King and family to assist with their mounting bills. Please bring candy to pass out for the trunk-or-treat if participating, there will also be a costume contest at 2:30 p.m. If you would like to be a sponsor, vendor or participant in the car show, please reach out to Officer JoAn Willingham at jwillingham@woodstockga.gov. (Woodstock Public Safety Foundation)
• Would you like to explore other employment options? Here are the five newest job openings in our area. (Woodstock-Towne Lake Patch)
• Downtown Woodstock: "Help your favorite scarecrow in the 2022 WDSTK Scarecrow Invasion win the competition! You can vote for your favorite scarecrow during the event at the Woodstock Visitors Center. $1 donation equals 1 vote." (Downtown Woodstock via Instagram)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Mantra HHC-Metaphysical Shop and Holistic Hea — (Visit website)
• Add your business here

Events:

• Rootstock Presents "The Haunted Tavern Experience Crafted Cocktail Dinner" (October 13)
• Sunset Symphony (October 14)
• St. Mary of Egypt International Fall Festival - Saturday and Sunday 12-5 (October 15)
• Understanding Mood, Genetics and the Environment's Effect on Brain Health (October 18)
• Add your event

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Tuesday off right. I'll see you around!

— Nina Lightcap

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Woodstock-Towne Lake Daily? Contact me at Woodstock@Patch.com