🌱 Catch A Play This Weekend + LGE Scholarships Awarded + CCSD Budget

Hey, everybody! I'm back in your inbox this morning with your new copy of the Woodstock-Towne Lake Patch newsletter, fresh off the presses. Let's get this weekend started off right, with a quick guide to the most important things happening around town. In today's issue, you'll learn about:

• This weekend's a great time to take in a play.
• Local students awarded with LGE scholarships.
• The 2023-24 school budget has been approved.

But first, your local weather:

• Saturday: Partly sunny and warm. High: 89 Low: 61.
• Sunday: Increasing cloudiness. High: 89 Low: 70.

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

1. There are some great performances going on at the Woodstock Arts Theatre this weekend — "A Year with Frog and Toad" will be performed on both Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 p.m., and the musical "Ordinary Days" will be performed on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 6 p.m. "A Year with Frog and Toad" is for all ages and sends a message of friendship to kids, and "Ordinary Days" is for ages 14 and up and tells the story of young adults looking for fulfillment, happiness, love and taxi cabs. Catch one or both while you can, the next play up is "Matilda," and that will start on July 12. (Woodstock Arts)
2. It was announced that three area students were awarded scholarships from LGE Community Credit Union. Awarded $2,500 from the LGE Community Credit Union Scholarship Program were Woodstock High School's Sarah Brooks and Cherokee High School's Summer McRoy, and Creekview High School's Cassidy Tanner received a $1,000 scholarship from the Positive Athlete LGE Extra Credit Award. The total of the scholarships received by students in Bartow, Cherokee, Cobb, Douglas, Fulton and Paulding counties was $32,500. (Subscription: Cherokee Tribune & Ledger-News)
3. In other school news, the Cherokee County School Board approved the budget for the 2023-24 school year this week, and it includes $20 million to put towards teacher and support staff salary increases and the funding of recruitment and retention bonuses. The $538 million budget also includes the completion of Cherokee High School and Free Home Elementary School. The millage rate will stay put at 17.95 mills. You can read about other items discussed in the meeting at the link. (Cherokee County School District News)
4. The Hickory Flat Kitchen is now open in the Hickory Flat Village shopping center. The restaurant features an upscale menu and a full bar, and the restaurant owners boast fresh produce, meat and poultry brought in almost daily. Vegetarian options are readily available, and most menu items are already gluten-free or can be made so. The restaurant will offer catering and to-go services in the near future. If you'd like to give it a try, the address is 6205 Hickory Flat Highway, they're open until 10 p.m. tonight and 9 p.m. tomorrow. (Subscription: Cherokee Tribune & Ledger-News and Free: Hickory Flat Kitchen)

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Today and tomorrow in Woodstock-Towne Lake:

Saturday, June 17

• Farm. Fresh. Market. - Head downtown to Market Street for a great place to find locally grown and created products. (8:30 a.m. - noon)
• AMPED in the Park with Onelife Fitness: The free workout is for all fitness levels, and it's held on the Amphitheater stage downtown. (9 - 10 a.m.)
• Yoga on Tap: The class is great for beginners and includes a pint or coffee afterwards. You'll pay for the class at the door, please bring a mat and water with you to Reformation Brewery, 105 Elm St. (10 - 11:30 a.m.)
• Discovering Gold Panning: An introduction to panning with longtime gold panner Rob Kelly and the Allatoona Gold Panners Association. (10 a.m. - noon)
• Creative Corner - Off the Canvas: For teens and adults, you'll explore the "Off the Wall" exhibit at the Reeves House, then make your own piece. All materials will be provided, but you can bring any items you'd like to include — like buttons, soda tabs or other small items. You can sign up at the link. (10:30 a.m.)
• Dad ROCKS! - The painting event is free, you'll paint river rocks honoring fatherhood to hide around town. The event will be held on the Amphitheater stage. (11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.)
• Laila Biali: The artist is playing as part of the Lantern Series on the Event Green downtown. The musical sound is described as "swinging jazz," you can check out the music here. (7:30 p.m.)
• MadLife Grill Patio Stage - free shows, no ticket needed
  • Clay Duke (11 a.m. - 2 p.m.)
  • Ansley Fain (2 - 5 p.m.)
  • Big Toe Mojo (5 - 8 p.m.)
  • Keven Mack (8 - 11 p.m.)
• MadLife Stage & Studios
  • Abacab - The Music of Genesis (7 p.m.)
  • Rock The 90s - 90s Supergroup Tribute (10 p.m.)

Sunday, June 18

• KASSIS Sunday Brunch Jazz Session: Enjoy the music and brunch at Rootstock, 8558 Main St. (noon - 3 p.m.)
• Chess Club: For all ages and skill levels, The Blue Ghost Arcade's Chess Club will meet every other Sunday. Chess boards are available to use, but if you have your own board, you can bring it in if you'd like. The arcade is at 164 Towne Lake Parkway, and as a special treat, dads don't have to pay admission today. (4 - 6 p.m.)
• Eric & Misty: Catch the live music, weather permitting, up on the rooftop at PURE Taqueria, 405 Chambers St. (4 - 8 p.m.)
• Hand Up Stand Up Comedy Night: Enjoy a night of comedy in The Listening Room at Rootstock, 8558 Main St. (7 - 9 p.m.)
• MadLife Grill Patio Stage - free shows, no ticket needed
  • Al Urezzio (11 a.m. - 2 p.m.)
  • Benjamin Frank (2 - 5 p.m.)
  • Jana Holland (5 - 8 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• The Car Community Connection fundraiser benefitting the Woodstock High School band is happening today. The show will run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta, at 915 Ridgewalk Parkway, and will feature all kinds of vehicles. There will be coffee and bagels available for purchase as well. (Visit Woodstock)
• The Cherokee County Animal Shelter has a nice surprise for us at their adoption event today, all dogs are free to adopt, and kittens are "adopt 1, get 1 free." The available animals can be seen online here, please follow the instructions found at the link for getting into the "virtual line." Adoption hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and the shelter is located at 1015 Univeter Road in Canton. (Cherokee County Animal Shelter via Facebook)
• There's a special storytime at The Park at City Center gazebo this morning. The "Storytime Live! with Ariel" event will start at 11 a.m. and will feature a story read by the Ariel character from "The Little Mermaid," photos and more. (Visit Woodstock)
• Nextdoor Neighbor, River Park: "Please help! My son's cat got out, his name is Leo. I'm on Osmanthus Way in Canton off Prominence Point Parkway. He has a collar but I got a new number and haven't had the chance to update it yet. My number is 470-820-4116. My son is so upset, this is not an outside cat. Please help!" (Nextdoor)

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Featured events:

• 2023 Patriotic Celebration Concerts (June 23)
• Health & Wellness Open House @ Body & Brain (June 24)
• Add your event

Alrighty, you're all caught up for today. See you all soon for another update!

— Nina Lightcap

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