🌱 County Gang Members Sentenced + Upcoming Events + Donation Request

Hello again, everybody! I'm back with your new copy of the Woodstock-Towne Lake Daily, fresh off the presses. Here are all the most important things to know about what's happening in the community today, including:

• ⚖️ Gang members sentenced.
• ❤️ Give blood, save lives!
• 😺 Cat food, please.

But first, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy with a shower. High: 70 Low: 52.

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

1. Four Cherokee County men have been sentenced for their role in a 2021 gang-related incident in Canton. On June 30, 2021, the four men went to the home of a Crips associate, making threats towards and arguing with the resident in a supposed territorial dispute. The four men, members of the rival Woodpile gang, were later pulled over and found with gang-related items, weapons and ammunition. All four entered guilty pleas to the charges against them, which include violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, terroristic threats and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and each was sentenced to fifteen years. However, the men will serve only a portion of the sentence in custody, ranging from two to five years each. The remainder of their time will be spent on probation. (WSB-TV Atlanta)
2. Starting Tuesday, November 1, Cherokee Recreation & Parks is accepting donations for its Hugs in a Blanket program to benefit local seniors in need. If you wish to participate, the donation request is for one new, warm blanket and one pair of new slipper socks. You can drop off donations at The WREC (the Woodstock recreation center) until December 14 during normal business hours. The rec center is located at 7545 Main Street, Building 200. For more information, please contact Jessica Hallman at jshallman@cherokeega.com or 770-924-7768. (Cherokee Recreation & Parks)
3. Also through Cherokee Recreation & Parks, you can have Santa and his elves call your children this holiday season. You can download and print the form posted online here, fill it out with your child's information and drop it off at The WREC during business hours. The calls will be made on the evening of Wednesday, December 13, from 5 - 7 p.m. Please limit to one call per household, and the deadline to request a call is December 11. For more information, you can reach out to Jessica Hallman at jshallman@cherokeega.com or 770-924-7768. (Cherokee Recreation & Parks)
4. To honor our veterans, the City of Woodstock will be holding a Veterans Day Ceremony on Friday, November 11, in The Park at City Center. The Major General Warren R. Johnson Marine Corps League Detachment #1311 in Woodstock, American Legion Post 316 Woodstock and Warriors' Watch Riders will be there to celebrate the veterans that have given us the liberty and freedom we hold sacred in our country. The ceremony will start at 7 p.m., and there will be a coffee and donut social afterwards, offering a chance to visit with our local veterans. (Woodstock Parks and Recreation)
5. The Cherokee County Animal Shelter is very low on cat food and has put the call out for donations. The supply of dry cat food for the pantry needs to be filled, and it could use some wet cat food as well. Any size or type is great, even opened bags of dry cat food are welcome, but please make sure those are taped closed. The shelter also has Amazon wish lists for the pet food pantry, general needs and shelter pet enrichment. Thank you for your donations! (Cherokee County Animal Shelter via Facebook)

Patch deal of the day:

Good knives make all the difference in the kitchen, but you don’t need to overpay for them. Seido Japanese knives are made with strong high-carbon stainless steel (high-carbon knives are more durable and usually more expensive) and have an acute 15-degree angle for a noticeably sharper cutting face (most Western-style knives have edge angles of 25 degrees). For a limited time, Patch readers can get a 5-piece Seido Japanese master knife set for 71 percent off. At just under $70, this chef-quality set is perfect for any home cook and would also make a great gift for the holidays.

(The Patch Deals team scours the web for deals we think you'll love; we may earn a commission on purchases. All deals are as of publication and could change.)

Today in Woodstock-Towne Lake:

• Halloween Music and Moves: for ages 0 - 4, a Halloween edition of Toddler Music and Moves. Dancing, singing, games and more. Wear your costume to the event at R.T. Jones Memorial Library, 116 Brown Industrial Parkway, Canton. (10:30 - 11:30 a.m.)
• American Red Cross Community Blood Drive: please enter the code "HickoryLib" when you make an appointment here for the blood drive at the Hickory Flat Library, 2740 East Cherokee Drive. (11 a.m. - 4 p.m.)
• Boo! Bash: Halloween-themed games, crafts, snacks and candy. Wear your costume. The whole family is welcome to the event at the Woodstock Library, 7735 Main Street. (4 - 6 p.m.)
• Halloween Trail of Tricks and Treats: hosted by Woodstock Parks and Recreation. Along the Rubes Creek Trail across from Fire Station 14 on Arnold Mill Road. The free event will feature music, characters and fun display along the trail to enjoy as you trick-or-treat. Prizes will be awarded for several categories. (5 - 9 p.m.)
• Hot Vinyasa: all levels are welcome, though some prior experience is helpful to the class held at Ember Hot Yoga, 330 Chambers Street. (6:30 - 7:45 p.m.)
• DJ Bingo: test your musical knowledge and win prizes every Monday at Woodstock Beer Market, 240 Chambers Street. (7 - 9 p.m.)
• DJ Trivia: the top three teams win cash prizes, every Monday at Guston's Grille, 12195 Highway 92, Suite 156. (7:30 - 10:30 p.m.)
• Senior Center Programs:
  • Walking Club - every Monday and Friday at the Dupree Park walking/running track, 513 Neese Road. (8 - 9 a.m.)
  • Beginner Bridge Instruction - every Monday at the WGLSC Multi-Purpose & Meeting Room. (9 - 10 a.m.)
  • Line Dancing - every Monday and Thursday at the WGLSC Activity Center Expansion. (10 - 11:30 a.m.)

From my notebook:

• Traffic Alert! Construction will be taking place on Towne Lake Parkway and Mill Street on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. Expect delays from around 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily as asphalt milling and paving takes place as part of the Hub Transformation Project. Traffic will be reduced to one lane during the stated hours. (City of Woodstock via Facebook)
• Cherokee Recreation & Parks is looking for volunteers! Groups or individuals that need volunteer hours, or those that just love helping out in the community, can join in park cleanup opportunities through the department. Please reach out to Jessica Hallman at jshallman@cherokeega.com or 770-924-7768 for more information or to join in. (Cherokee Recreation & Parks via Facebook)
• Take a look at these five houses that hit the market recently in our area. (Woodstock-Towne Lake Patch)
• Downtown Woodstock: "Make plans to be at the Holiday Sip + Shop in Downtown Woodstock on November 17th. Tickets are $10 per person and can be purchased at https://wdstkbrandstore.square... Your favorite shops will have special deals! Find the perfect gift." (Downtown Woodstock via Instagram)

Here are some events coming up this week that require a ticket purchase or registration in advance:

• MadLife Stage & Studios, 8722 Main Street
  • Thursday: Kurt Lee Wheeler & The Lathemtown Poets Society - Bluegrass Edition (7 p.m.)
  • Friday: Bad Co. Experience - Bad Company Tribute (7 p.m.)
  • Friday: Badmotorfinger - Soundgarden Tribute (10 p.m.)
  • Saturday: Radio 80's Band - 80's Pop & Rock Cover Band (7 p.m.)
  • Saturday: Powerslave - Iron Maiden Tribute (10 p.m.)
• Rootstock, 8558 Main Street
  • Friday: Thomas Fountain in The Listening Room (7:30 - 10 p.m.)
  • Saturday: Ethan Senger in The Listening Room (8 - 11 p.m.)
  • Sunday: Surrender Listening Room Session (6 - 8:30 p.m.)
• Leaning Ladder, 105 East Main Street
  • Wednesday: Sweet Baked Treats with Chef Michelle - hands-on class (6 - 9:30 p.m.)
  • Friday: Green Curry with Chef Sunisa - demonstration class (7 - 9:30 p.m.)
  • Saturday: Paella with Begona Stone - demonstration class (6:30 - 9 p.m.)
• Made Mercantile, 8636 Main Street
  • Thursday: Bubbles and Bubbly with Dirty Unicorn - create custom personal care products, hors d'oeuvres and sparkling wine will be provided. (7 - 9 p.m.)
  • Friday: Bracelets, Beads & Bevvies with bamabelle - create three bracelets, snacks and beverages will be provided. (7 - 9 p.m.)
  • Saturday: Content Crawlin' with Moments with B. - admission includes one drink. Meet at Made Mercantile and head over to Daily Draft with the group for a guided TikTok/Reel creation class during a drink. You'll leave with a posted Reel or TikTok and one 4x6 print. (3 - 5 p.m.)
  • Sunday: Content Crawlin' with Moments with B. - admission includes one drink. Meet at Made Mercantile and head over to Daily Draft with the group for a guided TikTok/Reel creation class during a drink. You'll leave with a posted Reel or TikTok and one 4x6 print. (2 - 4 p.m.)
• The Gifted Ferret, 1910 Eagle Drive, Suite 400
  • Saturday: Artisan Wine Tasting (5 - 7:30 p.m.)
  • Sunday: Thanksgiving & Fall Wine Therapy's Sip & Paint (3 - 5 p.m.)
• Senior Center Programs
  • Wednesday and Friday: Fit Over 50 - every Wednesday and Friday at the WGLSC Activity Center Expansion. (9:30 - 10:30 a.m.)
  • Thursday: Nimble Fingers Sewing Group - every Thursday at the WGLSC Activity Center Expansion. (11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.)
• Sequoyah Regional Library System
  • Wednesday: Harry Potter Escape Room - for ages 12 and up. Work together to figure out clues and escape the room. You can register here for the event at R.T. Jones Memorial Library, 116 Brown Industrial Parkway, Canton. (4 - 7 p.m.)
  • Friday: Your Small Business & Cybersecurity - discuss cybersecurity threats that business owners can face and how to protect yourself. The session is interactive, so bring your questions! Breakfast is included, please register here for the discussion at R.T. Jones Memorial Library. (10:30 a.m. - noon)
  • Saturday: Local Author Market - featuring a local author marketplace and children's story time, an author panel and an information session to learn how to get your work published. Authors interested in participating as a seller or presenter must register here for the event at R.T. Jones Memorial Library. (10:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.)
• Woodstock Parks and Recreation
  • Wednesday: Discovering Pickleball - for all ages and sport backgrounds, all equipment will be provided. Learn to play Pickleball in the hour-long class at the Dupree Park Pickleball Courts, 513 Neese Road. (6:30 - 7:30 p.m.)
  • Thursday: Butterfly Gardeners - join the group of citizen volunteers as they maintain the Woodstock butterfly gardens. This month's required workday will be held at the Monarch Butterfly Garden at Dupree Park, 513 Neese Road. (6 - 8 p.m.)
  • Saturday: Essential Gardening, Decorating Gourds - the Cherokee County Master Gardeners will guide you as you paint gourds in a folk-art style or whatever design you'd like. The crafting session will take place at the WGLSC Activity Center Expansion, 223 Arnold Mill Road. (10 - 11:30 a.m.)
  • Sunday: Woodstock Community Garden Honey Do Workday! - the annual workday for the members of the Woodstock Community Garden to clean, organize and prep the garden for the winter season. Attendance is not mandatory, but it is expected that all members try their best to be there. You can register here. (2 - 4 p.m.)
• Woodstock Arts
  • Note: there are a couple events on the schedule for this week with times yet to be determined, please head over to the official Woodstock Arts schedule for updates and additions.
  • Tuesday: Tie-In Talk, Mysterious Woodstock - learn about mysterious events that shaped the history of our city, including fires, crimes and other strange on goings. The free event will take place on the front porch of the Reeves House. Please RSVP here. (6:30 - 7:30 p.m.)
  • Friday: Woodstock Arts Improv Troupe, WIT! - at the Woodstock Arts Theatre, 8534 Main Street. (Time TBD)
  • Saturday: Kids Corner, Pocket Weaving - check out the new exhibit at the Reeves Gallery, "small town : small works," and then earn about the art of weaving at the Reeves House Studio. Learn to make a homemade loom and shuttle to make a small bag. (10:30 - 11:30 a.m.)
  • Saturday: The Lasting Laugh - clean comedy hosted by Jessica It's All Good at the Woodstock Arts Theatre. (Time TBD)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Monday off right! See you tomorrow morning for your next update.

— Nina Lightcap

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