🌱 Echoes of Ecology Ends Sunday + Historic Home Deemed ‘In Peril’

Hello all. It's me, Nina, your host of the Woodstock-Towne Lake Patch newsletter — back in your inbox with all the most important things happening in town. Including updates on...

• The exhibit at the Reeves House is about to end.
• A historic home on Hwy. 140 will be taken care of.
• Would you like to join the Service League?

But first, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy and mild. High: 71 Low: 58.

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

1. This week is your last to take in the Echoes of Ecology - Prayers & Rituals exhibit at the Reeves House Visual Arts Center. The exhibit by artist Corrina Sephora is free, and it's a very unique, full-sensory experience, with the artist incorporating the visual aspect of mixed media boat sculptures, and the sounds and smells associated with the elements of earth, air, water and fire. The themes across the exhibit include loss and transformation, with surrounding references to the lunar cycles and sacred Four Directions of the Native American culture. The community sculpture that the artist and residents of Woodstock created using scrap metal will be unveiled on February 26 at the exhibit's closing reception at the Reeves House. (Woodstock Arts)
2. If you travel Highway 140, as most of us do, you've likely seen the very old and dilapidated house on the hill by the old Military Depot location. It's called the McConnell-Chadwick House, and after repeated requests since 2018, it's been added to The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation's "Places in Peril" 2023 list. The program aims to identify and preserve sites with historic significance. The McConnell-Chadwick House actually sits in Milton right near the border, and though the home and original owner hold to a controversial storyline that includes points of enslavement and the forcing of Cherokee from their land, it is historic. At the very least, we won't have to see another home falling apart piece by piece on the side of the road anymore. The house was one of the first in the county, and McConnell helped in the founding of Hickory Flat. He was also a state senator and pushed for the creation of Milton County - now part of Fulton County. (The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation)
3. The Service League of Cherokee County has opened its membership application window! The volunteer organization raises funds for underprivileged children in the area and helps provide things like food, clothing, dental care, glasses, medical care, scholarships and more. There are some requirements to membership, to include: the women in the league must be 25 - 55 years old, possess the ability, desire and time to carry on the work required, live in the county and attend all fundraising events. Members must volunteer for at least 50 hours per year, attend required meetings and meet the financial obligation of $150 per year. You can find information on the Service League here, and you can apply to be a member here - the deadline is this Friday. (Service League of Cherokee County via Facebook)
4. Each of the high schools in the Cherokee County School District received a commendation from the Georgia Department of Education for the 13th year in a row. Each school was named a 2023 AP Honor School for its exceptional participation and performance on student Advanced Placement (AP) exams, the honor includes several categories. All CCSD high schools were recognized in the AP STEM category, and Cherokee, Creekview, Etowah, River Ridge and Sequoyah were recognized in the AP Humanities category and were named as AP Humanities Achievement Schools. Creekview, Etowah, River Ridge, Sequoyah and Woodstock were named as AP Schools of Distinction. Students enrolled in AP classes earn credit towards college courses. (CCSD News)

Today in Woodstock-Towne Lake:

• Community Yoga: the free class is open to all fitness levels and takes place every Monday. Please bring your own mat. You can sign up here for the class at The WREC, 7545 Main Street, Building 200. (10 - 11 a.m.)
• President's Day Crafting Hour: for all ages, though children must be accompanied by an adult to the Woodstock Library, 7735 Main Street. (2:30 - 3:30 p.m.)
• Shut Up & Write! Cherokee County / Woodstock: join the Meetup group for an hour of writing, surrounded by writers. Quick introductions at 6 p.m., writing starts at 6:15, and when the end of the session comes at 7:15, you can hang around to chat, keep on writing or you can head out. See the link for more details on the group meeting at Panera Bread, 2625 Towne Lake Parkway. (6 - 7:30 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 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.)
• Trivia Night with Lights Up! Entertainment: every Monday at Truck & Tap, 8640 Main Street. (7:30 - 10 p.m.)
• "Dirty Dancing" Trivia: play alone or with a team to compete for prizes. Hosted by Lights Up! Entertainment, with questions all about the iconic movie at The Blue Ghost Arcade, 164 Towne Lake Parkway. (8 p.m.)
• Senior Center Programs - most classes and events are held at the William G. Long Senior Center (WGLSC), 223 Arnold Mill Road
  • Walking Club - every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the Dupree Park walking/running track, 513 Neese Road. (8 - 9 a.m.)
  • Beginner Bridge Instruction - every Monday in the WGLSC Multi-Purpose & Meeting Room. (9 - 10 a.m.)
  • Line Dancing - every Monday and Thursday at the WGLSC Activity Center Expansion. (9:30 - 11:30 a.m.)
  • Adult Coloring Club - every Monday and Thursday at the WGLSC Activity Center Expansion. (11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.)
  • Nimble Fingers Sewing Club - for all skill levels, learn to knit, crochet or cross-stitch every Monday and Thursday at the WGLSC Activity Center Expansion. (11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Rooftop season at PURE Taqueria in Woodstock starts this week! The restaurant decided to open the rooftop early, and starting this Thursday, you can head up and enjoy the beautiful weather, live music and a great view of Main Street. (PURE Taqueria via Facebook)
• Care to logroll? Cherokee Recreation & Parks is holding a KeyLog Logrolling Class on Tuesday and another on Thursday. Both classes run from 5 - 7 p.m. and are held at the Aquatic Center, 1200 Wellstar Way in Canton. Act fast if you're interested, registration closes today for the Tuesday class and Wednesday for the Thursday one. You can register here. (Cherokee Recreation & Parks via Facebook)
• Cherokee Recreation & Parks has archery! If you've thought of learning the basics of archery or you'd love to relive your camp days, give it a go. Their Come & Try Archery event for ages 7 and up is happening this Friday, from 6 - 7:15 p.m., at The WREC, 7545 Main Street, Building 200. You can register here, registration closes on Wednesday at 5 p.m. (Cherokee Recreation & Parks via Facebook)
• For all the book lovers in town, the Woodstock Library is holding their Themed Book Club this Saturday, 10:30 a.m. - noon. The theme for February is "Keep It Short." You'll pick a short story collection, novella or any book under 300 pages and discuss it during the meeting. You can also log your reading in Beanstack here. This is an adults-only club, and the library is located at 7735 Main Street. (Sequoyah Regional Library System)
• Don't forget about the Cherokee County School District (CCSD) Certified Job Fair on March 4. The job fair will be held at River Ridge High School from 9 a.m. - noon. You can register here, the district is looking for certified, full-time teachers. (CCSD News)
• Downtown Woodstock: "Make plans to be at the Spring Fashion Sip + Shop in Downtown Woodstock on Thursday March 16th, 5pm-9pm Tickets are $10 per person at https://wdstkbrandstore.square... Your favorite Downtown Woodstock shops will have special deals..." (Downtown Woodstock via Instagram)
• Service League: "The Service League of Cherokee County will be hosting the 5th Annual Golfing FORE the Children Golf Tournament and are currently seeking 2023 sponsors! Sponsor levels start as low as $100! If you own a small business please consider sponsoring..." (Service League 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
  • Tuesday: Undiscovered Artist Showcase - A Monthly Spotlight on Rising Musicians (7 p.m.)
  • Wednesday: Shane Byous - Country Singer-Songwriter, EP Release Party (8 p.m.)
  • Thursday: Jacob Bryant & Elijah Wise's Unplugged Nashville Songwriter Show (8 p.m.)
  • Friday: Slippery When Wet - Bon Jovi Tribute (7 p.m. and 9:55 p.m.)
  • Saturday: No Fences - The Ultimate Garth Brooks Tribute (7 p.m. and 9:55 p.m.)
  • Sunday: Big Band Jazz - Performing the Hits of Count Basie, Duke Ellington and More (4 p.m.)
• Rootstock, 8558 Main Street
  • Thursday: Hand Up Stand Up Comedy Night - enjoy a night of comedy in The Listening Room. (7 - 9 p.m.)
  • Sunday: Listening Room Session with Trey Odum and Kaitlyn Kroker (6 - 8 p.m.)
• Made Mercantile, 8636 Main Street
  • Thursday: Bubbles & Bubbly with the Dirty Unicorns - create custom personal care products, hors d'oeuvres and sparkling wine will be provided. (7 - 9 p.m.)
  • Friday: Fondue & Flames with Cherokee Rose Candle Co. - learn the basics of candle making and create your own 15-ounce, three wick dough bowl candle. Chocolate fondue and wine will be served. (7 -8:30 p.m.)
  • Sunday: Wicks and Sips with Woodstock Candle Co. - create a custom candle, decorate your own fire starter and enjoy some snacks, drinks and music. (2 - 4 p.m.)
• The Gifted Ferret, 1910 Eagle Drive, Suite 400
  
  • Saturday: Artisan Wine Tasting (5 - 7 p.m.)
• Woodstock Parks and Recreation
  
  • Saturday: Essential Gardening, Growing Mushrooms - learn how to grown mushrooms with Howard Berk of Elijay Mushrooms. You'll hear about home and commercial growing methods and the uses of mushrooms both for food and for health. The talk is open to all and will be held at the William G. Long Senior Center, 223 Arnold Mill Road. (10 - 11:30 a.m.)
  • Saturday: Woodstock Community Garden Volunteer Workday - help spruce up the garden and prep the site for the spring season. A new Donation Garden is also going to be installed at the garden, located at 311 Arnold Mill Road. (noon - 2 p.m.)
  • Saturday: Bee Hive Maintenance 2023 - learn how to manage your beehive in this once-a-month class headed up by Woodstock Community Garden Beekeper Shannon Sorescu. The class for all skill levels meets three times, this second meetup will go over how and when to perform your first hive check and what to look for and will be held at the Woodstock Community Garden, 311 Arnold Mill Road. (3 - 4:30 p.m.)
• Cherokee Parks & Recreation
  
  • Friday: Dive In Movie - registration appears to have been extended until Thursday for this event. Watch "Moana" on the inflatable screen while you relax in the water. You can bring your own float, but it must have a diameter of 40 inches or less. Everyone must be able to swim, and children in life jackets must be with arm's reach of a parent. For more information, you can call 678-880-4760. (6 - 8 p.m.)
• Woodstock Arts
  
  • Tuesday: Tie-In Talk, Unconventional Spirituality - the Reeves House Coffee Shop Manager Liz Siegel will be speaking about the basics of Crystology and Reiki healing at the Reeves House Visual Arts Center, located at 734 Reeves Street. The event is free, but please RSVP. (6:30 - 7:30 p.m.)
  • Friday, Saturday and Sunday: Murder on the Orient Express - it's closing week, be sure to catch the performance at the Woodstock Arts Theatre, 8534 Main Street. (Various Times)
  • Sunday: Paint on the Patio, Inside Edition - all supplies will be provided, and there's an option for bottomless mimosas during the painting session at the Reeves House Visual Arts Center, 734 Reeves Street. (2 - 4:30 p.m.)
• Sequoyah Regional Library System
  
  • Tuesday: Mardi Gras Stroller Parade - everyone must register for the parade here and will be asked for a description of their design to ensure it is safe and appropriate. The parade will be held at the R.T. Jones Memorial Library, 116 Brown Industrial Parkway in Canton. (3 - 4 p.m.)
  • Tuesday: Rose Creek Memory Lab Open House - take in a short presentation and a demonstration of the new memory lab equipment at the library, located at 4476 Towne Lake Parkway. You can register here. (5:45 - 6:45 p.m.)
  • Wednesday: Reading Dog - for children ages 6 and up, sign up for a 15-minute spot for your child to read to Zoey, the Reading Dog at the Rose Creek Library, located at 4476 Towne Lake Parkway. You can sign up here. (4:30 - 5:30 p.m.)
  • Thursday: Get Rid of Junk Email - hear some tips on cleaning up your email inbox and getting rid of spam. You can register here for the talk at the Rose Creek Library. (10:30 - 11:30 a.m.)
  • Thursday: History in Woodstock, Desegregation - a discussion on desegregation and integration in Cherokee County in the 1960s. Harvee White, education manager at History Cherokee and committee chair of History Cherokee's Black History Committee, will be leading the discussion. Register soon, spaces are limited. The event will be held at the William G. Long Senior Center Activity Center Expansion, at 223 Arnold Mill Road. Attendees must be at least 10 years old, coffee and dessert will be served. (Subscription: Cherokee Tribune & Ledger-News and Free: Woodstock Parks and Recreation)
• IN WDSTK - open to non-members
  • Thursday: YPOW AM - join the Young Professionals of Woodstock every Thursday morning for coffee, networking and an informal chat with a local leader at The Circuit, 1 Innovation Way. (7:30 - 8:30 a.m.)
• Senior Center Programs - most classes and events are held at the William G. Long Senior Center (WGLSC), 223 Arnold Mill Road
  • Tuesday: Woodcarving Club - every Tuesday in the WGLSC Multi-Purpose & Meeting Room. (9 - 10 a.m.)
  • Wednesday: Nutrition 2023 - every Wednesday at the William G. Long Senior Center. (10:30 - 11:30 a.m.)
  • Wednesday and Friday: Fit Over 50 - stretch and exercise with chair yoga, balance, bands, weights and core strength work every Wednesday and Friday at the WGLSC Activity Center Expansion. (9:30 - 10:30 a.m.)
• Other
  • Tuesday: RPG Night - Mason and Noah will lead the evening, and the admission fee includes unlimited gaming until midnight at The Blue Ghost Arcade, 164 Towne Lake Parkway. To guarantee a spot, you can reserve one on their Meetup page here. (8 - 11 p.m.)
  • Saturday: Paint and Chat Professional Art Classes - for all skill levels, all supplies will be provided for the painting class at Tranquility Fine Arts, 9194 Main Street. (2 - 4 p.m.)

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You're officially in the loop for today! I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow with your next update.

— Nina Lightcap

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