🌱 Excessive Heat This Weekend + Online Park Feedback Option Open

Hi all. I'm here with your weekend edition of the Woodstock-Towne Lake Patch newsletter. Keep reading to find out all the community information you need to know right now, including updates on...

• Heat advisories this weekend for our area.
• Hickory Flat Area Park feedback options.
• Semper Fi Bar and Grille owner receives award.

But first, your local weather:

• Saturday: A thunderstorm around in the evening. High: 94 Low: 71.
• Sunday: Mostly cloudy with a thunderstorm. High: 92 Low: 74.

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

1. The US National Weather Service has sent out the alert that our area will see excessive heat this weekend. A heat advisory is in effect through Saturday night, with possible heat indices of over 105 degrees expected, and there is an excessive heat watch for Sunday. Please restrict outdoor activities and carry cool water with you when you're out and about. Keep those pets inside as much as possible and always provide plenty of shade and water for them when they are outside. Stay cool, neighbors! (Cherokee County E 9-1-1 via Facebook)
2. The Hickory Flat Area Park Master Plan Page now has two active links to provide feedback on the future 40-acre park. Public input meetings have been held several times, and for those that couldn't attend, you can now see the concept plan and leave your suggestions and comments right on the home page here. Once all input has been received from this final method, the design company will draft the master plan. We will be given a chance to provide our thoughts on that master plan, and the feedback collected will be used, in part, to finalize the master plan. (Cherokee County Communications Division)
3. The co-owner of Semper Fi Bar and Grille earned the Arthur H. and Mary E. Wilson Top Venture Impacting Veterans Award recently. Carrie Roeger, a Marine veteran, received the honor after being selected last year from the attendees of the Veteran Entrepreneurship Success Summit in Washington, D.C. Roeger and her husband Ralph opened Semper Fi Bar and Grille in 2015 and it has become a family, a support system and a community for local veterans. The award also came with a very nice $10,000, which the Roegers have used to open their first franchise, Rally Pointe Grille in Evans. (Morgan County Citizen)
4. The Cherokee Sheriff's Office (CSO) has an important message for us about a scam that's been circulating. The sheriff's office advises that they will never contact you by phone to collect a fine in lieu of being arrested. The office won't be calling to advise that you've missed court, have a warrant or ticket or any other reason to request money from you. Scammers have been known to use apps that make a number appear to be legitimately from the CSO, but it's not. Don't provide cash, gift cards, money orders or any payment to the callers. (CSO via Facebook)

Business owners and marketers in Woodstock-Towne Lake: Do you want to build awareness with local customers? I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. Click here to learn more.

Today and tomorrow in Woodstock-Towne Lake:

Saturday, August 12

• Farm. Fresh. Market.: Every Saturday morning through Dec. 30, Market Street transforms into an open-air market, full of local vendors offering locally grown and created products. (8:30 a.m. - noon)
• FOL Live Book Sale: The book sale is organized by Friends of the Cherokee Public Libraries (FOL) and held every second Friday and Saturday of the month at the Woodstock Library, 7735 Main St. (10 a.m. - 6 p.m.)
• Jewelry 101 with bamabelle: Learn basic wire wrapping and create two pairs of gemstone earrings at Made Mercantile, 8636 Main St. With your ticket, you also get professional jeweler tools and a take-home project. (10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.)
• Yoga at the Library: The class is for adults and is perfect for beginners. The free yoga session will be led by Michael Wakefield at the Woodstock Library, 7735 Main St. Please bring a mat and water. (11 a.m. - noon)
• Completely Unchained: This concert is part of the free Woodstock Summer Concert Series and will be held at the Amphitheater downtown. The Van Halen tribute band will share the stage tonight with local band Guardians of the Jukebox, you can find information on the venue, shuttles, parking and more at the link. (7:30 p.m.)
• Party Games with Bug: Join the owner of The Blue Ghost Arcade for an evening of party games. The arcade has a full bar, so bring your friends and make a night of it! The arcade is at 164 Towne Lake Parkway. (8 p.m.)
• MadLife Grill Patio Stage - free shows, no ticket needed
  • Roseblood (11 a.m. - 2 p.m.)
  • Eric Turner (2 - 5 p.m.)
  • Big Toe Mojo (5 - 8 p.m.)
  • Cody Matthews Band (8 - 11 p.m.)
• MadLife Stage & Studios
  • Big Bam Boom - A Hall & Oates Tribute (7 p.m. and 9:55 p.m.)

Sunday, August 13

• Will KASSIS Brunch Jazz Session: Enjoy live music and a delicious brunch at Rootstock, 8558 Main St. (11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.)
• Wicks and Sips with Woodstock Candle Co.: Create a custom candle and enjoy some light bites, adult drinks, music and more at Made Mercantile, 8636 Main St. (2 - 4 p.m.)
• Artist Meetup: Spend some time with your fellow artists at the Reeves House, the afternoon is for amateur and professional artists alike. Share your work and ideas, hear from other artists and work on your current art piece. The meetup will take place in the Reeves House Education Studio, 734 Reeves St. (2 - 4 p.m.)
• Rich Gunderlock: The musician will be playing live on the rooftop, weather permitting, at PURE Taqueria, 405 Chambers St. (4 - 8 p.m.)
• Chess Club: For all ages and skill levels, The Blue Ghost Arcade's Chess Club meets every other Sunday at 164 Towne Lake Parkway. Chess boards are available to use, but if you have your own board, you can bring it in if you'd like. (4 - 6 p.m.)
• Serpent & Dove Listening Room Session: There are still tickets available for the musical performance at Rootstock, 8558 Main St. (6 - 8 p.m.)
• MadLife Grill Patio Stage - free shows, no ticket needed
  • Elephants Gerald (11 a.m. - 2 p.m.)
  • Jana Holland (2 - 5 p.m.)
  • The Hoodlins (5 - 8 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• The Cherokee County Animal Shelter is holding its regular adoption event today, the available animals can be seen online here. A QR code on the shelter's front door will become active at a random time around 10 a.m., please scan the QR code to enter the "virtual line." The shelter is at 1015 Univeter Road in Canton. (Cherokee County Animal Shelter via Facebook)
• The Summer Music Series at The Outlet Shoppes is closing out with a performance by Desperate Measures. The cover band will be playing classic rock, pop and more from 3 to 7 p.m. today, the shopping center is located at 915 Ridgewalk Parkway. (Visit Woodstock)
• Maker's Mash is happening at Reformation Brewery this Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m. There will be tons of goods created by local artisans, a wonderful chance to pick up a unique and one-of-a-kind gift. The brewery is located at 105 Elm St. (Downtown Woodstock via Facebook)
• Truck & Tap brings us Monday Night Trivia with Lights Up! Entertainment every Monday at 8640 Main St. The winner will receive a prize, and the evening runs from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Make sure to take a look at their food truck offerings each week, the trucks park around back. (Truck & Tap)
• Downtown Woodstock: "Maker's Mash at Reformation Brewery this Sunday, Aug. 13, 1-6 p.m. Lots of local maker's to shop from at this wonderful Sunday afternoon event! @makers.mash @reformationbrewery #woodstockga #woodstockgeorgia #downtownwoodstock" (Downtown Woodstock via Instagram)

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Saturday! I'll be back in your inbox soon with another update.

— Nina Lightcap

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