🌱 Family Fun Night Schedule + Pollinator Census This Saturday

Hello again, everybody! It's me, Nina, your host of the Patch newsletter. Follow along for the most important things happening around town, including updates on...

• The Family Fun Night schedule.
• The importance of pet microchip updates.
• The Great Southeast Pollinator Census.

But first, today's weather: Plenty of sunshine. High: 88 Low: 63.

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

1. If you're heading out to Family Fun Night tonight, the official Downtown Woodstock Facebook page has the event schedule posted. The evening is packed with fun, and there are activities for all ages, including characters from the movie "Up," face painting, chalk drawing on the Noonday Creek Trail, pie walks, a lantern giveaway and so much more. Food and drink specials are all over the area, s'mores kits will be handed out, specialty drinks will be flowing and there's a movie on The Green. You can see the entire schedule and a list of participating merchants at the link. (Downtown Woodstock via Facebook)
2. The Cherokee County Animal Shelter is reminding us to update our pets' microchip information, if needed, to make sure they get back home if lost. Depending on where you got the chip done, it may be your responsibility to register the chip information, you can reach out to the pet locator company your chip uses or to the place you had the chip done to find out. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has a chip lookup tool on the website here, you can enter the chip information to see if it's been registered. If your pet isn't chipped, the shelter offers the service free during normal business hours. (Cherokee County Animal Shelter via Facebook)
3. The Great Southeast Pollinator Census is happening this Saturday, and the Cherokee Master Gardeners' event will be held at two locations. The census was created by the University of Georgia to help bring citizens into the fight for pollinator conservation. If you'd like to spend a nice day outside counting pollinators, you can register at the link to join in the efforts at the Cherokee County Senior Center in Canton or The Backyard Agricultural Station at Cherokee Veterans Park in Canton. There will be Master Gardeners at each location for questions, help and guidance. (Cherokee Master Gardeners)
4. The annual Touch-A-Truck is scheduled for Sept. 16 at Cherokee Veterans Park in Canton. The kids will get to climb into, around and on official vehicles of all kinds, including firetrucks, police cars, dump trucks and rescue vehicles. Food vendors will be there if you're hungry or thirsty, and there are cool trucks everywhere you look. Shuttles will be running to and from the park, and there's a sensory-friendly time block from 9:30 to 10 a.m. (Cherokee County via Facebook)

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Today in Woodstock-Towne Lake:

Thursday, August 17

• YPOW AM: Join the Young Professionals of Woodstock for coffee, networking and an informal chat with a local leader at The Circuit, 1 Innovation Way. (7 - 8:30 a.m.)
• Pop-Up Storytime: Bring the kids over to the J.J. Biello playground pavilion for a special story time with books, songs and fingerplays. After the event, you can get a new library card, return borrowed books or borrow new ones at the Pop-Up Library. Children must be accompanied by an adult; the address is 610 Druw Cameron Court. (10 a.m. - noon)
• Arr-gust Pirate & Merfolk Party: It's National Pirate Month, and the Rose Creek Library is celebrating with fun, games and a hunt for treasure. The party is best for children ages 3 to 10, and all children must be accompanied by an adult. The library address is 4476 Towne Lake Parkway. (5 - 6:30 p.m.)
• Fragrant Flames + Vino Vibes with Bode + Ev: Learn about candle making and create two custom, scented candles at Made Mercantile, 8636 Main St. Materials, a stemless Bode+Ev bottomless wine glass and light appetizers and desserts are included. (6 - 8 p.m.)
• Super Smash Bros. Tournament: A double-elimination tournament with prizes for the top three winners. The entry fee includes access to all arcade, pinball and board games at The Blue Ghost Arcade, 164 Towne Lake Parkway. Registration starts at 7 p.m. (8 - 10:30 p.m.)
• MadLife Grill Patio Stage - free shows, no ticket needed
  • Mother Legacy (5:30 - 9 p.m.)
• MadLife Stage & Studios
  • Spread Eagle - with Special Guest Lost Hearts (7:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Hot Wheels Skate Center offers specials throughout the week, and today is Thursday Night Skate with $7 admission from 5 to 9 p.m. The grown-ups won't miss out on the fun, because on Mondays from 7 to 10 p.m., it's Adult Skate Night at the rink. You can see the entire calendar at the link, the skating happens at 228 Farm Ridge Drive NE. (Hot Wheels Skate Center via Facebook)
• If you're a book lover, The Sweet Read is in the midst of an Authors Book Sale. Through Friday, paperback books by Debbie Macomber, Danielle Steel and Nora Roberts are on sale for $4 and hardcovers are $6. The book shop is located at 8990 Main St. (The Sweet Read via Facebook)
• There's a Red Cross Blood Drive on Saturday at the R.T. Jones Memorial Library in Canton. If you'd like to donate, there are plenty of open spots, you can sign up at the link. The library is located at 116 Brown Industrial Parkway. (American Red Cross)
• Downtown Woodstock: "Share your voice and help guide the future of public art in Woodstock! Find our survey at publicartwoodstock.com The survey will be closing soon so be sure to give your input before the survey closes." (Downtown Woodstock via Instagram)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• Free Food (August 17)
• Great Southeast Pollinator Census (August 19)
• Aura Reading + Chakra Balancing (August 19)
• Taxes in Retirement Seminar on August 22nd and 24th at Chattahoochee Technical College - Woodstock (August 22)
• Add your event

You're officially in the loop for today! See you tomorrow 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