🌱 Humane Society Thrifting + Events And Outings + Safety Town Signup

Hello all! Nina here with your fresh copy of the Woodstock-Towne Lake Patch newsletter, filled with all the community news you need to know right now. Including updates on...

• There's a new/old thrift store in town.
• Take a walk with TrailStory this weekend.
• Safety Town is back at Bascomb Elementary.

Today's newsletter is sponsored by Michale Pena, Realtor at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, Georgia Properties

The Realtor will see you now

Imagine you had a realtor who was as attentive and caring to clients as, say, a great physician’s assistant was to patients in the operating room. The analogy might seem like a stretch, until you meet Michale Pena.

For much of her career, Michale has worked as a Surgical First Assistant to one of our area’s top orthopedic surgeons. It’s a demanding, high-stress job that requires the highest level of attentiveness, precision and service. Along the way, Michale, who has spent her whole life in the Woodstock area, started helping her medical colleagues solve another problem: figuring out where to live in our area’s tight housing market.

These days, Michale is a rising star at Berkshire Hathaway, offering the same level of attention to detail, responsiveness and service she learned in the operating room to buyers and sellers in our area. Don’t take our word for it. Here’s what a recent client says:

“Michale was fantastic from start to finish. She took all the stress off of us. She is a true professional, and we highly recommend her to anyone who is interested in buying or selling a home.”

In this challenging market, whether buying or selling, work with a realtor with deep local ties, a demanding and satisfied client base and a surgeon’s attention to detail. Contact Michale Pena today.

Now, today's weather:

Heavy rain and a thunderstorm. High: 71 Low: 47.

Interested in reaching our local readers with targeted messaging that drives traffic to your business? I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. If that's you, then I invite you to learn more and secure your spot now.

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

1. The Cherokee County Humane Society Thrift Store will be reopening on April 15 at a new location on Highway 92 in Woodstock. The new location is at 12156 Highway 92, adjoined to the McDonald's and near the Trickum Road intersection. The space was previously occupied by a major cell phone carrier. The thrift store is already accepting donations at their new location, and once they officially reopen next week, they will be open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. If you'd like to schedule a donation or hear more about how you can help local animals in need, please reach out to the Humane Society by phone at 770-592-8072 or on their website here. (Subscription: Cherokee Tribune & Ledger-News)
2. If the rain takes a break this weekend, this Sunday should be a great day to take a nice walk outside. For those with children, TrailStory is going on at Olde Rope Mill Park, and it's a wonderful walk and talk opportunity for you and the kids. Walk the Trestle Rock Trail for an interactive look at the book "Drawn Together" by Minh Li, as you walk, pages of the book will be posted along the trail on signs. On the other side of the sign you'll find a QR code to scan with your smartphone, the codes lead to questions about the book. The TrailStory project was created by the Sequoyah Regional Library System and Woodstock Parks and Recreation to give elementary school-aged children and their families a way to have fun reading and exploring our local trails together. (Woodstock Parks and Recreation)
3. Safe Kids Cherokee County and Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services is bringing the Safety Town program back this year. There are two upcoming sessions, one group each for rising kindergarten and first-grade students. There will be daily sessions held Monday through Friday, with the younger group's camp held June 19 - 23 and the older group's camp held June 26 - 30. Both age groups will meet at Bascomb Elementary School from 9 a.m. - noon each weekday, and the kids will be hearing from organizations like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Cherokee Sheriff's Office, Cherokee County Animal Shelter and several others, learning about poison dangers, stranger dangers, water and bus safety and more. They'll make crafts, play games and ride around in the miniature town while learning traffic safety rules. Teens 12 and up can sign up to volunteer at Safety Town, and the deadline to apply for that is May 1. You can sign your kids up to attend, sign yourself up to volunteer or learn more at the links. (Subscription: Cherokee Tribune & Ledger-News and Safe Kids Cherokee County)

Today in Woodstock-Towne Lake:

• RepTouR: the shows are for all ages, but children must be accompanied by an adult. Build your own story before the performance starts and see it brought to life by the actors on stage at the Woodstock Arts Theatre, 8534 Main Street. Please arrive early to write your story, and you can find a RepTouR Play Guide here. (10 a.m.)
• Masters Week: special cocktails and frozen drinks, souvenir cups, Queenie's BBQ specials and the Masters and Braves games on TV, plus, a chance to win a prize in their giveaway at Reformation Brewery, 105 Elm Street. (11 a.m. - 7 p.m.)
• Local Artist Showcase - Holly Payton: meet featured artist Holly Payton during the opening reception tonight and enjoy live music and wine at the Education Studio inside the Reeves House, 734 Reeves Street. (6 - 9 p.m.)
• Sally Hepworth & Emily Giffin In-person Event: the meet and greet itself is free and doesn't require a registration, but a book order is required to attend. You can get a copy of Sally Hepworth's book "The Soulmate" and Emily Giffin's book "Meant to Be" online here. The event will be held at FoxTale Book Shoppe, 105 E. Main Street, Suite 138. (6:30 - 8 p.m.)
• Drew Ashworth: the artist will be playing live tonight in The Listening Room at Rootstock, 8558 Main Street. (7 - 10 p.m.)
• DJ SBB: catch the music tonight, weather permitting, at PURE Taqueria, 405 Chambers Street. (7 - 11 p.m.)
• Odd Man Out: the band will be live at Keegan's Public House, 1085 Buckhead Crossing, Suite 140. (8 - 11 p.m.)
• Dylan Walden: catch the music at Donovan's Irish Cobbler, 1025 Rose Creek Drive. (9 p.m. - 1 a.m.)
• DJ Karaoke: every Friday at Guston's Grille, 12195 Highway 92, Suite 156. (9:30 p.m.)
• Good Friday Services
  • Timothy Lutheran Church, 556 Arnold Mill Road. (11 a.m. and 7 p.m.)
  • Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1028 Rose Creek Drive. (11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.)
  • Hillside United Methodist Church, 4474 Towne Lake Parkway. (6:30 p.m.)
  • First Baptist Church, 11905 Highway 92. (7 p.m.)
  • Sojourn Woodstock, at the Woodstock Arts Auditorium, 8534 Main Street. (7 p.m.)
  • Woodstock Christian Church, 7700 Highway 92. (7 p.m.)
• Senior Center Programs - most classes and events are held at the William G. Long Senior Center (WGLSC), 223 Arnold Mill Road
  • 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.)
• MadLife Grill Patio Stage - free shows, no ticket needed
  • Jim Gorman (5 - 8 p.m.)
  • The Endangered Species (8 - 11 p.m.)
• MadLife Stage & Studios
  • The Purple Madness - Prince Tribute (7 p.m. and 9:55 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• For those that frequent The Buzz in Canton, there will be no Open Gym or Open Play today. The facility will be closed on Sunday, in observance of Easter. The Buzz is located at 7345 Cumming Highway in Canton. (Cherokee Recreation & Parks)
• The libraries in the Sequoyah Regional Library System (SRLS) are closed today and Sunday in observance of the religious holidays that fall on those days. However, the libraries will be open on Saturday. (SRLS Calendar)
• Reminder: registration closes today at 5 p.m. for Cherokee Recreation & Parks' Eggs-traordinary Extravaganza on Saturday. There will be an egg hunt for ages 0 - 3 outside at the Aquatic Center, and there are several time slots for the Underwater Egg Hunt for ages 4 - 12. The Sensory Friendly Egg Hunt will be taking place first, starting at 12:45 p.m., and it's for all ages. On top of all the egg hunting fun, there will also be inflatables, face painting, crafts, prizes and a visit from the Easter Bunny. (Cherokee Recreation & Parks)
• If you signed up for yesterday's Mother Earth ROCKS! program out of Woodstock Parks and Recreation, you were advised by email that the event was postponed due to anticipated weather. The event has been moved to Wednesday, April 19 at 6:30 p.m. The venue has also changed, the new meeting place will be the Gazebo in the Park at City Center. As of right now, registration is still open and well past the scheduled deadline. If you didn't sign up already, there may still be a chance. Check the link just in case they extended the deadline officially. (Woodstock Parks and Recreation)
• There are so many animals looking for families to love. If you'd like to find a furry friend to add to the family, take a look at the adorable pets in the area ready to go home with you. Patch and Petfinder work together to create a list each week of all the adoptable pets in the area, click the link to find your favorite. (Woodstock-Towne Lake Patch)
• Downtown Woodstock: "Great selection of books at FoxTale Book Shoppe! Stop by to check out all the new books at @foxtale_book_shoppe #woodstockga #woodstockgeorgia #downtownwoodstock #bookstagram #bookstore" (Downtown Woodstock via Instagram)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Making Waves Salon & Brazilian Wax — (Visit website)
• Phoenix Flooring and More — (Visit Website)
• Add your business here

Featured events:

• Easter Sunday Service/Potluck Lunch/Easter Egg Hunt (April 9)
• BridgeMill Farmers Market (April 12)
• FREE WEBINAR - Estate Planning Fundamentals (April 12)
• SUP Yoga Teacher Training Certification (May 5)
• Add your event

Featured job listings:

• Skilled electrical assembly (Details)
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Alrighty, you're all good for today! I'll see you around.

— Nina Lightcap

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