🌱 The Mayor Has A Message + Local Restaurant Praised For Health Score

Hi all. It's me, Nina, your host of the Woodstock-Towne Lake Daily. Here are all the most important things to know about what's happening in town, including:

• Woodstock's gears are those of inclusion and transparency.
• There's good and bad news in recent health inspections.
• A Woodstock man is sentenced for attacks in 2021.

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

1. Mayor Michael Caldwell has issued a statement on the official Woodstock website about his belief in transparency and the measures he has taken as a leader in ensuring the transparency of governmental on goings. Some of the data sharing measures in place today include the live broadcasting of all City Council meetings and the publication of the official agendas, recordings and minutes of those meetings. Mayor Caldwell also advises that all citizens are welcome to attend, there are even times set aside for public comment. The city's financials and organizational chart, contact information for the Council members and a collection of maps showing growth boundaries, zoning, parking and more are also published online for anyone to explore. (Woodstock GA News Post)
2. The Popeye's at 540 Riverstone Parkway in Canton received two failing scores during back to back health inspections earlier this month. The restaurant received a score of 61-U (unsatisfactory) rating on December 14, with non-compliance noted for not having a person in charge present, hands not being cleaned and properly washed, food-contact surfaces not being cleaned and sanitized, the presence of insects, rodents or other animals and more. The violation of several items poses a risk of foodborne illness. Upon the reinspection on December 19, it received a lower score of 60-U - while some issues had been addressed, like maintaining the proper hot food holding temperatures, different issues cropped up, including a note for lack of personal cleanliness and one for a nonfood-contact surface not being clean. In the latest follow-up inspection on December 28, all foodborne illness issues were found rectified and the restaurant came away with a much higher grade of 88-B. (Atlanta News First and North Georgia Health District)
3. In a wonderful show of excellence, Queenie's BBQ in Downtown Woodstock received Atlanta News First's Golden Spatula Award for the December health inspection score of 100-A. Queenie's BBQ's inspection on December 7 reflected no issues at all. Since the earliest record shown online, the restaurant has passed all inspections, with the lowest score of 85-B received in September 2021. Queenie's BBQ also received the people's choice award at Taste of Woodstock in September. (Atlanta News First and North Georgia Health District)
4. The Cherokee County court system has convicted a Woodstock man of several charges, all related to family violence. On December 26, 2021, Elfrem Moore attacked a woman in a Woodstock home twice in one day, breaking into the home to beat and strangle her multiple times. When the Woodstock PD responded, the woman exhibited physical and mental signs of losing consciousness due to the strangulation. Moore was sentenced to 24 years, the first 9 to be served in prison and the remainder to be served on probation with the standard restrictions in place. (Woodstock Police via Facebook)

Today in Woodstock-Towne Lake:

• Free Coffee Fridays: drop by the Rose Creek Library for a free cup of coffee. You may use your own cup or one from the library, there is a limit of one cup per person. The library is located at 4476 Towne Lake Parkway. (10:30 a.m. - 5:45 p.m.)
• American Red Cross Community Blood Drive: for ages 17 and up, though you can donate blood with parental consent at 16. You can schedule your time slot by calling 1-800-Red-Cross or by filling out the online form here, please enter the code "RTJones" when you make your appointment online. The drive is at the R.T. Jones Memorial Library, 116 Brown Industrial Parkway, Canton. (11 a.m. - 4 p.m.)
• Orange Bowl Watch Party: watch the Tennessee Volunteers and the Clemson Tigers battle it out in the Orange Bowl at The Daily Draft, 8594 Main Street. (8 - 11 p.m.)
• DJ Karaoke: every Friday at Guston's Grille, 12195 Highway 92, Suite 156. (9:30 p.m. - 1:30 a.m.)
• Senior Center Programs:
  • Walking Club - every Monday and Friday at the Dupree Park walking/running track, 513 Neese Road. (8 - 9 a.m.)
  • Fit Over 50 - every Wednesday and Friday at the WGLSC Activity Center Expansion. (9:30 - 10:30 a.m.)
• MadLife Grill Patio Stage (free shows):
  • Crews & Company (5 - 8 p.m.)
  • Them Mixon Boys (8 - 11 p.m.)
• MadLife Stage & Studios:
  • Gravity - John Mayer Tribute (7 p.m.)
  • Aunt Betty - High Energy 80's Hair Rock (10 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• There's a calendar sale going on over at the Cherokee Sheriff's Foundation. The proceeds will go in full towards supporting the Cherokee Sheriff's Office (CSO) Christmas Joy program, a program that provides gifts to those less fortunate during the holiday season via children's holiday shopping excursions and the delivery of comfort items to local senior citizens in need. There are two calendars available, one that features CSO K-9 Units and one that features the CSO SWAT team, choose one or both! (Cherokee Sheriff's Office via Facebook)
• Who wants to add a new member to their family? Here are some of the adoptable pets in the Woodstock-Towne Lake area. (Woodstock-Towne Lake Patch)
• Looking for a new job, more benefits, a better work-life balance? Take a look at these job openings in some of our county government departments - there's something for everyone, from record clerk to probation officer to camp counselor, and lots in between. (Cherokee Recreation & Parks)
• Downtown Woodstock: "Rootstock has a special night planned for you for NYE. Whether you attend the first or second seating, enjoy savoring your moment with Rootstock 🥂 🥂 Click the link below to purchase your tickets 🥂 https://rootstocknow.com/event/new-..." (Downtown Woodstock via Instagram)
• Downtown Woodstock: "Join Vingenzo's New Years Eve for their amazing dinner selections! Reservations are highly recommended. (770) 924-9133 @vingenzos" (Downtown Woodstock via Instagram)

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That's it for today. I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow morning with another update!

— Nina Lightcap

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