🌱 Stake Your Claim At The Amphitheater + Join The Library Book Club

Morning, neighbors! It's me, Nina, your host of the Woodstock-Towne Lake Patch newsletter — here to tell you everything you need to know about what's happening in the community. Including news on:

• It's time to save your spot at the Amphitheater.
• Join the new Woodstock Library book club.
• A blood drive in memory of a local child.

Today's newsletter is sponsored by Michale Pena, Realtor at Red Barn Realty DT Woodstock

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 Red Barn Realty DT Woodstock, 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, or call her at 678-848-4351.

Want to see your business featured in this spot? Click here to get started.

Now, today's weather: A shower and thunderstorm. High: 81 Low: 64.

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

1. It's time to set up your chairs for the Woodstock Summer Concert Series. Did you set your alarm? You can place your chairs in the Amphitheater downtown starting at 6 a.m. today for tomorrow's show. You can bring folding chairs, beach chairs or bag chairs, but no tables, blankets, tarps or things that anchor into or cover the ground. Get up and at it, neighbors, I'll see you there. (Woodstock Summer Concert Series via Facebook)
2. The first meeting of the Woodstock Library's Homegrown Book Club is this afternoon. The club will read a different book each month written by a Georgia author and discuss the book outside on The Green in Downtown Woodstock. This month's book is "The Book of Longings," by Sue Monk Kidd. The meeting will start at 4 p.m., and everyone is welcome. The address for The Green is 111 Elm St. (Sequoyah Regional Library System)
3. In memory of Nathan Moon, a Dean Rusk student who passed away last month due to cancer, River Ridge High School and Blood Assurance are holding a blood drive this Saturday. You must be at least 17 and weigh at least 110 pounds to donate, the drive will be held at River Ridge High School, at 400 Arnold Mill Road, from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. You can make an appointment online here, by phone at 800-962-0628 or by texting BAGIVE to 999777. Walk-ins will be accepted as well, and donors will receive a T-shirt and enjoy some Chick-fil-A. (All On Georgia)
4. Who here loves kickball? Registration for Coed Adult Kickball at Cherokee Recreation & Parks is now open. You can sign up until May 21, and the season starting game is on June 5. Games will be scheduled for Monday and Wednesday evenings at the Twin Creeks Softball Complex inside J.J. Biello Park, located at 250 Brooke Blvd. You can sign your team up here, there is an 8-player minimum per team. (Cherokee Recreation & Parks)

Today in Woodstock-Towne Lake:

• Friday Flow Yoga: Join instructor Melanie Pineda for an outdoor class at Trefoil Gardens, walk-ins are welcome. Proceeds go to food access initiatives in the community. The class will meet on the deck at the Kingsridge CoOp Meeting Space, 120 Bascomb Drive. (12:30 p.m.)
• Patron Art Gallery: Take in the patron-created art at the R.T. Jones Memorial Library, 116 Brown Industrial Parkway in Canton. (3 - 5:30 p.m.)
• Woodstock Arts Video Game Tournament - Mario Kart: There is a $10 entry fee if you'd like to play, you can save your spot at the link. Spectators are free. The event will be on The Green downtown, at 113 Elm St., so be sure to bring a folding chair. The winner will get a $25 gift card for GameStop. (6 p.m.)
• Wine Tasting Bingo Night: Play some bingo and taste some delicious wines between games at The Gifted Ferret, 1910 Eagle Drive, Suite 400. (7 - 9:30 p.m.)
• Hughes Taylor: The artist is playing a solo acoustic show in The Listening Room at Rootstock, 8558 Main St. (7:30 - 10 p.m.)
• Karaoke Night: Grab your friends and head downtown, it's time for karaoke at Reformation Brewery, 105 Elm St. (8 - 10 p.m.)
• MadLife Grill Patio Stage - free shows, no ticket needed
  • Little Wing Experience (5 - 8 p.m.)
  • Blackfoot Daisy (8 - 11 p.m.)
• MadLife Stage & Studios
  • Resist & Bite — Heavy Metal, featuring Tommy Skeoch, formerly of Tesla (7 p.m.)
  • Back N Black — AC/DC Tribute (10 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Woodstock Fire's new fire chief was welcomed to his post at the Monday mayor and city council meeting. Replacing recently retired Fire Chief Dave Soumas, Fire Chief Shane Dobson has served as the deputy chief for administration at the Roswell Fire Department and in several roles with DeKalb County Fire and Rescue. (Subscription: Cherokee Tribune & Ledger-News)
• This Saturday is History Cherokee's "History Factory: A Day on the Trail with Eva Gumbert and Katy Ross." The walk starts at 10 a.m. and will bring you down a private trail along the Etowah River as you learn about the native plants in the area and how they've been used. You'll even get a plant to bring home with you. The trail is about a mile long, and it is considered moderately difficult terrain. (History Cherokee)
• Made Mercantile holds a free Maker Bar every second Saturday, and that's this weekend! Drop by anytime between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday to create a project in 30 minutes or less, it's the perfect chance to make something for the mom in your life. The Pop Up Poppy will be at the event with fresh cut flowers for purchase. Made Mercantile is located at 8636 Main St. (Made Mercantile)
• The next tour in the Downtown WDSTK Walking Tour Series is on May 25. On this tour, you'll learn about "Woodstock History" and the role the railroad played in the founding of our city, the history of the buildings, influential families and more. The tours depart every half-hour from the Visitors Center, starting at 6 p.m. The tour sizes are relatively small, so be sure to get tickets soon if you'd like to attend. (Downtown Woodstock via Facebook)
• Downtown Woodstock: "Take advantage of the free shuttles being offered this Saturday, May 13 for the opening concert in the Woodstock Summer Concert Series. For more info check out https://www.woodstockconcertse..." (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:

• Here Comes the Sun: Music of the Beatles (May 12)
• You're Invited to a House Party! (May 13)
• Mother's Day BeltLine Food and Street Art Tour (May 13)
• Veteran Block Party! Veterans eat free! (May 20)
• Cherokee County Alzheimer's Community Forum (May 25)
• Add your event

Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll see you back in your inbox 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