🌱 There's A New Director In Town + Traffic To Be Expected This Week

Hello, everybody! It's me, Nina, your host of the Woodstock-Towne Lake Daily — here to explain everything that's fit to print about what's happening locally. Today's briefing includes...

• Meet the new Woodstock Parks and Recreation Director!
• Traffic congestion is predicted throughout the week.
• Getting our kids out and into a bit of nature.

But first, today's weather:

Heavy rain and a thunderstorm. High: 63 Low: 31.

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

1. The City of Woodstock has announced Brian Borden, CPRP, as the new director of the Woodstock Parks and Recreation Department. Borden is well aligned with the city's vision of building a more vibrant and active city, in part through the creation of new parks and trails, and brings an impressive 26 years of experience to the role. Borden served as the director of the Brookhaven Parks and Recreation Department prior to his new role in Woodstock and previously worked with several parks and recreation departments in Tennessee. Welcome! (City of Woodstock via Facebook)
2. With the Christmas Jubilee and Parade of Lights coming up on Saturday, keep in mind that there will be road closures along the parade route. The parade will start at 5:30 p.m. at Woodstock Elementary School on Rope Mill Road. Road closures will start around 5:15 p.m. in preparation. The parade will run south on Main Street to the Sam's Club right before the Highway 92 intersection. The event will proceed if it rains, unless there are dangerous conditions like high wind or lightning. Traffic will likely shift over to the downtown area around the Park at City Center where the festival will be held afterwards. As a note, on December 8, it will be 125 years since Woodstock was incorporated. Leading the parade as Grand Marshal this year will be local columnist Juanita Hughes, who served on the Centennial Committee, the committee that organized our city's first festival and parade in 1997. (Free: The Georgia Sun and Subscription: Cherokee Tribune & Ledger-News)
3. Yesterday, the Woodstock Police Department sent out an alert to residents regarding an extremely high volume of traffic at the South Cherokee Annex early voting location. The traffic alert made via Facebook urged motorists to find an alternate route if they weren't in the area to vote and advised the delays will likely last through December 2, the last date of early voting. There are two other locations to cast your vote in Cherokee County, and public comments on the Police Department's Facebook post stated that one of those locations, Grace Community Church, saw very little traffic. If you are voting early, check the traffic for all three locations before heading out, just in case there is a location with less of a wait. You can vote from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily at the Elections Warehouse, located at 400 East Main Street in Canton; the South Cherokee Annex, at 7545 Main Street, Building 200 in Woodstock; or at Grace Community Church, at 7770 Hickory Flat Highway in Woodstock. (Woodstock PD via Facebook and Cherokee GA Votes)

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Today in Woodstock-Towne Lake:

• Joy of Breathing: learn the Joy of Breathing technique and enjoy a free Pranayama class with Soul Dimension. The free class will be via Zoom meeting. Please see the listing for more information. (1 - 1:30 p.m.)
• New Realm Tap Take Over & Book Signing: enjoy craft beer, food and an "IPA: Brewing Techniques, Recipes and the Evolution of Indian Pale Ale" book signing with brewmaster Mitch Steele. New Realm Brewery will be on hand with its latest holiday brews. (4 - 7 p.m.)
• Ladies Night, Live Music: every Wednesday. Live music from The Radio Show starts at 7:30 p.m. at Guston's Grille, 12195 Highway 92, Suite 156. (5 p.m. - 1 a.m.)
• Trivia Night with Lights Up! Entertainment: every Wednesday, prizes for first, second and third place teams each week at Reformation Brewery, 105 Elm Street. (7 - 9 p.m.)
• DJ Trivia: every Wednesday at Woodstock Beer Market, 240 Chambers Street. (7 - 9 p.m.)
• Fight Club Wednesdays: the top three winners in the tournament win prizes. The game this week is Marvel vs Capcom: Infinite at The Blue Ghost Arcade, 164 Towne Lake Parkway. (8 - 10 p.m.)
• Senior Center Programs:
  • Fit Over 50 - have fun with chair yoga, balance, bands, weights and core strength exercises every Wednesday and Friday at the WGLSC Activity Center Expansion. (9:30 - 10:30 a.m.)
• MadLife Grill Patio Stage (free shows):
  • Top Artists Extended Sets (6 - 9 p.m.)
• MadLife Stage & Studios:
  • Songwriters in the Round - with Clay Duke, Stratton James, Mike Levi and Eric Hogan. (7:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Woodstock Parks and Recreation is holding a rock painting get together on December 5 at 6 p.m. I've taken part in the Pollinator and Día de los Muertos rock painting events, they were both so fun! The upcoming 'Tis the Season ROCKS! session will focus on the holiday season, and participants will paint rocks to celebrate, honor and remember any and all winter-season holidays. Once the rocks are painted, you can hide them around town for others to find. Please register online for this free event being held at the WGLSC Activity Center Expansion, 223 Arnold Mill Road. (Woodstock Parks and Recreation)
• Cherokee Recreation & Parks offers an activity book to help the kids get out and into nature. The Exploring Through the Parks Activity Book includes pages for each park in the area with lots of information, activities, scavenger hunts, drawing and more. The book gives your kids guided activities that send them around the park on personal missions, and through those activities, they'll gain a greater appreciation for the parks in our county and the natural world around us. You can print the book out here or pick up a printed copy at the Recreation Center at 7545 Main Street, Building 200. (Cherokee Recreation & Parks)
• If your home doesn't match your vision anymore and it's time for a change, check out these homes for sale in the Woodstock-Towne Lake area. There's a great open house on the list, a nice three-bed, three-bath home with a great yard. It's been updated all over and even has that rec room you've been wanting. (Woodstock-Towne Lake Patch)
• Downtown Woodstock: "Let's Toast The Season! Come raise a glass to the gift of small business and join IN WDSTK this Thursday, Dec 1st, at their annual Jingle Mingle and Silent Auction! WEAR AN UGLY SWEATER and you will be instantly entered in the contest to win some great prizes and giveaways. Event takes place at Reformation Brewery." (Downtown Woodstock via Instagram)
• Oh, I've got one more item and possibly the most important in the whole newsletter.
  • Happy Birthday, Mom! We love you! XO

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Events:

• Roswell UMC Christmas Gift & Craft Show (December 2)
• Free Holiday Concert (December 3)
• Breakfast with Santa (December 3)
• Chanukah & Holiday Bazaar (December 4)
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Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll see you soon!

— Nina Lightcap

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