🌱 Town Hall Meeting + Trained Advocates + The Sheriff Isn't Calling

Hello again, neighbors! I'm back with your fresh copy of the Woodstock-Towne Lake Patch newsletter. Here's all the local news you need to know right now, including:

• There's a town hall meeting this week.
• A local student recently trained in Washington, D.C.
• Don't pay the sheriff by phone.

But first, today's weather:

Warmer; frost in the morning. High: 58 Low: 29.

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

1. A countywide town hall meeting is scheduled for Thursday from 7 - 9 p.m. in the Hickory Flat Elementary School gymnasium. State Representative Brad Thomas and Cherokee County Commissioner Richard Weatherby will be on hand with updates on county and state issues. Hickory Flat ES is located at 2755 E. Cherokee Drive in Hickory Flat. (Subscription: Cherokee Tribune & Ledger-News)
2. The Tourette Association of America recently held a training in Washington, D.C., to train a group of 60 students from around the country to work as youth ambassadors. Among the 60 was local Woodstock student Caleb Glisson. The students were trained in the ways to tell their story and advocate for those with Tourette Syndrome and are now prepared and qualified to speak to youth, teachers, school assemblies, first responders, churches and other groups. (Subscription: Cherokee Tribune & Ledger-News)
3. The Cherokee Sheriff's Office wants to assure you that they'd never call you to tell you that you missed court, have a warrant or ticket or ask for money to avoid facing charges. No matter what name they say or what the caller ID says on your phone, there are apps that will clone numbers. What looks legitimate may not be. Don't ever send money, a gift card, a money order or check to anyone that calls saying they are with the Sheriff's Office, it isn't really them. If you're ever in doubt, disconnect the call and reach out via the correct, listed, non-emergency number for the Sheriff's Office and ask if they called you. (Cherokee Sheriff's Office via Facebook)
4. The Service League of Cherokee County's "Golfing Fore! The Children" charity golf tournament is happening on June 16. Online registration is open now, and the tournament starts at 7:30 a.m. with registration. After checking in, there's a breakfast to eat, a goodie bag to enjoy and time to purchase mulligans and raffle tickets before the shotgun start at 9 a.m. Registration includes a round of golf, cart rental, breakfast, lunch, goodie bags and one raffle ticket. The application for sponsors is also open, and there are several levels of sponsorship, some that include entry and golf carts for the event. You can read more about the event and sign up at the link. (The Service League of Cherokee County)
5. A Woodstock man has been charged with murder with regards to a 2022 overdose in Sandy Springs. Jacob Anglin of Woodstock was remanded to the custody of the Fulton County Jail in late February. A suspected drug dealer, he was initially charged with murder, making false statements and possession of cocaine. The Sandy Springs Public Information Officer said the running theory is that Anglin had been selling pills laced with fentanyl and that a 26-year-old man from Thomaston died as a result of said pills in October. The suspect is still housed in Fulton without bond. (Appen Media)

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Today in Woodstock-Towne Lake:

• Fresh Start Mornings: presented by the Cherokee Office of Economic Development (COED). Receive feedback, learn and make connections with other locals. Networking starts at 9 a.m., and the program begins at 9:15 a.m. The meeting is free and open to the public at Reformation Brewery, 255 Reformation Brewery, Suite 500 in Canton. (9 - 10 a.m.)
• Open Pickleball Play: open to county residents at The Buzz, 7345 Cumming Highway in Canton. There is a nominal fee to play. (9 a.m. - 1 p.m.)
• Family Storytime: for children of all ages, but children must be accompanied by an adult. The little ones will have fun with stories, singing and lots of fun at the Woodstock Library, at 7735 Main Street, and the Rose Creek Library, at 4476 Towne Lake Parkway. (10:30 - 11:30 a.m.)
• Toddler Sensory Snack and Play, Fairies, Magic and More: for children up to 4 years, drop in for play, snacks, music and more at the R.T. Jones Memorial Library, 116 Brown Industrial Parkway in Canton. Children must be accompanied by an adult. (10:30 - 11:30 a.m.)
• Reading Dogs with Teddy Puppies: for children of all ages. Sign up here for a 15-minute spot for your child to read to the Reading Dog at the R.T. Jones Memorial Library, 116 Brown Industrial Parkway in Canton. (10:30 - 11:30 a.m.)
• Open Gym: open to county residents at The Buzz, 7345 Cumming Highway in Canton. There is a nominal fee to play. (1 - 6 p.m.)
• Rock Wall Climbing Zone: open to county residents ages 4 and up and 40-pounds and over at The Buzz. There is a nominal fee to climb. (4:30 - 7:30 p.m.)
• Ladies Night, Live Music: enjoy live music every Wednesday, The Radio Show starts playing at 7:30 p.m. at Guston's Grille, 12195 Highway 92, Suite 156. (5 p.m. - 1 a.m.)
• Team Trivia: every Wednesday at Sidelines Grille - Woodstock, 300 Village Center Drive. (7 p.m.)
• Music Bingo: every Wednesday at Sidelines Grille - Hickory Flat, 6199 Hickory Flat Highway in Canton. (7 p.m.)
• Trivia Night with Lights Up! Entertainment: prizes for first, second and third place teams every Wednesday at Reformation Brewery, 105 Elm Street. (7 - 9 p.m.)
• For the Love of St. Patrick's Day, Irish Whiskey Pairing Dinner: a 5-course dinner with 1-ounce Irish whiskey pairings in The Listening Room at Rootstock, 8558 Main Street. (7 - 9:30 p.m.)
• Fight Club Wednesdays: the top three winners in tonight's Mortal Kombat 11 tournament will win prizes at The Blue Ghost Arcade, 164 Towne Lake Parkway. (8 - 10:30 p.m.)
• Senior Center Programs - most events are held at the William G. Long Senior Center (WGLSC), 223 Arnold Mill Road
  • Walking Club - every Monday and Wednesday at the Dupree Park walking/running track, 513 Neese Road. (8 - 9 a.m.)
  • 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
  • Top Artists Extended Sets (6 - 9 p.m.)
• MadLife Stage & Studios
  • Takiya Mason & The Band of Angels with Special Guest, The Steven Brooks Band (7:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• The City of Woodstock is hosting a LifeSouth community blood drive later this month! LifeSouth is an organization that uses donations to fill local needs, stating "the blood supply collected from our donors directly serves the needs of patients in our local community." You can sign up here for a donation spot in the March 23 drive, it's going to be held at The Chambers at City Center, 8534 Main Street. (City of Woodstock)
• Joining the YMCA in March comes with some serious benefits. Aside from the immense health and social benefit they provide through their activities, camps, classes and sports, during the month of March, your joining fee will equal the date that you sign up. For example, if you join on March 14, your joining fee is $14. That's a huge discount, and you can check out their membership benefits here. (YMCA of Cherokee County via Facebook)
• Planned PEThood of GA has a special deal going on for pit bull parents until April 15. The organization is offering the spay or neuter, microchip and rabies/DHPP vaccines for pit bulls for just $25. You can read more about the special and apply here, it is limited to Georgia residents only and two pets per household. (Cherokee County Animal Shelter via Facebook)
• Woodstock-Towne Lake Area Real Estate Roundup (Woodstock-Towne Lake Patch)
• Downtown Woodstock: "The Shamrock Pub Crawl is this Saturday, March 18th, 2pm - 6pm, in Downtown Woodstock! For the Shamrock Pub Crawl Truck and Tap will be offering the following specials: The Irish Maid $12, Car Bombs $11, Shamrock Martini $12, Irish Mule $11..." (Downtown Woodstock via Instagram)
• Downtown Woodstock: "Make plans to be at the Spring Sip + Shop in Downtown Woodstock on Thursday March 16, 5pm-9pm. For the Spring Sip + Shop Dress Up Woodstock will be offering 20% off your purchase for event attendees." (Downtown Woodstock via Instagram)
• Nextdoor Neighbor, Bells Ferry Towne Lake: "34 Custom Cleaning is looking to hire cleaning crews. - Great pay. Flexible hours, even for stay at home moms and college students. Local to Cherokee County. Please text 404-771-2611 for more details!" (Nextdoor)
• Nextdoor Neighbor, Allatoona Shores: "Critter Stoppers is Looking for a part-time, possible full-time helper. Not afraid of ladder work. (770) 880-1851 Woodstock, Ga" (Nextdoor)

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Featured events:

• Last Day to Register for Golf2Grow, Inc Golf Tournament (March 15)
• Aura Reading & Chakra Balancing (March 16)
• Homebuyer Blueprint Live Webinar (March 16)
• Irish Song and Dance (March 17)
• Add your event

Thanks for following along and staying informed! 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