🌱 We Are An ARC Green Community + Storage Facility Zoning Changes

Good morning, everybody. I'm here with your fresh copy of the Woodstock-Towne Lake Daily, filled with all the local information you need to know right now. Including updates on...

• Cherokee County joins Woodstock as a Green Community!
• Board of Commissioners approve zoning changes.
• Two Highway 140 intersections to get updates.

But first, your local weather:

• Saturday: Sunny. High: 44 Low: 26.
• Sunday: Mostly sunny and milder. High: 53 Low: 30.

Business owners and marketers in Woodstock-Towne Lake: Do you want to build awareness with local customers? I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. Click here to learn more.

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

1. Cherokee County was recognized as a silver level Green Community by the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) for making changes and creating environmentally responsible programs that reduce the county's environmental impact. The Green Community distinction has only been granted to 11 cities and 5 other counties in the metro area. Some of the noted activities in Cherokee that helped earn the designation would be the county's ENERGY STAR Certification following renovations to county facilities and solar power permitting activity, the reuse of water by the fire training center during training, the purchase of three propane-fueled transit busses and the repurposing of glass material for infrastructure projects. Woodstock has been a certified Green Community since 2010 and was recertified in 2021 at the platinum level "in recognition of the city's robust energy saving measures and innovative Sustainable Parking Ordinance." (Subscription: Cherokee Tribune & Ledger-News and Free: Atlanta Regional Commission)
2. During its January 10 meeting, the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners made changes to the regulations for new storage facilities. Several updates to outdoor, indoor, climate-controlled and non-climate-controlled storage facilities were approved, including the requirement of a minimum parcel size of 3 acres for climate-controlled facilities and a minimum parcel size of five acres for non-climate-controlled and outdoor facilities. Conditions can, and likely will, be adjusted as new requests come in for Special Use Permits to account for differences in geography, population, density and land availability. Several other topics were discussed during the meeting, including annexation and rezoning requests, budget amendments and the use of Above and Beyond Counseling Services for treatment arranged through the Family Treatment Court. (Cherokee County Communications Division)
3. The intersection of Highway 140 and Avery Road will be getting an update soon. The Georgia Department of Transportation announced $1.9 million in funding for the improvements on the intersection, which will consist of a new, two-lane, center turn lane on Highway 140. The construction there is expected to begin within the next few months and has a tentative completion date of April 30, 2024. Also approved during the Board of Commissioners meeting on January 10 was improvements to the intersection of Highway 140 and Scott Road, with the contract awarded to Wilson Construction Management. (Subscription: Cherokee Tribune & Ledger-News)

Today and tomorrow in Woodstock-Towne Lake:

Today

• Paint and Chat Professional Art Classes: for all skill levels at Tranquility Fine Arts, 9194 Main Street. (2 - 4 p.m.)
• LEGO Lab: build a LEGO rendition of a Chinese Zodiac animal in celebration of the Chinese New Year at the Rose Creek Library, 4476 Towne Lake Parkway. (3 - 4 p.m.)
• Maker Bar: drop by every second Saturday of the month to create a project in 30 minutes or less at Made Mercantile, 8636 Main Street. (3 - 7 p.m.)
• Artisan Wine Tasting: enjoy some fine wines at The Gifted Ferret, 1910 Eagle Drive, Suite 400. (5 - 7 p.m.)
• January Dinner Party with Chef Alan: a multi-course Mediterranean style meal served by Chef Alan. The menu includes mini spanakopita, traditional Greek salad, moussaka and Greek semolina ravani cake at Leaning Ladder, 105 East Main Street. (6:30 - 8:30 p.m.)
• "Every Brilliant Thing": performed at the Woodstock Arts Theatre, 8534 Main Street. (7:30 p.m.)
• Adult Skate Night: get your skates ready, it's time for the adults to show their best moves at Hot Wheels Skate Center, 228 Farm Ridge Drive NE. (9 p.m. - midnight)
• Circus: the band is playing live at Guston's Grille, 12195 Highway 92, Suite 156. (9:30 p.m.)
• Shadowplay: classic goth, industrial and new wave music, DJ Twitch and DJ Eschar, dancing, a full bar and unlimited gaming all night at The Blue Ghost Arcade, 164 Towne Lake Parkway. (10 p.m.)
• Madlife Grill Patio Stage (free shows, no ticket needed):
  • Artist To Be Announced (11 a.m. - 2 p.m.)
  • Mason Parker (2 - 5 p.m.)
  • Clay Duke (5 - 8 p.m.)
  • The Hoodlins (8 - 11 p.m.)
• MadLife Stage & Studios:
  • Piano Man - A Tribute to Billy Joel, featuring Mark Kovaly (7 p.m. and 9:55 p.m.)

Tomorrow

• Cherokee Youth Lacrosse Clinic: for beginner's skill level, grades K-8. Learn the basics of the sport, no equipment needed. The clinic will be held at Hobgood Park, 6688 Bells Ferry Road. (2 - 3:30 p.m.)
• Wicks and Sips with Woodstock Candle Co: enjoy some snacks, adult beverages and music while you make your custom candle at Made Mercantile, 8636 Main Street. (2 - 4 p.m.)
• "Every Brilliant Thing": performed at the Woodstock Arts Theatre, 8534 Main Street. Note: this is the last performance. (2:30 p.m.)
• DJ Trivia: every Sunday at Guston's Grille, 12195 Highway 92, Suite 156. (6 p.m.)
• The Trouble Tones Blues Band: the band is playing live in the Listening Room at Rootstock, 8558 Main Street. (8 - 10:30 p.m.)
• MadLife Grill Patio Stage (free shows, no ticket needed):
  • Jake Hughes (11 a.m. - 2 p.m.)
  • Artist To Be Announced (2 - 5 p.m.)
  • Cody Bolden (5 - 8 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Check out the Super Wild Card Watch Parties going on this weekend at The Daily Draft! Enjoy on-demand games and great food and drinks for these games:
  • Saturday:Seahawks vs 49ers (4:30 - 7:30 p.m.) & Chargers vs Jaguars (8:15 - 11:15 p.m.)
  • Sunday: Dolphins vs Bills (1 - 4 p.m.), Giants vs Vikings (4:30 - 7:30 p.m.) & Ravens vs Bengals (8:15 - 11:15 p.m.)
• External Affairs, Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency: "Tornado Safety - Make sure you know what to do if or when you encounter a tornado while driving. For more information, visit http://gema.georgia.gov/tornad..." (Nextdoor)

Here are the next few events at Leaning Ladder:

• January 18: Black Garlic with Chef Oakley - demonstration class (7 - 9 p.m.)
• January 28: Olive Oil and Vinegar 101 Class with Joanna Scott - demonstration class (11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.)
• January 31: Desserts 101 with Chef Michelle - hands-on class (6:30 - 9:30 p.m.)

Here are the next few events at Made Mercantile:

• January 21: Build Your Own Earrings with Broken Ankles (6 - 8 p.m.)
• January 22: Planner Party with Moments with B (2 - 4 p.m.)
• January 29: Dirty Date Night Design with Dirty Unicorn (6 - 7 p.m.)

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• Add your business here

Events:

• Collectibles For The Entire Family - Tools, Electronics, Stamps, Coins, Nascar and More! (January 14)
• Grand Opening - Artistically Modern (January 15)
• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (January 16)
• Pre-K Open House (January 18)
• OOH-RAH HA HA Comedy Night with Derrick Tennant! (January 28)
• Add your event

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Saturday! I'll see you around.

— Nina Lightcap

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