3-Day Cycling Tour of the Southern Highlands Stage Race Comes to Woodstock & Ball Ground Formerly held in Gainesville, organizers behind the Tour of the Southern Highlands Stage Race has decided to bring this Pro/Am stage to Woodstock and Ball Ground on March 3-5. Race director, and former professional cyclist, Nathan ONeill, stated, These two cities are active and progressive cities, and they absolutely exhibit the qualities we know are important to the growth and accessibility of cycling. We have an active, built-in cycling community in Woodstock and surrounding areas, and bringing a national cycling race to our community is a natural fit for locals and visitors, said Woodstock City Manager Jeff Moon. The city of Ball Ground is known for superior road cycling by many advocates, and we look forward to being part of this exciting event in 2017, along with Woodstock and Cherokee County, added Ball Ground City Manager Eric Wilmarth. The event will feature vendors, live music, kids bicycle races and more. Volunteers are needed. Those interested in volunteering or hosting visiting athletes should contact Co-Race Director Betty Hodges at 512-844-6383.
Local Church Receives Funds to Stock Food Pantry The Jay Weaver Food Pantry, a ministry of Heritage Presbyterian Church, was awarded $6,272.50 as part of the Georgia Theatre Companys 13th annual Cinema for a Cause. The money will be used to stock school food pantries in local schools in Cherokee County.
Clark Creek Elementary Wins Elementary School Recycling Competition! The Cherokee County Chamber of Commerces Going Green & Education Committees co-sponsored a two-day Plastic Bag Recycling Competition, in partnership with Waste Management, between seven of Cherokee Countys elementary schools. The schools collected a total of 88,144 plastic bags. Clark Creek ES collected an amazing 28,813 plastic bags during the two-day event. Through a grant from Waste Management, the Chamber was able to fund this elementary school recycling initiative. The grant monies were used to purchase a bench made from recycled plastics for the winning school. The bench, which will be proudly displayed at Clark Creek Elementary, includes a plaque, which recognizes the school as the winner of the 2016 ES Recycling Competition. Through further partnership, the plastic bags collected were donated to MUST Ministries, who will use them to support their ongoing projects.
Main Street Gives Supporting Shop with a Hero Due to the generous support from Woodstock businesses and residents, over 100 children were able to participate in this years Shop with a Hero program. Thanks to the following businesses that donated to Main Street Gives to ensure Woodstock children in need would have a happy Christmas: Pineapple Park, The Premier Group/Keller Williams Realty Partners, Holly Springs Jewelers, Dismero, Woodstock Pharmacy, Southern Local, Rough River Outfitters, Woodstock Optimist Club, Rezide Properties, Primetime Signs, SLB Consulting, Expert Realty Partners, Crossfit Etowah, Venue 92 and J Miller Smokehouse. Main Street Gives is part of the Downtown Woodstock board.
Chattahoochee Tech Brings Cyber Security Degree Program to Woodstock Campus Beginning in the spring, Chattahoochee Technical Colleges (CTC) cyber security program will expand to its campus in downtown Woodstock.National employment projections show a growth of eighteen percent across all industries from 2014 to 2024, with a 36% increase in computer system design and related service industries, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It will take 68 hours (about two years) to complete the cyber security degree program, while the diploma program takes 62 hours. The program intends to provide students with an understanding of the concepts, principles and techniques required in computer information processing. It focuses on the technical areas of computer terminology and concepts, program design and development and computer networking. After receiving their degree, graduates will be qualified for employment as information security specialists, responsible for analyzing where security breaches may occur and strengthening or repairing systems that may be vulnerable to such breaches. According to CTC, graduates of the program may expect compensation ranging from $64,000 to $85,000.
GA Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture Offers $60,500 in Scholarships The Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) Foundation for Agriculture is offering up to $60,500 in scholarships to Georgia students pursuing a degree related to agriculture, veterinary medicine, family and consumer sciences or a related field. GFB has awarded scholarships to students entering college with plans to pursue a career in agriculture or family and consumer sciences since 1959. On a local level, Cherokee County Farm Bureau (CCFB) will award $75 to each high school senior who fills out an application for a college scholarship. CCFB will award two $1000 scholarships to two Cherokee County HS seniors who are pursuing an agriculture-related degree. They will also be awarding additional scholarships for agriculture, technical scholarships for agriculture and UGA College of Veterinary Medicine scholarships. The deadline to apply for scholarships is Feb. 3, 2017. Applications and scholarship eligibility requirements may be obtained from the Cherokee County Farm Bureau office or downloaded at the GFB Foundation for Agriculture website at GFBoundation.org.
Energy Assistance Program Now Open for Homebound and Elderly The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program administered by the GA Division of Family and Children services is now open to homebound and elderly households. All households participating in the program must meet the income criteria; be responsible for paying the cost of energy for home heating directly to the supplier, and be U.S. citizens or aliens admitted to the U.S. for lawful, permanent residence. To apply, applicants must bring their most recent heating bill, proof of household income, proof of valid Social Security number, proof of citizenship with a valid picture I.D. and/or alien status. In addition, elderly households must provide proof of age for all household members. Assistance will be in the form of a one-time payment on behalf of the eligible household to help offset the cost of heating their homes. The checks will be issued directly to the homes energy supplier. Assistance is on a first-come, first-served basis, while funds last. For more information, call 770-345-6351.
Georgia National Cemetery Carillon Project The Georgia National Cemetery Advisory Council announces the Carillon Project, a program benefiting the Georgia National Cemetery by installing a bell tower to be located near the entrance of the cemetery. The bell tower will be erected at the front entrance, in the center of the turnaround, adjacent to the Public Information Center of the cemetery. The goal is to install the bell tower by September in 2017. Chime concerts will be scheduled daily, under the direction of the volunteer staff, to accommodate scheduled burials, while keeping the serenity of the cemetery and its surroundings in mind.
Main Street Gives 2016 Supporting Shop with a Hero The holidays are a time of festivities, fun and family. They are also a time of giving. Main Street Gives is looking to support more than 100 children during the holiday season by helping provide gifts for children in need. You can help by joining downtown Woodstock businesses and fellow community members in supporting Main Street Gives during Shop with a Hero. Shop with a Hero is an annual program that pairs children in need with Woodstock Fire and Police officers. The officers spend an evening shopping with the children and helping them choose holiday gifts. You can support one child for $75, but any amount is appreciated. The annual event aids families in the Woodstock community. Local Woodstock Police and Fire Departments, in partnership with the Woodstock Public Safety Foundation, are in charge of Shop with a Hero, and they welcome the goal of helping 100 children.The smiles on the childrens faces as we shop are worth so much, said George Williams, Community Outreach Coordinator for the Woodstock Fire Department. They spend so much time and care choosing their gifts. It means so much to them. Often times, the children chose to spend money on their siblings and parents instead of just themselves. This is exactly why we support this program, said Williams. To make a donation, you may make checks payable to the Woodstock Public Safety Foundation, a 501(c) 3 non-profit. Write Main Street Gives/Shop with a Hero in the memo line. You may mail or drop off donations at The Premier Group, 8604 Main Street, Woodstock, GA 30188. For questions, call 678-494-0102.
City of Woodstocks New Amphitheater Named The new Northside Hospital-Cherokee Amphitheater will be home to the Woodstock Summer Concert Series and a variety of other year-round concerts and special events. The Northside Hospital-Cherokee Amphitheater features multiple terraces and a large lawn seating area for optimal viewing angles. The facility includes a Concessions and Hospitality Plaza and additional areas for food vendors. The Band Stand will feature public restrooms and support facilities for concerts and events. The official ribbon cutting and first concert at the Northside Hospital-Cherokee Amphitheater will be held on November 12, when country music recording artist Mark Wills and Thomas Fountain perform.