Volunteers Needed for Food Ministry Timothy's Cupboard food ministry is seeking volunteers to help distribute boxes of food to local families in need. Volunteers are needed on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:30 a.m., and must be able to lift and carry boxes weighing 30-60 pounds. Volunteer time can be credited toward community service. Timothy's Cupboard is located at 556 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock. Call 770-591-5155 or visit TimothysCupboard.org for more information.
Local Club Donates Stuffed Animals for Children The Cherokee County Teen Republicans collected and distributed more than 220 stuffed animals to the Woodstock Police Dept., Canton Police Dept., Holly Springs Police Dept., Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, and the Anna Crawford Center recently. The stuffed animals were donated to the different agencies to give to children when they must be removed from their homes under extreme circumstances. Cherokee County Teen Republicans hope the stuffed animals will serve as a "friend" to the children and help them through tough situations.
North Georgia Titans Win State Championship North Georgia Titans are the new state champions for the AAU 7th Grade Girls division. The team, comprised of 7th-grade girls from Cherokee, Pickens and Gilmer counties, beat out seven other teams in the tournament, held recently in LaGrange, Ga. The North Georgia Titans practice in Cherokee County and play in tournaments around the state. Head coach is Stacey Williams, with Scott Kiser and Teresa Blankinship as assistant coaches.
Race Raises $10,800 to Combat Malaria The "Malaria Bites" 5K Run/Walk, hosted recently by Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Woodstock, raised $10,800 for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ECLA) Malaria Campaign. "A child dies from malaria every minute," said Kristin Brenneman, outreach coordinator for Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. "In a few short hours, Good Shepherd, and the entire community, was able to raise more than $10,000 for the ELCA Malaria Campaign," she explained, adding the campaign's goal is to raise $15 million by the year 2015. While Good Shepherd Lutheran Church raised $5,400 on or before race day, the total donated to the Malaria Campaign grew to $10,800, thanks to a matching program available through the ELCA. The money will help provide insecticide treatments, test kits, education and treatment for those in danger of contracting the deadly disease. Deaths from malaria have dropped by 25 percent since the ELCA joined the World Health Organization in its effort to eradicate malaria. The fastest runners/walkers in age divisions received a medal. The overall male runner trophy was awarded to Mike Stafford of Marietta, with a time of 17:02:00, while the overall female runner trophy went to Caitlyn Farrell of Canton, with a time of 21:42:00. "The real winners are the women and young children who can now be protected, especially those in Naimibia, where the ELCA hopes to start a program to prevent and treat malaria," Brenneman said.
Farm Bureau Hosts Safety Camp Cherokee County Farm Bureau will host a Safety Day Camp June 18, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., at Lazy D Farm, 848 Bishop Road, Ball Ground, for area youth ages 8-12. The camp will cover ATV, tractor, animal, bike, gun, electricity, fire, water, severe weather, and Internet safety. In addition, children will be provided lunch, a camp T-shirt and goody bag. Safety Day Camp is free, but registration is required by June 9. Call the Cherokee County Farm Bureau office at 770-479-1481, ext. 0, to register.
Local Scout Installs Play Equipment at Dog Park New play equipment installed at Woofstock Park as part of an Eagle Scout project provides dogs there with a fun way to exercise. Jimmy Wilson installed the new agility courses as part of his Eagle Scout project for Boy Scout Troop 639. He has been a member of the troop for six years, and the service project was one of the final requirements to earn the Boy Scouts highest Eagle Scout ranking. The new equipment includes an A-frame platform, two wooden platforms and two up-and-over platforms. The project was completed with the assistance of local volunteers and sponsors, including Family Life Publications, Bark Station in Downtown Woodstock, Crossroads Veterinary Hospital, and North Atlanta Fencing Center.
New Trail Segments Open with Trailfest Race Greenprints Alliance will celebrate the official opening of the new Town to Creek and Noonday Creek Trail segments with a ribbon cutting following the fifth annual Trailfest 5K, sponsored by Natural Strides. The event also will include a 1-mile kids Fun Run (ages 12 and under); live music by The Kurt Thomas Band, The Shetlands, Gavin McCoy Band, and Red White & Blues Band; and food and drinks. All race participants will receive a T-shirt and swag bag. Festivities will begin at 8:00 a.m. and continue until 8:00 p.m., rain or shine. The Town to Creek and Noonday Creek Trail segments cover approximately 1.5 miles of multi-use concrete trails. The two trails, which merge at Market Street in Downtown Woodstock and connect Woofstock Park to Towne Lake, are open daily for public enjoyment. In other news, Woodstock Downtown Development Authority has announced a new public entertainment and event stage in Downtown Woodstock, on the Elm Street Cultural Arts Village event green near Market Street and the Town to Creek Trail. The new community stage is being developed in partnership with Elm Street Cultural Arts Village, Main Street Woodstock and a financial contribution by Resurgens Orthopaedics. In addition to Elm Street, Main Street Woodstock and other community events, the stage will be available for private event rental. Construction of the stage is expected to be completed in May.
Historical Society Awards Honor Local Preservation Efforts The Cherokee County Historical Societys annual Preservation Awards Banquet, held March 21 at Northside Hospital-Cherokee Conference Center at the Bluffs, recognized four businesses and individuals for their achievement in historic preservation. Properties are judged by the attention given to preserving historic features and maintaining the integrity of initial design. Those receiving a 2014 Historic Preservation Award were: McCanless Park Scout Hut, Canton Constructed around 1940, the Scout Hut was provided by the McCanless families in honor of William (Bill) McCanless, son of Eugene and Hettie McCanless, and Cantons first known Eagle Scout. Boy Scout Troup 241 renovated the Scout Hut, taking care to maintain the historic integrity while making necessary upgrades to keep it functional for an active scout troup. Fackler-Hendrix Home, Canton This Craftsman style home built in 1923 by Newman and Edna Fackler stayed in the Fackler family until the late 1980s, when it was purchased by Quinn and Martha Hendrix. Martha lived in the home until 2010 and began the renovation that was completed by her son, Greg, and his wife, Katherine. Ball Ground City Gym, Ball Ground The Ball Ground City Gym was built as a community project for the Ball Ground School in 1948-49. The City of Ball Ground purchased the gym when the school closed in 2012 and made extensive repairs to the roof, upgraded the electrical system and refinished the floors. The gym has truly become a community center and is being used for more than 16 games each week. R&M Hoagie Shop, Canton This one-story brick building built prior to 1918 was used as a barbershop in the 1930s and 1940s, and as the R&M Hoagie Shop since the 1970s. Mike Deluca and his family completed a renovation of the building, exposing the old brick walls and original wood floors and removing the dropped ceiling to reveal the original ceiling and skylight.
Service League Makes Grant Donation to Support Literacy The Service League of Cherokee County awarded a $2,800 grant to Debby Pinion, who teaches first grade at Woodstock Elementary School and volunteers with The Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy. The program provides books for local communities to prepare all Georgia preschool children for reading and learning success. Books are delivered every month, up to 60 times in childrens critical years of development. The program is free to participating families and it is made possible through the partnership with local Community Action Teams (CATs) and through private donations, corporate sponsorships and grants. The Service League grant will fund the delivery of one book a month for a year to 100 students.
AADD Bocce Ball Launches New Season All About Developmental Disabilities (AADD), an Atlanta-based advocacy group focusing on developmental disabilities issues, launches its new season April 10 in Woodstock and other Cherokee and North Fulton communities. The program connects young adults with developmental disabilities to those without. The AADD Bocce Ball league is seeking participants to play games and model good social skills for these young people with developmental disabilities. After graduating from high school at age 21, young people with developmental disabilities very often become socially isolated as their high school friends head off to college or careers, explains Michael Stinson, manager of recreation and wellness for AADD. It is so important for them to have opportunities to interact with people their own age, because that brings them back into the community. For people without disabilities, this is a chance for them to give back to their communities and build their own awareness of the challenges faced by those who live with disabilities. The preferred age range for participants is 18-30. Each season will be about six months. Groups will meet twice a month. Peer participants will be offered a brief training on developmental disabilities. Registration is free. Call 404-881-0920 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.