February 2025 Community Life - Woodstock COED Announces Departure of Longtime President and CEOThe Cherokee Office of Economic Development (COED) announces the departure of longtime President and CEO Misti Martin.After serving COED for over two decades, Martin has shaped the organization into the cornerstone of community and business development. Since Martin began her tenure in early 2004 as the only full-time employee, her visionary leadership has grown COED into a multi-faceted economic development organization.Throughout her 20+ years of service, Martin has worked with the COED boards to champion initiatives that provide opportunities for Cherokee County residents to live, play, and work in their home community. COED has taken a holistic approach to serving the community through recruitment of new businesses, existing business expansions, real estate developments such as Cherokee 75 Corporate Park, entrepreneurship support through programs such as the North Atlanta Venture Mentoring Service (NAV), Launchpad and Fresh Start Mornings, building the film ecosystem, and workforce development including the creation of Be Pro Be Proud Georgia. COED’s all-inclusive approach to economic development has positively impacted a range of individuals — from students to CEOs — and has yielded over $1.4 billion in new capital investment and over 10,000 new jobs over the last 20 years.Martin will begin a new role as Deputy Commissioner of Global Commerce for the Georgia Department of Economic Development this month.——————————————————————————Woodstock Police Department Awarded Grant for Local DUI Enforcement The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety has announced that the Woodstock Police Department (WPD) is one of 26 law enforcement agencies in Georgia to receive a Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic grant for the Federal 2025 Fiscal Year. Referred to as a H.E.A.T. grant, WPD’s award totals $275,108. The goal of the H.E.A.T. program is to combat crashes, injuries, and fatalities caused by impaired driving and speeding while also increasing seatbelt use and educating the public about traffic safety and the dangers of DUI. “Federal and state crash data show sustained enforcement of traffic laws reduces crashes and saves lives on our roads,” Allen Poole, director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety said. “GOHS will continue to partner with state and local law enforcement to implement projects and initiatives designed to protect everyone using our roads and to help reach our goal of zero traffic deaths in Georgia and our nation.” “As part of our ongoing commitment to public safety, we look forward to collaborating with the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety in mobilizing our resources for high visibility enforcement and education,” said Chief of Police Robert Jones. “Our commitment to combating impaired driving and promoting traffic safety in Woodstock remains steadfast.” As law enforcement partners in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over DUI campaign and the Click It or Ticket seatbelt campaign, the WPD will also conduct mobilizations throughout the year in coordination with GOHS’s year-round waves of high visibility patrols, multi-jurisdictional road checks, and sobriety checkpoints. For more information about the H.E.A.T. program or any other GOHS campaign, visit GaHighwaySafety.org or call 404-656-6996. For information about the services provided by the WPD, visit WoodstockGa.gov/police.——————————————————————————History Cherokee Celebrates 50 Years of Preserving the PastThroughout 2025, History Cherokee will commemorate 50 years of dedication to preserving Cherokee County’s history with reduced museum admission, educational social media posts, and special events. These plans celebrate the organization from its humble beginnings in 1975 as the Cherokee County Historical Society to its evolution into today’s History Cherokee.From its inception, the organization has been an advocate for preserving Cherokee County’s historic buildings. In addition to spearheading efforts to save Canton’s Marble Courthouse and the Rock Barn, History Cherokee has also worked with homeowners and local governments to find resources to help preserve their historic properties. A Journey Through History — 50 Years of Milestones• 1975 – On April 17, the first Cherokee County Historical Society organizational meeting was held at the Cherokee County School Superintendent’s office. William G. Hasty served as the organization’s first president.• 1976 – The first annual meeting was held at the Pinecrest Inn, featuring former United States Secretary of State Dean Rusk as the keynote speaker.• 1981 – Cherokee County’s sesquicentennial was celebrated, and the Society published its first book, Glimpses of Cherokee County.• 1989 – The Society successfully raised $500,000 for the preservation and renovation of the Rock Barn, which was donated by the Cherokee County Board of Education. Also, the Rock Barn and Edgewater Hall were added to the National Register of Historic Places.• 1991 – The Society played a critical role in saving Canton’s Marble Courthouse from demolition and introduced the Annual Historic Preservation Awards.• 2003 – The first Kentucky Derby Day fundraiser was held at the Rock Barn.• 2004 – After operating for nearly 30 years as an all-volunteer organization, the first full-time staff member was hired.• 2011 – The Cherokee County History Museum opened on the first floor of the Marble Courthouse.• 2020 – The Historical Society rebranded as History Cherokee and launched a capital campaign for a new museum.• 2022 – The Cherokee County History Center opened, introducing a state-of-the-art, 11,000-square-foot, interactive cultural center in downtown Canton.• 2025 – We Celebrate 50 years of preserving Cherokee County’s past, present, and future!A Vibrant FutureToday, History Cherokee employs five full-time and four part-time staff members. The museum welcomes visitors Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00am-5:00pm. To celebrate its 50th Anniversary, throughout 2025 — admission is only $5 for adults, and admission for children 18 and younger is free.New Programs for 2025• Science Saturdays• Scout Saturdays• Monthly Sensory-Friendly Days• Winter Break CampHonoring Volunteers and Giving BackIn honor of the many individuals who have supported the organization over the last five decades, History Cherokee’s staff members are each pledging 50 hours of volunteer service with other organizations across Cherokee and surrounding counties as part of the “History’s Helping Hands” initiative. The community is invited to join this effort and contribute volunteer hours.Join the CelebrationThroughout the year, History Cherokee will share highlights from its 50-year journey. Follow along on social media and visit the museum to explore the history that has shaped Cherokee County. For more information, visit HistoryCherokee.org, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or call 770-345-3288.——————————————————————————Rotary Club of Canton Bestows Lifetime Achievement AwardThe Rotary Club of Canton recently presented its Lifetime Achievement Award to JoEllen Wilson. The recognition plaque reads, “In recognition of your outstanding leadership and amazing heart for service. You are an inspiration to all of us.” Over the past 32 years, Wilson made an impact at the Rotary Club as secretary, treasurer, and president and currently furthers its mission as vocational service chair, charitable fund committee member, new member mentoring chair, and on the board of directors. But her public service doesn’t stop with the Rotary Club.Wilson has served six terms on the Canton City Council and served as mayor pro-tem from 1996 to 2004. She has also served as president of the Service League of Cherokee County, Georgia Education Advancement Council, and the Etowah Garden Club and vice president of the Cherokee Arts Council and the Cherokee County Historical Society. Additionally, Wison served as chairperson of the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, the Anna Crawford Child Advocacy Board, and Cherokee County United Way and as a member of the Board of Directors for Funk Heritage Center, Arts Leadership League of Georgia, and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Foundation.Wilson joined the Rotary Club in 1992 and stated, “The Rotary Club of Canton has been a staple in my life for many years. I believe in our motto: ‘Service Above Self.’ Any work done in the name of the Rotary Club benefits others. Therefore, it doesn't seem like work at all!”——————————————————————————Canton Theatre a Featured Stop on Historic Theaters ExpeditionLast month, the Georgia Trust and Fox Gives invited people to explore some of Northwest Georgia’s most historic theaters during their second cohosted Historic Theaters Expedition.Patrons enjoyed a unique opportunity to go behind the scenes of four historic theaters: the GEM Theatre in Calhoun, a Georgia Trust Preservation Award winner; the DeSoto Theatre in Rome, the first theater built for “talkies” in the South; the Canton Theatre, which has been a community fixture for over 100 years; and the art deco Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre in Marietta. The architecture and history of these individual theaters was explored through exclusive tours, and visitors learned about their ongoing preservation efforts.——————————————————————————Check Out Canton’s Visitors CenterDid you know the City of Canton has a Visitors Center in downtown? It's located in the lobby of History Cherokee — Cherokee County History Center (221 East Marietta Street). Visitors can get local information, browse the gift shop, and use the restrooms or water fountain. The Visitors Center is open to the public Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00am-5:00pm.——————————————————————————Cherokee County School District AnnouncementsHasty ES Teacher Honored as Region's Top Art EducatorHasty ES Fine Arts Academy teacher Dr. Lisa Spence has earned the National Art Education Association’s Southeastern Region Elementary Art Educator Award. The prestigious annual honor, selected through peer review, recognizes “exemplary contributions, service, and achievements” of one elementary school art educator in the region, which includes 10 states as well as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The award will be presented next month at the association’s 2025 National Convention. A member of the state and National Art Education Association, Dr. Spence is a national presenter and frequent recipient of competitive grants. ——Etowah HS Teacher Named Top Agricultural Teacher in Nation Teacher Ashley Rivers is one of only six teachers nationwide to win the 2024 National Association of Agricultural Educators’ Outstanding Agricultural Education Teacher Award. The honor recognizes teachers at the “pinnacle of their careers, conducting the highest quality agricultural education programs” and “rewards them for their excellence, leadership, and service in the agricultural education profession.” An 18-year educator, Rivers leads Etowah’s Career Pathway agriculture programs, which she has grown to include both plant and floral design systems and companion animal systems. ——AP Capstone Graduates HonoredAdvanced Placement (AP) Capstone is a two-year project-based learning program designed to help students develop critical thinking, research, collaboration, and presentation skills crucial to college and career success. The premier program, which was developed by The College Board in partnership with colleges and universities, is offered in select high schools nationwide including Cherokee, Etowah, River Ridge, Sequoyah, and Woodstock High Schools.Only about 15,000 students nationwide earn the AP Capstone Diploma annually. Instead of a single end-of-year exam, the interdisciplinary AP Seminar and AP Research courses assess students’ knowledge mastery through group projects, presentations, and individual essays throughout the year. To earn the AP Capstone Diploma, students must achieve scores of 3 or higher (on a scale of 1 to 5) in both AP Seminar and AP Research courses as well as on at least four AP course exams. Students who achieve scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research but not on four course exams earn the AP Seminar and Research Capstone Certificate. Students who achieve a 3 or higher on an AP exam can qualify for college credit at most state colleges and universities, thereby avoiding college tuition payments for those classes. Districtwide, 99% of the 163 CCSD students participating in the AP Seminar course last school year earned a passing score of 3 or higher; 92% of the 110 students participating in the AP Research course earned a passing score of 3 or higher. ——Congratulations to the 2024 AP Capstone Honorees: Etowah HS – Diploma Honorees: Jonathan Acree, Jazlynn Bailey, Walker Baird, Parker Bishop, Olivia Bryan, Megan Busbee, Davis Clanton, Sydney Daniel, Logan Derenthal, Madison Dodd, Samantha Durst, Cristina Garcia, Grace Hedlund, Lisa Howe, Jack Kennard, Connor Lawlor, Jessica Lawlor, Kendall Lee, Elizabeth Lin, Charlotte Luina, Madeline May, Audrey Miller, Vanosha Moghaddasi, Temilola Oloruntoba, Mikayla Parks, Connor Pearson, Katherine Piroumian, Isabella Postel, Anvita Rautray, Shelby Rice, Bella Ruddock, Katie Shay, Dominic Slovisky, Lena Truan, Hailey Weiner, Naomi Williamson, and Lydia Wooley. Certificate Recipients: Sydney Allen, Stavroula Angelakos, Carson Carter, Christopher Jalbert, Lillian Schwartz, Anna Truan, and Jayla TurnerRiver Ridge HS – Diploma Honorees: Brianna Burke, Sallie Cobb, Giselle Kurtz, Hannah Mayfield, Samantha Mize, Hadley Moore, Stevie O’Connell, Emery Polk, Connor Schmitt, and Amelie Vogel. Certificate Recipient: Anna RoseSequoyah HS – Diploma Honorees: Colin Campbell, Hailey Collett, Sayler Davies, Peyton Fremin, Kaitlyn Hartman, Zachary Howell, Brooke Jacomine, Cayla Johnson, Jake Koster, Lilah Lathbury, Andrew Latimer, Claire Mathis, William Murphy, Jaxon Nesbitt, Sunny Nguyen, Anna Louise Panhorst, Alice Pelton, Jared Perry, Madison Rajecki, Jennifer Ramos-Hernandez, Stephanie P. Rios, Kristen Robinson, Kelsie Rohland, Nevaeh Roth, Asby Rowson, Olivia Sneed, Lauren Strommen, Parker Thran, Olivia Tomeny, and Cameron Williams. Certificate Recipients: Ella McClure, Jessica Ryan, Addy Sandt, Reece Sisson, Lauren Trujillo, Courtney Woodall, and Jake YoungWoodstock HS – Diploma Honorees: Danika Beaton, Stella Canty, Corrine Coffee, Taylor King, Avery Kmoch, Ariana Maniatis, Eowyn Ordones, Dalton Shakar, and Kaden Walls——E.T. Booth MS Student Wins Regional Essay Contest Eighth-grader Arcadian Freund is the Cherokee County winner of the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District’s 23rd annual essay contest open to all metro Atlanta middle schoolers. Last fall, students were invited to write an essay about how water has shaped the metro Atlanta region, and they could also include topics such as water conservation, water recreation, and related careers.Arcadian wrote about the importance of protecting water resources through conserving use and controlling pollution. To read a copy of Freund’s winning essay, please scan the QR code.
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