March 2025 Community Life Woodstock CCFES’s Robinson Named Georgia Fire Chief of the Year Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services Fire Chief Eddie Robinson received the prestigious honor at the Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs (GAFC) 53rd Annual Firefighters Recognition Day at the Georgia State Capitol, an event that recognizes outstanding individuals and contributions to Georgia’s fire service.This distinguished award is given annually to a fire chief who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, commitment, and service to their community, the fire service profession, and the state of Georgia. Chief Robinson stood out among the state’s top fire leaders for his ongoing dedication to improving fire and emergency services, his innovation in public safety, and his tireless efforts to advocate for his team and the community.————————————————Visit Woodstock GA Honored With Georgia Tourism AwardDuring the Georgia Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus (GACVB) Annual Conference last month, Visit Woodstock GA was honored with the Paul Broun Award for Marketing Initiatives for its bold website redesign project. This statewide recognition is given to the program that "demonstrates an effective and unique marketing initiative," in memory of the late Georgia Senator Paul Broun who was a significant supporter of the tourism industry.For a look at the award-winning website project, please log on to VisitWoodstockGA.com——————————————Cherokee Board of Commissioners Retreat HighlightsOn January 27-28, the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners and several county staff members retreated to History Cherokee in downtown Canton to discuss the current and future endeavors of the county government. Several members of the public also attended portions of the retreat.Finance kicked off the two-date retreat with a financial update, as staff enters the budget-planning season. CFO Jimmy Marquis also touched on inflation trends and the five-year outlook. Several key factors will determine the county’s revenue stream, as inflation fluctuates and House Bill 581 takes effect. HB 581 “provides relief and clarity to taxpayers by offering a statewide floating homestead exemption, an optional sales tax to further offset property taxes, and property tax process forms,” (Legis.Ga.gov). While it will not impact the general fund because unincorporated Cherokee County has had a floating homestead exemption since 2008, the Fire Fund will be affected by the statewide floating homestead exemption that took effect January 1.Marquis indicated to the Board that despite budgeting to use $12.4 million in reserves for FY2024, pre-audit figures show only using $5.1 million, keeping the county’s general fund reserves healthy at $69 million (5.5 months of operating costs). The Fire Fund reserves are $10.6 million (2.47 months of operating costs).Marquis also provided an update on American Rescue Plan Act projects. Cherokee County was awarded $50.2 million, and 93% of projects are complete. The projects in progress include renovating the former Arts Center in downtown Canton for judicial services ($3.4 million) and $36,109 for surveillance system upgrades for the Justice Center and Sheriff’s Office.The FY2025 budget, passed last October, absorbs salaries for positions created for the judicial sector and squad pay for paramedics on ambulances.———————————————City of Woodstock Announces 2025 Summer Concert Series Woodstock Mayor Michael Caldwell announced the Woodstock Summer Concert Series lineup as part of his 2025 State of the City address on January 31. New this season, the City of Woodstock has launched Woodstock Summer Concert Series Gives Back. Through this initiative, Woodstock officials will designate a charity and design concert series branded merchandise that concert lovers can purchase online. All funds raised will go directly to the designated nonprofit. For the first offering in the series, Woodstock Council Member Tracy Collins has designed a stainless-steel mini tumbler to benefit Butterfly Whisper, a Cherokee County nonprofit providing assistance to those affected by poverty and homelessness. The tumblers are $20 and are available for purchase at CustomInk.com/fundraising/sippersforwhispers.Go to WoodstockConcertSeries.com to RSVP for events and receive concert updates. All shows are free to attend and general admission.——————————————————————————2025 First Citizen of Cherokee County Named The Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that John W. Blend, III, has been named the 50th recipient of the First Citizen of Cherokee County award. A trailblazer in capital formation and entrepreneurial activities, John's influence reaches far beyond Cherokee County. He is a recognized thought leader in capital formation in regulated markets and has spoken on behalf of prestigious institutions like Goldman Sachs, The Edison Institute, and the Stanford Business School.In 1982, John and his wife, Connie, purchased a farm in Waleska. In 1991, the Blend’s embarked on a transformative journey, dedicating the farm to God's work. This pivotal dedication became the cornerstone for the inception of the Goshen Valley Foundation, the guiding force behind Goshen Valley Boys Ranch.The Goshen Valley Foundation has evolved to encompass a broader spectrum of care through multiple programs for foster youth and at-risk families. Under Blend’s visionary leadership, this foundation has blossomed into a beacon of hope for those most at-risk in our community, receiving widespread recognition from national and state associations for its outstanding contributions to foster care outcomes.Blend's dedication to child welfare extends beyond Goshen Valley. He has served as the president and chair of Together Georgia, a statewide association of over 100 leading local and national child welfare providers. Under his leadership, Together Georgia became a vital voice advocating for child welfare reform. Blend has also served as vice president and treasurer of the Georgia Association of Homes and Services for Children and has been involved with the Cherokee County YMCA Board of Directors, contributing to the community’s well-being by supporting programs and initiatives that promote health, wellness, and community development. His involvement with the YMCA underscores his dedication to the holistic growth of individuals and families within Cherokee County.The title of First Citizen of Cherokee County is bestowed upon a resident who has resided in the county for a minimum of five years and has shown significant meritorious service to his/her community through family, civic, and/or religious involvement. A panel of out-of-town judges reviews the accomplishments of each applicant. The winner is chosen based on merit.———————————————————Woodstock Mayor and City Council Appoint City Attorneys At Woodstock’s January 13 Regular Meeting of Mayor and Council, Mayor Michael Caldwell administered the Oath of Office to Phillip E. Friduss, appointing the firm Hall Booth Smith, P.C., as city attorneys. According to the ordinance, Hall Booth Smith is responsible for representing and defending the City in litigation and attending meetings of the mayor and Council, advising the council, mayor, and other officers and employees of the City concerning legal aspects of the City of Woodstock’s affairs. Friduss is a partner in the Atlanta office of Hall Booth Smith and has represented over 225 public entities during his 30-year legal career. He has been named a Georgia Super Lawyer by Atlanta Magazine 16 times and is a member of Georgia Trend’s Legal Elite. Friduss has been a member of DRI’s Governmental Liability Committee for over 20 years, serving as its chairman from 2012 to 2014. Hall Booth Smith is a full-service law firm, providing knowledgeable, proactive, client-specific counsel to individuals, domestic and international corporations, state and federal agencies, and nonprofit organizations. In addition to litigation, Hall Booth Smith will represent the City of Woodstock in matters of property acquisition, zoning, contract review and negotiation, and general counsel and advice. “We’ve worked with Phil several times over the past few years and had the opportunity to see him in action,” said Woodstock City Manager Jeff Moon. “We look forward to working with Phil and the team at Hall Booth Smith going forward.” In December 2024, Eldon Basham of Moore Ingram Johnson & Steele retired after 34 years of serving as city attorney for the City of Woodstock.————————————————————Welcome Cherokee Office of Economic Development’s New President After serving the Cherokee Office of Economic Development (COED) for over 15 years, Cherokee County native Heath Tippens is the organization’s new president.After two years with Wells Real Estate Funds as an investor relations specialist, Tippens began his career at COED as a project manager in 2009. He advanced to senior project manager and has served as vice president since 2018. Tippens has been intricately involved in real estate transactions including much of the development work at Cherokee 75 Corporate Park, The Bluffs, and the future Canton Corporate Park. He has also served in a leadership role at COED with the management of existing industry programs as well as the comprehensive initiatives under Cherokee By Choice, Inc.———————————————Teen and Young Adult Job Fair Set for April 21 The fourth annual Teen and Young Adult Job Fair will be held on Monday, April 21, from 4:00-6:00pm, in Canton City Hall. Teens 15+ and young adults (college-age) are invited to attend to meet with businesses and organizations looking to hire for part-time, seasonal, full-time, and internship positions. If you represent a business or organization looking to hire and would be interested in participating in this event, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. before April 11.—————————————————————Cherokee County School District AnnouncementsCongratulations 2025 CCSD Reading Bowl WinnersThe annual event for students in grades 4-12 is a timed competition to encourage reading, develop reading comprehension skills, and offer a fun extracurricular academic opportunity. The competition includes two divisions, elementary and middle school, and features questions from books selected by a CCSD committee of educators. Woodstock HS Student Selected for 2025 All-State Art SymposiumWHS junior Eileen Uribe Parra is one of only 54 Georgia high school student artists selected for the competitive program, which was held at Piedmont University. The symposium included workshops, juried exhibitions, and other special events to provide high school student artists with opportunities to develop their artistic skills. Artwork by hundreds of students is entered into the competition each year by their art teachers. Uribe Parra’s WHS art teacher is Lori Thompson. Eileen Uribe Parra holds a piece of her artwork.Etowah HS Teacher Wins Top Career Education AwardAerospace science instructor U.S. Air Force Sgt. (Ret.) Ciarra Malto has been named the Georgia New Teacher of the Year for Junior ROTC programs by the Georgia Association for Career and Technical Educators. Only one teacher who has shown outstanding success in her or his first three to five years in education is honored for each career education program area each year. Malto now advances to be considered for the overall New Teacher of the Year honor, which will be announced at the organization’s annual conference in June.Joining Etowah HS in 2021, Sgt. Malto retired from her military career as the aircraft section chief for bomber maintenance at Edwards Air Force Base in California. In addition to teaching classes, she is the head coach of the Etowah JROTC riflery team, currently ranked first in the Area 10 region, and oversees various other JROTC activities. Sgt. Malto also cohosts a summer leadership camp at Georgia Military College attended by JROTC students from programs across the southeast United States.CCSD Students Win Gold in State Special OlympicsCherokee County Special Olympics basketball, bowling, and pickleball student-athletes earned gold medals at the State Winter Indoor Games recently held in Cobb County. CCSD Adapted PE teacher Ben Farist is the Cherokee County Special Olympics coordinator.Congratulations to these gold medalists: BasketballBasketball Skills - Remy Wilson, Woodstock HSTraditional 5 v. 5 Basketball - Audric Agbavon, Transition Academy; Gia DiGregorio, Creekview HS; Charlie Holderness, Creekview HS; Alan Miller, Sequoyah HS; Alex Miller, Sequoyah HS; and Leland Wilson, Creekview HSBowlingRamp Bowling - Bryton Rawlings-Peterson, Woodstock HSSingles Bowling - Nicole Fox, Transition Academy; Sammy Grugan, Transition Academy; Davis Kohl, Tippens EC; Mary Ann Maloney, Transition Academy; Greyson Teague, Transition Academy; Madison Wolff, Transition Academy; and Billy Zambrano, Creekview HS Pickleball - Josh Womack, River Ridge HSCreekview HS Educator Earns Statewide Music Teacher of the Year AwardChoral Director Scott L. Martin received the Georgia Music Educators Association’s Music Teacher of the Year award. It is the highest honor awarded by the association and is presented annually to only one music educator of the more than 3,000 statewide.Currently in his 27th year of teaching, Martin has led his choral students to multiple performances at Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) conferences as well as state and regional American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) conferences. He is a member of GMEA, ACDA, and the National Association for Music Education. Martin is also an adjudicator for the GMEA Choral Performance Evaluation, past Georgia ACDA Repertoire and Resources Chair for high school choirs, and past GMEA State Choral Chair. He regularly is invited to conduct various honor choirs across the state, serves as artistic director and principal conductor of the Cherokee Chorale community choir, and is cofounder of Orpheus Men’s Ensemble of Georgia, a choir comprised of music teachers and church musicians. Martin will make his Carnegie Hall debut in June 2026, conducting Elaine Hagenburg’s “Illuminare.”
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