Noteworthy

Woodstock Fire Department Makes a Child’s Birthday Special

Coleman Washington celebrated his third birthday on Aug. 8 with a party at the William G. Long Senior Center, next to the Woodstock Fire Department, Station 14, on Arnold Mill Road. During the party, firefighters gave friends and family a tour of the station, told stories and let the kids explore the firetruck.

Coleman Washington (checkered shirt) sits on his mom’s lap, surrounded by friends, family and Woodstock firefighters.

Local Musician Releases New Album

Kurt Lee Wheeler, who has cultivated a devoted following of fans, recently performed a sold-out release-party show for his new album, “On Our Way,” at Madlife Stage & Studios in Woodstock. This is Wheeler’s second full studio album; his first album was released in 1992.

Wheeler is a teacher at Creekland Middle School, and his philosophy for teaching is the same as that of his music — to help create a positive change in others’ lives. His music ranges from country to bluegrass to rock, and his new album is available on most music streaming platforms. Keep a lookout for upcoming local concerts at kurtleewheelermusic.com.

Winner of Best Dressed Cow receives free Chick-fil-A for a year.

Chick-fil-A Moo’ve It 5K Race a Success

The 8th annual Chick-fil-A Cherokee County Moo’ve It 5K was held at Etowah River Park in Canton on Aug. 14, with nearly 900 registered participants. It was a fundraiser for the Cherokee County Educational Foundation and Special Olympics, and more than $200,000 has been donated since the race was started in 2013.

Woodstock Resident’s Passion for Writing

As a teenager, Carol McCollister envisioned becoming an author. Her life encompassed higher education, marriage, children, her career, sailing and singing, which did not allow time for her to pursue writing — until she McCollister retired to Woodstock, to be near family.

Her latest story, “The Cat’s Paw,” subtitled, “My Clever, Curious, Caring Cat,” appears in “Chicken Soup for the Soul,” a book released Sept. 14. She has written two mystery novels, which are not yet published, and she plans to focus her time and attention on authoring additional stories, to fulfill her longtime dream.