James_Jan-Feb_2026_web - Flipbook - Page 19
Last September, city leaders
and community partners also
gathered to celebrate the official
groundbreaking of the Town
Center Amphitheatre. Situated
across the plaza from the new Holly Springs City Hall, the outdoor
amphitheater will offer a wonderful amenity for city residents and
visitors. Work on the amphitheater
is expected to be completed later
this year, and it includes a stage,
green room, dressing room and
public restrooms. Once complete,
the venue will host a variety of
community events.
Conveniently located near Interstate 575 and one of the safest cities in the metro area, Holly Springs
offers a great place for families and
residents of all ages.
“We have the best of both
worlds here. We get to enjoy the
beauty of North Georgia with
modern conveniences close by. We
have access to some of the most
high-quality schools in the state,
safe neighborhoods, and essential services provide stability and
peace of mind,” Shirley pointed
out. “Nearby parks and trails make
it easy to step into nature for play
and family adventures. I can’t think
of a better place to raise my family
than Holly Springs!”
“Properly funding our Police
Department has long been a priority for the City Council. Attracting high-caliber candidates and
retaining the dedicated men and
women who serve our community is essential to maintaining the
level of public safety our residents
deserve,” the mayor said.
Shirley praises Holly Springs
Police Chief Tommy Keheley as a
strong advocate for community-focused policing, an approach that
emphasizes building trust through
visibility, accessibility, and genuine
engagement.
“Holly Springs is home to some
of the nicest, kindest, most genuine
people you will ever meet. What
DOWNTOWN WOODSTOCK
sets us apart is the community. We
show up for each other, our neighbors, and our local businesses,” the
mayor said.
WOODSTOCK
Once a sleepy whistlestop on
the railroad that ran through the
center of town, Woodstock has
now become a city unexpected.
“Woodstock is consistently recognized as one of the best cities
in America to live and is known
for its exceptional quality of life
and welcoming more than 34
million visits last year,” Woodstock
Mayor Michael Caldwell points
out. “These past four years have
delivered incredible momentum,
and this City Unexpected is just
getting started.”
It is significant that in recent
years Homes.com has named Woodstock the third best suburb to move
to in the United States and Money
Magazine named the city one of the
50 best places to live in America.
As a busy tourism destination
and among the largest cities in
Georgia, it really offers something
for everyone. “Woodstock works
for every stage of life. Young
people enjoy a lively, walkable
downtown with music, restaurants
and trails. Young families experience a safe community with great
schools, parks and record investments in police, fire and green
space,” Caldwell notes. “Retirees
find a walkable city with strong
services, an active senior center
and easy access to healthcare, arts
and parks. It is a place where you
can build a full life without feeling like you have to leave to find
opportunity or community.”
With its vibrant arts scene,
bustling downtown attractions,
and growing business community,
Woodstock is often labeled the
economic center of Cherokee County. And the mayor, a former state
legislator, notes this is intentional:
“We have invested in an
award-winning downtown with
housing, small businesses, parks
and year-round events in a walkable footprint. With dozens of
restaurants and bars within walking distance of the center of town,
live music venues, more than 500
arts events annually, and the largest free summer concert series in
the South, our downtown always
has something to offer.”.
Woodstock leaders are also busy
building out a connected network
of parks and trails, improving roads
and intersections, and using technology to make it easier and safer
to move around. “At the same time,
we keep our finances conservative,
recruit employers and amenities
that fit our character and protect the
sense of place that made people fall
in love with Woodstock in the first
place,” Caldwell said.
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