Saturday was to have been the 14th annual Northeast Cobb Community Egg Drop, but rain has forced a postponement.
The event has been. moved back a week, to next Saturday, April 15, at the same venue—Sprayberry High School football field (2525 Sandy Plains Road—and the same time, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The preliminary forecast for that day is much better—sunny and highs around 80.
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Credit Union of Georgia is hosting an online raffle to raise money for local charities in the community of Northwest Georgia. There are four amazing Easter Baskets for four lucky winners to choose from! The last day to purchase raffle ticket is Thursday, April 6, 2023. The Easter Baskets can be viewed on the Credit Union of Georgia Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/CUofGA.
“We love supporting our local charities. We are a community-based Credit Union – and if we aren’t doing something to help better our communities, then we’re not doing enough.” said Brian Albrecht, President/CEO of Credit Union of Georgia. “Help us help our community by purchasing a raffle ticket to win one of our four amazing Easter Baskets we have up for grabs!”
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
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Several hundred kids and their families turned out at Mt. Paran North Church of God Saturday for an Easter Egg Drop sponsored by the Janice Overbeck Real Estate Team.
Helicopters hovered over the school’s soccer fields for three different age-group deliveries of eggs, candies and other goodies, and kids enjoyed on-the-ground fun that included face-painting, balloon art, a magician’s tricks, and a visit from Rapunzel, who was available for photos.
Godie bags were available to take home, courtesy of the event sponsors that included Sponsor Perrie and Associates, Holly Walther Lending Team, and Trotter Roofing & Gutters.
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Several dozen young children and their parents turned out at the Mountain View Regional Library Saturday morning for a kid-themed “Noon Year’s Eve” party, one of several put on by the Cobb County Public Library System.
Kids made crafts, danced to music, played games, and at 12 noon sharp, enjoyed a balloon drop, followed by the inevitable popping of the balloons—some accidental, some not.
The event also provided information to parents about youth activities at the Cobb library system.
Cobb library branches are closed Sunday and Monday and will reopen at their regular hours on Tuesday.
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
Rabbi Ephraim Silverman of the Chabad of Cobb leads the Menorah lighting festivities.
The eight days of Hanukkah are underway, with Menorah lighting events taking place in East Cobb and elsewhere on Sunday and also this week.
At The Avenue East Cobb, the Chabad of Cobb congregation teamed up with the retail center and the firefighters from Station 21 on Lower Roswell Road—located next to the synagogue—to conduct the annual chocolate gelt drop from high atop the engine ladder (video below).
Chocolate gelt coins wrapped in foil are a Hanukkah tradition, a gift to children who rushed in a mad scramble to scoop up all the treats they could (we got a little close to the action and took one on the forehead but can report the chocolate was delicious.)
A Menorah lighting also took place Sunday at East Cobb Park, led by Congregation Etz Chaim.
Rabbi Ephraim Silverman engaged with children on the stage in a teaching moment for young people to learn about the joy, hope and peace of the Hanukkah celebration, also known as the Festival of Lights.
Hanukkah commemorates the second-century (B.C.) rededication of the second temple of Jerusalem, where according to legend Jews rose up against their Greek-Syrian oppressors in the Maccabean Revolt.
The temple included a menorah with a candlabrum with nine branches. On Sunday, the candle placed above the others, the shammish, was lit at The Avenue Menorah, with the remaining eight to be lit individually through the final day of Hanukkah on Dec. 26.
Before the lighting began, a cantor sung blessings, and the youth-focused event included a magic show. Hanukkah also includes the playing and singing of Hanukkah songs, the playing of the dreidel, eating such foods as latkes and sufganiyot.
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We do this at this time each year, and are putting out out the call out once again:
Christmas is a week away, and many neighborhoods and homes in East Cobb have been lit up and adorned with home holiday decorations for a few weeks now.
We noticed a few while out and about, and would like to invite you to show off your displays and share your holiday cheer with the community.
The photos can be indoors or outdoors, daytime or evening, and even your Christmas tree, family members, pets, bad sweaters, etc.
E-mail your photos (JPG, JPEG, PNG files are ideal), family name and neighborhood if you’d like to editor@eastcobbnews.com and we’ll include them in a compilation later in the week.
You can also send links to videos that you’ve posted on YouTube or other platforms, but we cannot upload, edit or process raw videos.
On Friday we went out to take a look at the Fox Family Christmas Display we’ve posted about before, in the Clary Lakes subdivision in Northeast Cobb.
That goes on nightly from 7-11 p.m. at 2994 Clary Hill Court.
Check out the video below for that, and please do share with us how you’re celebrating so we can share that with the community. This goes for Christmas and also for Hanukkah, which begins on Sunday.
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Two Home Depot locations in East Cobb as well as Fullers Park are once again serving as Christmas tree dropoff sites for Keep Cobb Beautiful’s “Bring One for the Chipper” recycling drive.
The Home Depot stores at Providence Square (4101 Roswell Road) and Highland Plaza (3606 Sandy Plains Road) will be accepting discarded trees daily through Jan. 7, as will Fullers Park (3499 Robinson Road).
Trees must have all ornaments, lights, stands and other adornments removed before being dropped off. Wreaths, garlands and other items will not be accepted. Flocked trees also will not be accepted.
Keep Cobb Beautiful turns the discarded trees into mulch for beautification projects, soil erosion prevention, lakes, pond and water retention efforts throughout Cobb County.
The flyer below has further dates, addresses and information about the recycling drive, including saplings being available at select Home Depot locations on the final day, Jan. 7.
For more information, and to request mulch, click here.
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From our calendar listings, and amid the many Christmas festivities that are ongoing, comes the start of eight days of Hanukkah.
There will be two community Menorah lightings taking place in East Cobb on Sunday, at the same time.
Congregation Etz Chaim is holding a community Hanukkah party from 2-4 at the synagogue (1190 Indian Hills Parkway) before the Menorah lighting that starts at 5 p.m. at East Cobb Park (3322 Roswell Road).
Both events are free and are open to the community. The “Winter Wonderland” party, also put on by Temple Kol Emeth, Temple Beth Tikvah and Temple Kellihat Chaim, will include treats, crafts, and more and you’re asked to sign up here.
Chabad of Cobb and The Avenue East Cobb are teaming up for another Menorah lighting starting at 5:30 p.m. at the retail center (4475 Roswell Road) with family-friendly activities and treats, and the chocolate Gelt drop, courtesy of the Cobb County Fire Department.
The event is free and is located in the front parking lot near Tin Lizzy’s, away from the construction fencing.
After a soggy week of rain, Sunday’s weather will be clear, but cold, with high temperatures in the mid 40s. So bundle up.
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The Cobb County Public Library System is marking down many of its items for sale for holiday shopping in December.
The sale prices range from 30-50 percent off at all 16 library branches.
They include 10 cents for magazines to 50 cents for children’s and pocket paperbacks, $1 for individual DVDs and music CDs and oversized and children’s hardbacks and $2 for audio books, DVD and music CD sets and fiction and non-fiction hardbacks.
All proceeds made benefit the libraries directly. Cash or check only. All sales final.
The sale takes place during library opening hours. For locations and hours click here.
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
Enjoy Sweets with Santa on Saturday at Janice Overbeck Real Estate team.
Another action-packed holiday weekend continues the festive season in East Cobb, with all kinds of tasty treats, holiday music and cheer and opportunities to help others on tap.
It’s going to be a wet, soggy weekend as well, and most of these events are indoors. Bring an umbrella wherever you go.
The Avenue East Cobb (4475 Roswell Road) has a back-to-back musical treat on Friday, with caroling led by Dickerson Middle School choruses from 6-7. The public is invited to invited to don festive holiday gear and join in the sing-along, featuring Christmas, Hannukah and other holiday songs.
That’s a warm-up to the Sounds of the Season Concert from 7-9, featuring live music from local artists. The event that’s done in conjunction with East Cobb Church includes photo opp with Santa, festive cocktails and roaming entertainment.
Both events are free. Because of construction work, however, parking is limited and carpooling is recommended.
Get your Sweet Tooth on Saturday at Sweets With Santa, taking place from 11-5 at Janice Overbeck Real Estate Team (2249 Roswell Road).
This is also a free event, including trackless train rides, balloon art, treats, photos with Santa, and a pet adoption.
A full day of holiday fun is in store Saturday at the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center (2051 Lower Roswell Road), including Cocoa and Concert from 11-1. You can shop at the holiday market from 10-6, and from 2-4 there will be a screening of “Home Alone” in the Black Box Theater.
We’re told that Santa Claus will be making an appearance between 10-12 at the Sewell Mill Library,
Several churches will be having Christmas concerts this weekend, including Johnson Ferry Baptist Church (955 Johnson Ferry Road). Concert times are at 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and a second Sunday performance at 7 p.m., all featuring the church’s choir and orchestra ensembles.
Mt. Bethel Church (4385 Lower Roswell Road) is holding its Carols for Christmas Concert at 4 p.m. Sunday, followed by cookies, cocoa and Christmas cheer in the Fellowship Hall. You’re asked to register in advance.
Former Mt. Bethel members recently formed their own church, Grace Resurrection Methodist (1200 Indian Hills Parkway), and it’s having a Christmas Concert and Carols Sing-Along Sunday starting at 5:30 p.m.
Another community musical celebration takes place on Sunday, as the Cobb Wind Symphony Holiday Concert starts at 3 p.m. at the Lassiter Concert Hall (2601 Shallowford Road). Admission is free, but donations are accepted.
Also on Sunday, the Empty Bowl Brunch returns to The Art Place, benefitting MUST Ministries. Pick out soup bowls made by The Art Place students, enjoy tasty homemade soup and help one of Cobb’s leading charities assist those in need. Cost is $25 per person, hours are 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Ongoing through the holidays is the Fox Family Christmas Lights Display, each evening rom 6-11 p.m. at 2994 Clary Hill Court. One of East Cobb’s biggest light shows is back to dazzle. you once again, as you drive by and listen on radio to a selected playlist and take in many interactive features.
Santa’s an occasional guest, and you can track his whereabouts and get other updates on the show at its Facebook page.
If you’re looking for some ideas for high-quality family time during the holidays, our contributor Tamar Levy has some suggestions for Christmas and Hanukkah.
You can find all of our calendar listings in one handy place on our site. If you have events to share with the public, please e-mail: calendar@eastcobbnews.com and we will post them here.
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
Rabbi Albert Slomovitz (at right) hands Jewish faith materials to children at the Catholic Church of St. Ann with Father Ray Cadran. Photo courtesy Josh Azriel
What’s called J Star—a Jewish-Christian understanding project that’s been conducted during the holidays the last three years—is making its rounds in the Atlanta area.
The 4th annual J Star is underway, with clergy from both faiths making presentations at area churches and handing out materials, in particular to children.
He recently teamed up with Father Ray Cadran at the Catholic Church of St. Ann, and will be visiting Mt. Bethel Church on Dec. 18, the first day of Hanukkah.
“The goal of this program,” according to a J Star release, “is to highlight interfaith awareness and education.”
Practical and fun activities are designed to promote understanding across the two faiths. Each family associated with a JCDC-partnered church receives a holiday packet that includes a Jewish Star, dreidel (plastic spinning top), and some chocolates.
Children take home the stars, and play with them and use them as tree decorations, then learn to play the dreidel game, which was popular during the time of Jesus.
“Christians and Jews can come together and learn about the shared Jewish traditions we all have. Jesus grew up as a practicing Jew. That included celebrating Hanukkah and other Jewish holidays,” Slomovitz said.
“The message of the Hanukkah story itself is one that all can relate to, it was a fight for religious freedom. The Jewish community fought against their Greek rulers who were trying to suppress their religious practices.”
Given increasing concerns about anti-Semitism, Slomovitz stressed the need to continue interfaith dialogues. “I am blessed to have Christian friends across the metro area whose churches are our partners for the J Star Project,” Slomovitz said.
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We’ve received some inquiries from readers about one of East Cobb’s standout holiday lights displays—put on by the Fox family in the Clary Lakes subdivision.
We checked with Karen Fox about this year’s presentation, which is underway and is available nightly from 6-11 p.m. at their home at 2994 Clary Hill Court (accessible via McPherson Road, just north of Post Oak Tritt Road; see map below).
She said that Santa will visit on select days so check with the Facebook page for details.
Much of what has been featured before is back again—an animated display featuring thousands of lights and synchronized to music that you can hear on 88.3FM. Here’s this year’s playlist:
1. Amazing Grace-Yule
2. Christmas Canon-Trans-Siberian Orchestra
3. Christmas Eve Sarajevo-Trans-Siberian Orchestra
9. Miracle on 34th Street Overture-Bruce Broughton
10. Linus and Lucy-Vince Guaraldi
11. Queen of the Winter Night-Trans-Siberian Orchestra
12. Sleigh Ride-The Ronettes
13. Wizard in Winter-Trans-Siberian Orchestra
14. Candy Cane Lane-Sia
This is the 15th year for the display, and new this year is a light tunnel walk-through feature with two interactive stations. They include a Letter to Santa table where children can write a letter to Santa and either give it to Santa or put it in a special Santa mailbox.
There’s also a memorial ornament station in honor of Karen Fox’s father, who died this year to COVID-19 at the age of 95.
“My childhood Christmas memories of my Dad have always included his love of decorating our home,” she said. “I have dedicated a special corner of our display for my Dad, affectionately referred to as Poppy, which includes a memorial tree. Visitors can either bring an ornament or make an ornament to honor someone who has passed and hang it on the memorial tree.”
Some youth groups will be having their own outings at the display, including the school from her church, Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox, whose choir will be singing Greek Christmas carols on Dec. 14. That event will be broadcast on television in Greece.
As in previous years, the Fox display is among the candidates in the Cobb EMC holiday lights contest. In order to participate, you can LIKE the photo of your favorite display and submit it by clicking here.
Voting is open through Christmas Day and the top three homes will receive $500 to give to a non-profit of their choice.
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
The weather was a little chilly but not too frightful for several hundred people who turned out at East Cobb Park Sunday night for Holiday Lights.
The annual tree lighting—there were two in fact, on either side of the concert shell—was conducted by Judy Boyce, the 2022 co-recipient of the East Cobb Citizen of the Year Award (with her husband, the late Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce).
The Cobb Parks and Recreation Department and the Friends for the East Cobb Park, an all-volunteer organization that supports park events and activities, organized the celebration, with support from Wellstar Health System and the Rotary Club of East Cobb.
The Dodgen Middle School Pops band perfomed, and refreshments were available from Alumni Cookie Dough.
After the tree lighting, Santa and Mrs. Claus made their way to the back of the park, and then greeted children on the concert stage to hear their gift wishes.
There’s another holiday celebration at East Cobb Park, a community Menorah Lighting on Dec. 18 starting at 5:30 to mark the begnning of eight days of Hanukkah. That event is being organized by the Congregation Etz Chaim.
The Friends for the East Cobb Park has begun a membership drive to generate more volunteer and financial support for activities at the park. President Kurt von Borries said the drive will be ongoing and the organization is seeking community members to take part.
Among the objectives is to raise funds to purchase more the Tritt property next to the park, and for regular progamming activities. For information, click here.
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The halls of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church were bursting with people of all ages on Saturday, and especially children and their parents, at the church’s Annual Christmas Party.
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The annual Stuff-A-Bus program will be rolling out throughout Cobb County in mid-December to collect holiday gifts for needy children.
The Cobb Christmas program includes various community partners in conducting the drive, which takes place from Dec. 13-15.
Citizens are asked to bring unwrapped toys for children ages 3-13 at the locations, dates and times indicated on the flyer.
The Cobb Linc bus will be collecting the toys to be distributed to around 1,000 children. Start shopping now and drop off your toy donations at any businesses listed on the flyer.
The two East Cobb stops on the schedule take place on Tuesday, Dec. 13.
The bus will stop at the Northeast Cobb YMCA (3010 Johnson Ferry Road) from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and at the Wellstar East Cobb Health Park (3747 Roswell Road) from 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
For more information on the Stuff-A-Bus program, click here.
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The first full weekend of Christmas events may be the busiest of all in the 2022 holiday season in East Cobb.
There are three full days—and nights—of festivities, starting bright and early on Friday morning.
That’s when the Apple Annie Arts and Crafts Show starts at the Catholic Church of St. Ann (4905 Roswell Road), and all on one floor in the church’s expansive new parish hall.
More than 100 artisanal vendors will be selling their wares, and there will be food and other refreshments. Hours are 9-6 Friday and 9-2 Saturday, and overflow parking and shuttle service will be provided at the Episcopal Church of St. Peter and St. Paul (1795 Johnson Ferry Road).
The choruses from Dickerson Middle School are featured Friday from 6-7:30 p.m. in Caroling at The Avenue East Cobb(4475 Roswell Road), one of the retail center’s many holiday events.
Saturday afternoon includes more family holiday celebrations and entertainment.
From 12-2 p.m., it’s the Johnson Ferry Christmas Party (955 Johnson Ferry Road), a festival with more than 20 venues including inflatables, trains, food, live music, crafts and more. The host is Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, an East Cobb News sponsor.
Music-lovers will enjoy the Cobb New Horizons Christmas Concert from 2-4 p.m. at the Lassiter High School Concert Hall (2601 Shallowford Road). It’s free, and the musicians are seniors with musical experience.
This year is the 30th anniversary of the Bethlehem Walk at Mountain View United Methodist Church (2300 Jamerson Road), and the interactive display of Jesus’ birth takes place from Saturday-Monday from 7-9:30 p.m. each night.
After walking through the streets of Bethlehem, attendees can enjoy refreshments, including hot cider. The event is free but donations are accepted.
At the very end of the weekend, and as the sun goes down, Holiday Lights will be going on at East Cobb Park (3322 Roswell Road).
Live music including Dodgen Pops and a visit from Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus will be featured at the event sponsored by the Friends for the East Cobb Park, which will be selling hot chocolate and cookies.
You can find all of our calendar listings in one handy place on our site. If you have events to share with the public, please e-mail: calendar@eastcobbnews.com and we will post them here.
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The Cobb Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department once again will be holding its 12 Days of Christmas Holiday Markets at four county arts centers starting Wednesday.
Two of them are in East Cobb, at the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center (2051 Lower Roswell Road) and The Art Place (3330 Sandy Plains Road).
The markets feature handmade items sold by local artists that are ideal for the holiday season.
The markets are open Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from 12-6 p.m. through Dec. 11.
The other markets are at the Mable House (5239 Floyd Road, Austell) and The Art Station (2050 Kennesaw Due West Road, Kennesaw).
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The Lassiter Bands annual Christmas Tree sale fundraiser began on Friday, and it will continue every day through Dec. 10 at its usual location, the Highland Plaza Shopping Center (3605 Sandy Plains Road).
The hours are listed on the flyer below; in addition to trees wreaths also are on sale. All proceeds benefit the Lassiter High School bands program.
Prices start at $65 for 6-inch trees and go up to $265 for a 10-foot tree. They’re locally sourced Frazier firs, as are the bough wreaths. There’s also on-site cutting services and tree stands.
The sale takes place in the parking lot fronting Sandy Plains Road at the intersection of Gordy Parkway.
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The Sprayberry PTSA began a craft show in 1982 in the parking lot of Sprayberry High School.
When the doors open next Saturday to its 40th anniversary, vendors will be spread throughout the school campus.
The show, which is the organization’s only fundraiser of the year, has grown to more than 200 vendors from around the Southeast.
The proceeds benefit a number of school activities and programs, including grants for teachers and financial assistance for students taking standardized tests.
Like many of the other craft shows in the area, the Sprayberry show includes baked goods, concession stands and other food service for shoppers who often make a day out of choosing their holiday gift and other purchases.
The show will take place Saturday, Nov. 19 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
An all-new website for the show developed by the Sprayberry Girls Who Code Club breaks down the vendors by category—ranging from arts and photos to jewelry and clothing—as well as the food items.
In addition to concessions sold by the Sprayberry Lady Jackets basketball team, there will be The Patty Wagon and The Food Truck mobile food services.
And most importantly for the shoppers, a map of all the vendors has been laid out in detail, including a shopper rest area.
There will be a variety of raffles, games and prizes, and “Santa Lane” will include letters to Santa that can be submitted. Photos with Santa are $3 a child.
Admission to the show is free. Sprayberry High School is located at 2525 Sandy Plains Road.
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