East Cobb’s Wright Environmental Education Center certified as wildlife sanctuary

Wright Center wildlife sanctuary

The Jean and Elwood Wright Environmental Education Center in East Cobb has become the first public space in Cobb County designated a certified wildlife sanctuary by the Atlanta Audobon Society.

The Wright Center includes 19 acres of protected land on the corner of Johnson Ferry Road and Post Oak Tritt Road, and serves as a resource facility with nearly two miles of walking trails and environmental education classes for school, scouts and other groups.

The land was once part of the Wrights’ farm, dating back to the 1940s. Before suburban development encroached in East Cobb, they designated it to be preserved in its natural state, featuring azaleas and plants attractive to birds and other wildlife.

After the Wrights died the county assumed ownership of the acreage. Classes are conducted in what was once the family home.

The Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County is actively involved in continuing environmental restoration work at the site, including cultivation of plant varieties native to Georgia.

While the Wright Center isn’t open for daily use by the public, school groups wishing to bring students should contact Kevin Kevin Hill with Cobb County Parks at kevin.hill@cobbcounty.org.

Adult groups should get in touch the Master Gardener Project Coordinator, Judy Beard at wrightcentermariettaga@gmail.com.

The Wright Center is located at 2661 Johnson Ferry Road, next to Chestnut Ridge Christian Church.

More background information about the Wright Center wildlife sanctuary designation can be found in the video below of Thursday’s presentation.

 

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Mabry Park ribbon-cutting to be held on May 2

Mabry Park ribbon-cutting

Finally, after many years of delays and planning, and further setbacks in finalizing the construction, Mabry Park has an opening date, and a ribbon-cutting event to celebrate it.

Both the Friends of Mabry Park and the Cobb Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department have announced the ribbon-cutting for Thursday, May 2, at 6:30 p.m.

The park is located at 4345-4063 Wesley Chapel Road, just below the intersection with Sandy Plains Road.

More than a decade in the making, Mabry Park joins East Cobb Park as a passive public park in the community.

Initially the plans were stalled due to the recession, and more recently, as the project was winding up, as wet weather pushed back the opening.

Construction began in early 2018 after county commissioners’ approval to spend nearly $3 million.

The 26.5 acres for Mabry Park was once part of the larger Mabry Farm in Northeast Cobb. The park will include walking trails, picnic areas, a community garden, playground areas and more on land that includes a large pond.

Across from the site on Wesley Chapel Road, a subdivision is going up that also was part of the farmstead. Last February, a home built on the farm in 1915 was razed by the developer, who agreed to pay a mitigation fee to be used for historic preservation efforts in Cobb.

We’ll post more details about the ribbon-cutting and other information about the park’s opening, when we get them.

 

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Kroger plans fueling center at Sandy Plains Centre

Sandy Plains Centre, Kroger fueling center

For the second time in as many years Kroger wants to build a fueling center in the East Cobb area.

The grocery chain’s request for a location at the Sandy Plains Centre Shopping Center comes before the Cobb Board of Commissioners Tuesday.

It’s listed as “other business” (view the case file here) and includes a revised site plan (see map below) for a nine-pump station fronting Shallowford Road, near Gordy Parkway.

That’s at the front of the shopping center on the southwest corner of Shallowford and Sandy Plains Road (signified by a red star) that includes a Kroger store (green pin).

According to documents filed with the Cobb Zoning Office, commissioners in 2011 approved a rezoning case at the shopping center that called for additional retail space, a restaurant and a fueling center that was never built.

Kroger fueling center Sandy Plains Centre

The CRC zoning status still applies, and the site plan for the fueling center is revised from that 2011 application.

The original request was for no more than five pumps at the fueling center, and allowed a canopy with a maximum height of 22 feet.

Other stipulations banned beer and alcohol sales at the fuel center, permitted an air station (but no car vacuum devices) and set its operating hours between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. six days a week.

Those hours are similar what Kroger sought for a fueling center in 2018 at the Pavilions at East Lake on Roswell Road. That request was approved but construction has not begun on the gas station there.

The rest of the commissioners’ zoning hearing agenda can be found here. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the second floor boardroom of the Cobb Office Building, 100 Cherokee St., in downtown Marietta.

 

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2020 Cobb budget proposal: Pay raises, Sunday library hours, law enforcement recruitment bonuses

Cobb budget town hall, Mike Boyce, 2020 Cobb budget proposal

As he pledged during recent town hall meetings, Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce wants to pay county employees more, increase Sunday library hours and address public safety staffing and retention issues in his fiscal year 2020 budget proposal, and all without a millage rate increase.

A draft version of that budget was released on Thursday, and the proposal calls for general fund spending of $440.6 million—$20 million more than the current FY 2019 budget of $420.6 million.

The featured priorities are a three percent raise for all county employees, plus an additional two percent increase for law enforcement officers.

Other additional spending will include increased Sunday library hours, a $2,500 recruitment bonuses for new police officers, reducing the percentage of funds transferred from the Cobb Water System from 10 percent to 9 percent and eliminating fees to use county senior centers.

Here’s a summary of the draft budget proposal; it’s still a preliminary document and a formal proposal will be submitted to the Cobb Board of Commissioners and it’s subject to change.

Related stories

Boyce and commissioners have come under fire from public safety personnel and citizens for what they say is a “crisis” in terms of hiring and keeping police and sheriff’s officers, firefighters and EMS personnel.

Boyce’s budget proposal includes the county making law enforcement officer contributions to the state supplemental pension plan, but there is a notable line item in the budget that indicates “unfund 40 police officers and 40 sheriff officers.”

A release accompanying the draft budget proposal said those are not positions being eliminated in FY 2020, but rather that they will not be filled in the next budget.

The budget outline didn’t indicate if Sunday library hours would be extended to all branches; last year the budget included funding for Sunday hours at four regional library branches, including Mountain View.

 

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Mellow Mushroom returning to Johnson Ferry corridor of East Cobb

Mellow Mushroom Johnson Ferry Road

The space in the Woodlawn Square Shopping Center that’s been the site for a number of failed restaurants over the years will soon be filled by a pizza chain that’s returning to the Johnson Ferry Road area.

Signs are up for Mellow Mushroom over what had been most recently Muss & Turner’s and Common Quarter. The 5,200 square feet of space at 1205 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 101, has been vacant for more than a year, since Muss & Turner’s closed abruptly.

Mellow Mushroom locations still exist on Shallowford Road and Powers Ferry Road, but the chain left this particular part of the community when the Fountains at Olde Towne closed to give way to the Northside Hospital East Cobb Medical Center.

The announcement comes as the Chick-fil-A store at Woodlawn Square is set to reopen on Monday, after a nine-month renovation.

Woodlawn Square is managed by Retail Planning Corp., located at Paper Mill Village.

Related coverage

 

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East Cobb high school spring theater performances conclude at Lassiter, Wheeler

We posted recently about an upcoming dinner theater performance of “Annie” by Wheeler High School students to benefit the Wheeler Fresh Collaborative food pantry.

“Annie” also will be performed four other times toward the end of the month, as noted below.

We’ve had requests to round up school theater productions, and while most have wrapped up their 2018-19 seasons, there are still some shows to take in, including this weekend at Lassiter High School.Wheeler Theatre Annie, East Cobb high school spring theater

Lassiter Theatre Troupe
“Little Shop of Horrors”
April 12 & 13, 7 p.m.
April 14 2 p.m.
LHS Theatre
Tickets: $9 (Order here)

Wheeler Theatre
“Annie”
April 26 & 27, 7 p.m.
April 27 & 28, 2 p.m.
Wheeler Performing Arts Center
Tickets: $7, $10, $15 (Order Here)

 

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Lower Roswell townhome project delayed again in Marietta

Lower Roswell townhome project
Traton Homes wants to build 57 three-story townhomes, similar to what’s above, on a cramped corner of Lower Roswell Road and the North Marietta Parkway.

A proposed townhome project on Lower Roswell Road that includes an annexation request and is opposed by nearby residents in unincorporated East Cobb has been tabled by the Marietta City Council.

The council announced the latest delay at its agenda work session Wednesday, and pushed the item back to May.

The developer, Traton Homes, wants to build 37 townhomes and 15 single-family detached residences at Roswell Road and the South Marietta Parkway, and is seeking rezoning from residential (R-20) and community activity center (CAC) to Planned Residential Development Single Family (PRD-SF).

The application is being fought on density and traffic grounds.

 

Lower Roswell townhome project

The council delay comes a week after the Marietta Planning Commission voted 4-2 to recommend denial of Traton Homes’ request, which covers 7.48 acres. Three of the parcels in the tract are already in the city and are zoned for commercial use—they once were sites for automotive repair shops and a recycling business—and six other lots were once part of a single-family subdivision that’s in the county.

The neighborhood is Sewell Manor, which dates back to the 1950s and features small ranch homes. Residents there have said the project is too intensified for their community, and already-bad traffic will be made worse with a single point of entry on Indian Trail.

Traton, one of the largest homebuilders in metro Atlanta, has come down on its original proposal, which was for 63 townhomes and one single-family home.

Lower Roswell townhome projecg
What Traton has in mind for the 15 single-family homes.

The developer filed a last-minute revision on April 1, the day before the Planning Commission hearing (see map above, and click here to view the case file), and included a site plan and requests for a 15 varianc

The variances include no acceleration or deceleration lane on Lower Roswell, and a reduction in the minimum greenspace requirement of 25 percent to 21 percent. That open space is more than the initial request, which was for 12 percent, but is tucked away in a back portion of the assembled property.

Traton first filed the application for consideration in February, but it was also opposed by Cobb County officials, also for density reasons.

The initial request had the project at 8.56 unites an acre, and the revised plan calls for a density of under seven units an acre.

Cobb officials said in their objection letter to the city that current nearby residential density is only 1.75 units an acre, and pointed to a citing a 2004 state law limiting newly annexed land to a maximum of four units an acre.

 

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East Cobb Food Scores: El Taco Mexican; Chopstix Sushi House; Johnny’s Pizza and more

East Cobb food scores

The following East Cobb restaurant scores from April 1-12 have been compiled by the Cobb & Douglas Department of Public Health. Click the link under each listing to view details of the inspection:

Abood Pizza and Grill
3920 Canton Road, Suite 140
April 5, 2019 Score: 52, Grade: U

Addison Elementary School
3055 Ebenezer Road
April 9, 2019 Score: 100, Grade: A

Catering Cajun of Georgia
2409 Shallowford Road
April 10, 2019 Score: 99, Grade: A

Chopstix Sushi House and Asian Fusion
4651 Woodstock Road, Suite 301, Roswell
April 4, 2019 Score: 97, Grade: A

East Side Elementary School Cafe 
3850 Roswell Road
April 8, 2019 Score: 100, Grade: A

El Taco Mexican Bar and Grill
1050 East Piedmont Road, Suite 136-140
April 9, 2019 Score: 82, Grade: B

Heritage of Sandy Plains Assisted Living
3039 Sandy Plains Road
April 2, 2019 Score: 85, Grade: B

Johnny’s New York Style Pizza
2970 Canton Road, Marietta
April 2, 2019 Score: 93, Grade: A

Jordan Lounge and Hookah Bah
2755 Canton Road
April 1, 2019 Score: 78, Grade: C

ManorCare Rehabilitation Center 
4360 Johnson Ferry Place
April 11, 2019 Score: 97, Grade: A

Marco’s Pizza
3595 Canton Road, Suite 300
April 4, 2019 Score: 93, Grade: A

McDonald’s
3010 Canton Road
April 9, 2019 Score: 84, Grade: B

New China House
1050 East Piedmont Road, Suite 142
April 11, 2019 Score: 98, Grade: A

Waffle House
4875 Alabama Road, Roswell
April 4, 2019 Score: 83, Grade: B

 

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Registration is underway for Walton Volleyball summer volleyball camps

Walton volleyball summer camps

Thanks to Melissa Watkins of the Walton Volleyball Booster Club for the following information about summer camps that will be starting in mid-May and continuing through the middle of July:

Attention middle school and elementary students. Do you want to get off the sidelines and into the game?  Get the chance to train with the top high school volleyball program in the state, led by 2017 national coach of the year, Suzanne Fitzgerald and her team. Grab a friend and sign up today to save your spot as space is limited.

Register at www.waltonvolleyball.com. Camps and clinics are based on age and skill level:

Volleyball Skill Development Clinics

  • May 11 and May 18, 9 AM – NOON
  • For: Boys 3rd-12th/Girls 3rd–8th
  • Location: Walton (The Pit) — $50;1590 Bill Murdock Road

Learn to Love Volleyball Camp

  • June 3-5, 4:30 – 9 PM
  • For: Boys and Girls, 1st-8th
  • Location: East Side Elementary — $150, 3850 Roswell Road

Middle School Volleyball Foundations Camp 

  • July 8 – 10, 9 AM to Noon
  • For: Boys and Girls 6th-8th Location: East Side Elementary — $150, 3850 Roswell Road

Middle School Volleyball Elite Camp 

  • July 15 – 17, 9 AM to 1 PM
  • For: Boys and Girls 6th-8th (Club Experience)
  • Locations: East Side Elementary — $165, 3850 Roswell Road

Contact waltonvbcamps@gmail.com for questions regarding camps or clinics.

 

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U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath to hold community listening session at East Cobb church

Submitted information:

Georgia 6th Congressional District candidate Lucy McBath
U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath

On Saturday, Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06) will host a listening session to hear from constituents about issues affecting the communities and residents of the Sixth District.

“My work in Washington is guided by the priorities and concerns of the residents of Georgia’s Sixth, so I value the opportunity to hear directly from the people I represent,” McBath said. “I am honored to have the opportunity to listen and have an open dialogue on the issues that are important to my constituents.”

Rep. McBath’s community listening session will take place on Saturday, April 13, 2019 from 11:30am to 12:30pm at the Pilgrimage United Church of Christ in Marietta. This event will help to inform McBath’s actions in Washington and help her to set her long-term legislative agenda. The listening session will be immediately preceded by a Meet and Greet at 11:00am in the church’s fellowship hall.

Constituents can RSVP here and are encouraged to sign up for newsletter alerts on McBath.House.Gov and to follow Rep. McBath on Facebook  at Facebook.com/RepLucyMcBath.

Meet and Greet Details:

Saturday, April 13, 2019

11:00am – 11:30am

Listening Session Details:

Saturday, April 13, 2019

11:30am – 12:30pm

Pilgrimage United Church of Christ

3755 Sandy Plains Road

Marietta, GA 30066

 

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Shallowford Road, Chimney Springs Drive resurfacing projects approved

Shallowford Road resurfacing project

The Cobb Board of Commissioners Tuesday approved spending $9.2 million in road resurfacing projects across the county, including a major section of Shallowford Road and all of Chimney Springs Drive in Northeast Cobb.

The Shallowford Road project (seen in map above) is the lengthiest of the 23 projects that were approved, covering 2.62 miles between Canton Road and Trickum Road.

The next-longest project is all of Chimney Springs Drive, which is a circular road with two entry points on Bishop Lake Road (seen in map below), spanning 2.54 miles.

Other nearby repavings will take place on Country Lane, a tenth-mile surface street between Chimney Springs Drive and Post Oak Tritt Road and 0.50 miles of McPherson Road between Post Oak Tritt and Shallowford Road.Chimney Springs Drive resurfacing

You can view the entire 21.81-mile project list here, and it calls for additional repavings, should funding be available, for the following roads in East Cobb:

  • Johnson Ferry Road, between Post Oak Tritt and Roswell Road (2.50 miles);
  • East Piedmont Road, between Allgood Road and Roswell Road (1.13 miles);
  • Maybreeze Road, between Ebenezer Road and Shallowford Road (0.66 miles);
  • Pete Shaw Road, between Steinhauer Road and Sandy Plains Road (1.22 miles).

 

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Cobb County Parks to hold Spring Eggstravaganza

Submitted information:

Cobb County’s largest egg hunt will be held from 4-8 p.m., Saturday, April 13, at Al Bishop Softball Complex in Marietta. This family-friendly event is free. Activities will include egg hunts, art activities, live entertainment, inflatables, games, food concessions and vendors.

There will be four egg hunts by age groups, then the last hunt for anyone who missed their time. The schedule of events is as follows:

4:00pm -5:00pm – Park opens (arm-band distribution, games, activities and entertainment)
5:00pm – ages 3 and under hunt (fields 2, 3, and 4)
5:30pm – ages 4-5 hunt (fields 2, 3, and 4)
6:00pm – ages 6-7 hunt (fields 2, 3, and 4)
6:30pm – ages 8-10 hunt (fields 2, 3, and 4)
7:00pm – all ages (fields 3 and 4)

Please bring your own baskets for the hunt. Special needs participants are included in all activities. Al Bishop is located at 1082 Al Bishop Dr, Marietta, GA 30008.  Please use County Services Parkway to Al Bishop Drive to access the event as Callaway Road will have limited access. For more information please call 770-528-8800. 

 

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Single-vehicle accident on Oak Lane in East Cobb sends driver to hospital

Thanks to reader who lives in Chadds Walk for asking us to check out what she said was a “bad accident” shortly after midnight Monday on Oak Lane, and that prompted fire/rescue as well as police presence.Oak Lane accident

A Cobb Police spokesman told us that the accident involved a single vehicle that struck a tree at 12:03 a.m. on Oak Lane near Wyeth Walk (that’s east of Johnson Ferry Road).

Officer Neil Penirelli said a white 2009 Mazda RX8 driven by Evan Jones, 27, of Marietta, was negotiating a curve on Oak Lane when the car left the road and hit the tree.

Penirelli said Jones was taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital and is listed in critical but stable condition, and that speed and alcohol are possible contributing factors in the accident.

East Cobb News 24/7 News Tips

To share news tips and photos with East Cobb News at anytime, as well as to inquire about news events, contact editor/publisher Wendy Parker:

  • Phone/text: 404-219-4278;
  • E-mail: editor@eastcobbnews.com; please give a general description of your e-mail in the subject field.

If you’re leaving a news tip (especially about a crime, fire, accident, emergency or severe weather event) please provide contact information so we can confirm and follow up. Messages sent via phone, text and e-mail are preferred; please limit social media messages to breaking news only.

To submit calendar items, e-mail: calendar@eastcobbnews.com; to send an announcement, e-mail: announcements@eastcobbnews.com.

Here’s how we can be reached via social media:

East Cobb News understands the need for confidentiality in some cases but we cannot publish information from totally anonymous sources.

 

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East Cobb Robotics team wins Georgia State Championship

East Cobb Robotics team

Thanks to Lisa Hatch, executive director of the East Cobb Robotics team, for the information and photo:

East Cobb Robotics FRC Team 4910 is excited to announce that for the 4th year in a row, its students have earned a spot at the FIRST Robotics World Championship in Houston, Texas. East Cobb Robotics (ECR) is a community-based organization providing STEM education to high-school aged students through its participation in the FIRST Robotics Competition. Each year, over 3600 teams from around the world are provided a ‘game,’ challenging them to design, build, and program a robot in order to compete. ey have just six weeks to accomplish this goal, followed by tournaments where teams strive to outperform the robots of other teams. At the end of these tournaments, the top 400 teams world-wide earn an invitation to the Championship event.

This year, at the Peachtree District/Georgia State Championship, East Cobb Robotics and their alliance won the event, and ECR also placed rst among the top 45 teams in the state. Joining ECR on the winning alliance were teams 2974 Walton Robotics and team 2415 Westminster WiredCats. We are very proud of all their accomplishments and can’t wait to see what the future has in store for them.

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Cobb Community Foundation names its 2019 Philanthropist of the Year

Submitted information:Bob Kiser, Cobb Community Foundation

Each year since Jim Rhoden was named Cobb’s first Visionary Philanthropist, Cobb Community Foundation has recognized and honored a Cobb business and community leader who makes significant contributions to the community through gifts of time, talent and treasure. The individuals named have all exhibited visionary leadership and have utilized their influence in ways that have truly improved quality of life for Cobb residents. On Friday, April 26th at Cobb Community Foundation’s 2019 Partners in Philanthropy Luncheon, Bob Kiser will be recognized as one of those individuals.
 
Following fourteen years as a pilot, six with the United States Air Force and eight for a commercial airline, Bob began a very successful career with Moore Colson. In 2009, he succeeded Greg Colson as Managing Partner. Colson commented at the time, “Bob’s experience and respect in the industry coupled with his unique relationship building abilities will afford the firm continued success going forward. Bob’s strong bond with the firm’s other 13 partners and admiration by the staff is a direct reflection on his leadership skills.” During his tenure as MP, Moore Colson was named one of America’s 2013 Best of the Best Top 50 CPA Firms by INSIDE Public Accounting Magazine (which annually honors only 50 Firms in America), one of the Fastest Growing Atlanta Firms (revenue and professionals) and also began what is now a long-standing tradition of being named one of Atlanta’s Top Workplaces by the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Throughout his career, Bob’s focus was not only on helping his clients achieve their objectives, he also wanted to see others in the community achieve theirs. “We’re all in this together,” he says. Bob served on the board of Cobb Community Foundation (“CCF”) from 2006 to 2011, including chairing the board in 2009. Despite the turbulent economy, under his leadership, CCF still made grants totalling over $800,000 to the non-profit community.

After four years as a board member of The Center for Family Resources (“the CFR”), Kiser took on the role of board chair in 2011. Two years later, he chaired their annual gala and raised $366,000 for the organization. That year, the CFR Chair presented him with their Founder’s Award which recognizes a company, organization or individual who best exemplifies the organization’s work and mission. CFR’s annual report for that year reported, “He has always given generously of both his time and resources…. Bob’s hard work was instrumental to the success of the Center for Family Resources during the time he served on our board and as committee and gala chair.”

Bob stepped down from the managing partner role at Moore Colson in 2014 and for the past few years has been focusing his time on travelling with his wife, Phyllis, spending time with daughter, Jean Ann, son-in-law, Steven Murphy, and their sons Matthew and Jonathan, and visiting son, Tim, and daughter-in-law, Katie, who live in Chattanooga and are expecting their first child.

Even so, Bob’s commitment to the community has not even slightly wavered. Many do not know that two years ago, Bob, an active member of Marietta Kiwanis, was also instrumental in ensuring that the mission of United Arts of Cobb, an organization created by Ron Francis, continued and that Ron’s legacy remained strongly intact. Bob worked to transition the governance of the fund to the club and now chairs the Marietta Kiwanis Art Fund Committee, continuing the mission of United Arts of Cobb and overseeing the grant review and awards process.

Kiser is frequently consulted by and continues to advise the CFR and CCF, and he still continues to fundraise for organizations whose missions he supports. Just ask Marietta High School’s Student Life Center. Last year, the Marietta Country Club Thanksgiving Golf Tournament that he and fellow club member, Steve Fisher, co-chaired raised a record $75,000. Marietta Kiwanis, a co-sponsor of the tournament, added an additional $25,000, resulting in a $100,000 total contribution to the organization.

Cobb Community Foundation board chair, Bruce Clayton (who nominated Kiser for the award) refers back to the CFR’s annual report and the Greg Colson quote. “They said it best,” he says. “Bob always gives generously of both his time and his resources, and his personal relationships and leadership abilities allow him to make an impact on everything he gets involved in.” Clayton continues, “This community is fortunate to have him. He makes it better just by being here.”

Bob Kiser will be recognized as the 2019 James L. Rhoden, Jr. Visionary Philanthropist of the Year at Cobb Community Foundation’s Partners in Philanthropy Luncheon on Friday, April 26th. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to https://e.givesmart.com/events/cCz/.

PAST RECIPIENTS

2018 David and Brittney Bottoms
2017 Governor Roy Barnes
2016 Valerie Voyles
2015 Ron Francis
2013 Doug Hertz
2012 Bob Prillaman
2011 Doug Chaffins
2010 Fred Bentley, Sr.
2009 Sam Olens
2008 Jerry Nix
2007 Earl Smith
2006 Larry Freeman
2005 Bob Moultrie
2004 Bob Elsberry
2003 Jim Rhoden

 

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Cobb events scheduled for Crime Victims’ Rights Week

Submitted information:Crime Victims' Rights Week

Cobb Acting District Attorney John Melvin announces that the DA’s Office is partnering with various groups to mark Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 7-12. In addition, the Georgia Office of Victim Services will host a Victims Visitors’ Day in Augusta later in the month.

“Victims suffer emotionally, physically, and financially from the criminal acts committed against them. As a community and as service providers, we have an obligation to recognize the impact of crime on victims and to provide resources and assistance to help victims heal,” said Kim McCoy, Director of the Victim Witness Assistance Unit in the Cobb DA’s Office. “These events reinforce the theme of this year’s week of recognition in that we honor our past through events of remembrance and celebrate hope for the future in gathering items needed for service delivery programs.”

Local Crime Victims’ Rights Week events will begin April 7 with a Homicide Memorial Service, sponsored by the Crime Victims Advocacy Council. The service will be from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. April 7 at Vinings United Methodist Church, 3101 Paces Mill Rd., Atlanta.

The Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council will host a ceremony on April 8 to mark National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. The ceremony, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., will be held at the Forsyth County Administration Building, 110 East Main St., in Cumming.

On April 9, the Cobb Board of Commissioners will present a proclamation to mark Cobb County Crime Victims’ Rights Week during the Commission’s 9 a.m. meeting at 100 Cherokee St. in Marietta.

The Cobb DA’s Office will host a “stock the shelves” party at 2 p.m. on April 12 to support liveSAFE Resources and SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center. Both organizations directly support crime victims in their immediate time of need. Requested items include mini water bottles, juice boxes, variety snack packs, tissues, and toilet paper. Bring an item and receive an ice cream cone!

On April 24, crime victims or their family members can discuss their offender’s case confidentially with representatives of the Department of Corrections, the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, and the Department of Community Supervision during Victims Visitors’ Day. The event will be held at Augusta Technical College, and appointments are available between 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. To schedule an appointment, contact Darrell Reid at 404-651-6544 or darrell.reid@pap.ga.gov before April 23.

 

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Hyde Farm Tours take place the 2nd Saturday of each month

Hyde Farm tours

The Cobb Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department conducts tours at Hyde Farm (726 Hyde Road, off Lower Roswell Road) the second Saturday of each month that are free to the public.

The next tours take place on April 13, and here are the details:

Take a leisurely walk through history and explore a local property that has been farmed since 1840 during tours of Hyde Farm. There are two 45 minute tours between the hours of 10 a.m. and noon. To register, visit cobbparks.org or call 770-528-8840.

The 135-acre Hyde Farm contains cultural resources, natural features such as the Chattahoochee River and forests and manmade features such as agricultural fields, pastures, an orchard, meadows, a home and farm outbuilding sites. Guests can also enjoy the pond built on Mulberry Creek, with geese, ducks, herons, turtles, beaver and fish.

 

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East Cobb small businesses included in Cobb Chamber of Commerce’s Top 25

Out of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce’s Top 25 small businesses of the year that were announced this week, the following are based in East Cobb:Williamson Bros. BBQ, East Cobb small businesses

  • Artisan Custom Closets (600 Wylie Road)
  • Deluxe Athletics (80 Scott Drive)
  • InPrime Legal (1640 Powers Ferry Road)
  • SpeedPro Imaging (200 Cobb Pkwy North, Suite 130)
  • Three-13 Salon, Spa & Boutique (2663 Canton Road)
  • Williamson Bros. Bar-B-Q (1425 Roswell Road)

Here’s more from the Chamber about what happens next:

An overall winner will be selected among the Top 25 and announced on May 6 at the Small Business of the Year Breakfast at the Cobb Galleria Centre. The top winner is determined by a thorough selection process including applications and site visits by a panel of outside judges. The breakfast will honor the Top 25 Small Businesses of the Year and the Small Business Hall of Fame inductees.

Tickets to the breakfast are $35 for members and are $60 for general admission. Visit www.cobbchamber.org/SBOY for more information and event registration.

The 2018 Small Business of the Year awards are presented by LOUD Security Systems and S.A. White Oil Company.

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Simple Needs GA to hold 5th anniversary celebration with open house

Simple Needs GA

Submitted information and photo:

Simple Needs GA’s My Birthday Matters program is marking its fifth birthday at an open house on April 13.

“Last year, our My Birthday Matters program brought birthday presents and other useful items to approximately 256 homeless schoolchildren from across Cobb County, up from 217 the year before,” said Brenda Rhodes, an East Cobb resident who founded Simple Needs GA in 2010. “Since MBM is turning five this year, we thought it would be a great idea to throw an anniversary ‘birthday party’ and invite the public to learn more about the program.”

The Open House/MBM Birthday Party, sponsored by longtime SNGA supporter FHLBank Atlanta, is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Simple Needs GA’s Marietta warehouse, 991 Industrial Park Dr.

“We’ll be giving tours, chatting with old and new friends and introducing newcomers to our MBM and six other programs,” Rhodes said. “Clients will be on hand to share their stories, and we’ll have some yummy snacks along with sandwiches and salads generously donated by Newk’s Eatery (1975 Cobb Parkway in Kennesaw).”

Those who plan to attend may RSVP by emailing brenda@simpleneedsga.org.

“Feel free to bring friends or colleagues who might be interested in learning more about how our work benefits people in need,” Rhodes said. “And thanks to event sponsor FHLBank Atlanta and all of the amazing donors and volunteers who have enabled us to help hundreds of homeless schoolchildren over the past five years!”

 

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Cobb SPLOST funding subject of citizens town hall meeting

Thanks to Jan Barton, an East Cobb resident who’s helping organize a citizens town hall meeting next Tuesday about Cobb SPLOST funding, for the meeting notice and information below:Cobb SPLOST Funding

She says her group, called the Citizens Accountability Taskforce, “will present the real story about our findings and your Cobb County SPLOST taxes. You will hear how we are attempting to hold the County accountable and what you can do to help.”

They’ve been critics of long-term Cobb SPLOST collection periods (the current 2016 SPLOST ends on Dec. 21, 2021) as well as how much of the money is being used.

The group grew out of concerns over how Cobb officials brokered the stadium deal with the Atlanta Braves in 2013 and last year raised questions over increased property taxes that said could have been avoided had excess SPLOST funds been used to pay down debt.

At some budget hearings last year, they pressed Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce on the latter issue, but he told them that “there’s nothing left.”

Last month, in an East Cobb town hall meeting ahead of the upcoming fiscal year 2020 budget process, Boyce said he would be seeking a SPLOST renewal next year to start in 2022, preferably for only four years.

Next week’s citizens town hall meeting takes place at 7 p.m. at the Cobb GOP offices (799 Roswell St.).

Here’s more about what’s on their agenda, and their Facebook page.

 

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