Month: August 2020

Virtual town hall scheduled for Sprayberry Crossing rezoning

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Cobb Commissioner JoAnn Birrell sends along word this morning that she’s scheduled a virtual town hall meeting for the Sprayberry Crossing rezoning case that’s coming up in September.

She said the town hall will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 12, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., and will include Judy Williams, her appointment to the Cobb Planning Commission, and representatives from the Cobb Zoning Staff.

Although citizens will be invited to comment and ask questions, Birrell said she and Williams will not be offering opinions. That’s standard procedure in zoning cases.

Atlanta apartment builder Atlantic Residential is planning a mixed-use development on 18 acres where blighted shopping center has stood for years.

At a July virtual town hall, the developer offered its latest revisions to a proposal that would include 178 general and 122 senior-living rentals, 50 townhomes, a major grocery store, other retail, an outdoor entertainment and food hall and community greenspace.

(You can find more information at the Sprayberry Crossing website.)

The rezoning request can be found here; it’s an application for what’s called a redevelopment overlay district category. What that means is that the kind of development contained in the request—especially five-story residential buildings that have generated some community opposition—shall not establish a precedent for future land use or rezoning matters in the nearby area.

The Cobb Zoning Staff has not yet produced an analysis or made a recommendation.

The WebEx link to register for Birrell’s town hall can be found here; you can contact your office with questions at JoAnn.Birrell@cobbcounty.org or call 770-528-3318.

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Advance runoff voting expands to East Cobb Government Center

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Cobb tag offices reopening

You can cast a ballot close to home this week before next Tuesday’s runoff elections as advance voting continues.

The East Cobb Government Service Center (4400 Lower Roswell Road) is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Friday. Other locations will have the same days and hours:

Lines are expected to be long due to social-distancing guidance and you’ll be asked to wear a face covering.

On the ballot for East Cobb voters is a Republican runoff for Cobb Board of Commissioners District 2 between Andy Smith and Fitz Johnson. There also are two judicial runoffs that will be determined county wide.

There won’t be and advance voting Saturday or next Monday. If you vote on Tuesday, you’ll go to your assigned precinct. Those hours are also 7-7 and social distancing and masks will be requested.

Here’s more from the Cobb Board of Elections and Registration:

To download and print the full advance voting schedule, click here. 

There is NO VOTING on Sundays, Saturday, Aug. 8, or Monday, Aug. 10. On Election Day, Tuesday, Aug. 11, voters must go to their assigned polling locations, open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. To confirm your eligibility to vote for this election, please visit the Secretary of State’s “My Voter Page.”

Georgia law allows for absentee by mail ballots to be requested up to 180 days before an election. No excuse is required to vote before election day. Voters are encouraged to vote by-mail using the absentee application found on the absentee voting page. 

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Luminary Eye Care opens at Woodlawn Point Shopping Center

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Dr. Jinen Shah got in touch to announce that he’s opened Luminary Eye Care at the Woodlawn Point Shopping Center (1100 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 120).

It’s an independent practice that sees adult and child patients with standard examinations, as well as emergency care, ocular disease management, LASIK consultations and glasses and contact lenses.

Most vision and medical insurance is accepted. Hours are Monday & Wednesday 9-5; Tuesday & Thursday 10:30-6:30; Friday 9-3; and Saturday by appointment only.

Phone is 678-263-2226; Facebook updates here.

Sunday closure at Roll On In

Not far away in Woodlawn Point, Suzanne and Monte Jump, owners of Roll On In Sushi, said that starting this Sunday, Aug. 9, they’ll be closed on Sundays.

“We feel this will allow more time for faith, family and fellowship for our family and our employees. Thank you so much for your support, East Cobb. It means the world,” they said on Monday.

Monday-Saturday hours remain from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The Avenue bounces back

The Chain Store Age publication is scrapping its annual listing of top retail experiences for one explaining those centers that are recovering from closures due to COVID-19. Fifth on its list is The Avenue East Cobb, where special outdoor events like Dinner & Drive-In movie and fitness workshops are tied to stores reopening.

As we noted previously, there will be a fundraising event Aug. 22 for the Box of Balloons non-profit that gives disadvantaged kids a special birthday celebration.

Send Us Your News!

Let East Cobb News know what your organization is doing, or share news about what people are doing in the community—accomplishments, recognitions, milestones, etc.

We also run brief notices about new businesses that come to the community.

Pass along your details to: editor@eastcobbnews.com, and please observe the following guidelines to ensure we get everything properly and can post it promptly.

Send the body of your announcement, calendar item or news release IN TEXT FORM ONLY in the text field of your e-mail template. Reformatting text from PDF, JPG and doc files takes us longer to prepare your message for publication.

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East Cobb Women in Business group to meet at Mabry Park

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Mabry Park Opening

If you’re interested in meeting other business women for lunch in the outdoors, the East Cobb Women in Business Group is doing that on Thursday, Aug. 13 at Mabry Park, from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.:

“Bring a lawn chair and meet under the big Pavilion. Space is limited and registration is required. We are a non-industry exclusive networking group for local women and invite you to join us for support and education to help build your business relationships and invest in the growth of others.”

The limit on this gathering is 15 people, first-come, first-serve, due to COVID restrictions. The group has been meeting at Paradise Grill, and plans on going back there in the fall.

More information about the group can be found here and details on what’s being discussed at the meeting can be found here.

Send Us Your News!

Let East Cobb News know what your organization is doing, or share news about what people are doing in the community—accomplishments, recognitions, milestones, etc.

Pass along your details to: editor@eastcobbnews.com, and please observe the following guidelines to ensure we get everything properly and can post it promptly.

Send the body of your announcement, calendar item or news release IN TEXT FORM ONLY in the text field of your e-mail template. Reformatting text from PDF, JPG and doc files takes us longer to prepare your message for publication.

We accept PDFs as an accompaniment to your item. Images are fine too, but we prefer those to be JPG files (more than jpeg and png). PLEASE DO NOT send photos inside a PDF or text or any other kind of file. Of course, send us links that are relevant to your message so we can direct people to your website.

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August classes at The Art Place moved to Sewell Mill Library

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The Art Place-Mountain View is getting a new roof, so classes during the month of August have been moved to the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center (2051 Lower Roswell Road).The Art Place August classes

Some of those classes start Monday, and here’s a full list of offerings for The Art Place and Sewell Mill, for kids as well as grown-ups, with information and registration links.

A new course is Handbuilding at Home, for youths and adults (see flyer at right; there’s a “supersize” course that costs $81), and it takes place between Aug. 10-24.

And here’s your COVID safety message to observe, and the limitations on classes that will be very different from usual as a result:

This summer our in-person classes will be operating with a 5-student maximum, all classes will enforce social distancing, and it is recommended students wear masks in the classroom.

Cobb PARKS has also instituted a screening process to enter the building. When you arrive for class your temperature will be checked, and you will be given a wristband. Parents will not be able to wait in lobby for students to finish classes – as lobbies are closed to the public.

We also have several virtual options for students this session. Please note that all classes are taught by PARKS employees, and each center will have more limited offerings than a typical semester. We hope you use this opportunity to explore classes and workshops in different art centers across the county. If you are interested in a class that is not listed, please email your ideas to info@artplacemarietta.org.

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Weekend produce stand comes to Lower Roswell Road location

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Lower Roswell weekend produce stand

Reader Theresa lets us know that every Saturday and Sunday from 12-3 fresh produce and homemade goods are being sold in the parking lot at the Coastal gas station (Day Brothers Automotive) at 2011 Lower Roswell Road, next to the Sewell Mill Library.

The food comes from Smyrna-based produce proprietor Lee Harvey of Fat Iguana Produce, and items include fruits and vegetables he buys at the State Farmers Market, as well as baked goods.

Harvey started operating on the weekends from the Day Brothers business last month, and it’s among a number of “pop-up” farmers markets that have been springing up in the East Cobb area.

Another is Holland Botanical, which takes online orders during the week for Saturday delivery of boxed fruits and vegetables in the parking lot of the Shallowford Falls Shopping Center. Updates and details about Holland Botanical can be found here; they’re also beginning a Tuesday pickup time and you’ll have until noon Monday to place an order.

Lower Roswell weekend produce stand

Lower Roswell weekend produce stand

Lower Roswell weekend produce stand

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Take a walk back in time: Hyde Farm tours continue Aug. 8

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Hyde Farm

On the second Saturday of the month the Cobb Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department conducts walking tours of Hyde Farm, which dates back to 1840 and is now 42 acres of greenspace and serves an educational and recreational facility

It’s located at 726 Hyde Road, off Lower Roswell Road and east of Johnson Ferry Road and here’s what you’ll find:

Natural features include the Chattahoochee River, the forests that are found in both the lowlands adjacent to the river and the uplands near the home site.  Man made features consist of the terraced agricultural fields, lowland pastures/old fields, the orchard, the home site, the meadows, and the farm outbuilding sites. Enjoy the pond that was built on Mulberry Creek in the 1980’s, featuring geese, ducks, herons, turtles, beaver, and stocked with catfish and bass.

Next Saturday, Aug. 8, free tours will take place at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. and take 45 minutes to complete. You must register by clicking here. For information call 770-528-8840

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Kemp extends Georgia public health emergency to Sept. 10

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Kemp extends public health emergency
The Georgia COVID Situation Report tracks cases, hospitalizations and other medical date. Click here to read Friday’s report.

For the fifth time, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has extended a statewide public health emergency he first declared in March.

His latest extension expired at midnight Saturday, and Kemp has now extended that until 11:59 p.m. Sept. 10.

Kemp also extended another executive order that restricts public gatherings of more than 50 people without social distancing measures (at least six feet between persons), outlines mandatory criteria for businesses and requires the medically fragile to shelter-in-place.

That order continues through Aug. 15.

“As our state ramps up testing, expands hospital surge capacity, and provides staffing, supplies, and resources to cities and counties throughout Georgia, we urge local officials to enforce the rules and restrictions detailed in these orders,” Kemp said in a statement.

Kemp’s extended orders come at the end of a month with around half of all of Georgia’s confirmed COVID-19 cases having occurred and with growing concerns about hospitalizations due to the virus.

On Friday another 4,149 cases were reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health, for 186,236 in all. At the end of June, there were 104,423 cases in Georgia.

In Cobb County, there were 6,329 cases in July, 56 percent of all of the county’s cases since tracking began in February. The county’s current total is 11,206, up from 4,877 on June 30.

Another 286 cases were reported in Cobb on Friday, the fourth day in a row in which at least 200 cases were reported.

Cobb’s death total stands at 297, which is unchanged from Tuesday.

UPDATED, Saturday, 4:30 p.m.:

Georgia’s COVID case on Saturday afternoon was 190,012, up by 3,709 from Friday, and 3,825 deaths. Another 308 new hospitalizations also were reported.

Cobb’s case total is up to 11,436, up 236 from Friday, with a new death reported, bringing that total to 298.

A total of 2,851 new cases have been reported in Cobb the last two weeks.

ORIGINAL REPORT CONTINUES:

But critical-care hospital beds in the Cobb area are in short supply. According to the latest COVID Situation Report issued by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (read it here), only 14 critical-care bends are remaining, out of 226, for the region that includes Cobb, Douglas, Paulding and Cherokee counties.

Hospitalizations also have grown during July, and GEMA reports that there are 3,155 people currently admitted for COVID-19 across the state; but those don’t include figures for Cobb, and Wellstar Kennestone Hospital.

Kemp has announced that a surge hospital will be opened at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta on Monday. It will start with a capacity of 60 and could hold up to 120 patients.

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