Month: April 2025

At new Heavenly BBQ, the mission is to ‘elevate the food’

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Daryl Stewart says he continues to experiment with his Brunswick stew recipe that leans on the spicy side. (ECN photos)

Daryl Stewart’s previous career in the food industry prompted him to return earlier this year when he opened Heavenly BBQ in the Sprayberry Square Shopping Center.

It’s located in the former Willie Jewell’s location, and looks very much the same.

He put in new flooring and lightened up the interior.

But the biggest change is not only the barbecue concept he has had in mind for a long time, but the taste of the food.

“The failure for a lot of restaurants is that they cut corners on the quality of their food,” he said.

That’s what Stewart said he tasted when he got interested in taking over the Willie Jewell’s space, when the restaurant announced its closure in November after nearly seven years in East Cobb.

Stewart attends to a customer with a to-go order.

Stewart said he tried everything on the Willie Jewell’s menu, and “I didn’t like it. The product was going down and got away from fresh ingredients.”

His concept stresses fresh as much as possible, from smoked meats to classic barbecue side dishes. For example, the coleslaw is made with fresh, not bagged, cabbage, and he’s just added fresh okra because customers have been asking for it.

Collard greens, also fresh, are slow-cooked with whole garlic cloves. The mac and cheese also is entirely from scratch.

At the heart of the menu, Stewart says, is the brisket and Brunswick stew.

“I’m not a chef, but I designed the whole menu,” said Stewart, who managed two Jersey Mike’s franchises in the area, and has spent most of the last decade and a half as a chief financial officer in the information technology field.

His entrepreneurial itch was for barbecue with a distinct touch, something that’s not easy to pull off.

“I’m a foodie,” he said. “I was looking for an opportunity that had infrastructure in place, and where I can elevate the food. I thought I could do better.”

Grillmaster Gary Hampton with a brisket, which like all meats at Heavenly BBQ is hickory-smoked.

He’s hired a chef and a grill master to oversee the kitchen, and after 90 days since opening, customers are starting to file in via word of mouth.

“I want this to be a community destination for people who like barbecue,” said Stewart, who tries to interact with every customer who comes through the doors.

One of the first changes he made was at the grill, switching from oak to hickory, and taking out the fire for smoke.

All meats at Heavenly BBQ—beef, pork, chicken and turkey—are smoked.

So are the chicken sausages, which he sources from Cajun Meat Co. in East Cobb.

Being able to control the menu, and easily adapt it to customer tastes, with an emphasis on local and Georgia vendors, is a priority.

The Brunswick stew recipe includes a tomato base, with cooked meats, corn, chipotle peppers, Georgia sweet sauce and Louisiana hot sauce.

He said he may tamp that down, because some customers have found it a bit spicy.

He’s also sampled some of the nearby barbecue restaurants, and says he doesn’t necessary think of them as competitors.

“I want us all to succeed, but I want to offer something different,” Stewart said.

The menu includes hamburgers, chicken wings and a kid’s menu.

He doesn’t think that there’s a “go to” place for barbecue in metro Atlanta.

But for now, he’s focused on getting his menu right for this burgeoning customer base.

Stewart said many of them are senior citizens (and there’s a new seniors-only apartment community opening nearby at the former Sprayberry Crossing Shopping Center).

He’s also doing some catering and is putting together a special Easter menu. Like many restaurant owners, he’s  challenged by labor and food cost issues.

“If this catches on,” he says of Heavenly BBQ, “I think it’s going to be a great place to go to.”

Heavenly BBQ is located at 2550 Sandy Plains Road, Suite 400.

Hours are daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Website: https://www.heavenlybbqatl.com/

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East Cobb man indicted for setting his house on fire

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A Cobb Superior Court grand jury has indicted an an East Cobb man for arson at his own home last fall.East Cobb man convicted

According to an indictment issued March 28, Nader Nahid was indicted on one count of first-degree arson for a fire that took place on Oct. 10, 2024 at his residence on Taliwa Trail.

That’s located off Roswell Road near Old Canton Road.

An arrest warrant included in the court filings alleges that at around 3:10 that afternoon, Nahid set on fire a stack of luxury vinyl planks outside the front door of the home.

The fire spread to the attic and caused “substantial damage” to the residence, according to the warrant, and officers noted that “the odor of gasoline was present.”

The warrant further states that Nahid was the only person at the home at the time, and also was the only person there when a fire was reported on July 31, 2024.

Court filings indicate that Nahid was found to be indigent and is being represented by a public defender. He was released on a $15,000 bond in February and ordered not to return to the home, according to court filings.

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Lassiter, Walton, Wheeler students named Georgia Scholars

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Ten students from high schools in East Cobb are among the 145 chosen across the state as Georgia Scholars, State School Superintendent Richard Woods announced Tuesday.Georgia Department of Education, Georgia Scholars East Cobb

According to the Georgia Department of Education, “Georgia Scholars carried exemplary course loads during their four years of high school, performed excellently in all courses, successfully participated in interscholastic events within their schools and communities, and assumed leadership roles in extracurricular activities sponsored by their schools.

(Click here to view the full program criteria.)

Each honoree receives a seal for their diploma along with a graduation cord to recognize their achievement.

The local students include the following:

  • Lassiter: Elizabeth George, Andrea Joya, Sophia Joya
  • Walton: Vishruth Tallam, Rahaf Vaid, Shalein Valvani, Owen Wu, Edward Yao
  • Wheeler: Marissa Loncar, Leanne Vuong

Students from Kennesaw Mountain and North Cobb high schools also are among the honorees,

“Congratulations to the 145 outstanding students honored as Georgia Scholars this year” Woods said in a statement. “This prestigious recognition identifies students who go above and beyond in all aspects of life – both within the school walls and in the community. I wish them great success in their futures and can’t wait to see the impact they make on our state, nation, and world.”

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Cobb Planning Commission member from East Cobb resigns

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Christine Lindstrom of East Cobb, who has served on the Cobb Planning Commission for the last year, resigned after Tuesday’s meeting.

The former member of the East Cobb Civic Association was greeted by District 3 Commissioner JoAnn Birrell, who appointed her in March 2024, and presented with a bouquet of flowers.

“Thank you for your service on the Planning Commission,” Birrell said. “We’re going to miss you.”

“Thank you for the opportunity you’ve given me,” Lindstrom said, embracing Birrell.

Lindstrom, who succeeded Deborah Dance after she resigned to run for Cobb Superior Court Clerk, is stepping down for personal reasons, leaving the five-member board with two vacancies.

According to an agenda item for Tuesday’s commissoner’s meeting, Birrell will be reappointing Dance, a former Cobb County Attorney, to complete a term that expires in December 2026.

David Anderson of East Cobb, who was appointed by former Commissioner Jerica Richardson, resigned at the start of the year.

Planning Commission members are appointed by commissioners and serve concurrent terms, making recommendations in zoning and land-use cases

Lindstrom has lived in the East Cobb area for the last 50 years. She was a longtime member of the ECCA, which formed in 1982, representing around 9,000 households, and is actively involved in rezoning cases.

The other vacancy is expected to be filled in May, following a special election for District 2 on the Cobb Commission. The candidates are Democrat Erick Allen and Republican Alicia Adams.

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Noonday Shanty 5K/10K run draws nearly 400 participants

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Noonday Shanty 5K/10K run draws 400 participants

Submitted information and photos:

A perfect spring morning set the stage for nearly 400 runners and walkers to lace up their sneakers and hit the Noonday Creek Trail for the fourth annual Noonday Shanty 5K/10K. Held Saturday, March 22, the popular race – presented by Avonlea Apartments and benefiting the Town Center Community Alliance – offered participants a chance to connect, compete and spend time with family and friends.

Featuring USA Track and Field-certified 5K and 10K courses, the event welcomed athletes of all ages and skill levels to experience some of the area’s most scenic landmarks and attractions, including Aviation Park, Cobb International Airport and Fifth Third Bank Stadium. In addition to supporting local green space and park improvements, the race also provided runners an opportunity to qualify for the AJC Peachtree Road Race.

“Now in our fourth year, the Noonday Shanty has grown into one of the community’s favorite traditions,” said Jennifer Hogan, director of community engagement at Town Center Community. “We are incredibly grateful to our generous sponsors, local businesses, volunteers and nearly 400 runners who made this an event to remember.”

Participants who made their mark with the fastest times in the 5K and 10K are listed below.

Overall 5K winners:

  • Female – Marie Reed, Acworth, GA, 25:07
  • Male – Andrew Yankowsky, Marietta, GA, 18:07

Masters 5K winners:

  • Female – Marisol Odom, Dallas, GA, 25:25
  • Male – TJ Staritz, Marietta, GA, 22:11

Overall 10K winners:

  • Female – Micah Weathers, Statham, GA, 39:11
  • Male – Kevin Rymut, Atlanta, GA, 37:45

Masters 10K winners:

  • Female – Shannon Fulcher, Dallas, GA, 45:33
  • Male – Grant Baker, Atlanta, GA, 38:14

For a complete list of winners by age group, visit this website.

For more information about Town Center Community, the race and results, visit this website.

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Cobb Senior Citizens Council to hold 2025 legislative forum

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Submitted information:Cobb Senior Citizens Council to hold 2025 legislative forum

The 2025 Cobb County Legislative Delegation Forum is jointly sponsored by the Senior Citizens Council of Cobb County and Cobb County Senior Services, and is being held on Tuesday, April 22 from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm at the Senior Wellness Center, 1150 Powder Springs Street, Marietta, GA 30064.

This event is a rare opportunity for the Cobb senior community to hear important information and engage directly with their state legislators. Every Georgia house representative and senator serving a Cobb County district has been invited to participate. All persons who attend will leave the forum knowing more about which critical issues affecting seniors were addressed in the most recent legislative session at the Gold Dome.

Registration and information: https://www.seniorsofcobb.org/meetings-events/2025-cobb-county-legislative-delegation-forum. 

The event is free but space is limited and persons need to register ahead of time to secure a spot.

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Cobb Republican Party chooses new chairwoman, officers

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The Cobb County Republican Party has new leadership. Cobb Republican Party chooses new chairwoman, officers

Mary Clarice Hathaway, an insurance business owner and political activist in the Kennesaw area, was elected at the party’s election in late March.

She succeeds chairwoman Salleigh Grubbs, who was term-limited, after defeating challengers Sophia Farooq and Dr. Fun Fong.

Hathaway’s immediate priority is campaigning for Alicia Adams, the Republican nominee in the April 29 special election for District 2 on the Cobb Board of Commissioners.

Her larger task is revitalizing Republican politics countywide. After the 2024 elections, Democrats hold all countywide seats in Cobb County, from Commission Chairwoman down to State Court Clerk.

The GOP had dominated county government since the 1980s, but in 2020 the commission went from 4-1 Republican to 3-2 Democrat. Democrats also control the Cobb legislative delegation by one seat, while the GOP holds a 4-3 majority on the Cobb Board of Education.

Hathaway, who has six children and also is a grandmother of six, vowed to bring new energy across the county for Republican candidates.

“There are people whom I think if we had the right outreach and the right message, we could reach a lot of people who have previously been unreached,” she said at March candidate forum.

While Hathaway is new to Cobb GOP politics, said that “having a fresh perspective, a fresh set of eyes to solve problems is an asset.

“My goal is not to come in and take over anything. My goal is to steer and guide an organization . . . to get Cobb County trending red again.”

While East Cobb and North Cobb remain Republican strongholds, Hathaway said she wants to cultivate grassroots support even in South Cobb, which is dominated by Democrats.

“I’m not afraid to go anywhere,” she said. “Give me a shot.”

She was elected with a slate of officers that include her oldest son.

Jeff Hathaway Jr., an East Cobb resident, was voted first vice chair of the Cobb GOP. He and his wife have three children who attend Mt. Bethel Elementary School.

Another East Cobb resident, Arielle Kurtz, was voted Cobb GOP secretary, and was involved in John Cristadoro’s recent election to the Cobb school board.

The treasurer is Scott Brandenberg and the assistant treasurer is Skyler Atkins of Smyrna, a national board member of Log Cabin Republicans, which represents gay and lesbian Republicans.

The Cobb GOP will have its first monthly breakfast with the new leadership Saturday at 8:30 a.m. at the Taco Mac on 2650 Dallas Highway.

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