Month: August 2025

Jamerson Road traffic changes proposed after pedestrian crash

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Jamerson Road traffic changes proposed after pedestrian crash
Cobb DOT wants to install a flashing beacon at the only crosswalk on Jamerson Road serving Davis Elementary School.

Cobb DOT is proposing improvements for pedestrian access on Jamerson Road near Davis Elementary School after a boy was seriously injured in a crash there this summer.

According to an agenda item, the Cobb Board of Commissioners will be asked Tuesday to approve a contract for $146,966 for a project that would realign traffic lanes and install a rapid flashing rectangular beacon at a crosswalk.

Preston Veal, 12, a student at Mabry Middle School, is recovering after being hit by a van while crossing Jamerson Road near the school in late June. He was hospitalized with numerous broken bones and internal injuries, according to a GoFundMe page set up to help pay for his medical expenses.

Veal, a member of the Lassiter Junior Trojan youth football program, was walking home from Davis on June 28 after shooting basketball at the school. Cobb Police said he was crossing from a sidewalk on Jamerson, east of Turtle Rock Drive, when he was hit by a van.

That’s near the only crosswalk across Jamerson serving the school.

After our initial report, a resident of the area messaged us to say she’d begun a petition drive to push for greater safety measures.

Courtney Chiang DiStefano said her petition was asking for a solar flashing light alert, along with crosswalk detectors, a chirping alert for pedestrians and for another crosswalk to be built to cover both sides of the school. 

She said she and her family use the crosswalk often to visit grandparents and to go to classes as Davis, but “the lack of a protected crosswalk with sufficient signage and protection puts our children and neighbors at significant risk.”

The agenda item (you can read it here) doesn’t go that far. The recommended contractor is Glosson Enterprises, LLC, and if approved, the project has a 60-day completion date timeline. The funding would come from the current 2024 Cobb Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST).

The Board of Commissioners meeting begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the second floor board room of the county office building at 100 Cherokee Street, Marietta. You can view the full agenda by clicking here.

You also can watch the hearing on the county’s website and YouTube channels and on Cobb TV 23 on Comcast Cable.

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Switzer Library to hold ‘Disability and Dialogue’ event

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Submitted information:Switzer Library to hold 'Disability and Dialogue' event

Cobb County Public Library’s Accessibility Services Department and the disability organization Lapapoe will host Disability and Dialogue, a community conversation for people of all ages and abilities, including parents, caregivers, professionals and advocates, at the Charles D. Switzer Library in Marietta on Friday, August 29, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Both in-person and virtual options via Google Meet to attend the session are available.

The conversation will explore how early intervention, public health and workforce systems can best work together for individuals with disabilities and those who support them to ensure they have clear paths to meaningful work and overall well-being, said Department Supervisor Jessica Parker. The event is to mark the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The program will feature Winston Ben Clements, a globally recognized disability advocate, father, motivational speaker and consultant, along with leading organizations engaged in public health, wellness and workforce development for adults and children.

Panelists for the event include representatives from:

Central themes for the Disability and Dialogue event include equal access, inclusivity and representation, all part of the work of libraries to deliver services, information and connections for all, Parker said.

“I firmly believe in the power of libraries as essential institutions that support the broader community,” she said. “In many ways, the word ‘library’ is synonymous with ‘community,’ and our shared goal is to ensure equal access for all patrons – whether through the materials they check out, the programming we offer, or our daily operations.”

Registration is required for the Disability and Dialogue program. To register and for details on the virtual Google Meet option, go to cobbcounty.gov/events/disability-dialogue. For more information, contact Jessica Parker via email at jessica.parker@cobbcounty.gov or by phone at 770-528-2376.

The Switzer Library and the Accessibility Services Department are located at 266 Roswell Street NE, Marietta 30060.

For information on Cobb Library Accessibility Services, visit cobbcounty.gov/library/services/accessibility-services.

 

 

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Cobb’s AAA credit rating extended for 28th consecutive year

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Cobb County government announced Thursday that three New York credit rating agencies have continued the county’s AAA status for the 28th year in a row. Cobb County Government logo

The AAA ratings are the highest possible, and were continued by Standard and Poor’s, Fitch and Moody’s.

The county uses the ratings to issue bonds for financing roads, parks and infrastructure at low interest rates, and to attract a wide pool of investors.

“Cobb continues to be recognized by the ratings agencies for our financial practices, economic strength, and stability,” Cobb Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Lisa Cupid said in a statement issued by the county Wednesday.

“This recognition should give our residents confidence that the county is a good steward of their tax dollars as we grow and  meet diverse expectations .”

The Standard and Poor’s Global Ratings, according to the county release, cited Cobb’s “robust economy, consistent financial performance, sizable reserves, and proactive management practices in its report.”

The Cobb County School District also has a AAA bond rating that it uses to finance capital projects, including school construction and maintenance.

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77-year-old man attacked at NE Cobb home; suspect arrested

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UPDATED, 10:40 A.M. THURSDAY:Northeast Cobb car crash, Cops on Donut Shops

Cobb Police said this morning that they have taken a 29-year-old man into custody for attacking an elderly man at a home on Sandy Plains Road.

Officer Aaron Wilson said that Onur Yenihayat, of a Northeast Cobb address, was pulled over on Shallowford Road shortly after 2 a.m. Thursday after his vehicle was identified from license-plate recognition cameras, after having left the incident scene.

Wilson said that Precinct 4 officers were called to a home Wednesday afternoon in the 3000 block of Sandy Plains Road, near Bryant Lane, after receiving 911 reports that someone had been hit with a vehicle.

But when police arrived, they saw a 77-year-old man on the sidewalk, bleeding from the head, after initial incorrect reports on social media that there had been a shooting, police said.

Wilson said a preliminary investigation determined that the victim, who was not named, had returned to the home Wednesday afternoon to find the suspect in his bedroom without permission.

The victim fled outside, to the sidewalk, where he was found by police, who said they saw the suspect go back inside the home, Wilson said.

An arrest warrant for Yenihayat said the victim had been hit in the head multiple times with a piece of wood, and was bleeding from his nose.

Wilson said that police then set up a parameter around the home and tried to establish contact with the suspect, but got no response. Cobb Police called in K9 and VIPER  (Violent Incident Prevention and Early Response) units and executed a search warrant to discover that the suspect was no longer in the home, according to police.

Wilson said police obtained an arrest warrant for aggravated assault and other charges.

According to Yenihayat’s booking report at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center, he is being without bond on that single count.

Wilson said an investigation is continuing and that anyone with information is asked to contact the Cobb PoliceMajor Crimes Unit at 770-499-3945.

ORIGINAL REPORT:

Cobb Police said Wednesday afternoon that a person has been injured at a home in Northeast Cobb, but said social media postings indicating that the incident involved a shooting are incorrect.

On the department’s Facebook page, Cobb Police said around 5 p.m. Wednesday the person’s injuries “are not from gunfire,” but provided no further details.

The individual was not identified, and police said that the residence was in the area of Sandy Plains Road and Ebenezer Road.

WSB-TV reported that one of its helicopters few over the scene and reported seeing nine police vehicles, and that the person injured is being treated.

The scene is near Addison Elementary School, and the television station said that it was told bu the Cobb County School District said that “the police activity was not related to the school” and “that there is no threat to any school campuses.”

Earlier Wednesday afternoon, some local social media postings urged motorists to avoid the area along Sandy Plains Road between Karen Lane and Bryant Lane, which is in the same area.

Cobb Police said in the Facebook posting that “officers are still on scene and we will provide updates once the incident concludes and the preliminary investigation is complete.”

East Cobb News has left a message with Cobb Police seeking more information.

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East Cobb Food Scores: Bagelicious; Toastique; Guthrie’s; more

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Bagelicious, East Cobb food scores

The following food scores have been compiled by the Georgia Department of Public Health. Click the link under each listing for inspection details:

Bagelicious
1255 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 37
Aug. 19, 2025, Score: 90, Grade: A

Bruster’s Real Ice Cream
2044 Lower Roswell Road, Suite 100
Aug. 18, 2025, Score: 96, Grade: A

China Doll
1230 Powers Ferry Road, Suites 4-5
Aug. 18, 2025, Score: 82, Score: B

Flames Indian Grill
3000 Windy Hill Road, Suite 128
Aug. 2025, Score: 62, Grade: U

Guthrie’s Chicken
4774 Lower Roswell Road
Aug. 19, 2025, Score: 100, Grade: A

Jersey Mike’s Subs
4400 Roswell Road, Suite 148
Aug. 20, 2025, Score: 90, Grade: A

Kim’s Burger and Wings
2555 Delk Road, Suite A8
Aug. 20, 2025, Score: 97, Grade: A

Lemon Butter Seafood Restaurant
1854 Terrell Mill Road, Suite 113
Aug. 18, 2025, Score: 97, Grade: A

Panda Express
3460 Sandy Plains Road, Suite 210
Aug. 20, 2025, Score: 91, Grade: A

Taco Bell
4880 Lower Roswell Road
Aug. 21, 2025, Score: 100, Grade: A

Toastique
4205 Lower Roswell Road, Suite 510
Aug. 21, 2025, Score: 100, Grade: A

Touchdown Wings
2856 Delk Road, Suite 301
Aug. 20, 2025, Score: 99, Grade: A

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News site to record public comment stream ended by Cobb school board

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Cobb school board public conduct policy
East Cobb resident Jenny Peterson is a frequent public commenter critical of Cobb school district leadership and a plaintiff in a federal lawsuit against the district.

UPDATED:

You can watch replays of the public comment sessions at the Cobb school board meetings here and here.

Larry Felton Johnson, editor and publisher of the Cobb County Courier was told could record only from a seat near a wall.

ORIGINAL POST:

After the Cobb Board of Education voted last week not to air public comments at its meetings any longer, a local news website is planning to fill in the gap.

Larry Felton Johnson, editor and publisher of the Cobb County Courier, said he will be recording the public comments on his site’s YouTube and Facebook pages, and that “they’ll be available for viewing after the meetings.”

Johnson won’t be streaming the parts of the meetings that will continue to be aired on the Cobb school district outlets, but said that “I’m going to start livestreaming when public comments start, and stop when they are over.”

The school board will entertain public comments at a work session at 1:30 p.m. Thursday and at a voting meeting at 7 p.m., but the district’s livestream will not be airing them.

District officials cited legal and “efficiency” reasons for ending the public comment broadcasts in a party-line vote, but critics said the changes were made to stifle public dissent.

Georgia law requires public school districts to provide public comment periods at its meetings, but they don’t have to air them to the public.

On Monday, Johnson posted a story about how the Georgia Open Meetings Act enables the public to record public meetings.

The Cobb school district has been airing public comments on its livestream channel and local cable outlets for several years, with up to 30 minutes set aside at each public meeting.

But in recent years the criticisms have become more frequent and sharper on a number of issues, and in some instances speakers and audience members have been removed from the meeting room for being disruptive.

The Courier is an independent all-online news outlet started by Felton, who is based in Mableton and whose news service covers the county.

His outlet has covered Cobb school district developments critically and aggressively, especially before a September 2023 board meeting. The district changed the sign-up procedures for public commenters, and chaos broke out, with some saying they were shoved around.

Some citizens had showed up to protest Ragsdale and accused the district of trying to limit critical comments; the episode led to a federal lawsuit whose plaintiffs include one of the protestors, East Cobb resident Jenny Peterson.

In March 2024, the Courier published reports accusing the Cobb school district’s media staff of acting to silence critics and improperly accessing student files.

The stories were based on e-mails and other materials obtained in an open records request by Jennifer Susko, a former Cobb school counselor and a vocal critic of the district.

Since 2021, the district has declined to comment on stories published by the Courier, citing “ongoing concerns with accuracy in reporting.” But the Courier has said the district has never asked for a correction or retraction.

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Former Cobb schools special events site proposed for parking area

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Former Cobb schools special events site proposed for parking area
The Cobb school district is seeking to add parking space next to its central office on Glover Street in Marietta (in background).

The Cobb County School District wants to build a parking area next to its main administrative offices in Marietta on property that once was proposed for a $50 million special events center.

The Cobb Board of Education on Thursday will hear a request for a $1.97 million contract for “site improvements” at 440 and 460 Glover Street, according to an agenda item.

The board will hold a work session Thursday at 1:30 p.m., followed by possible voting action Thursday at 7 p.m.

All meetings take place in the board room of the CCSD Central Office, at 514 Glover St. in Marietta. An executive session will follow the work session.

You can read through the agenda details for the meetings at this link; and you can watch the public meetings on a livestream on the district’s Boxcast Channel.

The combined 3.42 acres on Glover Street are vacant lots. There was an aging building on the property that has since been torn down, in an area with small industrial-type businesses.

When East Cobb News contacted the Cobb school district Tuesday for more information, a spokeswoman said “we are now clearing its foundation to add additional parking for parents, teachers, and administrators.”

According to bidding information available online, “this project consists of building foundation and existing parking lot demolition. Construction of a new parking area with stormwater infrastructure and landscape per City of Marietta standards.”

The board agenda item said that the recommended contractor is NPSG Built of Woodstock, but didn’t indicate how the project would be funded, which is customary with construction and maintenance contracts. The work is expected to be completed by January.

The Cobb school board purchased the two parcels for $3 million in 2023, following a request from Superintendent Chris Ragsdale to build a special events center for district graduation ceremonies and other major activities.

Although the plans were approved later in 2023, the board canceled the project last year, less than a month after a citizens watchdog group revealed a site plan that the district had previously not made public.

The 190,000-square-foot building would have included 148,000 square feet of space for an 8,000-seat basketball arena, as well as two hospitality suites, but the district never specified some of those details. The facility also would have had 41,000 square feet of space for conferences and banquets and more than 1,500 parking spaces.

In calling for the cancellation of the special events center shortly before the district’s fiscal year 2025 budget was to be approved, Ragsdale cited economic reasons, saying that “this recommendation does not negate the dire need for this facility, but a facility can never take priority over our employees.”

Also on Thursday, the board will hear a proposal to build a $4.589 million school bus depot on Veterans Memorial Drive in Mableton, which has drawn strong opposition in that community.

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Cobb Elections Board dispute roils along partisan lines

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Cobb Elections Board dispute roils along partisan lines
New Cobb Elections Board chairwoman Jennifer Mosbacher of East Cobb was presiding over her first meeting in that role on Monday.

Two East Cobb residents presided over the Cobb Board of Elections meeting on Monday, but their elevation to those posts last month has been called into question.

Two Democrats—Jennifer Mosbacher and Stacy Efrat—were voted as chair and vice-chair of the five-member board in July, as two other members were slated to rotate off the board due to term limits.

But the board’s lone Republican attempted to change the by-laws to allow for elections after new members begin their terms.

That GOP board member, Debbie Fisher of East Cobb, tabled her motion Monday and said she would bring it up again in September.

The terms of the Cobb legislative delegation appointments, Democrats Tori Silas and Steve Bruning, expired at the end of June.

The existing elections board by-laws state that officer elections are to be held every odd-numbered year in July “unless otherwise necessary.”

But the delegation, which has a Democratic majority of one, was late in naming their successors, Reginald Turner and Kendall Watkins, who will begin their tenures in September. (Cobb Republican legislators have objected to those appointments, saying they weren’t properly consulted beforehand.)

The elections board approves policy for the administration of Cobb Elections, which is non-partisan, and certifies elections results, among other duties (more on the board and what it does here).

During a contentious meeting Monday afternoon, Fisher said in reference to the board officer elections that “what happened was unprecedented.”

Fisher was the lone vote against the elections of Mosbacher and Efrat in a 3-1-1 vote. Abstaining was Silas, the outgoing chairwoman.

Debbie Fisher

“There is a problem that exists with just having the language that exists today,” Fisher said in explaining her motion.

A number of public speakers commented in favor of her proposal, and for greater transparency on the elections board, which has a 4-1 Democratic majority. Others said the board had done nothing improper or illegal.

Mosbacher was appointed by Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid, a Democrat, and Efrat is an appointee of the Cobb Democratic Party. Fisher was appointed by the Cobb Republican Party, which on Monday called for an audit of the board officer elections process.

Fisher said near the end of the meeting that “once the voters’ trust is lost, that is not something that is easily restored.”

Some commenters took aim at Mosbacher for previously not standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. She did so on Monday. Cobb resident Hugh Norris, who’s been openly critical of her before, said he noticed she didn’t have her hand over her heart, alleging that she “might have allegiances elsewhere.”

He did commend Silas, an attorney who in her closing remarks noted that the board officer elections “have come at a time of heightened polarization, unlike anything I’ve seen in my 51 years on this earth.

But said she reminded the audience that the administration of Cobb Elections is non-partisan, and that during her tenure she was committed to her “top guiding principle . . . what best serves Cobb County voters.”

You can watch the full meeting below; it’s around an hour and 43 minutes.

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2025 Cobb property tax bills mailed out; due Oct. 15

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2025 Cobb property tax bills mailed out; due Oct. 15

Cobb County property owners should be getting their 2025 tax bills in the mail this week.

They were mailed out on Monday, according to a release from the Cobb Tax Commissioners Office (you can read through it here).

The bills for residential and commercial property owners are due on Oct. 15, and payment is via online, by phone, regular mail or in person (details below).

The property tax bills are to fund fiscal year operations for the Cobb County School District and Cobb County government, based on the July 2025 Cobb tax digest approval.

Cobb Tax Commissioner Carla Jackson said that 271,757 tax bills were calculated, totaling $1.364 billion in revenues.

You can view your bill online at Cobb Tax Payments, and you can also pay your bill there by clicking this link.

By phone, you can pay by calling an automated system at 1-866-PAY-COBB (1-866-729-2622).

To submit your payment via regular U.S. Postal Service Mail, send to: Cobb County Tax Commissioner, P.O. Box 100127, Marietta, Ga. 30061.

And to pay in person, you can visit one of three locations during regular business hours (M-F 8-5):

  • Cobb Board of Tax Assessors: 736 Whitlock Ave., Marietta
  • East Cobb Government Service Center: 4400 Lower Roswell Road
  • South Cobb Government Service Center, 4700 Austell Road, Austell.

Each of those locations also has a dedicated drop box that’s available 24/7 for checks or money orders. There’s also a drop box in Northeast Cobb, at the Cobb Tax Commissioner’s satellite office at 2932 Canton Road.

For more information about understanding your tax bill, visit the Cobb Tax Commissioner’s Office website, e-mail: tax@cobbtax.gov or call 770-528-8600.

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Suspects arrested in 2024 murder on Powers Ferry Road

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Cobb Police said Monday that two men have been arrested in Pennsylvania as suspects in the shooting death of another man who was found in a car on Powers Ferry Road last year.Northeast Cobb car crash, Cops on Donut Shops

Cobb Police Sgt. Eric Smith said that Jayden Hooks, 21, and Malik Drake, 23, are awaiting extradition to Cobb County to face felony murder and aggravated assault charges in the killing of Curtis Coleman, 43, of Powder Springs.

Police said that Coleman was found shot to death on March 21, 2024, in a vehicle parked in the 2200 block of Powers Ferry Road. That’s near the intersection of Akers Mill Road, and police were called there in response to reports of an injured person.

In a release issued late Monday afternoon, Cobb Police didn’t offer any more details of what may have led to the shooting, which was investigated by its Major Crimes Unit.

Nor did Smith, in the release, indicate how the suspects were identified or captured, except to say that Hooks and Drake were taken into custody without “significant incident in Pennsylvania by U. S. Marshals.”

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East Cobb Biz Scene: Café Rivkah reopens with a new menu

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Cafe Rivkah ribbon cutting
Vicky Savrin (behind the counter) has made a myriad of changes since opening Cafe Rivkah in 2023. File photos.

Earlier this month, Vicki Savrin posted a notice near the front door and closed the blinds to Café Rivkah, the bakery and cafe she started in the Pavilions at East Lake Shopping Center in 2023.

She has struggled almost since opening to find qualified and reliable labor, weathered a major price increase for eggs and changed up her menu many times to respond to customer tastes.

But two and a half years in, the professional baker, who got the idea for a neighborhood cafe from customers at the Marietta Farmers Market, was wondering if it was worth it to stay open.

“I do love the work, there’s no question about it,” Savrin said near closings hours on Sunday, at the end of the first weekend since coming back to open during limited hours and with a slimmed-down menu.

For a couple of weeks this month, Savrin thought about closing altogether. But on Friday, Café Rivkah reopened, and is now serving from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday-Sunday.

Café Rivkah was closed briefly earlier this month, which caused some confusion for customers.

The family meals for takeout that she had prepared are on hold, and the cafe menu has been reduced, not only because of her smaller workforce but also to focus on breads and gourmet pastry items that have been the focus all along.

Savrin called the changes the latest of the “variations” she’s made in running Café Rivkah along with her husband, Phil Savrin, an attorney who has helped out on the weekends.

She admitted that her wide range of breakfast and lunch offerings, served up fresh and made-to-order six days a week, along with catering and family meals, might have been too much to take on, especially with a revolving staff.

Over the last two weeks, some customers were concerned by the sign on the door and a similar notice on the restaurant’s Facebook page indicating the cafe would close, and that the business would be focusing on catering, special orders and brunch and dinner events by reservation.

But during the middle of last week, the website announced the reopening. The new menu items will eventually be posted there.

She explained to customers that “to maintain the quality of food and service that meets these standards, I’ve made the decision to scale back and take a more hands-on approach to everything we prepare. This will mean more limited production and operating hours . . . so that everything we offer reflects the standards I’ve set for myself and am committed to upholding.”

Breakfast items include Shakshuka, a Mediterrean dish of eggs cooked in tomatoes and spices, Khachapuri, a Georgian (the nation, not the state) baked dish of cheese bread, Challah French toast, bagels, croissants and pastries and some egg/omelet offerings.

The lunch menu is focused on a variety of personal-pan pizzas. Coffees, teas, juices and other drinks are also served.

Savrin admits that she’d like nothing more than to “bake and cook all day,” but said that simplifying her managerial tasks were imperative.

Cafe Rivkah opens in East Cobb
Gourmet pastries are a big draw at Café Rivkah.

Finding consistent help has been hard for many restaurants and retail businesses, especially since COVID-19. She said Café Rivkah had paid “above the market rate” for kitchen and front-counter help, and that “when we tried to limit pay, that didn’t work out well.”

The biggest obstacle has been keeping a cook. Café Rivkah opened with a chef go match Savrin’s desire for a Mediterranean-oriented menu, and has had several others running the kitchen since then.

One of the reasons she decided to keep the doors open is that “we have good people who love this place.”

That refers to her current staff of herself and three others, plus a doughmaker who comes once a week, on Sunday, to help expedite the new arrangement.

She waves to the latter, expressing a sigh of relief, as he heads out the door.

“He’s been my safety net.”

Café Rivkah is located at 2100 Roswell Road, Suite 2104. Phone: 678-402-5809.

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East Cobb resident promoted to GBI chemistry section manager

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East Cobb resident promoted to GBI chemistry section manager

Submitted information and photo about an East Cobb resident:

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation announces the promotion of Nicole Astor to Manager of the Chemistry Section of the GBI Crime Lab. Astor will be responsible for the supervision of staff in the Chemistry Section at the GBI Headquarters Laboratory, as well as operations within the statewide Chemistry discipline.

“I am proud to announce the promotion of Nicole Astor to Manager of the GBI Chemistry Section,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey. “Since joining the GBI in 1998, Nicole has served in multiple roles with dedication, professionalism, and a passion for forensic science and public service. Her wealth of experience and proven leadership make her exceptionally well-suited to lead the Chemistry Section.” 

“Nicole’s promotion is a reflection of her years of commitment to the mission of the GBI and her outstanding contributions to the field of forensic chemistry,” said GBI Crime Lab Division Director Cleveland Miles. “Her leadership, integrity, and deep institutional knowledge will be tremendous assets in her new role.” 

Astor began her career at the GBI in May 1998 as a crime lab scientist in the Chemistry Section of the Headquarters Lab. She was promoted to statewide Chemistry Technical Leader in 2010 and Assistant Chemistry Section Manager in 2016.

Astor graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 1997. She obtained her professional certification as a Technical Specialist in Drug Analysis with the American Board of Criminalistics in 2010.

Astor has been a member of the Southern Association of Forensic Scientists since 2000 and served as a Member-At-Large on their Board of Directors for approximately five years. She has been a member of the Clandestine Laboratory Investigating Chemists since 2009.

Astor also served as a Member-At-Large on the Board of Directors for the American Board of Criminalistics from 2016 to 2019, and she has been the GBI representative on the National Institute of Justice Forensic Science Research and Development Technology Working Group (TWG) – Controlled Substances/Toxicology since 2014.

Astor is originally from Petoskey, Michigan, and currently lives in Marietta, GA. 

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is comprised of three primary divisions: the GBI Crime Laboratory, the Investigative Division, and the Georgia Crime Information Center. The GBI has over 900 employees and a current budget of $162.6 million.

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Help us keep East Cobb News free with your donation today!

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Wheeler defeats Sprayberry
Please donate today to support the local news you love. Please visit eastcobbnews.presspatron.com. Thank you!

A couple weeks ago, one of our local competitors decided to drop its paywall for a weekend.

At East Cobb News, we don’t hide our reporting behind a paywall.

We believe relevant, quality local journalism is the bedrock of our community, and it should be available to everyone, regardless of a citizen’s ability to pay.

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East Cobb News is a local business that just proudly marked its 8th anniversary. In that time, we have grown tremendously, and it’s become an outlet that thousands of people rely upon every day to stay informed.

The photo above is one of our favorites from our archive, a high school football game shot at twilight—Friday Night Lights in East Cobb—taken early in our history.

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We wrote here before that we’ve been asking for reader support to help us defray some of our business costs.

With our growth has come some additional costs, and while we’re thrifty, we have bills that come due every month.

Put a better way, here’s how to think about what you can do to help us out:

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East Cobb residential real estate sales, Aug. 4-8, 2025

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Highland Pointe, East Cobb real estate sales
Highland Pointe

The following East Cobb residential real estate sales were compiled from agency reports and Cobb County property records.

They include the street address, subdivision name and sales price listed under their respective high school attendance zones:

Kell

None

Lassiter

2850 Forest Chase Drive, 30066 (Forest Chase) $546,000

2949 Summitop Court, 30066 (The Summit at Sweat Mountain): $1.04 million

4508 Club House Drive, 30066 (Highland Pointe): $749,000

2735 Jims Road, 30066 (Windsor Oaks)L $670,000

4370 Mabry Lane, 30075 (Springdale): $471,000

Marietta

1355 Pinebreeze Way, 30062 (East Worthington): $459,842

1003 Springdale Drive, 30062: $260,000

543 Harbor Lake Court, 30066 (Oak Harbor)L $235,900

Pope

2502 Tritt Springs Trace, 30062 (Post Oak Square): $640,000

2801 Holly Oaks Drive, 30062 (Holly Oaks): $608,000

Sprayberry

2195 Morgan Road, 30066: $1.075 million

2941 Foothill Trail, 30066 (Caribou Hills): $420,000

1807 North Chestnut Grove Drive, 30066 (North Chestnut Grove): $620,000

2240 Spalding Drive, 30062 (Sandy Plains Estates): $355,000

579 Chapman Drive, 30066 (Woodgate): $390,000

174 Vintage Club Circle, 30066 (Vintage Club Condos): $415,000

2074 Kinridge Trail, 30062 (Piedmont Bend): $432,000

2977 Lowe Trail, 30066 (Brookhaven): $280,000

166 Bluffington Way, 30066 (Bluffs at Bells Ferry): $425,451

2856 Colleton Drive, 30066 (Colleton Plantation): $465,000

3421 Fawn Trail, 30066 (Stags Run): $507,000

Walton

3609 Meadow Chase Drive, 30062 (Meadow Chase): $762,000

1813 Baldwin Farms Drive, 30068 (Baldwin Farms): $1.425 million

812 Burning Tree Court, 30067 (The Columns): $1.1 million

4052 Providence Road, 30062: $430,000

895 Fawn Way, 30068 (Fawn Ridge): $582,000

4316 Granby Way, 30062 (East Hampton): $1.3 million

1111 Waterford Green Point, 30068 (Waterford Green): $1.2 million

5236 Forest Brook Parkway, 30068 (Forest Brook): $695,000

4789 Crest Park Lane, 30068 (Lake Crest Estates): $1.413 million

Wheeler

3300 Windy Ridge Parkway, Unit 1212, 30339 (Horizon Condos): $482,500

301 Millbrook Farm Court, 30068 (Millbrook Farm): $640,000

622 Powers Ferry North, 30067 (Powers Ferry North): $257,000

2785 Old Sewell Road, 30062 (Sentinel Chase): $865,000

2219 Lisa Drive, 30067 (Sunvalley Estates): $350,000

912 Chipley Court, 30063 (Stoneoak Pointe): $780,000

521 Smithstone Road, 30067: $640.500

243 Indian Trail, 30068 (Sewell Manor): $321,000

431 Vinewood Point, 30068 (Indian Hills): $575,000

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East Cobb man reflects on Mt. Everest quest to ‘aim high’

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East Cobb man reflects on Mt. Everest quest to 'aim high'
Brian O’Malley (right) and “sherpa” Alex Clark at rest before O’Malley had to be rescued short of completing his Mt. Everest quest. All photos/video courtesy Brian O’Malley

Updating a story we’ve been chronicling since the spring, about longtime East Cobb resident Brian O’Malley’s attempt to scale Mt. Everest:

He and his team of expert “sherpas” made the climb in late April, after he made an initial trip with his brother-in-law in February.

O’Malley tied his quest to fundraising for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which provides mortgage-free homes for the families of fallen first responders, Gold Star families, and catastrophically injured veterans and first responders. (If you’d like to donate, you can do so by clicking here.)

After arriving in Nepal on April 15, O’Malley needed some medication, but it came with a very bad side effect—he lost his appetite and wasn’t eating much at all as the journey got underway

As the trek continued, O’Malley lost 20 pounds and “considerable strength.” Eventually he had to be rescued by one of his sherpas and hospitalized in Kathmandu before returning to the United States.

Speaking in mid-May, as he was still recovering at his daughter’s home in Norfolk, Va., O’Malley’s voice was cracking a bit as reflected on what he called “the experience of a lifetime.”

His quest to become the third-oldest man to scale the tallest point in the world came up short, but he said that the lessons he drew from the expedition were deeply profound.

“I’m glad I did it and I had the opportunity to do it,” O’Malley told East Cobb News.

O’Malley awaiting rescue after growing weak from not having an appetite.

He said he was grateful to be able to keep his promise to his family to survive—although he and his crew passed a sobering graveyard of Everest’s climbing victims along the way.

“If I had continued one more day, I may not be talking to you. I had no problem with the altitude. I just could not eat without feeling very nauseous.”

As O’Malley was walking to his rescue helicopter, he fell through an icy crevice on an unmarked trail and had to be pulled out by two of his sherpas.

Looking up from 22,000 feet, he could see Mt. Everest (elevation 29,031 feet), but knew that’s as far as he would get.

“The summit was right there, and I wanted to feel like I could get through it.”

As O’Malley admitted in the video below, however, when he was taken away, “it didn’t feel heroic, it felt hollow. Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is to stop—not because you’re weak, but because you know your limits.

“Anyone can be a sherpa to anybody at any time, to help people out, and at the same time to not be afraid to ask for help.”

A basecamp below the Everest peak.

O’Malley, who with his wife Shelley raised three children who graduated from Lassiter High School, said he wouldn’t say “never” to contemplating Everest again.

But he wants to spread the insights he gained from that experience to others, in speaking engagements and otherwise, “to help people go for their dreams and not let fear drive them.

“God gives us multiple lives and one death. It’s up to us in the days of our lives to spend them wisely.”

Again, if you want to support what was called the “Boomer Veterans and First Responders Mt Everest Summit Expedition 2025” and its continuing fundraising efforts for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, you can donate here.

O’Malley tells more of his story in an excellent video below; please click the middle button to view the photo slideshow before that.

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East Cobb Weather Outlook: A cooling respite from the heat

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East Cobb Weather Outlook: A cooling respite from the heat

Earlier this week we took a late afternoon break at East Cobb Park, which in the summer you know what that means: A very high chance of a thunderstorm breaking out.

And there was no doubt about that a few minutes upon arriving, when the skies opened up, and everyone there was quickly drenched.

The rain didn’t last long, and it felt great, after some stuffy conditions during the week.

But the late summer heat is back, and will be with us for most of next week, as sun, humidity and high temperatures are in the forecast.

High temperatures will be in the high 80s to low 90s through Thursday, according to the National Weather Service, with lows in the low 70s.

The conditions will also be dry, with a slight chance of thunderstorms. But the chances of more rain will increase toward the latter part of next week, with a 30 percent chance on Thursday and a 50 percent chance on Friday and Saturday.

Highs will be in the low to mid 80s during that stretch, and by next weekend, the rain is expected to clear, with highs again in the low to mid 80s.

For more local weather information, click here.

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Cobb Library Foundation donates $26K to Cobb library system

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Cobb Library Foundation donates $26K to Cobb library system
Cobb County Public Library System Director Keith Schuermann with Cobb Library Foundation vice president Nona Ley (L) and executive director Sandra Morris (R).

Submitted information and photo:

The Cobb Library Foundation today announced a donation of $26,200 to the Cobb County Public Library. The funds will be used to support the library’s list of projects, which are designed to enhance library services, technology, and programs for the community.

“We are incredibly grateful for the hard work and generosity of our community,” said Sandra Morris, Executive Director of the Cobb Library Foundation. “This donation is a direct result of the support we’ve received from our dedicated sponsors, event attendees, and library patrons. Their commitment to the Cobb County Public Library makes it possible for us to continue our mission of supporting literacy and lifelong learning.”

This year’s fundraising efforts and grants enabled us to:

  • Provide funds for the Summer Reading Program, which continues to inspire readers of all ages. The 2025 program was an outstanding success, with 4,291 participants logging an impressive 2.7 million minutes of reading and completing 6,409 activities, all while earning exciting prizes and recognition.
  • The Foundation provided funds for the Teen Book’d Program and the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten completion ceremonies.
  • Continue our support for building the bookmobile, which started as a Sprinter van and was transformed into a full mobile library with custom shelving, book carts, a vehicle wrap, a wheelchair lift, and—coming soon—a new awning.
  • Purchase new plants and materials for the North Cobb Regional Garden.
  • Purchase toys, equipment, and other materials through the Love Your Library Fundraiser.
  • Fund the Library Tech Ops Retreat in September, and the library’s full-day Staff In-service Development Day in December.

What we’ve accomplished thus far is truly inspiring,” Morris added. “Expanding creative spaces, bringing new technology to our branches, celebrating thousands of reading milestones, and building a fully equipped bookmobile. We’ve made incredible strides. The best part? We’re just getting started—2026 is full of exciting possibilities.”

Upcoming fundraisers include a Ghost Tour in September, a shopping day at Merchants Walk in November, and the Book for the Evening Gala in March 2026.

For more information about how to support the library, visit cobblibraryfoundation.org.

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Marietta Art in the Park festival returns Labor Day weekend

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Submitted information and photo:Marietta Art in the Park festival returns Labor Day weekend

For three days during Labor Day weekend, the Marietta square will come alive with 200+ fine artists, painted pots, chalk art, activities for children, live music and more at Marietta Art in the Park.

Cobb County’s only fine art festival, this 39th annual event is expected to draw more than 55,000 attendees. In addition to enjoying the festival features, visitors can browse numerous businesses, restaurants and cultural institutions located in the historic neighborhood. A portion of the proceeds from Art in the Park benefits the Marietta Business Association.

FINE ART & FINE ARTISTS     

More than 200 fine artists from throughout the country have been chosen to be part of the juried Art in the Park Artist Market. Showcasing work in numerous mediums, genres and styles, these artists are present and ready to discuss their work and creative process with festival attendees.

The Artist Market gives visitors the chance to view and purchase works in acrylic, oil and mixed media, as well as jewelry, pottery, glass, photography, metal, wood and digital media. There are styles and price points to appeal to every art lover on site. Art in the Park attendees can also admire the Painted Pots display, a long-time favorite feature that brings together stunning and sometimes surprising examples of ceramic craft.

STREET PAINTING WITH CHALK

Once again, Art in the Park has teamed up with the Marietta High School Visual Arts Program to host the Chalk Spot street art experience, presented by GPB. This year, Chalk Spot also welcomes chalk artist Jessica Gurell, senior graphic artist at GPB, who will be on-site Saturday, creating fleeting masterpieces featuring PBS Kids characters and Georgia and Marietta themes on the street.

Art in the Park will also include elevated chalk activities and games throughout the festival, such as hopscotch, an obstacle course or tic-tac-toe.

For participants, Chalk Spot offers the chance to make their mark on a 3-ft. square space on a closed street festival Saturday, Aug. 30. Using chalk, young artists will draw their own one-of-a-kind illustrations, which will remain on display throughout festival weekend (weather permitting). The fee to participate is $10, and pre-registration is not required. Participating children will receive a box of sidewalk chalk and two tickets to the North Georgia State Fair (while supplies last).

CHILDREN’S ART ALLEY

There are plenty of possibilities for younger kids to enjoy themselves at Art in the Park too, and the emphasis is on creativity! Families can head to Children’s Art Alley to find activities, games and crafts for kids, many of which offer free participation. Activities like face painting and sand art require a small fee.

FOOD & BEVERAGES

The historic square features a variety of local eateries that will be open during Art in the Park, and Glover Park Brewing will be on-site with ice cold brews on tap. Additional beverages, including wine, soft drinks and water will be sold throughout the festival.  

LIVE MUSIC

The gazebo in the center of Marietta Square comes alive throughout the three-day festival with complimentary performances from local singer/songwriters. Visitors are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs to sit back, relax and enjoy the tunes. Sponsored by the North Georgia State Fair.

TAKING A TOUR        

Attendees can make even more of their Art in the Park experience by visiting the shops, boutiques, museums and galleries throughout Marietta Square or taking a self-guided walking tour of the city’s historic district.

DATE & TIME

Saturday, Aug. 30 – Monday, Sept. 1, 2025

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, includes Children’s Art Alley

Chalk Spot – Saturday, Aug. 30 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.           

LOCATION

Glover Park on the Historic Marietta Square

50 N. Park Square, Marietta, GA 30060

Free Festival Admission

PARKING 

There are many options for Art in the Park parking. The Marietta City Hall Parking Deck (205 Lawrence Street) has free weekend and weekday evening parking, and free on-street parking is available around Marietta Square. Additional free and paid parking is available in nearby lots. Parking information is available here:

https://www.mariettaga.gov/1462/Downtown-Parking

FEES

Attendance at Marietta Art in the Park is free! Chalk Spot registration $10 on-site (supplies are limited).  

WHO 

Professionally managed, Art in the Park’s mission is to showcase fine art, support local downtown business and bring a positive economic impact to the historic square. Marietta Art in the Park is one of the oldest annual events in the city.

Marietta Art in the Park and Marietta Business Association awarded a $1,000 scholarship to a Marietta High School student toward a post-secondary degree in the arts.

AWARDS

Since 2007, Art in the Park has been honored as a Top 200 Event, ranked in the Top 100 in the nation in the Classic and Contemporary Craft Shows by Sunshine Artist Magazine.

Festival Map & More Information: http://www.artparkmarietta.com/
Festival hotline – 404-966-8497

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Atlanta Ballet 2025-26 season debuts with Balanchine pieces

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George Balanchine’s “Emeralds.” Photo by Hiromi Platt, Courtesy Cincinnati Ballet.

Submitted information and photo:

Atlanta Ballet welcomes its 2025-26 season with a watershed mixed-rep performance Balanchine & Peck, a series of three pieces showcasing the exquisite choreography of the renowned George Balanchine and Justin Peck. Premiering on September 12 -14, 2025 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Balanchine & Peck features the classic Emeralds, the award-winning In Creases and the time-honored Prodigal Son.

“As we kick off Atlanta Ballet’s 2025–26 season and my 10th season with the company, Balanchine & Peck is the perfect way to set the tone for the year, seamlessly combining three dynamic works from across ballet history,” said Gennadi Nedvigin, Atlanta Ballet Artistic Director. “It is a true honor for Atlanta Ballet to perform pieces that pay tribute to one of the most prolific ballet icons and one of the most in-demand choreographers of this generation. Prodigal Son holds deep personal meaning for me, it was the role that led to my promotion to principal dancer at San Francisco Ballet and continues to inspire my work as an artist and director.”

Choreographed by the “father of American ballet”, George Balanchine, and set music by Gabriel Fauré, Emeralds evokes the elegance and romanticism of France. The piece is a true reflection of the graceful Balanchine style performed by two leading couples, three soloists and a corps of ten women in shimmering, gemstone-inspired costumes. Balanchine was inspired to create Emeralds through his friendship with famed jeweler Claude Arpels.

Contrasting with the delicate fluidity of Emeralds, In Creases is an abstract ballet by Tony Award-winner and New York City Ballet’s resident choreographer, Justin Peck. In Creases, Peck’s first commissioned work for New York City Ballet following his time as a soloist, enchants audience members with innovative choreography that manipulates dancers’ bodies to form geometric shapes and complex structures. Acclaimed pianists Western-Li Summerton and Dr. Hyunjung Rachel Chung will share the stage with the eight dancers to perform ‘Four Movements for Two Pianos’ by Philip Glass.

The third work in this triple bill of masterworks is Prodigal Son by George Balanchine and music by Sergei Prokofiev. First premiering in 1929, the ballet tells a story of sin and redemption from the biblical parable and was Balanchine’s last work for Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes. A pivotal work in Artistic Director Gennadi Nedvigin’s own dance career, Prodigal Son was one of the first Balanchine works to capture international attention and has continued to impact audiences for more than 95 years.

For more information about Atlanta Ballet’s production of Balanchine & Peck and to purchase tickets, please visit https://www.atlantaballet.com/performances. Tickets can be purchased online at atlantaballet.com or in person at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre box office. For groups of twenty or more, please order tickets via the groupsales@atlantaballet.com email.

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Pope HS teacher named 2025 Cobb County Teacher of the Year

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Pope HS teacher named 2025 Cobb County Teacher of the Year
Amanda Dillard, her husband Josh and their sons with Cobb County School District Superintendent Chris Ragsdale. CCSD photos.

As a packed gym began to roar, officials from the Cobb County School District and her own family awaited away from the bleachers.

The rally at Pope High School on Tuesday morning turned into a celebration for one of their own. Amanda Dillard was named Cobb’s teacher of the year for 2025, two weeks after being named the district’s high school teacher of the year.

“It was a huge surprise to be named the District Teacher of the Year for Cobb County. I feel really honored and just really blessed overall for being recognized that way,” said Dillard, whose students also gave testimonials for her impact on their lives.

“My goal is to help my students be successful, not just here at Pope, but when they graduate and later on in life as well,” she said.

Benjamin, a sophomore, said Dillard helped him catch up academically, and wouldn’t let him give up.

“The times that I wasn’t feeling like I could do it, or if my brain just wasn’t clicking on whatever it was, she wouldn’t stop saying, ‘I can do this. You got this. I can help you,’ ” Benjamin said in a release issued by the Cobb school district.

Another Pope student, Landon, a senior, said that Dillard is “…a joy to see. . . . She always manages to find a way to make us want to do our best,” Landon explained.

Superintendent Chris Ragsdale and Cobb Board of Education members John Cristadoro, David Chastain and Brad Wheeler were in attendance at the pep rally, as were Dillard’s husband Josh, and their three sons.

As the district’s teacher of the year, Dillard will be honored at a special ceremony this fall at the Marietta Square, where her handprints will be cemented on the Walk of Fame.

That’s part of a celebration organized by the Cobb Chamber of Commerce called Give Our Schools a Hand. Her students will also join her for a memorable pep rally that honors Teachers of the Year across Cobb.

“Seeing Ms. Dillard with her students today reminds me why Cobb’s families love our schools. Our teachers really, actually care about our students, and, especially on days like today, it shows,” Chastain said.

Click the middle button to view the slideshow.

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