Month: January 2026

Mt. Bethel ES teacher recognized for mathematics excellence

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Mt. Bethel ES teacher recognized for mathematics excellence

Submitted information and photo:

As teachers in Cobb Schools continue to go above and beyond to provide students the best learning environment possible, one educator in particular stands out. 

Heather Mullins of Mount Bethel Elementary recently earned the Excellence in Teaching Mathematics award from the Georgia Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

Every year, one teacher from the elementary, middle, and high school levels is selected, and this year, Cobb Schools was proudly represented thanks to Mullins’s hard work. 

“One of Heather’s strengths is her ability to create a safe classroom environment where all students feel important and loved. She encourages active participation, critical thinking, and collaboration. Her passion for mathematics is infectious and has led other teachers across the county to have a joy for math when they visit her classroom, said the Georgia Council of Teachers in Mathematics.

To be eligible for this award, educators must have taught math for at least three years in Georgia, show evidence of growth in the teaching of mathematics, have a strong content foundation in mathematics appropriate for the teaching level, and be a member of the GCTM.

Due to her state achievement, Mullins was recognized by Cobb’s Board of Education during the December meeting.

With 13 awardees, Cobb Schools has the most recipients in the history of this award across elementary, middle, and high school, dating back to 2006 when the award first began. 

To learn more about the award and how to nominate a teacher for next year, click HERE for more information. 

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Republicans to continue leadership of Cobb school board

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Cobb school board chairman Randy Scamihorn
Randy Scamihorn

In predictable 4-3 partisan votes Tuesday, the Cobb Board of Education will once again have two Republican members in leadership roles in 2026.

During an organizational meeting that took less than 10 minues, the four GOP members voted for Randy Scamihorn to serve as chair and outgoing chair David Chastain to serve as vice chair.

The elections are required at the start of every calendar year and any board member can be nominated for either role. But the chair cannot serve successive terms.

Democratic board member Tre’ Hutchins was nominated for both posts by fellow Democratic member Becky Sayler, but he received only three votes each.

Hutchins nominated Republican Brad Wheeler to serve as chair, but Wheeler declined.

There was no discussion before the votes were cast. The board also approved the 2026 meeting calendar (click here).

Scamihorn, a Republican from Post 1 in Northwest Cobb, is a retired Cobb school teacher and administrator, and will be serving as chairman for the fifth time since he was first elected in 2012.

Republican John Cristadoro of Post 5 in East Cobb, who served as vice chair last year in his first year on the board, nominated Scamihorn to serve as chair but was not nominated for a leadership post.

In October, Cristadoro and his marketing company settled a lawsuit in Fulton County with a former client who alleged he misused $250,000 meant and advertising campaign.

Sayler had asked for a hearing to determine to determine if Cristadoro violated the school board’s code of ethics. But as chairman, Chastain said the board had no authority to take any action.

Scamihorn was last chairman in 2024, and has been a vocal and at times combative supporter of decisions made by the Republican majority and the leadership of Cobb County School District Superintendent Chris Ragsdale.

Two years ago, as he faced re-election, Scamihorn pushed back against critics who claimed the district wasn’t doing enough to tighten security in wake of the deadly shootings at Apalachee High School in Winder.

The chair controls the meetings and has the power, along with the superintendent, to unilaterally place items on the meeting agendas. Other board members must get a majority of their colleagues to approve agenda items.

That’s been a flashpoint of partisan contention on the school board in recent years. Republicans held a 6-1 majority until 2018, when their margins were reduced to 4-3.

Since then, the GOP members have voted to change board policies to prohibit board members from offering comment at meetings. Board members also have squabbled over school board redistricting and accreditation along the same partisan lines.

Last July, the board voted to discontinue airing public comment from citizens in a measure proposed by Ragsdale, who did not consult board members beforehand, and that prompted critics to complain was an attempt to quash dissenting views.

Chastain, from Post 4 in Northeast Cobb, is one of three board members—and the only Republican—whose terms expire at the end of this year.

He has indicated he will be seeking a fourth term. Michael Garza, a frequent critic of the board’s leadership, is the only Democrat thus far who has announced he will be running for that seat.

The school board will hold its first regular meetings of 2026 on Jan. 22.

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Cobb PARKS to debut Renaissance Faire event at The Art Place

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Submitted information:Cobb PARKS to debut Renaissance Faire event at The Art Place

Hear ye, hear ye! A grand decree, a historic affair for all to see! Mark thy calendars don’t be late, Cobb’s noble gathering – save the date!

We are excited to announce an inaugural Cobb County Public Services’  Renaissance Faire taking place on Saturday, March 28, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Mountain View campus in Marietta, Georgia. This new event is being presented by Cobb PARKS in collaboration with Cobb Libraries and Senior Services, and is designed as a fun, single-day family-friendly prelude to the Georgia Renaissance Festival in Fairburn.

Our goal is to bring the sights, sounds, and activities of the Renaissance era closer to home—right here in our own community. We envision an afternoon filled with demonstrations, performances, food, crafts, and interactive activities that showcase the spirit of the era.

Currently we are looking for a variety of vendors and artists for our artisan market, food court area, and demonstration section. If you would like to sell at our event, please follow the links below.

  • Applications will be juried and due to limited room available we will not be able to accept everyone.
  • Acceptance emails will be sent out in January, with the final cutoff date for entering an application on February 1st. Due to limited room, applications may close sooner.
  • The $10 application fee must be paid through CivicRec using the link below or paid in person at The Art Place. There is no booth fee.
  • No tents, chairs, or tables will be provided. There will be no power supply for artisan market vendors. If you are accepted, you are guaranteed a 10×10 spot only.
  • This event will occur rain or shine. Please plan accordingly.
  • Please read the vendor application and rules thoroughly. Noncompliance with Cobb County’s guidelines will not be tolerated.

If you are a local club, business, restaurant, or organization, we would love to have you! Reach out through our email info@artplacemarietta.org.

We hope you’ll join us in making this first Faire a unique and memorable event for all.

For vendor application forms, more information and updates, visit the Renaissance Faire website.

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Cobb to hold public meetings on proposed 2028 SPLOST

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Cobb to hold public meetings on proposed 2028 SPLOST
2022 SPLOST funding was used to resurface Robinson Road.

Cobb County government will next week begin a series of what it’s calling community engagement meetings for a proposed Special-Purpose Local-Option Sales Tax referendum later this year.

The first meeting on the proposed 2028 SPLOST takes place next Thursday, Jan. 15, from 6-8 p.m., at the Tim D. Lee Senior Center (3332 Sandy Plains Road) in East Cobb. Another is scheduled for Jan. 29, also from from 6-8 p.m., at the Fullers Recreation Center (3499 Robinson Road).

The meetings are a chance for the public to express their preferences on projects that would be funded with the tax.

The SPLOST collects sales-tax revenues for a variety of projects, including roads and transportation, public safety facilities, parks and libraries upgrades and maintenance and more.

A vote to extend the one-percent sales tax would take place later this year, with collections to begin in 2028. Cobb commissioners would have to vote to call for a referendum.

Last year, county officials asked commissioners to consider to have such a vote, although key details, such as a collection amount and a collection period, were not specified.

According to an overview, a proposed amount for the 2028 SPLOST would last for six years and collect $1.15 billion, if approved by voters.

That would be the largest SPLOST collection in any single period; the current Cobb 2022 SPLOST is expected to collect $750 million over six years.

A project list submitted by county department heads (you can read it here) includes several proposed transportation improvements in East Cobb:

  • Shallowford Road at McPherson Road ($3.5 million)
  • Canton Road at Canton Road Connector ($6 million)
  • Lower Roswell Road at Old Paper Mill Road ($1.5 million)
  • Johnson Ferry Road Corridor ($2.5 million)
  • Shaw Road Corridor ($2 million)

Here’s the full schedule for the upcoming community engagement meetings for the proposed 2028 SPLOST:

  • Jan. 15  – Tim D. Lee Senior Center, 3332 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta
  • Jan. 21 – Public Safety Training Center (Mableton, Austell, Powder Springs), 2435 East-West Connector, Austell
  • Jan. 22 – Public Safety Training Center (Mableton, Austell, Powder Springs), 2435 East-West Connector, Austell
  • Jan. 29  – Fullers Recreation Center, 3499 Robinson Road NE, Marietta
  • Feb. 5  – West Cobb Senior Center, 4915 Dallas Highway, Powder Springs
  • Feb. 12  – Acworth Community Center, 4361 Cherokee Street, Acworth
  • Feb. 25  – Smyrna Community Center, 1250 Powder Springs Street, Smyrna
  • March 5  – Cobb Civic Center, 548 South Marietta Parkway SE, Marietta
  • March 10  – Ben Robertson Community Center, 2753 Watts Drive, Kennesaw

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Registration begins for Cobb Senior Services winter classes

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Submitted information:

Kick off the new year with Cobb County Senior Services! Registration for winter classes opens 9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 12 and offers plenty of options for adults 55 and older to stay active, engaged, and connected this season.

The winter lineup includes fitness and wellness, arts, technology, and more. Whether you’re looking to try something new or continue a favorite hobby, there’s something for everyone.

Among the offerings are fitness and exercise classes, Spanish, Tai Chi, strength training and cardio, pilates and yoga, and more. 

The locations include the Tim D. Lee Senior Center in East Cobb; for details on classes there please click here.

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Keep Cobb Beautiful Christmas tree recycling event extended

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Keep Cobb Beautiful Christmas tree recycling begins Dec. 26

Submitted information:

Still have your Christmas tree? Keep Cobb Beautiful has extended its Bring One for the Chipper recycling event through Jan. 10 at various locations throughout Cobb County.

Before dropping off your tree, please remove all ornaments, lights, tinsel, and bases. Wreaths, garlands, and other items will not be accepted.

Drop-off locations (Home Depot):

  • 3355 Cobb Parkway, Acworth
  • 1200 East-West Connector, Austell
  • 2350 Dallas Highway, Marietta
  • 4101 Roswell Road NE, Marietta
  • 449 Roberts Court NW, Kennesaw
  • 3605 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta
  • 1062 Richard Sailors Parkway, Powder Springs
  • 1655 Shiloh Road, Kennesaw
  • 2450 Cumberland Parkway SE, Atlanta.

You can also drop your tree off at Fullers Park through Jan. 10 at 3499 Robinson Road, Marietta (lot down the street).

 

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Republican announces bid for Cobb Commission District 3

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Republican announces bid for Cobb Commission District 3

Updated Friday, Jan. 9, 5:30 p.m.:

Birrell told us Friday she is running again and is making her announcement official on Saturday.

Original story:

Chris Wasserman, the head of an Atlanta-based executive talent search firm, has announced he’s running for the District 3 seat on the Cobb Board of Commissioners.

Wasserman, a Republican who is seeking elected office for the first time, said he’s running to “change the direction” of the Democratic-led commission or else “homeowners will certainly face even more property tax increases and more poor County planning. I’m running because we need fresh leadership and new energy to fight for us.”

The District 3 seat, which includes most of East Cobb, has been held since 2010 by Republican JoAnn Birrell, who has not indicated whether she’ll seek re-election. Her fourth term ends at the end of 2026.

Wasserman is the first Republican to announce; Democrat Kevin Redmon announced last fall he would be seeking the District 3 post.

Party primaries in the 2026 elections are May 19. Wasserman’s campaign website can be found by clicking here.

Democrats hold a 3-2 majority on the Cobb commission, and both seats held by Republicans will be decided this year.

Wasserman is the CEO of Wasserman Talent Solutions, which in 2025 was included on the Forbes 5000 list of America’s Fastest Growing Companies. The firm also was the Cobb Chamber of Commerce’s top small business of the year in 2025,

Wasserman also is a member of the Northeast Cobb Business Association (where Birrell is a former co-president).

In a release issued Monday, Wasserman said that while he appreciate’s Birrell’s service, “it’s time for a change. No one should serve two decades in the same Commission seat. . . . I’m running because we need fresh leadership and new energy to fight for us.”

He said tax, fiscal and government spending issues are his man concern, and that “taxpayers should expect more from their county government for what we pay. I’ll rely on my business experience to bring about efficiency and cost savings. I’ll work to save taxpayer dollars and prevent tax increases.

“Many residents I have spoken with also say they have grown disconnected with the County Government. As our next Commissioner, I’ll restore communication with residents and improve technology to make public information more accessible and easier to find.”

Wasserman, who lives in District 3 with his wife Lily, is a graduate of Osborne High School. He earned a business degree from Georgia Tech with an emphasis on finance and information technology.

Among his community activities includes serving on the board of the East Cobb Area Council of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce. Wasserman also has served on the board of the SafePath Child Advocacy Center, The Center for Family Resources and the Tommy Nobis Center.

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East Cobb Biz Update: Craig Automotive closes after 26 years

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East Cobb Biz Update: Craig Automotive closes after 26 years

The owner of Craig Automotive on Lower Roswell Road announced over the weekend that the business has closed, after 26 years.

A social media message written on behalf of owner Tom Craig said that he is retiring, and that a sale will be held this weekend for all of the garage equipment.

The shop specialized in repairs and maintenance for Toyota and Lexus vehicles.

“It is with a heavy heart we are closing the doors to Craig Automotive. With that being said we also say cheers and hello retirement!,” the message stated.

“What started as a small shop grew into much more than a business—it became a place built on trust, hard work, and relationships that I will always be grateful for. I’ve had the privilege of working on your first cars, your family vehicles, and sometimes even your kids’ cars years later. That kind of loyalty and connection is something I never took for granted.”

The equipment sale will take place Friday from 10-3 and Saturday from 9-2 at Craig Automotive (4750 Lower Roswell Road). The items include balancers, a hydraulic press, frion machine, a brake lathe, office equipment and more, and interested buyers are asked to bring cash.

“Thank you for trusting me with your vehicles, for your conversations in the shop, for your referrals, and for allowing me to do what I love right here in East Cobb for over two decades,” Tom Craig’s message continued.

“This community supported me through good times, tough times, and everything in between, and I am deeply thankful for every customer who walked through my doors. While I may be closing this chapter, the memories, friendships, and pride in the work we did here will stay with me forever.

“From the bottom of my heart, thank you, East Cobb. It’s been an honor to serve you.”

There also will be a retirement party at the Craig Automotive location Friday, Jan. 16 from 4-7 p.m.

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Editor’s Note: Help spark ECN in 2026 with your support!

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Editor's Note: Help spark ECN in 2026 with your support!

We enjoyed a quiet and restful holiday season, and hope you did too. Thanks to so many of our readers for helping make 2025 a very successful one for East Cobb News—with your readership, staying in touch, and with your financial support.

We pride ourselves on being reader-focused, and we aim to continue that pledge as 2026 gets underway.

As we have mentioned before, we’re asking for continued reader support to help us keep giving you the local news that you love.

East Cobb News has become a go-to source for all kinds of news that offers more than a glimpse of what’s happening in East Cobb—they reveal quite a bit about what makes this community tick.

Whether it’s stories featuring our original reporting, or others in our community passing along news about local events and activities, East Cobb News is focused on what’s valued the most by readers here.

It’s our stock-in-trade, and for eight-plus years we’ve been building that community trust, one story at a time.

We do this without charging readers, because we believe reliable local news should be accessible to all.

Please donate today!

Local business advertising is how we pay most of the bills at East Cobb News, which like our competitors is a for-profit business.

These days, many news outlets, including those that are much bigger, also ask their readers for support.

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We believe high-quality local journalism is the bedrock of a healthy community.

In order to keep local news free, however, we need your help.

You rely on us to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible.

As a new year is underway, we’d like to ask you to take some time and think about what East Cobb News means to you. We’ve had some great traffic and engagement during the fall and end of last year, and we’re anticipating more of the same in 2026.

At East Cobb News, nobody else does what we do, every day.

It’s our passion and our pride to give you the local news that makes a difference in this community.

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East Cobb Real Estate: Sturbridge Heights home sells for $1M

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East Cobb Real Estate: Sturbridge Heights home sells for $1M

The following East Cobb residential real estate sales from Dec. 22-26, 2025, 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

4281 Keheley Lake Drive, 30066 (Lakewood Colony): $365,000

Lassiter

3334 Timber Hollow Court, 30062 (The Glenns): $395,000

Pope

4055 Cloister Drive, 30062 (Wedgewood): $825,000

2864 Saint Andrews Way, 30062 (Ashford Pines): $530,000

Sprayberry

2588 Alcovy Trail, 30066 (East Cobb Walk): $519,000

3416 Chastain Glen Lane, 30066 (Chastain Glen): $455,000

1234 Windburn Drive, 30066 (Shaw Woods): $399,000

1939 Redfield Drive, 30066 (East Cobb Walk): $607,500

Walton

608 Serramonte Drive, 30068 (Villas at Parkaire): $357,000

1961 Fields Pond Drive, 30068 (Fields Pond): $886,500

33 Old Stonemill Road, 30067 (Sturbridge Heights): $1.05 million

Wheeler

3064 Balearic Drive, 30067 (Valencia Hills): $380,000

3511 Brookview Drive, 30068 (Crossgate): $525,000

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Cobb school board to elect 2026 officers at Tuesday meeting

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Cobb school board won't probe Cristadoro's court settlement

The Cobb Board of Education has announced a special-called meeting for Tuesday to elect officers and set its meeting schedule for 2026.

The meeting takes place Tuesday at 1 p.m. in the board room of the Cobb County School District central office 514 Glover St., Marietta.

The meeting is open to the public but there is not a public comment session.

The board is required to vote on a chairman and vice chairman at the start of every calendar year; the chairman cannot serve in successive terms.

Board members nominate candidates to become officers; they must receive at least four votes.

In 2025 the chairman was David Chastain of Post 4 in Northeast Cobb and the vice chairman was John Cristadoro of Post 5 in East Cobb.

Both are Republicans, and as the party has held a 4-3 majority in recent years, the officers have been from the GOP

Democratic candidates have not been able to get any Republican member to cross parties to vote for officers in that period.

The 2026 elections include three board seats: Post 4, where Chastain is entering the last year of his third term; Post 2 in South Cobb, held by first-term Democrat Becky Sayler; and Post 6, in Smyrna-Vinings-Cumberland, held by first-term Democrat Nichelle Davis.

The first regularly scheduled Cobb school board meeting is Jan. 22.

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Student winners named in Cobb waterArt calendar contest

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Student winners named in Cobb waterArt Calendar contest

Seven students from middle schools in East Cobb are among those whose works have been included in the Cobb County Water System and the Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority’s 2026 waterArt calendar

Nearly 200 students submitted “original artwork judged on creativity, relevance, and artistic ability” for consideration for the calendar, which features themes relating to nature and water conservation.

Penelope Schroeder from Mabry Middle School was the cover art winner (her work is seen above) in the Cobb waterSmart waterArt calendar contest.

The other students from East Cobb whose works are featured in the calendar include Grace Valdivia and Raya Owings of Dickerson Middle School (the latter’s work is seen below); Olivia D’Anna of Mabry Middle School; Esme Etkin and Riley Pearson of East Cobb Middle School; and Angel So of Simpson Middle School.

You can download the calendar by clicking here; it includes water conservation tips from the water authorities.

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Let East Cobb News know what’s going on with your organization, or about any recognitions, to share with the community. We love to get photos and stories like the above, as well as calendar event listings and more.

We want to be the go-to source for all the many ways people in East Cobb are involved in the community.

It’s what we call The Power of Local, and we’d love for you to take part!

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

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Cobb Police appoints Maj. Darin Hull as Precinct 4 commander

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Darin Hull, a nearly 20-year veteran of the Cobb Police Department, has been named the commander of Precinct 4 in East Cobb.

Cobb Police appoints Maj. Darin Hull as Precinct 4 commander
Maj. Darin Hull

Hull, who most recently had been head of the Cobb Police Major Crimes Unit, began his duties in December succeeding Brian Batterton, who retired after 30 years of service.

Hull also has been commander of the Cobb Police Violent Incident Prevention and Early Response (VIPER) unit, supervised an organized crime and gang unit and has had roles with the DUI Task Force, Underwater Search and Recovery Team (USRT) and in a variety of positions in Precinct 1 in northwest Cobb.

From 2018-24, Hull also served in a part-time role as police coordinator with the Atlanta Braves and for events at Truist Park.

In 2023, Hull was part of a Cobb Police real-time crime response operation that tracked down a suspect in a shooting at a Midtown Atlanta medical office. The suspect was found near Truist Park and The Battery after an extensive manhunt facilitated by the use of advanced technology and criminal intelligence.

Before joining Cobb Police, Hull was an investigator with the Cobb Sheriff’s Office. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from American InterContinental University and a Master’s of Public Administration in emergency management from Jacksonville State University.

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Credit Union of Georgia gives Salvation Army a holiday lift

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Credit Union of Georgia gives Salvation Army a holiday lift

Submitted information and photo:

The Credit Union of Georgia is proud to close out the year on a high note, celebrating the generosity and community spirit of its employees during the 2025 holiday season.

During the month of December, Credit Union of Georgia employees volunteered their time to ring the bell for The Salvation Army at the Kroger on Cherokee Street in Kennesaw. Over the course of one week, 48 employees contributed nearly 100 volunteer hours, raising $3,611 to support The Salvation Army’s mission of serving those in need.

The impact was doubled thanks to the Credit Union of Georgia Community Foundation, which matched the funds raised dollar-for-dollar. As a result, a total of $7,222 was donated to The Salvation Army to support vital programs and services in the local community.

“We love ending the year on a positive note, and our employees truly embodied the spirit of ‘Doing the Most Good’ this holiday season,” said Amanda Arnold, Director of Community Outreach. “Their willingness to give their time and energy during such a busy time of year reflects the heart of who we are as a credit union.”

Credit Union of Georgia extends its sincere gratitude to every employee who volunteered, as well as to the Credit Union of Georgia Community Foundation for amplifying the impact of their efforts. This initiative highlights the credit union difference of people helping people, especially when it matters most.

For more information about Credit Union of Georgia and its community involvement, visit www.cuofga.org.

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Let East Cobb News know what your business or organization is doing in 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.

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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East Cobb restaurant update: Tin Lizzy’s closes at Avenue

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East Cobb restaurant update: Tin Lizzy's closes at Avenue

The crowded restaurant lineup at Avenue East Cobb has lost one of its longest-lasting members.

Tin Lizzy’s closed between Christmas and New Year’s, along with its sidekick, the Tin Pin Game Bar.

A reason wasn’t given on messages taped to the doors of both establishments, which said only that “our team members have opportunities at our other Tin Lizzy’s locations, and we hope you’ll visit us at Tin Lizzy’s Downtown, Midtown or Kennesaw soon.”

According to ToNeTo, which first reported the story on Wednesday, the Tin Lizzy’s parent company, Southern Proper Hospitality Group, also closed a Tin Lizzy’s location at Perimeter Mall at the same time.

Southern Proper, based on Powers Ferry Road in East Cobb, also closed its Chido and Padre’s and The Blind Pig concepts in Buckhead in the last week, the ToNeTo report said.

Prior to the most recent closings, Southern Proper had operated 14 restaurants in Atlanta and the Southeast.

The Tin Lizzy’s at Avenue East Cobb opened in 2016, and in early 2024, Tin Pin opened in the former Beni’s Cubano space that also had been part of Southern Proper.

Avenue’s restaurant openings most recently included the Luga Italian Eatery and Giulia Italian Bakery in the former Drift space.

Tenku, a Japanese concept based in Woodstock, is preparing to open at Avenue this spring in one of the “jewel box” structures that’s part of the retail center’s overhaul focusing on restaurant additions that also have included Round Trip Brewing Co. and Peach State Pizza.

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