Keeping it light and fun: The Atlanta-based Gate City Brass takes a bow after performing a Christmas concert last weekend.
Well, all that’s left now is to enjoy Christmas.
All the rushing around in busy stores and weaving through East Cobb traffic is over.
I don’t know why, but I’m like many who wait until the last minute to tie up loose ends.
But what’s been a festive season is reaching its peak.
While Christians will be celebrating the birth of Jesus on Wednesday, our Jewish neighbors will begin eight days of Hanukkah as well.
It’s a time for all of us, regardless of our religious views—or whether or not we even have them—to step back and take stock of the many blessings we have in our community.
I write this, on Christmas Eve, shortly before attending a candlelight service.
This day has been difficult personally for the last few years because it’s the day my mother began her final journey after a long battle with lung cancer.
But this was always her favorite time of year, and I know she would have enjoyed the Christmas concert at the church I’ve been attending.
Last Sunday, the Atlanta-based Gate City Brass performed at St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church, which has magnificent acoustics in its sanctuary.
For several years, they’ve had a group of members organize three or four concerts a year and invited the public. They asked me to help out with publicity, but for someone who can’t carry a tune across the room, I’ve enjoyed the experience immensely.
The talent and dedication it takes to learn to play music, and do it well, has always amazed me.
The Gate City Brass members arranged many of the Christmas classics that we’re familiar with, and I recorded a couple of those tunes for you to enjoy below.
They’re a bit different than what you may be used to hearing, but these renditions certainly added more fun and enjoyment for the Christmas season for me.
We’ll be taking off Christmas Day but will be back later in the week with more holiday coverage, including a Hanukkah Menorah lighting and other festivities to bid farewell to 2024 and say hello to the new year to come.
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Less than three years after its opening, the 101 Bagel Cafe has closed in East Cobb.
There’s a sign on the door acknowledging the closing and green mesh around what had been a small patio in the front of the location at 4811 Lower Roswell Road, at the intersection of Johnson Ferry Road.
The chain’s website still lists the East Cobb location, but a button for online ordering goes to the Milton/Crabapple location.
The closure in East Cobb follows other 101 Bagel Cafe closures in recent months, including on Akers Mill Road.
That was the original 101 Bagel Cafe opening in 2018. Rob Miller was the franchisee there and in East Cobb, and he also operated a location in Duluth that also has since closed.
The Dunwoody location also has closed, while the Milton location opened last year.
When Miller opened in East Cobb in April 2022, he said the New York-style concept—featuring Catskills water for boiling and then baking bagels—would find a niche in a competitive market.
He was going up against East Cobb mainstays Bagelicious and Goldbergs Bagel, not far away in the Johnson Ferry corridor.
101 Bagel Cafe’s closing follows the Flying Biscuit, which shuttered in September at Parkaire Landing, and as the Lower Roswell-Johnson Ferry area is preparing for major traffic improvements that have caused concerns for some business owners in the area.
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Two Home Depot locations and Fullers Park will be accepting Christmas trees for free recycling from Dec. 25-Jan. 4.
It’s part Keep Cobb Beautiful’s “Bring One for the Chipper” drive in which used trees are chipped into mulch and used for a variety of beautification projects around the county.
You can go by the Home Depot at Highland Plaza (3605 Sandy Plains Road) and Providence Square (4101 Roswell Road) or Fullers Park (3499 Robinson Road).
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The Cobb Sheriff’s Office said Monday that a woman being held at the Cobb Adult Detention Center has died.
In a release, sheriff’s spokesperson Randi Okray said that Clara Palmer was pronounced dead at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital Saturday evening.
Okray said she had been rushed there after being found unresponsive in her cell and that emergency responders began administering CPR.
The release said the Cobb County Medical Examiner’s Office will determine a cause of death.
According to a booking report, Palmer, 39, from Union City, had been held without bond since Dec. 11 on a variety of charges, including possessing a weapon while committing a crime, possession of methamphetamine, theft by receiving stolen property and tampering with evidence.
The release also included a message citing figures from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention that “an estimated 90% of individuals who die by suicide have a diagnosable mental health condition—most often depression or a substance use disorder—at the time of their death.
“The holidays can sometimes feel overwhelming. Sheriff Owens urges detainees and their loved ones to seek help if they need emotional support,” the release stated.
“Individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts or severe emotional distress can call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 9-8-8 or visit 988lifeline.org for free and confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
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Cobb Police have arrested one adult and two juveniles after a fight broke out at Cumberland Mall Sunday that was initially reported as an active shooter incident.
Officer Aaron Wilson said in a release that “several 911 calls described males wearing masks running through the mall and allegedly shooting” in the food court area early Sunday evening.
But police said a part-time security officer saw no victims or armed individuals when arriving at the scene, although officers from several law enforcement agencies responded.
The three individuals were taken into custody and “a blood trail was discovered in front of several stores, prompting further investigation” of a possible stabbing, Wilson said.
He said that surveillance video footage showed that a fistfight had broken out, and that one of the persons involved had been bleeding.
Wilson said that no firearms or knives were discovered and no hospitals reported any injuries related to the incident.
Cobb Police did not release the names of those who were arrested, but said that it “would like to assure the public that there is no ongoing threat to safety at Cumberland Mall.”
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Carolyn Strickland lives near her older son James in the Lake Fjord community; her other son also resides in the East Cobb area. ECN photo.
Up until about a year ago, Carolyn Strickland was living the life of a near fully independent senior citizen.
That’s when her sons thought it best that she not drive any longer.
“I went anywhere I wanted to go,” says the 99-year-old mother of two, grandmother of five and great-grandmother of six.
Not long after that, she started using a walker to get around the living quarters her oldest son converted out of his garage in East Cobb’s Lake Fjord neighborhood.
“I was walking real good too,” she says, recalling outings with James Strickland Jr., at East Cobb Park, where a tree is dedicated to the memory of her 72-year marriage to her late husband.
Days away from her 100th birthday, nearly 40 friends and family members gathered at Copeland’s restaurant in Kennesaw to pay tribute to Strickland, who comes from a family with a history of nonagenarians.
On Tuesday, she will spend her 100th birthday with her sons and extended family. There’s some leftover birthday cake to enjoy, from Thursday’s party.
All of her eight sisters—she’s the baby of the family—lived at least to the age of 92. So did her mother.
Her husband, James Sr., a veteran of World War II and the Korean War and a recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross, was 94 when he died in 2017.
“I don’t know,” she said when asked what she attributes to her longevity. “Everybody asks me that.”
James Jr. thinks it’s in part due to the healthy food she cooked up for the family in Enterprise, Ala., where the Strickland family lived for 50 years.
“Turnip greens, cooked cabbage and spinach,” he says, admitting those are foods he can’t stand.
Carolyn and James Strickland Sr. when he was stationed in Hawaii after World War II. Strickland family photo.
“I’ll have to find another key to longevity,” says James, 75, a Georgia Tech graduate who sold computer systems for IBM and other technology companies.
Born Carolyn Bell Swain in Hazlehurst, Ga., on Dec. 24, 1924, she is the youngest of nine daughters.
Her father was a successful tobacco farmer in rural Jeff Davis County, but he died when she was eight.
Her mother (ironically named Mary Etta) moved the family into town for the rest of Carolyn’s childhood. After college, in the years following World War II, Carolyn followed some of her sisters to Atlanta.
It was there that she met a young Navy dive bomber, James Strickland, whose brother lived in her apartment building near what is now Pershing Point.
They married in 1946, as James was continuing a military career that included service in three branches.
Carolyn and her young sons while the family was stationed in North Carolina. Strickland family photo.
The following year, she boarded a ship in Norfolk, Va., with other military wives to visit their husbands stationed in Hawaii, traveling through the Panama Canal and then to San Francisco.
“We lived there two years; it was wonderful,” she said of her time in Hawaii. “It was so great. I was innocent and young.
“Then they gave us orders to return” stateside.
Carolyn gave birth to James and Steven while the family was stationed in North Carolina. James Sr. flew helicopters in Korea for the Army and the Marines, then was dispatched to Fort Rucker, Ala., close to the Florida panhandle, where the family relocated.
In Enterprise, James Sr. eventually became a helicopter pilot trainer. Carolyn settled in with family and community life. She helped found a Methodist church and served in lay leadership and even sang in the choir.
“Mom’s mottos are: Clean it, paint it, or throw it away, do it now, and how much is it?” James Jr. said.
Small-town life suited them well. Enterprise was like a “company” town for Fort Rucker (now named Fort Novosel). After her sons were in school, she worked as an administrative assistant to a school principal.
“We liked it and the children liked it,” she said of life there.
“Most everybody in town worked there,” James Jr. recalls. “We were all at the same economic level. You knew just everybody in town. We all knew each other.”
James Jr. stayed in metro Atlanta, and Steven soon followed, after a missionary career. He and his family reside in the Sprayberry High School area.
Carolyn, at 91, driving in the 2016 EAST COBBER parade, with her husband as a passenger, the year before he died. Strickland family photo.
In 2011, they convinced their parents to move to East Cobb. A few years earlier, James Sr. and Carolyn were enjoying their 61st anniversary dinner at the Georgian Terrace Hotel in Midtown when James Jr. persuaded the marquee manager at the Fox Theatre across the street to put their name up on the electronic sign.
They marked another anniversary by sponsoring a tree near the front parking lot at East Cobb Park, and have bricks with their names at The Strand Theatre in Marietta and Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta.
The Stricklands also observed their 70th anniversary by participating in the 2016 EAST COBBER parade. Carolyn, who was 91, drove with her husband as a passenger in their Cadillac convertible.
She still enjoys outings with her son eating out—”I have an excellent appetite,” she says—and playing bridge with several senior women, sometimes at Indian Hills Country Club.
Carolyn and James Sr. as the Fox Theatre marquee celebrates their 61st anniversary in 2007. Strickland family photo.
She regularly gets her hair and nails done, and admits that while she appreciates her sons waiting on her, “I really like to do my own thing.”
“My health is still good,” Carolyn says, elaborating on her many years. “I don’t really have an answer for it.”
A few minutes later, the phone rings. A neighbor is calling.
“This is the birthday lady. How are you?”
More company is expected soon, and she reflects yet again on the keys to having a long life.
“Good, clean living,” James Jr. says.
She says there really are no secrets at all.
“All I can tell you is I’ve had a good life. I haven’t had much of anything to worry about.”
In September, Carolyn and James. Jr. walking at East Cobb Park, where a tree behind them is dedicated to her 72-year marriage. Strickland family photo.
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Two synagogues in East Cobb will be having public Menorah lighting events to celebrate Hanukkah.
This year, Hanukkah is being observed from Dec. 25 through Jan. 2.
On Wednesday, Dec. 25, Congregation Etz Chaim will be holding a Menorah lighting event at East Cobb Park (3322 Roswell Road) starting at 5:55 p.m.
On Sunday, Dec. 29, Chabad of Cobb will be sponsoring a Menorah lighting at Avenue East Cobb (4475 Roswell Road) starting at 5:30 p.m. There will be family activities, music, treats, and the gelt drop, courtesy of the Cobb Fire Department.
Here are several other Menorah lighting celebrations around the county, as compiled by Cobb government:
Mega Chanukah Menorah Lighting event at The Battery Atlanta, 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 26 on the green. Join the Atlanta community for the Mega Chanukah Event. Enjoy Chanukah treats, fun crafts for kids, face painting, the lighting of a giant menorah, and a special guest performance for all ages to enjoy.
Light up the night with the City of Kennesaw and Chabad of Kennesaw at the Kennesaw menorah lighting ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 26, at 5 p.m. at the City Hall Plaza, 2529 J.O. Stephenson Avenue, Kennesaw.
Chanukah Giant Gelt Drop – 5:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 30 at Brawner Hall, 3180 Atlanta Road SE, Smyrna. Chocolate gelt (chocolate coins) will rain down from the sky, and there will be face paint, balloons, music, and Chanukah treats. RSVP: chabadsmyrnavinings.com/geltdrop
Acworth invites everyone to Doyal Hill Park for the annual Menorah Lighting Ceremony on Monday, Dec. 30, at 6 p.m. Rabbi Zalman Charytan from the Chabad Jewish Center will officiate the lighting with Mayor Tommy Allegood, with a reception at the Rosenwald School to follow.
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The organization formerly known as Connecting Cobb Veterans is proud to announce its official rebranding to Connecting Georgia Veterans. This exciting transition reflects the organization’s commitment to broadening its impact and serving veterans throughout the entire state of Georgia.
Since its inception, Connecting Cobb Veterans has been a vital resource for veterans in Cobb County, offering a range of services, including career assistance, mental health support, and community-building initiatives. By expanding its focus and adopting the name Connecting Georgia Veterans, the organization aims to extend these services to a wider audience, ensuring that veterans from all corners of the state have access to the support they need to thrive.
Quote from Tyler Bowser, Program Director: “This rebranding marks a significant milestone for our organization. While we will always honor our roots in Cobb County, we recognize the growing demand for statewide support. Connecting Georgia Veterans represents our dedication to serving as a trusted partner and resource for all veterans across Georgia. Together, we can create stronger, more connected communities that honor and uplift those who have served our country.”
The transition includes a refreshed logo, updated branding materials, and a new website designed to provide easy access to resources, events, and support services for Georgia veterans. The organization will also be launching statewide outreach initiatives to connect with veterans and their families in underserved areas.
Connecting Georgia Veterans will continue to collaborate with local governments, nonprofits, and businesses to offer programs and services tailored to the unique needs of veterans. By fostering these partnerships, the organization ensures that every veteran has the tools and opportunities they need to lead fulfilling lives.
To learn more about Connecting Georgia Veterans and its mission, please visit www.cgvets.org or contact Tyler Bowser at 470-479-1551.
About Connecting Georgia Veterans Connecting Georgia Veterans is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting veterans and their families across the state of Georgia. Through a comprehensive range of programs, the organization addresses VA benefits, mental health, housing, and community engagement, ensuring that veterans receive the resources and benefits they deserve.
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Three candidates who ran in the Cobb Commission District 2 election in May that was later invalidated in court have qualified to run in a special election for the same seat in February.
They include former Cobb Board of Education member Jaha Howard, who won that primary, as well as former State Rep. Erick Allen and Taniesha Whorton, who lost to Howard in a runoff.
All three qualified this week for the special election in the Democratic primary to culminate on Feb. 11.
A fourth Democrat also has qualified.
Tracy Stevenson, who lives in the East Cobb area and has been a frequent critic of the current commission’s Democratic majority, announced his candidacy on Friday,
A retired general contractor now residing in the city of Marietta, Stevenson said he will be stressing “fiscal responsibility and transparency” in his campaign, and pointed to the Cobb government budget as a pressing concern.
“Our Cobb county General budget has risen almost 30% in the last 3 budget cycles and that is unsustainable.”
He also opposed the Cobb transit tax referendum that was defeated in November.
Friday was the last day for qualifying.
District 2 contains only small portions of the East Cobb area.
Special elections for District 2 and District 4 were ordered in July by a Cobb Superior Court judge who threw out the May primaries. Judge Kellie Hill said the electoral maps used in those elections violated the Georgia Constitution because they were not approved by the legislature.
The commission’s Democrats approved maps under “home rule” auspices that retained some of District 2 in the East Cobb area in a ploy to keep Commissioner Jerica Richardson in her seat.
The Cobb Board of Elections used those maps for the primaries, but Hill said only the legislature can conduct redistricting.
Hill made the ruling after Alicia Adams filed a complaint for being disqualified for the District 2 race by the elections board, saying she didn’t live within its boundaries.
Adams is the only Republican to qualify for the special election in District 2, which contains small portions of the East Cobb area, mainly around Marietta city limits and the parts of the Powers Ferry Road area.
Richardson, who lives off Post Oak Tritt Road, ran unsuccessfully for the 6th Congressional District seat but continues to serve on the commission.
Her colleagues voted in September to vacate the District 2 seat, and Richardson is appealing that decision in Cobb Superior Court.
Most of East Cobb is in District 3, represented by Republican JoAnn Birrell, whose term expires in 2026.
In District 4 in South Cobb, Democratic commissioner Monique Sheffield qualified, as did Yashica Mitchell, who also ran in the 2024 primary that Sheffield won handily.
Two Republicans have qualified, Julien Grhas and Matthew Hardwick.
Both District 2 and District 4 are considered Democratic-friendly seats. Democrats have a 3-2 majority.
The general election for both commission seats is in April.
It’s unclear whether Richardson and Sheffield will be able to continue serving after their terms expire on Dec. 31.
Richardson’s appeal was heard in Cobb Superior Court Friday but no ruling was issued.
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The no-kill cat shelter showcased its work during the campaign by mounting a live feed of its kitten room and giving randomly selected donors the opportunity to name a kitten of their choice.
More than $36 million was raised across the state for a variety of non-profits during GAgives, “from animal welfare to healthcare, youth sports, parks and greenspaces, environmental stewardship, and so much more,” according to a release.
There were more than 180,000 separate donations, and other beneficiaries included the Tommy Nobis Center in Cobb County.
According to a GCN release, “many nonprofits used GAgives on GivingTuesday to engage donors, showing that gifts of any size can make an impact when combined with online outreach—and with official GAgives prizes, awarding funds based on the number of donations (rather than dollars raised) across a dozen different ‘power hours,’ golden ticket contests, and leaderboard competitions.”
Good Mews said in a social media posting its goal was to raise $150,000.
“From sharing posts to rallying support, encouraging donations, and spreading the word far and wide, your efforts have made an immeasurable impact. You turned compassion into action and showed just how powerful our Good Mews community truly is.
“We cannot thank you enough for being part of our community and helping those who need it most.”
GAgives on GivingTuesday launched in 2012 and has raised $155.97 million since then.
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Not long after successfully relocating the Power-Jackson Cabin for restoration, the Cobb Landmarks historic preservation non-profit organization is attempting to do the same with the McAfee House.
It’s an 1840s-era home on Bells Ferry Road at Ernest Barrett Parkway/Piedmont Road that was the headquarters for a Union general during the Civil War.
Like the Power-Jackson Cabin, which recently moved from Post Oak Tritt Road to Hyde Farm in East Cobb, the McAfee House sits on land that was involved in eventually abandoned rezoning requests.
Cobb Landmarks said in a message on Thursday that the property owner has transferred the house to Cobb Landmarks, which wants to sell it in turn for $1 “to an individual or organization willing to relocate it to a new site.”
The organization said it is accepting applications from individuals and organizations interested in relocating and restoring the house.
“In order to be considered, interested parties must complete an online questionnaire. Applications will be evaluated by a committee consisting of Cobb Landmarks trustees, realtors, and construction and engineering professionals.”
Cobb Landmarks, which has been interested in restoring the building since 2019, said all applications must be received by Jan. 17, 2025, and the applicant will be notified by Jan. 31. The timeline for relocating the building will be May 15.
The 1.98 acres is owned by the Medford Family Limited Partnership of Blairsville and has an appraised value of nearly $750,000.
In 2023, the property was subject to a rezoning case that would have converted its use for a car wash, but the prospective owner withdrew due to other obligations.
Earlier this year, Cobb Landmarks raised $70,000 to have the Power-Jackson Cabin moved from Post Oak Tritt Road. Last week, Cobb commissioners approved spending nearly $350,000 to have the 1840s-era cabin restored at Hyde Farm.
The Cobb Landmarks message Thursday said that “hose interested in seeing the McAfee House must first secure permission from Cobb Landmarks as the property is still privately owned. To protect the property and its historical significance, unauthorized entry is strictly prohibited and may result in legal action by the property owner.”
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Peach Bowl, Inc. and the College Football Playoff Foundation teamed up as part of their Extra Yard Makeover initiative to give Sawyer Road Elementary School’s Media Center and Library a new makeover.
Representatives from both organizations revealed the new space at a ribbon cutting ceremony, where students and teachers got to see the newly renovated amenities for the very first time.
This was part of a $200,000 partnership between Peach Bowl, Inc. and the CFP Foundation to assist eight local schools over the next year that are in dire need of facility upgrades in order to provide their students with the best learning environments possible.
Peach Bowl, Inc. is college football’s most charitable bowl organization, having donated more than $65 million to organizations in need since 2002. One of the Bowl’s philanthropic areas of emphasis is to give back to the community through education.
Attendees/Speakers included:
Gary Stokan, President and CEO, Peach Bowl, Inc.
Margaret Frank, Partnerships Manager, CFP Foundation
Jeremy Westbrooks, School Specialty
Susan Graves, Sawyer Road Elementary School Principal
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The Atlanta-based Gate City Brass performs Sunday at St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church.
The last weekend before Christmas brings to a close a number of related events in the East Cobb area.
On Friday and Saturday, Wesley Chapel UMC is having its long-standing Drive-Thru Nativity Scene from 7-9.
The birth of Christ will be played out with live actors and animals at the church (4495 Sandy Plains Road). It’s free and open to the public.
On Saturday, the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center (2051 Lower Roswell Road) will hold its annual Winter Festival from 10-5. There will be an artisanal market for last-dash holiday shopping, photos with Santa, an ugly sweater contest, music and more. Admission is free.
Christmas-themed music will be featured Sunday at a concert by the Atlanta-based Gate City Brass. They’ll be performing at 3 p.m. at St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church (571 Holt Road) as part of its Friends of Music concert series. Admission is free but donations will be accepted.
On Monday night, two days before Christmas, a Holiday Cabaret takes place starting at 7 p.m at The Art Place (3330 Sandy Plains Road). It’s organized by the Mountain View Arts Alliance, will all types of performers taking the stage. A silent auction takes place at the intermission, with 50 percent of the proceeds going to the Best Friends Animal Society.
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
Commissioner Richardson’s fall capstone internship program has come to a close. These young, bright minds worked alongside our office to gain insight and and contribute to some strategic initiatives. The fall capstone projects were:
Bridge to success
Master planning/affordable housing
Taxpayer’s receipt
Library of the future
Renter’s bill of rights
Water quality technologies
Little Brazil community center
ARTS triangle
Esports conference
The interns showcased their projects to the community on Dec. 16. A huge thank you to our fall interns for their hard work on Cobb community projects.
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The annual Cobb Tank competition returned in 2024 with all the excitement and energy of a high-stakes reality show. This educator-focused game show provided an inspiring look at how Cobb teachers are innovating instruction. This year’s showcase brought educators from across the District together in a celebration of ingenuity and dedication as educators pitched their most imaginative and impactful ideas for transforming student learning experiences.
Nine teams of finalists stepped into “The Cobb Tank” and presented their dreams to the “Sharks.” These ideas ranged from hands-on STEM initiatives to health-focused classroom transformations, embodying the bold spirit of innovation that defines the Cobb County School District. In a testament to their quality and potential, all nine proposals received the funding they requested, with grants totaling $68,000.
The funded projects offer a glimpse into the extraordinary creativity of Cobb educators. Imagine a classroom where physical activity and academic focus intertwine, with students pedaling on stationary bikes or using Desk Cycles while solving math problems or reading literature. This innovative approach keeps minds sharp and promotes health and engagement throughout the school day.
Elsewhere, the cutting edge of science comes alive as middle school students dive into the world of robotics, programming robot dogs to solve real-world challenges. High school students, meanwhile, explore synthetic biology through a project that empowers them to address pressing global issues with creativity and scientific rigor. These initiatives teach technical skills, spark curiosity, and inspire future careers in STEM fields.
For the youngest learners, innovation takes the form of a sensory gym designed to support children with developmental delays and sensory challenges. In this specially crafted environment, children explore, play, and build essential skills in engaging and therapeutic ways. Another project offers the wonder of the outdoors through a portable learning lab, where elementary students pair hands-on scientific discovery with literacy and writing, weaving together multiple disciplines in a seamless and exciting way.
The commitment to literacy and communication shines brightly in projects aimed at empowering students to find their voices. One initiative provides resources for English language learners, equipping teachers with tools to create inclusive and collaborative classrooms. Another blends literacy with STEM lessons, encouraging students to think critically and connect their learning across subjects.
Cobb Tank 2024 Winning Proposals:
Barber Middle School
Who Let the Dogs Out
Brumby Elementary School
Voices in Action: Cultivating Confident Communicators
Griffin Middle School
Peddling our Way to Better Health and Academics at Griffin Middle School!
Kemp Elementary School
Reading into STEM: Engaging Minds through Literacy-Integrated STEM Lessons
Nicholson Elementary School
Portable Learning Lab
Osborne High School
The Future of PE
South Cobb Early Learning Center
Sensory Gym for Early Learners
South Cobb High School
We Are THE Eagle SynBio Squad
Wheeler High School
Confidence Course Wheeler / Walton Air Force JROTC
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Mt. Bethel Christian Academy wants to relocate a swimming pool and prepare to build permanent classroom buildings.
Cobb commissioners on Tuesday approved a master plan at the Mt. Bethel Christian Academy upper campus on Post Oak Tritt Road after making a variety of site plan revisions.
The 5-0 vote came after a lengthy presentation, discussions and a motion to approve by Commissioner JoAnn Birrell of District 3 in East Cobb (you can read the application filings here).
The changes include a second access point on Post Oak Tritt and agreements by the private school to construct an indoor swimming pool and limits on evening activities.
Mt. Bethel Christian Academy proposed those and other stipulations in a Dec. 11 letter to the Cobb Zoning Office.
Commissioners voted last month to delay the application after complaints from neighbors about noise and the East Cobb Civic Association in regard to modular classrooms that have been at the site for more than a decade.
Mt. Bethel Christian Academy has operated a high school there since 2014 and will be adding middle school grades.
The master plan, which was urged by Birrell, would include expanded parking on the east side of the 33-acre site, which is located just west of Holly Springs Road.
The school was started by Mt. Bethel Church in 1998 but became a separate entity in 2021, right before before the church’s departure from the United Methodist Church. Since then, the academy has leased space from the church for Grades K-8 on its grounds on Lower Roswell Road.
But last year, Mt. Bethel Church decided to terminate the school’s lease by 2028, prompting the academy to find new facilities.
MBCA attorney Kevin Moore said his client had agreed to the changes, which come with some considerable expenses.
Chief among them is the enclosure of the swimming pool over a covered outdoor facility and a 25-foot wall due to noise complaints from a nearby subdivision.
The pool will be relocated to near the back of the property, adjoining a football/soccer field. In addition, tennis courts would be moved to the same area, and will include protective padding to help reduce noise issues.
At last month’s zoning hearing, a resident on the adjacent Alberta Drive said increased sports activities at the school have resulted in continuing noise concerns.
Birrell said being able to walk the property and meet with nearby residents in the past month “has been very helpful” in proposing changes.
The ECCA was upset that the master plan didn’t include more specific details about permanent classrooms.
Moore said in response to a question from Birrell that the master plan includes an outline of future buildings for academic activities, including the possibility of an auditorium.
“This is as specific as we can get it at this point,” Moore said.
Commissioners would need to approve those buildings when they are proposed; among the stipulations approved Tuesday include a height limit of 35 feet, per an ECCA request, and that the modular structures would be removed.
Other stipulations prohibit lighting at the football field and all athletic activities must be related to the school.
“I do understand the neighbors’ concerns, but there have been a lot of concessions that have been put on Mt. Bethel to alleviate a lot of those concerns regarding noise and buffers,” Birrell said.
“The way this is outlined now with revisions that both parties have agreed to, we can approve this as it is,” she added, saying final site plans and elevations and landscape plans, among other modifications, have to come back for final approval with citizen and county reviews.
Birrell’s motion also limited evening lighting on the campus to 10 p.m. and maintains an 85-foot buffer along the back line of the property.
Also on Tuesday, commissioners approved by a 5-0 vote a site plan change at the former Sunrise of East Cobb site on Johnson Ferry Road to permit a senior independent living facility.
Hammocks at East Cobb is proposing a townhome-type concept with 72 separate living units, including six detached cottages along Johnson Ferry Road, as well as a number of amenities.
In another East Cobb case, commissioners approved a site plan change, also by a 5-0 vote, to allow a Kiddie Academy day care on Gordy Parkway
The 1.42-acre tract, which is right behind the Highland Plaza Shopping Center and near the intersection of Sandy Plains Road, is the last parcel of undeveloped land at that mixed-use complex.
The ECCA asked for the case to be held until Cobb DOT could review traffic study examining access concerns at the site.
But Birrell made a motion to approve with a number of stipulations, including a 20-foot landscape buffer next to the Highland Terrace subdivision.
Access to the day care via Gordy Parkway also will be limited to right-in, right-out.
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
Cobb Police said Tuesday morning that a school bus was hit by another vehicle on Roswell Road in East Cobb but that there were no injuries.
Police said the crash occurred as the bus was attempting a left turn in the eastbound lane of Roswell Road onto Providence Road West.
That’s close to Walton High School and Dodgen Middle School.
Police said all lanes of traffic affect by the crash have been reopened.
A Cobb County School District spokesperson said that “a Walton bus was involved in an accident when a car made contact with the rear of the bus. We are grateful for the quick response of first responders who arrived to provide support and ensure everyone was okay. Fortunately, students were then able to be transported to school on another bus.”
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up and you’re good to go!
The holiday season is upon us, and we want to invite all of you to MVAA’s 2024 Holiday Cabaret!
Performers of all ages and types will be performing holiday pieces throughout the evening, and at intermission, attendees are encouraged to check out the silent auction out front, where 50% of the proceeds will go to the Best Friends Animal Society!
If you or someone you know would like a chance to PERFORM in this cabaret, they can sign up at the link in our bio! Registration to perform is $10 per artist.
We look forward to celebrating the holiday season with you!
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
