Wendy Parker, Author at East Cobb News

Commissioner Richardson lays out priorities for District 2

April 13, 2021 4:15 PM by Wendy Parker

Commissioner Richardson priorities — *Commissioner Jerica Richardson held her first town hall in virtual format and with a selected audience at the Sewell Mill Library on April 6.*

During a town hall address last week, Cobb Commissioner Jerica Richardson laid out her priorities for the rest of 2021 and provided constituents with a review of her first three months in office.

Richardson is a Democrat elected in November to succeed Bob Ott in representing District 2, which includes some of East Cobb, as well as parts of Smyrna and the Cumberland-Vinings area.

She conducted a “priorities tour” since taking office, and came up with nine priorities. The details can be found here, and they include the following:

Continued response to the COVID-19 pandemic;
Improving salary, benefits and other conditions for public safety personnel;
fiscal responsibility in the upcoming budget process;
an environmental agenda with an “environmental justice agreement” and expansion of Keep Cobb Beautiful programs;
expanding mobility options, including sidewalk improvements and repaving projects;
planning and housing affordability, especially workforce housing;
a youth, diversity and inclusion program that includes the creation of a youth board of commissioners and the establishment of a “Little Brazil” community initiative;
revitalizing libraries to position them as economic development centers.

She also said that a number of community chats will be scheduled this year to focus on other issues mentioned by constituents, including major zoning decisions, short-term rentals, an increase in violent crime, stormwater management, gun safety and code enforcement.

The topic of East Cobb Cityhood did not come up during the town hall meeting. A renewed effort to incorporate a portion of East Cobb includes legislation that will be considered in 2022, after a previous effort fizzled in 2019.

During her campaign, Richardson said she was opposed to East Cobb Cityhood (as was Fitz Johnson, her Republican opponent).

She recently told East Cobb News that during her priorities tour, she has continued to hear a lot of opposition.

“There’s just not a lot of support for this,” she said.

You can watch a replay of Richardson’s town hall meeting by clicking here.

Crime Victims’ Rights Week events include Cobb observations

April 13, 2021 12:16 PM by Wendy Parker

Submitted information: Crime Victims Rights Week

Cobb District Attorney Flynn D. Broady, Jr. announces that several events are planned to mark National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 18-24. This year’s theme is “Support Victims. Build Trust. Engage Communities.”

“Victims suffer emotionally, physically, and financially from the criminal acts committed against them. As a community and as service providers, we have an obligation to recognize the impact of crime on victims and to provide resources and assistance to help victims heal,” said Kim McCoy, Director of the Victim Witness Assistance Unit in the Cobb DA’s Office. “This week of recognition and these planned events reinforce the commitment of this office to serve crime victims with dignity, respect, and honor and to engage community partners in the continuation of victim services, to build trust, and to engage the entire community in these efforts.”

This year marks the 40th anniversary of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. First designated by President Ronald Reagan in 1981, National Crime Victims’ Rights Week increases public awareness of, and knowledge about the wide range of rights and services available to people who have been victimized by crime.

Local Crime Victims’ Rights Week events will include:

April 13 – The Cobb Board of Commissioners will present a proclamation to mark Cobb County Crime Victims’ Rights Week during the Commission’s 9 a.m. meeting at 100 Cherokee St. in Marietta. Meetings are shown on cable TV; on the county’s website, www.cobbcounty.org; and on the Cobb County Government YouTube channel.

April 18 – The Crime Victims Advocacy Council and First Baptist Church, Decatur, will host the 31st Annual Homicide Memorial, from 3-5 p.m. outside at the church, 308 Clairemont Ave., Decatur. Please RSVP at www.cvaconline.org. DA Broady will be speaking at this event.

April 22, 1 p.m. – Georgia’s Criminal Justice Coordinating Council and partner agencies will host a virtual ceremony. Visit Georgia.cjcc.gov by April 15 to register.

April 24 – Premiere of “Run for Justice,” a virtual 5K run/walk fund-raiser to benefit liveSAFE Resources, Inc. and SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center. This year, participation is limited to our office and partner agencies, though our goal is to make this is annual public event beginning in 2022.

In addition, Cobb recently embarked on a multi-year project to establish a Family Justice Center to better serve victims of domestic and interpersonal family violence, child and elder abuse, and human trafficking. Project partners will attend the 21st Annual International Family Justice Center Conference, hosted by the Alliance for Hope.

Cobb’s FJC Site Coordinator TaNesha McAuley is also conducting several Listening Tours with community partners to learn about the services they provide to victims, and providing education on the FJC model.

The Listening Tour will ultimately expand into our Cobb communities as residents are invited to be part of the planning, development, and implementation of Cobb’s FJC. For FJC updates, visit www.cobbda.com or email fjccobb@cobbcounty.org.

Residents can stay informed about events, and look for a series of brief videos for Crime Victims’ Rights Week, on Facebook, @cobbda.

For information about national efforts to promote 2021 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, visit the Office for Victims of Crime website at www.ovc.gov and the National Organization for Victim Assistance at www.trynova.org/ncvrw.

Georgia DPH suspending Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines

April 13, 2021 12:04 PMApril 13, 2021 9:53 AM by Wendy Parker

The Georgia Department of Public Health on Tuesday announced that it is temporarily stopping the administration of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines. Georgia DPH, Cobb County Coronavirus case

The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control have urged a halt after blood clot side effects were reported in six known cases. Johnson & Johnson has distributed more than 7 million doses of the single-dose vaccine.

The FDA-CDC statement said all six cases of blood clotting occurred among women between the ages of 18 and 48, and symptoms occurred 6 to 13 days after vaccination.

Johnson & Johnson is one of three COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers, and has more than 330,000 doses that have been allocated Georgia, according to the DPH vaccine dashboard.

More than 3 million Pfizer vaccines have been distributed in the state, along with more than 2.8 million of the Moderna vaccines.

In Cobb County, nearly 300,000 vaccine doses have been administered, with more than 116,000 residents, or 16 percent, fully vaccinated, according to Cobb and Douglas Public Health director Dr. Janet Memark.

She told the Cobb Board of Commissioners Tuesday that “I am grateful that they are looking at the safety of this as we go along. . . . This is very rare right now.”

Kemp touts Georgia’s ‘resilience’ in response to COVID-19

April 12, 2021 3:52 PM by Wendy Parker

Kemp Georgia COVID-19 response

Still chastened by Major League Baseball’s decision to move the All-Star Game away from nearby Truist Park, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp told a Cobb Chamber of Commerce audience Monday that the Atlanta Braves were also robbed on the field Sunday night.

“The refs screwed us at the Braves game Sunday night,” Kemp said, a reference to a controversial ninth-inning run by the Philadelphia Phillies that was upheld on a video review, and turned out to be the game-winner.

Kemp quickly moved on to assessing the state of the state, and especially its economic recovery and COVID-19 response, during the Cobb Chamber’s annual meeting at the Cobb Galleria.

During an appearance Saturday at AJ’s Famous Seafood and Poboys in East Cobb, Kemp blamed Democrats for MLB’s relocation of the All-Star Game due to Georgia’s disputed new election law.

On Monday, he defended the law and said the All-Star Game decision was “misguided.”

But “despite the actions by some to torpedo economic growth in the Peach State,” Kemp said, he’ll be eager to sign a new law providing tax incentives for Georgia companies that manufacture personal protective equipment.

The benefits of such measures, he insisted during a luncheon speech, “will expand opportunities for citizens across our state . . . . despite measures to try to divide us.”

(You can watch Kemp’s full address by clicking here; his remarks begin at the 37-minute mark.)

He said Georgians have “overcome a lot together and our future is bright.” While challenges remain, “I have never been more optimistic because we on our way to defeating the virus and returning to normal in the Peach State.

“Our resilience as Georgians has carried us this far,” Kemp said.

As of Monday afternoon, there have been more than 862,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Georgia since March 2020, and more than 17,000 deaths.

In Cobb County, there have been more than 59,000 cases and 932 deaths, the second-highest total in the state.

Kemp applauded Cobb officials and the Georgia National Guard for quarantining passengers from a California cruise ship at the start of the pandemic.

He said while some states wouldn’t take their own citizens for quarantine at the time, “this community stepped up. This is who we are as a state.”

Georgia was one of the first states to begin lifting COVID restrictions last April, and Kemp said the state is on the road to a strong economic recovery as a result.

The state has maintained its AAA bond rating, and in the recent legislative session major budget cuts were avoided and some funding was restored to areas such as education, public safety and health care.

A tax cut with a reduction in the standard deduction was also enacted this year, and Kemp said he also was proud of reforms to the state’s citizens arrest law.

Cobb Senior Citizen Council to have virtual legislative forum

April 12, 2021 2:57 PMApril 12, 2021 11:50 AM by Wendy Parker

Submitted information: Cobb Senior Citizen Council legislative forum

The Senior Citizen Council of Cobb County (SCC) invites all interested persons to a Zoom discussion of senior issues with their Cobb County based state legislators. This Cobb County Legislative Senior Issues Forum will take place on Friday, April 16 at 11 AM.

Senator Kay Kirkpatrick, Senator Michael Rhett, and Representative Mary Frances Williams will join other legislators to listen to and answer the concerns of Cobb seniors. Among the likely issues to be covered are affordable healthcare, transportation, housing, homecare services, oversight of assisted living communities and nursing homes, and elder adult protections. Irene Barton, Executive Director of Cobb Collaborative, and the SCC will be moderators of the forum.

The event is free and open to all. Persons who are interested should go to the SCC website at https://seniorcitizencouncilofcobb.org/ where they can find further information and obtain the Zoom link to join the forum discussion on Friday.

Questions about the event and to sign up for the free SCC monthly e-bulletin devoted to senior issues and resources, please phone 423.815.1790 or email info@seniorcitizencouncilofcobb.org.

The Avenue East Cobb reschedules Spring Festival for Wednesday

April 12, 2021 2:46 PMApril 12, 2021 8:41 AM by Wendy Parker

Submitted information about The Avenue East Cobb’s rescheduled Spring Festival, which was rained out in March:

Spring has sprung with a unique Touchless 2D Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt!

Visit the Balloon Artist, Caricature Artist, mini-Farmers Market and a DIY EASTER BUNNY photo in the Butterfly Chair!

The first 100 kids to return the scavenger hunt sheet receive a coupon for either a free SMALLCAKES cupcake or free 5oz. MENCHIES frozen yogurt!

Visit the red Avenue tent when you arrive to pick up your scavenger hunt sheet. The first 100 kids receive a cookie from PANERA!

Cobb COVID-19 vaccine call center opens Monday

April 10, 2021 9:20 PM by Wendy Parker

Cobb Commissioners Coronavirus meeting

Submitted information about the Cobb County Government COVID-19 vaccine call center, which opens on Monday:

Cobb County’s call center will help residents get information about COVID-19 and the vaccines and assist them in making vaccination appointments.

“Our call center will enable us to better serve Cobb residents by helping people who have had questions about or issues with scheduling vaccines,” Cobb Chairwoman Lisa Cupid said. “Hopefully this effort will help more people get vaccinated and help Cobb County get back to pre-pandemic life as fast as possible.”

To speak with an operator, residents can call 833-974-3366 on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. The call center will answer general questions about COVID-19 and the vaccines and connect people with sites and facilities offering vaccinations. Agents can help callers schedule appointments through Cobb and Douglas Public Health sites and walk them through the process of scheduling appointments at GEMA mass vaccination sites, as well as private locations offering the shots. English and Spanish-speaking agents are available, with language line services available for those who speak other languages.

Residents can also use a chat feature to speak with an agent on their computers, tablets or smartphones. The chat feature is available weekdays between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. through both cobbcounty.org/COVID19 and at cobbanddouglaspublichealth.com.

“Cobb and Douglas Public Health is so thankful to Cobb County Government for launching this call center during the pandemic,” District Health Director Dr. Janet Memark said. “We appreciate the partnership and will continue to provide the support needed for its success. It gives our residents an expanded local resource for COVID-related questions and allows public health staff to stay focused on providing vaccinations and resolving outbreaks.”

Funding for the call center comes from the federal CARES allocation sent to Cobb County in 2020.

Tommy Nobis Center to hold virtual Galaxy of the Stars Event

April 10, 2021 10:29 AM by Wendy Parker

Submitted information:

Tommy Nobis Center, a Marietta-based nonprofit that helps individuals with disabilities enter or return to employment, will hold its 23rd annual Galaxy of Stars event online on Friday, April 23, 2021, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM.

This year’s event theme is “Stars Among Us.” It will be an inspiring time of celebrating the success of Tommy Nobis Center participants and honoring the community champions who empower people with disabilities. Honorees include Lifetime Achievement Award Winner, Dr. Ike Reighard, President & CEO of MUST Ministries and Senior Pastor of Piedmont Church; Family Member Advocate Award Winner, Lucy Cusick, Executive Director Emeritus of FOCUS + Fragile Kids; Community Champion Award Winner, Jay Cunningham, Owner and President of Superior Plumbing Services, Inc.; and Tommy Nobis Rising Star Award Winner, former program participant Destiny Adamson. The event is sponsored by Cobb EMC Community Foundation, WSB-TV, Wellstar Health System, and the Atlanta Falcons.

This year’s Galaxy Committee Chair is Tommy Nobis Center board member and daughter of Tommy and Lynn Nobis, Devon Jackoniski. “I am honored to serve as chair of the 2021 Galaxy of Stars,” said Devon. “I share the same enthusiasm for the mission of Tommy Nobis Center as my father did.”

Even during a pandemic, Tommy Nobis Center has continued to serve the most vulnerable among us. Funds raised through this event directly support programs and services for youth and adults with disabilities. Community members can participate by donating to the event directly online or via mail, during the virtual event, or through the online silent auction that will run from April 21 until April 26. To learn more, visit https://avlaunch.me/tnc.

Summer movie series starts April 29 at The Avenue East Cobb

April 10, 2021 7:17 AM by Wendy Parker

Submitted information:

The Avenue East Cobb SUMMER MOVIE SERIES begins on APRIL 29th with a THROWBACK THURSDAY – the 20th Anniversary of SHREK!

Arrive early to enjoy photos with Shrek, Movie Trivia with our DJ, Balloon Artist, and Caricature Artist.

Pick up dinner from onsite restaurants Drift Fish House, Tin Lizzy’s, Stockyard Burgers, Panera and Kale Me Crazy. Select restaurants will deliver to your car! Enjoy sweet treats from Smallcakes Cupcakery and Menchies.

Reservations are required, as space is limited. Walk-In Spaces and Drive-In Spaces will be available. TICKETS are $15 per family through Eventbrite: https://aec-april.eventbrite.com or visit www.avenueeastcobb.com/events for more information.

THANK YOU TO OUR APRIL MOVIE SPONSOR ANSLEY REAL ESTATE.

All proceeds from the April movie benefit Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Related stories

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!

Kemp eases more COVID restrictions; opposes vaccine passports

April 9, 2021 3:50 PM by Wendy Parker

Kemp eases COVID restrictions — *Cobb’s COVID cases by date of onset is nearing last fall’s figures. Source: Georgia DPH. For more **click here**.*

As COVID-19 metrics continue to drop and more vaccines are being made available to Georgians, Gov. Brian Kemp this week took two more major steps in the state’s recovery from the pandemic.

In an extension of a 13-month executive order first issued at the start of the pandemic, Kemp announced that he is eliminating a ban on large gatherings that’s been in place since March 2020.

His new order (you can read it here) also eliminates any remaining shelter-in-place requirements and ends remaining distance mandates, such as dining parties at restaurants and bars, movie theaters and between patrons in group fitness classes.

The order also eliminates the ability of law enforcement to close organizations for failing to comply with provisions of the order.

New confirmed COVID-19 cases in Georgia have fallen to levels from last fall, according to onset date figures. As of March 25, the seven-day moving average was 1,234 cases across the state.

In Cobb County (as seen in the graphic at the top) that figure is 119.9 cases in a seven-day moving average.

That’s both for PCR and Antigen tests combined, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health daily status report.

Community spread figures also continue to drop, with Cobb having a 14-day average of 144 cases per 100,000 for the PCR tests.

Public health officials say “high” community spread is anything more than 100 cases per 100,000.

It’s been since mid-February when we last updated Cobb COVID numbers, which then had counted 814 deaths and 54,441 cases.

As of Friday, there have been 921 deaths and 58,872 confirmed cases in Cobb since the pandemic began in March 2020, according to Cobb and Douglas Public Health.

The agency is continuing to roll out vaccine distribution, and is booking appointments for next week at Jim Miller Park in Marietta and Arbor Place Mall in Douglasville.

More than 4.5 million vaccine doses have been administered in Georgia since January, according to the DPH vaccine dashboard, including nearly 288,000 in Cobb County.

That’s both via Cobb and Douglas Public Health and private providers, including physicians and pharmacies.

Kemp also this week joined a handful of governors in saying he does not support a government-issued “vaccine passport” for citizens to show proof that they’ve been immunized.

He said in a Tweet that “while the development of multiple safe, highly effective COVID-19 vaccines has been a scientific miracle, the decision to receive the vaccine should be left up to each individual.”

Sope Creek Garden Club plant sale slated for April 30

April 9, 2021 12:31 PM by Wendy Parker

Sope Creek Garden Club plant sale

Donna Outwater of the Sope Creek Garden Club reached out to let us know that the organization will be holding its spring plant sale on Saturday, April 30.

That takes place from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. next to the playground at Eastside Baptist Church (2450 Lower Roswell Road), and will be held rain or shine.

What’s featured: “Healthy plants from members’ gardens, including native plants and shrubs, ferns, ground covers, hostas, hydrangeas, viburnums, iris, day lilies, elephant ears and so much more.”

Admission to the event is free, and also includes decorative garden items, interesting containers, plant stands, and bird houses.

There’s also going to be a garden basket raffle, which tickets sold the day of the sale for $3 each/4 for $10. Baskets will be filled with new garden themed items such as: honey, jelly, jams, dry herb mixes, gourmet mustards, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, measuring spoons, tea towels, note pads, seed packets, decorative small pots and note cards.

You can find updates on the club’s Facebook page.

Marietta Greek Festival returning in drive-through format

April 9, 2021 12:15 PMApril 9, 2021 9:03 AM by Wendy Parker

Organizers of the Marietta Greek Festival will be holding a 2021 event after cancelling last year due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

But the return of the festival to Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church (3431 Trickum Road) will be done in a drive-through fashion.

It’s what’s being called “Opa to Go,” as food, music, dancing and atmosphere will be lined up around the church grounds for visitors who make their way in their vehicles.

What’s missing from the revamped format are the church sanctuary tours.

The dates are May 14-16, with more details provided and forthcoming at MariettaGreekFestival.com.

As Dodgen MS teacher recovers, colleague starts fundraiser

April 8, 2021 3:07 PM by Wendy Parker

Fred Veeder, Dodgen Middle School teacher — *Dodgen Middle School teacher Fred Veeder was named Cobb teacher of the year in 2018. (ECN file)*

In 2018, Fred Veeder, a popular math teacher at Dodgen Middle School, was named the teacher of the year in the Cobb County School District.

In recent days, another math teacher at Dodgen, Kari Viland, said that Veeder has been diagnosed with congestive heart failure and is “facing a long recovery.”

He’s been hospitalized twice this year, according to Viland, who has begun a fundraiser, saying that “as Fred faces this challenge, we want to clear the way for him to focus on healing rather than worrying about hospital bills and eventual lost income.”

In just a couple of days, the effort has netted more than $23,000 in contributions.

Viland said that the assistance also will include providing dog walks for Veeder’s dog, Shadow:

“Mr. Veeder, as he is known by his students and in the community, has shaped and impacted the lives of so many. His Football Frenzy, March Madness, and Pi Day are just a few of the ways he has gone above and beyond showing his students learning can be enjoyable and engaging! Many students keep in touch long after their time with him in the classroom ends. Fred has done so much for our children and community, let’s show him how much his investment means to us.”

Viland said Veeder replied that he’s “overwhelmed and blessed” by the support, which includes some former students.

East Cobb Food Scores: La Strada; Tijuana Joe’s; Chili’s; more

April 9, 2021 5:05 PMApril 8, 2021 12:48 PM by Wendy Parker

La Strada restaurant, East Cobb food scores

The following East Cobb food scores for the weeks of March 29-April 9 have been compiled by the Cobb & Douglas Department of Public Health. Click the link under each listing for inspection details:

Chili’s Grill & Bar
4111 Roswell Road
April 8, 2021 Score: 98, Grade: A

Del Ray Diner
2475 Delk Road
April 6, 2021 Score: 80, Grade: B

La Strada Restaurant
2930 Johnson Ferry Road
March 30, 2021 Score: 100, Grade: A

Nana Thai Eatery
2940 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite C
April 8, 2021 Score: 97, Grade: A

Parc at Piedmont
999 Hood Road
March 29, 2021 Score: 83, Grade: B

Tijuana Joe’s Cantina
690 Johnson Ferry Road
April 9, 2021 Score: 88, Grade: B

Wendy’s
1123 Roswell Road
March 31, 2021 Score: 96, Grade: A

Sprayberry community leaders pushing for high school rebuild

April 9, 2021 12:36 PMApril 7, 2021 3:27 PM by Wendy Parker

Sprayberry High School

As Cobb County School District officials prepare to call for a referendum this fall that would extend the education sales tax—known as Ed-SPLOST—some members of the Sprayberry High School community are advocating for a new campus.

They’ve been meeting with community members in recent weeks to organize for a rebuild of the current campus at Sandy Plains Road and East Piedmont Road.

They want a complete overhaul to be included in the next SPLOST collection period—which would start in 2024—more than 50 years after the school moved to its present location.

“They’ve done a good job in keeping it up,” community leader Shane Spink said, referring to the school district. “But it’s almost 50 years old.”

He said Sprayberry principal Sara Griffin has submitted a request for a rebuild to the Cobb school district, which is in the process of collecting requests from all schools.

SPLOST revenues pay for facilities projects, maintenance and technology upgrades.

Later this spring, the Cobb Board of Education is expected to finalize a project list for what would be the Cobb Ed-SPLOST VI.

Superintendent Chris Ragsdale announced in March that he would be seeking a SPLOST extension with a November referendum that must be called for by the school board.

On Tuesday, Spink, of the Sprayberry Area Residents Coalition, and other leaders in the school community met with citizens this week to urge them to push for a rebuild.

The group has set up a Facebook group, “Rebuild Sprayberry High School” and will be holding a rally at the school (2525 Sandy Plains Road) on Monday at 6:30 p.m.

Sharona Sandberg, who heads up the Sprayberry Orchestra booster club, runs the Sprayberry PTSA’s annual craft fair and leads efforts for a community pantry in the area, said other East Cobb high schools have undergone major facilities upgrades, while Sprayberry has been neglected.

“My fear is if we don’t create a bit of a stink about this, we’re going to get passed over again,” said Sanderberg, whose son is a junior at Sprayberry.

Like Spink, a Wheeler graduate, she attended high school nearby, at Marietta High School, and is a fierce advocate for the community she now calls home, and where she is raising her family

“Sprayberry was considered the country school,” she said, referring to Sprayberry’s status as the oldest high school in what is now known as East Cobb.

Sprayberry initially opened in 1952 on what is now Cobb Parkway, and in space currently occupied by The Walker School, and is named after a former Cobb school superintendent

When it moved to its present campus in 1973, Sprayberry High School had what was regarded as a modern campus on one of the busiest corners in East Cobb.

A couple years later, Walton High School opened, as East Cobb began a rapid suburbanization that included the addition of Lassiter, Pope and Kell high schools.

In recent years, Walton and Wheeler have undergone complete rebuilds, while Pope has a new theatre and gymnasium. In early 2019, Lassiter christened a new gymnasium and also boasts a major performing arts center.

“Now, it just hasn’t been elevated as high,” Sandberg said of Sprayberry.

She said the current building has issues with mold, falling ceilings and other signs of age.

“It’s just yuck, it’s just old,” Sandberg said. “It looks like the 1970s. If you live in this community, you want to be proud of your school.”

Cobb school board member David Chastain, who represents the Sprayberry cluster, sympathizes, saying “it’s time to address some of the issues.”

The district is just getting SPLOST VI proposals, however, and “it’s a little early to be having a public discussion” about specific requests, he said.

“Sprayberry needs to get some love,” said Chastain, also a Wheeler graduate.

The current Cobb Ed-SPLOST V includes rebuilds of Osborne High School and major renovations in the South Cobb area. A rebuild of Eastvalley ES and a new sports complex at Walton are also to come from the current SPLOST funding.

Chastain wouldn’t speculate about whether Sprayberry is likely to get a full rebuild, but “I know there needs to be a lot of work.”

Spink has been heavily involved in efforts to redevelop the blighted Sprayberry Crossing Shopping Center at the same intersection.

He’s also the father of a Sprayberry 11th grader and has two younger children in the Sprayberry cluster, and believes a new high school campus may be just as important in uplifting the community.

“I could have gone over to Pope or Walton,” he said. “We’re trying to change this community and fight to make it better.”

Stepping out for Earth Day at The Avenue East Cobb

April 7, 2021 2:30 PMApril 7, 2021 12:24 PM by Wendy Parker

The Avenue East Cobb Earth Day

Submitted information and photo:

Celebrate our beautiful planet on THURSDAY, APRIL 22nd at 10am by moving outside!

Join Barre3 for a FREE socially distanced outdoor fitness class. All you need is your yoga mat, handheld weights (if available) and a desire to move with the most supportive community of clients! No experience necessary.

This class is FREE and SIGN UP IS REQUIRED. Visit www.avenueeastcobb.com/events for details and to register.

Bring your school-aged kids and visit the Avenue Red Tent for “CHALK THE LOT”! We’ll have sidewalk chalk for the kids to decorate parking spaces in an Earth Day theme and each child will receive a reusable, insulated lunch bag!

*The chalking area will be gated off but is unsupervised. It will be located in the same parking lot as the fitness class.

Center for Family Resources to hold ‘Parade of Playhouses’ fundraiser

April 7, 2021 2:18 PMApril 7, 2021 9:13 AM by Wendy Parker

Submitted information:

The Center for Family Resources (CFR) has announced its First Annual Parade of Playhouses. Replacing the organization’s traditional Annual Gala, the event will stand as the main fundraiser of the year. It will also be a great vehicle to showcase the CFR Board’s vision of preventing childhood homelessness before it even happens.

The Parade of Playhouses brings together local design and construction teams to create unique children’s playhouses that will be showcased April 19-30 at Town Center at Cobb. Each playhouse is a one-of-a-kind, fully functional piece of art brought to life by our volunteer build teams. Playhouses will be auctioned and raffled off on Sunday, May 2. Auction winners can choose to purchase the playhouse for themselves or gift the house to one of the CFR’s nonprofit partners. This year’s nonprofit recipients are Make-A-Wish Georgia, liveSAFE Resources, Sheltering Arms and Calvary Children’s Home.

“Due to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 public health emergency, we have decided to replace our Annual Gala with an event that, in a fun and safe manner, brings together our community in support of the CFR’s mission,” said Melanie Kagan, CEO for the Center for Family Resources. “This year’s Parade of Playhouses will help raise critical funds to support our organization but also has the potential to benefit some of our partner agencies. Allowing auction winners to gift their playhouse to another agency makes the gift a double donation,” she continued.

Individuals interested in supporting the fundraiser can participate by sponsoring, making a charitable contribution and purchasing raffle tickets for a chance to win one of the stunning masterpieces. For more information, please visit the Parade of Playhouses page on our website.

After first hearing, Sprayberry Crossing rezoning held again

April 15, 2021 2:39 PMApril 6, 2021 3:27 PM by Wendy Parker

East Cobb zoning changes

The Cobb Planning Commission is holding both of the major East Cobb redevelopment cases on that were on its rezoning agenda in April.

Not long after voting to delay the East Cobb Church mixed-used project at Johnson Ferry and Shallowford, the planning board voted to do the same thing for Sprayberry Crossing.

Both got their first hearings Tuesday after many months of delays and continuances. They’re tentatively scheduled to go back before the Planning Commission in May, but numerous questions remain, and plenty of opposition surfaced during lengthy presentations.

The Sprayberry Crossing case took up two hours before the Planning Commission, which voted 5-0 to get more updated information for its May meeting.

In making a motion to hold the request by Atlantic Realty for apartments, townhomes, a grocery store and retail and greenspace at Sandy Plains and East Piedmont, planning commissioner Deborah Dance said “it’s hard to mesh all the information that’s coming in at once.”

She referred to a late traffic study that was submitted by the developed on March 31, and comments on them by Cobb DOT that were made only Monday.

Traffic issues include a signalization at Sandy Plains at Kinjac Drive, the main access point for the proposed development, and creating a median at Post Oak Tritt Road to limit access into and out of the project.

Other concerns are over stormwater and water and sewer issues.

Perhaps the most divisive issue, however, is the proposal for apartments. Atlantic Realty is an Atlanta-based developer of upscale apartments, but opponents of the Sprayberry Crossing plans said Tuesday they’re convinced multi-family housing will hurt a community dominated by single-family neighbornoods.

Its proposal includes 125 apartments, 125 senior apartments and 44 townhomes.

Craig Blafer, who lives near Sprayberry Crossing, said that “we think this builder is building badly. This is not the right plan for the property. We can do better.”

Apartments, resident David Stafford said, would attract “transient, lower-income individuals who would bring crime and other problems” to the area.

“This is not the East-West Connector,” he said. “This is Sandy Plans and East Piedmont.”

Kevin Moore, an attorney for Atlantic Realty, was asked by Dance to address that point.

“I don’t believe that to be the case at all,” he said, adding that most of the apartments would be one-bedroom units starting at $1,400 a month.

Atlantic Realty also has asked in its rezoning request to waive a requirement for the redevelopment category it is seeking to earmark 10 percent of residential units for affordable housing purposes.

In his initial presentation Tuesday, Moore said that after a two-year-long process of working with the community, his client has worked to produce a plan with “meaningful” components, including what would be a Lidl grocery store, to make redevelopment on the property successful.

Some residents who have long wanted to see the existing blighted shopping center redeveloped concurred.

Sally Platt, president of the Autumn Ridge homeowners association, said while not everything is perfect about Atlantic Realty’s request, “it’s a wonderful compromise” and that outstanding issues are “not deal-breakers.”

Sprayberry Crossing, Moore said, needs to be redeveloped “badly.” He later said that after nearly two decades of sitting as an eyesore, this may be the last chance to do something about it.

“If we miss this opportunity, we miss it,” Moore said emphatically. “I can’t imagine missing this.”

But Dance, a former Cobb County Attorney who was appointed by Commissioner JoAnn Birrell in January, said that she’s received 145 e-mails in favor of the rezoning and 165 against, with more petitions coming in.

She also asked Moore if the developer would be “open to [consider] more ownership opportunities” instead of rental units.

Cobb Planning Commission holds East Cobb Church rezoning

April 7, 2021 1:34 PMApril 6, 2021 1:24 PM by Wendy Parker

East Cobb Church site plan

The Cobb Planning Commission on Tuesday voted to hold a mixed-use development anchored by the proposed East Cobb Church for a month, saying it lacks critical information to make a decision.

The advisory board on county rezoning cases voted 5-0 to push back the application, which has already been delayed several times, until May.

That means that the Cobb Board of Commissioners will not be hearing the case later this month.

(UPDATE: Cobb Commissioner Jerica Richardson will be holding an online informational meeting about the case Thursday at 6 p.m., and you can register at this link: https://staff315236.typeform.com/to/J9g7pewB.)

Planning commissioner Tony Waybright, who represents the area at the Johnson Ferry-Shallowford intersection where the development would be built, said there are concerns about traffic, stormwater issues, residential density and a “sense of place”—a key component of a recently approved JOSH master plan—that need to be addressed.

North Point Ministries, Inc. wants to use 11 of the 33 assembled acres for the East Cobb Church, which began in 2019 and is currently meeting at Eastside Baptist Church.

The remainder of the property would be used for commercial space, a greenspace and park area on the site of a drained lake and 110 residential units, most of them townhomes.

Among the changes from the original site plan in October is relocating Waterfront Drive, which is located off Johnson Ferry Road and provides primary access to the adjacent MarLanta subdivision.

Some residents there spoke in opposition to the project for those reasons, and for the fee-simple townhome category that the applicant is seeking.

That’s among the initial changes to the original application by North Point Ministries, which operates East Cobb Church.

During an extended presentation session Tuesday, county staffers acknowledged that there isn’t a finished traffic study, nor can they address floodplain and wetlands issues because of incomplete information about density.

“We should have that information by now,” Planning Commission chairman Galt Porter said, who suggested that if the board doesn’t have more details by next month, it’s possible there could be a recommendation of denial.

North Point Ministries attorney Kevin Moore said rezoning isn’t required for the church, and that the nature of the community “is not a single-family area under any circumstances.” He pointed to nearby commercial development in the JOSH area, saying that “all of that is this neighborhood and brings it to bear on this property.”

He also said that the JOSH master plan is “not the law. It’s a guide.”

While there were a few residents who spoke in favor of the project, several others spoke against it, including Jill Flamm of the East Cobb Civic Association. That organization listed five objections to the application that she said were not addressed, including traffic, the church renderings not consistent with the master plan and residential density.

A resident on Waterfront Circle showed photos of water runoff issues, saying it’s been “a nightmare” since the lake was drained.

Referring to the applicant, she said that “they want it all, and leave us with nothing.”

Other residents took issue with differing staff analyses of the application, wondering how it could have gone from a strong denial in October to a general recommendation of approval.

They also questioned how residential density calculations have gone down when the latest site plan calls for only 15 fewer units from the original proposal.

zWaybright is scheduled to have a virtual town hall meeting Thursday with Cobb commissioner Jerica Richardson, with details to be announced.

Portion of Braswell Road closed for storm drainage repairs

April 6, 2021 10:00 AM by Wendy Parker

Braswell Road closed

From Cobb DOT:

Braswell Road will be closed between Promontory Path and Promontory Drive as crews replace a collapsed storm drain pipe. The work is expected to be completed by Friday, April 9.

To view the status of this project, please visit http://www.cobbcommute.org/1237

Related stories

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related stories:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related stories

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related content:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related stories

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related stories

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related stories

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related stories

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related stories

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related stories

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related stories

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related stories

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related stories

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related stories

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related stories

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related stories

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related stories

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related stories

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related stories

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related stories

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this: