Eastside Christian School’s fifth through seventh grade chorus students performed Disney’s The Lion King Jr. last weekend. A true community event, the cast was supported by Eastside’s high school theater students who served as stage crew, Jake Dalton, an eighth grade student who designed all 280 light cues, and a myriad of staff and parents who worked behind the scenes. The show, originally cast and scheduled for a Spring 2020 release at Eastside, was cancelled due to COVID-19 safety concerns.
“That 2020 cast, and the stage magic that was left unmade, is a group that I’ve held close to my heart. They left an indelible mark on the show, and I didn’t want to revisit it for years,” said Ashleigh Lucas, Eastside’s Director of Performing Arts. “The time came this fall, and here we are again, with a new group of performers stepping in to bring these characters to life.”
Eastside’s stage was transformed into an African savanna and rainforest in a stunning display of artistry. The large-scale set pieces and light displays were the perfect backdrop for the costuming. Inspired by the vision of Julie Taymor, the director and designer of the Broadway show, Lucas utilized masks and movement to create an imaginative experience. Students transformed into lions, hyenas, and even grasslands with flowing skirts and moving choreography.
The musical theater program at Eastside draws audiences from the community, with alumni of the school regularly returning to experience the magic that Lucas puts on stage and the talent that she brings out of her students each year.
“I am so proud of the excellence that is displayed every time our students take the stage. Mrs. Lucas does a phenomenal job not only teaching songs and dances, but also teaching life skills along the way,” said Dr. Tiffany Stark, Eastside’s Head of School. Eastside’s next musical is The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and will be performed December 12-14, 2025. Tickets will be available at EastsideChristianSchool.com.
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!
Historian Brad Quinlin will speak on his research in Unsung Heroes: African American Soldiers in William T. Sherman’s Army, a program of The Georgia Room, at Mountain View Regional Library, 3320 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta 30066, on Monday, Nov. 3 at 2 p.m.
A traveling exhibit on Unsung Heroes will be on display in the library Oct. 30 through Nov. 26. It was previously on display at the Switzer, South Cobb and West Cobb libraries.
The Unsung Heroes project is supported by Georgia Humanities, in partnership with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, through appropriations made by the Georgia General Assembly.
Quinlin has extensive experience researching the overlooked contributions of African Americans during the Civil War. This research dispels the myth that none served under Union General William T. Sherman during the 1864 Atlanta Campaign.
Among Quinlin’s findings is identifying 1,397 African American men who served in Sherman’s Army, 1,287 in the Atlanta Campaign alone. The soldiers served in such challenging roles as stretcher bearers for the wounded while under intense fire.
For information on Cobb County Public Library programs and resources, visit cobbcounty.gov/library or call 770-528-2326.
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Kevin Redmon, an East Cobb resident who ran for the Cobb Board of Commissioners in 2024, will be trying again in 2026.
Redmon announced last week that he will be a Democratic candidate for District 3, which covers most of East Cobb. That seat is held by Republican JoAnn Birrell, who is in her fourth term.
But that election was overturned by a Cobb judge and a special election was held last fall that was won by Democrat Erick Allen.
In making his announcement last week, Redmon said that “this District and County deserve leadership that will show up and be present, one that is responsive, and someone who has a vision to carry us into a future that is already here. And I’m honored to have the opportunity to step up and lead us down this path.”
No other candidates have announced for the District 3 race.
Redmon has lived in East Cobb for 20 years, and served as a member of the “community cabinet” of former Commissioner Jerica Richardson. In response to a request for details from East Cobb News about his campaign, here’s what Redmon told us:
“My priorities will be to help our county become even more proactive than reactive in its services, drive innovative ways to create efficiencies where needed, and help make Cobb a more competitive place to work to fill any existing gaps—especially within Cobb’s Public Safety organization.
“One of the fundamental foundations of this job that I learned from serving on former-Commissioner Richardson’s Cabinet is that there is an opportunity here to create real, sustainable programs that will outlive any specific person who sits in this seat.
“Yes, there are basic parts to this job, like keeping taxes low. Will I commit to keeping our taxes low? Of course. I live here, too. But this job is so much more than this. It’s about leveraging the resources we have to create programs that lift all of our residents and businesses.”
He also referenced a recent controversy in which Cobb commissioners declined to provide additional funding for a Cobb veterans memorial. Birrell proposed the additional funding but couldn’t get her colleagues to support it.
Redmon didn’t mention her by name, but said that “it’s not just about building memorials for our veterans who deserve to be remembered and honored; they also deserve our help in housing the unhoused vets in our community.”
Also:
“It’s not just about feeding the hungry, but about helping our seniors and even young people learn new skills to compete in today’s AI-driven job market, so they can gain employment and keep food on their tables.
“It’s not just about filling potholes, but designing safer streets so we can prevent more needless injuries and deaths of our students who are just trying to walk to school.”
Moving into the future does not mean to leave anyone behind. We will build our future here together, and I am honored to have the opportunity to lead us there.”
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Cobb Community Development Agency director Jessica Guinn
The Cobb Community Development Agency will be holding open house sessions in November about the long-proposed Unified Development Code.
The UDC was proposed in 2022 to update and unify existing zoning, land use and development regulations and to make “the code clearer, easier to use, and better aligned with Cobb’s vision for the future,” according to county officials.
The open houses are designed to provide information and solicit public feedback. They will take place at the following locations and dates around the county:
Wednesday, Nov. 12, 6:30–8 p.m.
Ron Anderson Community Center
3820 Macedonia Road, Powder Springs
Thursday, Nov. 13, 6:30–8 p.m.
North Cobb Regional Library
3535 Old 41 Highway, Kennesaw
Monday, Nov. 17, 6:30–8 p.m.
Windy Hill Community Center
1885 Roswell Street, Smyrna
Tuesday, Nov. 18, 6:30–8 p.m.
Mountain View Community Center
3400 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta
The last time there was an update on the UDC was in February, when Cobb commissioners were briefed about a proposed planned development category, for large-scale mixed-use projects.
That didn’t require any action, and the county has been silent on the subject of the UDC for the last few months.
There were to have been public meetings this spring on the UDC initial draft that was released in November 2024, but those were not scheduled.
The draft is a 97-page document that includes general provisions, transitional provisions, definitions, terms of construction and related topics. Related documents can be found by clicking here.
The primary updates for the first installment cover administrative articles that establish procedures for the review of all development applications, including applications for rezoning, special land-use permits, for subdivisions and for zoning variances.
Some citizens have objected to the UDC, calling it “a war on the suburbs.” But county officials say an overhaul is long overdue, more than a half-century after Cobb first adopted a zoning code.
At that February work session, Commissioner Keli Gambrill complained that she and her colleagues didn’t have much time to absorb a significant amount of information, and further said that “we have a lot of animosity out there about this whole process and how it’s being handled.”
Cobb Community Development Agency director Jessica Guinn said at that work session that “ultimately, the document is adopted as a whole, as one big code amendment. We want to be sure that before we do that we’ve got something that the board will be comfortable adopting.”
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As October drew to a close, we were having some terrific traffic and engagement from readers at East Cobb News.
You could say we’re smashing pumpkins, but we wouldn’t want to confuse you with an alt-rock band with the same name.
What we mean to say is that we had a smashing month in October, with some of our best metrics in quite a while, in terms of pageviews, unique visitors, social media engagement and newsletter subscribers.
And while we don’t like to report on bad news—a fatal accident and the death of a longtime educator and community leader—we know how important these stories matter to the people who live here.
It’s part of being the only daily, general-interest news site serving East Cobb. And that’s the real reason East Cobb News is enjoying the kind of readership growth and involvement that makes us proud.
We’ve 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 passing along news about local events from others, East Cobb News is focused on what’s valued the most by readers in this community.
It’s our stock-in-trade, and for eight-plus years we’ve been building that community trust, one story at a time.
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.
But unlike some of our competitors, we don’t hide our reporting behind a paywall.
We believe high-quality local journalism is the bedrock of a healthy community, and it should be available to everyone, regardless of a person’s current financial situation.
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.
We’re asking our readers to help support us financially, but it’s entirely voluntarily.
If you value what you get from East Cobb News—what we post every day to our site, as well as our weekly newsletter, and our connections with readers and community on social media–please consider making a financial donation today.
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The Cobb-Marietta Coliseum & Exhibit Hall Authority has announced a new name for Georgia’s premier mid-size convention venue for tradeshows, meetings and special events: Cobb Convention Center-Atlanta.
Formerly Cobb Galleria Centre, the venue is rebranding in the midst of a transformational, $190 million renovation and expansion project. The expansion is scheduled to be completed in early 2027.
‘While the Galleria name served us well for more than 30 years, we feel this new name better reflects our location and purpose,” said Jerry Nix, Chairman of the Authority, owner and operator of the convention center. “As we modernize to better serve our customers and guests, our name has been updated as well.”
By incorporating both Cobb and Atlanta into the new name, the Center will clarify its geographic identity as a prominent landmark in Cobb but also a premier venue for visitors who identify with the Atlanta location. This clarity in market positioning also extends to adding the word convention into the name, which clearly identifies the venue’s primary function of hosting conventions, trade shows and large-scale events.
The renovation and expansion will happen in phases. While the convention center is currently closed, it will reopen for business in January 2026 in the exhibit halls and ballroom.
Cobb Convention Center will be open throughout 2026 and will continue to host trade shows, expos, meetings, conventions and social events in the exhibit halls and ballroom. The expansion project will continue until early 2027.
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Cobb Police said that a portion of Lower Roswell Road in the vicinity of Holy Family Catholic Church will be closed until Monday evening to repair downed power lines.
A social media posting around noon Monday said the road will be closed between Pinehurst Lane and Cross Gate Drive for at least 8 hours for the repairs, which are due to a single vehicle colliding with a utility pole. There were no injuries.
“Please avoid the area and seek alternate routes.”
Those alternates include Old Canton Road to the west of the closure area and Shadowlawn Drive and Indian Hills Parkway to the east.
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The organizers of the Sprayberry Craft Show are cancelling this year’s event due to the ongoing reconstruction project at Sprayberry High School.
The event that first began in the 1980s is typically held in November, just as the holiday shopping season gets underway.
It’s the primary fundraiser for the Sprayberry PTSA, and draws hundreds of vendors each year and thousands of shoppers.
But a social media posting over the weekend referenced the construction project, and said the show “is being postponed until renovations at Sprayberry High School are complete.”
That could be until 2028, but the message was uncertain about when the show would return. Last year it took place at Daniell Middle School, and preliminary plans were to have it there again this year.
But the social media posting said that “with the ongoing demolition, and the high Facility Use fees now charged by Cobb County School District to host at another location, we are unable to hold the show at this time.”
Organizers said vendors have been notified of the cancellation and are in the process of being reimbursed.
East Cobb News has left messages with the Sprayberry PTSA seeking more information.
The $71.9 million Sprayberry reconstruction project is in its second academic year, and is expected to be finished by the summer of 2026.
The new main classroom building is going up where the original building once stood, with portable classrooms filling the parking lot. Numerous events that take place at Sprayberry have been affected.
That has included the Southern Invitational, a high school marching band competition, which took place last weekend and has been relocated temporarily to Kell High School.
That event is organized by Sprayberry band boosters.
In their message for the craft show, the Sprayberry PTSA said that while “while we fought hard for many years to have a new school built, and while we are proud that this vision is finally coming to life, it also means we will be without a home for the craft show during construction.”
Holiday craft shows in the East Cobb area begin Nov. 8-9 with the Lassiter Craft Fair.
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Kids chasing a soccer ball at East Cobb Park Sunday, dancing between some raindrops along the way. ECN photo.
That chill in the air that came through last weekend in the East Cobb area is going to stay for a while.
So will the chance of rain before Halloween arrives on Friday.
We had steady rain overnight Monday and it’s in the forecast for the rest of the day today, according to the National Weather Service in Peachtree City.
Light rain and a mist are forecast for much of the day Monday, with high temperatures expected only in the low 50s.
Showers are likely to continue into Monday evening, with lows dipping into the high 40s.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday will be a bit warmer, with highs in the high 50s, with a reduced chance of rain and lows also in the high 40s.
The rain is expected to clear through by Friday, as the sun returns for trick-or-treat. Highs are expected near 60 on Friday, and it’s going to get colder still, with lows dropping into the high 30s.
Warmer temperatures are in the forecast for the weekend, sunny and highs in the low 60s Saturday and Sunday, and lows in the 40s.
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Flooding along Columns Drive in East Cobb, which is routine after heavy rains.
A year and a half since dropping a proposed stormwater fee, Cobb commissioners on Tuesday will be formally presented with a revised plan to impose a dedicated charge for all customers.
Currently customers are charged through their water and sewer bills based on the amount of impervious surfaces on their properties.
Commercial and institutional customers would also be billed $4.75 month per 3,700 square feet of impervious surface.
The fee would apply to customers in unincorporated Cobb and the City of Mableton, whose stormwater management is handled by the county. Five of Cobb’s six other cities charge their own stormwater fees; Marietta does not.
The Cobb water system also has prepared a stormwater credit manual to further break down how it’s intending to charge for stormwater management
The initial stormwater fee plan, first presented in late 2023, would have imposed a charge for residential customers ranging between $2 and $12 a month, based on the amount of impervious surfaces on their properties.
Cobb water officials have been asking for a separate stormwater fee for years, saying they can’t manage an aging, overextended stormwater system, which has been budgeted $9.5 million in the current Cobb fiscal year 2026 budget.
The request was accelerated by severe floods in the fall of 2021 that badly damaged many homes and yards in East Cobb.
Citizens protested a proposed stormwater fee at an East Cobb town hall meeting in March 2024.
But when the county introduced a fee proposal, citizens protested en masse, at public comment sessions and other events, including a fiery town hall meeting in East Cobb.
They blasted the proposal as a “rain tax,” and said it wouldn’t help those affected by the flood damage.
At that town hall, Cobb Water System director Judy Jones said that “the way we’re charging now, residential customers are paying more than commercial customers. I’m trying to fix that. But I have to have more money to do that. The way we do it now is not equitable.”
Cobb’s two Republican commissioners, JoAnn Birrell of East Cobb and Keli Gambrill of West Cobb, opposed that fee.
Former Commissioner Jerica Richardson of East Cobb, whose constituents were affected by the 2021 floods, called for the initial motion to table the proposal in March of 2024, saying that stakeholders sessions should be conducted to go over what she called “a big issue . . . but it’s complex.”
Commissioners will hold public hearings on the proposed stormwater fee in November.
The work session on Tuesday will not include public comments, but there is a public comment session scheduled for the Cobb Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday night.
That meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the second floor board room of the county office building at 100 Cherokee Street, Marietta. You can view the full agenda by clicking here.
You also can watch the hearing on the county’s website and YouTube channels and on Cobb TV 23 on Comcast Cable.
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One more week of early voting will take place through Friday of this coming week in 2025 elections for two seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission and municipal races in Marietta and other Cobb cities.
Voters in Cobb County can go to any of seven locations to cast their votes, including the East Cobb Government Service Center (4400 Lower Roswell Road).
Early voting takes place from 12-6 Sunday, and from Monday-Friday from 7-7 (see all locations, dates and times in the flyer below).
You can check your voting status and get a personalized sample ballot by visiting the GA My Voter Page from the Georgia Secretary of State’s office.
The elections will conclude on Tuesday, Nov. 4, when voters will go their assigned precincts.
The elections include all seven Cobb municipalities, as well as a special election for Georgia State Senate District 35, which includes some of South Cobb.
Some voters in East Cobb also will be eligible to vote in several races in the City of Marietta—Mayor, Ward 5, 6 and 7 City Council, and Ward 5, 6 and 7 Marietta Board of Education.
All voters in East Cobb will be voting for two seats on the Georgia PSC, which are elected statewide and whose members regulate electricity and utility rates across the state. Both are contested races.
Republican incumbent Fitz Johnson of Vinings (website) is being challenged by Democrat Peter Hubbard (website).
Another Republican incumbent, Tim Echols (website) is opposed by Democrat Alicia Johnson (website).
Here’s a PSC primer from WABE; more from the Associated Press from earlier this week.
In Marietta, 16-year Mayor “Thunder” Tumlin is seeking another term from 24-year-old Sam Foster in a non-partisan race that has drawn some attention.
Tumlin has been a legislator and served as chair of the Marietta school board, while Foster, a recent Kennesaw State graduate, is part of A Better Cobb, which advocates for increased transit and mobility and affordable housing options.
Ward 5 includes most of East Marietta, and the election this year features the two men who have held that seat in recent years. Incumbent Carlyle Kent (website) is seeking a second four-year term. In 2022 he unseated Reggie Copeland, who is trying to win back his old seat (website).
In City Council seats for Ward 6 and Ward 7, only the incumbents qualified—Andre Sims and Joseph Goldstein, respectively.
In the Ward 5 Marietta school board race, incumbent Angela Orange (website) is seeking re-election, and is facing first-time candidate Jessie Bonner Jr. (website).
The Ward 6 school board race is an open seat, and the candidates are Christina Rogers (website) and Tony Viola (website).
In Ward 7, school board member Irene Holly Berens is running unopposed.
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What once was a pediatric clinic on Sandy Plains Road is being proposed for a drive-through coffee shop.
But a request to amend a site plan to accommodate the new business is being continued to November.
The Cobb Board of Commissioners was to have heard the proposal this week by BRKI, LLC, for a 7 Brew Drive Through Coffee.
But at the start of Tuesday’s zoning hearing, they voted to continue the matter for a month, to their Nov. 18 meeting.
The location is 3618 Sandy Plains Road at Gordy Parkway, where an Egleston Children’s Hospital Clinic once stood, and it’s part of the former Gordy property.
When those parcels are subject rezoning or site plan changes, they must be approved by a special architectural control review committee, and that process has not been completed.
So Cobb Zoning Division manager John Pederson asked for the continuance. The building was completed in 1995, and the clinic closed in 2020 it has remained vacant ever since.
The five-acre tract is zoned for general commercial, and the 7 Brew proposal wouldn’t change that.
The applicant is seeking to put the drive-through on the northern side of the building, keeping an existing 50-foot buffer intact.
“The proposal meets setbacks, parking and impervious zoning criteria,” according to the staff analysis. “If the amendment is approved, all previous stipulations would remain in effect, which includes the [Gordy] Architectural Control Committee review and approval for the property.”
7 Brew is a national chain of drive-through coffee locations that opened in 2017, and includes a location in Mableton. In addition to coffee, menu items include teas, lemonades, smoothies and shakes.
In the staff analysis, Cobb DOT recommended the applicant conduct a traffic study.
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Get into the holiday spirit at our Holiday Gift Open House on Friday andSaturday, November 28 & 29 from 10 – 5, & Sunday November 30, 2025 from 12-5 at Frameworks Gallery, located in East Cobb County, Georgia, in the Woodlawn Square Shopping Center.
Join us for a festive and fun-filled event where holiday cheer meets creativity. Explore a curated collection of handmade gifts, local artwork, and seasonal treasures—perfect for everyone on your list.
Enter to Win a FREE Gift! + discounts available on grab-n-go gift items throughout the store! As a special thank-you, guests can enter our exclusive drawing for a free gift. The winner will be announced at the end of the event—no purchase necessary to enter.
Complimentary Gift Wrapping Take one more task off your holiday to-do list. All purchases made during the open house come with free, beautiful gift wrapping—because giving should be joyful and easy.
Enjoy light refreshments, festive music, and the chance to support local artists this holiday season. Whether you’re shopping for loved ones or treating yourself, our Holiday Gift Open House is the perfect way to kick off your celebrations.
Event Details: Date: Friday and Saturday, November 28th, 29th Time: 10:00am – 5:00pm, and Sunday, November 30th Time: 12:00pm – 5:00pm Location: Frameworks Gallery 1205 Johnson Ferry Rd Suite 110, Marietta, GA 30068 Admission: Free
Don’t miss this cozy community event filled with creativity, connection, and a little holiday magic.
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A full week of events leading up to Halloween is already starting to get underway as the weekend approaches, and there are a few major related celebrations in East Cobb this weekend.
Saturday marks the return of the Boo Bash at Avenue East Cobb (4475 Roswell Road), a free family-themed outdoor party that includes music, a costume party and trick-or-treating for kids.
Everything takes place between 11 a.m and 2 p.m. at The Plaza, including complimentary face painting, a bounce house, a craft station and plenty more.
For the first time, there will be a Halloween Hike at East Cobb Park (3322 Roswell Road) and Fullers Park (3499 Robinson Road organized by the Friends for the East Cobb Park volunteers.
It’s billed as a “trunk or treat with a twist,” and is set for Sunday from 6-7:30 p.m. The hikes features a variety of stops along the trails stationed by community organizations and individuals in costumes, handing out treats to participants.
People young and old are invited to wear their Halloween get-up and join in the free family-oriented fun.
On Monday, there will be a Halloween Spooktacular at the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center (2051 Lower Roswell Road) from 5-7 p.m. Games, crafts, candy and more will be available at the kid-themed event, and of course costumes are encouraged.
We know that schools, churches and other community organizations have their own Halloween events, but if any of those are open to the general public, please send that info to us and we’ll be glad to get the word out!
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Families, friends, and community supporters gathered at Laurel Park on Saturday for the Cobb County Drug Treatment Court’s Second Annual Summer BBQ. Program participants, graduates, staff, sponsors, and community partners came together to celebrate recovery, progress, and second chances. The event drew more than 80 attendees who enjoyed games, face painting, basketball, sack races, and time at the playground, while some relaxed by the lake and watched the ducks.
The Marietta Metro Rotary Club played a central role in making the event possible. Their generous sponsorship provided a full catered BBQ, and members volunteered their time to serve food and assist with activities. The Rotary Club has been a long-standing supporter of the Cobb County Accountability Courts and continues to demonstrate an unwavering commitment to helping program participants succeed. A 2nd Chance Bail Bonds and Monitoring also volunteered at the event and remain strong supporters of the program.
“The Drug Treatment Court is more than an accountability program; it is a lifeline,” said Judge Jason D. Marbutt, who presides over the program. “Events like this remind our program participants that they are not alone and that recovery is a journey best walked with family, friends, and a supportive community.”
The Cobb County Drug Treatment Court gives individuals struggling with substance use the opportunity to rebuild their lives through counseling, recovery support, and a structured program designed to promote lasting sobriety and stability.
“This event gives our program participants and graduates the chance to celebrate their progress with the people who matter most, their families,” said Program Coordinator Porsha Winfrey. “It also allows the community to see firsthand the incredible changes that are happening in the lives of those in our program.”
The afternoon captured the spirit of the program: healing, resilience, and the belief that recovery is possible. Cobb County Drug Treatment Court remains committed to partnerships that help program participants thrive and families grow stronger together.
For more information about Cobb County Drug Treatment Court, including ways to get involved or support the program, contact Porsha Winfrey, Program Coordinator, at 770-528-1933 or Porsha.Winfrey@cobbcounty.gov.
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Get ready to revisit the iconic world of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy and all the Gang! Wheeler High School Theatre is delighted to present its upcoming production of the heartwarming, family-friendly musical You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown with music and lyrics written by Clark Gesner. Come join the Peanuts Gang on November 14 and 15 at 7:00 PM and November 15 and 16 at 2:00 PM in the Wheeler Performance Arts Center.
Based on the beloved Peanuts comic strip created by Charles M. Schulz, this musical revue brings all your favorites to life on stage, exploring life’s great pleasures and small joys. From baseball mishaps and philosophical musings to a quest for a valentine and a battle with the Red Baron, this charming show is a celebration of the enduring friendships and everyday adventures of the Peanuts gang. The fantastic talent of the cast and crew of Wheeler Theatre truly captures the spirit of these classic characters and Schulz’s life’s work through a series of vignettes and musical numbers which highlights the distinctive personalities we all know so well. Young and old will leave a little more certain that the Peanuts message holds true—when things don’t go our way, there is always a reason to be happy and to celebrate the simple things in life.
Accompanied by a full orchestra of Wheeler Student Instrumentalists, we invite you to enjoy the music that became an instant off-Broadway smash.
YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC. www.concordtheatricals.com
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John Cristadoro said he’s “a target by those who are trying to tear down Cobb schools” and accused them of “fake outrage.”
Cobb Board of Education vice chairman John Cristadoro has settled a civil lawsuit filed against him, his business and another party by a client on charges of fraud and misusing business funds.
In the consent judgment filed Wednesday, Cristadoro and his advertising, marketing and events company, Alliance Activation LLC, were ordered to repay the client $225,000 plus future interest, most of it in three business days.
The consent judgment noted that the business’ policies included “using client funds to pay Alliance’s own operating expenses at times when Alliance was experiencing a cash flow shortage.” Those policies were crafted by Cristadoro, as the president and CEO, and a bookkeeper, according to Wednesday’s filing.
That filing further states that “Cristadoro, without Plaintiff’s consent, authorized use of Plaintiff’s funds for payment of Alliance’s operating expenses and credit card statements to cover a cash flow shortage.”
Some of those statements, according to the consent judgment, “included non-business transactions for Cristadoro’s personal benefit.”
Cristadoro, an East Cobb resident in his first year on the school board, told East Cobb News in response to a story published Tuesday that the lawsuit, which was filed in Fulton State Court, has no bearing on his duties in public office.
“It’s a personal case from a personal business, both of which have nothing to do with serving students, other than being a target by those who are trying to tear down Cobb schools,” said Cristadoro.
The case came to light Monday at a Fulton court hearing in which Cristadoro and the client, an insurance company, attempted to seal court documents about the settlement.
Four constituents of Cristadoro’s in Cobb school board Post 5 in East Cobb filed a motion before the hearing on Monday to keep the records public, saying it’s a matter of transparency given his status as an elected official.
Sagicor Life Insurance Company said in a March 2024 lawsuit that it paid Cristadoro and Alliance Activation, the company he founded in 2012, a $250,000 sponsorship fee for advertising at sporting venues in Tampa, Fla. (original lawsuit here).
Sagicor said in the suit that Cristadoro, Alliance Activation and the other defendant, named John Doe in the filings, was to have turned the money over to a third-party vendor to provide the sponsorship services.
But that never happened, and the consent judgment states that Sagicor hasn’t been repaid.
(Alliance Activation is located in Sandy Springs, hence the legal action in Fulton County.)
Watching the Funds-Cobb leader Heather Tolley-Bauer.
The charges included fraud, theft, breach of contract and fiduciary duty, civil racketeering and gross negligence, claims that Cristadoro initially denied in court filings.
According to Wednesday’s filing, Alliance Activation will be allowed to keep $25,000 in commission charges.
In his response to East Cobb News, Cristadoro said that “I am proud of the business we built and happy we’ve been able to negotiate a successful next chapter for the partners and employees. I learned a lot about people and serving customers which are lessons I’ll use for the rest of my life—especially in public service.”
Late Wednesday afternoon, he issued a similar response to “members of the press” from a business e-mail address, and asked that they contact him there about the lawsuit, instead of his official school board e-mail address.
Cristadoro also was asked by East Cobb News what he thought about the motion that was filed by the four individuals—including a Cobb schools financial watchdog, Heather Tolley-Bauer of Watching the Funds-Cobb (you can read that here)—and a statement by the Cobb County Democratic Committee on Tuesday that he resign.
“What other individuals do in their search for significance is their decision as they try to survive by creating fake outrage,” Cristadoro said. “Regarding the other nonsense [the CCDC demand], that doesn’t warrant a response.”
Cristadoro, whose two children attend Walton High School, is a Republican and part of a 4-3 GOP majority on the school board, which in recent years has clashed along partisan lines on a number of issues.
Tolley-Bauer and others co-founded Watching the Funds-Cobb in 2021 to scrutinize Cobb County School District finances, budgeting and spending, saying it was a non-partisan organization.
But some of those prominently involved in the group are deeply involved in local Democratic politics.
Co-founder Stacy Efrat is now a Cobb County Democratic Party appointee to the Cobb Board of Elections. Laura Judge, who served in former Democratic Cobb commissioner Jerica Richardson’s “citizen cabinet,” lost to Cristadoro last year in the general election for the Post 5 seat.
Tolley-Bauer has supported Democratic school board candidates in Post 5 in 2020 and Judge last year.
Watching the Funds-Cobb has been critical of spending decisions made by the Cobb school district administration, including a $50 million special events center that was eventually scuttled, but has not previously scrutinized the activities of elected board members.
Tolley-Bauer told East Cobb News Tuesday that neither Efrat nor Judge is currently involved the group. She said she was told last week about the lawsuit against Cristadoro by “a concerned citizen” and as she was looking through the case files, noticed that “they asked to seal something.”
An attorney with an Atlanta law firm drafted a motion in time for Monday’s hearing, at which Fulton State Court Judge Wesley Tailor refused a request to seal court documents, saying the public interest outweighs privacy matters.
“This is an issue of transparency,” Tolley-Bauer said, adding that one of Cristadoro’s primary talking points in his campaign was his background as a businessman.
“He has a fiduciary responsibility to his constituents. We have a right to know whether or not he can be trusted with those responsibilities.”
Tolley-Bauer admitted that she’s aware of how the partisan “optics” might look. She said she’s voted for Republican Cobb commissioner JoAnn Birrell and also “accidentally” voted for David Banks, a former GOP school board member whom Cristadoro succeeded, “when I first moved here.”
But “this literally was an argument for transparency,” Tolley-Bauer. “If people don’t care to know [about the lawsuit], then I respect that. But the facts are the facts. And the taxpayer deserves to know.”
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!
