Wendy Parker, Author at East Cobb News

Cobb schools maintain accreditation, put on improvement plan

November 12, 2021 by Wendy Parker

Cobb school board approves budget

Activities involving the Cobb Board of Education—in particular open conflicts in public meetings, members’ communications with the public and the elected body’s code of ethics—constitute a considerable portion of a special review report compiled by the Cobb County School District’s accrediting agency.

In its report delivered to the district this week, Alpharetta-based Cognia said it was continuing to maintain full accreditation status for the 107,000-student CCSD, the second largest public school district in Georgia.

But it cited several areas for progress over the next year for the district, and especially for the school board, to address.

The district released the report and accompanying documents late Thursday night, after the school board held a previously unannounced executive session.

You can read through them here, here and here.

Cognia, which announced it was doing an unusual “special review” in April at the behest of three Cobb school board members and after receiving nearly 50 complaints from the public, conducted more than 170 interviews during that week-long process in August.

Of the four areas of its focus, Cognia said the Cobb school district met the highest ranking on its 4-grade system on only one of them—educational equity, and that was with some conditions.

The other three—board policy-making, the board’s code of ethics and fiscal responsibility in the school district—were cited as needing improvement.

Cognia is giving the district until December 2022 to meet the requirements of what it calls a “Progress Monitoring Review.”

Among Cognia’s major findings, it concluded that the school board ethics code “is not adhered to with fidelity by most board members.”

The Cobb school district also was found to lack “a consistent and formal process for making resource allocation decisions raised questions about how the Board handles its fiduciary responsibility,” in particular its purchase of equipment related to its COVID-19 pandemic response, and the board’s appointment of a law firm to draw reapportionment maps.

The accrediting agency urged the district to “revise [its] strategic plan to “include measurable goals, initiatives, and budgetary allocations would better ensure the presence of a comprehensive plan to guide the system during its continuous improvement process.”

And fourthly, the report concluded that while standardized assessments show that academic “progress is being made in subgroup performance even though there is still a need for a continuous focus on closing the achievement gaps.”

In a statement accompanying the district’s release, Superintendent Chris Ragsdale said that “as is the case with any feedback we receive, our educators will review Cognia’s process and recommendations closely and consider areas of recommended growth. I am committed to keeping our focus on high-quality teaching and learning and meeting Cobb County’s high expectations for all students.”

He did not specify those areas of improvement, nor did he mention issues regarding school board relations.

A Fractured School Board

Cognia’s report concluded that divisions and “the lack of trust among board members projects a negative light on the district and hinders the Board’s ability to lead the district toward its mission of ‘One Team, One Goal: Student Success.’ ”

Charisse Davis, Cobb Board of Edcucation — *Charisse Davis*

The current school board is made up of four white Republicans and three black Democrats, and for the last two years sharp partisan divisions have deepened over issues involving race and equity and COVID-19 response, among others.

Those Democrats—including Charisse Davis, whose Post 6 includes the Walton and Wheeler clusters—first went to Cognia, complaining that they were being silenced by their GOP colleagues.

In late 2019, the Republican majority voted to change board policy to ban board member comments at the end of meetings.

That enflamed differences even more, even as the board tried to find consensus on an anti-racism resolution in 2020, but could not.

Late last year, Davis and Howard attempted to question Ragsdale over the district’s purchase of UV disinfecting lights, hand sanitizers and other safety equipment as part of its COVID-19 response.

After the 2020 elections—in which then-chairman Brad Wheeler and vice chairman David Banks—narrowly won re-election to maintain a Republican board majority—the GOP contingent pushed through a policy change to limit how board members can place items on meeting agendas.

While the chairman and superintendent can unilaterally add items, any other board members must now get a majority of his/her colleagues to agree.

For most of 2021, issues that Democratic members have wanted to discuss—including a possible name change for Wheeler High School—have not been aired in meetings, other than from citizens making remarks during public comment.

There also was no discussion on the board regarding a resolution to ban the teaching of Critical Race Theory, a measure that passed by another partisan 4-0 vote, with the Democrats abstaining.

In its report, Cognia said faulted board leadership for not fully communicating with colleagues about what’s on agendas, and not giving them adequate time to review them before a meeting:

“Debate related to the removal of Board Member Comments highlights the Board’s recent lack of transparency and trust and the change in Board dynamics. The discussion also shows that some board members may not be able to fully represent their constituents due to their lack of knowledge of what will be discussed and voted on before the board meeting and in time to study the issues fully.”

The Cognia review also outlined that the district is aware of 113 “potential Board policy violations” by Howard, 41 by Davis, 13 by Tre’ Hutchins (the other board Democrat) and two by Banks, all “through social media, traditional media, or other interactions with the public or the District.”

Wheeler, current chairman Randy Scamihorn and board member David Chastain—all Republicans—were found not to be in apparent violation of any board policies.

The review also found “some inappropriate comments by board members” that violated board policies encouraging them to make comments to the news media that “should be helpful to the District and not harmful.”

Cognia’s directives include having the board find an “external expert” to facilitate a self-assessment process “about best practices in school governance and develop a plan to use findings from the self-assessment to improve the Board’s effectiveness, collegiality, and trust among board members.”

Purchases in Question

Another area of concern were financial matters related to the Cobb school district’s COVID-response.

In December 2020, the board approved a request from Ragsdale to spend $12 million in general fund balance to purchase UV disinfecting lights and hand sanitizing stations that would first be installed at the elementary school level.

Cobb schools COVID safety products — *A contract for disinfecting UV lights was abruptly cancelled.*

Ragsdale explained at the time he was confident the district would be reimbursed through additional federal CARES Act funding.

But after UV lights malfunctioned at a school, the district cancelled that portion of the contract in March.

While noting that the district has historically excelled in financial reporting, the Cognia report stated that “a review of board meeting work sessions and board meeting videos may demonstrate a lack of clarity about the collection and analysis of data used to assess the impact of resources on meeting identified goals and priorities.”

Among the recommendations are for the Cobb school district to “develop, implement, and monitor board actions regarding fiduciary matters to ensure adherence to adopted policies.”

In the Cobb school district release Thursday, Scamihorn issued a statement saying that the district still hasn’t been provided with all of the “specific allegations” that led to the special review.

The district said it spent $75,000 to prepare for the review. Cognia fully reaccredited Cobb in 2019, through 2024.

In its report, Cognia did not indicate what might happen if the Cobb school district doesn’t meet the directives of its improvement plan.

“It is disappointing the Special Review Team chose not to consider much of the context leading to various Board decisions, and their review of evidence requested from the District appears to be cursory and incomplete,” Scamihorn said. “While I am pleased this review is unlikely to have an immediately negative effect on the District’s students, it did serve as a significant distraction for the staff.”

Cobb school district receives special review from accreditor

November 12, 2021November 11, 2021 by Wendy Parker

Cobb school district

UPDATED, 10:15 P.M.:

The Cobb school district Thursday night released the Cognia special review report, which does not recommend changing the status of the district’s full accreditation.

The agency did note several areas of improvement for the district to address over the next year, especially involving school board policy-making and ethics and fiscal responsbility.

Our follow-up story to the report below can be found by clicking here.

ORIGINAL REPORT:

The Cobb County School District has received the findings of a special review conducted in August by its accrediting agency, but isn’t commenting on them for now.

Nor is the district immediately releasing the report from Cognia, based in Alpharetta, which was responding to complaints from three members of the Cobb Board of Education and around 50 others from the community.

A Cobb school district spokeswoman told East Cobb News that “the District is in the process of carefully reviewing the report from Cognia in preparation for release in the near future. Cobb Schools remains committed to providing a world-class education and continuing the District’s legacy of student success.”

When asked if the report would be provided to media representatives upon request, the spokeswoman said that request should be directed to the district’s open records officer.

Under the Georgia Open Records Act, public agencies have three business days to respond to open records requests.

Cognia delivered its report to the Cobb County School District on Monday.

During its special review (previous ECN story here), Cognia representatives interviewed school board members, district staff, principals, teachers, parents, students and other stakeholders in its special review in August on a range of board governance matters and concerns over equitable opportunities and student performance.

The district announced in April that Cognia would be conducting the review, expressing concern that “determinations made through a Special Review Team can negatively impact college acceptance rates, college scholarships, enrollment, funding, and educator recruitment and retention . . . Impacts can also negatively affect a county’s economy, property values, and bond credit ratings.”

In 2019, Cognia reaccredited the Cobb County School District—the second-largest in Georgia, with more than 107,000 students—through 2024.

But Democratic board members Charisse Davis, Jaha Howard and Tre’ Hutchins went to Cognia after saying they were being ignored by the board’s Republican majority and Superintendent Chris Ragsdale to discuss early literacy, educator and employee support and board governance training topics.

Depending on the findings, a special review—which is a rare occurrence—typically affords school districts time to make recommended changes before a possible loss of accreditation.

In September, Cognia released its findings in a special review of Gwinnett County Public Schools, indicating several areas of improvement. But the accrediting agency did not recommend any change in that school district’s full accreditation status.

At a Cobb school board work session Thursday afternoon, the Cognia report was not on the published agenda, nor was it discussed until the very end, and then only in procedural terms.

(You can view the agendas by clicking here.)

The board heard several presentations about the district’s legislative priorities and its quarterly financial report.

Just as the board was to approve the agenda for the Thursday 7 p.m. business meeting, Howard asked board chairman Randy Scamihorn if an item for discussion of the Cognia review could be added.

“There was some big news that came out, and we haven’t talked about it yet,” Howard said. “I would like the agenda to reflect that urgent matter.”

But Scamihorn said the agenda can be revised for an emergency, and said he didn’t think Howard’s request was “applicable, as the agenda has been developed.”

When Howard appealed to Suzanne Wilcox, the board attorney, she said such an item would could be added if the board determined it was “necessary” and in particular if it was a matter that was “not known about in advance.”

When Howard asked her why she didn’t recommend revising the agenda, she said that state law says an item has to be considered an emergency to be added.

“At this time, I’m not aware of anything that makes it necessary to address,” Wilcox said.

Howard then asked if a Cognia discussion could be added to the board’s December agenda, but Scamihorn said he couldn’t give an “absolute yes or no” since “none of us have seen the report yet. . . . But the chair appreciates your concern.”

This story will be updated.

Cobb schools mask ruling appealed in federal court

November 11, 2021 by Wendy Parker

Four parents of medically fragile students in the Cobb County School District are appealing a federal judge’s denial of their request for an injunction over COVID-19 protocols, including the district’s lack of a mask mandate.

Attorneys with the Southern Poverty Law Center filed a notice of appeal on Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for Northern Georgia in Atlanta (you can read it here).

On Oct. 15, federal district judge Tim Batten denied their request for an injunction and a temporary restraining order. The parents wanted the court to order stronger COVID-19 measures in the schools, including mandatory masks, saying their children are unable to learn in-person as a result.

The plaintiffs’ attorneys have said the parents have removed their children from in-person learning, which “has had a negative effect on them socially, physically, and emotionally.”

The parents “further allege that unless and until the school board reimplements safety measures, they will be unable to attend school and will continue to suffer irreparable harm.”

The four parents, including Sara Cavorley of East Cobb (previous ECN story here), filed suit on Oct. 1, claiming that the Cobb school district’s policies are denying their children a proper in-person education under the federal Americans With Disabilities Act.

The SPLC issued a press release Wednesday saying that “this case isn’t just about masks, this is about disability discrimination in the Cobb County School District and ensuring that all children have an equal opportunity to access an in-person learning environment.”

Cobb schools have a masks-optional policy this year after mandating them for the 2020-21 school year.

But unlike last year, the 2021-22 school year does not provide virtual learning options that are identical to classroom instruction.

The Cobb school district is making a limited number of virtual options available for the spring semester via a lottery process (the deadline for applying for that has passed).

East Cobb resident a ‘connecter person’ for female veterans

November 10, 2021 by Wendy Parker

When she received a medical discharge in 1994 to end her career in the U.S. Navy, Amy Stevens felt like many other military veterans.

Feeling disconnected after years of structure, routine and a close-knit system of support, she struggled to make the transition to civilian life.

But for Stevens, a current East Cobb resident, her challenges went beyond learning how buy a home and other basics of everyday living that were new to her.

A single mother, she had a special-needs son to raise.

Above all, the invisibility of female veterans was a bracing reminder of the historic limitations placed on them during their time in the service.

“The typical woman veteran—you would not imagine that they served in the military,” said Stevens, who was an educational and training specialist in the Navy for 15 years, rising to the rank of lieutenant.

While many male veterans proudly wear hats and t-shirts signifying their military service, Stevens said women veterans quite often do not.

In fact, she’s noticed that many of her fellow women veterans don’t even mention their military background.

Recognition for women veterans is starting to increase. Last weekend, Cobb County and state and federal veterans services agencies paid tribute to women veterans in an observance at Jim Miller Park.

Stevens is the organizer of a Facebook group, Georgia Military Women, and weather permitting, will appear on Thursday in the Marietta Veterans Day parade on a float for the Disabled American Veterans association.

While she’s proud of those and other broader veterans organizations that she belongs to, Stevens has become an ardent supporter of other females who’ve left the service.

“I’m a connector person,” said Stevens, now 68, who earned master’s and doctorate degrees post-Navy and has been a licensed therapist.

She formerly was a mental health specialist with the Georgia National Guard, a role that launched her volunteerism for women veterans.

When Stevens signed up for Officer Candidate School in 1979, the U.S. armed services were changing for women.

Through the Vietnam War, most women in the military were nurses or served in other strictly support roles.

When they left the military, Stevens said, “they couldn’t just jump into the higher-paid jobs” in the civilian world.

Stevens was an outlier during that time, with a degree in broadcast television, and she served in a variety of communications, education and training positions in the Navy.

By the time she left, she noticed that “there was a different type of woman in the military.” It’s estimated that 20 percent of the nation’s current veterans are women.

The Georgia Military Women Facebook group, which was started in 2012, has more than 4,000 members and is strictly about making connections and referrals.

“We’re not a therapy group,” Stevens said. “We’re a girlfriend group. It’s great just to have friends who know what it’s like to serve.”

Stevens said there are an estimated 93,000 female veterans in Georgia, the fifth-highest total in the U.S., and around 38,000 in metro Atlanta alone.

Of that latter total, she said around 20,000 receive regular services from the Veterans Administration.

The women’s veterans groups she’s a part of tend to be younger than her, many of them with families and careers. But they still face similar challenges as their older mentors.

While many of the women come to the Facebook group seeking mental health help, Stevens said the networking efforts extend to such topics as financial issues and referrals for veterans and other services.

Group members are dispersed across Georgia, but Stevens enjoys the occasions when some of them can get together in person, just to socialize.

“It’s all about helping each other,” Stevens said. “It’s all about friendships, and it’s very rewarding to be a part of a forever family.”

Cobb Veterans Day events include Marietta Square festivities

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!

East Cobb food scores: Tijuana Joe’s; Willy’s; Ege Sushi; more

November 12, 2021November 10, 2021 by Wendy Parker

East Cobb Tijuana Joe's

The following East Cobb food scores for the week of Nov. 8 have been compiled by the Cobb & Douglas Department of Public Health. Click the link under each listing for inspection details:

American Deli
2100 Roswell Road, Suite 2194
November 8, 2021 Score: 83, Grade: B

Christos
1255 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 22
November 12, 2021 Score: 82, Grade: B

Ege Sushi & Japanese Cuisine
2100 Roswell Road, Suite 2112
November 8, 2021 Score: 86, Grade: B

El Huarache Veloz
1157 Roswell Road
November 9, 2021 Score: 95, Grade: A

Goldberg’s Bagel Co. & Deli
1062 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite A-110
November 10, 2021 Score: 80, Grade: B

Legacy Ridge at Marietta
840 Lecroy Drive
November 8, 2021 Score: 91, Grade: A

Madras Mantra
2349 Windy Hill Road, Suite 120
November 9, 2021 Score: 80, Grade: B

Tijuana Joe’s
690 Johnson Ferry Road
November 9, 2021 Score: 87, Grade: B

Wendy’s
1312 Johnson Ferry Road
November 9, 2021 Score: 84, Grade: B

Willy’s Mexicana Grill
4250 Roswell Road, Suite 120
November 8, 2021 Score: 88, Grade: B

2021 Cobb Education SPLOST results by East Cobb precincts

November 10, 2021 by Wendy Parker

Cobb SPLOST VI referendum — *For more details, **click here**. Source: Georgia Secretary of State’s office*

Following up last week’s Cobb Education SPLOST VI referendum passage with some precinct-by-precinct details and related election tidbits:

Turnout was low, just under 10 percent across the county, with most East Cobb precincts in the 10-20 percent range;
The highest turnout was in the City of Marietta, which had mayor’s, city council and school board elections.

As we noted then, “yes” votes in the SPLOST referendum won every precinct, and handily.

What follows below is the vote count in East Cobb precincts. These include election day, advance, absentee and provisional totals, as well as the turnout at each polling station.

[wptg_comparison_table id=”33″]

New East Cobb Crossing Publix store opens

November 13, 2021November 9, 2021 by Wendy Parker

The Florida-based grocery chain announced the store would be coming in March 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic began.

The doors open at 7 a.m. Wednesday.

The seventh Publix store in East Cobb is smaller than the others, at 37,400 square feet, and will be the third in the Johnson Ferry Road corridor.

Like the others, this Publix will be full-service, with bakery, deli, produce, seafood, meats and floral departments, and a pharmacy.

Operating hours will be from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

East Cobb Cityhood feasibility study to be released next week

November 9, 2021 by Wendy Parker

East Cobb Park summer end — *A proposed City of East Cobb would include parks and recreation in a “city lite” set of services.*

A financial feasibility study for the proposed City of East Cobb was to have been completed by Nov. 1, and the group leading the incorporation effort said the report will be made public next week.

Cindy Cooperman, a spokeswoman for the Committee for East Cobb Cityhood, told East Cobb News that the study would be released next Monday, Nov. 15 and will be made available on the group’s website.

The study was commissioned in July by the committee and was conducted by the Center for State and Local Finance at Georgia State University.

GSU researchers also conducted a feasibility study for the first East Cobb cityhood effort, and in late 2018 concluded that it was financially viable.

The initial effort called for police, fire and community development services.

The revived effort, announced in March, drastically reduced the proposed city of East Cobb boundaries and proposed planning and zoning, code enforcement, parks and recreation and roads and transportation services.

State Rep. Matt Dollar, the East Cobb Republican who sponsored both cityhood bills (the 2019 legislation was eventually abandoned), said in an April virtual town hall meeting that the “hope here is to be revenue neutral,” meaning no millage rate would need to be established to provide those services.

That was the conclusion of a feasibility study released last week for the proposed city of Lost Mountain in West Cobb.

That report, prepared by researchers at the University of Georgia, concluded that that city would raise enough revenues from existing taxes and fees to generate a surplus and wouldn’t have to levy property taxes.

West Cobb legislators are sponsoring a Lost Mountain cityhood bill that would create a city of around 70,000.

Like the renewed East Cobb cityhood effort, Lost Mountain supporters are emphasizing planning and zoning and preserving the suburban nature of the community.

Lost Mountain also would provide parks and recreation and sanitation services.

Preservation interests prompted a cityhood effort in Vinings, where a UGA feasibility study released in October concluded that proposed city of 7,000 was financially viable.

Cityhood bills for those three proposed cities as well as a second cityhood bill for a proposed city of Mableton are expected to be taken up in the 2022 Georgia legislature.

If passed, those bills would call for incorporation referendums in November 2022.

Dollar, who is not seeking re-election next year, has a co-sponsor in State Rep. Sharon Cooper, also an East Cobb Republican.

Cityhood bills also require a Senate sponsor. State Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick, an East Cobb Republican, told East Cobb News recently she would wait to comment on the new cityhood effort until after the feasibility study is released.

Cobb commissioners approve new NE Cobb police precinct

November 9, 2021November 8, 2021 by Wendy Parker

Cobb police precinct map — *Current Cobb police patrol zones include Precinct 4, located on Lower Roswell Road in East Cobb.*

UPDATED:

Commissioners approved the design/construction contract by a 5-0 vote, with District 3 representative JoAnn Birrell saying “this has been a long time coming.”

She said a groundbreaking will take place on Dec. 1 at 11 a.m.

ORIGINAL POST:

Initial design work for a new police station in Northeast Cobb is on the agenda for the Cobb Board of Commissioners Tuesday.

A contract for $723,980 with Batson-Cook Company is being presented to commissioners to design what would eventually become the Cobb Police Department’s Precinct 6.

It’s the first part of a two-phase project that’s been budgeted for $5 million in 2016 Cobb SPLOST funding.

You can read more by clicking here.

The Batson-Cook project work would include “design, project fee, and general conditions costs” for Precinct 6, according to the agenda item.

There was no other information available about the project, including the future precinct patrol area and location and how it would be staffed and funded.

Cobb government spokesman Ross Cavitt told East Cobb News in response to those questions that Precinct 6 would be located next to the Mountain View Aquatic Center (2650 Gordy Parkway).

Initially, the new facility will house the police department’s specialized units “and not have a patrol zone. That could change in the future, but that is the starting point.”

Most of the East Cobb area is currently included in Precinct 4, whose station is located on Lower Roswell Road.

That precinct runs from the Powers Ferry Road area to the east side of Canton Road.

Last month, the Cobb Police Department moved into its new headquarters on Fairground Street, in the former LGE Community Credit Union building, a project that cost $13.5 million, also from the 2016 SPLOST.

The department had been operating out of overcrowded space on the North Marietta Parkway and Cherokee Street.

The full agenda for Tuesday’s commissioners meeting can be found here; it will start at 9 a.m. and take place in the second floor board room of the Cobb government building (100 Cherokee St., downtown Marietta).

COVID-19 protocols are being followed, including mandatory masks and a limit on in-person attendance due to social-distancing.

The hearing also will be live-streamed on the county’s website, cable TV channel (Channel 24 on Comcast) and Youtube page. Visit cobbcounty.org/CobbTV for other streaming options.

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 civic, business leaders to speak at ECBA, NCBA luncheons

November 8, 2021 by Wendy Parker

John Loud, Cobb Chamber of Commerce — John Loud

Two of Cobb County’s leading business and civic leaders will be speaking to the East Cobb Business Association in November.

John Loud of LOUD Security and Jay Cunningham of Superior Plumbing will be the featured speakers at the ECBA’s Nov. 16 luncheon.

They’ll be speaking about “Short Cuts to Jump-Start Your Business.” They’ll be detailing their rise as owners of local start-up businesses to thriving companies in the Atlanta market.

According to the ECBA, they “will also address how they are dealing with the current worker shortages and supply chain challenges.”

Both are active in many business and civic endeavors. Loud is the current chairman of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce.

The luncheon is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 16 at Rich Hart Global Studios (2030 Powers Ferry Road). The cost is $20 for members and $25 for non-members in advance, and $25 for members and $30 for non-members at the door. For information and to register, click here.

On Wednesday, Nov. 17, Cobb Chamber president and CEO Sharon Mason will the featured speaker at the Northeast Cobb Business Association luncheon.

That takes place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Piedmont Church (570 Piedmont Road). Tickets are $15 for members and $20 for non-members. For information and to register click here.

Ted’s Montana Grill closing for Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve

November 8, 2021November 8, 2021 by Wendy Parker

Ted's Montana Grill, East Cobb food scores

The Atlanta-based Ted’s Montana Grill restaurant chain, whose 39 locations include Parkaire Landing in East Cobb, announced that it will be giving its employees a day off for Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve for the first time this year.

From a release:

The restaurant wants its valued team members to enjoy well-deserved time to relax and unwind with family and friends.

The two holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, are among Ted’s biggest sales days of the year. Ted’s will remain closed Christmas Day, as it has since it opened in 2002.

George McKerrow, CEO and co-founder of Ted’s Montana Grill, recognizes the challenging times in the restaurant industry and appreciates his team. He encourages all restaurants to close on the holidays so employees can enjoy time with loved ones.

“Workers in the restaurant/hospitality industry have been the most impacted during these challenging times. We are incredibly grateful for our team members who came back to work with a positive, spirited attitude and the genuine hospitality that our guests expect. Our team has helped us thrive by making our guests smile and more importantly, feel like family. Now they deserve to spend quality time with their own families this holiday season.

I’d also like to encourage everyone in the restaurant industry to close and take a break on the holidays. We should look past the revenue success and realize what truly matters now more than ever – making special holiday memories with the people we love the most.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: Love the Braves, hate the Cobb stadium deal

January 1, 2022November 6, 2021 by Wendy Parker

Cobb schools SPLOST vote World Series

The Atlanta Braves had not one, but two, parades on Friday, plus a special concert at Truist Park with rap luminaries Ludacris and Big Boi to celebrate their improbable World Series championship.

Tens of thousands of fans lined up in downtown Atlanta and along Cobb Parkway as the Braves’ caravan made its way to the ballpark.

For a moment, the exuberance almost got the best of Cobb County’s finest, as police surrounded a man whom they thought had wandered out from the crowd, but who was actually Braves’ relief pitcher Tyler Matzek.

It was hard not to get caught up in cheering on a team that was devastated by injuries, didn’t have a winning record until late in the season, then knocked off teams predicted to beat them, including last year’s champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers, in the playoffs.

As someone who grew up in metro Atlanta and whose family’s ties to the Braves go back to their days in Milwaukee, this last week truly has been special for me.

My first game as a fan was as an eight-year-old in 1969, when the Braves won their first pennant in town.

In 1995, when the Braves won the World Series at the same venue, I was a sportswriter at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. I don’t remember much about that decisive Game 6 on a Saturday night at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, as I was coming back from somewhere after covering a college football game.

So it was a real treat to savor the first sports team I had ever followed beat back all the obstacles. This year’s Braves are a testament to determination, resilience, teamwork and optimism, qualities that take on special significance during these abnormal times of a pandemic.

The euphoria was bound to go overboard, of course, as these occasions sometimes do.

On Thursday, in a commentary published in our local daily newspaper, the headline referred to the late Tim Lee, the former county commission chairman who brokered the stadium deal that brought the Braves to Cobb, as the “angel in the outfield.”

Even more tellingly, the narrative glossed over the dubious process by which Lee, the Braves and local business insiders worked in secret for months, until they could keep their secret no more.

The above commentary asserted several times that “Tim did the right thing.” But the glaring lack of transparency, a bevy of investigations and ethics complaints and a rushed timeline without much of a chance to get meaningful feedback from the public are still gnawing.

This coming Thursday will mark the eighth anniversary that Lee announced a proposed 30-year memorandum of understanding with the Atlanta Braves to help construct a stadium in the Cumberland area.

In that agreement, Cobb would commit to a $300 million subsidy—taxpayer money—to help finance the ballpark, as well as to regular capital maintenance, public safety and other costs.

The four district members of the Cobb Board of Commissioners had exactly two weeks to digest a complicated long-term deal. The public had an even smaller window to ask questions of their elected officials at hastily arranged town hall meetings.

I covered these proceedings during my time at Patch, a hyperlocal network founded by AOL a little more than a decade ago.

Bob Ott, the former Cobb commissioner whose District 2 included the area along Windy Ridge Parkway and I-75 where the stadium would be built, was thrust into a sudden, and very glaring, spotlight.

Always accessible, Ott prided himself on holding informative town halls all over his Cumberland-East Cobb district.

But he made himself scarce for most of those two weeks, inundated with messages and calls from constituents and the media like no other issue in his then-two terms in office.

On the night before the vote, Ott held a town hall meeting not in his district, but in the commissioners’ meeting room off the Square in Marietta.

I found that odd, and asked him after it was over if he had made up his mind. He said he would do so when he pushed the button to vote.

Like the other town hall meetings I attended during that intense fortnight, I realized that the Braves stadium deal was a done deal.

Twenty-four hours later, in a cramped board room dominated by pro-stadium forces, the commissioners approved the MOU with a 4-1 vote, with Lisa Cupid, now the chairwoman, voting against.

Like many people who raised questions about the deal, Cupid wasn’t opposed to the Braves coming to Cobb County, or even having a partially publicly financed stadium built.

Like many of those same people, I also wondered about the rushed, secretive proceedings. Citizens groups as disparate as the Tea Party and Common Cause tried to get some answers, but community scrutiny wasn’t well organized.

Lee defended the timeline and process by asserting that if Cobb didn’t act, then the Braves would go elsewhere.

But as longtime Braves executive John Schuerholz admitted not long after the Cobb vote, the team didn’t have another venue in mind after wanting to leave the city of Atlanta after nearly 50 years.

In other words, the Braves played Cobb like Max Fried toyed with the Astros’ lineup on Tuesday, setting down the commissioners in almost perfect order.

The timing of all this is important to remember, as Cobb and much of the nation were starting to come out of the recession.

Commissioners JoAnn Birrell and Helen Goreham were doing verbal cartwheels from the moment the proposed stadium deal was announced, smitten by the catnip of economic development that has tempted elected officials everywhere.

You can love the Braves, as I have for most of my life, and still hate the way that stadium deal came down.

You can be excited about the dining and entertainment options at The Battery Atlanta, which the Braves have financed to the tune of nearly $400 million, and wonder why the franchise still needed the public’s “help” to build a ball park.

The process stunk to high heaven, lacked even a modicum of transparency, gave no thought to a referendum, and was followed by lame excuse-making.

Lee paid the ultimate political price when he was ousted in the 2016 Republican primary by Mike Boyce, and didn’t get to enjoy the ultimate payoff of his stadium efforts. He died two years ago of cancer at the age of 62.

After the stadium opened in 2017, the Cobb Chamber of Commerce commissioned an economic impact study proclaiming a nearly $19 million annual benefit to the county.

One of the more vocal critics of such claims, Kennesaw State University economics professor J.C. Bradbury, noted in an op-ed during the World Series that one can cheer for the Braves and not get caught up in such runaway economic development fever.

Not wanting to rain on a parade, but I feel the same way. The economic “home run” that was promised Cobb citizens still hasn’t been realized, and shouldn’t be conflated with success on the baseball field.

When a public official is hailed for doing something “right” without that individual being examined for how he/she conducted public business, that’s more than blind cheerleading.

The ends never justify the means, especially public officials spending tax dollars and not giving the citizens much of a say.

Holding elected officials—or the legacies of those who are no longer with us or who are out office—to account isn’t just about determining if what they did was the right (or wrong) thing to do.

It’s also scrutinizing how they do it that should matter.

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!

East Cobb teen holds basketball clinic for special needs kids

November 6, 2021 by Wendy Parker

East Cobb teen special needs basketball clinic

As he has done for the last four years, Trevor Goldenberg, an East Cobb teenager, took timeout on Election Day to hold a basketball camp for special needs kids.

We profiled him three years ago when he conducted the clinic at Mt. Bethel Christian Academy.

Trevor started the “For Threeee” clinic when he was at Dodgen Middle School. Now, he’s a 16-year-old junior at Walton High School.

His mother Donna sent the following information and photos about the 5th annual “For Threeee” clinic, which was held in conjunction with East Marietta Basketball:

“Participants went through stations with their assigned volunteer and improved their overall skills.They even played some small games with other participants. But most importantly, they had a great time, participants had smiles on their faces and did not want to leave. Thanks to East Marietta Basketball and East Lake Chick-Fil-A for sponsoring this fantastic event.”

East Cobb teen special needs basketball clinic

Send Us Your News!

Let East Cobb News know what your organization is doing, or share news about what people are doing in the community—accomplishments, recognitions, milestones, etc.

Pass along your details to: [email protected], and please observe the following guidelines to ensure we get everything properly and can post it promptly.

Send the body of your announcement, calendar item or news release IN TEXT FORM ONLY in the text field of your e-mail template. Reformatting text from PDF, JPG and doc files takes us longer to prepare your message for publication.

We accept PDFs as an accompaniment to your item. Images are fine too, but we prefer those to be JPG files (more than jpeg and png). PLEASE DO NOT send photos inside a PDF or text or any other kind of file. Of course, send us links that are relevant to your message so we can direct people to your website.

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 commissioners continue Mobility SPLOST town halls

November 6, 2021 by Wendy Parker

We noted last week about an upcoming town hall meeting held by Cobb commissioner Jerica Richardson about the 2022 Cobb Mobility SPLOST. Cobb Mobility SPLOST town halls

That town hall was to have been held Tuesday at the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center but has been postponed.

Richardson’s office announced this week that the new date is Tuesday, Nov. 30, at 6 p.m. at the Fullers Park Recreation Center (3499 Robinson Road).

It will be the last of the town halls that are being held in each of the four commission districts. The first was held earlier this week at the North Cobb Regional Library.

The county information sheet on the Cobb Mobility SPLOST indicated that it is expected to be drafted in January 2022, followed by an estimate of generated revenue and the development of a project list, most likely to be compiled by county commissioners.

Here’s more from the county about the process behind getting public feedback for the M-SPLOST, as it’s being called:

Because of recent changes in Georgia law, the county has the option to ask the public to approve one or two referenda for additional sales tax revenues. The public was asked to provide opinions on these two sales tax options and possible project combinations during the CobbForward Comprehensive Transportation Plan update (in progress). The Cobb County Board of Commissioners has asked for additional public input to help refine the policy direction and funding packages for each option.

The purpose of this town hall is to provide information on Cobb Mobility SPLOST, including:

How this differs from the SPLOST referendum approved by voters in November 2020

The referenda options available

Initial investment options identified based on data and public input from the 2021 Comprehensive Transportation Plan Update (in progress)

Public involvement opportunities to provide input on these options

Nov. 9 at 6 p.m.
Switzer Library
266 Roswell Street, NE, Marietta

Nov. 10 at 6:30 p.m.
Cobb County Public Safety Police Academy
2435 East-West Connector, Austell

Nov. 30 at 6 p.m.
Fullers Park Recreation Center
3499 Robinson Road

Cobb seeks public input on federal ARPA relief funding

November 6, 2021November 6, 2021 by Wendy Parker

Submitted information:

Cobb County launched its American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Community Needs Survey this week. The online survey is designed to gather community input on how Cobb County should prioritize its $147-million allocation of federal ARPA funding. It is open to all Cobb County residents and organizations now through Monday, Nov. 22.

This American Rescue Plan Act was passed by the U.S. Congress in March 2021. It set aside funding for local and state governments to support public health, essential workers, infrastructure measures and to lessen the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey will help the county to reflect the community’s priorities in its plan for investing the funds between these eligible uses.

Over the next three weeks, county officials hope to hear from as many Cobb County voices as possible. The survey takes only minutes to complete, and every survey response will help to shape an investment strategy that addresses the community’s highest needs. Paper versions of the surveys are available at all Cobb Senior Services’ multipurpose centers.

The ARPA Community Needs Survey is open now through Monday, Nov. 22.

Take the survey here: 2021 ARPA Cobb County Community Needs Survey (deloitte.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!

Cobb Veterans Day events: The Battery, Marietta Square festivities

November 5, 2021November 5, 2021 by Wendy Parker

We’ve posted previously about some Veterans Day events in Cobb County that are taking place this Saturday, Nov. 6, including the “Give Thanks for Those Who Served” festivities at East Cobb Park, and honoring women veterans at Jim Miller Park.

Also on Saturday, there’s a salute to veterans at The Battery Atlanta from 1-5 p.m. It’s organized by the Georgia Veterans Day organization for its 40th anniversary and starts off with a parade, followed by a program at the Georgia Power Pavilion Stage starting at 2 p.m

Veterans Day is Thursday, Nov. 11, and the 17th annual Veterans Day parade and ceremony presented by the Marietta Kiwanis Club and the City of Marietta.

The parade starts at 10:45 a.m. at Roswell Street Baptist Church, then heads to the Marietta Square, with an anticipated start time of 11:11 for the ceremony.

That commemorates the Armistice to end World War I on Nov. 11, 1918, at 11:11 a.m.

On Saturday, Nov. 13, the Marietta Square will be the venue for a military appreciation concert by the Georgia Symphony Orchestra starting at 10:30 a.m.

It’s part of a larger event that follows the 7th annual American Legion Post 29 Veterans Memorial 5K run/walk/wheelchair race.

Proceeds from the race will benefit Shepherds Men SHARE Initiative, the Georgia National Guard Family Support Foundation and Post 29 Service Officer.

All the other Veterans Day events included here are free and open to the public.

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!

Proposed East Cobb legislative redistricting maps revealed

November 4, 2021 by Wendy Parker

Cobb Senate reapportionnent draft maps — *New Georgia Senate maps proposed by **Democrats**, at left, and **Republicans** differ sharply. Click the links for more details.*

Proposed redistricting of legislative seats in Georgia include some major changes in lines affecting lawmakers representing East Cobb.

As a special session got underway on Wednesday, legislators for both parties proposed new boundaries, based on the recent 2020 Census.

Republicans hold majorities in both the state House and Senate.

Since the last redistricting after the 2010 Census, most of East Cobb has been included in Senate District 32, which also includes slivers of Sandy Springs and North Fulton.

Since 2017, that seat has been held by Republican Kay Kirkpatrick.

The Democratic map revealed last week would keep those lines essentially the same, leaving all of the 32nd in East Cobb.

A map released Thursday by the Republican Senate Reapportionment Committee would slice up East Cobb into three Senate districts. The 32nd would include areas of Northeast Cobb and part of Cherokee County.

Senate District 6, which has been held by Democrat Jen Jordan, a candidate for Georgia Attorney General in 2022, is being proposed to include the Cumberland area and East Cobb closest to the City of Marietta and along part of the boundary with the Chattahoochee River.

Senate District 56, represented by North Fulton Republican John Albers, would be redrawn to include part of Northeast Cobb, south Cherokee and the Roswell area.

Cobb House reapportionment maps — *Proposed State House districts in Cobb from the **Democrats**, at left, and the **Republicans**. Click the links for details.*

In the House, a GOP map still includes five seats in the East Cobb area: District 37, held by Democrat Mary Frances Williams, and Districts 43-46, occupied by Republicans.

But notably, the Republican proposal drew two longtime GOP incumbents into the same district, State Rep. Matt Dollar of District 45 and State Rep. Sharon Cooper of District 43.

They are co-sponsors of the current East Cobb Cityhood bill that will be taken up in the 2022 legislative session, and they took part in a virtual town hall on the subject in April.

But on Thursday, Dollar announced he would not be seeking re-election after nearly 20 years in the legislature.

He did not explain his reasons in a response to the MDJ, but said he would be proud to be represented by Cooper.

She has been a lawmaker since 1997 and is the House Health and Human Services Committee Chairwoman, but has had two closely contested wins over Democrat Luisa Wakeman in 2018 and 2020.

East Cobb News has left a message with Dollar seeking comment.

The other two East Cobb House seats are held by Don Parsons (District 44) and John Carson District 46), who would continue to have safe seats in either of the proposed maps.

In September, Senate Republicans proposed a Congressional redistricting draft that would redraw the 6th District seat, held by Marietta Democrat Lucy McBath, into a more Republican area that would continue to include East Cobb.

In late October, legislative Democrats proposed their own draft that would keep the 6th largely as it is, including East Cobb, North Fulton, Sandy Springs and North DeKalb.

The special reapportionment session is expected to last at least through next week.

In January, when lawmakers reconvene for their 2022 session, they will conduct local reapportionment.

Cobb commissioner districts and school board posts will be redrawn by members of the county’s legislative delegation.

For more on reapportionment, click here.

East Cobb food scores: My Friend’s Place; schools; care homes

November 6, 2021November 4, 2021 by Wendy Parker

My Friend's Place, East Cobb food scores

The following East Cobb food scores for the week of Nov. 1 have been compiled by the Cobb & Douglas Department of Public Health. Click the link under each listing for inspection details:

Arbor Terrace of East Cobb
886 Johnson Ferry Road
November 4, 2021 Score: 91, Grade: A

Arby’s
4367 Roswell Road
November 2, 2021 Score: 88, Grade: B

Cazadores Mexican Restaurant
3165 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite D-2
November 4, 2021 Score: 85, Grade: B

Infusion Crab ATL
2044 Lower Roswell Road, Suite 300
November 3, 2021 Score: 100, Grade: A

Jet’s Pizza
2900 Delk Road, Suite 300
November 1, 2021 Score: 96, Grade: A

Keheley Elementary School
1985 Kemp Road
November 4, 2021 Score: 100, Grade: A

Kincaid Elementary School
1410 Kincaid Road
November 3, 2021 Score: 100, Grade: A

La Bella Pizza
2635 Sandy Plains Road, Suite A-7
November 3, 2021 Score: 94, Grade: A

McDonald’s
1291 Bells Ferry Road
November 1, 2021 Score: 80, Grade: B

Moe’s Southwest Grill
2022 Powers Ferry Road, Suite E
November 4, 2021 Score: 87, Grade: B

Mountain View Elementary School
3151 Sandy Plains Road
November 1, 2021 Score: 100, Grade: A

My Friend’s Place
1205 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 127
November 2, 2021 Score: 96, Grade: A

Simpson Middle School
3340 Trickum Road
November 1, 2021 Score: 100, Grade: A

The Solana East Cobb
1032 Johnson Ferry Road
November 3, 2021 Score: 93, Grade: A

Sprayberry High School
2525 Sandy Plains Road
November 3, 2021 Score: 100, Grade: A

The Phoenix at Johnson Ferry
9 Sherwood Lane
November 3, 2021 Score: 71, Grade: C

DETAILS: Atlanta Braves parade, Truist Park celebrations

November 4, 2021November 4, 2021 by Wendy Parker

Atlanta Braves parade

Submitted by the Atlanta Braves late Wednesday:

The parade route will begin [Friday 12 p.m.] at the corner of Marietta Street NW and Peachtree Street and travel North up Peachtree to 10th Street. The second phase of the parade will then continue through Cobb County on Cobb Parkway, beginning at the corner of Riverwood Parkway and culminating at Circle 75 Parkway [starting at 2 p.m.].

Braves Country is invited to line the parade route to cheer on their World Series Champion Atlanta Braves. Fans can also watch the parade and join the post-parade celebration and concert with Atlanta natives and Grammy Award-winning artists, Ludacris and Big Boi inside Truist Park [starting at 3:30 p.m.]. The Braves encourage fans to arrive early.

Tickets will be free but must be reserved in advance. Tickets and parking passes for the celebration at Truist Park will be available TOMORROW at www.Braves.com/parade. Premium and A-List Members and Braves Insiders will receive early access to reserve their tickets, beginning at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., respectively. Tickets will be available to the public beginning at 1 p.m.

To ensure the safety of all guests, The Battery Atlanta will have limited capacity on Friday, November 5, during the celebration. Access for non-ticket holders will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis. The Braves strongly recommend pre-purchasing parking.

Complete coverage of the World Series Championship Parade and team celebration will air live on Bally Sports South, Bally Sports Southeast, the Bally Sports app, and Twitter @BallyOnBraves beginning at 11:30 a.m. ET. The Bally Sports crew will be embedded throughout the city and The Battery Atlanta, including host Chip Caray; studio analysts Brian Jordan and Peter Moylan; and reporters Paul Byrd, Kelly Crull and Nick Green. Local channel listings can be found here.

To ensure the safety of all guests, The Battery Atlanta will have limited capacity on Friday, November 5, during the celebration. Access for non-ticket holders will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Also, watch out for significant traffic delays in the area around Battery Atlanta throughout Friday afternoon. Major impacts to traffic & bus service anticipated. Known areas of impact include Cobb Pkwy (Riverwood Pkwy to Battery Ave) & cross streets. Please plan accordingly.

On Thursday afternoon, Cobb County government issued some more details and suggestions for those planning on attending the parade and/or Truist Park events:

Fans who receive tickets to the celebration inside Truist Park should get parking at the time they secure their tickets and proceed directly to the stadium. Braves parking lots will open at 9 a.m. and require a purchased ticket.
Anyone coming to watch the parade procession should plan on heavy traffic and avoid Cobb Parkway. People are advised to carpool, use a ride service, and use a traffic app like Waze to get into the area.
Road closures along and near the parade route could start as early as 10 a.m.
Most of the parking along the parade route is privately owned, so fans should make sure they find a lot that is available for celebration parking.
Anyone who watches the procession south of I-285 and wants to walk toward Battery Atlanta should NOT attempt to cross under the interstate along Cobb Parkway. They should instead use the pedestrian bridge accessible from the Galleria parking lot.
To ensure the safety of all guests, The Battery Atlanta will have limited capacity during the celebration. Access for non-ticket holders will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you can’t attend or would rather watch, the MLB Network will simulcast coverage starting at 12 p.m. Friday.

Cobb schools closed Friday for Braves parade and celebrations

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 schools closed Friday for Braves parade, celebrations

November 4, 2021November 3, 2021 by Wendy Parker

The Battery Atlanta, World Series Security

There won’t be any classes Friday in the Cobb County School District, which has declared a “student and teacher” holiday due to festivities surrounding the Atlanta Braves.

The Braves are holding multiple events Friday after the team won its first World Series in 26 years Tuesday over the Houston Astros.

Here’s from a Cobb school district announcement Wednesday afternoon:

“The Atlanta Braves parade and celebratory events will occur in Cobb County during the day and this holiday will also keep anticipated high traffic, throughout Cobb County, as manageable as possible for everyone who lives in Cobb.

“Friday will be a student and teacher holiday while all annual and hourly staff will receive direction from their direct supervisor. After-school program (ASP) will not be available and Friday night athletic activities will remain as scheduled.”

Some of the details of the celebrations are still to be released; for now, the Braves are saying that they will have a parade in downtown Atlanta, then head up Interstate 75 for a celebration near their home stadium at Truist Park.

The downtown Atlanta parade begins at noon Friday along Peachtree Street, from Marietta Street to 10th Street, before heading to Cobb.

Cobb DOT sent out the following message at 4 p.m. Wednesday:

“Braves parade will be on Friday (11/5) starting in Atl and ending in Cobb. Major impacts to traffic & bus service anticipated. Known areas of impact include Cobb Pkwy (Riverwood Pkwy to Battery Ave) & cross streets. Please plan accordingly. Details will be shared as available.”

Marietta City Schools and the Fulton County School System also have called off classes for Friday because of the Braves’ events.

Here are details about the parade and a Truist Park celebration that includes a free concert with Ludacris and Big Boi.

The World Series championship is the second for the Braves since they moved to Atlanta in 1965. The Braves also won Game 6 of the 1995 World Series at Atlanta Fulton-County Stadium, before moving to Turner Field from 1997-2017.

The franchise’s other World Series titles occurred in Boston in 1914 and Milwaukee in 1957.

Nearly 20,000 fans showed up at Truist Park Tuesday for a viewing party for the clinching Game 6 in Houston.

Crowds of more than 100,000 were reported at Truist and The Battery Atlanta for the three World Series games played last weekend in Cobb County.

A Veterans Day parade is scheduled for The Battery on Saturday.

A Fractured School Board

Purchases in Question

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 Post:

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 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 posts:

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:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related posts:

Send Us Your News!

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related stories:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

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 story:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related stories

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this: