Cobb school calendars adopted for 2018-2020; Sweeney lone opposing vote

It wasn’t quite unanimous, but close. The Cobb Board of Education Thursday voted 6-1 to adopt Cobb school calendars for the 2018-20 academic years after a brief discussion.

Scott Sweeney, Cobb school calendars
Scott Sweeney

The board didn’t make any changes to the calendars proposed by Superintendent Chris Ragsdale (see charts below). The first day of school for each of the next two years will begin on Aug. 1, and will include regularly scheduled breaks that have been the case in the last few years.

The “balanced” calendar had been the subject of strong board and community division in recent years, but not for this calendar scheduling cycle.

The only vote against was Scott Sweeney of Post 6 in East Cobb, who repeated comments he made at a recent work session that a large number of messages he’s received (63 percent) were in favor of a delayed start to the school year.

He also cited other issues, such as extracurricular activities, that are affected by a balanced calendar, and said he hasn’t received any evidence of academic improvements based on the adoption of a balanced calendar.

Connie Jackson of the Cobb County Association of Educators repeated the organization’s support of the balanced calendar and urged the board to use the adopted calendars to serve as a template for future years.

Also on Thursday, the board accepted the resignation of Mary Elizabeth Davis, the Cobb County School District’s Chief Academic Officer. She has been named the new superintendent for Henry County public schools.

Adopted 2018-19 Cobb school calendar

Cobb school calendars

Adopted 2019-2020 Cobb school calendar

Cobb school calendars

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EAST COBB HALLOWEEN EVENTS: Trunk or Treats; Pope Dead Band Running 5K; Holiday Décor Market and more

East Cobb Halloween events

Don’t need much of a drumroll introduction for what’s coming up over the next few days. The East Cobb Halloween events calendar is absolutely loaded (and if we’ve missed your event there’s still time to let us know. E-mail calendar@eastcobbnews.com and we’ll post it!). So many trunk or treat events, assorted fall festivals and a new spooky event that may become a bonafide tradition: The Pope Dead Band Running 5K. Pope also has a Haunted Theater presentation of “The Dollhouse” to ramp up a frightening selection of Halloween-themed events

Also on tap this weekend is the Sprayberry Hall of Fame Gala and two final events of the fall that have become community stand-bys: Sunday Funday at East Cobb Park, and the Paper Mill Village Food Truck on Monday:

  • Trunk or Treats galore: Kicking off Friday at 6 at Addison ES, and including similar events for kids at St. Catherine’s Episcopal on Saturday, Wesley Chapel UMC on Sunday and on Halloween itself, at Powers Ferry UMC;Pope Dead Band Running 5K, East Cobb Halloween events
  • Run for Your Haunted Lives: A 5K run at night? In the spirit of Halloween, that’s what the Pope High School Marching Band has put together from 7-9 Saturday at the Mountain View Aquatic Center (2650 Gordy Parkway): The Pope Dead Band Running 5K, and you can show up in a costume or regular running attire. The proceeds raise funds for the band, which says it needs to replace Bessie, its aging equipment truck. Race-day registration begins at 6 p.m.;
  • Terrifying dollies: The Pope Haunted Theater gets into the spirit of Halloween with presentations of “The Dollhouse” Saturday and Sunday at $6, after two previous shows this week;
  • Last Call for Pumpkin Patches: They’re on sale at a few East Cobb churches through Halloween;
  • Get Your Pumpkin Carving On: Once you get your pumpkin, bring it on by the Mountain View Regional Library (3320 Sandy Plains Road) from 2-3 on Saturday for a carving event. It’s ideally for kids K-5 to enjoy, but you can come by even if you’re older;
  • Shopping for the kitties: With Halloween near, it also means it’s time for the Good Mews Holiday Décor Market, which starts Saturday at the Sandy Plains Exchange Shopping Center (1860 Sandy Plains Road, at Scufflegrit Road). The hours are 10-6 Saturdays and 12-6 Sundays, and the sale continues through Dec. 17. The proceeds benefit the Good Mews programs to care and place homeless cats for adoption, and they’re taking gently-used items on-site on Saturday until 3 p.m.;
  • All the way to state: The high school football season is winding down, with only two games left. Walton has already clinched a state playoff berth, and Lassiter and Kell have the best chances of joining them. But the biggest high school sporting events this weekend involve the young ladies of East Cobb. On Saturday, Walton attempts a three-peat in the Class 7A state volleyball finals against Etowah (6 p.m., Marietta High School, 1171 Whitlock Ave.). In Columbus, the Pope softball team is competing in the Class 6A softball finals, which got underway Thursday. We’ll be posting updates on these events as we get the results, so keep checking back for the latest scores;
  • Piedmont Church Fall Festival: Sunday will be an all-day and all-night of activities at the Piedmont Church (570 Piedmont Road). Sunday morning services will be followed by a family fall festival from 6-8, including pumpkin painting, a petting zoo and food. The event is free and open to the public.

Check out our full calendar listings page for more things to do this weekend and beyond. Did we miss something? Have an event you’d like to share with the East Cobb community? E-mail your calendar listing to: calendar@eastcobbnews.com and we’ll post it ASAP! Here’s more information on how to send your news to East Cobb News!

Have a great weekend!

Cobb-Marietta Marching Band Exhibition rescheduled for Monday

Wheeler High School Band, Cobb-Marietta Marching Band Exhibition
The Wheeler High School band, marching in the East Cobber parade in September (East Cobb News file photo).

Weather has twice postponed the Cobb-Marietta Marching Band Exhibition this month, and now a new date has been set and the weather should be just fine: This coming Monday, Oct. 30.

The exhibition starts at 7 p.m. at the Walter Cantrell Stadium at McEachern High School, 2400 New Macland Road, Powder Springs.

Monday’s exhibition includes bands from three East Cobb high schools: Lassiter, Sprayberry and Wheeler. Also scheduled to perform are the bands from Hillgrove, McEachern, Osborne and South Cobb.

Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students, and only cash is accepted.

Cobb school calendar adoption for 2018-20 years expected tonight

A reminder that the Cobb school calendar for the 2018-20 academic years are slated for adoption tonight.Cobb School Calendars

It’s the last item on the Cobb Board of Education’s regular meeting agenda. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the board room of the Cobb County School District Central Office, 514 Glover Street, Marietta. (here’s a link to the full agenda).

Earlier this month, the board discussed Superintendent Chris Ragsdale’s proposed calendars for the 2018-19 and 2019-2020 years, which would both start on Aug. 1 (previous East Cobb News post here).

While there hasn’t been the contentious reaction from school parents or on the board as in previous news, East Cobb school board member Scott Sweeney noted at the work session that he gets a lot of feedback from parents who want a later starting date.

Both proposed calendars have generally the same scheduled breaks—late September in the fall, mid-February in the winter and early April in the spring—as well as the usual Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Year’s holiday breaks.

For the 2018-19 proposed calendar, the last day of school would be May 22, and for 2018-19, the final day would be May 20 (The full calendar proposals are attached at the bottom of this post).

Also tonight, the school board will formally recognize both Dickerson Middle School and Dodgen Middle School, which were recently named National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education (previous East Cobb News post here).

The board also will honor Dickerson, which was recently given an Award of Excellence in Physical Education by the Georgia Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance.

Proposed 2018-19 Cobb school calendar

CCSD 2018-19 Calendar Proposal

Proposed 2019-2020 Cobb school calendar

CCSD 2019-20 Calendar Proposal

To enhance what you see on East Cobb News, I’m attending LION Publishers conference

A little bit of an editor’s note: I’m in Chicago, attending the LION Publishers conference through the end of the week.

The full name of the organization is the Local Independent Online News Publishers, of which East Cobb News is a member. I joined LION the day I started East Cobb News in July, because it’s a great resource for newcomers to news entrepreneurship like myself. Lion Publishers

For nearly three days, around 200 of us will be learning about how to build and sustain local news businesses, supporting the journalism we do with measures to develop revenue streams, master the latest technology and better engage with our readers and communities.

I’ll still be posting stories here over the next few days, so don’t hesitate to contact me with calendar items, news tips, event coverage and photos and questions at wendy@eastcobbnews.com. I might not be able to respond or post right away, because the conference schedule is packed with so many things I need to learn to continue to improve East Cobb News.

This is a new thing that many of us are embarking upon, doing online news similar to how local and small-town newspapers evolved a century or so ago. They were started by people in their communities, and covered only their communities.

About East Cobb News, Wendy ParkerWhile I’ve lived in East Cobb a good deal of my life and have been a journalist for a very long time, I’m new to the business of running a news site. I have a lot of ideas in my aim to make East Cobb News an indispensable source of news, events and information for this community.

But I need to learn from those who have been successful in what one of those publishers refers to as “locally sourced news.” With the holidays just around the corner, I’m especially eager to shift into a higher gear as I develop East Cobb News, and with the support of so many of you. Enjoy the rest of your week, and please stay in touch!

Registration underway for East Cobb Veterans Day Celebration event

An East Cobb Veterans Day celebration scheduled for Nov. 10 is free to veterans and family members of those who have served.

UPDATE: We’ve been notified that the reservation limit has been reached. In other words, it’s “sold” out; however you can put your name on a waiting list.

However, they are required to register by the end of next week, Nov. 3, to reserve their place, and they must do so in person. There’s also a ticket limit (see details below).East Cobb Veterans Day celebration

The East Cobb Senior Center and the East Cobb McCleskey Family YMCA and Northeast Cobb YMCA are teaming up to sponsor the event, which takes place from 5-8 p.m. Nov. 10 at the East Cobb Senior Center, 3332 Sandy Plains Road.

The event includes music and dinner, and the special guest is Cobb commission chairman Mike Boyce, a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer.

More from Cobb District 3 commissioner JoAnn Birrell:

“The keynote speaker will be Cobb County Chairman Col. Mike Boyce (Ret.). . . Doors will open at 4:45 p.m. for seating and fellowship. Program will begin promptly at 5 p.m.

Anyone who desires to attend must register no later than Friday, Nov. 3. Registration is open to those 18 years of age and older and you must visit the East Cobb Senior Center’s front desk to request a ticket. Limit two tickets per household.  

“For more info, contact the East Cobb Senior Center at 770-509-4900 or McCleskey and Northeast Cobb YMCAs at 770-977-5991.”

School-related Terrell Mill Road traffic improvements get approval

Several Terrell Mill Road traffic improvements to accommodate the relocations of Brumby Elementary School and East Cobb Middle School were approved Tuesday by the Cobb Board of Commissioners.

The commissioners approved a measure to spend $427,656 for a new traffic signal, a sidewalk and flashing beacons around the new school sites, which are under construction adjacent to one another and are set to open for the 2018-19 school year.Brumby-ECMS Traffic Map, Terrell Mill Road traffic

The low bid was from Glosson Enterprises, Inc., and the work is expected to be done by July 22, 2018—a little more than a week before the start of school.

The money is earmarked from the 2016 Cobb government SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax).

The signal will be installed at Terrell Mill Road and Greenwood Trail, at the joint entrances to the schools. The sidewalk will be constructed on the north side of Greenwood Trail, from Terrell Mill Road to Foxcroft Circle. Here’s more from Cobb DOT:

“To mitigate impacts of the new signal at Terrell Mill Road and Greenwood Trail and along the Terrell Mill Road Corridor, the adaptive signal timing area will be expanded to include the new signal and four other existing area traffic signals.”

Greenwood Trail Condemnation, Terrell Mill Road trafficThe commissioners also approved a measure that would allow Cobb DOT to begin condemnation proceedings against two property owners in the area should right-of-way negotiations with them fall through.

Cobb DOT said discussions are continuing with Victoria Kelly and Erin Bell, property owners at 3141 and 3142 Greenwood Trail, respectively, both located at the intersection of Terrell Mill Road.

The county needs 253 square feet and 430 square feet, respectively, from the property owners for right-of-way and construction easements to complete the traffic improvements. Condemnation would be employed only to meet project deadlines.

Mabry Park construction plans delayed again, will be reconsidered in November

Mabry Park

Not for the first time, Mabry Park construction plans have been put on hold. The three members of the Cobb Board of Commissioners who voted on Tuesday to table the item are pledging that it won’t be for long, but that it must be done.

The Northeast Cobb commissioner who fought long and hard for her community to have a passive park doesn’t think any further delays are necessary, even though this one may be for only a month.

“It’s long overdue,” commissioner JoAnn Birrell said, choking up with emotion and pleading for her colleagues to approve a $2.85 million construction contract at Tuesday’s regular meeting. “I see no reason to hold this.”

By a 3-2 vote, however, the commissioners voted to table approval of the contract, to Integrated Construction and Nobility, Inc., with the measure slated to be taken up again on Nov. 14.

Commission chairman Mike Boyce wants Mabry Park and other projects approved by voters through SPLOST referendums to be reviewed for long-term operations and maintenance costs, since that funding comes out of the annual county budget.

The SPLOST impact statements and a policy proposed by Boyce to govern them are among the topics at a commissioners retreat next week. That’s why Boyce said he sought the delay.

By law, projects approved via SPLOST (Special Local Option Sales Tax) must be funded. How to pay for their recurring expenses has been a vexing one for commissioners, who recently voted to spend $20 million in reserve money to balance the fiscal year 2018 budget.

“The project that got caught between a rock and a hard place is Mabry Park,” Boyce said. “We’re going to commit to these parks, but we have a bigger problem here and we need to solve this now.”

Boyce was supported by East Cobb commissioner Bob Ott, whose district now includes Mabry Park, and Bob Weatherford.

Tabling the Mabry Park contract approval comes a week after the commissioners hotly debated additional funding for the new Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center, another SPLOST project that has more staff and higher operational costs than the East Marietta Library it is replacing.

The Cobb Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs has indicated that once that complete, Mabry Park will incur an initial one-time cost of $22,230 for maintenance tools and equipment. Starting with the fiscal year 2019 budget, ongoing annual expenses are estimated to be $104,922. Of that total, $73,122 will go for staff salaries and benefits, and another $31,800 is projected for utilities and operational supplies.

Birrell cited the decade-long process of SPLOST approval, the development of the park master plan and the formation of the Friends of Mabry Park citizens group, which has raised more than $60,000 to help fund the project, located on 26.5 acres at Wesley Chapel Road and Sandy Plains Road.

JoAnn BIrrell, Mabry Park
Commissioner JoAnn Birrell represented the area around Mabry Park until this year following redistricting. (East Cobb News file photo)

“It’s a crying shame that we’re still discussing the construction of Mabry Park,” she said.

But Ott, who inherited the Mabry Park area this year due to redistricting, said it’s prudent for a delay so the board can work through the impact statement policy.

“We cannot continue to build things and not open them because they’re not funded,” Ott said.

He also pointed to unfinished projects in his district, including Hyde Farm (whose proponents have raised more than $350,000) and shifting $1 million in sidewalk funding as part of a series of “very difficult” decisions that have had to be made because of existing commitments.

Hania Whitfield, a former executive board member of the Friends of Mabry Park, was one of several citizens who spoke Tuesday to urge the commissioners to approve the construction contract.

“Many have lost faith they will be able to use the park,” especially seniors, she said. “There is an indisputable lack of green space access in the Northeast Cobb portion of the county.”

Boyce, supported by parks advocates during his successful campaign last year to oust former chairman Tim Lee, said the need to hammer out an impact statement policy can’t be postponed.

“We have to stop and put this together,” he said. “We have to start with something.

“Once we get this process in place, we will never have this problem again.”

 

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East Cobb business update: What’s coming soon to Providence Square

Five Below, Providence Square

A few readers have asked about what’s coming in the former Uncle Maddio’s Pizza spot at Providence Square Shopping Center. We went by recently and renovations are still underway for a new Salata location, but there’s not an estimated time of opening beyond the fall.

Salata is making its way into the Atlanta area, with a recent opening at Atlantic Station and another restaurant planned for Sandy Springs. Uncle Maddio’s closed at Providence Square earlier this year.

The discount store Five Below is moving into a former party store space between T.J. Maxx and Rack Room Shoes. Opening is scheduled for the spring and hiring has begun.

Five Below also has locations near Town Center, Sandy Springs and Woodstock.

Do you know of a new business coming soon to East Cobb? Wonder what might be going into a vacant space? Get in touch with us! E-mail editor@eastcobbnews.com and we’ll update the community.

Proposed Terrell Mill Towne Center project subject of community meeting

Terrell Mill Towne Center
Eden Rock Real Estate Partners aerial rendering of the Terrell Mill Towne Center.

What’s currently the location of Brumby Elementary School and adjoining office and retail space along Powers Ferry Road is set to become the Terrell Mill Towne Center.

That’s the name the developers of a proposed 23-acre mixed-use project at the northwest intersection of Terrell Mill and Powers Ferry are calling their project. It is to be anchored by a 100,000-square-foot Kroger superstore, and plans include restaurant and retail space and 340 luxury residential units.

Eden Rock Real Estate Partners, which has a zoning application before the Cobb Board of Commissioners, will detail their plans Wednesday at a meeting held by the Powers Ferry Corridor Alliance.

That meeting takes place at 7 p.m. at Brumby Elementary School, 1306 Powers Ferry Road. The PFCA, a citizens’ organization, was formerly called the Terrell Mill Community Association.

County development, public safety, transportation and school officials also have been invited to attend.

Brumby, which is relocating for the next school year to a new site on Terrell Mill Road, is where the new Kroger would be built (and moving down Powers Ferry from its current venue near Delk Road).

(Here’s a marketing package Eden Rock has prepared for potential tenants, touting the location’s proximity to SunTrust Park and the new Terrell Mill interchange with Interstate 75 that’s slated to open next spring.)

Eden Rock’s zoning application (here’s the most recently updated agenda item packet) has been delayed several months. The proposal would convert land currently zoned for general commerical, neighborhood shopping and residential (that’s Brumby, as are most schools) to a community retail center.

The Cobb Planning Commission will hear the application on Dec. 5, and the Cobb Board of Commissioners are scheduled to act on Dec. 12.

This will be the final round of zoning decisions in Cobb until February, since the commissioners do not hear zoning cases in January.

 

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EAST COBB IN PHOTOS: Show off your Halloween decorations!

East Cobb in photos, Halloween decorations

Halloween is exactly a week from today, and already many East Cobb homes, neighborhoods and businesses are decked out in creative ways.

We saw this leisurely display in the Riverhill neighborhood off Johnson Ferry Road, and thought we’d solicit more Halloween community photos.

All you have to do is e-mail us and attach your photo(s) to: wendy@eastcobbnews.com. Let us know who you are and where you live so we can give you proper credit as we try to get a good representative sampling from all around East Cobb.

At the end of the week, as Oct. 31 rolls around, we’ll publish a photo gallery.

In the meantime, check out these community Halloween events, some of which are taking place during the week, and go by one of these East Cobb churches for a pumpkin. These pumpkin patches are open every day through Halloween.

East Cobb community piano program expands to Egg Harbor Cafe

Tommy, East Cobb community piano
“Tommy” will make his debut at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Nov. 4 at Egg Harbor Cafe in East Cobb. (Photo provided by Play It Again Pianos)

Back in July East Cobb Park was the benefactor of a community piano program thanks to Play Me Again Pianos, a local non-profit (previous East Cobb News post here).

“Sunny,” named after East Cobb Park advocate Sunny Walker and located in the upper gazebo, will have some nearby accompaniment of sorts soon, at Egg Harbor Cafe (4719 Lower Roswell Road, Suite 210), on Nov. 4.

That’s when “Tommy” will be unveiled during a ribbon-cutting at 12 p.m. Like “Sunny,” the first tunes played on “Tommy” will be by a young local student musician.

It’s the latest in a community piano program started last year by East Cobb-based Play Me Again Pianos, co-founded by Jason and Kelly Brett. Their aim is to purchase, restore, paint and place 88 pianos throughout the metro Atlanta area, designed for community use.

Angela Lockman, East Cobb Middle School
Angela Lockman, East Cobb Middle School art teacher.

“Tommy” is also locally painted, by Angela​ ​Decker​ ​Lockman, a visual arts teacher at East Cobb Middle School.

“Street​ ​pianos​ ​and​ ​public​ ​pianos​ ​inspire​ ​people​ ​to​ ​connect​ ​with​ ​each​ ​other​ ​in​ ​ways​ ​that​ ​were once​ ​common,​ ​but​ ​seem​ ​increasingly​ ​rare,” Jason Brett said. ​”By​ ​adding​ ​our​ ​pianos​ ​to​ ​the​ ​landscape​ ​throughout the​ ​metropolitan​ ​area,​ ​we​ ​hope​ ​to​ ​nurture​ ​that​ ​connection​ ​into​ ​an​ ​evolution​ ​of​ ​Atlanta’s culture,​ ​community​ ​and​ ​the​ ​arts.”​

Here’s Lockman, last year’s Middle​ ​School​ ​Art​ ​Specialist​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Year​ ​for​ ​the​ ​Cobb​ ​County School​ ​District, on how she went about her work:

“My​ ​vision was​ ​to​ ​translate​ ​what​ ​we​ ​love​ ​about​ ​our​ ​area​ ​onto​ ​eggs​ ​that​ ​cover​ ​the​ ​piano. There​ ​are​ ​16​ ​eggs​ ​that​ ​encompass​ ​fun​ ​places​ ​to​ ​visit,​ ​our​ ​sports​ ​teams,​ ​and​ ​even​ ​the​ ​lyrics​ ​to our​ ​state​ ​song,​ ​‘Georgia​ ​On​ ​My​ ​Mind.’ Then​ ​as​ ​a​ ​nod​ ​to​ ​our​ ​host,​ ​we​ ​also​ ​incorporated​ ​two brightly-colored​ ​roosters​ ​and​ ​the​ ​Egg​ ​Harbor​ ​Cafe​ ​logo.”

The Bretts said “Tommy” is named after a member of the family-run Egg Harbor Cafe business. Unlike others in the family who had menu items named after them, there was no mention of Tommy on menus or business literature or logos.

Other Play Me Again Pianos are located ​in​ ​Chastain​ ​Park,​ ​​The​ ​Woodruff​ ​Arts Center,​ Colony​ ​Square,​ ​the​ ​Dunwoody​ ​Nature Center,​ ​the​ ​Chamblee​ ​Rail​ ​Trail,​ ​​Brookhaven,​ ​Ponce​ ​City Market,​ ​Atlantic​ ​Station​ ​and​ ​Alpharetta.​ ​​ ​

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Mabry Park construction contract on Cobb commissioners agenda

Mabry Park

The long-delayed development of a passive park in Northeast Cobb could formally come to fruition Tuesday night. On the Cobb Board of Commissioners regular meeting agenda is an item that would provide funding for a Mabry Park construction contract.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the 2nd floor boardroom of the Cobb BOC building, 100 Cherokee, St., in downtown Marietta.

A low-bid proposal of $2.85 million was submitted by Integrated Construction and Nobility, Inc., of Whitesburg, Ga., to develop the 26.5-acre tract of land at 4470 Wesley Chapel Road designated for Mabry Park.

The company has a previous history of working with Cobb Parks and Recreation, including recent renovations to Sewell Park.

The county purchased the Mabry Park land with funding from the 2006 Cobb Parks Bond Program, but has nothing further due to the recession.

In August, bids for the construction project went out, and the Friends of Mabry Park citizens group was ecstatic. The group has tempered its enthusiasm somewhat because of longer-term funding issues.

A message on the Friends of Mabry Park Facebook page urged supporters to turn out for Tuesday’s meeting because “we need to let the Board know how important Mabry Park is to our area!!” Here’s more:

“We’re not home free yet… While the park was voted on and approved by the residents of Cobb, funded in the SPLOST and is required to be built, there are rumors that it could be delayed while funding for future maintenance is resolved.

“It’s been 11 years since the County purchased the land. We’ve waited long enough…”

The Mabry Park construction contract item comes on the heels of the commission’s delayed vote earlier this month to fund additional staffing for the new Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center.

Commissioners adopted a fiscal year 2018 budget in September that includes contingency funding to close a $21 million shortfall. This came not long after they declined to increase the property tax millage rate.

While Cobb voters have approved new facilities in the SPLOST, annual funding of operations comes from the county budget, and commissioners have hotly debated how to resolve the issue.

In a related item on Tuesday’s agenda, the board will vote on choosing a contractor for sidewalk improvements that include servicing Mabry Park once it’s developed. A low bid of $783,000 for the 0.4-mile project was submitted by Excellere Construction of East Cobb.

The sidewalk will be built on the east side of Wesley Chapel Road from Garrison Mill Elementary School to Sandy Plains Road, connecting pedestrians to nearby subdivisions as well as Mabry Park.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Missing that East Cobb fall feeling

East Cobb fall
Late October and it’s all green in many East Cobb neighborhoods. (East Cobb News photo by Wendy Parker)

One of the things my mother misses most since her move to Florida a number of years ago is a real, authentic autumn. That East Cobb fall feeling, I always called it, at least in my own mind.

A native of Wisconsin, she grew to relish the four full, distinct seasons we seem to have in Georgia. While coming here was initially culture shock for her—this was the South of the early 1960s, as air conditioning, school integration and multiple-lane roads were still new—she grew to regard the place as home.

It’s still home for me, the only member of the family who hasn’t relocated to the Florida panhandle or Alabama Gulf Coast (perhaps I should take a hint?). Like mother, I really do revere the autumns around here, and drives through neighborhoods in East Cobb like where we once lived, that still retain the trees and feel of a community as it was coming to be what we know it today.

When I traversed down our old residential street the other day, it looked very different than how it always did in late October. The lush green colors gave off the feel of mid-summer, instead of the yellow, orange and brown of autumn.

In fact, if you go most anywhere in the community, it doesn’t feel like fall at all. Even East Cobb Park, with its majestic backdrop of high trees framing a singular shade of green, dark green, and hardly any leaves falling anywhere.

Don’t get me wrong: I’m not complaining about 70-degree temperatures, for when they go away, they will disappear fast, with a cold winter likely setting in.

For the moment, however, it’s just a different feeling, a week before Halloween, without the natural accompaniment to go with the pumpkin patches and other signs of the coming holiday seasons.

They will be here soon enough, with November just around the corner. While these Indian Summer days are a nice reward for enduring the heat of June, July and August, I’m eager for the fall to start feeling like it, and the beautiful sights of the season that for me is the most special of all.

Whatever you’re doing this week, make it a great one! Thanks so much for reading East Cobb News

EAST COBB TRAFFIC UPDATE: Lower Roswell road work completion expected Nov. 1

Lower Roswell road work
(East Cobb News file photo)

If you travel along Lower Roswell Road around the Sope Creek Bridge, you’re still subjected to the weekday lane closures that have been in place since the East Cobb Pipeline Project began in late 2015.

Well, there is a projected end date for the delays as the post-installation Lower Roswell Road work nears completion: Nov. 1, according to Commissioner Bob Ott’s office, which sent out word Friday.

It was a brief message, noting that “final paving will be done in the evening hours. Thank you to everyone for your patience over the year. Hopefully traffic patterns will return to pre-pipeline.”

Further west on Lower Roswell, repaving work continues between Holt Road and the South Marietta Parkway as part of a separate traffic improvements project that includes road widening and turn lanes, especially around Sedalia Park Elementary School and Eastvalley Elementary School. Here’s more from Ott’s office about that:

This project consists of widening Lower Roswell Road from approximately 425 feet east of SR120/South Marietta Parkway to Holt Road, and includes the addition of left-turn lanes, right-turn lanes, and signal modifications. The project will also add sidewalks within the project limits, and will include resurfacing from SR120/South Marietta Parkway to Terrell Mill Road. 
 
Resurfacing Operations NIGHT WORK – are scheduled through Sunday, Nov. 12on Lower Roswell Road between Utica Drive and South Marietta ParkwayExpect lane closures between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. with one lane remaining open at all times. 

The portion of Lower Roswell between Terrell Mill and Holt has been repaved, but there is still striping work to be done.

Walton football beats Lassiter, clinches playoff spot; Sprayberry ends losing streak

The Walton football team under first-year coach Daniel Brunner remains undefeated and has now sewn up a state playoff spot.

The Raiders did that on Friday night at Raider Valley in a 42-19 win over East Cobb rival Lassiter in a key Region 4AAAAAAA contest. Walton HS logo, Walton Pope volleyball, Walton football

Although starting Walton quarterback Austin Kirksey didn’t return following a third-quarter injury, running back D.J. Soyoye more than made for his loss with two touchdown scores in the second half as the Raiders (8-0) pulled away from the Trojans (4-3) down the stretch.

Walton, which has regular season games remaining against Etowah and Woodstock, is the first East Cobb high school football team to qualify for the state playoffs.

Lassiter is still in contention for a post-season berth and will close out against Cherokee and Etowah.

Sprayberry was hopeful at the start of the season with a new coach, former Yellow Jackets player Brett Vavra. After winning their opener, however, they lost six in a row. On Friday at home, Sprayberry ended that skid with a 17-14 win over River Ridge. Sprayberry doesn’t have a post-season shot, but has two games left against Creekside and Sequoyah to try to finish with some momentum.

The three other East Cobb teams suffered some heartbreak on Friday, with playoff berths within reach.

The Kell Longhorns took a 28-7 lead at home against Carrollton, with a chance to nail down a home playoff game. But Carrollton surged back and kicked a field goal with time expiring to earn a 45-42 victory. The Longhorns (4-4) are still in the hunt for the post-season, and play Woodland and Hiram over the next two weeks.

Pope fell behind early at Chattahoochee on Friday, then mounted a comeback that fell short in another wild finish, a 46-41 loss. The Greyhounds are 3-5 and have an outside playoff chance, with games remaining against Centennial and Northview.

Wheeler led a good bit of the night on Friday at Campbell, but were defeated 35-23 to fall to 2-6 on the season. The Wildcats also are winless in regional play and will close out their season against Westlake and Pebblebrook.

Sam Olens’ installation as KSU president marked by student protests

A week that was supposed to have been a festive one for Sam Olens has turned out to be very different.

Olens, an East Cobb resident and former Cobb commission chairman and Georgia Attorney General, was formally installed this week as the president of Kennesaw State University.Sam Olens, Kennesaw State University

It’s a post Olens has held since last year, but what’s called the “investiture” ceremony was scheduled for Thursday.

Some KSU students used the occasion to stage a protest in support of five cheerleaders who were removed from the football field before games because they were kneeling during the national anthem.

That decision came after Cobb Sheriff Neil Warren and Earl Erhart, a Republican state representative from Cobb County, objected to the demonstrations.

Olens, who developed a reputation as a strong consensus builder during his time leading Cobb County government, has said little about the controversy.

As reported by the Cobb County Courier and the KSU Sentinel, Olens said nothing during Thursday’s installation speech. He also has denied feeling the pressure from Warren and Erhart, although text messages made public reveal that the two elected officials credited themselves with the decision to keep the cheerleaders away from pre-game activities.

Olens’ tenure has been relatively quiet since the early weeks of his administration, which was met with some opposition. Those complaints included the lack of a full search process and his lack of a higher education administrative background.

Last month, Olens was the special guest of both the East Cobb Business Association and the Northeast Cobb Business Association.

That was right before the cheerleaders began to kneel, and now the Georgia Board of Regents will be conducting a review of the matter.

On Saturday, the Kennesaw State football team will be playing its first home game since the controversy began. The Owls play host to Gardner-Webb for homecoming at 7 p.m.

Walton, Pope volleyball teams play home matches Saturday in state tournament

The Walton and Pope volleyball teams will be playing host to Georgia High School Association state quarterfinal matches on Saturday.

The Walton Raiders, defending state champions and ranked No. 1 in Class 7A, will entertain South Forsyth at 2 p.m. in the Walton gym, aka The Pit. The Raiders are 37-1 on the season, and their only loss came in recently in an Arizona tournament to Mater Dei of California, which is ranked in the Top 10 nationally.Walton HS logo, Walton Pope volleyball

The Walton team is marking the match as a “black out”—asking fans to wear black. If you need something black to wear, they’ll be selling Black Pit Crew t-shirts and hoodies at the match.

According to the latest national rankings by MaxPrep, Walton is at No. 2 in the country and is the only school from Georgia in the Top 25.

At 3 p.m. Saturday, the Pope Greyhounds (32-8), will take on Greenbrier of Evans, Ga. (near Augusta). The Greyhounds are repeating their 2016 trip to the Class 6A Elite Eight and are looking for their first state championship since 2011.

Lassiter’s season ended earlier this week in a state tournament loss to East Coweta. The Trojans finished with a record of 18-11.

Admission to both the Walton and Pope volleyball matches Saturday is $5. The winners will advance to the semifinals next Wednesday.

The state championship round takes place next Saturday, Oct. 28, at Marietta High School.

EAST COBB WEEKEND EVENTS: Haunted Hustle Run; band festival; Walton-Lassiter football; Pope Theater; ‘Roman Reads’ and more

East Cobb weekend events, Southern Invitational Music Festival
The Sprayberry Band of Gold once again is host of the Southern Invitational Music Festival, from 10-10 on Saturday at Jim Frazier Stadium. 

It’s finally starting to really feel like fall, and with Halloween coming in just a little more than a week, so are the pumpkin-related East Cobb weekend events:

  • Kicking off one of many such Halloween activities on Saturday is the Haunted Hustle Race, a 1k/5k event at the Northeast Cobb YMCA (3010 Johnson Ferry Road). The shorter race starts at 7:30 a.m. with the feature event following at 8;
  • Don’t forget the ongoing Pumpkin Patches at several East Cobb churches that continue all the way to Halloween. They’re open daily and generally have extended hours on the weekends;
  • The high school football regular season is reaching its climax, and with crisp fall weather in the air the timing couldn’t be better for an East Cobb backyard rivalry game on Friday. It’s Lassiter at undefeated and state-ranked Walton, at 7:30 p.m. at Raider Valley (1590 Bill Murdock Road), with region and playoff implications on the line;
  • In other games on Friday, Kell is playing host to Carrollton, and Sprayberry is also at home against River Ridge. Wheeler and Pope travel to Campbell and Chattahoochee, respectively;
  • Sprayberry’s Jim Frazier Stadium (2525 Sandy Plains Road) will be an extra busy place this weekend, continuing on Saturday with the 34th annual Southern Invitational Music Festival. The hosts Sprayberry Band of Gold are putting on the judged competition that lasts from 10-10, with prep marching bands coming from around the Southeast;
  • Saturday also will be a quick turnaround for the Lassiter band, which is putting on the Lassiter Band Community Recycling Day from 9-4 at the school (2601 Shallowford Road);
  • While the weather’s supposed to be in the 70s and at least partly sunny this weekend, there are some indoor events worth noting here, including the Roman Reads Family Storytime session from 2:30-3:30 at Mountain View Regional Library (3320 Sandy Plains Road). It’s aimed at grade school to middle school kids and is presented by the Wheeler High School Junior Classical League;
  • If you like your drama staged and indoors, there’s the Pope Theater version of “12 Angry Jurors” continues Friday and Saturday at 7, plus a Saturday matinee at 3 at the school (3001 Hembree Road).

Check out our full calendar listings page for more things to do this weekend and beyond. Did we miss something? Have an event you’d like to share with the East Cobb community? E-mail your calendar listing to: calendar@eastcobbnews.com and we’ll post it ASAP! Here’s more information on how to send your news to East Cobb News!

Have a great weekend!

East Cobb restaurant scores: Camps; Egg Harbor; Marlow’s; Suburban Tap and more

Egg Harbor Cafe, East Cobb restaurant scores

The following East Cobb restaurant scores from Sept. 21-Oct. 19 have been compiled by the Cobb & Douglas Department of Public Health. Click the link under each listing to view details of the inspection:

American Wings 
2555 Delk Road, Suite A-8
October 5, 2017 Score: 79, Grade: C

Arbor Terrace of East Cobb 
886 Johnson Ferry Road
October 19, 2017 Score: 87, Grade: B

BiteFull Catering
2217 Roswell Road, Suite B1
October 5, 2017 Score: 57, Grade: U
October 16, 2017 Score: 99, Grade: A

Buen Provecho 
2468 Windy Hill Road, Suite 600
September 28, 2017 Score: 90, Grade: A

Camps Kitchen and Bar 
255 Village Parkway, Suite 310
October 13, 2017 Score: 71, Grade: C

Charter Senior Living Marietta 
840 Lecroy Drive
September 21, 2017 Score: 78, Grade: C

Chick-Fil-A East Lake 
2105 Roswell Road
October 12, 2017 Score: 96, Grade: A

Chipotle Mexican Grill 
1281 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 104
September 22, 2017 Score: 86, Grade: B

CoConutz Jamaican Restaurant 
3349 Canton Road, Suite 201
October 17, 2017 Score: 86, Grade: B

Del Taco 
4269 Roswell Road
October 16, 2017 Score: 93, Grade: A

Domino’s Pizza 
2146 Roswell Road, Suite 100
September 22, 2017 Score: 100, Grade: A

East Cobb Middle School 
380 Holt Road
October 19, 2017 Score: 100, Grade: A

East Valley Elementary School 
2570 Lower Roswell Road
October 6, 2017 Score: 100, Grade: A

Egg Harbor Cafe 
4719 Lower Roswell Road, Suite 210
September 29, 2017 Score: 87, Grade: B

Faith Lutheran Church & School 
2111 Lower Roswell Road
October 4, 2017 Score: 100, Grade: A

Firehouse Subs 
2745 Sandy Plains Road, Suite 102
October 18, 2017 Score: 95, Grade: A

Hardee’s 
2520 Delk Road
September 21, 2017 Score: 93, Grade: A

Jersey Mike’s Subs 
4400 Roswell Road, Suite 148
October 11, 2017 Score: 94, Grade: A

Little Caesars Pizza 
3372 Canton Road, Suite 100
October 17, 2017 Score: 100, Grade: A

Los Bravos 
2125 Roswell Road, Suite B-40
October 10, 2017 Score: 77, Grade: C

Marco’s Pizza 
2555 Delk Road, Suite A-7
October 5, 2017 Score: 80, Grade: B

Marietta Billiard Club 
1355 Roswell, Suite 210
September 26, 2017 Score: 80, Grade: B

Marlow’s Tavern 
1311 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 208
October 4, 2017 Score: 90, Grade: A

McCleskey Middle School 
4080 Maybreeze Road
October 5, 2017 Score: 100, Grade: A

Mediterranean Grill 
1255 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 15
October 2, 2017 Score: 90, Grade: A

New China House 
1050 E Piedmont Road, Suite V
October 12, 2017 Score: 84, Grade: B

Panda Express 
4275 Roswell Road
September 20, 2017 Score: 100, Grade: A

Peace Love & Pizza 
1050 E Piedmont Road, Suite 154
October 17, 2017 Score: 90, Grade: A

Pope High School 
3001 Hembree Road
October 18, 2017 Score: 100, Grade: A

Starbucks 
2100 Roswell Road, Suite 300-A
September 22, 2017 Score: 95, Grade: A

Sterling Estates of East Cobb 
4220 Lower Roswell Road
October 6, 2017 Score: 96, Grade: A

Suburban Tap 
1318 Johnson Ferry Road
September 26, 2017 Score: 99, Grade: A

Subway 
2200 Roswell Road, Suite 110
September 20, 2017 Score: 100, Grade: A

Subway 
1860 Sandy Plains Road, Suite 301
September 20, 2017 Score: 66, Grade: U
October 2, 2017 Score: 99, Grade: A

Thrive Memory Care at East Cobb 
200 Village Parkway
October 18, 2017 Score: 89, Grade: B

VFW Post 2681 – Snack Bar 
140 Powers Ferry Road
September 21, 2017 Score: 90, Grade: A

Walton High School 
1590 Bill Murdock Road
October 17, 2017 Score: 100, Grade: A

WellStar Health System – Sandy Plains Bistro 
805 Sandy Plains Road
October 3, 2017 Score: 100, Grade: A

What’s For Lunch 
2995 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 440
September 20, 2017 Score: 88, Grade: B