Wendy Parker

Editor/publisher, East Cobb News, hyperlocal site serving the East Cobb community of metro Atlanta with 24/7 news, events and information.

EAST COBB WEEKEND: Brass band concert; consignment sales; high school football; Mt. Zion UMC celebration

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Wasted Potential Brass Band
The Wasted Potential Brass Band, in concert Saturday as part of the The Art Place-Mountain View’s Summer Stars Concert Series.

The weather may still feel like Dog Days, but the calendar of events in East Cobb for this weekend is filling up with a fall-like flair.

All kinds of school events, including the return of high school football, grace the weekend slate of activities. Here’s a sampling, with links for more details:

  • The Kell and Walton football squads will be playing Saturday in the Corky Kell Classic at the Georgia State Stadium—formerly known as Turner Field—in downtown Atlanta, while the Lassiter Trojans also hit the road on Friday, opening their season at Johns Creek;
  • The Wheeler Wildcats are the only East Cobb team playing at home, and that’s on Friday at 7:30 against their ancient rivals, the Marietta Blue Devils. After some fierce online voting, WSB-TV announced that its Sports Zone crew will be on at Corky Kell Stadium (375 Holt Road) as its very first game of the week;
  • Pope and Sprayberry fans—sit tight, your season openers are next week;
  • Bargain clothes hunters will have a big weekend, too, with children’s consignment sales going on at Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church (4385 Lower Roswell Road) and the NOWAMOM sale at Sandy Plains Baptist Church (2825 Sandy Plains Road);
  • If you’ve got unwanted electronics and metal objects, the Pope High School Band will gladly take them at the school (3001 Hembree Road) from 9-4 Saturday. It’s the band’s annual recycling event, and there’s a flyer to download at the link for a list of accepted items;
  • The next-to-last Summer Stars Concert Series event of the season takes Saturday at The Art Place-Mountain View (3330 Sandy Plains Road), and the entertainment is from the Wasted Potential Bass Brand. It’s a New Orleans-style band based in Atlanta. The gates open at 7 p.m., with the band revving up at 7:30. Bring a blanket and relax on the lawn for free, or buy a table for 8 for $40. Either way, bring your own food (but as always, alcohol is not allowed);
  • On Sunday, one of East Cobb’s most venerable faith communities is having a birthday. Mt. Zion United Methodist Church (1770 Johnson Ferry Road) is turning 125 years old, and the public is invited to celebrate. There will be only one service, at 10 a.m., followed by a festival of food, games, and more, lasting until 2 p.m. (and perhaps longer).

Click the East Cobb News calendar page for more events this weekend, and beyond. Help us make the calendar even better by sending your items to: calendar@eastcobbnews.com.

Please stay in touch, and have a great weekend!

Northeast Cobb Business Association luncheon celebrates back-to-school

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Northeast Cobb Business Association
From left, Northeast Cobb elementary school principals Debbie Blake (Kincaid), Kristin Erbskorn (Davis) and Felicia Angelle (Shallowford Falls). Blake and Erbskorn are in their first year at their schools.

Principals from a number of East Cobb and Northeast Cobb public schools were recognized Tuesday at the Northeast Cobb Business Association luncheon at Piedmont Church.

It was the first teach appreciation luncheon since the school year began in the Cobb County School District July 31.

School partnership programs, including a high school senior internship program are a major part of the NCBA’s community outreach efforts.

Robin Lattizori, a Cobb assistant superintendent for elementary schools, serves on the NCBA board.

The NCBA’s upcoming Upbeat event is an appreciation for school volunteers in the Northeast Cobb community. On Oct. 21, NCBA is holding a Casino Night to benefit the STEM initiative in Cobb County schools, and tickets and sponsorships are still available.

The guest speaker was Cobb County Manager Rob Hosack, an East Cobb resident (more about his remarks in a separate post) who succeeded David Hankerson earlier this year.

Northeast Cobb Business Association

Northeast Cobb Business Association
(East Cobb News photos by Wendy Parker)

East Cobb Business Association presents donation to Cobb Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs

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East Cobb Business Association

Littie Brown, left, current president, and Rosan Hall of the East Cobb Business Association present a $250 donation check to Jimmy Gisi, director the Cobb Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department, at Tuesday’s monthly ECBA luncheon at Indian Hills Country Club.

The donation was part of the ECBA’s community outreach project. (East Cobb News photo by Wendy Parker)

Walton HS teacher named national state-fish art educator of the year

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Kathleen Petka, Walton High School
(Cobb County School District photo)

Information submitted by the Cobb County School District:

Wildlife Forever named Walton High School art teacher, Kathleen Petka, the 2017 State-Fish Art Educator of the Year.

Along with her award, the 13-year veteran teacher earned a $500 gift card for classroom art supplies from the award’s sponsor, Triarco Arts & Crafts. The national award, which supports Wildlife Forever’s mission of conservation education, preservation of habitat, and management of fish and wildlife, is given to educators who communicate the spirit of conservation to students through excellence in visual arts education.

Petka educates her students about the importance of safeguarding natural resource through their annual participation in the State-Fish Art Contest, supported by the U.S. Forestry Service, among other preservation organizations.

Since her students started participating in the State-Fish Art Contest, they have won numerous state awards.

“The contest is a wonderful opportunity for students to learn, care, share, teach, and create,” Petka explained. “They take ownership of their works [of art] and get to select the state fish of their desire, write with meaning, create art with a message, and they get to share their works, all while learning how important it is to be mindful of our environment.”

Here’s more on the Wildlife Forever state-fish art program.

Accident closes Roswell Road between Timber Ridge and Bishop Lake roads

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A Cobb Police cruiser prevents westbound traffic onto Roswell Road from Bishop Lake Road so power crews could make repairs. (East Cobb News photo by Wendy Parker)

Cobb Police shut down a short stretch of Roswell Road east of Johnson Ferry Road Tuesday afternoon due to an accident, but it caused plenty of traffic headaches.

A dump truck struck a power pole and traffic in both directions was shut down between Timber Ridge Road and Bishop Lake Drive for a couple of hours.

The shutdown took place approximately between 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., with major backups on Timber Ridge and Bishop Lake during that period, with some after-school bus and related traffic also affected.

Shortly before Roswell was re-opened, the Catholic Church of St. Ann—located at the Roswell-Bishop Lake intersection—sent out a notice on its Facebook page for parishioners to build in more time for tonight’s 7 p.m. Feast of the Assumption mass.

Power crews were still working on the side of the road once Roswell was re-opened to traffic.

 

East Marietta Library slated to close in mid-Oct., reopen in mid-Nov. as Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center

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Sewell Mill Library

The Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center under construction on Lower Roswell has an updated projection for its opening: mid-November, according to District 2 commissioner Bob Ott.

The adjacent East Marietta Library that’s been open since 1966 will close in mid-October, as the transition of moving materials into the new facility begins. Here’s more from what Ott’s office issued via email on Friday:

Construction of the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center is moving forward steadily, with only limited interruptions due to rainy days, said Cobb County Library Director Helen Poyer. Progress on the project includes ongoing interior painting, landscaping nearing completion and paving is scheduled for late summer. . . .

The construction project is now ahead of schedule, Poyer said, with officials expecting to re-open library service in new facility around mid-November.
 
“Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center will serve not only the immediate community, but the entire Cobb community,” Poyer said. “The special library and PARKS services will draw citizens from across Cobb County. It will be a destination for people who want to be engaged in traditional library service as well as in technology and the arts.”

Reminder: Ott is having a town hall meeting Thursday at 7 p.m. at the East Cobb Library (Parkaire Landing Shopping Center, 4880 Lower Roswell Road).

East Marietta Library
(East Cobb News photos by Wendy Parker)

Wheeler is first Georgia high school to receive STEAM certification

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Wheeler High School, STEAM program

Word’s just come in from the Cobb County School District that Georgia Superintendent of Schools Richard Woods will be on hand Tuesday as Wheeler High School will be recognized as a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) school, adding to its longstanding designation as a STEM school.

Wheeler becomes the first high school in Georgia to earn STEAM certification, and it’s a process that’s been a couple years in the making, starting with STEAM symposia and including a trip to Barcelona, Paris and London in June as part of the STEAM International Tour.

Here’s the rest of the CCSD release with details about Tuesday’s events:

Mableton is the first entire school in Cobb County to earn STEAM certification, which means 100% of the student population is involved in STEAM learning.

Wheeler is the first program in Cobb County to achieve STEAM certification. Program certification requires a designated group of students that are representative of the overall demographics of the school to complete a STEAM program. Cobb County School District Superintendent Chris Ragsdale will attend the Wheeler High School STEAM certification ceremony.

WHEN: Tuesday, August 15 (The STEAM certification and banner ceremonies will take place separately at each school.)

  • Mableton Elementary School – 9:00 a.m.
  • Wheeler High School – 1 p.m.

WHERE:

  • Mableton Elementary School: 5220 Church Street, Mableton, Ga. 30126
  • Wheeler High School: 375 Holt Rd NE, Marietta, GA 30068

WHY: To document the first state-level STEAM certifications in Cobb County and what the certifications mean for the success of CCSD students.

Here’s more about the Georgia Department of Ed’s STEAM program, which certified Henderson Mill Elementary School in DeKalb County as its first STEAM school this spring.

East Cobb zoning cases to be heard by Cobb commissioners

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What follows is a summary of the individual East Cobb cases coming before the Cobb Board of Commissioners Tuesday in their monthly zoning hearing. Here’s an overview of what’s on the agenda and the status of other active cases, including what’s being continued, withdrawn, etc.

Four of the six East Cobb cases are on the consent agenda, which is considered at the start of the meeting.

Two high-profile East Cobb cases listed near the top of the longer agenda summary have been continued to September, and we have mentioned them before: SSP Blue Ridge LLC’s application for a major mixed-use development at Powers Ferry and Terrell Mill Road (Z-12) and Lidl Grocery’s application (OB-016) to turn the Park 12 cinema on Gordy Parkway into a grocery store. Cobb County Government logo

In the case of the latter, Lidl attorney Parks Huff is asking for more time to conduct a traffic study requested by Cobb DOT and that includes school-related traffic counts.

A case that you may see on zoning documents but that was withdrawn without prejudice after the Aug. 3 Planning Commission meeting is the Z-40 application by Saleh Uddin to rezone 0.94 acres on the east side of Terrell Mill Road north of Brookview Road from R-40 to R-20 for two single-family homes.

Here’s what will come before the BOC Tuesday morning, starting at 9 a.m., with links to the individual packet items with the case number:

  • Z-41: JOM Holdings, LLC, seeks rezoning from PSC to CRC for a specialized contractor’s office at 811 Lecroy Drive, near Robinson Road (consent item; staff recommends deletion to NRC with conditions);
  • Z-46: CSP Development, LLC, seeks rezoning from R-30 to R-15 of 8.92 acres at 4494 Wesley Chapel Road, on the south side of Sandy Plains Road (consent item; staff recommends approval with some stipulations);
  • OB-030: Poag Shopping Centers, LLC, seeks a site plan amendment for The Avenue at East Cobb Shopping Center (4475 Roswell Road), for hardscape and landscaping improvements (consent item; staff recommends approval with minor conditions);
  • OB-034: Narden Kaldani seeks a special exception for reduction of lot size at R-20 zoned site at 2650 Roswell Road, east of Hood Road, from 20,000 square feet to 16,401 square feet (consent item);
  • LUP-13: Esther J. Kim and Sung Min Brian Ryu seek a special land use permit for R-20 zoned site at 3746 Wesley Chapel Road, south of Beacon Street, to allow seven chickens. The applicants intend to house the hens in a coop that’s at least 30 feet from all property lines, and are filing due to a code enforcement complaint. The nearby Wesley Hills Homeowners Association has consented to the application, but the staff is recommending denial;
  • OB-028: S & B Investments, Inc., is seeking a site plan and stipulation amendment to build a drivethru window for the Starbucks Coffee location at 31-A Johnson Ferry Road, in front of Paper Mill VIllage, and that would be located on the Paper Mill Road side of the building.

The zoning hearing can be seen on CobbTV (Comcast Channel 23) or streamed live on the Cobb government website

Former East Cobb Chuck E. Cheese restaurant being demolished

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Work crews are tearing down the former Chuck E. Cheese location at 4340 Roswell Road. This is the view looking west, with the intersection of Roswell Road and Johnson Ferry in the background.

Chuck E Cheese East Cobb

The building has been vacant since the restaurant closed in 2014. In December, the 1.7-acre parcel of land was rezoned for a Discount Tire location.

Chuck E Cheese East Cobb

Chuck E Cheese East Cobb

The property is located near other light automotive businesses on East Cobb Drive and between a Citgo station and the Pine Straw Village Shopping Center on Roswell Road. (East Cobb News photos by Wendy Parker)

PHOTOS: East Cobb Senior Center celebrates 22nd anniversary

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East Cobb Senior Center

The 22nd anniversary of the East Cobb Senior Center was celebrated by a couple hundred patrons on Friday with a “Gone With the Wind Theme,” but it didn’t end there.

Lunch was dubbed “Barbecue at 12 Oaks” after the name of theO’Hara plantation at Tara in the book and film. Attendees were summoned to the buffet when their table names were called out, in honor of “GWTW” characters Ashley Wilkes, Mellie Hamilton and Scarlett O’Hara.

East Cobb Senior Center

Among the honored guests were Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce and Commissioner JoAnn Birrell. Cobb Senior Services Staff, dressing every bit the part, were the hostesses for the festivities.

East Cobb Senior Center

Square dance and line dance music suddenly turned modern, with “The Twist,” “Woolly Bully,” and “Blue Suede Shoes” providing an energetic mid-day exercise that continued into early afternoon.

East Cobb Senior Center

East Cobb Senior Center

A little slow dancing was mixed in with a dash of easy-going hip-hop . . .

East Cobb Senior Center

East Cobb Senior Center

. . . followed by a return to some oldies that kept quite a few couples, and a number of good friends, on the dance floor during a festive afternoon. (East Cobb News photos by Wendy Parker)

East Cobb Senior Center

Bells Ferry ES helps launch new Cobb school emergency alert system

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Bells Ferry Elementary School

The Cobb County School District this week announced the implementation of a new emergency alert system, and East Cobb’s Bells Ferry Elementary School is one of the schools serving as a testing ground for the service.

Cobb Board of Education members and the public were briefed about the new system at a work session on Wednesday. The other school that is a “proof of concept” location during the current school year is Kennesaw Mountain High School.

The new emergency system, known as AlertPoint, allows each employee within a school—including administrators, teachers and other staffers—to activate a device should an emergency occur. This includes fires, active shooters and other intruders, physical altercations and medical emergencies.

When an AlertPoint device is activated, alert information is relayed via computer and mobile devices to school-level administrators and security personnel, as well as at the school district office, within seconds.

The location and identity of the person sending the alert also is transmitted. When a “Code Red” alert is triggered, flashing lights, beeping sounds and voice messages ring out, and the intercom system indicates a lockdown situation is underway.

The AlertPoint system is patterned after existing school fire emergency procedures.

Cobb is the first school district in Georgia to use the AlertPoint system, according to Superintendent Chris Ragsdale.

“Columbine [the deadly 1999 Colorado high school shootings] changed how we do school security,” he said.

Phil Bradford, a Cobb school police officer, said the biggest security concerns remain at high schools, since elementary and middle schools have more controlled access.

“This is a capability we’ve never had before, particularly in the high schools,” he said. “If one of the staff members sees something that is that threatening, within in a matter of seconds, the entire building can know what to do.”

Ragsdale said the school district is “starting with the rollout” of AlertPoint in other schools, but for security reasons he would not identify them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwTcMIhM35Q

PHOTOS: East Cobb Pigskin Preview breakfast at Indian Hills Country Club

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East Cobb Pigskin Preview
East Cobb high school football head coaches, from L-R: Tab Griffin (Pope); Brett Sloan (Kell); Daniel Brunner (Walton); Brett Vavra (Sprayberry); Mike Collins (Wheeler); and Jep Irwin (Lassiter). East Cobb News photos by Wendy Parker.

The banquet room at the Indian Hills Country Club was filled Thursday morning with local business leaders, hungry high school football players and their coaches at the annual East Cobb Pigskin Preview breakfast.

The six high school head coaches briefed attendees about the season ahead and answered audience questions at the event sponsored by the East Cobb Council of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce.

East Cobb Pigskin Preview

Four of the six coaches are new to the job. Only Jep Irwin of Lassiter, and Mike Collins of Wheeler, both in their eighth seasons, return to the sidelines at the same school.

Two of the newcomers are returning to their alma maters: Brett Vavra of Sprayberry, and Tab Griffin of Pope. The other first-year coaches are no strangers to the East Cobb prep football scene. Brett Sloan of Kell was an assistant at Walton the last two years. Daniel Brunner, also a Raiders assistant, was named head coach when Mo Dixon resigned to take a job at south Georgia powerhouse Colquitt County.

Pope graduate Tab Griffin returns as head coach of the Greyhounds.

Griffin, who had been an assistant coach at Mount Paran Christian School, said returning to Pope is “kind of a homecoming for me. It’s been my dream ever since Pope opened to come back and be the head football coach.”

Vavra, who was an assistant at Etowah, echoed similar thoughts. “I’m super excited to be back home,” he said, noting “the great sense of pride in the community” that welcomed him back to Sprayberry.

Brett Vavra, Sprayberry football
Sprayberry head coach Brett Vavra.

The energetic Brunner said bringing the entire Walton football community together is an important objective for him, and last weekend the first “Raider Day” event took place (see East Cobb News coverage here).

Kell also went looking for a new coach when Derek Cook resigned in the spring after nine years on the job. The Longhorns tapped Sloan, who had come to Walton with Dixon from South Carolina, and who had helped guide the Raiders into the post-season.

Pope High School football
Pope football players

Sloan, who’s also anxious due to the upcoming birth of his first child, said Kell’s goal is simple: to reach the state finals. The Longhorns were eliminated in the semifinals, so there’s no need, Sloan said, “to replace what they’ve done at Kell, but to build on it.”

Wheeler is hopeful for a playoff berth after going 5-6 and reaching the region playoffs. The Wildcats’ main objective is to be more consistent; in 2016 they weren’t able to put together a winning streak. “It had a lot to do with the teams we were playing the following week,” Collins said.

Lassiter also reached the post-season with a 6-5 finish, and the Trojans boast one of the best high school players in the nation in defensive back Derrik Allen. He has been chosen to play in the Army All-American all-star game in January and will play college football at Notre Dame.

Some East Cobb teams are holding scrimmages this week and next. Walton and Kell will be playing next Saturday at the Corky Kell Classic in downtown Atlanta. The first full slate of games is Friday, Aug. 25.

East Cobb Pigskin Preview

Sponsors, donors sought for East Cobb Public Safety Appreciation dinner

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The East Cobb Business Association and the East Cobb Council of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce are organizing an appreciation dinner next month for Precinct 4 Cobb Police personnel.

Susan Hampton, one of the event co-chairs, said the first organizing committee meeting was Wednesday, and the groups are seeking sponsors and donors at all levels
East Cobb Business Association

The event first began in 2013 as a way of showing thanks to officers serving the East Cobb area, and the effort also includes a similar celebration for all of Cobb Fire Department personnel in March.

In addition to a dinner, public safety personnel being honored will receive gift cards, raffle prizes and other donated gifts of appreciation.

The presenting sponsor is the WellStar East Cobb Health Park.

Hampton said the sponsorship levels are as follows for both events:

  • Platinum ($1,000): Signage at police and fire events; 2 representatives at each banquet; official recognition at both events, and at ECBA and East Cobb Council events;
  • Gold ($500): signage at the police event; 2 representatives at the police event or the firefighters event; signage recognition;
  • Silver ($250): Signage recognition at both events.

Cobb Chamber of CommerceAs for the donor levels, Hampton said one of the most popular forms of giving for businesses, organizations and individuals alike is a $25 “Thank A Hero” contribution that includes a card at the events with the giver’s identification.

The $25 total, Hampton said, is ideal for those wishing to offer gift cards.

Checks are payable to “Public Safety Celebration” and are tax-deductible. They may be mailed to:

East Cobb Business Association

Attention: Public Safety Celebration

P.O. Box 70814

Marietta, GA 30007

Here’s more from Hampton and Kim Paris, another longtime East Cobb community activist, who’s the other co-chair:

“We continue to work together to plan these appreciation events, and to raise the funds necessary to insure their success. We are reaching out to individuals, businesses, civic and other nonprofit organizations, schools, neighborhoods and churches, and hope you will join us in support of our community’s public safety heroes!”

Contact: Susan Hampton: susan.hampton@lionbank.com; Kim Paris: kim.paris@wellstar.org.

Walton HS Foundation begins fundraising drive for sculpture garden project

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Walton Sculpture Garden
A rendering of one of the proposed Walton sculpture gardens, via the Walton High School Foundation website

The Walton High School Foundation has begun a fundraising drive to create six sculpture gardens on the new school campus.

The goal is to raise $23,000 by Sept. 1, ideally with each student’s family donating a minimum of $25, in order to fund the first three gardens this fall. Here’s the message that’s being spread across the community:

“Help US GROW THE Walton Gardens! The Sculpture Garden will be the first of the six gardens that will be installed to enhance the learning environment at the new Walton High School. This unique Workshop provides all students and teachers, across all subject areas, access to a permanent, hands-on outdoor learning space, featuring sculptures, crafted from recycled metal, incorporating pulleys, lenses, pendulums, ramps, levers, an auger base for testing student-built Goldberg machines, gyroscopes and a waist-height sculpture of a fractal “tree”, all built on a concrete layout of the golden rectangle. These interactive sculptures provide the basis for our teachers’ design, development and delivery of innovative lessons and experiments, facilitating student explorations of mathematical principles, as they relate to the fields of art, architecture, biology, physics, engineering and mathematics. Lessons formerly taught on paper are transformed through use of this space into dynamic, tangible student experiences, with the potential for fostering creativity and inspiring a deeper, more profound appreciation of relationships between subject areas and students’ daily lives.”

Here’s an online form the foundation has set up to donate or to help volunteer.

Pope, Sprayberry, Walton softball teams open season with victories

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High school sports in East Cobb got underway on Monday, with three softball teams taking the field at home, and all three were winners.

The Pope Greyhounds, which reached the Georgia Class 7A Final Four last season, downed Sequoyah 7-6 in walkoff fashion, as Lea McFadden got the game-winning RBI.

Pope’s Hannah Rogers.

The winning pitcher was Hannah Rogers, an all-region pick in 2016, and Leah Higgs went 2-for-2 at the plate with a homer and two RBI.

The Greyhounds remain at home on Wednesday for their first region game, against Alpharetta, that starts at 5:30 p.m.

Sprayberry defeated North Cobb 8-5 and the top individual performers were:

  • Payton Wade: 2-3 with a walk, 2 stolen bases, and 2 runs scored;
  • Cate Willhoff: 1-2 with a stolen base and an RBI
  • Denisa Wilson: 1-1 with a walk and an RBI
  • Nicole DeCuircio: 2-5 with a double and an RBI.

The Yellow Jackets were scheduled to play at Sequoyah tonight but the game has been been delayed to Wednesday due to rain.

Walton won easily over Campbell Monday by an 11-2 score, and the Raiders jump right into region play with a big rivalry game on Wednesday at Wheeler starting at 5:30 p.m.

Lassiter opens its season on Wednesday at home against Mill Creek in a game that starts at 5:30 p.m., while the Kell Longhorns open their season on Thursday, also at home, against Cass. First pitch is 6 p.m.

The Wing Cafe gets perfect score after failing health inspection

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The Wing Cafe, East Cobb restaurant inspections

A couple of weeks after failing a health inspection, a longtime East Cobb restaurant and bar got a perfect score in a follow-up visit from Cobb and Douglas Public Health.

The Wing Cafe and Tap House (2145 Roswell Road, in the East Lake shopping center) got a 100 score during an inspection last Friday. Management posted the new report in a front window (above) and on the establishment’s Facebook page, with the following message:

“Please accept our apologies for anything that may have wavered your trust in us! We look forward to seeing you all back here soon! Thank you to all of our patrons who stuck with us during this trying time! We appreciate all of our loyal customers!”

On July 21, an inspection at The Wing Cafe resulted a score of 62 with six violations, including employees failing to wash hands, improper temperatures for food storage and a moldy ice machine.

Formerly known as the Wild Wing Cafe, The Wing Cafe marked its 22nd anniversary earlier this summer.

Bells Ferry-Piedmont Road intersection project on Cobb commission agenda

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Bells Ferry Road

The congested Bells Ferry Road intersection at Piedmont Road and Barrett Parkway is scheduled for a proposed improvement project that would include left- and right-hand turn lanes.

The Cobb Board of Commissioners on Tuesday will consider at $2 million funding request to make the changes, which include the following additions:

  • northbound and southbound dual left turn lanes on Bells Ferry Road;
  • a northbound right turn lane on Bells Ferry Road;
  • a westbound right turn lane on Piedmont Road.

The project was approved in the 2005 Cobb SPLOST transportation list, and the low bidder is Acworth-based Glosson Enterprises. The timetable for completion is projected to be a year.

Another East Cobb-related road project on Tuesday’s agenda (here’s the full book) includes approving a $63,700 contract for Excellere Construction to build a sidewalk on the east side of Providence Road, between Providence Corner Drive and Pine Road.

The commission meeting starts at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the 2nd floor meeting room of the Cobb BOC Building, 100 Cherokee St., in downtown Marietta.

PHOTOS: Walton football teams celebrate Raider Day

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Raider Day, Walton football
(East Cobb News photos by Wendy Parker)

Walton football players from all grade levels and the larger school community turned out at Raider Valley Sunday afternoon for the annual Raider Day celebration.

Games, concessions, music, a dunking booth, paint-facing, T-shirt projectile scrums (courtesy of the Walton Robotics team) and lots of footballs in the air abounded, as Walton football boosters created an atmosphere of anticipation for the season ahead.

The Raiders varsity team will hold a scrimmage on Friday against Archer, with the season opener less than two weeks away, against North Gwinnett on Aug. 19 in the Corky Kell Classic.

Walton’s home opener at Raider Valley is Aug. 25 vs. Brookwood.

Raider Day, Walton football

Raider Day, Walton football

Raider Day, Walton football

Raider Day, Walton football

Raider Day, Walton football

Raider Day, Walton football

Raider Day, Walton football

Raider Day, Walton football

Raider Day, Walton football

Raider Day, Walton football

Raider Day, Walton football

Raider Valley, Walton football

Cobb commissioners set public hearing dates for fiscal year 2018 budget

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A contentious process over setting the county property tax millage rate has just ended for the Cobb Board of Commissioners, and a new budget process is about to begin.

The commissioners will hold public hearings as they begin work on the fiscal year 2018 budget, which takes effect Oct. 1.

Mike Boyce, tax millage increase
Cobb Commission chairman Mike Boyce will soon deliver his first budget proposal. (East Cobb News photo by Wendy Parker)

The budget will be formally presented during a special called work session at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 15, and public hearings will take place during regular commission meetings at 7 p.m. on Aug. 22 and at 9 a.m. on Sept. 12, the date the budget is expected to be adopted.

All hearings and meetings will take place in the 2nd floor board meeting room in the Cobb BOC building, 100 Cherokee St., downtown Marietta.

The budget proposal will be made available online, in the Cobb finance office, also located at 100 Cherokee St., and at the Cobb Superior Courthouse, 70 Haynes St., also in downtown Marietta.

Last month, the commission voted not to raise the 2017 millage rate, as Chairman Mike Boyce had proposed, after plenty of opposition from residents (see previous East Cobb News coverage here and here.)

The last-minute decision to keep the millage rate the same was engineered by East Cobb commissioner Bob Ott, who is holding his next town hall meeting on Aug. 17 at East Cobb Library.

East Cobb dentist urges good oral health tips for students going back to school

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From left: Dr. Brittany Broomfield, Great Expressions East Cobb office; Ursula Ray, operations manager; and Ariel Quinn, practice administrator. (Submitted photo)

Press release:

Dr. Kevin Dancy, clinical partner, Great Expressions Dental Centers, with offices in East Cobb at 3823 Roswell Road, provides these simple, preventative measures to help keep children healthy and happy this school year:

  • Dental education. No matter the age of your child, dental hygiene education is always applicable! Teach your child the importance of a routine and why brushing at least twice a day can help prevent issues like cavities down the road. 
  • Gear up for sports. Back to school can also mean back to sports, but an injury can take your student athlete out of the game. With the proper protection, like mouth guards, a number of injuries can be prevented. Mouth guards are important in preventing scrapes and cuts to the mouth, gums and cheeks, chipped or fractured teeth and more serious injuries, like fractured jaws and concussions. It’s especially important to have a mouth guard if your child has braces. Be sure to get your student athlete a well-fitted mouth guard (a custom dentist-fitted guard is the best option) before schedules get too busy.
  • Add a toothbrush to your school supply list. Folders, check. Notebooks, check. Pencils, check. Add a new toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss to the school supplies list and pack it in your child’s backpack. It’s always handy to have a toothbrush for after-lunch, food-in-teeth emergencies.
  • Encourage healthy snacking. Sugary and starchy foods slowly destroy teeth’s enamel. Every time those foods are consumed an acid bath starts, which lasts 15 minutes. Give your mouth a break and opt for healthy snacks instead of junk food. Stock up on pre-cut fruits, vegetables, and cheese to pack in your child’s lunch box.
  • Drink water. Water is your friend against tooth decay; it plays an important role in removing bacteria from the mouth after meals and snacks. A simple trip to the water fountain after lunch can wash out much of the debris and food residue that bacteria feed off of to form cavities. Also, be sure to stay away from sugary sports drinks and soda!
  • Regular visits with your dentist. Be sure to stay on top of scheduling your child’s six-month exams. The dentist is the first line of defense in identifying dental health problems and families can enjoy healthy smiles that will last a lifetime. Also, consider scheduling an appointment with an orthodontist if your child has not seen one and they are over the age of seven. If there are overcrowding or bite issues developing, an orthodontist can talk to you about a treatment plan.