East Cobb Community Service

13 Wheeler HS students earn scholarships in AVID program

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Wheeler HS AVID students earn scholarships
Wheeler AVID students explain their success to members of the Rotary Club of East Cobb.

The Advancement Via Individual Determination or (AVID) program was started at Wheeler High School in 2017 by the Rotary Club of East Cobb to assist students who are from groups traditionally underrepresented in higher education and/or may become the first members of their families to attend college.

The Cobb County School District announced this week that 13 Wheeler seniors in the current AVID program have been accepted to college and have received more than $5 million in scholarship offers.

In addition to rigorous coursework, AVID students also receive additional academic, social, and emotional support as they prepare for college.

“One of the AVID seniors earned millions in scholarships and another more than $350,000 in scholarships. Two other AVID graduates totaled up $40,000 and $37,000 in scholarship offers,” the district announced in press release.

“After graduating from Wheeler, the AVID students plan to major in sports medicine, political science, biology, forensic science, psychology, chemistry, international business, and more. One is set on being a pediatric surgeon, while another aims for law school.”

The students recently met with Rotary Club members, who have donated more than $60,000 since the program started.

“We all migrated from Nigeria to the U.S. to chase the American dream, student Amblessed said. “It’s a lot of pressure because we traveled all this way, but we have to succeed. I was under a lot of stress.”

AVID teacher Rachel Lewis told the Rotarians that “you are singlehandedly providing them with an opportunity they would not have otherwise had, and I thank you for that.”

AVID began with two students, and reached 90 this year. The district said 67 rising freshmen have already applied to be part of the program in the fall.

“I’m really grateful for every single person and the [Wheeler] program and teaching staff, everyone and all the people that have supported us,” Wheeler senior Ayomide said. “It’s been some of the greatest years of my life.”

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Cobb DA’s Office to observe National Crime Victims’ Week

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The Cobb County District Attorney’s Office is taking part in National Crime Victims’ Week (April 24-30) with several events designed to raise awareness about the issues and rights of crime victims.Cobb DA Office National Crime Victims Week 2022

The DA’s Victim Witness Unit will commemorate the advancement of victims’ rights with the presentation of a homicide memorial, a social media campaign and an office-wide virtual 5K walk.

Local non-profits agencies that provide support services to victims also will be recognized, including LiveSafe Resources, Inc. and Safepath Children’s Advocacy Center.

LiveSafe Resources provides the only emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence in Cobb County.

 Safepath Children’s Advocacy Center works with with law enforcement to provide a comprehensive approach to allegations of child abuse.

For more information about National Crime Victims’ Week visit the DA’s website; contact the DA’s Victim Witness Unit at 770-528-3042 to assist with crime victims.

The national event is being organized by Office of Victims of Crime and the National Organization for Victim Assistance.

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Marietta Golden K members visit new MUST Ministries shelter

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Golden K Kiwanis tours MUST shelter
(L-R) John Kone, Marietta Golden K president elect; Kaye Cagle, Vice President of MUST Marketing; Rev. Ike Reighard, Senior Pastor Piedmont Church and MUST CEO; Rosie Teague, Vice President of Marietta Golden K and MUST ministries chairperson.

Submitted information and photos:

On April 2 members of the Kiwanis Club of Marietta Golden K toured the “state of the art” MUST Ministries HOPE HOUSE. Kiwanis members Jim Perry, Rosie Teague and John Kone joined alongside other visitors as they toured the $14 million Hope House.

Kaye Cagle, VP of Marketing & PR added, “The shelter was $16 million of the consolidated campus expense of $23 million. We are now remodeling the Marietta Client Services and Headquarters building next door to the shelter and some funds went toward paying off the Donation Center behind the shelter.”

MGK members are regular “food donation” contributors to MUST Ministries and on the 1st Thursday of each month, MGK members bring in their food donations. After the meeting, members take the food sacks out to the parking lot where they are loaded into the trunk of Rosie Teague (Vice President of MGK and MUST Ministries designated chairperson). Then, Rosie takes the food over to MUST Ministries.

The new shelter includes the following:

  • 43,556 square feet and two stories
  • 136 beds and 36 respite beds for inclement weather
  • A chapel, where clients can pray and have a moment of reflection
  • The dining hall features picture windows to help alleviate claustrophobia
  • A rooftop retreat for families features play areas, tables and seating
  • The playground area allows our youngest casualties of poverty to play during their time at the MUST Hope House
  • Clients with minor medical needs can be seen by medical professionals in one the three examination rooms
  • Those in need of clothing can “shop” at an onsite clothing boutique.
  • 10 Family Rooms with 5 beds and a private bath in each allows families to stay together.
  • The Children’s Afterschool Learning Center allows children to read, study, do homework and work with tutors.
  • Workforce development offers clients private rooms to make phone calls and work on resumes and job applications. A computer lab houses 10 work stations and a “jobs” professional.

Other amenities include:

  • Two classrooms
  • Staff Offices
  • Laundry rooms
  • Outreach showers and restrooms
  • Staff and volunteer breakrooms
  • Meeting/conference rooms
  • Staff workrooms

For the past 33 years, MUST has given thousands of families shelter in the Elizabeth Inn in Marietta.

But we wanted to do more, help more, and have a place for those families that was built with their needs at the forefront. Thanks to a successful capital campaign and an ambitious vision, the MUST team designed and built this new shelter to house those experiencing homelessness, while also being one of the first in the nation to do so. At the MUST Hope House, MUST is able to more than double the number of people we are able to shelter and serve. This shelter not only gives those in need a place to sleep – its amenities provide them with a sense of dignity and respect.

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Cobb first responders, veterans treated to appreciation luncheon

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Cobb first responders luncheon

Submitted photos and information:

On Wednesday, March 30th, The Janice Overbeck Real Estate Team held a BBQ lunch to honor some of Cobb County’s finest. Local police officers, K-9 units, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and military veterans & personnel congregated on the private patio and enjoyed hamburgers, hot dogs and a variety of sides served by The Capital City Home Loans Food Truck. 

This appreciation lunch gave local citizens and businesses a chance to say “thank you” to some of the hardest-working men and women in the community. Local partners such as Arrow Exterminators and AmeriSpec showered our heroes with praise and some fun swag to show their gratitude. 

Cobb first responders luncheon

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Cobb Sheriff’s Foundation Inc. celebrates first anniversary

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Cobb Sheriff's Foundation Inc. celebrates first anniversary
Cobb Sheriff Craig Owens (with microphone) greets Foundation golf outing participants at the Atlanta County Club.

The Cobb Sheriff’s Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit organization committed to improving the quality of life for Cobb County Sheriff’s Office personnel, underserved communities and citizens of Cobb County, celebrated its first anniversary April 1 at a golf outing at the Atlanta Country Club in East Cobb.

More than 110 participants took part in the fundraiser, along with the support of more than 50 business and community leaders.

S.A. White Oil Company, Inc. and Axon were presenting sponsors.

The Foundation has created several units, including a Care and Compassion Fund and a Fallen Personnel Fund, and assists Cobb citizens in need through the Citizens Fund and the Community Engagement Fund.

Among those outreach efforts include support via the Citizens Fund, in coordination with the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office Domestic Violence Unit and the Sheriff’s Office Community Engagement Unit, to provide funding for an urgent hotel stay for safe refuge for a mother and her child.

In another situation, a Cobb Sheriff’s Deputy was assisted through the Care and Compassion Fund to obtain childcare for his young child after his wife died following childbirth.

The Founding Board of Directors is comprised of business and community leaders, including:

  • (Chair) Brent C. Brown, Chairman & CEO, Chesley Brown International, Inc.
  • (Vice Chair) Frank Wigington, President, Frank Wigington Landscaping Company, Inc.
  • (Treasurer) J. Dan Oliver, Chairman & CEO, Vinings Bank
  • (Secretary) Ravi Puri, Chief Growth & Portfolio Officer, Americas Capgemini
  • Governor Roy E. Barnes, Senior Partner, The Barnes Law Group, LLC.
  • Eddy Benoit, Jr., Chairman & CEO, The Benoit Group
  • Phyllis G. Collins, Attorney, Phyllis Law
  • George “Buddy” Darden, Former Member, U.S. House of Representatives
  • Steve Ewing, President & CEO, Wade Ford Dealership
  • Reverend Edwina Graham, Associate Pastor, Turner Chapel AME
  • Kim Gresh, Owner & President, S.A. White Oil Company, Inc.
  • Beverly McAfee (Retired)
  • Chesley McNeil, Meteorologist, WXIA 11 Alive
  • Colin Meaders, Principal, Meadco Contractor Services
  • Tod Miller, Owner & President, JRM Management Services, Inc.
  • Sharon Owens, Vice President & Senior Project Manager, Truist Bank
  • Amber Patterson, Judge, Cobb County Juvenile Court
  • Mitch Rhoden, President & CEO, Futren Hospitality
  • Malcolm “Cooter” Swanson, (Retired)
  • Pam Younker, Community Development Officer, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

Advisory Members

  • Jay Cunningham, Owner/President, Superior Plumbing
  • Greg Morgan, Partner, Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC.

Learn more at cobbsheriffsfoundation.org, or to make a donation to the Cobb Sheriff’s Foundation, visit Cobb Community Foundation.

Cobb Sheriff's Foundation Inc. celebrates first anniversary

Cobb Sheriff's Foundation Inc. celebrates first anniversary

Cobb Sheriff's Foundation Inc. celebrates first anniversary

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Tommy Nobis Center to hold Galaxy of the Stars luncheon

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Tommy Nobis Center Galaxy Stars Luncheon

Tommy Nobis Center, a Marietta-based nonprofit that helps individuals with disabilities enter or return to employment, will host its 24th Annual Galaxy of Stars Luncheon Friday from 12 to 1:30 p.m. at the Georgia Aquarium.

Galaxy of Stars is Tommy Nobis Center’s premier annual fundraising event and awards ceremony honoring the incredible talents of people with disabilities and the community champions who help empower individuals on their journey to independence and success.

This year’s theme is “45 Years of Empowerment.” Tommy Nobis Center will look back at its rich history of serving the community and celebrate the thousands of people whose lives have been changed by their programs and services over the years.

“We look forward to a meaningful event commemorating an incredible four and half decades of empowering people with disabilities and their families,” said President & CEO Dave Ward.

Honorees include former Atlanta Falcons Coach Dan Reeves for Lifetime Achievement, Community Champion Jim Budzinski, Family Member Advocates Marlon and Libby Longacre, and Tommy Nobis Rising Star Clarence Wine.

There will be an online auction accompanying this event starting March 28. For more information, go to https://tommynobiscenter.org/galaxy-of-stars. Funds raised through the event and auction directly support programs and services for youth and adults with disabilities.

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The Extension breaks ground for new men’s recovery facility

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The Extension groundbreaking
Pictured from L-R Michael Paris, President & CEO of Council for Quality Growth Amy Clear, Coxe Curry & Associates Penny Warren, Committee Member David Schwickerwrath, Committee Co-chair & Vice-Chair of The Extension Board of Directors Kim Gresh, Committee Co-chair, Owner & President of SA White Oil Company Dr. Michael Unger, West Cobb Psychiatry, LLC, Board member Renee McCormick, Director of Community Relations, The Extension Skip Harper, Board Chair of The Extension Dan Priester, Coxe Curry & Associates

Submitted information and photo:

On Friday, April 1st, 2022, The Extension celebrated the groundbreaking ceremony for its new men’s campus in Marietta. Members of The Extension’s board and staff, donors, community leaders, and friends of the nonprofit gathered to mark the start of construction on the 22,000 square foot facility. The nearly one-hundred-year-old building that has served as the first permanent home of The Extension will be torn down to make room for the new building located on Church Street Extension. The new men’s facility will include a 56-bed dormitory with meeting rooms, recreational areas, and a cafeteria. The building is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2023 and will increase The Extension’s capacity to help men struggling with homelessness and substance abuse in our community by seventy percent. 

In 2021, The Extension served more than 330 clients, providing a lifeline to men and women who desperately wanted to reclaim their future from chemical dependency. With their current facilities at maximum capacity, The Extension had to turn away more than 500 individuals (65% of them men) to an uncertain and often perilous future. To meet the community’s growing need for services, The Extension’s Board of Directors and Capital Campaign Committee launched the Building Solutions capital campaign in 2020 to raise funds for a new men’s facility. According to Capital Campaign Committee Co-chair Dave Schwickerath, “Almost every donor to our campaign has been touched by someone they know affected by addiction. Almost everyone we asked to contribute has stepped up to help.”

The Extension’s Building Solutions campaign launched with a lead matching gift of one million dollars from AssuranceAmerica. This company’s support served as the single largest private gift in the organization’s history and set the tone for the campaign’s fundraising success. Guy Millner, AssuranceAmerica’s Executive Chairman and Founder, stated, “We are so excited to be a part of this remarkable progress. This team is doing incredible work, truly transforming lives, and we are thrilled to be a part of it. Now we want other companies and family foundations to join in to help this team of strong change agents say yes to those people waiting to join the program. Congratulations to all involved at The Extension for making a difference every day.” AssuranceAmerica has a proven history of charitable activities, giving 5 percent of its annual pre-tax earnings to The Extension and two other organizations that serve the local homeless population in Atlanta and Tampa. The Building Solutions campaign has raised nearly 90% of its fundraising goal and is on track to complete the campaign this year thanks to the remarkable generosity of the community.

For further information about The Extension, click here.

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East Cobb realtor to hold luncheon for first responders, military

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East Cobb realtor first responders luncheon
Firefighters from Cobb Fire Station 3 at the 2021 first responders luncheon.

First responders and military veterans will be treated to lunch next Wednesday, March 30, by East Cobb realtor Janice Overbeck.

She’s holding an appreciation luncheon from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Janice Overbeck Real Estate Team offices (2249 Roswell Road).

Police officers, firefighters, EMTs, active and retired military personnel are included in those invited to the luncheon. A food truck sponsored by Capital City Home Loans will serve burgers and hotdogs, along with food from other local business partners.

Attendees can have lunch on the back patio or take it to go. They’re asked to RSVP at 404-585-8881 or email janiceoverbeck@janiceoverbeck.com.

Cobb County Animal Services also will be holding an adoption event. For information click here.

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East Cobb Rotary holds Give Back Banquet for Dog Days Run

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East Cobb Rotary Dog Days Run grant recipients

The Rotary Club of East Cobb held a banquet in February to announce the grant recipients of its Dog Days Run fundraiser to benefit community organizations.

The club also honored the sponsors of the 5K race, which was held in August 2021 at the McCleskey East Cobb Family YMCA.

The event collected more than $84,000, and here are the grant recipients:

  • Aloha To Aging
  • Boy Scouts of America
  • Camp Kudzu
  • Cobb Library Foundation
  • Davis Direction Foundation
  • Family Promise
  • Humane Society of Cobb County
  • Jason Cunningham Charitable Foundation
  • Kate’s Club
  • Kidz 2 Leaders
  • Lekotek
  • Loving Arms Cancer Outreach
  • McCleskey Family East Cobb YMCA
  • MDE School
  • Project Mail Call
  • Public Safety Celebration – Cobb Co Public Safety
  • Rally Foundation
  • REAP
  • Revved up kids
  • The Extension
  • Wellstar Community Hospice
  • AVID Wheeler High School

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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.

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Scouts, Sope Creek Garden Club plant trees at McFarlane Park

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McFarlane Park tree planting

Thanks to Joan Cotter of the Sope Creek Garden Club for the following information and photos:

On a beautiful February Sunday at McFarlane Nature Park (280 Farm Road SE) members of Girl Scout Troop 18328 from the Magnolia Service Unit, along with their leader Karen Dechert, joined along with members of Sope Creek Garden Club, led by President Linda Baker, for a fun lesson on the importance of trees and a memorable planting event.

After a short discussion about the emotional, economic and ecological benefits of trees
along with visual aids explaining how to best plant trees for a healthy future, Scouts (accompanied by their parents) along with SCGC Members teamed up into small groups to plant, mulch, label and water Chinquapin Oaks, a Mockernut Hickory, and a taller American Crabapple. Scouts worked hard, doing the digging, planting and labeling and yes, hauling water to get those trees happy in their new home.

By introducing these special tree species McFarlane Park now has a complete representation of all of the native trees in the Piedmont Region of Georgia.

McFarlane Park tree planting

McFarlane Park tree planting

McFarlane Park tree planting

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: editor@eastcobbnews.com, 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.

Aging care specialist speaks to Rotary Club of East Cobb

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Rotary Club of East Cobb

Submitted information:

“Last week Staci Hannah spoke to the East Cobb Rotary Club. Staci’s company, Aging Navigator, helps clients create end of life care plans who suffer from dementia and Parkinson’s disease and equip their love ones with the tools and techniques to provide quality care. She is shown above with Rotary member, Jonathan Lyons.”

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: editor@eastcobbnews.com, 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.

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CycleBar East Cobb conducting coat drive through Cobb schools

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CycleBar East Cobb coat drive

Starting Monday and continuing through Jan. 28, the CycleBar location in East Cobb (4880 Lower Roswell Road, Suite 450 in the Parkaire Landing Shopping Center) is conducting a winter coat drive.

New and gently used coats of all ages can be dropped off there Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on Saturday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

CycleBar will be donating the collected coats through the Cobb County School District.

Those who donate coats will get 3 free rides at CycleBar as a thank-you gift.

More details can be found at the link above or by calling 770-672-0198.

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East Cobb cookie artist donates $5K to Piedmont Healthcare

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East Cobb cookie artist donates Piedmont Healthcare

Submitted information and photo:

Sam Opdenbosch, owner of Sam’s Cookie Company, won the Food Network’s “Christmas Cookie Challenge” on December 23rd, 2021. The competition, which invites five cookie artists from around the country, challenges bakers to create holiday themed desserts for a $10,000 prize.

Opdenbosch, a licensed home baker and owner of Sam’s Cookie Company, has decided to donate all $10,000 to organizations that have been hit hardest by this unprecedented COVID crisis.

The Piedmont Healthcare Staff Support Fund will receive $5,000. Angels Among Us Pet Rescue and Furkids will each receive $2,500.

In Christmas Cookie Challenge, five confident and daring bakers compete to prove their holiday cookie-making skills. Tough-love judges are on hand to crown the holiday cookie master, who will go home with a $10,000 prize! In Season 5, Episode 8 Reindeer Auditions Santa’s recruiting new animals for his team, and it’s up to five of the best cookie makers around to come up with the candidates! After hosts Ree Drummond and Eddie Jackson select which reindeer replacements will make the squad, it’s time for fun with a frosty friend as the cookiers craft one-of-a-kind 3-D snowmen. To infuse their cookie snowmen with a chilly flavor, the competitors incorporate frozen fruits like blueberry, strawberry, raspberry and blackberry. With $10,000 on the line, only one can be “Best in Snow.”

Samantha made it to the second round by using strong animals to replace the reindeer. She created a llama and polar bear to help Santa deliver presents. “For the final challenge of the season, the bakers were tasked with crafting one-of-a-kind 3-D snowmen made entirely of cookies. Eddie loved the detail on Samantha’s chocolate espresso blackberry cookie, noting that she did an excellent job on the piping.”

“Being on Food Network’s Christmas Cookie Challenge season 5, episode 8 “Reindeer Auditions” was one of the most amazing experiences I have had! Not only to be on the show but to take home $10,000 is still unbelievable!!!!! Being able to donate the winnings to incredible organizations like these has made this one of the most memorable moments of my life.”

The Piedmont staff support fund provides funding for initiatives that raise employee morale, aid staff in their self-care, or help employees as they care for their loved ones at home. Examples for these initiatives include but are not limited to staff celebrations, daycare expenses, meal support, technology and tutoring needed by children for at home learning, mental and emotional support services and more.

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Public Service Commission chair visits East Cobb Rotary Club

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East Cobb Rotary Club

State Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick, at left, meets with Tricia Pridemore, the chairwoman of the Georgia Public Service Commission, at the Rotary Club of East Cobb’s breakfast meeting on Wednesday.

Pridemore, a Republican of Marietta, was elected to the PSC in 2018 and was voted chairwoman in 2021.

She spoke to the Rotary Club about connectivity, clean energy and the future of energy initiatives in Georgia, among other topics.
Kirkpatrick, a Republican from East Cobb, represents District 32 in the Georgia State Senate and is a Rotary Club member.

The Rotary Club of East Cobb meets every Wednesday for breakfast at the Indian Hills Country Club, and is involved in numerous community projects.

For information about the club, click here.

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Cobb Catholic Habitat coalition dedicates final home of 2021

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Cobb Catholic Habitat dedication

All three Catholic churches in East Cobb—Holy Family, St. Ann and Transfiguration—participated in the construction of the Cobb County Catholic Coalition’s final Habitat for Humanity home project of 2021.

That home was dedicated on Nov. 20 and presented to Getachew and Tezita Zegeye and their two-year-old daughter in Austell.

That’s where Getachew Zegeye has been working, and commuting from Clarkston, for the last eight years.

The project was started on Sept. 11 and was completed in 10 weeks. Members of other churches that took part represented St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church, St. Joseph Catholic Church.

“We could not do what we do in this community without the devotion and commitment of the Cobb Catholic Habitat Coalition,” Jessica Gill, CEO of NW Metro Atlanta Habitat, said in a statement. “They live out their commitment to faith and service through changing the lives of families year after year.”

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Walton High School students receive $5K grant from United Way

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East Cobb student tutors blood drive

Submitted information:

Through the SPARK Prize competition, United Way funds small grants to innovative projects to address homelessness in Cobb, Cherokee, Douglas & Paulding. We are excited to announce that American Assimilation Helpline  leaderrs Abhishek Kona, Abhinav Kona and Elly Kang were awarded $5,000! This grant will be going towards our Learning Labs for low-income students, making access to technology much more widespread!

AAH! is an educational global nonprofit organization led by three high school students – Abhishek Kona and Abhinav Kona, seniors at Walton High School, and Elly Kang, a junior at Marist School. It is dedicated to provide free, virtual, and personalized one-on-one tutoring for core academic subjects and computer science for low-income, immigrant, refugee, and homeless students weekly. Its mission is focused on creating equal opportunities for those marginalized in STEM and reducing the wealth and gender gap. AAH! has also been hosting events to address other key issues such as distributing laptops, blood drives with the American Red Cross, health workshops such as CPR training, initiatives fighting against breast cancer, donating school supply drives, helping homeless children, and the Keep Cobb Beautiful Adopt-A-Mile program.

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Marietta Golden K Kiwanis Club donates $12K to local charities

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Marietta Golden K Kiwanis

Submitted information and photo:
On November 18th, 2021 The Kiwanis Club of Marietta Golden K presented $12,000.00 to sixteen local charity group leader representatives. Recipients of the awarded checks and the groups they represent are as follows:

• ACE Open Hearts Program, Lainey Gaines
• Bert’s Big Adventure, Sheridan Smith
• Camp Twin Lakes, Anna Hutchins
• Empower Cherokee, Amy Vogler, Devon Shay 

• Family Promise of Cobb County, Katherine Cullom 
• Goshen Valley Boys Ranch, Kevin Scott 
• Kate’s Club, Inc., Courtney Parsons 
• Mountain Top Boys Home, Donnis Steele 
• Murphy-Harpst Children’s Centers, Channel Strange 
• MUST Ministries, Don Crampton 
• Next Step Ministries, Leigh Johnson 
• North Georgia Angel House, Susan Worsley 
• Path to Shine, Lisa Jordan 
• Rally Foundation, Sydney Sanchez 
• Restore Place, Brian Caims
• Scout Troop 444, Wayne Marcinko 

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Ex-Commissioner Bob Ott named East Cobb Citizen of the Year

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Bob Ott East Cobb Citizen of the Year
Bob Ott flanked by Cobb Chamber President/CEO Sharon Mason and Chamber Chairman John Loud. Photo Courtesy Cobb Chamber of Commerce

The East Cobb Area Council of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce has named former Cobb Commissioner Bob Ott its 2021 Citizen of the Year.

Ott was honored at a breakfast Thursday at Indian Hills Country Club for his public service, including 12 years on the Cobb Board of Commissioners and citizen activism beginning with the East Cobb Civic Association on zoning and planning matters.

Ott, a Republican who lives in the Powers Ferry-Terrell Mill area, served three terms representing District 2, which stretches from Vinings, Cumberland and Smyrna to much of East Cobb, until retiring in 2020.

(See previous ECN story here as Ott prepared to leave public office.)

The Chamber also noted his role in helping bring the Atlanta Braves to Cobb County, promoting other development in the Cumberland area and helping secure land for the expansion of East Cobb Park (previous ECN story here).

During the COVID-19 crisis, “Ott was vigilant in helping small businesses stay open, working alongside SelectCobb to propose that $50 million of the county’s federal CARES Act funding would be dedicated to developing grants for small business owners,” the Chamber said in a release.

“His term started with catastrophic floods that devastated East and South Cobb County and ended with a pandemic that crippled the nation. Ott worked tirelessly through those terrible events during his term and has remained a faithful servant to his community.”

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Temple Kol Emeth to hold Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service virtually

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The East Cobb synagogue Temple Kol Emeth is having its 17th annual Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service in virtual form this year.Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service

The service takes place next Thursday, Nov. 18, starting at 6:45 p.m. with music, followed by the service at 7 p.m.,

A livestream will be available at this link.

The service features music and messages from a variety of faiths and faith communities, including Chestnut Ridge Christian Church, Congregation Etz Chaim, the East Cobb Islamic Center, Eastminster Presbyterian Church, Emerison Unitarian Universalist Congregation, St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church, Transfiguration Catholic Church and Unity North Atlanta Church.

The theme of this year’s service is “Rebuilding Hope Together.”

Each year the service collects donations for its Give-A-Gobble program, which purchases Thanksgiving turkeys and food for those in need.

This year’s recipient is East Cobb-based United Military Care, a non-profit that supports veterans in crisis.

Among the speaks is United Military Care founder and president Kim Scofi.

If you’re interested in donating, you can do so by clicking here.

More information on the Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service can be found here.

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Birrell to speak at East Cobb Area Council Chamber breakfast

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Cobb Commissioner JoAnn Birrell is the featured speaker at the East Cobb Area Council breakfast of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, Nov. 18.Commissioner Birrell recognized

The breakfast takes place from 8-9:30 a.m. at Indian Hills Country Club (4001 Clubland Drive).

The event will also include the announcement of the East Cobb Citizen of the Year for 2021.

Birrell, a Republican from District 3 that includes Northeast Cobb, is in her third term on the Cobb Board of Commissioners.

Registration is open until November 15 at https://bit.ly/3ohdAQR. Tickets are $25 for Cobb Chamber members and $30 for general admission.

More information on the event, including COVID-19 protocols, can be found by clicking here.

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