East Cobb News

Cobb included in freeze warning through Thursday morning

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Cobb included in freeze warning through Thursday morningThe next couple nights are going to dip around freezing in the Cobb area.

The National Weather Service in Peachtree City has issued a freeze warning for Cobb and north Georgia from 9 p.m. Wednesday through 10 a.m. Thursday.

A wind advisory is in effect until 7 p.m. Wednesday, as blustery weather conditions are continuing from some overnight rain.

Wednesday’s low in the Cobb area is forecast to be at 32.

On Thursday morning, wind gusts will continue between 15-20 mph, giving way to sun and warmer temperatures later.

Thursday’s high is expected to be in the mid-50s, with lows Thursday night once again dropping to the mid 30s.

Friday and Saturday will have highs in the 60s, and there will be a 50 percent chance of rain Saturday night, with lows in the mid 40s.

Sunday’s high will be in the mid 50s, as warmer, sunnier weather moves in next week, with some highs reaching into the 70s.

For more local weather details, click here.

 

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McBath files exploratory paperwork for Ga. governor’s race

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U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath, who represented a portion of East Cobb in the 6th Congressional District, announced Wednesday that she has filed paperwork to explore a run for governor of Georgia.McBath files exploratory paperwork for Ga. governor's race

McBath, a Democrat from Marietta, represents a 6th District that includes part of South Cobb, Douglas County, southwest Atlanta and part of Fayette County.

She said in a release that “Georgians deserve a Governor who understands what’s at stake—because they’ve lived it. As a mom and breast cancer survivor, I’ve seen firsthand how regular people are too often left out of the political process. I look forward to continuing this conversation with my neighbors and fellow Georgians.”

An advocate of gun-control legislation, McBath is touting her work on legislation to lower insulin costs for seniors, and helping veterans in financial trouble.

Her release Wednesday didn’t indicate specific agenda should she decide to run for governor. Exploratory paperwork is only preliminary, and allows her to raise campaign funds. It is not a formal declaration of a candidacy.

McBath is the first Democrat to declare an interest in running for governor in 2026, when current Republican Gov. Brian Kemp’s term expires.

He cannot run again, and may be eyeing a run for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat John Ossoff.

GOP Lt. Gov. Burt Jones has raised $2 million in an anticipated run for governor.

McBath has been the subject of efforts by Georgia’s Republican legislative majority to be redrawn out of her Congressional seat.

She defeated Republican Karen Handel in 2018 on a theme of gun-control rights, then was drawn out of the 6th in 2021.

McBath moved to the Gwinnett-based 7th District and served a term there before the legislature was ordered to redraw Congressional districts for the 2022 election. That year, she won in the redrawn 6th.

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13 Hub Lane furnishings store coming to Avenue East Cobb

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13 Hub Lane furnishings store coming to Avenue East Cobb

13 Hub Lane, an upscale home furnishings and women’s clothing boutique, will be coming soon to Avenue East Cobb.

The retail center announced Wednesday that the store will be occupying the former Body and Bath Works space (4475 Roswell Road, Suite 910), between Hand and Stone Massage and LoveSac.

“13 Hub Lane provides a vast array of furniture, accessories, clothing, jewelry, and gift items,” reads a description of the store on the Avenue website. “Transforming spaces into works of art, 13 Hub Lane is your ticket to extraordinary interiors.”

The company runs two other 13 Hub Lane stores (website), in Roswell and in Panama City Beach, Fla.

The store hours at Avenue will be from 10-8 Monday-Saturday and from 12-6 on Sunday. Avenue didn’t indicate an opening date.

But 13 Hub Lane’s arrival fills one of the few remaining vacancies at Avenue. Only two spaces are up for lease, while several new restaurants will be opening soon.

Recently other home- and lifestyle retailers opened at Avenue: Boll and Branch, a bedding store, and a women’s clothing boutique, Nic+Zoe.

They include Luga, an Italian restaurant, and Giulia, a European-style cafe and patisserie, in the former Drift space, and Tenku Sushi Elevation, a Japanese-themed restaurant that will occupy one of the new “jewel box” buildings comprising the heart of Avenue’s recent redevelopment.

A spokeswoman for Luga and Giulia told East Cobb News earlier this week that tentative openings for both are planned for May.

East Cobb high schools named 2025 AP honor schools

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Lassiter High School graduation rate

All six public high schools in East Cobb were included in multiple categories by the Georgia Department of Education in its Advanced Placement Honor Schools roll call for 2025.

State School Superintendent Richard Woods said 301 schools in 104 school districts were so honored, and they “exemplify our commitment to providing students with rigorous, high-quality educational opportunities that prepare them for success beyond high school.”

The 2025 AP Honor Schools are named in eight categories based on the results of 2024 AP courses and exams.

AP exams are administered by the College Board, which also administers the SAT.

All six high schools—Kell, Lassiter, Pope, Sprayberry, Walton and Wheeler—were included in the Humanities Achievement, STEM and STEM Achievement categories.

The descriptions of each category below comes from Georgia DOE; the East Cobb schools honored in that category are noted in parenthesis.

AP Access and Support Schools (Kell, Sprayberry)

Schools with at least 30% of AP exams taken by students who identified as African American and/or Hispanic (minimum of 16 students) and 30% of all AP exams earning scores of 3 or higher. At least 25 exams must be administered.

AP schools with 25% growth in AP student participation from May 2023 to May 2024 and a minimum of 25 students testing in May 2023.

AP Humanities Schools (Kell, Lassiter, Pope, Sprayberry, Walton, Wheeler)

Schools that administered at least five exams in each of the following AP categories: one ELA course, two social studies courses, one fine arts course, and one world language course, and a minimum of 25 total exams administered.

AP Humanities Achievement Schools (Kell, Lassiter, Pope, Sprayberry, Walton, Wheeler)

AP Humanities schools (see above definition) with at least 50% of all AP Humanities exams earning scores of 3 or higher.

AP Schools of Distinction (Lassiter, Pope, Sprayberry, Walton, Wheeler)

Schools with at least 20% of the total student population taking AP exams and at least 50% of all AP exams earning scores of 3 or higher.

AP STEM Schools (Kell, Lassiter, Pope, Sprayberry, Walton, Wheeler)

Schools that administered at least 5 exams in each of four separate AP STEM courses (math, science, and computer science) and a minimum of 25 total exams administered.

AP STEM Achievement Schools (Kell, Lassiter, Pope, Sprayberry, Walton, Wheeler)

AP STEM schools (see above definition) with at least 50% of all AP STEM exams earning scores of 3 or higher.

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Cobb County government releases 2024 annual report

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Cobb County government releases 2024 annual report

Cobb County Government’s annual report is typically a compendium of positive news about how citizens’ taxpayer dollars are spent.

The county released its 2024 report last week (you can download and read it here). The highlights include such activities as the opening of the new Gritters Library, the hiring of 75 new police officers, the opening of a family advocacy center in the Cobb District Attorney’s Office and various road and transportation projects.

In the introduction, under one of the county’s proudest continuing accomplishments—the 27th consecutive year Cobb has earned a Triple A credit rating—Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid slipped in this item:

“Accepting a judicial ruling regarding district lines, after asserting home rule to follow maps of our local delegation”

That sentence came under a subhead entitled “integrity” but didn’t elaborate.

The Board of Commissioners currently is down to four members because of that matter, the “home rule” redistricting flap that led to former District 2 Commissioner Jerica Richardson’s seat being declared vacant in what turned out to be a two-year dispute.

Cobb judges ruled more than once that Richardson, Cupid and Monique Sheffield—the board’s Democratic majority from 2021-24—violated the Georgia Constitution in observing maps that were drawn by the county’s legislative delegation and not the legislature.

The controversy also prompted special elections that are currently underway to succeed Richardson, an East Cobb resident, and in District 4 in South Cobb (which Sheffield has represented), because the “home rule” maps were used in 2024 primaries.

Im January, after her term had technically expired, Richardson declared herself a “de facto” commissioner, but the Georgia Court of Appeals declined to hear her final appeal to stay in office until her successor was elected.

There’s early voting this week in a Democratic runoff for District 2, which includes several precincts in the East Cobb area.

The general election for those races will conclude on April 29.

Cobb Elections is estimating that the special elections are costing taxpayers more than $1.5 million, a number not included in the annual report.

Here’s more of what Cupid included in her introduction to the annual report:

INNOVATION

  • Opening the first Family Advocacy Center in Georgia through our District Attorney’s Office
  • Introducing microtransit through “CobbLinc Go” in South Cobb

INTELLIGENT

  • Debuting findhelp.cobbcounty.gov to list helpful services ranging from mental health to housing
  • Supporting police by launching our Community Assistance Response Team

INCLUSION

  • Releasing recommendations to improve disparity in procurement
  • Funding our first year of inclement weather shelter for those in need
  • Increasing voter participation and enhancing student voter initiatives

INVESTMENT

  • Holding the county’s first sustainability forum and obtaining a $550 million grant to improve recycling and to update vehicle charging stations
  • Opening the new, expanded Gritters Library with onsite workforce development
  • Connecting with more than 500 businesses, obtaining $640 million in business investment and awarding $50,000 in small business grants

Our successes highlight our shared power when we serve the public good. Each accomplishment helps us to be a thriving, innovative, and safe community that enhances the quality of life for the well-being of all.

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LGE Community Credit Union announces 2025 scholarship program

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Submitted information:

LGE Community Credit Union is accepting applications for its 2025 scholarship program through March 28, 2025.

The annual scholarship program helps exceptional high school seniors from our communities attend the college, university, or technical school of their dreams by providing them with a $2,500 scholarship. Scholarships will be awarded in each of the following counties: Bartow, Cherokee, Cobb, Floyd, Fulton, Gordon, and Paulding County.

Eligibility requirements:

  • Be an LGE Community Credit Union member in good standing at time of entry; OR have a parent, grandparent, or legal guardian who is an LGE Community Credit Union member in good standing at time of entry. Membership will be verified upon receipt of entry.
  • Be a legal resident of the United States residing in the state of Georgia.
  • Be a high school senior graduating in the 2024–2025 school year from a public high school, private school, or accredited home school in Bartow, Cherokee, Cobb, Floyd, Fulton, Gordon, or Paulding County.
  • Be enrolling to attend as a full-time student in an accredited college, university, or technical school in the United States during the fall of the 2025-2026 academic year.

Application process:

  1. Register for an LGE Community Credit Union KOFE account and complete all required form fields.
  2. Complete and pass the “Debt for Teens” financial education course with a score of 70% or above.
  3. Answer the following questions in fewer than 400 characters:
    1. What was the most impactful lesson you learned from the financial education modules?
    2. What would winning the LGE Scholarship mean to you?

The 2025 LGE scholarship program is subject to Official Rules. Please visit //LGEccu.org/Scholarship for complete details.

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Free educational program set for Alzheimer’s caregivers

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Submitted information:ACAP to hold program in East Cobb for senior living options

Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia presents unique challenges, particularly when behaviors become confusing, inappropriate, or even frightening. Family members often struggle to understand these behaviors, but in many cases, they are expressions of unmet physical, psychological, or social needs.

To help caregivers better interpret and respond to these behaviors with confidence and compassion, ACAP Cobb & Cherokee invites you to a free educational program, “Responding to Challenging Behaviors of Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias,” on Thursday, March 20, 2025, from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM at Covenant Presbyterian Church (Kapperman-Williams Hall), 2881 Canton Road, Marietta, GA.

What You’ll Learn:

  • How to recognize and interpret behavioral symptoms of dementia.
  • Strategies for responding to behaviors by addressing illness, injury, or discomfort.
  • Ways to redirect challenging behaviors and make changes to the environment.
  • Techniques to provide psychological support and meaningful social interaction.

Featured Speaker:

Angelia Brigance, MS in Counseling and BA in Psychology, is a Certified Practitioner of Human Interaction Technology, an International Speaker, and an Author on dementia. With over 30 years of experience working with older adults, Angelia is a leader in dementia care and support.

This informative and practical session will equip adult children, caregivers, and family members with the tools they need to provide compassionate care while reducing stress and frustration.

Event Details:

  • Date/Time: Thursday, March 20, 2025, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
  • Location: Covenant Presbyterian Church (Kapperman-Williams Hall), 2881 Canton Road, Marietta, GA 30066
  • Cost: Free

About ACAP Cobb & Cherokee:

ACAP Cobb & Cherokee is a chapter of ACAPcommunity.org, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting adult children caring for aging parents. The chapter hosts free monthly educational programs on the third Thursday of each month at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Marietta, GA.

For more information or to register for this program, visit www.acapcommunity.org/cobb-cherokee or contact Christian Kuswita at cobbcherokee@acapcommunity.org.

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Powers Ferry Corridor Alliance seeks Adopt-A-Mile volunteers

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Powers Ferry Corridor Alliance conducts Adopt-A-Mile cleanup

Submitted information:

The Powers Ferry Corridor Alliance (PFCA) is seeking community volunteers for its Adopt-A-Mile Fall event from 9-10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Mar. 29 along Powers Ferry Road at Terrell Mill Road. Meet up and enjoy complimentary refreshments at 8:30 a.m. at the Kroger parking lot, 1310 Powers Ferry Rd., Marietta, GA 30067.

PFCA is pleased to host this bi-annual event that allows individuals and/or groups to improve the appearance of our community, in conjunction with Keep Cobb Beautiful, and supported by Kroger.

All supplies and safety equipment will be provided. Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult chaperone. In the event of inclement weather, an email will go out the night before to all registered participants.


Sign up: https://www.cognitoforms.com/PFCA3/PFCAsAdoptAMileDay

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Open house slated for proposed Trickum Road roundabout

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Open house slated for proposed Trickum Road roundabout
Cobb DOT photo of the Trickum Road intersection at Eula Drive.

A proposed roundabout on Trickum Road is the subject of a Cobb DOT open house on Wednesday, March 12.

The event takes place from 6-8 p.m. at Rocky Mount Elementary School (2400 Rocky Mountain Road).

DOT will provide maps and other information about the proposal, which would construct a roundabout at Trickum and Eula Drive (star on map).

According to a fact sheet on the project (you can see it here), the estimated cost will be $2.3 million and will take 24 months to complete.

According to Cobb DOT, “the public can view the conceptual roundabout layout, including its operational and safety benefits, and potential impacts within the project limits.

“County staff will also be on hand to discuss the estimated construction time and costs.  There will be no formal presentation.”

Open house slated for proposed Trickum Road roundabout

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Round Trip Brewing taking part in Cobb Ale Trail promotion

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Round Trip Brewing Co. holds grand opening at Avenue East Cobb

Submitted information:

Bubbles & Brews, a month-long celebration of Cobb County, Georgia’s craft beverage makers, is back for its sixth year to shine a spotlight on local breweries, distilleries, and wineries.

In March, craft beverage enthusiasts can explore the Cobb Ale Trail to sample unique local brews. A free ‘BrewPass,’ is available online or at participating Hop Spots, guiding visitors to each location where they can collect stamps and earn sweet prizes from Cobb Travel & Tourism. Guests can also earn extra bonus stamps on their BrewPass by attending Bubbles & Brews Events throughout the month. Prizes include custom Bubbles & Brews silipints, stickers, t-shirts, and, new this year, a deck of playing cards.

The fun doesn’t stop there! Dog-friendly locations will also have Bubbles & Chews bandanas for four-legged friends. Dog owners can snap a photo of their dog in its Bubbles & Chews swag and post it using #BubblesAndChews to enter for a chance to win a basket for their furry friends. Visitors will also have the opportunity to vote online for their favorite makers and brews.

“The craft beverage industry in Cobb continues to thrive with new locations opening every year,” said Holly Quinlan, president & CEO of Cobb Travel & Tourism. “Since launching Bubbles & Brews in 2020, we have seen these small businesses adapt, change, grow, and flourish making Cobb County a sweet spot for beverage enthusiasts. Each March, we have the opportunity to highlight these makers and recognize their role as a year-round tourism asset in our community.”

Fifteen of Cobb’s craft beverage makers are participating in the March 2025 event, including:

  • ASW Distillery (Cumberland)
  • Atlanta Hard Cider Co. & Distillery (Marietta)
  • Broken Anchor Winery (Acworth)
  • Contrast Artisan Ales (Marietta)
  • Frog Rock Brewing Company (Austell)
  • Glover Park Brewery (Marietta)
  • Horned Owl Brewing (Kennesaw)
  • Lazy Guy Distillery (Kennesaw)
  • Mandatory Fun Beer Works (Smyrna)
  • Red Top Brewhouse (Acworth)
  • Reformation Brewery (Mableton)
  • Round Trip Brewing Company (East Cobb)
  • Schoolhouse Brewing (Marietta)
  • Skint Chestnut Brewing Company (Powder Springs)
  • Viking Alchemist Meadery (Smyrna)
For more information on Bubbles & Brews, visit bubblesandbrews.com.

East Cobb residential real estate sales, Feb. 17-21, 2025

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Windsor Oaks, East Cobb real estate sales
Windsor Oaks

The following East Cobb residential real estate sales were compiled from agency reports and Cobb County property records.

They include the street address, subdivision name and sales price listed under their respective high school attendance zones:

Kell

1744 Christie Drive, 30066 (Shallowford Oaks): $385,000

Lassiter

3015 Oaktree Court, 30066 (Windsor Oaks): $875,000

2440 Jamerson Road, 30066: $740,000

3455 Oakshire Drive, 30066 (Edenton): $759,900

Pope

4325 Sprucebough Drive 30062 (Kensington): $647,000

3330 Woodleaf Way, 30062 (Chestnut Creek): $615,000

Sprayberry

730 Brickelberry Court, 30066 (Overlook at Chastain): $420,000

3781 Hickory Ridge, 30066 (North Ridge): $496,500

4016 Matty Drive, 30066 (Princeton Grove): $855,000

2500 Cottonwood Drive, 30066 (Bristol Mill): $387,500

3966 Ebenezer Road, 30066 (Philmont Estates): $283,000

Walton

2804 Jamont Court, 30068 (Bridgegate): $582,000

2992 Octavia Circle, 30062 (Vestavia Estates): $1.735 million

5163 Tall Oak Drive, 30068 (Woodland Trails): $620,000

5045 Gardenia Circle, 30068 (The Gardens at Parkaire): $392,000

Wheeler

279 Terrydale Drive, 30067 (Cayuga Forest): $369,000

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Editor’s Note: Marching forward into our March fundraiser

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Thanks again for a fantastic February!Editor's Note: Inviting our readers to join the 1500 Club!

We had a few dozen new contributors pledge their support to East Cobb News, and surpassed January’s reader donation totals.

I am very gratified for all of you who have generously given.

While we didn’t quite get to the $1,000 mark for the month (we came close!), the shortest month of the year revealed the level of support in this community for news and information you can’t get anywhere else.

I am touched by your show of support and honored to provide this community resource to you. My objective is to strive to make it better for you every day.

East Cobb News exists to serve you—the citizens, voters and taxpayers of this community—and the local businesses that advertise with us.

No corporate office somewhere else, no other journalistic establishment, nobody else or no other entity.

That’s what I’ve loved about going truly independent when I launched East Cobb News in 2017. I wanted my hometown, the place where I grew up, to have a news source all its own, one that mixed serious journalism with useful community information.

Now, as we embark on the stretch run of our eighth year, we’ve built up a very healthy audience: Nearly 70,000 unique visitors a month on average, more than 9,000 newsletter subscribers, and thousands more who find us on social media.

We do this every day, because the news doesn’t stop.

Think about that newsletter figure for a moment. Not long ago I read about how my former employer, the AJC, wants to boost its digital subscribers, which currently number around 100,000.

We’ve got a healthy fraction of that same number, just covering this slice of metro Atlanta, of a big company (that I was honored to work for for nearly two decades) serving a major metropolitan area, and with nine-figure resources to boot.

You don’t have to be big to have a big impact on your community. I recently interviewed someone for a forthcoming story who told me excitedly how both she and her husband (they’re both former journalists) love reading East Cobb News.

It’s flattering to hear that, but that’s the Power of Local, serving readers and news consumers in an authentic way.

What East Cobb News does on a shoestring by comparison comes deeply from the heart.

And that’s the value proposition I offer to you in consideration of supporting the work that we do here.

As winter (I truly hope!) is giving way to spring, I’d like to ask for the support of those of you who haven’t contributed to help us March Forward in the month of March.

We’d like to raise $1,500 in reader contributions this month, and I know we can do that. It’s a big goal, but this news site was founded on big dreams, and we’ve been able to do so much more than I initially envisioned.

I want to continue to grow this site and its role in our community and give it a lasting presence for many years!

If what you see here at East Cobb News is of any value to you, please click below to show your support.

Please donate today!

Your contribution powers the work of East Cobb News in serving this community like no one else—with daily stories about local government, schools, public safety, small business, transportation, the arts, community service and more—and grows an engaged audience as a result.

East Cobb News is among dozens of local independent online news sites that have emerged in recent years to offer grassroots news for their communities with an authentic local touch from publishers who are fully invested in everything that goes on there.

We’re also citizens, parents, homeowners, business owners and volunteers like our neighbors. It’s just not where we work, but the place we call home.

Unlike other corporate-0wned outlets, East Cobb News does not charge for reader access. While we’re a for-profit entity, we’re not unlike those who ask readers for their assistance in not just preserving, but strengthening local news.

Nor do we charge for our newsletter—one of the more popular ways readers keep up with East Cobb News—and we invite public comments on all our stories. We’ve got a healthy, vibrant community that comes online to discuss the top headlines of the day, and I’m proud of what’s been built up here.

We’d like to suggest a monthly payment of $6—you can contribute more if you like, or at whatever amount of your choosing.

Our online platform is safe, secure and easy to use, and you can manage your account however you like.

Just click the link below and thank you so much!

Become a regular supporter!

 

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Cobb Safety Village tips to follow for home fire safety

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Cobb Safety Village tips to follow for home fire safety
Residents of a Northeast Cobb home were treated for smoke injuries Monday. Cobb Fire photo

After several house fires this week—including two in East Cobb, one of which was deadly—Cobb Fire officials are urging the public to take extra precautions during some hazardous weather conditions.

Cobb and much of north and central Georgia have been under “red flag” warnings this week due to gusty winds, low humidity and warm temperatures.

That warning is in effect until 8 p.m. Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. Adding to the hazard is dry vegetation and the likelihood of fires spreading rapidly. Outdoor burning “is strongly discouraged,” the NWS Atlanta warning indicates.

Those conditions are expected to continue through the next week, with the first chance of rain in the area expected next weekend.

A woman was killed early Friday in a house fire off Powers Ferry Road, and members of another home in Northeast Cobb escaped a fire Monday that spread quickly.

Both fires took place late at night, as people were sleeping.

Though the cause of both fires is still under investigation, in the latter incident, a space heater may have provided the spark, according to Cobb Fire.

They’re telling the public to observe the following tips from the Cobb Safety Village to increase awareness and reduce the chances of being injured in a fire:

Know Two Ways Out

  • Every bedroom in your home should have at least two exits. Typically, these exits are the door and a window. Familiarize yourself with these escape routes and ensure that they are easily accessible at all times. In case of an emergency, being aware of and prepared to use these exits can be life-saving.
Close Before You Doze
  • It’s essential to sleep with your bedroom door closed. This simple action can significantly slow the spread of fire and smoke, providing you with crucial extra minutes to escape. Closing your door at night can also reduce toxic smoke levels and improve air quality, making your environment safer and giving you a better chance of survival.
Smoke Alarms: Your First Line of Defense
  • Smoke alarms are vital for early detection and warning in the event of a fire.
  • To ensure they are functioning correctlyTest Your Smoke Alarms Monthly: Press the test button to ensure they are working properly.
  • Replace Batteries Annually: Even if your alarms are hardwired, they typically have a battery backup that needs regular replacement.
  • Check Expiration Dates: Smoke alarms have a lifespan of 10 years. Check the manufacture date and replace the unit if it is older than 10 years.
By following these safety measures, you can significantly increase your chances of staying safe in the event of a fire. Remember, preparedness is key, and taking these steps can make all the difference. Stay safe and vigilant!

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Cobb Schools Foundation honors 2025 volunteers of the year

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Cobb Schools Foundation honors 2025 volunteers of the year
Ryan Garcia, the 2025 volunteer of the year at Daniell Middle School. Photos courtesy of Cobb County School District

The Cobb County School District held a luncheon Thursday to celebrate volunteers of the year at all of its schools.

The event, held at Jim Miller Park, was organized by the Cobb Schools Foundation. According to the district, the recipients “exemplify the power of selflessness and community spirit. The luncheon will celebrate their invaluable contributions and highlight the lasting difference they make in the lives of Cobb students.”

They were presented with their honors by Cobb School Superintendent Chris Ragsdale and staff from the Cobb Schools Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports the needs of students across the county.

Here are the honorees at schools in East Cobb:

Elementary Schools

  • Addison: Mark Cobb
  • Bells Ferry: Giovanna Montanes-Durand
  • Blackwell: Bindi Patel
  • Brumby: Kathleen Rouse
  • Davis: Sasha Gray
  • East Side: Cortney Morgan
  • Eastvalley: Laura Dietrich
  • Garrison Mill: Ann Maxwell
  • Keheley: RaeAnne Sturgill
  • Kincaid: Kevin McAlpin
  • Mt. Bethel: Kim Knight
  • Mountain View: Andy Holden
  • Murdock: Rebecca Reiss
  • Nicholson: Linda Elliott
  • Powers Ferry: Carol Stevens Maxwell
  • Rocky Mount: Jennifer Hill
  • Sedalia Park: Steve Harris
  • Shallowford Falls: Lauren Hammers
  • Sope Creek: Lara Moberg
  • Timber Ridge: Corrie Duckworth
  • Tritt: Kyndal Levin

Middle Schools:

  • Daniell: Ryan Garcia
  • Dickerson: Nicole Carter
  • Dodgen: Meredith Wilkes
  • East Cobb: Ashley Siegal
  • Hightower Trail: Laura McDade
  • Mabry: Elizabeth Wentz
  • McCleskey: Brittney Anderson
  • Simpson: Jennifer Richardson

High Schools:

  • Kell: Lisa Thorne
  • Lassiter: Kelly Brickley
  • Pope: Joy Ettel
  • Sprayberry: Ruth Somerlot
  • Walton: Natalie Collins
  • Wheeler: Pilar Kornegay

Click the middle button below to view the slide show.

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District 2 Cobb Commission Democratic runoff voting starts

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Submitted information:cobb advance voting, Cobb voter registration deadline, Walton and Dickerson PTSA candidates forum

Advance voting for the District 2 Special Democratic Primary Runoff Election will be held March 3 – 7. On Election Day, March 11, voters must go to their assigned polling location.

The District 2 Democratic Primary contest will be held between candidates Erick Allen and Jaha V. Howard. District 2 Republican candidate Alicia Adams was unopposed. There will be no voting March 8 – 10.

Go here for advance voting locations and more information or call 770-528-2581. The General Special Election for commission Districts 2 and 4 will be held on April 29.

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Cobb PARKS announces registration for summer activities

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Hyde Farm Nature Camp
Plenty of spring activities will be getting underway starting next week at Hyde Farm.

Next week registration begins for a number of summer camps, recreation programs and other activities offered by Cobb PARKS.

You can register online at this link and get more information, including fees, dates, locations and more/

Here’s a sampling:

Recreation Center Day Camps
Registration opens March 5 at noon.
Sign up for one-week sessions, June 2 – Aug. 1.

Locations:

  • Fair Oaks Recreation Center
  • Fullers Recreation Center
  • Ron Anderson Recreation Center
  • Ward Recreation Center

Cobb Therapeutics Camp Horizon  

A highly mobile indoor/outdoor camp for ages 7- 21 with developmental, mental, and physical disabilities. Activities include arts, nature, music, sports, swimming, pet therapy, and dance. Campers are grouped for comfort and participation. One-on-one care is not available. New campers require a preregistration assessment (appointments available weekdays until 5 p.m.). Contact: Matt Ulmer (770-528-2569)

Registration opens Wednesday, March 5 at noon.

Art Camps
Registration opens 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 5.
Locations:

  • The Art Station – Big Shanty
  • The Art Place – Mountain View
  • Mable House Arts Center
  • Sewell Mill Cultural Center

Nature and History Camps
Nature Camp at Hyde Farm Park, 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m, June 23 – 27, for grades 3 – 5. Registration begins 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 5 on Civic Rec.

History Camp at Green Meadows Preserve: June 2 – 5. Registration begins 8 a.m. Wednesday, March 5 here.

In addition, here’s a selected list of activities that are scheduled to begin in early and mid-March, and for which registration is still available:

Open Garden Time (45161)
March 6, Thursday, 9 – 11 a.m. Register here.
March 8, Saturday, 10 a.m. – noon Register here.
Wright Center. All ages. 
Come explore the trails and native plant gardens of the Wright Environmental Education Center. During open garden time, you can walk the trails, visit the Jean Wright museum, and a master gardener volunteer will be on site to answer questions about the plants you see.

Forest Bathing (45627)
March 11, Tuesday, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Hyde Farm Park        
All ages. Register here.
Forest bathing is a Japanese practice that involves spending time in a forest to relax and connect with nature. 

Farm Friday: Garden Prep (45108)
March 14, Friday, 9 a.m. – noon
Hyde Farm Park
All ages. Register here.    
Join us for Farm Friday, a hands-on garden education and volunteer program. This month, we are learning about garden prep, including soil amendments, mulching, and more.  

Homeschool at Hyde (39756)
March 20, Thursday, 10 a.m. – noonHyde Farm Park
Ages 6 – 13. Register here. 
Pollution Solutions: Understand various pollution sources and their impacts, create repurposed art, and participate in a cleanup hike to beautify the park.
Georgia Wildlife Trackers (45186)
March 29, Saturday, 9 – 10 a.m.
Hyde Farm Park
Ages 10 and up. Register here.     
Join Georgia Wildlife Trackers Club to learn to identify wildlife tracks, understand their behaviors, and contribute to conservation efforts. We will take a walk around the pond and visit the wildlife education trail in search of wildlife track and sign.Hyde In Season: History (44637)
March 29, Saturday, 10 – 11 a.m.
Hyde Farm Park
All ages. Register here.
A walking history tour, where you’ll get an up-close look at Hyde Farm’s historic buildings and learn about the rich history of the area.
And here are upcoming activities at Fullers Recreation Center in East Cobb:

Hunter Athletics Cheer and Acrobatics
Mar. 4 – April 10, Tuesdays and Thursdays
Ages 5 – 12. Register here.

Senior Pickleball Lessons
March 4 – May 29
Ages 55 and up. Register here.

Home School Programs
March 5 – May 30, Wednesdays and Fridays
Ages 5 – 13. Register here.

Comic Book Kids (45171)
March 5 – April 9, Wednesdays, 6 – 7 p.m.
Ages 7 – 10. Register here.

Volleyball Training
March 6 – June 6
Ages 10 – 14. Register here.

Gideon Warriors School of Martial Arts (45106)
March 15, Saturdays, 9 a.m. – noon
Ages 5 and up. Register here.

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Woman dies, several people injured in East Cobb house fire

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Cobb Fire officials said Friday that a woman died in a house fire in East Cobb and several other people were injured, including firefighters. Cobb Fire Department fireworks safety reminder

The fire broke out shortly after 3 a.m. Friday at a home on Oakland Drive, located off Powers Ferry Road, according to the Cobb Fire and Emergency Services Department.

Fire crews began a search of the home upon arrival, and discovered the victim, whose name was not released, deceased in a carport area that had collapsed.

Some news reports said the woman may have tried to go back into the home to retrieve a family pet.

Three other occupants in the home and two firefighters were also taken to hospitals for treatment, Cobb Fire public information officer Nick Danz said.

He said another firefighter was treated on the scene for minor injuries.

Danz did not know the conditions of the home occupants who were hospitalized.

He said fire crews were on the scene cleaning up after 7 a.m. Friday.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, Cobb Fire said.

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East Cobb resident named Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice

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East Cobb resident named Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice
Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Nels S.D. Peterson

Nels S.D. Peterson, an East Cobb resident who has served on the Georgia Supreme Court since 2016, has been named the body’s Chief Justice.

He succeeds Michael Boggs, who announced earlier this week he was resigning from the court on March 31.

Peterson, 46, a Kennesaw State University graduate, is an active member of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church.

He was appointed to the high court in 2018, then won six-year terms in non-partisan elections in 2018 and 2024.

As chief justice, he will serve a single four-year term. Most recently Peterson served as the court’s presiding judge.

According to a release from the Supreme Court, the chief justice “is the spokesperson for the Supreme Court, as well as for the entire state judiciary. He presides over the Court’s oral arguments and the Court’s deliberation of cases, although he has only one vote as does each of the eight other Justices.

“The Chief Justice also chairs the Judicial Council of Georgia, the judicial branch policy-making body created by the Supreme Court that includes the State Bar President and 27 judges who represent all classes of courts in the state. The Presiding Justice serves in the Chief Justice’s absence and is the vice-chair of the Judicial Council.”

Peterson also served on the Georgia Court of Appeals, was Georgia’s first solicitor general in the Georgia Attorney General’s office, was an executive counsel in the Georgia’s governor’s office and was general counsel for the University of Georgia.

In private practice, Peterson was a partner with the Atlanta law firm of King and Spalding and was a clerk to Chief Judge William H. Pryor Jr. of the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit.

After graduating from KSU, Peterson earned a law degree from Harvard University.

He and his wife Jennifer have two children.

In 2021, Boggs succeeded as chief justice Harold Melton, a Wheeler High School graduate who served on the high court for 16 years. Melton is now in private law practice.

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Cobb Library book groups announce March activity schedule

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Cobb Library groups announce March activities and events
Two book discussion groups meet regularly at the East Cobb Library branch, which also conducts a walking book club at East Cobb Park.

Submitted information:

Cobb County Public Library’s March calendar features several Book Discussion options for adults. The sessions include a walking book group, a Silent readers program, and more conversations between neighbors on works spanning a variety of topics.

The Silent Book Club at Gritters Library, 880 Shaw Park Rd., Marietta 30066, will meet Saturday, March 1 with participants arriving at 2 p.m., reading at 2:30 p.m. and socializing at 3:30 p.m. Unlike a regular book club, there is no assigned reading or discussion. There are about 1500 Silent Book Club chapters in more than 50 countries across the globe. 

The Short Story Discussion Group meets at Sewell Mill Library, 2051 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta 30068, on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm. The March 4 meeting will be on The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins-Gilman. 

Science Fiction Book Club meets at 6:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month at Switzer Library, 266 Roswell St., Marietta 30060. The book for March 4 is Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler.

East Cobb Walking Book Club will meet 10 a.m. Thursday, March 6 at the East Cobb Park, 3322 Roswell Road, Marietta 30068. Members gather near the park entrance to walk for exercise before a book discussion. The title for March 6 is West with Giraffes, historical fiction by Lynda Rutledge. The club is organized by East Cobb Library. The book selection may change if there are not enough available copies. To confirm the March title and for more information, call 770-509-2730. 

The Shakespeare Reading Group meets at Switzer Library 2 p.m. on the first and third Thursday of the month to discuss works from the expansive canon of William Shakespeare, including drama, tragedy, sonnets and lyrics. Upcoming sessions include March 6 and March 20.

Page Turners Morning Book Group and Page Turners Afternoon Book Group next meet Wednesday, March 12 at Mountain View Regional Library, 3320 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta 30066, at 10:30 am and 1 p.m., to discuss novels. The Morning title is the novel Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt and the Afternoon selection is A Tree Grows In Brooklyn, the semi-autobiographic novel by Betty Smith. Page Turners meets the first Wednesday of the month. To register, visit cobbcat.org.

Sewell Mill Library’s Creative Studios: Fantasy Book Club meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. The March 12 discussion will be on What the Woods Took, a young adult horror novel by Courtney Gould.

Sewell Mill Book Club meets each month on the third Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at Sewell Mill Library & Cultural Center. The title for March 19 is Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, the autobiographical novel by Robert Pirsig.

The East Cobb Book Discussion Group meets the third Thursday of every month with the morning session at 11 a.m. and the afternoon session at 2 p.m. at East Cobb Library, 4880 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta 30068. The March 20 morning selection is the novel A Calamity of Souls by David Baldacci and the afternoon title is Emilia Hart’s novel Weyward. The book selections may change if copies are not available. For more information, call 770-509-2730. 

Let’s Talk Multicultural Book Club next meets 1 p.m. Thursday, March 27 at Switzer Library,. The session will be a discussion on the historical novel Brooklyn by Irish writer Colm Toibin with guest speaker historian and retired Cobb librarian James Camp.

For information on March Book Discussion programs offered by Cobb County Public Library, visit cobbcounty.org/library.

 

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East Cobb Restaurant Update: Pho Hoa coming to Market Plaza

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East Cobb Restaurant Update: Pho Hoa coming to Market Plaza

The Vietnamese fast-casual concept Pho Hoa Noodle Soup and Jazen Tea will soon open its first Georgia location in East Cobb.

The California-based eatery will be moving into the former Kouzina Christos and Aurelio’s space (1255 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 22), but an opening date hasn’t been announced.

A message on the location’s Facebook page said that “we are hoping to be ready by March.”

The chain serves a variety of Vietnamese specialties—pho dishes, rolls, vermicelli and lemongrass pork chops—along with teas, cocktails and fruit drinks.

Some menu items also will have gluten-free options.

Pho Hoa (the latter word is Vietnamese for “harmony”) has locations in California, Washington state, British Columbia, Charlotte, N.C. and two in Florida.

Phoa was founded in 1983, and has 60 locations in six nations. Jazen Tea, also of California, was founded in 2012 and has 18 locations in the U.S. and Canada.

According to the East Cobb location’s social media pages, the concept is about “creating a space where family, harmony, and tradition come together. With fresh, high-quality ingredients, hearty bowls of flavorful pho, and refreshing craft cocktails, we’re committed to bringing something truly special to Marietta.”

East Cobb News has reached out for more information.

Renovations are continuing and hiring is underway.

The space next to what is Reunion Kitchen and Bar has been vacant since Kouzina Christos closed in January 2024.

Before that, Aurelio’s Pizza was a Market Plaza staple for decades.

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