East Cobb News Archives

UPDATED: Marietta Kiwanis ‘Field of Flags’ 9/11 event changes

September 3, 2021 12:00 PMSeptember 3, 2021 8:53 AM by Wendy Parker

Marietta Kiwanis Field of Flags events

We posted a couple weeks back about the upcoming “Field of Flags” festivities being put on by the Marietta Kiwanis Club to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Sept. 11.

Those events start on Saturday with a parade and procession of flags at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, and Debbie McCracken, a member of the Field of Flags Committee, has sent updated information.

Specifically, there are revisions for volunteer parking and shuttle service to/from the Grace Community Church on Saturday. Details here about what’s taking place on Saturday, and for the next couple of weeks:

The entire community is invited to participate in the 20th Anniversary of 9.11. Field of Flags Memorial Events sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Marietta held from September 4th through September 18th (flag removal occurs on the 18th). The Field of Flags at Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield Park will honor and memorialize the 2, 977 innocent and unsuspecting individuals who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. Each flag representing one life lost on that tragic and horrific day in our nation’s history.

Procession of flags led by the Atlanta Pipe Band will occur on September 4th 10:00 am from Grace Community Church to Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. Parking and shuttle bus service to the church will be available from CW Matthew 1600 Kenview Rd off of Old 41, Shrine lot on 1380 White Circle, and Gardens of Kennesaw Mountain on 1127 White Circle beginning at 8:30 am. Return shuttle service will be provided until 12:30 pm.

Memorial Ceremony will be held on September 11th 7:55 am to 11:00 am in front of the Visitors Center Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park.

911 Ceremony will include: Bagpiper Detective Tommy Burns, Speaker Retired NYFD Capt. James D’Avolio, Soloist Heather Graham Tamburello, Marietta Fire Department Color Guard, 21 Gun Salute by Cobb County Police Honor Guard, Riderless Horseman presentation by the Cobb County Sheriff’s Department, Richard Rubio, Retired Homeland Security Agent, will play taps after the reading of the names of the 2, 977 innocent victims at the end of the Ceremony.

For more information: http://www.fieldofflags.com.

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Majority of Cobb residents ‘fully vaccinated’ against COVID-19

September 2, 2021 3:12 PM by Wendy Parker

Cobb COVID-19 vaccines — *To view by Census tract, **click here**. For a legend, see the chart below, at the right.*

While local health officials continue to issue urgent messages about COVID-19, their efforts to get Cobb residents to get “fully vaccinated” recently reached a milestone.

A slight majority of eligible citizens—aged 12 and older— have received both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Cobb COVID vaccines

Those are the latest figures from the vaccine dashboard of the Georgia Department of Public Health, which shows that 381,465 Cobb residents are fully vaccinated. That’s 51 percent, a figure that’s above the statewide average of 44 percent.

Another 429,617 people, or 57 percent, have received at least one dose of the vaccine. The map above shows vaccination rates via Census tracts, with the higher percentages in darker purple shades and lower rates in light blue and white (see the legend at right).

The Census tract data can be seen in more detail by clicking here; and those numbers also break down vaccination rates by age, sex and race.

Earlier this week Cobb and Douglas Public health announced that Pfizer and Moderna booster shots are available to select people with weakened immune systems.

Transmission rates of COVID-19 continue to rise in Cobb and Georgia. Cobb and Douglas Public Health reported Wednesday that the 14-day average of cases her 100,000 people was at 834, several times higher than the “high community spread” threshold of 100 cases per 1000,000.

And Cobb’s COVID-19 test positivity rate also is high, at 13 percent, well above the ideal 5-percent threshold.

But as has happened in nearby Southern states, including Florida, the current surge, marked by the rapidly transmissable Delta variant, could be reaching a peak.

The Georgia DPH Daily Status Report shows that the 7-day moving average of cases in Cobb according to date of onset was 418, as of Aug. 19. That’s the last day before a 14-day window that’s observed in tracking onset data that’s considered preliminary.

Since the pandemic was declared in March 2020, there have been 73,805 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Cobb County, and 1,098 deaths.

Cobb COVID cases 9.2.21 — *To view more data from Georgia DPH, click here.*

East Cobb restaurants participating in Cobb Foodie Week

September 3, 2021 11:45 AMSeptember 2, 2021 1:07 PM by Wendy Parker

East Cobb Taqueria Tsunami restaurant

Several restaurants in East Cobb are offering specials for the upcoming Cobb Foodie Week.

That’s an annual promotion of Travel Cobb, part of Cobb Travel and Tourism, and Cobb Foodie Week lasts from Sept. 11-18.

Restaurants are invited to offer specials, discounts and other promotions.

The East Cobb restaurants taking part this year are:

Camps Kitchen & Bar, Catfish Hox, Kale Me Crazy, Marlow’s Merchants Walk, McCray’s Tavern, Stockyard Burgers and Bones, Taqueria Tsunami, Tin Lizzy’s and Williamson Bros. B-B-Q.

The details can be found here, including the dates and specials offered by each restaurant.

East Cobb 2021 Citizen of the Year nominations accepted

September 2, 2021 12:43 PMSeptember 2, 2021 10:35 AM by Wendy Parker

East Cobb Citizen of the Year, Mitch Rhoden — *The East Cobb Citizen of the Year for 2020 was Mitch Rhoden. File*

Submitted information:

The Cobb Chamber is now accepting nominations for the 2021 Citizen of the Year Awards. The Citizen of the Year Awards, created by Cobb County civic clubs and cosponsored by the Cobb Chamber Area Councils and Cobb County business associations, have been presented annually to extraordinary individuals for the work they have done in Cobb County.

Awards are given to deserving individuals based on nine local area nominations: Acworth, Austell, East Cobb, Kennesaw, Mableton, Marietta, Powder Springs, Smyrna and West Cobb. Given to honor an individual whose impact through the years will be recognized and regarded with pride throughout the area as a role model, these outstanding citizens are chosen for their definable, exceptional deeds, with which he or she has made their community a better place to live.

Nominations are now open through Friday, September 24 at www.cobbchamber.org. For more information on the Citizen of the Year Awards, contact Katie Guice at 770-859-2334 or kguice@cobbchamber.org.

Mitch Rhoden named 2020 East Cobb Citizen of the Year

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Youth mental health town hall slated for Sewell Mill Library

September 2, 2021 7:10 AM by Wendy Parker

From the office of Cobb Commissioner Jerica Richardson: Suicide Prevention Month, Sewell Mill Library youth mental health town hall

September is Suicide Prevention Month, so we are partnering with Cobb Collaborative to host a town hall regarding youth mental health.

On Tuesday, Sept. 14 at Sewell Mill Library at 6 p.m. we will have a tabling event where various organizations around Cobb will be present to answer questions regarding their mental health resources. We will have a panel of experts to talk about the subject starting at 7 p.m. at the amphitheater behind the library. We will use the black box theater inside should we face inclement weather.

Registration for the event can be found here.

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Pope HS graduate named 2021 Cobb schools teacher of the year

September 1, 2021 3:47 PM by Wendy Parker

Beth Foster, 2021 Cobb schools teacher of the year

Submitted information:

Beth Foster thought she was attending the August Board of Education meeting to be recognized as the Cobb Schools High School Teacher of the Year, but she was in for a big surprise.

Instead of solely recognizing her accomplishment as High School TOTY, Superintendent Chris Ragsdale announced that she had been selected as the District Level Teacher of the Year!

“Beth Foster is an example of Cobb’s high-quality educators who help students overcome obstacles and succeed in school and beyond. Teachers like her are the reason why 91% of Cobb students reach the graduation stage when they attend a Cobb high school all four years,” said Superintendent Ragsdale.

Beth Foster, a graduate of Pope High School, teaches ESOL and History/Civics classes at Osborne High School, where she has helped students succeed for 13+ years. Cobb’s Teacher of the Year has taught students from all around the world and serves as a daily encouragement to both her students and her fellow educators.

“I love teaching at Osborne because we work as a team to help our students. Every single person in our building contributes – teachers, staff, administrators, parent facilitators, department chairs, the social worker, our cafeteria staff, and academic coaches,” Ms. Foster explained.

Osborne Principal Josh Morreale describes Ms. Foster as a dynamic teacher who consistently meets the needs of all of her students. Principal Morreale also praised the District’s top teacher for building strong relationships with her students.

She maintains some of those relationships long after graduation. One of those relationships also makes up one of her favorite memories as an educator.

“It is difficult to pinpoint one favorite memory as an educator, but one that stands out is a former student who faced a lot of adversity throughout high school. He relied heavily on my husband and I for support, and he eventually went on to graduate and pursue higher education. He now owns his own business, and he has a beautiful family. It has been a joy to see him flourish,” said the veteran Osborne educator.

The success of her student epitomizes why she serves as a teacher.

“I love seeing students happy, learning, and finding success in challenging situations,” Cobb’s TOTY added.

In addition to recognizing Beth Foster, Superintendent Ragsdale and Cobb’s Board Members also congratulate Cobb’s Elementary Level TOTY, Dr. Darline Douangvilay, City View Elementary School; and Middle School Level TOTY, Michelle Gottenberg, Mabry Middle School.

East Cobb Cityhood town hall: ‘Government is a difficult business’

September 1, 2021 12:39 PM by Wendy Parker

Peachtree Corners city manager Brian Johnson runs the daily operations of one of Georgia’s newest cities. Brian Johnson, Peachtree Corners city manager

The municipality in Gwinnett County of 43,000 came into existence in 2012, and he arrived five years ago.

He’s also a veteran of local government and has been involved in other cityhood movements in Georgia.

During a virtual town hall meeting of the East Cobb Cityhood Committee last week, he repeatedly touted the local control benefits of incorporation, noting that Peachtree Corners is similar to East Cobb—a portion of a sprawling, growing county.

Like Cobb, Gwinnett has a five-member county commission, with four district commissioners representing roughly 250,000 people.

That’s more than Cobb, where commissioners’ district include a little less than 200,000 people, a major driving point for the East Cobb Cityhood effort.

“No one individual can represent that many people,” he said at the East Cobb group’s third virtual town hall in recent months.

He noted that even when Peachtree Corners citizens don’t agree with decisions made by their city government, “they feel more comfortable that it was made at the local level.”

The Peachtree Corners City Council is non-partisan with seven elected members. East Cobb Cityhood legislation calls for six non-partisan council members, with one of them chosen by colleagues every two years to serve as mayor.

“Potholes could care less what party you’re affiliated with,” Johnson said. “Local government, city government, is the purest form of service delivery that exists because of that very reason.”

Peachtree Corners is similar to East Cobb in other respects, with an affluent, educated population. The city also provides similar services to what the East Cobb group is proposing—code enforcement planning and zoning.

And like the current East Cobb legislation that’s pending before the 2022 Georgia legislature, Peachtree Corners does not have public safety services. Gwinnett County police and fire continue to serve that municipality.

But Johnson also spelled out the challenges that new cities face. Peachtree Corners opted to provide trash pick-up with one vendor, which he said has led to complaints by some citizens who wanted a choice.

And he also said there are some people who opposed cityhood and other citizens who at times speak out when there are problems, often vocally.

“We’re not perfect, and we hear that every day,” Johnson said. “Government is a difficult business, and we’re invariably going to miss the mark.”

Before Johnson spoke, East Cobb Cityhood Committee member Sarah Haas stressed in a slide that a city of East Cobb would “not be another layer of government” but would be in charge of services transferred from the county.

In addition to code enforcement and planning and zoning, the proposed services are parks and recreation and road maintenance.

You can watch the entire video by clicking here.

Cobb-Douglas Public Health offering 3rd COVID vaccine doses

September 1, 2021 3:36 PMSeptember 1, 2021 9:25 AM by Wendy Parker

Submitted information:

Cobb & Douglas Public Health is now providing a 3rd dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to certain patients with weakened immune systems.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised receive an additional dose of Pfizer or Moderna COVID vaccine at least 28 days after completion of the initial two doses. This recommendation does not include Johnson and Johnson vaccine recipients.

Currently, CDC is recommending that moderately to severely immunocompromised people receive an additional dose. This includes people who have:

Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood

Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system

Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system

Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)

Advanced or untreated HIV infection

Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response

Eligible patients must request a third dose of the vaccine, and to receive it, they may either provide documentation from their physician or self-attest to one of the medical conditions above.

The vaccine is free, and appointments are encouraged.

COVID-19 vaccinations (1st, 2nd and 3rd doses) are available at the following locations:

Marietta Public Health Center
Providing Pfizer and Moderna Vaccine
1650 County Services Parkway
Marietta, Georgia 30008
Phone: 770-514-2300
Hours: Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Walk-ups welcome or to schedule an appointment, visit: https://cdph.jotform.com/211665390563963

Smyrna Public Health Center
Providing Pfizer Vaccine
3001 South Cobb Drive
Smyrna, Georgia 30080
Phone: 770-514-2300
Hours: Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Walk-ups welcome or to schedule an appointment, visit: https://cdph.jotform.com/211662814872964

Acworth-Kennesaw Public Health Center
Providing Pfizer Vaccine
3810 Old 41 Highway NW
Kennesaw, Georgia 30144
Phone: 770-514-2300
Hours: Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Walk-ups welcome or to schedule an appointment, visit: : https://cdph.jotform.com/211614044789054

Douglas Public Health Center
Providing Pfizer and Moderna Vaccine
6770 Selman Drive
Douglasville, GA 30134
Hours: Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Walk-ups welcome or to schedule an appointment, visit: https://cdph.jotform.com/211785390102955

ECBA moves open networking location to Goldberg’s Bagel Co.

September 1, 2021 7:27 AM by Wendy Parker

Submitted information from the East Cobb Business Association: Goldberg’s Bagel, East Cobb food scores

East Cobb Open Networking “ECON” is the oldest and most consistent meeting where entrepreneurs and business owners or representatives can meet over breakfast to network. ECON meets every Friday Morning from 7:30 to 8:30 AM. (Free Networking Event)

Bring your business cards and give a 50 second introduction. One participant is selected each Friday for a 5 minute presentation, based upon prior attendance.

Goldberg’s Bagel Co & Deli [1062 Johnson Ferry Road] lets us hold our meetings in their East Cobb restaurant at no cost, so please get a coffee and/or order breakfast and don’t forget to tip your server.

Have a 1 on 1 with someone afterwards to meet East Cobb business owners and small business community leaders – This Meetup is sponsored by East Cobb Business Association as an open forum for networking.

We look forward to meeting all attendees – New, Guests and Returning, so join-us!

Our motto: “It’s another beautiful day in East Cobb. Go out, kick some butt, make some money, come back next week and bring a friend!”

East Cobb resident takes up swimming challenge for 9/11 organization

September 1, 2021 4:32 PMAugust 31, 2021 4:08 PM by Wendy Parker

East Cobb resident 9/11 swimming challenge — *“I’m not really a swimmer,” said Jim Whitcomb, who’s taking part in a 10-mile swim Sept. 10 to help the Tunnel to Towers “in my own little way.”*

It’s been nearly a year since East Cobb resident James Whitcomb learned about the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a non-profit set up after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks to provide seriously injured first responders and military veterans with mortgage-free homes and other housing assistance.

“I thought, ‘What a great foundation? What can I do to help to in my own little way?’ ” Whitcomb said.

To mark the 20th anniversary of 9/11, Tunnel to Towers has organized a “Swim2Help” campaign to encourage donations.

Whitcomb, who splashed in the many lakes of his native Minnesota as a young boy and has lived in East Cobb for 20 years, admits that “I’m not really a swimmer.”

But for several months now, he’s been building up his endurance with weekday swims at the Mountain View Aquatic Center.

On Saturday, he logged seven miles, his longest swim yet, in about four hours, to get ready for the climax to his “Swim to Help” effort that’s been underway in other respects.

Next Friday, Sept. 10, he’s undertaking a 10-mile swim at the Mountain View pool, with some rest and hydration breaks, to get over a substantial fundraising goal he set for himself

Whitcomb has raised nearly $15,000 of a targeted $25,000, mostly through word-of-mouth efforts.

“I’m not a social media guy,” he said, adding that a flyer he posted on Facebook didn’t generate much of a response.

He has created his own website to explain what he’s doing, and why, with some video footage here, here and here.

He’s broken down what he calls his “mega” swim like this: 52,800 feet, or 17,600 yards, or 352 laps in a 25-yard pool.

Whitcomb is inviting the public to come cheer him on, and “make sure I’m still afloat.”

The swim begins at 6 a.m. sharp, and he estimated it will take 6-7 hours with those breaks.

Donations can be made at this link anytime, and many of the donations range between $25-$100.

Whitcomb, a finance executive with J.P. Morgan Chase, said donors can offer any amount they wish.

Wrote one donor: “I work hard to swim ONE mile at Mt. View Aquatic center. You’re awesome. We support T2T also. Good luck.”

Cobb schools to temporarily increase substitute teacher pay

August 31, 2021 12:11 PM by Wendy Parker

Submitted information from the Cobb County School District:

Substitutes in Cobb Schools will soon have an extra reason to smile when they see their paychecks. Effective September 6, substitute teachers, supply teachers, substitute nurses, and supply nurses in Cobb Schools will be eligible for pay increases temporarily through May 2022. The increase will reflect in the employees’ October 29 paycheck.

“Whether they are part-time, temporary, or full time, every Team member can change a student’s life. This raise is another example of Superintendent Ragsdale’s priority of putting CARES Act relief dollars as close to the classroom as possible,” said Chief Human Resources Officer Keeli Bowen.

The daily rate for substitute teachers in Cobb will increase to $189 temporarily, while the rate for supply teachers will increase to $212 temporarily. Both substitute and supply nurses in Cobb Schools will also see a temporary hourly rate increase by $4 per hour. For example, the hourly rate for an RN nurse supply position will increase to $27.89 temporarily.

Those interested in joining the Cobb Schools team should visit here.

Cobb Schools teacher substitutes and nurses are not the only ones this year to see a monetary thank you.

Superintendent Ragsdale recently announced a $1,200 retention bonus for all bus drivers and monitors payable in their December payroll. To be eligible for the retention bonus, each driver and monitor must be employed by September 24th.  

For specific questions related to pay and the temporary rate increases, contact Cobb Schools Human Resources Department.

Cobb included in flash flood watch through Wednesday afternoon

August 31, 2021 9:24 AM by Wendy Parker

Cobb flash flood watch

The remnants of Hurricane Ida continue to move through the Southeast, causing heavy rains and flooding that have prompted a flash flood watch that includes Cobb County.

The National Weather Service issued the flood watch for portions of northwest Georgia starting at 8 a.m. Tuesday through 2 p.m. Wednesday.

The watch area that includes Cobb is expected to get 3-5 inches of rain, raising the chances for flooding.

Heavy rains began in metro Atlanta Monday afternoon, and the forecast calls for a nearly 100 percent chance Tuesday and Wednesday.

High temperatures Tuesday and Wednesday are forecast to be in the high 70s but with high humidity, and lows in the high 60s.

The rain forecast calls for a 40 percent chance by Wednesday afternoon as the stormy weather clears out.

Sunny and warmer weather will return starting Thursday, with highs in the high 80s and lows in the high 60s through Friday.

The weekend and early next week will be the same, before rain is expected by the middle of next week.

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

East Cobb-based tutoring group to hold Red Cross blood drive

August 30, 2021 1:23 PM by Wendy Parker

East Cobb tutoring group blood drive

Walton High School students Abhishek and Abhinav Kona reached out to pass along the word that the tutoring group they helped co-found, the American Assimilation Helpline, will be holding a blood drive over the weekend.

They and Elly Kang of the Marist School started the non-profit in 2017 to provide free, virtual, one-on-one academic assistance to students from low income, immigrant and refugee backgrounds. Since then, they estimate they’ve connected with more than 750 students with the help of more than 400 tutors (some of whom are seen in the photo above).

The AAH also has been getting involved in community efforts closer to home, including the Cobb Adopt-A-Mile Program, CPR training and blood drives.

Their next blood drive event in conjunction with the American Red Cross will take place on Sunday, Sept. 5, from 2-7 p.m. at the Lutheran Church of the Incarnation (1200 Indian Hills Parkway).

As for the ongoing tutoring program with AAH, Abhishek and Abhinav report that the subjects include English, Math, Science and Social Studies, as well as Computer Science.

“The unique setup of pairing the student and tutor for a focused 1hr tutoring session provides a significant opportunity for the student and tutor to freely work on individual needs and help with better understanding of the subject. Today, AAH! has students from all over the United States and countries across the globe, including South Korea, Japan, India, Brazil, and Romania.

“AAH! Founders and tutors from different backgrounds and believe in ‘Knowledge is power and knowledge shared power multiplied’ and teaching is rewarding experience. AAH looks forward to reaching out to students in need of help while providing an opportunity for those wanting to reduce educational gaps between marginalized and privileged students.”

East Cobb Business Association Expo returns to Olde Towne

August 30, 2021 1:53 PMAugust 30, 2021 10:37 AM by Wendy Parker

ECBA Expo

After being cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19, the East Cobb Business Association Expo is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 5 at the Olde Towne Athletic Club from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

It’s a networking event for local business owners and citizens. Exhibitor costs range from $150 for a standard member space to $200 for non-members. For networkers, advance admission is $5 and $10 on the day of the event.

There will be food, promotional giveaways, business card drawings and a grand raffle prize.

More information can be found on the flyer below and by clicking here.

DISCLAIMER: East Cobb News is an ECBA member and will be an exhibitor at the Expo. Please make sure to say hello!

East Cobb Business Association Expo

Where to get help in Cobb as CDC evictions moratorium ends

August 30, 2021 1:01 PMAugust 30, 2021 8:54 AM by Wendy Parker

Submitted information from Cobb County Government:

A U.S. Supreme Court ruling has ended the moratorium on evictions currently in place. Cobb’s Chief Magistrate says evictions proceedings will resume, but still not at full capacity due to COVID health restrictions. Click here to read his full FAQ on the situation.

Nonprofits partnering with Cobb County to get federal rental and utility assistance to those impacted by the pandemic have distributed 60 percent of the allocation. Help is still available and if you face eviction or are behind in utility payments seek help! To learn how to get help visit www.cobbcounty.org/ERA.

During a recent briefing, the Sheriff’s Office explained the evictions process and its role in it. For details watch the video at https://youtu.be/bpSvqm5b-XY.

Wellstar East Cobb Health Park among new COVID-19 test sites

August 28, 2021 12:37 PM by Wendy Parker

East Cobb Health Park

We noted a couple weeks back that there’s a constant traffic backlog along Roswell Road for private drive-up COVID-19 testing at East Cobb United Methodist Church.

Due to an increase in demand because of the Delta variant and rising infection levels, Cobb and Douglas Public Health and Wellstar Health Systems are partnering to offer more testing.

Starting on Tuesday, you’ll be able to get tested at the Wellstar East Cobb Health Park (3747 Roswell Road).

The hours are Monday-Saturday from 9-6 and Sunday 10-2. While the testing is free, your insurance will be billed.

Testing also is available at Wellstar Acworth Health Park (4550 Cobb Parkway); Monday-Saturday 8:30-5 and Sunday 10-2.

You also won’t need to sign-up in advance to get tested there, but you’re strongly encouraged to do so and can pre-register by clicking this link.

Cobb and Douglas Public Health and Wellstar didn’t indicate how long those locations will be conducting testing.

Cobb and Douglas Health had operated COVID-19 testing and vaccine distribution at Jim Miller Park until earlier this summer, when case figures were below the “high community spread” level (a 14-day average of 100 cases per 100,000 people or less).

That two-week figure is now pushing toward 800 cases, and Cobb and Douglas Public Health has had only one location for testing, at Chuck Camp Park in Smyrna.

The Georgia Department of Public Health also has a site finder to locate private testing services that it notes “are not endorsed, vetted, or managed by public health. Individual test providers can set their own testing fees. Ask about the cost, availability, and requirements before testing.”

Cobb and Douglas Public Health offers the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to those 12 and older at four locations in both counties, and you can get more information by clicking here.

In an urgent message issued this week, Dr. Janet Memark, director of Cobb and Douglas Public Health, implored the public to wear masks in public, get vaccinated and take precautions.

“I know that we are all struggling through this Delta surge. For the next few weeks, I advise everyone to be cautious,” Memark said. “The virus is around you EVERYWHERE. Your best defense is getting vaccinated and wearing your masks. Until numbers come down, I would not gather in large groups. We can only get through this by working together. That being said, do what you can to keep yourselves and your families safe.”

Aloha to Aging to hold first ‘Generation to Generation’ Expo

August 28, 2021 1:00 PMAugust 28, 2021 8:53 AM by Wendy Parker

Submitted information:

This free family friendly event will offer individuals of all ages multiple opportunities to learn, grow and most importantly connect and have fun!

A few highlights for the day:

“Managing A Life Interrupted” speaker panel featuring legal, health and wellness professionals who will guide us on how to best manage the unexpected!

The deadline to sign up as a vendor is this coming Wednesday, Aug. 31, and you can get more information and register by clicking here.

Cobb schools report 1,033 COVID cases; 69 at Sprayberry HS

August 28, 2021 12:51 PMAugust 27, 2021 1:24 PM by Wendy Parker

Sprayberry High School

After reporting nearly 1,000 new active COVID cases last week, the Cobb County School District went over that threshold with 1,033 being reported in its weekly update on Friday.

Several schools are reporting high numbers of cases this week, including Sprayberry High School in East Cobb, where there are 69 active cases, and 120 overall since July 1.

Those are the highest weekly and overall totals in the district since the new school year began.

The first two games of the Sprayberry football season have been cancelled, although an official reason for those decisions has not been announced.

The figures in Cobb, which doesn’t require mask use, are similar to those in Gwinnett, which has a mask mandate.

Gwinnett, the largest school district in Georgia with 180,000 students, reported 1,041 cases this week and 1,548 close contacts.

The Cobb school district doesn’t break down the numbers of cases between staff and students, nor does it disclose how many people are out due to quarantine policy or how many individuals are tested.

The Cobb statistics also do not indicate how many serious illnesses and hospitalizations may stem from infections at the schools.

Fifth graders at East Side Elementary School in East Cobb did virtual learning for a week and a half after an outbreak there; this week 22 more cases were reporting, for a cumulative total of 106.

At Sope Creek Elementary School there were 18 new cases reported; 17 each at McCleskey Middle School, Walton High School and Wheeler High School; 15 at Kell High School; and 14 at Lassiter High School.

Since July 1, there have been 2,797 cases reported in the Cobb school district, which has 109,000 students and 18,000 teachers and staff and is the second-largest in the state.

Cobb remains one of the few school districts in metro Atlanta that doesn’t require universal mask usage. Marietta City Schools issued a mask mandate that began this week, and as community spread metrics continued to rise.

The 14-day average of cases per 100,000 people in Cobb was nearing 800, several times above the “high community spread” threshold of 100 cases per 100,000.

Cobb and Douglas Public Health director Dr. Janet Memark sent out another urgent message Thursday, imploring the public to wear masks and get vaccinated.

“We are also seeing concerning numbers of children being infected with COVID-19,” she said. “In children 5-17 years-old, there has been a 60% increase in cases since last week, and we have seen numbers double for children aged 11-17. The number of cases and outbreaks reported in schools is also very high.”

She didn’t provide numbers on how many more cases overall are being reported for children. Memark has urged the schools to follow current CDC guidance recommending mask usage in schools.

East Cobb-based Widow Strong non-profit to hold fundraiser

August 27, 2021 3:17 PMAugust 27, 2021 9:13 AM by Wendy Parker

Widow Strong fundraiser

Submitted information:

Widow Strong invites you to its Red Carpet Fundraiser and Streaming Television Premiere of its new partner program, Rebuild & Restore, on Saturday, August 28, 2021.

Widow Strong is a 501c3 registered nonprofit, founded by 180 Your Life author, speaker, & Atlantan, Mishael Porembski, and is headquartered in Marietta, GA. Widow Strong serves the widows and their children both locally & nationally through online workshops & resources, in-person and online grief support, as well as growing local chapters with a focus on widow empowerment and leadership training. Learn more at WidowStrong.com

Rebuild & Restore is a home makeover style show that partners with Widow Strong and focuses on renovating widows’ homes while restoring their hearts. The show debuts on Pure Flix, a national and international online streaming network, on September 1, 2021. Learn more here.

The Widow Strong Red Carpet Fundraiser begins Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. at Life University’s Socrates Cafe. Shari Rigby, an actress known for the film Overcomer, will be in attendance to represent Pure Flix. Rebuild & Restore Co-Hosts, Shannen Fields, International Christian Film Festival’s People’s Choice Actress of the Year for 2021, and Ken Fletcher, DIY expert and show creator, will also be attending the VIP reception and premiere episode screening with a panel discussion afterward.

Rebuild & Restore is an official selection of the Christian Worldview Film Festival 2021. The episodes were filmed across Atlanta and focus on helping local widows and their children. There are 22,000 widows across the Atlanta area, and Widow Strong is committed to providing them help beyond the casserole. Watch the trailer here.

Saturday’s event is in-person, and will also be streamed online and viewed across the country. The in-person option includes the opportunity for a meet-and-greet with the cast of Rebuild & Restore. Several widows will also share their stories of triumph after tragedy. View our digital dashboard for this event by clicking here.

East Cobb teen part of inaugural class of female Eagle Scouts

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

East Cobb investment advisor accused of $110M Ponzi scheme

August 26, 2021 6:09 PMAugust 26, 2021 2:53 PM by Wendy Parker

An investment advisor who’s been active in youth sports and community activities in East Cobb is being accused of running an extensive Ponzi scheme by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. East Cobb man convicted

According to an SEC complaint filed on Aug. 20, John J. Woods and others are accused of raising more than $110 million from more than 400 investors in 20 states over the last decade by selling investments in several investment funds, but that turned out to be fraudulent.

Woods is a former chairman of the Walton Touchdown Club and was a member of the original East Cobb Cityhood committee in 2019. He is is not listed among the current group of committee members leading a revived cityhood effort for the 2022 Georgia legislative session.

A native of Tennessee, Woods is the owner of the Chattanooga Lookouts minor league baseball team and also has been the head of the Friends of Chastain Park Foundation in Atlanta, according to an older Southport Company biography.

That appears to be the only mention of him, as he is no longer listed on its leadership team.

Woods and others are accused of violating provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

In an emergency action, the SEC on Tuesday received a temporary restraining order from the U.S. District Court for Northern Georgia to freeze the assets of Woods and two entities he controls: Livingston Group Asset Management Company, d/b/a Southport Capital, and investment fund Horizon Private Equity III, LLC.

Those are investment funds SEC investigators say that investors, many of them retirees, placed their money and where they were told it would be ” safe, would be used for different investment activities, would pay a fixed rate of return, and that investors could get their principal back without penalty after a short waiting period,” according to an SEC release.

However, the release continued, “these statements were false and misleading: Horizon did not earn any significant profits from legitimate investments, and a very large percentage of purported ‘returns’ to earlier investors were simply paid out of new investor money. The complaint also alleges that Woods repeatedly lied to the SEC during regulatory examinations of Southport.”

According to the SEC complaint, Woods and his team promised investors returns of 6-7 percent interest, and that the money would be invested in government bonds, stocks and small real estate projects.

The SEC alleges that the investors were not being told that their money was being used to pay previous investors, and said Horizon “has not earned any significant profits from legitimate investments; instead a very large percentage of purported ‘returns’ to earlier investors were simply paid out of new investor money.”

The SEC concluded that the assets of Southport and Horizon are worth too little to have any realistic chance of paying back investors.

The SEC said at the end of July 2021, Horizon had liquid assets of only $16 million.

In seeking emergency relief, the SEC said Woods and Horizon through Southport’s advisors have raised more than $600,000 a month in new investments “during the most recent months for which the Commission has been able to obtain bank records. The Commission believes that additional victims are being defrauded on a daily basis.”

The SEC also accuses Woods of concealing his ownership of Southport from 2008-2018 because he was working at another investment firm.

David Chaiken, an attorney for Woods, told East Cobb News that “we were pleased with the Court’s decision not to place Southport into receivership or restrain its assets. Going forward, we are going to let the judicial process play out and limit any further comments or information to the courtroom at this time.”

The SEC said the investigation is continuing.

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

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