East Cobb News

East Cobb Biz Scene: Honors for The Music Studio Atlanta

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The Music Studio Atlanta, which has a location in East Cobb, has been named the 2024 School of the Year by Music Academy Success, the largest international coaching organization dedicated to music academy owners.

Honors for The Music Studio Atlanta
Cecilia Rowe, The Music Studio Atlanta

“We are so pleased and humbled to have been awarded with these three incredible honors in the past few weeks!” said Cecilia Rowe, owner and founder of The Music Studio Atlanta. “We have been committed to the highest quality music instruction for over three decades. I believe the unique combination of top-notch teachers, our proprietary reward curriculum and decades of experience has helped us reach this level of recognition,”

The Music Studio Atlanta was among 10 schools nationwide nominated for the Music Academy Success distinguished School of the Year award, a select group chosen from a collection of 500 national candidates. This nomination is a testament to those schools that have demonstrated exceptional performance and dedication to music education.

The Cobb Chamber also has recognized The Music Studio as one of the Top 25 Small Businesses of the Year in May.

Doctors’ honors

Dr. Arun Chervu, Vascular Surgical Associates

Four physicians from Vascular Surgical Associates rank among Atlanta’s Top Doctors in Atlanta magazine’s July issue, including one at the practice’s East Cobb location.

They include Dr. Arun Chervu, who is among the more than 1,200 physicians on the publication’s 2024 list.

Physicians are asked to nominate fellow physicians they deem the best in their field of practice. Many votes were cast honoring excellence in all fields of medicine. The featured doctors were screened and selected through the verification of licensing and review of any infractions through applicable boards, agencies, and rating services.

Chervu is a partner at Vascular Surgical Associates, PC in Marietta. He received his undergraduate degree in chemical engineering at Princeton University, graduating magna cum laude, and received his Doctor of Medicine from Cornell University Medical College. He completed his surgical residency and fellowship at UCLA School of Medicine. Dr. Chervu’s hospital appointments include Wellstar Kennestone Hospital and Wellstar Cobb Hospital. He is actively involved in clinical research and is director of clinical trials for Vascular Surgical Associates.

ECBA events in July

The guest speaker at the July luncheon of the East Cobb Business Association is Tim Ashmore of Ashmore Management Consulting LLC.

The topic: “Protect Your Business. How to Avoid Employment Landmines.” The event is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on July 16 at Rich Hart Global Studios  (2030 Powers Ferry Road, Suite 270).

The Professional Women of East Cobb will hold its monthly luncheon on July 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at J. Christopher’s (1205 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 115). The speaker is a group member who speaks about personal journeys in business.

The registration cost for both luncheons includes lunch.

The July ECBA Lunch & Learn event is also at the same J. Christopher’s, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on July 23. This month, an ECBA Mastermind Round Table will be held in a workshop format with group participation and opportunities to leverage the experiences of other business owners.

The Rich Hart Global Studios is the venue for the President’s Club Toastmasters meetings on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Wednesdays of each month, from 7-9 p.m.

The ECBA’s free weekly networking event is held every Friday at the IHOP (3130 Johnson Ferry Road) from 7:30-9 a.m. You pay for whatever food and drink you wish.

For information on registration fees and other ECBA events, click here.

Other Biz Association News

The East Cobb Area Council of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce next meets on Friday, Aug. 8.

It’s the organization’s annual pigskin preview, featuring the head football coaches of the six public high schools in East Cobb (Kell, Lassiter, Pope, Sprayberry, Walton and Wheeler).

The breakfast event is from 7:30-9 a.m. at the Indian Hills Country Club (4001 Clubland Drive), and you can purchase tickets by clicking here.

Online registrations and refunds close on Aug. 5/

The Northeast Cobb Business Association is on hiatus until August.

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East Cobb residential real estate sales, June 10-14, 2024

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Blackwell Road, East Cobb real estate sales
Blackwell Road

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, high school attendance zone and sales price:

June 10

718 Trevett Way, 30062 (The Gates at Hamilton Grove, Marietta): $431,879

3731 Northpoint Court, 30062 (Spring Wood, Lassiter): $665,000

3243 Talimore Circle, 30066 (Northampton, Lassiter): $820,000

3333 Sewell Mill Road, 30062 (Walton): $1.6 million

2831 Bentwood Drive, 30062 (Saddle Ridge Lake, Pope): $600,000

2809 Meadow Drive, 30062 (Rising Sun, Pope): $700,000

3708 Thornwood Way, 30062 (Country Woods, Lassiter): $465,000

1056 Swaying Pines Trace, 30066 (Thornbrook, Sprayberry): $427,000

1800 Jacksons Creek Drive, 30068 (Jacksons Creek—The Bluffs, Walton): $640,000

24 Parkside Circle, 30068 (Riverside at Mulberry Farms, Walton): $750,000

4996 Meadow Lane, 30068 (The Meadows Condos, Walton): $337,500

June 11

5 Ashleigh Terrace, 30062 (Heartwood, Pope): $490,000

2680 South Arbor Drive, 30066 (Arbor Bridge, Lassiter): $633,000

2116 North Sound Trail, 30066 (North Landing, Kell): $290,000

June 12

2309 Sunny Day Drive, 30062 (Piedmont Crossing, Sprayberry): $826,000

2770 Burtz Drive, 30068 (East Valley Estates, Wheeler): $650,000

3111 Randall Drive, 30066 (Russell Plantation Estates, Sprayberry): $337,000

4110 Manor House Drive, 30066 (Marlanta, Pope): $455,500

968 Saint Lyonn Courts, 30068 (St. Lyonn, Walton): $1.725 million

611 Serramonte Drive, 30068 (Villas at Parkaire, Walton): $325,000

4761 Sologne Court, 30068 (Lafayette Square, Walton): $869,000

June 13

4098 McCleskey Drive, 30066 (Greenland, Kell): $305,000

2188 Carefree Circle, Unit 7, 30062 (The Crossings of East Cobb, Sprayberry): $375,000

321 Somerset Lane, 30067 (Somerset, Wheeler): $790,000

1485 Pleasant View Circle, 30062 (Sewell Mill Heights, Walton): $850,000

3168 Plains Way, 30066 (The Plains, Sprayberry):$400,000

June 14

3110 West Somerset Court, 30067 (Somerset, Wheeler): $850,000

305 Yancy Drive, 30067 (Hamby Acres, Wheeler): $310,000

124 Rhodes Drive, 30068 (East Valley Estates, Wheeler): $565,000

22 Heatherleigh Court, 30068 (Heatherleigh, Wheeler): $960,000

4070 Clubland Drive, 30068 (Indian Hills, Walton): $875,000

2430 Mitchell Road, 30062 (Post Oak Square, Pope): $595,000

2855 Wendy Springs Court, 30062 (Post Oak Springs, Pope): $645,000

2935 Carolyn Street, 30062 (Rolling Acres, Pope): $505,000

3148 Cherbourg Court, 30062 (Dorset, Pope): $660,000

1700 Blackwell Road, 30066 (Sprayberry): $1.5 million

1531 Waterford Court, 30068 (Willow Point, Walton): $637,300)

735 Olde Towne Lane, 30068 (Hamptons of Olde Towne, Walton): $475,000

1802 Urquart Court, 30068 (Chadds Lake, Pope): $1 million

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July 4 celebrations in Cobb: Where and how to celebrate

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The City of Marietta is the focal point of July 4 public festivities in Cobb County with its “Let Freedom Ring” parade, followed by the “4th In the Park” celebration at the Marietta Square.Cobb fireworks New Year's Eve

More than 100 groups are taking part in the parade, which starts at 10 a.m. Thursday at Roswell Street and Victory Drive. The route continues west along Roswell Street to the Square, then heads up Cherokee Street and ends at the Cobb 911 building on North Marietta Parkway.

Marietta Police said that road closures along the parade route will begin at 9:15 a.m. Spectators are asked not to sit on the walls of the Marietta National Cemetery or stand on headstones.

Here’s the schedule for the rest of the day, also per MPD:

  • 10:00 AM until 9:00 PM Festival in the park activities (art/craft vendors, food trucks, concession stands, carnival games and kids play areas with large inflatables etc.)

  • 12:00 Concert featuring Scott Thompson

  • 2:00pm Bell Ringing Ceremony

  • 2:30pm Concert featuring The Atlanta Concert Band

  • 7:00pm Concert Featuring The Tulani

  • 8:00pm Concert Featuring Savannah Jack

  • Dark (somewhere around 9:30 PM) FIREWORKS!

More here from the city’s July 4 website, including a parking map.

Police said the fireworks will be launched from the First United Methodist Church parking lot, which as a result of state law will be unavailable for parking the whole day.

Road surrounding the square also will be closed all day Thursday, although nearby parking decks will be available.

No fireworks can be used on the decks, nor are open alcohol containers and consumption allowed there as wll.

Some other traveling tips from police, given the traffic restrictions:

  • Parking will be challenging, especially with the First United Methodist Church parking lot closed.  PLEASE CONSIDER USING A RIDE SHARE SERVICE.

  • UBER/LYFT drivers will take you anywhere, but the city has DESIGNATED an easy intersection to give YOU quick access with limited walking as well as give the drivers easy access so they can keep moving and minimize your ride costs.  PLEASE use the intersection of Lawrence Street and Waddell Street as your drop off and pick up locations.

  • It is supposed to be ABOVE normal temperatures, please stay hydrated and plan accordingly.

  • Pets can NOT cool off as quickly as you can. PLEASE keep them hydrated and guard against having them standing for too long on hot pavement.

Other nearby communities will be having their own July 4 events, including the City of Roswell, the City of Sandy Springs and the City of Woodstock.

Cobb Travel and Tourism has more options, including celebrations in Acworth, Kennesaw and Six Flags.

For those wishing to set off their own fireworks, Cobb County government sent out a reminder this week that fireworks may be discharged until midnight both Wednesday, July 3, and Thursday, July 4.

Here’s more from the county about when and where you can use fireworks, and other restrictions and safety tips:

Fireworks and other pyrotechnics are prohibited at all county parks. This includes historic sites, recreational areas or state property. It is illegal to use them within 100 yards of an electric plant, water or wastewater treatment plant, gas station, refinery, electric substation, jail, helipad, hospital, nursing home or other health care facility.You must be 18 or older to purchase or ignite fireworks. It is illegal to let young children play with them.

For more information click here.

 

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East Cobb Food Scores: Seed; Stem; Peach State Pizza; more

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Seed Kitchen and Bar, East Cobb food scores

The following food scores have been compiled by the Cobb & Douglas Department of Public Health. Click the link under each listing for inspection details:

3 Colors Asian Kitchen
2060 Lower Roswell Road, Suite 160
June 24, 2024 Score: 99, Grade: A

Chick-Fil-A
2530 Sandy Plains Road
June 27, 2024 Score: 100, Grade: A

Giga-Bites Cafe
1851 Roswell Road
June 27, 2024 Score: 98, Grade: A

Jerusalem Bakery and Grill
1175 Franklin Gateway
June 25, 2024 Score: 91, Grade: A

KFC/Taco Bell
2540 Delk Road
June 26, 2024 Score: 98, Grade: A

Peach State Pizza
4475 Roswell Road, Suite 1700
June 26, 2024 Score: 87, Grade: B

Seed Kitchen & Bar
1311 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 504
June 25, 2024 Score: 90, Grade: A

Stem Wine Bar
1311 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 516
June 25, 2024 Score: 96, Grade: A

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Proposed Cobb FY 2025 $1.27B budget raises property taxes

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Proposed Cobb FY 2025 $1.27B budget holds line on tax rates

The proposed Cobb County government budget of $1.27 billion for fiscal year 2025 won’t be raising any property tax rates.

But it won’t be scaling them back, so due to rising property assessments, that constitutes a tax increase according to state law.

Following a budget presentation Tuesday afternoon at a the Cobb Board of Commissioners work session, the county announced the proposed increase, and laid out the schedule for budget and millage rate hearings in July.

The budget includes a $41.3 million increase in the general fund, mostly due to recurring expenses pertaining to raises in the step-and-grade salary structures for public safety personnel.

That represents two-thirds of that additional general fund revenue, which stems from an estimated net Cobb tax digest growth of around 6 percent.

That’s down from 2023, when the tax digest grew by more than 12 percent.

The current adopted FY 2024 general budget is $898 million, and is proposed to rise to $961 million, holding the line at 8.46 mills.

(You can read the details of the budget presentation by clicking here.)

The property tax revenues in the proposed budget are a 9 percent increase from fiscal year 2024.

The overall proposed budget includes $63.7 million in new spending, with an additional $14.7 million for the fire fund, with a proposed millage rate to remain the same at 2.99 mills.

Only five new positions would be created in the FY 2025 budget, whittled down from 382 requests for new jobs from department heads.

Also in the proposed budget is a reduction in the amount of Cobb Water System revenues to the general fund, from six percent to five percent.

Commissioners didn’t discuss the budget proposal at the work session, except to ask a few questions.

Last year, citizens pleaded with commissioners to roll back the millage rage to offset higher property assessments, citing inflation and other rising daily living expenses.

But the 3-2 vote to adopt the budget without tax rate cuts was along partisan lines, with the Democratic majority saying the additional revenues are needed to address chronic county government staffing shortages.

At a commission meeting Tuesday night, some citizens protested the FY 2025 proposed budget for similar reasons as a year ago.

“Citizens in the county are running out of money,” Marietta resident Tracy Stevenson said. “I hear it from a lot of people all the time. Nobody’s happy about it.”

He referenced a proposed stormwater fee and a transit tax referendum in November as potential additional burdens on taxpayers.

“There is no end to it—the bloodlust for the taxpaying dollar is phenomenal.”

Formal public hearings on the proposed FY 2025 budget will take place July 9 at 9 a.m., July 16 at 6:30 p.m. and July 23 at 7 p.m.

Adoption of the budget and the proposed millage rates is scheduled for July 23 at 7 p.m.

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Wrong-way Trickum Road crash sends three to the hospital

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Cobb Police said Tuesday that an elderly man sustained serious injuries and two other people had minor injuries after a two-vehicle crash Monday on Trickum Road.Cobb Police, Holly Springs Road suspicious person, East Cobb crime forum

Public Information Officer Aaron Wilson said Paul Borts, 84, was taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital with serious injuries in the crash, which took place at 8:48 a.m. Monday on Trickum Road at Timberbrook Trace.

Police said Borts, of a Northeast Cobb address, was driving a 2016 red Chevrolet Malibu in a southbound direction on Trickum near the intersection when the vehicle was struck by a 2023 white Chevrolet Express van, which had been traveling northbound but veered into the southbound lane.

Wilson said the Malibu spun around and the Express van traveled northbound before both vehicles came to a stop on Trickum.

The two passengers in the van, driver Edward Jural, 33, of Dunwoody, and Penny Grigalanz 47, of Marietta, an occupant, also were taken to Kennestone with minor injuries, according to police, who said an investigation into the crash is ongoing.

Anyone with information is requested to contact the Cobb County Police Department at 770-499-3987.

 

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Trump campaign volunteer group opens East Cobb office

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A new voter initiative by the presidential campaign of former President Donald Trump, Trump Force 47, opened an office in East Cobb this week.Trump campaign volunteer group opening East Cobb office

An opening event took place Wednesday at the office, located at 2440 Sandy Plains Road, Building 10.

Trump Force 47 is a canvassing effort to mobilize volunteers to get out the vote for Trump in key battleground states. A similar field office is opening this week in Woodstock, and others are rolling out in other states where the presidential race is expected to be competitive.

The statewide Trump Force 47 effort is organized by the Republican National Committee and the Georgia Republican Party.

The Trump Force 47 organization was created after Trump’s guilty verdict in a hush-money trial in New York last month. One estimate by the campaign claimed it raised $35 million after the conviction.

Trump has been lagging behind Biden’s campaign in fundraising, but a recent report says the Trump campaign now has more cash on hand.

The Cobb field office for Trump opens shortly after the Biden campaign opened a Cobb office near Kennestone Hospital in Marietta.

Georgia is expected to be a decisive factor in presidential voting, especially metro Atlanta suburbs that once were strongly Republican. The candidates held their first debate Wednesday in Atlanta in an event organized by CNN.

Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris has been campaigning frequently in Georgia in recent weeks, and polls released last week had Trump leading Biden 45-41 percent in the state.

Cobb has been a focal point, after being strongly Republican since the 1980s. Hillary Clinton and Biden have won the county in 2016 and 2020, with parts of East Cobb and West Cobb favoring Trump.

Biden defeated Trump in Georgia in 2020 by fewer than 12,000 votes, according to certified results. But Trump and some Georgia Republicans have disputed those figures, claiming election fraud.

Trump and other defendants have been indicted in Fulton County on charges of racketeering activities to attempt to illegally overturn the Georgia results.

Trump is trying to get Fulton District Attorney Fani Willis disqualified, and his case has been put on hold temporarily.

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Mountain View Aquatic Center to close for renovations

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Mountain View Aquatic Center to close for renovations

Starting July 1, the Mountain View Aquatic Center (2650 Gordy Parkway) will be closed for three months for scheduled renovations.

The work includes resurfacing pools and painting work and is part of $4.5 million in improvements to Cobb PARKS facilities in the 2022 Cobb SPLOST (Special-Purpose Local-Option Sales Tax).

Related projects include renovations at the Cobb County Central Aquatic Center in Marietta, which is reopening July 1 after three months of renovations. The West Cobb Aquatic Center in Powder Springs also reopened in April after renovations.

The scheduled reopening for the Mountain View Aquatic Center is Oct. 1.

 

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Walton HS student at Troop 565 earns Eagle Scout designation

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Walton HS student at Troop 565 earns Eagle Scout designation

Submitted information and photos:

Theodore Adams Thomas of East Cobb, a student at Walton High School, has earned the highest advancement award the Boy Scouts of America offers to Scouts, the Eagle Scout Award.

Thomas was recognized in ceremonies on Sunday, May 16, 5:00 pm at the Eastminster Presbyterian Church. A member of Troop 565 at Eastminster, Thomas is one of approximately 4 percent of all Scouts who attain the Eagle rank.

Each candidate must earn 21 merit badges and successfully complete a community, church, or synagogue-related service project to earn their Eagle; Thomas chose to improve the safety and quality of life of school children and neighbors in the Timber Ridge Elementary School zone by creating a path to school on Highway 120 frontage at the intersection of Highway 120 and Bishop Lake Road. Previously, the stretch of road was occupied by shrubbery behind a guardrail which prevented pedestrian traffic and forced anyone transiting the area to walk in the roadway on a very busy section of Highway 120/Roswell Road.

Thomas organized the removal of the shrubbery and laying a mulch path through coordination with the Georgia Department of Transportation, St. Anne’s Catholic Church, and 36 volunteers who assisted him in the labor. Thomas has served as Senior Patrol Leader, Chaplain’s Aid, and Scribe.

Honors he has received include Arrow of Light, Silver Explorer, 50-Miler, Gold Palm, and he holds the record for the mile swim at Camp Woodruff. Thomas joins other outstanding American citizens who have become Eagle Scouts, among them former President Gerald R. Ford, Jr., astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, cinematographer Steven Spielberg, and the head of the F.B.I., William Sessions.

Thomas is a member of Emerson Unitarian Universalist Congregation. He is Captain of Walton Swim and Dive, the defending 7A state champions, and active in the Engineering Honors Society, RPG Club, and E-Sports at Walton High School, where he is a Senior. He also swims with the Stingrays Swimming Club.

He is the son of Dominic and Elizabeth Thomas of Marietta and in interested in pursuing engineering and a career in military automotive technology.

Walton HS student at Troop 565 earns Eagle Scout designation

Walton HS student at Troop 565 earns Eagle Scout designation

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East Cobb residential real estate sales, June 3-7, 2024

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Highland Park, East Cobb real estate sales
Highland Park

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, high school attendance zone and sales price:

June 3

1103 Glen Ivy, 30062 (Glen Ivy Townhomes, Marietta): $389,000

2901 Brandl Cove Court, 30067 (Brandl Cove Condos, Wheeler): $455,000

4471 Leesburg Road, 30066 (The Grove at Highland Pointe, Lassiter): $1.325 million

1831 Wilkenson Crossing, 30066 (St. Charles Square, Sprayberry): $585,000

3425 Hallmark Drive, 30067 (Terrell Mill Estates, Wheeler): $839,900

2447 Kingsley Drive, 30062 (Newcastle, Pope): $585,000

4687 Township Court, 30066 (Jefferson Township, Lassiter): $805,000

June 4

714 Trevett Way, 30062 (The Gates at Hamilton Grove, Marietta): $435,908

3130 Greenwood Trail, 30067 (Stratford, Wheeler): $584,000

1466 Logan Circle, 30062 (Providence Square, Walton): $682,000

1810 Kinridge Road, 30062 (Sandy Plains Estates, Sprayberry): $338,000

2127 Lamplight Drive, 30062 (Chadds Walk, Pope): $660,000

2582 Oak Village Court, 30062 (Post Oak Village, Sprayberry): $550,000

3311 Allegheny Drive, 30066 (North Chestnut Grove, Sprayberry): $600,000

3691 Edenbourgh Place, 30066 (Highland Park, Lassiter): $770,000

5206 Weatherwood Trace, 30068 (Willow Point, Walton): $905,000

4568 Pond Lane, 30062 (Chimney Springs, Pope): $975,000

June 5

2821 Prado Lane, 30066 (Enclave at Laura Creek, Sprayberry): $530,000

1325 Glenover Way, 30062 (The East Worthington, Marietta): $405,000

1621 Rex Drive, 30066 (Village North, Sprayberry): $376,000

2838 Baccurate Drive, 30062 (Covington Ridge, Pope): $975,000

2575 North Arbor Trail, 30066 (Arbor Bridge, Lassiter): $610,000

5150 Hampton Lake Drive, 30068 (Hampton Lake, Walton): $795,000

June 6

5247 River Mill Circle, 30066 (Chattahoochee Heights, Walton): $1.6 million

901 Highbury Lane, 30066 (Viviane Park, Walton): $1.15 million

2650 Princess Lane, 30067 (Smithstone, Wheeler): $560,000

1665 Paddlewheel Drive, 30062 (Wellcrest Townhomes, Wheeler): $295,000

1474 Shadowrock Drive, 30062 (Woodstream, Sprayberry): $515,000

1809 Ardsley Drive, 30062 (Cedar Hill Estates, Pope): $675,000

2614 Murdock Road, 30062 (Ashley Hall, Pope): $756,000

3162 Oak Springs Way, 30066 (Oak Creek Estates, Sprayberry): $565,000

4964 Turtle Rock Drive, 30066 (Turtle Rock Lassiter): $430,000

1166 Lake Colony Drive, 30068 (Lake Colony, Walton): $716,500

June 7

711 Suholdon Circle, 30066 (Overlook at Hilltop Drive, Sprayberry): $925,000

489 Guilford Circle, 30068 (Hanover Woods, Wheeler): $625,000

738 Princeton Mill Run, 30068 (Princeton Mill, Wheeler): $675,000

1165 Gray Squirrel Crossing, 30062 (Providence Corners, Walton): $560,529

2101 Meadowind Lane, 30062 (Saddle Ridge Downs, Pope): $575,000

1383 Shadowood Court, 30066 (Noonday Hills, Sprayberry): $450,000

2444 Mountain View School Road, 30066 (Shallowford-Trickum Crossroads, Lassiter): $366,000

3277 Whitfield Drive, 30062 (Whitfield, Lassiter): $535,000

4813 Woodspring Drive, 30066 (Tremont, Kell): $500,000

4773 Old Timber Ridge Road, 30066 (Lake Crest Estates, Walton): $1.34 million

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Cobb to consider moratorium on issuing health spa licenses

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Cobb to consider six-month moratorium on new health spas

The Cobb Board of Commissioners will be asked next week to adopt a six-month moratorium on issuing licenses for health spas in order to make possible changes to county ordinances.

An agenda item for a business meeting Tuesday night referenced “a growing problem with illegal and illicit activities at health spas including various code violations, prostitution and human trafficking.”

The agenda item (you can read it here) didn’t specify any incidents, but the proposed measure comes shortly after the county fined the owner of an East Cobb health spa for several violations and a review board approved a suspension of its health spa license.

While the state oversees the licensing of massage therapists in Georgia, local governments regulate the businesses.

According to county documents, Cobb business license compliance officials, as well as an investigator from the Cobb Police Department, inspected Peace Spa at 4994 Lower Roswell Road in April after receiving a complaint from a different agency “stating the possibility of sexual activities being offered.”

A summary of a Cobb License Review Board show cause hearing in May (you can read it here) said that the business, which has a license to run a health spa with massage services, didn’t have a state-licensed therapist or designated manager on the premises during business hours, which is required by law.

The only staff person who was there when inspectors arrived was a woman who was not included on an official list of Peace Spa employees, according to the show cause summary.

The owner, Xiangnan Zhang, is a state-licensed therapist, but had gone home temporarily. The summary said she was cited for three violations, including not filing an employee list with the county, not recording treatments provided and allowing unlicensed persons to provide massage therapy services.

(You can read the county code regulations on health spas by clicking here.)

The summary said Zhang pleaded guilty to the charges in Cobb Magistrate Court and paid the fines, and that the Cobb License Review Board voted to impose a two-week suspension of Peace Spa’s health spa license.

But the report, which said Zhang took over the business from a previous owner in January, did not detail any illicit activities. It said that Zhang apologized for the violations and said she would be hiring a licensed massage therapist to help with the business.

At their June 11 meeting, commissioners were to have considered a withdrawal of a request to review the suspension.

But that matter was pulled from the consent agenda with Commissioner Jerica Richardson saying it was to come back for a hearing.

Cobb’s proposed 180-day moratorium would follow similar action by the City of Roswell, which last year twice paused issuing new health spa licenses.

Undercover police discovered what they alleged was a network of prostitution and human trafficking activities at several health spas, and the city council voted to close seven of them during the moratorium.

An AJC news report indicated the health spas in Roswell were “operating without valid licenses and had either been previously closed or changed ownership as a way to continue operating illegally.”

In the agenda item for Tuesday’s meeting, Cobb Community Services Director Jessica Guinn said that “this is a serious concern for the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the public. Community Development and Public Safety have determined that the illicit health spa establishments are evading code and law enforcement; therefore, a temporary moratorium will provide a necessary opportunity to review the Cobb County Code to enhance regulations and strengthen protections to the public by suspending any health spa applications and further reviewing this regulatory process.”

You can read the proposed resolution for the moratorium by clicking here.

The agenda item is on the commission’s consent agenda; the meeting begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the second floor board room of the Cobb government building (100 Cherokee St., downtown Marietta).

The full agenda can be found by clicking here.

You also can watch on the county’s website and YouTube channels and on Cobb TV 23 on Comcast Cable.

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National Charity League of East Cobb volunteers on Impact Day

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National Charity League of East Cobb volunteers on Impact Day

Submitted information and photos:

On a 100 degree day, 105 members of the National Charity League (NCL) of East Cobb gathered at St. Ann Catholic Church for the 2nd Annual Impact Day. The event aimed to benefit The Sandwich Project, a nonprofit fighting food insecurity in Metro Atlanta. NCL East Cobb’s mission is to foster mother-daughter relationships in a philanthropic organization committed to community service, leadership development and cultural experiences. Lexi Bretl, a 2027 Ticktocker (daughter), said the day left her with “a great feeling of giving back to our community, and it was neat seeing everybody come together to make so many sandwiches!”

After a brief membership meeting, Silke Shilling, Former VP of Philanthropy, led the group through a Roots of Hunger Activity geared toward helping the young ladies understand the concept of how the greatest difficulties with food insecurity isn’t the lack of food, but rather the inequality of distribution and accessibility. The Ticktockers were given a brown bag with a various number of snacks in them upon their arrival. At Mrs. Shilling’s direction, they opened the bags to find that they did not all get the same amount. “It felt unfair not to get the same amount of food as my neighbor,” said Brooklyn Paulin, a 2026 Ticktocker.

The 60 Ticktockers were then tasked with equitably distributing the snacks to everybody in the room. The chaos in the room, as Mrs. Shilling pointed out, is what many food programs and families face trying to get the correct amount of food into the hands of those in need. She continued with some statistics that 1 in 8 Georgians, including 500,000+ children and numerous households with veterans, are affected by food insecurity. Miss Paulin said that “the event deepened my understanding and interest in world hunger. It also helped me understand the complexities of the food distribution system and of fixing the issue of equal food distribution.”

The Sandwich Project, established in 2020 in response to the challenges posed by COVID-19, is a nonprofit organization with a network of volunteers who make and deliver fresh, homemade sandwiches to people experiencing food insecurity throughout Metro Atlanta. With over 4,000 volunteers and more than 30 collection sites, they serve over 60 charities. Since June of 2021, NCL East Cobb has contributed an impressive 46,646 sandwiches to The Sandwich Project. Additionally, fifteen of our mother-daughter duos or trios from NCL East Cobb have generously donated over 625 sandwiches each.

Finally, with the generous support of Whole Foods Merchants Walk, Publix Charities, and Costco Perimeter, the members of NCL East Cobb demonstrated their commitment by making a total of 1,645 nutritious sandwiches! This more than doubles the sandwiches made at NCL’s first Impact Day last year. In an email to the chapter, Silke Shilling confirmed that the sandwiches were distributed the following day to the Community Assistance Center and St. Vincent de Paul Society, and will most likely be all eaten by Monday the 17th!

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all NCL East Cobb members for their participation and a special thank you to the individual members who dedicated extra time to make this initiative a resounding success!

For more information about NCL East Cobb, please visit https://www.nationalcharityleague.org/chapter/eastcobb/
For more information about The Sandwich Project, please visit https://www.thesandwichproject.org/.

National Charity League of East Cobb volunteers on Impact Day

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East Cobb Food Scores: Five Guys; Howlin’ Willy’s; more

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East Cobb Five Guys

The following food scores have been compiled by the Cobb & Douglas Department of Public Health. Click the link under each listing for inspection details:

Chili’s
4111 Roswell Road
June 20, 2024 Score: 87, Grade: B

Five Guys
4269 Roswell Road, Building 200
June 11, 2024 Score: 100, Grade: A

Howlin’ Willy’s Hot Chicken
4250 Roswell Road, Suite 600
June 12, 2024 Score: 91, Grade: A

Los Abuelos Mexican Grill
1420 Terrell Mill Road, Suite 117
June 11, 2024 Score: 90, Grade: A

Mazzy’s Sports Bar & Grill
2217 Roswell Road, Suite A-200
June 21, 2024 Score: 90, Grade: A

Starbucks
2135 Roswell Road
June 21, 2024 Score: 100, Grade: A

The Superfood Company
2550 Sandy Plains Road, Suite 325
June 11, 2024 Score: 99, Grade: A

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Justin Ross Harris freed from Ga. prison, back in Cobb jail

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Nearly two years after having his murder conviction overturned in the “hot car” death of his young son, Justin Ross Harris has been released from a Georgia prison.Justin Ross Harris freed from Ga. prison, back in Cobb jail

But he’s been transferred to the Cobb County Adult Detention Center, where he is to finish serving a sentence on other related charges.

The Georgia Department of Corrections announced that Harris, now 43, was released from the Macon State Prison on Sunday, Father’s Day.

That’s where he had been since Dec. 2016, after being convicted by a Glynn County jury for the death of his 22-month-old son, Cooper.

Harris left the boy in his vehicle in June 2014 while he worked as a web developer for Home Depot in Vinings. He said during his trial that he forgot about the child, but prosecutors allege he wanted to kill his son to get out of a troubled marriage.

The boy was pronounced dead of hypothermia after being inside of Harris’ SUV for several hours, as temperatures rose above 100 degrees.

The jury in Brunswick, in Glynn County—the trial was moved to the Georgia coast due to pretrial publicity—returned a guilty verdict, and Harris was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

He also received 12 more years for misdemeanor charges of criminal attempt to commit sexual exploitation of a minor and distributing harmful materials to minors.

During the trial, Cobb prosecutors presented evidence about Harris’ extramarital activities and sexually lewd activities and communications with girls and women.

Harris’ lawyers claimed that including that evidence was prejudicial, but Judge Mary Staley Clark rejected those objections, as well as their motion for a new trial after the conviction.

In June 2022, the Georgia Supreme Court overturned the conviction, saying that the sexual offenses should have been tried separately from the murder charge.

Last May, Cobb District Attorney Flynn Broady said his office would not retry Harris because “crucial motive evidence that was admitted at the first trial in 2016 is no longer available to the State due to the majority decision of the Supreme Court.”

Prosecutors who tried the case under former DA Vic Reynolds have been critical of Broady’s action, as has Sonya Allen, a deputy district attorney in Fulton County.

She defeated Broady in the May 21 Democratic primary and is running unopposed in the November general election.

Allen cited the Harris case as among her reasons for running and indicated that if elected she may conduct a review for a possible retrial.

According to Cobb Sheriff’s Office records, Harris was booked in the Cobb jail Sunday, on two misdemeanor counts of distribution of obscene materials to minors, a sentence that has two years remaining.

He served 10 years in state prison for a conviction of sexual exploitation of a child.

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Cobb Commissioner District 2 Democratic runoff results

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Cobb Commissioner District 2 Democratic runoff results

Updated, 10:24 pm:

According to final, unofficial results, Howard received 73 percent of the vote with all 37 precincts reporting.

Howard tallied 1,738 votes to 641 for Whorton, and he won 35 of the 37 precincts.

The Georgia Secretary of State’s Office has updated results at this link. They must be certified by the Cobb Board of Elections.

Howard advances to the November general election, but it is unclear what the District 2 boundaries will look like and who the Republican candidate may be.

For the primary and runoff, District 2 included a good portion of East Cobb, but the electoral maps are under a legal dispute that could change them.

There was a hearing Thursday in Cobb Superior Court before Judge Kellie Hill on that matter. Afterwards, the Cobb Board of Elections asked for a delay in the District 2 and District 4 commission general elections slated for November, until after the matter is resolved in the courts.

Democratic first-term Commissioner Jerica Richardson was drawn out of her seat during legislative reapportionment in 2022, and she and her Democratic colleagues are observing maps drawn by the Cobb delegation, citing “home rule” powers that apply to local governments.

Most of East Cobb was included in the legislative maps in District 3, which is represented by Republican JoAnn Birrell, who was re-elected to a fourth term in 2022.

Richardson opted to run for the 6th Congressional District, but was routed in the May 21 primary by incumbent Democrat Lucy McBath.

In the District 2 maps being observed by the Cobb commissioners and Cobb Elections Board, the only Republican to qualify is Pamela Reardon, a local GOP activist.

In the legislative map, Reardon lives in District 3 and could be disqualified if those boundaries change.

But another Republican, Alicia Adams of the Kennesaw area, is challenging the county-observed maps after being disqualified. She filed to run according to the District 2 legislative maps.

But East Cobb Democratic activist Mindy Seger challenged her qualification based on residency requirements, and the Cobb Elections Board concurred.

Adams has appealed that decision in Cobb Superior Court. Hill asked for oral arguments following a recent decision by the Georgia Supreme Court to dismiss a lawsuit filed by two Cobb residents against the county “home rule” maps.

Another Cobb judge, Ann Harris, ruled in January that the county maps were unconstitutional, saying only the legislature can conduct reapportionment, and that home rule powers do not include redistricting.

The county appealed the Harris ruling, and the state’s high court reversed it, concluding that the plaintiffs didn’t have standing.

Near the end of its ruling, the Supreme Court did acknowledge that there are “very serious Constitutional issues” with the county commission Democrats’ adoption of the “home rule” maps.

But Adams’ legal challenge could prompt a ruling on the legal merits of the county “home rule” maps, possibly before the general election.

It’s possible the District 2 primary and runoff results could be thrown out and new elections ordered before November.

Original post:

The polls have closed in Tuesday’s runoff elections that includes the Democratic Party race for District 2 on the Board of Commissioners.

Jaha Howard and Taniesha Whorton were vying for the right to earn a spot on the November ballot.

Democrats hold a 3-2 edge on the commission. Chairwoman Lisa Cupid and Commissioner Monique Sheffield, both Democrats, are up for re-election in November.

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East Cobb Whataburger site plan request continued again

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East Cobb Whataburger site plan request continued again

The Cobb Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday to continue a requested site plan change by the Whataburger hamburger chain for a proposed restaurant in Northeast Cobb.

The vote was 5-0 to delay a hearing until July; the case was initially scheduled to be heard in May but was continued.

During a Tuesday zoning hearing, Cobb Zoning DivisionManager John Pederson said the applicant needs another month to work on the plans, which require changing stipulations in uses of the property where the O’Charley’s restaurant was located on Shallowford Road at Sandy Plains Road.

The stipulations include restrictions against a fast-food restaurant and anything with a drive-through service. Whataburger wants to convert the 7,000-square-foot building for a sit-in restaurant with double drive-through service.

The land was rezoned in 1999 and an Other Business approval in 2000 permitted the opening of the O’Charley’s, which closed last year. The 1.3 acres at 3550 Sandy Plains Road formerly belonged to the Gordy family.

Any changes on those former Gordy properties in the area include a review by a special architectural control committee.

That process still hasn’t taken place, and Commissioner JoAnn Birrell said Tuesday she wants that completed before the matter comes up for a hearing.

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East Cobb residential real estate sales, May 28-31, 2024

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Straton Hall, East Cobb real estate sale
Straton Hall

The following East Cobb residential real estate sales were compiled from agency reports and county property records. They include the street address, subdivision name, high school attendance zone and sales price:

May 28

99 Pheasant Drive, 30067 (Fox Hills, Wheeler): $695,000

1210 Barnes Mill Road, 30062 (Wheeler): $300,000

870 Mitsy Ridge Drive, 30068 (Mitsy Forest, Walton): $650,000

1042 Sterling Ridge Chase, 30062 (Sterling Ridge, Walton): $750,000

2721 Brownridge Court, 30062 (Brownridge, Pope): $640,000

3975 Amberley Lane, 30062 (Chase Estates, Pope): $685,000

2083 Dayron Circle, 30062 (Piedmont Chase, Sprayberry):$600,000

2249 Willeo Rill Road, 30062 (Heritage Trace, Walton): $590,000

4506 Spring Hollow Court, 30062 (Chimney Springs, Pope): $575,000

4616 Lehigh Drive, 30068 (Princeton Lake, Walton): $1 million

May 29

2797 Stone Hall Drive, 30062 (Stone Hall, Walton): $2.5 million

1754 Tappahannock Trail, 30062 (Hamilton Corners, Marietta): $668,000

61 Highoak Drive Building 13, 30066 (Ashford Oaks, Sprayberry): $280,000

3453 Clubland Drive, 30068 (Indian Hills, Walton): $870,000

2843 Intrepid Cut, 30062 (Ashmore, Pope): $860,000

806 Noonday Drive, 30066 (Noonday, Sprayberry): $220,000

726 Olde Towne Lane, 30068 (Hamptons of Olde Towne, Walton): $470,000

4460 Karls Gate Drive, 30068 (Karls Gate. Walton): $1.215 million

4505 Woodhaven Drive, 30067 (Woodhaven, Walton): $1.215 million

May 30

3170 Capriole Drive, 30062 (Cadence, Pope): $1.512 million

1496 Lynchburg Place, 30062 (Olde Lexington, Marietta): $600,000

922 Saints Court, 30068 (St. Andrews Park, Walton): $1.18 million

4512 Chattahoochee Way, 30067 (Chattahoochee Plantation, Walton): $1.15 million

2383 Monterey Drive, 30068 (Spring Creek, Wheeler): $450,000

151 Mechelle Lane, 30066 (Piedmont Hills, Sprayberry):$435,000

991 Cobb Place Manor Drive, 30066 (Cobb Place Manor, Sprayberry): $495,000

3467 Sabrina Court, 30066 (Swanson Heights, Lassiter): $381,018

3718 Northpoint Drive, 30062 (Spring Wood, Lassiter): $710,000

4001 Upland Trace, 30066 (Highland Park, Lassiter): $900,000

1979 North Woods Drive, 30066 (Kell): $486,000

May 31

2580 Walden Estates Drive, 30062 (Estates at Walden, Pope): $1.2 million

3937 Straton Hall Way, 30066 (Straton Hall, Lassiter): $1 million

1605 Warsaw Pointe, 30062 (Olde Lexington, Marietta): $510,000

2317 Wylie Drive, 30067 (Cloverdale Heights, Marietta): $220,000

73 Indian Trail, 30068 (Sewell Manor, Wheeler): $515,000

446 Cove Drive, 30067 (Kings Cove, Walton): $630,000

734 Rosalyn Drive, 30062 (Bonnie Dell, Marietta): $388,500

1305 Rockcrest Drive, 30062 (Blackjack Hills, Sprayberry): $478,000

2540 Cedar Fork Trail, 30062 (Cedar Forks, Pope): $475,000

744 Ketchem Drive, 30066 (Fraser, Sprayberry): $225,000

2916 Missy Drive, 30062 (Rolling Acres, Pope): $530,000

3270 Wendwood Drive, 30062 (Wendwood, Pope): $580,000

4170 Buckingham Court, 30066 (Canterbury North, Sprayberry): $500,000

2551 North Arbor Trail, 30066 (Arbor Bridge, Lassiter): $525,000

4353 Running Fox Court, 30062 (Raintree Forest, Lassiter): $429,500

4495 North Slope Circle, 30066 (Highland Pointe, Lassiter): $650,000

5283 Tall Oak Drive, 30068 (Woodland Trails, Walton): $510,000

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Ex-Cobb school board member eyes county commission seat

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Ex-Cobb school board member eyes county commission seat
“People still say they appreciate me,” Jaha Howard said. “Conflict is connected to real solutions.”

After turning heads—and occasionally clashing with his colleagues and school district leaders—during his single term on the Cobb Board of Education, Jaha Howard is sounding a more low-key tone as he campaigns for an open seat on the Cobb Board of Commissioners.

Howard finished first in a five-way Democratic primary with 33 percent of the vote on May 21, and will be facing first-time candidate Taniesha Whorton (previous story here) in Tuesday’s runoff election.

(Here’s Howard’s campaign website.)

Both live in the Smyrna area of District 2, whose boundaries are being disputed in the courts following a reapportionment battle that drew incumbent Jerica Richardson out of her seat.

And both are actively seeking votes in East Cobb in the early hot summer amid low turnout.

Howard sees it as an opportunity to do some serious ground-level retail campaigning.

“There’s a lot of direct connection with voters who tend to vote,” he said in an interview with East Cobb News earlier this week. “We’re having the most success calling voters in East Cobb.”

He said the personal conversations have been fruitful, and his campaign has been targeting seniors with direct mail.

“People in East Cobb were paying a lot of attention over the last few years,” Howard said, referring to his school board tenure, which lasted from 2019-2022.

A precinct map shows polling stations won by Howard in Green, Whorton in brown, Allen in blue and Kevin Redmon in turquoise. Click here to see precinct details. .

“They appreciated that we were asking questions that they wanted answers to.”

Howard—whose school board campaign for Post 2 in the Smyrna area was managed by Richardson—was a central figure in a number of controversies, including demands for greater equity and diversity initiatives in the Cobb County School District, the district’s COVID response and racial disparities.

In 2021, Howard and the board’s two other Democrats, include Charisse Davis—who represented the Walton and Wheeler clusters—requested a special review from the district’s accrediting agency (which ultimately reversed its findings).

That set off several more months of open sparring during 2022, during which Howard gave up his seat and ran unsuccessfully for Georgia School Superintendent.

In reflecting on his school board tenure, Howard said that the political change that’s come to Cobb in recent years has been difficult for some.

(Republican dominance in local government since the late 1980s is now down to a single seat on the school board.)

“For people who did not want to hear honest conversations, it was divisive,” Howard said. “It depends on how you see it.”

He said that on the other hand, he’s been told that he and his Democratic school board upstarts “were a breath of fresh air. People still say that they appreciate me. Conflict is connected to real solutions.”

Howard said his campaign priorities for commissioner are public safety and economic development.

“The people who take care of us,” he said in reference to first responders, “need to be taken care of” in terms of salaries, housing and health services and related resources.

As for local small business growth, Howard—whose pediatric dentistry practice in Vinings has grown from 3 to 20 employees—said “we need to make sure entrepreneurs have what they need.”

He didn’t outline specifics for those areas, or for other hot-button issues that have galvanized citizens recently.

After leaving the school board, Howard was appointed to the Cobb Transit Advisory Board by Chairwoman Lisa Cupid.

Howard said he supports expanding transit, but was initially concerned about the 30-year length of the transit tax referendum that’s being put on the November ballot. But that length was necessary to qualify for federal funding.

“I’m a big fan of investing in our infrastructure,” he said. “What we need to have are better and clearer communications about our vision—what the projects are, and how it benefits us.”

Howard said other issues he’s stressing as he campaigns are the effects of inflation as they pertain to county employees.

“We have to be able to keep up with that,” he said, referencing the county’s challenge of hiring and retaining personnel.

“That’s going to come at a cost.”

But as citizens continue to grapple with rising property tax assessments—those bills just went out a few weeks ago—Howard acknowledged  that it’s “one of the first things that comes up. It’s a shock, how rapidly” assessments have gone up over the last 2-3 years.

When asked if he favors rolling back the millage rate to offset those increases, Howard said that “we have to put all options on the table” with the objective “to put the least burden on homeowners.”

Commissioners delayed voting on a proposed stormwater tax until August after community opposition. Howard said he understands the pain taxpayers are feeling on a number of fronts, but “we’ve kicked the can down the road” for far too long to address a stormwater system that needs to be upgraded.

“At some p0int, we’re going to have to deal with it,” he said. “There’s no easy way out of a shared responsibility.”

While the partisan squabbles on the commission have taken on a different dynamic than the school board, Howard believes there’s nothing wrong with a healthy difference of opinion.

“Some people might see doom and gloom” when observing those open disputes, he said, but it’s good to “hear them out loud in a constructive way.”

But he asserts the priority should be for the board to determine “what’s right and what’s best for our county.”

Howard admitted that regardless of the issues, including housing affordability and zoning and development, that “people still want Cobb to thrive.”

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District 2 Cobb Commission Democratic runoff decided Tuesday

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District 2 Cobb Commission Democratic runoff decided Tuesday
The District 2 map with precincts identified by code. For a larger view, click here.

Voters in East Cobb will help determine the Democratic Party candidate for District 2 on the Cobb Board of Commissioners in Tuesday’s runoff election.

Voters will cast ballots at their regular precincts from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. They must provide a photo or other official form of identification when they get to the polls.

The candidates are Jaha Howard, a former member of the Cobb Board of Education, and Taniesha Whorton, a former administrative assistant with the Cobb County Police Department.

They finished first and second, respectively, in a five-way primary on May 21.

Turnout has been light, with fewer than 1,000 casting votes in the advance voting period for the runoff last week.

District 2 is an open seat after current first-term Democrat Jerica Richardson decided to run for Congress.

She finished far behind current U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath in the Democratic primary for the 6th District.

Richardson was drawn out of her commission seat during reapportionment. She and the other two Democratic commissioners approved other maps that would place most of East Cobb in District 3.

It’s unclear at the moment who else will be running in District 2 in the general election in November.

Republican Alicia Adams filed to run in District 2 under the legislative maps, but was disqualified due to the map disputes.

She is challenging her disqualification in Cobb Superior Court, and a hearing is scheduled next Thursday before Judge Kellie Hill.

Cobb Republican activist Pamela Reardon qualified to run in the District 2 boundaries that are being observed for the Democratic Party.

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Cobb government offices, libraries closed for Juneteenth Wednesday

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Submitted information:Cobb government offices libraries closed for Juneteenth

Juneteenth marks the ending of slavery throughout the nation at the end of the Civil War. On June 19, 1865, nearly two years after President Abraham Lincoln emancipated enslaved Africans in America, Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas, with the news. More than 250,000 African Americans embraced freedom by executive decree in what became known as Juneteenth or Freedom Day.

Cobb County Government offices will be closed Wednesday, June 19, in honor of the holiday.

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