East Cobb News

Mt. Bethel ES, East Side ES students win youth essay contest

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Mt. Bethel ES, East Side ES students win youth essay contest
L-R: Tucker Smith (Mt. Bethel Elementary School Principal), Community Development Representative William Wesley (Delta Community), Youth essay winner Alexander Goldband and his mother, and Branch Manager Corey Higman (Delta Community).

Submitted information and photo:

Six elementary school students from Cobb County were among the winners of Delta Community Credit Union’s 2024 Youth Essay Contest. There were 21 winners selected from more than 170 entries. Cobb had the most winners of any county in metro Atlanta this year. Each of the winning essayists will receive a $100 Delta Community Youth Savings Account.

The winners from Cobb County are:

  • Dara Du, third grader from East Side Elementary
  • Fiona McMillan, third grader from Teasley Elementary
  • SaiVinayak Anantharaman, fourth grader from Teasley Elementary
  • Alexander Goldband, fifth grader from Mount Bethel Elementary
  • Spencer Kehinde, fifth grader from Bryant Elementary
  • Delaney Stimac, fifth grader from East Side Elementary

The contest was open to third, fourth and fifth graders across metro Atlanta, and seven winners from each grade level were selected. Students were asked to write an essay about what they would do to make an impact at their school if they had unlimited money.

Many of the winning essays described increasing salaries for teachers and staff, offering after-school programs, providing healthier foods and snacks and buying playground equipment for students with special needs. Some unique student ideas to invest in their schools and classmates included establishing a trade school on campus, getting therapy dogs for students, and creating a community garden to help fight hunger.

Delta Community launched the contest in 2016 to recognize the importance of youth financial education and invest in future generations. The winners were contacted in late April in celebration of National Youth Month.

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Cobb Sheriff’s Office opens new jail security checkpoint

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Cobb Sheriff's Office opens new jail security checkpoint
From L-R: LTC Kelker (Training & Accreditation Commander- CCSO), David Jones (Chief of Staff – CCSO) , LTC Hilsmen (Jail Commander – CCSO), Judge Bowers (Cobb County), Chief Deputy Anderson (CCSO) Sheriff Owens (CCSO), Asst. Chief Hawkins (CCSO) and Capt. Holt (CCSO).

Submitted information and photo:

The Cobb County Sheriff’s Office celebrated the grand opening and ribbon-cutting of its new security checkpoint entrance on Thursday, May 9, 2024, with special guest Judge Carl W. Bowers in attendance. 

The upgraded security checkpoint features cutting-edge technology designed to enhance public safety and security. This new checkpoint effectively screens visitors and employees entering the Adult Detention Center, with a particular emphasis on ensuring the safety of attorneys, detainees, and sheriff’s office personnel.

Notable features include a snack center, lobby area, an innovative cell phone holding center, and the Tek-84 full-body scanner. The event was organized to increase transparency, educate the public, and offer insights for other facilities considering similar security upgrades. 

The Sheriff’s Office emphasized its commitment to maintaining strict measures to safeguard individuals entering the facility and the detainees housed within, including state-of-the-art controls to prevent contraband from entering the premises.

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New principals named at Walton HS; Simpson MS; Murdock ES

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New principals were appointed to four public schools in East Cobb on Thursday for the 2024-25 academic year.

Stephanie Santoro

During its May voting session, the Cobb Board of Education ratified the appointment of a number of principal and central office administrators, after emerging from an executive session.

They include Dr. Stephanie Santoro, who is the new principal at Walton High School.

She has been an assistant principal at Walton and has been at the school for 20 years in a variety of teaching an administrative capacities.

Santoro succeeds Richard Tischler, who was appointed to principal in 2022.

At Simpson Middle School, Dr. David Church is the new principal. He had been an assistant principal at Cobb Horizon High School and also has been an assistant principal at Wheeler High School.

He succeeds Dr. LaEla Mitchell, who was appointed to Simpson in 2021.

Kendra Brooks is leaving as principal of Murdock Elementary School to become principal at Bells Ferry Elementary School.

Kendra Brooks

Brooks has served in a number of East Cobb schools, including Sope Creek Elementary School. She has been Murdock’s principal since 2021 and at Bells Ferry, she succeeds Gail May, who has retired.

Murdock’s new principal is Zach Mathis, who has been an assistant principal at King Springs ES.

He has been an elementary school teacher and administrator in the Cobb County School District, including a stint as assistant principal at Sedalia Park Elementary School.

In addition, Sarah Ostrander, an assistant principal at East Side Elementary School, has been appointed principal at LaBelle ES.

Their new tenures will begin on July 1, the start of the fiscal year 2025 for the Cobb school district.

The Cobb school board also voted to extend the contracts of school district executive staff. Among them are Chief Accountability and Strategy Officer John Floresta.

When his name was announced, a spectator in the audience shouted “Fire Floresta!” Board Democrat Tre’ Hutchins sought to remove a staff member he identified only by a number, but his motion failed 3-4 along partisan lines.

The audience member continued to shout, and she and another person were removed from the room. They were identified as Melissa Marten and Jennifer Susko, part of a group called the Community Care Coalition.

The group wants Superintendent Chris Ragsdale and Floresta terminated. Last September, the group complained about a change in procedures to sign up to speak during public comment, saying they were physically injured in a scuffle after the registration table location was moved.

Floresta’s office is in charge of those procedures as well as media and public relations. Susko filed an open records request that revealed that Floresta and his unit planned a new location, with the aim of limiting anti-Ragsdale commenters.

Critics allege that’s part of an effort to silence them, especially due to a “Replace Ragsdale” rally that took place before that September meeting.

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Cobb school board approves FY 2025 budget with raises

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The Cobb Board of Education Thursday approved a $1.8 billion fiscal year operating budget that includes across-the-board pay raises for full-time employees.Campbell High School lockdown

With little discussion, the board voted 6-0 to approve the budget.

For the second year in a row, vice chairman David Banks of Post 5 in East Cobb voted present. He didn’t indicate a reason, but last year voted present because he wanted the board to further reduce the property tax millage rate.

A public speaker urged the board during its final hearing on the budge Thursday to reduce the property tax rate, following another year of rising assessments in Cobb County.

The FY 2025 budget is based on a property tax rate of 18.7 mills (the millage rate is formally adopted in July, after the county tax digest is published).

Cobb school district full-time employees will be getting raises between 4.4 percent to 9 percent, which Superintendent Chris Ragsdale said represents an “employee-centric” budget.

Some other members of the public were critical of the district’s spending $50 million for a new special-events facility (that isn’t part of the FY ’25 budget) they said could be better-spent elsewhere.

The budget takes effect on July 1, the start of the fiscal year 2025 in the Cobb school district.

FY 2025 budget documents can be found by clicking here.

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Sponsored Post: Finding the best home flips in East Cobb

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Sponsored Post: Finding the best home flips in East Cobb

Please note: This is a paid advertisement from Tomo.com.

As interest rates begin to trend down throughout the year, the real estate market is ripe for high-return home flips. Lower rates will mean more potential buyers—and higher valuation. If you’re considering flipping your property in 2024, the key word is “timing.” A successful flip in East Cobb, GA is as much about timing as about the features and improvements you choose to add to your home.

Tomo, a Stamford-based real estate company, analyzed the most successful home flips in East Cobb. These top 10 best flips generated combined resale prices that were $3.2 million over the initial purchase prices. How did they close with increases as high as 120 percent? The secret isn’t just “how” but “when.”

Identifying what to renovate

The most valuable flips share one thing in common–the entire home was remodeled–some homes were taken down to the studs. Open floor plans, new kitchens with granite or quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances and finished basements were just some of the home improvements. But aesthetic changes weren’t the only upgrades, behind-the-wall updates were also made, including new electric, HVAC, insulation and plumbing. The most amazing fact about some of these flips–3 on the list were accomplished in only 4 months!

Tomo’s Top 10 Best Flips in the East Cobb area:

City Initial Purchase Price  Resale Price  % Change
Marietta $165K $365K 121%
Roswell $465K $989K 113%
Marietta $195K $399K 105%
Marietta $612K $1.25M 104%
Marietta $200K $405K 103%
Roswell $420K $850K 102%
Marietta $270K $525K 94%
Marietta $230K $435K 89%
Marietta $220K $405K 84%
Roswell $430K $790K 84%

Finding the best home flips in East Cobb

Methodology 

We needed to first find homes that were actually “flipped” (i.e., where there was a focused investment on renovating and subsequent reselling of the property). So, we analyzed home purchases (and re-purchases) from January, 2022 through March 30, 2024, and excluded any “new construction” properties. We only looked at houses that were bought and sold within 90-365 days, and didn’t include places that might be in the middle of a flip or that haven’t sold yet. We then analyzed the listings to see whether those properties used terms like “new kitchen,”  “new windows,” or “gut renovation” in the description from their agents, which are a pretty clear signal that the property was invested in with a flip as the endgame.

By looking at the original sale price versus resale price, compared to the increase in property value across the area over the same time period, we were able to identify which homes had the highest resale returns. Since there aren’t universal costs associated with development and renovation (e.g., square footage benchmarks don’t typically reflect the real range of costs for a premium home flip). We opted instead to compare cities “apples-to-apples” on original purchase price vs. resale price. 

Want to know more about flipping homes?

If you are looking for tips, look no further than House Flipping Flops for what NOT to do, or our House Flipping 101 Guide. Happy Flipping!

Finding the best home flips in East Cobb

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Cobb school board slated to adopt fiscal year 2025 budget

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The Cobb Board of Education on Thursday will hold a final public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2025 budget before voting on final adoption.Campbell High School lockdown

The public hearing is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in the board room at the Cobb County School District central office, 514 Glover St., Marietta.

The voting meeting will follow at 7 p.m.

Proposed FY 2025 budget documents can be found by clicking here.

The board in April voted to tentatively adopt the $1.85 billion budget, which includes across-the-board staff pay raises.

The budget would maintain a property tax rate of 18.7 mills, holding from last year, when the school board reduced that rate by 0.2 percent to offset rising assessments.

A citizens group called the Watching the Funds-Cobb asked for additional public hearings to be held to give the public time to read through and comment on the budget.

But that isn’t happening, so the group held an online forum last week, inviting all seven board members. Only two, Democrats Nichelle Davis and Becky Sayler, took part.

The school board is scheduled to hold a work session starting at 2 p.m. Thursday that includes a demographics study update.

After that, the board will go into an executive session before the evening public meetings.

At the 7 p.m. meeting, recognitions include state literary champions, including Nathaniel Long of Wheeler High School, as well as the Georgia STAR student and teacher, Omer Mustafa Inan and Tamara Hollingsworth of Walton High School.

Agendas for the public meetings can be found by clicking here.

The open meetings also will be live-streamed on the Cobb County School District’s BoxCast channel and on CobbEdTV, Comcast Channel 24.

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Simpson MS student earns National PTA award for film

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Submitted information and photo:Simpson MS student earns National PTA award for film

“For the Future,” a film by Riya Kumar, a 7th grader at Simpson Middle School, has received the National PTA Award of Excellence in Film Production (Middle School division) in the 2023-2024 National PTA Reflections program. The Award of Excellence includes a $200 Young Artist Scholarship, Silver Medal, Certificate of Excellence, and her work will be featured in the National PTA Reflections virtual exhibition.

To be awarded the National PTA Award of Excellence, the piece must be one of the 3 or 4 top-scoring entries for its division/arts category in the nation! School winners PTA round. Georgia PTA then judged the artwork by division, each of which encompass multiple grade levels, making these recognitions extremely selective.The first place winners advanced to the National PTA Reflections competition.

Congratulations to Riya on this incredible accomplishment!

About Reflections: The National PTA Reflections program provides opportunities for recognition and access to the arts which boost student confidence and success in the arts and in life. Each year, over 300,000 students in Pre-K-12 create original works of art in response to a student-created theme. This 50+ year-old program helps them explore their own thoughts, feelings and ideas, develop artistic literacy, increase confidence and find a love for learning that will help them become more successful in school and in life.

Here’s a link to the film, which is 1:41 in length. Here’s more about the Reflections contest, and a list of winners nationwide.

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Update: Police say missing East Cobb juvenile found dead

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Updated 4:05 pm:

Cobb Police Sgt. Eric Smith told East Cobb News Springer was found dead of a “self-inflicted injury” but had no more details.

According to his obituary, Springer was a student at the Cobb Online Learning Academy and was an honor-roll student who “dreamed of working at a history museum.”

A celebration of life service is scheduled for Monday at Marietta Funeral Home.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers donations in Springer’s memory be given to Good Mews Animal Foundation of East Cobb or any teen suicide prevention non-profit.

Updated, 1:58 pm:

Police say Springer has been located, but they have not provided any further information.

Original Report:

Cobb Police are urging motorists to avoid the area around Sewell Mill Road between Murdock Road and Old Canton Road Wednesday morning as they are conducting a search for a missing juvenile

A social media post published shortly before 9 a.m. Wednesday gave the address as 3125 Sewell Mill Road—Eastminster Presbyterian Church.

Police said regular patrol units were joined by special units.

Sgt. Eric Smith of Cobb Police told East Cobb News the juvenile, identified as Reed Springer, 17, is considered endangered because he is autistic.

He said the boy left his home in the area after noon Tuesday for a walk, but never returned. Police said Springer had been feeling stress due to final exams.

 

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East Cobb PTA names 2024 Margie Hatfield scholarship winners

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East Cobb PTA names 2024 Margie Hatfield scholarship winners
Pictured from L to R: Jennifer He (Walton), Timy Dang (Sprayberry), Ella Jeffres (Pope), Margie Hatfield, Julia Randall (Lassiter) and Andrew Herrera (Kell).

Information and photo submitted by Micheal Garza, Scholarship Chair, East Cobb County Council of PTAs:

The East Cobb County Council of PTAs (ECCC PTA) named its 2024 recipients of the Margie Hatfield Scholarship at its general meeting at Kell High School in April.

Hatfield is a former ECCC PTA president, and the ECCC PTA scholarship was named on her behalf due to her diligent work and tireless commitment to the students of East Cobb.

Every year, ECCC PTA offers a $1,000 service-based scholarship to deserving seniors at each of the six high schools in the East Cobb area. Each recipient has worked hard to be successful, not just in their scholastic endeavors, but also by giving back to the community through their service and their time.

Selected from 30 applicants across five schools, the scholarship recipients are:

Andrew Herrera, Kell High School, who will attend Kennesaw State University to study Mechanical Engineering. When Andrew isn’t winning BMX races, he can be found maintaining the local BMX track, being a role model to the next generation of young racers, and volunteering at food drives for veterans.

Julia Randall, Lassiter High School, who will study Accounting at University of Georgia. Guided by the Maya Angelou quote, “Be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud,”, Julia has been that rainbow for her peers in starting The Joy Mission Club that supports students in the community grieving the loss of a loved one.

Ella Jeffres, Pope High School, who will attend Georgia Tech where she will study History, Technology, and Society. Ella’s passion for making the world a better place knows no bounds, as she has organized meals for families dealing with food insecurity and provided hygiene care packages for the homeless.

Timy Dang, Sprayberry High School, who will study Marketing at Georgia State University. Timy’s commitment to acts of service is drawn from his Vietnamese American culture that thrives on community and includes painting murals with pop culture references that will adorn the halls of Sprayberry for years to come.

Jennifer He, Walton High School, who will attend Princeton University to study Operations Research Financial Engineering. Through her work distributing school supplies to the homeless, Jennifer hopes to humanize their experience and build relationships with kids to inspire their academic growth regardless of income barriers.

As the largest council within the state of Georgia, the East Cobb County Council of PTAs promotes the academic achievement and well-being of all students within the 35 schools within East Cobb.

Cobb approves ridership study for transit tax referendum

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CobbLinc World Series bus service

Cobb commissioners on Tuesday approved spending $23,000 for a consultant to provide ridership projections for proposed projects listed for the county’s transit tax referendum that’s on the November general election ballot.

Along party lines, commissioners voted 3-2 to authorize Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. to do the ridership projections. They also voted to formally submit the project list for the Cobb Mobility SPLOST (Special-Purpose Local-Option Sales Tax) to the Transit Link Authority of metro Atlanta, a prerequisite for the referendum.

The proposed 30-year, one-percent sales tax would collect an estimated $11 billion, primarily for building out a high-capacity bus transit system in the county, and increase other transit operations.

They include restoring a two-pronged bus line between the Marietta Transfer Station and the Roswell Road-Johnson Ferry area, and from there to the Dunwoody MARTA Station.

Another local bus route would connect East Cobb and Roswell, but route specifics haven’t been released.

There also would be an East Cobb Transit Center constructed, but a specific site has not been determined.

Nor were details included in the project sheet (you can read it here) that would designate a Northeast Cobb microtransit zone.

If the referendum is approved, it would restore bus service to East Cobb that was eliminated in county government budget cuts during the recession.

At the time, that route, bus line No. 65, had one of the lowest ridership figures in the Cobb Community Transit system.

Cobb DOT officials haven’t estimated any ridership numbers for the proposed routes.

Earlier this year, the MDJ reported that ridership across the overall Cobb bus system has plummeted from 3.7 million annual trips in 2014 to just under 1 million trips in 2022, and that the decline began well before COVID-19.

A total of $6 billion from the referendum would be used to build out and expand “high capacity” transit, including the East Cobb route.

Most of the projects on the newly released list are in South Cobb and areas of the county along the I-75 corridor, including Marietta and around Town Center and Kennesaw State University, as well as the Cumberland area and Truist Park.

Also on the project list is a proposed shuttle that would run between the Cumberland area and Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

During their discussion, Republican commissioners JoAnn Birrell and Keli Gambrill said they weren’t clear whether the transit resolutions needed four of five votes from the commission to be approved.

Commissioners adopted new rules in March requiring a four-fifths vote for resolutions, but the county attorney’s office said that any item coming before the vote needs only a simple majority.

Other more formal resolutions need a fourth vote, but Birrell and Gambrill—both of whom oppose a 30-year-transit tax—voted against both measures Tuesday.

Kimley-Horn also is being paid $287,000 by the county to develop an education program for the public ahead of the referendum.

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Tommy Nobis Center raises $200K+ at Galaxy of Stars luncheon

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Submitted information and photo:Tommy Nobis Center raises $2K+ at Galaxy of Stars luncheon

Tommy Nobis Center, a Marietta-based nonprofit that helps individuals with disabilities enter or return to employment, hosted its 26th annual Galaxy of Stars luncheon on Friday, May 3, 2024 at the Georgia Aquarium’s Ocean Ballroom.

The event brought together more than 400 corporate leaders, community supporters, and friends to honor the impact of Tommy Nobis Center’s programs, celebrate its participants, and raise much needed funds to support growth of programs.

This year’s Galaxy of Stars theme was Building Brighter Futures. Masters of Ceremonies, WSB-TV Anchors Justin Farmer and Linda Stouffer kicked off the event. Participants in The Academy at Tommy Nobis Center took the stage to thank the event sponsors and attendees for their support followed by a welcome and comments from President & CEO Dave Ward.   

“This year’s event was truly amazing,” said CEO Dave Ward. “It was inspiring to hear the stories of success and honor the champions in our community.”

Tommy Nobis Center presented four awards to recognize the hard work and dedication of outstanding individuals who have contributed greatly to building inclusive communities where employment success is possible.

The award winners included:

Tommy Nobis Rising Star Award – Presented to Niarchos (Nick) Wright, an assistant supervisor at Tommy Nobis Center’s EPA mailroom in Atlanta. Although Nick was born deaf, he has exhibited outstanding achievement and exceptional character since he was a young child. He did not let living in silence, silence him from achieving his goals. During his 17-year career at Tommy Nobis Center, he has steadily advanced and has excelled in every position he has held, becoming a mentor and role model to his teammates.

Community Champion Award – Presented to Karen Dernavich, a Client Success Director for Jabian Consulting. Karen loves to ponder the possibilities in every situation and inspire others to join her in the endeavor to innovate and achieve results. Her mantra and method is to ‘Love God, Love People, Solve Problems’ and this shapes her approach to leadership. Karen is deeply committed to serving her community with a special devotion to the Disability Community.  She founded The Duet Project, a non-profit dedicated to providing music therapy scholarships in Georgia. Karen has become a steadfast advocate and a true champion of Tommy Nobis Center’s mission.

Family Member Advocates Award – Presented to Katherine and Jay Wolf, founders of Hope Heals Camp that provides resources and relationships to families experiencing disabilities. Having miraculously survived a catastrophic stroke at the age of 26, Katherine navigated the long and difficult recovery with the enduring support of her husband, Jay.  Together, they have shared their journey of steadfast hope through their books, Hope Heals and Suffer Strong, and at speaking events both live and online before millions. They leverage their redemptive story to encourage those with broken bodies, broken brains, and broken hearts and have inspired countless people disrupting the myth that joy can only be found in a pain-free life.

Lifetime Achievement Award – Presented to Alan Moak, retired business owner and corporate executive. Alan has a servant’s heart and is always stepping up to help in the community in any way he can. He has a heartfelt passion for the mission of Tommy Nobis Center as his son, Chris, successfully completed training at TNC, which has enabled him to be successfully employed since 2012. Alan served on the TNC Board of Directors for a decade and served as chair for three years. Under his leadership, TNC made great strides in developing innovative programs to help students with disabilities find their pathway to success. He spearheaded the initiative to sell the TNC facility and purchase the new training and education center in the Cumberland area which will make a huge impact in many lives for years to come. He has been actively involved with many organizations including Boy Scouts of America, Young Life, C3G Career Networking Group, and Baptist Health Systems. He has served in his local church throughout his life and currently serves as an Elder at Christ Covenant in Atlanta.

The event that raised $218,000 to directly support programs and services for people with disabilities was sponsored by Cobb EMC Foundation, WSB-TV, and Publix Super Markets Charities. A recording of the event can be viewed at https://tommynobiscenter.org/galaxy.  

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GSO’s season-ending show to feature Ukrainian mezzo-soprano

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Submitted information and photo:GSO's season-ending show to feature Ukrainian mezzo-soprano

Having escaped the dangers of war, Ukrainian refugee Tetyana Vakhnoska is grateful for the opportunity to sing in the Georgia Symphony Orchestra’s season-ending performance of ‘Beethoven’s Universe.’ Two performances of this awe-inspiring, innovative, multimedia concert experience are scheduled to take place May 18-19, 2024, at the Dr. Bobbie Bailey and Family Performance Center in Kennesaw, Ga.

Vakhnoska is one of four winners of the GSO’s Beethoven’s 9t national vocal competition. She is a renowned, state-awarded mezzo-soprano who graduated from the National Academy of Music in Lviv, Ukraine, and was a leading opera singer at the National Opera in Lviv for 15 years. She has toured internationally with concerts and opera productions in Poland, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium, France, China and the United States.

In 2022, following the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Vakhnoska, her husband and their then 11-year-old son made the difficult decision to leave their hometown of Lviv for a new life in the U.S. “It was very, very scary and I had to save my son,” she said in a recent interview with GSO Executive Director Suzanne Tucker. She and her family settled in Park Ridge, Ill., a suburb of Chicago. She credits the kindness of many Americans in helping her and her family to resettle.

“I sang solos in Beethoven’s 9th many times in Ukraine and it was always festive, like a celebration,” Vakhnovska said. Since immigrating, she has been a soloist in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra and in Bruckner’s “Te Deum” with the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra.

Vakhnovska will be joined in the GSO’s ‘Beethoven’s Universe’ performance by fellow vocal competition winners and featured soloists: soprano Emma Robertson, tenor William Green and bass/baritone Jacob Lay.

In addition to Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 9,” this unique musical program includes Eric Whitacre’s composition, “Deep Field,” which will be performed live by the orchestra and 100-plus members of the GSO Chorus to the film “Deep Field: The Impossible Magnitude of our Universe.” Combining stunning imagery from the Hubble Space Telescope, never-seen-before galaxy fly-bys and custom animations, the film creates an immersive, unforgettable journey from planet Earth to the furthest edges of our universe. Audience members will be encouraged to take a more active role in the piece via a free app on their mobile devices.

Tickets are $15-$45. For more information, and to purchase tickets online, visit georgiasymphony.org/all-events.

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Civil rights complaint filed over Cobb schools book removals

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Cobb school district pulls sexually explicit books
“Flamer” was among the books removed from Cobb school district libraries last fall for sexually explicit content.

A federal civil rights legal advocacy organization has filed a complaint against the Cobb County School District for its removal of more than two dozen books from school libraries.

The National Women’s Law Center on Monday said it was asking for federal investigations into the removals in Cobb as well as public schools in Collier County, Fla., for what it claimed was “creating a hostile environment for students through practices that include censoring books and learning materials that feature, tell the stories of, or are written by  LGBTQIA+ people and people of color.”

The Cobb school district, in two separate actions last fall and in April, removed books Superintendent Chris Ragsdale said contained “lewd, vulgar and sexually graphic content.”

The moves, which included defenses of those decisions by Ragsdale, were criticized by some parents, students and teacher advocates in Cobb as censorship.

The NWLC is claiming those actions violate Title IX, a federal law banning sex discrimination in educational institutions receiving federal aid, as well as Title VII of the 1964 U.S. Civil Rights Act.

“Censorship of books sends a message to students of color and LGBTQIA+ students that they do not belong, that they are not safe to be who they are, and that they do not deserve to be reflected in what they read and learn,” said Melody Oliphant, Executive Director of the Georgia Youth Justice Coalition, which has been outspoken against the book removals, in a release issued by the NWLC.

The release also quoted an unnamed Cobb school district student who said that the book removals have “created fear in all students — especially Black, brown, and LGBTQIA+ students — that they are not safe to go to school every day.”

One example cited in the complaint involves Walton High School, where the NWLC alleges an effort by students to form a Gay-Straight Alliance was shut down by the Cobb school district.

Cobb also is at the heart of a related controversy, after Due West Elementary School teacher Katie Rinderle was fired for reading a book to her fifth-grade class about gender identity.

Cobb said its dismissal was prompted by a new “divisive concepts” law. Rinderle’s appeal to the Georgia Board of Education was denied, and she has filed a lawsuit against the Cobb school district.

The NWLC is asking for the removed books to be restored to Cobb school library shelves and for future removals to be halted.

The complaint also wants the Cobb school district to create clear mission statements and policies that “value diversity and are committed to ensuring safe, inclusive, and supportive campuses free from discrimination.”

The Cobb complaint by the NWLC can be read by clicking here.

Ragsdale has been adamant in defending the book removals on both occasions, reading from lengthy prepared remarks.

In April, after four more books were removed from shelves, he indicated that there will likely be further removals as district officials continue to examine the appropriateness of those titles.

“We are no more ‘banning books’ than we are banning rated R and NC17 movies,” he said last month. “What we are doing is not forcing taxpayers to fund students having unrestricted access to materials that are so sexually explicit and graphic they could not be read aloud in the board meeting without violating FCC regulations.

“What we are doing is giving parents peace of mind in knowing their children will not have unrestricted access to this content while at school.

“What we are doing is assuring Cobb County educators will not be forced to assume the heavy burden of incorporating lewd, vulgar, and sexually explicit materials into instruction and student conversations.

“What we are doing is refusing to force Cobb County taxpayers and educators to facilitate and advance the sexualization of children.”

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Delta Community Credit Union names East Cobb branch manager

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Delta Community Credit Union names East Cobb branch manager

Submitted information and photo:

Delta Community Credit Union is pleased to announce Corey Higman as the new manager of its Marietta Branch on Johnson Ferry Road. A Hillgrove High School Alumnus and Marietta resident, Higman has deep family roots in Cobb County and is excited for his new role.

“It is a privilege to serve the community that many generations of my family have called home,” Higman said. “My family has been working and living in this area for more than 60 years. My grandfather was one of the founding employees of the Cobb County Fire Department and my mother worked at stores and banks along Merchant’s Walk.”

Before beginning his career in financial services with Delta Community in 2018, Higman worked in the retail and restaurant industries. His leadership ability and commitment to sincere, personalized service allowed him to advance within the credit union, holding various positions, including manager of Delta Community’s Canton branch.

“I’ve centered my career around serving others and ensuring they receive the best products, service and care,” he said. “I am focused on leading my team of financial professionals, who are committed to positively impacting the lives of our members who live and work in East Cobb County.”

Higman looks forward to partnering with local schools, especially Title 1 schools, hoping to leverage the credit union’s financial education resources to support future generations.

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East Cobb Biz Scene: Networking news and notes; job expo

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Cafe Rivkah ribbon cutting

The Cobb County Economic Development department is holding its next “Coffee and Conversations” event Thursday at Cafe Rivkah in East Cobb (2100 Roswell Road, Suite 2104).

The event is from 7:30-9 a.m. and includes networking and learning for business owners, entrepreneurs and startups.

The featured speaker comes from the Urban League of Greater Atlanta and county economic development staff will be on hand with information on how Cobb supports business growth.

RSVP to Brittney Rasmussen at 770-528-1009 or brittney.rasmussen@cobbcounty.org.

Job & Resource Expo at Switzer Library

Also on Tuesday, Cobb Works is holding a free job and resource expo at its main branch, the Switzer Library (266 Roswell Street) in downtown Marietta from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Attendees can get on the spot help with resumes, meet employers and explore community resource partners.

Registration is not required; for more information click here.

Upcoming ECBA/NCBA luncheons

The featured guest at the May luncheon of the East Cobb Business Association is Robin C. Stern, who will be speaking about “AI for Business: Harnessing the Power of Google Gemini.”

The luncheon is Tuesday, May 21 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Rich Hart Global Studios (2030 Powers Ferry Road, Suite 270/280).

The cost is $20-$30; for reservations and information click here.

The Northeast Cobb Business Association is having a women’s networking event Tuesday from 5-6:30 p.m. at Marlow’s Restaurant (2960 Shallowford Road).

The cost is $20 and includes food and drink; for reservations and information click here.

The NCBA’s monthly luncheon is Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Piedmont Church (570 Piedmont Road).

The guest speaker is Cobb Sheriff Craig Owens, who will speak on fraud prevention and law enforcement.

For reservations and information click here.

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East Cobb residential real estate sales, April 22-26, 2024

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Breckenridge, East Cobb real estate sales
Breckenridge

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

April 22

108 Vintage Club Circle Unit 2, 30066 (Vintage Club Condos, Sprayberry):$440,000

1441 Merrifield Lane, 30062 (Richmond Place at East Park, Marietta): $680,000

2976 Grey Squirrel Court, 30067 (The Village, Wheeler): $394,000

4005 Manor House Drive, 30062 (Mar-Lanta, Pope): $415,000

4009 Rock Mill Drive, 30062 (Rock Mill, Lassiter): $410,000

3445 Winfair Place, 30062 (Woodbine, Lassiter): $400,000

4893 Hawk Trail, 30066 (Falcon Crest, Lassiter): $385,000

4715 Walden Lane, 30062 (Chimney Springs, Pope): $628,000

April 23

1322 Vayda Court, 30066 (Overlook at Bells Ferry, Marietta): $349,900

5050 Merton Lane, 30068 (Cobblestone Manor, Walton): $990,000

3761 Guildhall Trail, 30066 (Canterbury, Sprayberry): $865,000

103 Augusta Drive, 30067 (St. Augustine Place, Marietta): $269,250

2831 Hitchcock Mill Run, 30068 (Princeton Mill, Wheeler): $825,000

2701 Fernvalley Road, 30066 (Piedmont Hills, Sprayberry): $410,000

4429 Freeman Road, 30062 (Pope): $1.115 million

2810 Foothill Trail, 30066 (Caribou Hills, Sprayberry): $437,000

1701 Parkaire Crossing, 30068 (Parkaire Crossing, Walton): $280,000

1789 Chadds Lake Drive, 30068 (Chadds Lake, Walton): $1 million

April 24

3016 Greenfield Drive, 30068 (Indian Hills, Wheeler): $513,000

2922 Governors Court, 30066 (Piedmont Place, Sprayberry): $290,000

2723 Lange Court, 30062 (Holly Springs East, Pope): $465,000

4640 Gateside Lane, 30067 (Column Gate, Walton): $1.25 million

April 25

401 Carryback Drive, 30068 (Mulberry Farms, Walton): $447,671

3250 Old Mill Trace, 30067 (Mill Trace, Wheeler): $1.175 million

1413 Twin Branches Circle, 30067 (Twin Branches, Wheeler): $300,000

795 Gardenside Circle, 30067 (Gardenside at Powers Ferry, Wheeler): $520,000

224 Webney Drive, 30068 (Sentinel Lake, Wheeler): $1.1 million

3011 Eglantine Court, 30062 (Princeton Corners, Walton): $750,000

1584 Greyson Ridge, 30062 (Greyson Knoll, Sprayberry):$585,000

3268 Crawford Circle, 30066 (Addison Heights, Sprayberry): $370,000

3859 Sandy Plains Road, 30066 (Hamlet Greene, Lassiter): $439,900

April 26

1417 Vayda Court, 30066 (Overlook at Bells Ferry, Marietta): $365,000

3105 Hilltop Drive, 30066 (Overlook at Hilltop Drive, Sprayberry): $815,500

2515 Cedar Canyon Road, 30067 (Cedar Canyon, Wheeler): $240,000

4342 Hampton Woods Drive, 30068 (Hampton Woods, Walton): $695,000

2730 Fernvalley Road, 30066 (Piedmont Hills, Sprayberry): $390,000

581 Parliament Street, 30066 (Downing Street of Town Center, Sprayberry): $550,000

96 Alicia Court, 30062 (Heartwood, Pope): $525,000

4554 Wenden Lane, 30062 (Breckenridge, Pope): $815,000

3393 Clair Circle, 30066 (Shaw Woods, Sprayberry): $410,100)

3584 Downing Street, 30066 (Churchill Falls, Lassiter): $518,000

3586 Candlewood Trail, 30066 (Stocktons Mill, Lassiter): $550,000

4441 Windsor Oaks Circle, 30066 (Windsor Oaks, Lassiter): $765,000

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Cobb Tax Assessor’s office to hold taxpayer info sessions

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Cobb equity report

Cobb County property tax notices have gone out this week, and assessments are going up again.

The Cobb Tax Assessor’s Office is holding special information sessions starting next week to provide assistance and information to taxpayers who may be thinking of appealing their assessments.

The first of those sessions takes place Tuesday, May 14, from 6-8 p.m. at East Cobb Library (4880 Lower Roswell Road). Another session there takes place at the same time on June 4.

Sessions continue during the appeal season in June, including on June 3 and 10 at the Mountain View Regional Library (3320 Sandy Plains Road) from 6-8 p.m.

Cobb Tax Assessor Stephen White is projecting a 7.5 percent increase in the Cobb tax digest from 2023, when it rose by 13 percent.

The estimated Cobb tax digest is expected to surpass $60 billion for the first time, following a record 2023 tax digest of around $55 billion.

“The real estate market is still moving forward in Cobb County,” but not as much as the last two years, White said in an interview with Cobb government spokesman Ross Cavitt (you can watch it here).

Cobb Tax Assessors valuation map 2024
Cobb properties to be revaluated this year are indicated in blue. For a larger view, click here.

“I don’t see them as accelerating as fast as in the prior years.”

That may not be much of a consolation for homeowners who have seen their assessments skyrocket in recent years, and without a millage rate rollback by the Cobb Board of Commissioners.

“Instead of going through 65 miles an hour last year, we’re going through 35,” is how White described the somewhat cooling effect of the assessments.

The digest projection guides commissioners during the budget process, which takes place over the summer. The Cobb government fiscal year 2025 runs from Oct. 1, 2024 through Sept. 30, 2024.

The 2024 assessment notices are based on valuations during calendar year 2023.

For the county as a whole, the average home sales price last year was $477,783, an increase from $457,065 in 2022.

But that average price jumped even higher in the two years before that, from $346,715 in 2020 to $400,799 in 2021.

By comparison, the 2019 average was $319,454.

State law requires counties and cities to provide annual updates on the fair market value of residential and commercial properties.

Revaluations take place in selected neighborhoods (seen in the blue on the map), and White said that figure this year is 140,000 properties.

White said only a small number of taxpayers—less than 3 percent—file appeals, and he anticipates fewer numbers will do so this year.

Property owners can find their assessment notices on the Cobb Tax Assessor’s website.

Each notice has a deadline date to make an appeal, and those appeals should be postmarked by no later  deadline to appeal date.

Taxpayers also go go in person to the Cobb Tax Assessor’s office, 736 Whitlock Avenue, Marietta, to file an appeal.

For more information on filing an appeal, click here or email cobbtaxassessor@cobbcounty.org.

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Good Mews to hold TNVR workshop for new volunteers

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Submitted information:
Good Mews is hosting an upcoming FREE 2-Day TNVR (Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return) Workshop Friday-Saturday, May 18-19, to help recruit new volunteers while teaching the community about humane trapping and medical care of community cats. 
We will start with a short training class on Saturday. On Sunday, we’ll be taking a field trip to a local Cat Colony, where you can get hands-on experience trapping cats that will be sterilized, vaccinated, and returned home! 
Sign up by filling out the following form: https://docs.google.com/…/1UIzylD1huAtFrChlFHuP…/edit…
Good Mews to hold TNVR workshop for new volunteers

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Cobb redistricting lawsuit dismissed by Ga. Supreme Court

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Lower Roswell Road project delayed again
Jerica Richardson

As early voting in the Georgia primaries continues, the Georgia Supreme Court gave some clarity about how Cobb Board of Commissioners electoral maps will look—for the time being.

In a unanimous ruling issued Thursday, the high court dismissed a lawsuit by a Cobb married couple challenging the county’s assertion of home rule powers in drawing commission maps.

But the court, which struck down concerns by David and Catherine Floam over the uncertainty of which commission district they live in, didn’t address their underlying claim—that the three Democrats on the Cobb commission violated the Georgia Constitution.

That’s an issue that apparently will have be addressed in a future legal action.

With the primary election set for May 21 and the general election in November, it appears that the county “home rule” maps will be used this year.

That includes keeping a portion of East Cobb (see map below) in District 2, which is one of three commission seats on the ballot in 2024.

“No declaratory relief lies here,” the court concluded in its ruling (which you can read here).

The Floams live in an area of North Cobb that had been in District 3 (represented by Northeast Cobb Republican JoAnn Birrell). Maps approved in 2022 by the Georgia legislature would have kept them there, and included most of East Cobb in District 3 (yellow on the map below).

But the three Democratic commissioners, in trying to keep first-term Democrat Jerica Richardson in her East Cobb home in District 2, decided on a novel challenge in October 2022 to use maps drawn up by then-State Rep. Erick Allen, at the time the head of the Cobb legislative delegation.

Proposed Cobb commission redistricting map
Cobb commission District 2 (in pink) for the time being includes parts of East Cobb.

Those maps put the Floams in District 1, represented by Republican commissioner Keli Gambrill.

Gambrill was a plaintiff in the original lawsuit filed in early 2023, claiming that the state Constitution authorizes only the legislature to conduct political reapportionment at the county level.

In January, Cobb Superior Court Judge Ann Harris—who dismissed Gambrill as a plaintiff, saying she lacked standing—ruled with the Floams, but the county appealed. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in April, and ultimately decided they also didn’t have standing.

“The Floams may be uncertain as to whether they lawfully reside in District 1 or District 3, but this uncertainty, without more, is insufficient to support a declaration,” the Supreme Court ruled.

“The Floams must allege that they are at risk of taking some undirected future action incident to their rights and that such action might jeopardize their interests. They have failed to do so.

“By asking for a declaration that the BOC Amendment [the home rule vote] was illegal, the Floams are merely attempting to enforce rights that had already accrued and attempting to direct the future actions of the County, which is insufficient to state a claim for declaratory relief.”

Near the end of its ruling, the court did acknowledge that there are “very serious Constitutional issues with the BOC Amendment.”

Justice Charles Bethel, in a concurring opinion, noted his concern “about the possible effect of further delay” in determining the merits of Cobb’s decision.

“A delayed loss by Cobb could give rise to calamitous consequences inflicting serious expense and practical hardship on its citizens,” Bethel wrote. “Accordingly, I urge Cobb to act with all dispatch in obtaining a final answer on the legal merits of its chosen path.”

Bethel further speculated that “depending on the timeline of any future litigation, it would not be inconceivable for Cobb to find itself with three vacant Commission seats and the Commission unable to form a quorum, leaving its citizens without duly elected representation.”

He concluded his opinion by urging Cobb officials “to act with all due haste in securing finality.”

In a response issued by Cobb County Government, Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid said only that “I am pleased that the County has prevailed in our appeal.”

Richardson, who claimed the legislative maps were an “unprecedented” action in unseating an incumbent in mid-term, declared her run for the 6th Congressional District before the Supreme Court hearing.

She has not commented publicly on Thursday’s ruling.

But a hopeful seeking to succeed her, East Cobb Democrat Kevin Redmon, said Thursday that “we are relieved that the Georgia Supreme Court unanimously dismissed the lawsuit challenging the District 2 map based on standing.”

He’s a former member of Richardson’s “community cabinet” who is in a five-way primary. Among the other hopefuls is former Cobb Board of Education member Jaha Howard and Allen, who drew up the “home rule” maps that for the time being are official.

The only Republican seeking the District 2 seat is Pamela Reardon of East Cobb.

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Cobb judge to serve as president Georgia judicial council

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Submitted information and photo:Cobb jurist to serve as president Georgia judicial council

Superior Court Judge Ann Harris of the Cobb Judicial Circuit, Marietta, became President of the Council of Superior Court Judges. Her term of office and those of President-Elect Superior Court Judge Richard “Bert” Guy Jr., of the Brunswick Judicial Circuit and Secretary Treasurer, Superior Court Judge B. Chan Caudell of the Mountain Judicial Circuit, will run through April 30, 2025.

Judge Ann Harris was elected to the Superior Court of the Cobb Judicial Circuit in July 2014 and was re-elected without opposition in 2018 and 2022. In addition to managing a full docket of criminal, domestic, and civil matters, Judge Harris presides over Cobb County’s Mental Health and Parental Accountability Courts. The former is a model court among the State’s mental health courts, and the latter is an award-winning program that seeks to transform chronic non-payers of child support into self-sufficient financially supportive parents through education, substance abuse treatment, and job assistance and placement. Over the past seven years, Judge Harris has participated in a cooperative effort with the Republic of Georgia to promote the independence of the Georgian judiciary and strengthen the rule of law in that country by assisting their judges in court and jury trial management. Chair of the CSCJ Pattern Jury Instructions Committee. She is also the Vice-Chief Judge of the Cobb Superior Court bench and is a member of the Weltner Family Law Inn of Court.

Before her election to the bench, Judge Harris served the people of Cobb County as an assistant district attorney for 19 years. In addition to prosecuting all types of serious felony offenses, she helped draft the first human trafficking laws in Georgia in 2006 and was a member of the regional human trafficking task force. Prior to her legal career, Judge Harris worked for several years as a senior consultant with an international information services consulting firm.

She earned her law degree from Vanderbilt University and her bachelor’s degree from Auburn University. She is a member of, and recently finished a two-year term as Chair, of the Board of Directors of MUST Ministries, a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting homeless and struggling families and individuals with housing, food, clothing, employment and other needs. She and her husband Jim, both devoted Auburn fans, have been married for 39 years and live in Smyrna with their two rescue dogs Bert & Willie.

The Council of Superior Court Judges is composed of the state’s 228 Superior Court judges and over 100 senior (retired) Superior Court judges. It was established by the state legislature in 1985 to further the improvement of the Superior Courts and the administration of justice in Georgia. The Council seeks to identify and propose solutions to problems common to all judges. Duties of the Council include developing and administrating Georgia’s Superior Court Judges’ budget, initiating and responding to legislative issues involving the Superior Court, drafting and proposing Uniform Superior Court Rules, preparing bench publications including pattern jury instructions, and certifying continuing judicial education.

The newly elected officers, Immediate Past-President, and administrative judges representing each of the ten judicial administrative districts in Georgia comprise the Council of Superior Court Judges’ Executive Committee, which is authorized to manage the projects and policies of the Council. Theyalso serve on the Judicial Council of Georgia with representatives of other classes of court to set policy for the judiciary. The Council’s central office is located in Atlanta.

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