East Cobb News

East Cobb Weekend Events: Apple Annie; Holiday Lights; more

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2022 East Cobb Park Holiday Lights
Santa and Mrs. Claus will return once again to Holiday Lights at East Cobb Park on Sunday.

The Christmas season moves into full swing with several East Cobb holiday events, culminating with the lighting of a community tree Sunday night at East Cobb Park.

But first up is the long-standing Apple Annie Arts and Crafts Show Friday and Saturday at the Catholic Church of St. Ann (4905 Roswell Road).

More than 100 artisan vendors will be selling crafts, pottery, jewelry, decor and more. Regular features include a bake sale and cafe, handmade quilt raffles and live music.

Hours are 9-6 Friday and 10-5 Saturday, and admission is $5. All proceeds benefit local charities. A free shuttle runs from the Episcopal Church of St. Peter and St. Paul (1795 Johnson Ferry Road).

Another holiday artisan market takes place all weekend. It’s the Cobb Holiday Artisan Market at the Cobb Civic Center (548 S. Mariett Parkway) features holiday performers, craft-making experiences, and unique gifts.

Hours are Friday 4-8, Saturday 10-5 and Sunday noon-5. Admission and parking are free.

Also Friday-Sunday is the annual presentation of “A Christmas Carol” at The Art Place-Mountain View (3330 Sandy Plains Road).

Scrooge, the Cratchits, and all the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come will return for a timeless tale of redemption, joy, and holiday spirit. Showtimes are Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $22 and may be purchased here.

The first-ever Christmas Wonderland takes place Saturday at Fullers Recreational Center (3499 Robinson Road). It’s a Cobb PARKS-sponsored family festival from 10-2 that includes a Christmas brunch, arts and crafts, face-painting, storytelling, bouncy houses, games and prizes and more.

Admission is $6 a person but children three and under are free. Registration is required and can by done by clicking here.

Take in some holiday music on Saturday with the sounds of the Cobb New Horizons Symphony Band Holiday Concert.

They’re senior musicians who perform around the Cobb community, and they’ll begin tooting their horns Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Lassiter Concert Hall (2601 Shallowford Road).

The concert is free but goodwill donations are accepted.

And finally, the 20th edition of Holiday Lights takes place Sunday at East Cobb Park (3822 Roswell Road). Music from the Dodgen Middle School band, and East Side ES choir will start things off, followed by a visit from Santa Claus and the lighting of the tree.

Apple Annie
The Apple Annie Arts and Crafts Show returns to the Catholic Church of St. Ann.

Sweet treats also will be available from Cafe Rivkah. The sponsors are Wellstar Health System and Friends of the East Cobb Park.

The event is free and lasts from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Overflow parking is available at Wellstar East Cobb Healthpark.

One other ongoing holiday event to mention here, that goes through the start of the New Year: The Fox Family Holiday Light Display, in the Clary Lakes subdivision. The dazzling 100,000+ lights are turned on every night fron 6-11 p.m.

And please check our calendar listings for more events, holiday-related and otherwise. If you’d like to send us yours, you can learn how just below.

Send Us Your News!

Let East Cobb News know what your organization is doing for our community events calendar.

Pass along your details to: [email protected], and please observe the following guidelines to ensure we get everything properly and can post it promptly.

Send the body of your announcement, calendar item or news release IN TEXT FORM ONLY in the text field of your e-mail template. Reformatting text from PDF, JPG and doc files takes us longer to prepare your message for publication.

We accept PDFs as an accompaniment to your item. Images are fine too, but we prefer those to be JPG files (more than jpeg and png). PLEASE DO NOT send photos inside a PDF or text or any other kind of file. Of course, send us links that are relevant to your message so we can direct people to your website.

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East Cobb Food Scores: McCray’s; Bradley’s; Sakura; more

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McCray's Tavern, East Cobb food scores

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

Atlanta Ice House
2600 Prado Lane
Dec. 1, 2025, Score: 100, Grade: A

Bradley’s Bar and Grill
4961 Lower Roswell Road, Suite 117
Dec. 2, 2025, Score: 93, Grade: A

Chaska
1836 Lower Roswell Road
Dec. 4, 2025, Score: 96, Grade: A

Chipotle Mexican Grill
3606 Sandy Plains Road
Dec. 2, 2025, Score: 83, Grade: B

Domino’s Pizza
3545 Canton Road
Dec. 4, 2025, Score: 97, Grade: A

Hoyle’s Kitchen and Bar
1440 Roswell Road, Suite A
Dec. 4, 2025, Score: 92, Grade: A

KBBQ Spot
3000 Windy Hill Road, Suite 136
Dec. 3, 2025, Score: 100, Grade: A

La Bella Pizza
2635 Sandy Plains Road, Suite A-7
Dec. 2, 2025, Score: 90, Grade: A

McCray’s Tavern
4880 Lower Roswell Road, Suite 850
Dec. 2, 2025, Score: 80, Grade: B

Mediterranean Express
3162 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 100
Dec. 3, 2025, Score: 90, Grade: A

The Patty Wagon (Mobile)
4796 Canton Road, Suite 500
Dec. 2, 2025, Score: 100, Grade: A

The Place
700 Sandy Plains Road, Suite A
Dec. 4, 2025, Score: 82, Grade: B

Sakura Restaurant
4880 Lower Roswell Road, Suite 130
Dec. 2, 2025, Score: 92, Grade: A

Starbucks
4648 Woodstock Road, Suite 100
Dec. 2, 2025, Score: 93, Grade: A

Studio Movie Grill
40 Powers Ferry Road, Suite 400
Dec. 4, 2025, Score: 91, Grade: A

Vatica Indian Cuisine
1475 Terrell Mill Road, Suite 105
Dec. 2, 2025, Score: 80, Grade: B

Waffle House
1176 Roswell Road
Dec. 4, 2025, Score: 90, Grade: A

Wellstar East Cobb Healthpark Parkside Bistro
3747 Roswell Road
Dec. 1, 2025, Score: 94, Grade: A

Windy City Grill
4017 Canton Road
Dec. 4, 2025, Score: 86, Grade: B

Zama Latin Flavor Mobile
2550 Sandy Plains Road, Suite 300
Dec. 2. 2025, Score: 100, Grade: A

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Hightower Trail MS celebrates three generations of educators

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Hightower Trail MS celebrates three generations of educators

Submitted by the Cobb County School District:

At Hightower Trail Middle School, one family is finding an extra reason to be thankful this holiday season. 

Three generations of the same family have found common ground through a shared experience— they’ve all taught and worked at Hightower Trail. 

It started with Shari Tarter, a history teacher at Hightower Trail for 12 years until she retired in 2005. Although not currently a staff member, she is still well-known around the school. Her daughter, Amy Pease, is currently the Media Specialist at the school and has served there for more than 25 years. 

The mother-daughter duo of Tarter and Pease worked together for six years. 

Amy’s daughter, Mackenzie Pease, has continued the family tradition this year by starting to teach sixth-grade history at Hightower Trail. It’s the same subject her grandmother taught more than 20 years ago, as she now works alongside her mom every day.

“My mom is my best friend and role model, so it was a no-brainer that I would want to work alongside her. Having her here with me is so special, and it has made this school feel like a home…again,” said Mackenzie Pease. 

“I think I am the most fortunate of the three of us in the fact that I had the opportunity to work with both my mom and my daughter at some point here at the Trail. I was raised by one of my favorite social studies teachers, and I think it is so cool that I raised my other favorite,” said Amy Pease.

As we approach the holidays, many will have the opportunity to take extra time away from work to spend with family. 

For this family, the setting may be different, but they’ll continue to do what they’ve done for more than 25 years—spend time together. 

The sense of community, quality of life, and principles that Cobb Schools stands for have been a big part of why this family has continued to stay loyal to Hightower Trail and Cobb. 

“When we moved to Georgia, we chose Cobb because of the schools. I went back to teaching when our kids were in high school because of the quality of their education. Working alongside them has been such a blessing,” said Tarter.

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Mt. Bethel Christian Academy expansion gets Cobb hearing

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A proposal to expand Mt. Bethel Christian Academy to include all grade levels and greatly increase enrollment on its Post Oak Tritt Road campus got its first hearing Tuesday.

The Cobb Planning Commission voted 4-0 to recommend approval of the proposal, which will be considered by Cobb commissioners later this month.

Mt. Bethel Christian has operated a high school campus on Post Oak Tritt Road near Holly Springs Road since 2014 and is making plans to add middle school grades.

But the latest proposal before the county to alter an existing site plan and renew a special land-use permit would also would relocate the school’s K-5 classes there.

The school wants to purchase 9.7 acres of land at the northwest corner of Post Oak Tritt and Holly Springs Road, and add a right-in, right-out access point on Holly Springs.

The Cobb Zoning Division recommended approval of the application, which you can read by clicking here.

Cobb Planning Commission member Deborah Dance

But local residents opposed to the request said existing traffic issues would grow worse. Mt. Bethel Christian said its long-term enrollment projections would have 1,100 students, which concerned nearby residents.

The school was started by Mt. Bethel Church in 1998 but became a separate entity in 2021, right before before the church’s departure from the United Methodist Church. Since then, the academy has leased space from the church for Grades K-8 on its grounds on Lower Roswell Road.

In 2023, Mt. Bethel Church decided to terminate the school’s lease by 2028, prompting the academy to find new facilities.

Late last year, Cobb commissioners approved a master plan for the school. But since then, Mt. Bethel Christian has revised the site plan contingent on the special land-use permit renewal and after planning to acquire the 9.7-acre tract from Dodgen Farms, LLC.

That land was sold by John Dodgen in June for $1.393 million, according to Cobb property tax records, and would bring the school’s property to 42 acres, including sports facilities and parking.

On Tuesday, nearby residents said they haven’t been informed of traffic impacts and said a vote should be delayed until a full traffic study can be studied by Cobb DOT.

“Without it, the county cannot properly assess” what those impacts may be, said Mabry Manor resident Neil Dougherty, especially as Cobb DOT is conducting engineering design for Post Oak Tritt-Holly Springs intersectdions improvements.

He said he was speaking on behalf of nearly 75 residents in his community, which is located across Holly Springs Road from the Dodgen property.

A revised Mt. Bethel Christian Academy site plan includes an additional access point on Holly Springs Road (at right).

Another Mabry Manor resident, Heather Tolley-Bauer, said that “dropping a regional school in a neighborhood area” is “going to impact us for decades.”

Kevin Moore, Mt. Bethel Christian’s attorney, responded that “Pope High School was dropped into residential neighborhood with 1,800 students.

“Cobb County [schools] doesn’t have to go through this process. Only private schools have to do this.”

He said Mt. Bethel Christian’s enrollment projections of 1,100 total students is a long-range number, and it’s not arbitrary. The school currently has a total enrollment of around 700 students.

Moore added that the school “doesn’t have to go there,” meaning to get to 1,100 students, only that that figure would be an enrollment cap.

Richard Grome of the East Cobb Civic Association said a new master plan should be redone and approved again by the county, and said the enrollment projections are “premature” until more detailed traffic information can be evaluated.

But Moore said “the master plan stays as the master plan.”

In her motion recommend approval, Planning Commission member Deborah Dance of District 3 in East Cobb didn’t include a recommendation for a master plan update, saying that’s something that appointed body hasn’t delved into.

Cobb commissioners will hear the Mt. Bethel Christian application on Dec. 17.

The master plan for the Mt. Bethel Christian Academy campus.

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Cobb finance director to become deputy county manager

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Cobb finance director to become deputy county manager
Bill Volckmann

Submitted information:

Cobb County’s Chief Financial Officer will take on new duties after County Manager Dr. Jackie McMorris named him the county’s next Deputy County Manager. Bill Volckmann will assume the role currently held by Jimmy Gisi, who retires later this month.

Volckmann has served with Cobb County government for two decades and was named CFO in 2017. He has guided the county through multiple budget cycles, and under his leadership, the Finance Department has received numerous accolades for financial reporting and presentation standards.

“Because of an excellent group of candidates, this was one of the most difficult decisions I’ve had to make,” said County Manager Dr. Jackie McMorris. “As our CFO, Bill has been involved in every significant aspect of county government. He has developed a stellar reputation among our elected officials and department managers and will be able to immediately step into the role in the midst of several critical projects.”

Volckmann has already been working closely with Gisi on preparations for the renewal of the 2028 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST), which will go before Cobb voters next November.

“I thank Dr. McMorris for her confidence in me, and I look forward to continuing to work with her for years to come,” said Volckmann. “We have a tremendous leadership team in place, and I look forward to working with them to continue Cobb’s reputation as a great place to live, work, and play.”

Gisi retires from Cobb County after more than 35 years in government service. He departs as Deputy County Manager following a long tenure as PARKS Director and previous service as Executive Director of the Georgia Recreation and Park Association (GRPA). He was inducted into the GRPA Hall of Fame in 2023.

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Registration underway for 2026 Noonday Shanty 5K/10K

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Registration underway for 2026 Noonday Shanty 5K/10K

Submitted information:

Registration is now open for Town Center Community’s 2026 Noonday Shanty 5K/10K, presented by Avonlea Apartments. Set to take place along the scenic Noonday Creek Trail on Saturday, March 28, 2026, the annual Peachtree Road Race qualifier is a USA Track and Field-certified event managed by Start2Finish.

Throughout the course, participants of all ages and experience levels will experience Noonday Creek’s natural landscapes, including bird habitats, greenspaces and wetlands, and pass landmarks such as Aviation Park, Cobb International Airport, Fifth Third Stadium and art installations, including the newest Tiny Doors ATL, and the Chimney Swift Tower. 10K runners will also get a glimpse of the district’s vibrant new murals.

“The Noonday Shanty 5K/10 is a staple in our community because it gets people moving and brings our community closer,” Jennifer Hogan, director of community engagement at Town Center Community, said. “The race not only allows us to invest back into our community through greenspace and trail projects, but it also gives us the opportunity to meet new faces, support local businesses and celebrate our beautiful trails.”

To register or become a sponsor for the Noonday Shanty 5K/10K race, please visit the Town Center Community website. 

Local artists are encouraged to submit artwork for the annual race poster contest, which offers participants the chance to have their work featured on the official event poster and in promotional materials. Runners will receive the selected poster during packet pickup as a unique keepsake to commemorate the race. Artists may submit up to three digitally created or hand-drawn designs, and cash prizes will be awarded for first and second place. The overall winning artwork will serve as the official race poster. Submissions are due February 12, 2026. Full contest details are available on the Town Center Community website.

The 2026 event will also include a new tradition: the first-ever community-designed race shirt. Community members can vote on the inaugural shirt design, and to kick things off, this year’s nominees will include past winning poster designs from 2022-2025 races with the winner inspiring the 2026 race shirt. Moving forward, each year’s winning poster design will be used for the race shirt. Voting closes on January 13, 2026. Past posters and the voting link are available on the Town Center Community website.

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Fox Family Holiday Lights Display lasts through Jan. 7, 2026

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East Cobb home holiday lights

Over the weekend the lights were turned on for one of East Cobb’s most notable holiday displays.

The 18th edition of the Fox Family holiday lights display continues every night (roughly 6-11 p.m.) through Jan. 7 at 2994 Clary Hill Court, in the Clary Lakes subdivision.

As we’ve noted previously, the continues into the new year due to the Orthodox Christmas as the Foxes are of the Greek Orthodox faith.

As in previous years, the display includes more than 100,000 lights synchronized to music. Visitors can tune in to 88.3FM to listen and watch the lights.

“The interactive display has many handmade animated features, two snow machines, a memorial tree, and an ornament and letters to Santa craft station,” noted a message on the display’s special Facebook page. which will be updated throughout the display period. “The Santa and Frozen characters visit on select evenings for photo ops and treats.”

There’s no charge to view the display, but donations are accepted for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church.

Here’s the playlist for this year’s display:

    • 1. Amazing Grace-Yule
    • 2. Christmas Canon-Trans-Siberian Orchestra
    • 3. Christmas Eve Sarajevo-Trans-Siberian Orchestra
    • 4. Deck the Halls-Mannheim Steamroller
    • 5. Let It Snow-Dean Martin
    • 6. Light of Christmas-Owl City
    • 7. Little Drummer Boy-King and Country
    • 8. Mad Russian Christmas – Trans-Siberian Orchestra
    • 9. Miracle on 34th Street Overture-Bruce Broughton
    • 10. Linus and Lucy-Vince Guaraldi
    • 11. Queen of the Winter Night-Trans-Siberian Orchestra
    • 12. Sleigh Ride-The Ronettes
    • 13. Wizard in Winter-Trans-Siberian Orchestra
    • 14. Candy Cane Lane-Sia
    • 15. Merry Christmas-Ed Sheehan & Elton John

The Fox display also is included in the Cobb EMC holiday light contest, with voting through December 26 at midnight at the Cobb EMC Facebook page.

The top 3 homes that have the most votes will win $500 for a charity of their choice.

Fox Family Christmas Light Display

Send Us Your News!

Let East Cobb News know what your organization is doing for our community events calendar.

Pass along your details to: [email protected], and please observe the following guidelines to ensure we get everything properly and can post it promptly.

Send the body of your announcement, calendar item or news release IN TEXT FORM ONLY in the text field of your e-mail template. Reformatting text from PDF, JPG and doc files takes us longer to prepare your message for publication.

We accept PDFs as an accompaniment to your item. Images are fine too, but we prefer those to be JPG files (more than jpeg and png). PLEASE DO NOT send photos inside a PDF or text or any other kind of file. Of course, send us links that are relevant to your message so we can direct people to your website.

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East Cobb real estate update: Mansion sells for nearly $8M

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Paper Mill Road, East Cobb real estate sales

A 16,000-square-foot home on Paper Mill Road sold for nearly $8 million in November, the highest price for a residential property in Cobb County in 2025, according to county tax records.

The eight-bedroom, 11-bathroom home on more than two acres near Atlanta Country Club includes a fireside salon, a banquet-sized dining room and a champagne room, along with a great room, a floating curved staircase and a master bedroom suite on the main floor.

That’s according to the home’s real estate listing, which added that six upstairs bedrooms also are ensuite. The home features two open living lounges, a wine cellar and tasting room, a cinema and gym, a recreation room and entertainment areas.

There’s also a separate apartment on the terrace level, a 30-inch gold dome in the foyer ceiling and an elevator.

The outdoor area includes a tennis court, pool, open-air kitchen pavilion and fireplace. The home sold on Nov. 20 for $7.9 million, according to county records.

Only three other properties in the county have sold for a higher price this year, all of them commercial. When the Paper Mill Road home was last sold in 2022, it was for $4.7 million, which also was a county high price for a residential home at the time.

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

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

Kell

1850 Thomas Drive, 30066 (Lakewood Colony): $405,000

4365 Reef Road, 30066 (Lamplighter): $370,000

5068 Ravenwood Drive, 30066 (Ravenwood): $400,000

Lassiter

3820 Havenrock Drive, 30066 (Lassiter Cove): $1.3 million

3314 Chimney Lane, 30075 (The Estates of Chimney Lakes): $1 million

3669 Outlook Court, 30066 (Highland Ridge): $810,000

3534 Clemont Circle, 30062 (Edenton): $850,000

2315 Rocky Mountain Road, 30066: $605,000

3005 Creekside Way, 30066 (Creekside Oaks): $785,000

4219 North Mountain Road, 30066 (Highland Pointe): $754,900

Marietta

613 Maple Grove Way, 30062 (Hamilton Grove): $599,900

Pope

2528 Chimney Springs Drive, 30062 (Chimney Springs): $510,000

61 Tracy Lane, 30062 (Heartwood): $580,000

3160 Running Cedar Drive, 30062 (Chestnut Creek): $560,000

Sprayberry

2607 Alcovy Trail, 30066 (East Cobb Walk): $518,000

3330 Ranch Road, 30066 (North Forty): $452,500

433 Kelly Drive, 30066 (Addison Heights): $496,000

3630 Autumn Ridge Parkway, 30066 (Blackwell Chase): $475,000

2320 Ventana Crossing, 30062 (Keswyck Commons): $475,000

1870 Kinridge Road, 30062 (Sandy Plains Estates): $335,000

3418 Chastain Glen Lane, 30066 (Chastain Glen): $440,000

3760 Apple Way, 30066 (North Ridge): $469,000

Walton

3572 High Green Drive, 30068 (Indian Hills): $622,000

5228 Forest Brook Parkway, 30068 (Forest Brook): $620,000

645 Serramonte Drive, 30068 (Villas at Parkaire): $360,000

2206 Heritage Trace Drive, 30068 (Heritage Trace): $605,000

914 Saints Court, 30068 (St. Andrews Court): $1.2 million

3562 Clubland Drive, 30068 (Indian Hills): $2.2 million

3761 Oak Lane, 30062 (Baywater): $780,000

4573 Fountain Drive, 30067 (The Fountain at Woodlawn): $920,000

807 Snider Walk, 30068 (The Reserve at Olde Towne): $765,000

4340 Paper Mill Road, 30067: $7.9 million

857 Chestnut Lake Drive, 30068 (Hampton Woods): $1.27 million

870 Muirfield Trace, 30068 (Pinecrest): $528,000

4037 Fawn Run, 30068 (Fawn Ridge): $385,000

1426 Brookcliff Drive, 30062 (Brookcliff): $560,000

1826 Jacksons Creek Drive, 30068 (Jacksons Creek): $746,600

Wheeler

652 Wind Grove Road, 30067 (Grovemeade): $625,000

51 Holt Road, 30068: $390,000

1686 Grist Mill Drive, 30062 (Barnes Mill Lake): $287,000

774 Mary Ann Drive, 30068 (Valley Brook): $675,000

410 Pebblestone Circle, 30067 (Fox Hills): $835,000

2910 Phillips Court, 30068 (Country Place East): $475,000

3201 Palisades Court, 30067 (Park Place): $620,000

3265 Beechwood Drive, 30067 (Terrell Mill Estates): $745,000

583 Spring Creek Way, 30068 (Spring Creek): $510,000

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Lassiter Bands Christmas tree sale continues through Dec. 14

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Lassiter Band Christmas tree sale

The sale continues daily through Dec. 14 in the portion of the parking lot at Highland Plaza Shopping Center (3605 Sandy Plains Road) along Gordy Parkway.

Send us your holiday event news!

If your organization or entity is holding such an event that’s open to the public, please send East Cobb News your information and we’ll be glad to post it!

This can include festivals, pumpkin patches, Thanksgiving activities, holiday concerts, Christmas tree and Menorah lightings, New Year’s celebrations and fundraisers.

Pass along your details to: [email protected], and please observe the following guidelines to ensure we get everything properly and can post it promptly.

Send the body of your announcement, calendar item or news release IN TEXT FORM ONLY in the text field of your e-mail template. Reformatting text from PDF, JPG and doc files takes us longer to prepare your message for publication.

We accept PDFs as an accompaniment to your item. Images are fine too, but we prefer those to be JPG files (more than jpeg and png). PLEASE DO NOT send photos inside a PDF or text or any other kind of file. Of course, send us links that are relevant to your message so we can direct people to your website.

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Jim Ellis partners with MUST for 2025 holiday giving campaign

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Jim Ellis partners with MUST for 2025 holiday giving campaign

Submitted information:

The Jim Ellis Automotive Group is proud to announce its ninth annual Holiday Giving Campaign, continuing its tradition of giving back to the Atlanta community. This year, Jim Ellis Automotive will partner with MUST Ministries, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing food, shelter, clothing, job assistance, mental and primary healthcare services and more to our local neighbors in need.

Together, Jim Ellis Automotive and MUST Ministries aim to spread hope and care throughout this holiday season, helping those who need it most.

Every year, Jim Ellis Automotive selects a local charity to support with a Holiday Giving Campaign. MUST Ministries (MUST) is its 2025 recipient. From Nov. 29, 2025 to Jan. 2, 2026, a portion of every new or pre-owned vehicle sold at any of the 21 Jim Ellis family-owned-and-operated dealerships will be donated to MUST. Through campaigns like this, Jim Ellis Automotive has provided over $525,000 in support to community-focused organizations.

MUST has been supporting the metro Atlanta community since 1971, helping individuals and families experiencing homelessness and poverty across nine metro Atlanta counties. Through 54 years of service, MUST meets the needs of more than 55,000 people a year through food, housing, mental and primary healthcare, workforce development, clothing and other programs.

The organization believes that there is no one service that brings people out of poverty or homelessness, so instead, they aim to treat the root causes along with the urgent symptoms of poverty. This means providing critical resources for immediate family needs as well as long-time support for a lasting path to stability.

“At Jim Ellis Automotive, caring for our community is part of who we are,” said Stacey Ellis Hodges, vice president of the Jim Ellis Automotive Group. “The holiday season reminds us of the importance of compassion and generosity, and partnering with MUST Ministries gives us the opportunity to help bring hope and support to those who need it most. Together, we’re working to make a positive difference and strengthen families across our community.”

“MUST Ministries is incredibly proud and grateful for this partnership with Jim Ellis Automative. Also celebrating 54 years of serving our community, Jim Ellis Automotive and MUST Ministries both believe in the power of giving back. This campaign will help fund MUST’s life-changing and often life-saving mission of making sure no one – from a young child to an elderly veteran – is without basic needs nor hope for stability,” said MUST Ministries President & CEO Dr. Ike Reighard.

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Longtime Cobb lawyer and philanthropist Jim Ney dies at 82

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Jim Ney, the founder of a prominent Cobb County law firm who was long involved in local civic and community affairs, has died at 82, after an eight-year battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Longtime Cobb lawyer and philanthropist Jim Ney dies at 82

According to his obituary, he was living an assisted living facility in Charlotte, N.C., near his family, where he had moved from East Cobb earlier this year.

Ney was involved with Mt. Bethel Church and was active in the Cobb Library Foundation. The art gallery at the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center in East Cobb is named after Ney and his wife Carol, who were among those leading the ribbon-cutting festivities when the facility opened in 2018.

Survivors include Carol, his wife of 64 years, three daughters and six grandchildren.

A visitation for Ney will be from 6-8 p.m. Monday at H.M. Patterson & Son Arlington Chapel (173 Allen Road, Sandy Springs, Ga.), and a celebration of life service will be there Tuesday at 1 p.m.

A native of Atlanta, Ney graduated from Northside High School and Furman University. He earned a law degree from the University of Georgia.

In 1984, Ney co-founded Holt Ney Zatcoff and Wasserman, a law firm based in the Cumberland area that specializes in commercial real estate, health care, taxation, business litigation and eminent domain law.

He had been with Alston and Bird, a well-known Atlanta law firm, after serving as a law clerk on the Supreme Court of Georgia.

His obituary noted that he was named to the “Best Lawyers in America” every year until his retirement in 2020. “Jimmy embraced the practice of land use and commercial real estate law, zoning variances and the like. Everyone agreed, his booming voice made him an effective orator in the courtroom,” the obituary stated.

A gift in his memory can be made to Cobb Library Foundation (www.cobblibraryfoundation.org) or Furman University (http://www.furman.edu/giving/).

 

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East Cobb Library holiday gift wrap headlines December events

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Cobb Parks holiday market sale
The Sewell Mill Holiday Artisan Market returns Dec. 13.

Cobb County government, parks and Cobb Travel and Tourism have collected a variety of holiday-related events taking place throughout the month of December.

They include a holiday gift wrapping station at East Cobb Library that runs from Dec. 1-23. It’s designed for parents to “wrap gifts without being seen by little eyes.”

The station is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and wrapping supplies will be provided for free as long as they last.

Other events in the East Cobb area include the Christmas Wonderland Dec. 6 at Fullers Recreation Center, the Sewell Mill Library Winter Festival on Dec. 13 from 10-5 and a Holiday Craft-A-Thon Dec. 18 at Gritters Library from 3:30-5 p.m.

There also will be a number of holiday workshops at The Art Place-Mountain View.

The signature event is the Cobb Holiday Artisan Market, from Dec. 5-7 at the Cobb Civic Center. Featured will be holiday performers, craftmaking and unique gifts from local artisans. There will be a special Merry Marketplace pop-up shop featuring young entrepreneurs ages 10 – 17 showcasing and selling their homemade goods on Saturday, Dec. 6.

Find other holiday happenings around Cobb here.

Send Us Your News!

Let East Cobb News know what’s going on with your organization, or about any recognitions, to share with the community, as well as calendar event listings.

We want to be the go-to source for all the many ways people in East Cobb are involved in the community, especially with the holidays coming up!

It’s what we call The Power of Local, and we’d love for you to take part!

Pass along your details/photos/videos/information to: [email protected], and please observe the following guidelines to ensure we get everything properly and can post it promptly.

Send the body of your announcement, calendar item or news release IN TEXT FORM ONLY in the text field of your e-mail template. Reformatting text from PDF, JPG and doc files takes us longer to prepare your message for publication.

We accept PDFs as an accompaniment to your item. Images are fine too, but we prefer those to be JPG files (more than jpeg and png). PLEASE DO NOT send photos inside a PDF or text or any other kind of file, but d0 send them as attachments to your email.

Of course, send us links that are relevant to your message so we can direct people to your website.

Thanks for your cooperation and we look forward to hearing from you!

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Grace Resurrection Methodist names new associate pastor

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Grace Resurrection Methodist names new associate pastor

Submitted information and photo:

Grace Resurrection Methodist Church is delighted to announce the appointment of Rev. Taylor Bacon as its new Associate Pastor, joining Senior Pastor Rev. James Williams in ministry leadership. Pastor Bacon officially began his role on November 9.

Rev. Bacon brings a deep passion for discipleship and a strong background in youth ministry leadership. He holds a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary and a Bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies from Louisiana State University. Most recently, he served as Associate Pastor at Centenary Church in Lexington, Kentucky, where he led children’s, youth, and family ministries and oversaw broader discipleship programs. His ministry has been marked by both spiritual and numerical growth across diverse congregations.

At Grace Resurrection, Pastor Bacon will focus on youth, family, and discipleship ministries, helping people of all ages grow as followers of Jesus through Scripture, community, and worship.

“Our leadership prayed faithfully throughout this process,” said Rev. James Williams, Senior Pastor. “We believe God has clearly led Taylor and his family to Grace Resurrection for this next season of ministry.” Rev. Williams stepped into his senior pastor role a year ago and has seen an extraordinary expansion of the church’s ministry, membership and mission initiatives during that time.

The congregation invites the community to join in welcoming Pastor Taylor and the Bacon family to Marietta by attending in-person worship services every Sunday at 11 a.m. Grace Resurrection Methodist Church is excited for the exciting new season ahead.

About Grace Resurrection Methodist Church

Grace Resurrection Methodist Church is a vibrant, welcoming congregation dedicated to “Living in Grace, Sharing God’s Love.” Located at 1200 Indian Hills Parkway in Marietta, Ga., the church is a place for spiritual growth, connection, and impact. For more information, visit www.graceresurrection.org or call 678 653 9790.

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Veterans service organization raises $15K in Cobb golf event

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Veterans service organization raises $15K in Cobb golf event

Submitted information and photos:

Connecting Georgia Veterans is pleased to announce the outstanding success of its inaugural Golf Tournament, held at the scenic Bentwater Golf Course in Acworth, Georgia. The event brought together community members, partners, and supporters for a meaningful day of camaraderie, competition, and purpose- all dedicated to strengthening services for Veterans across Georgia.

Over 40 golfers participated in the tournament, enjoying a full 18-hole course, friendly putting contests, and a lively auction featuring donated items that helped boost fundraising efforts. Thanks to the generosity and engagement of participants andsponsors, the event raised nearly $15,000, which will directly support programs and resources for Veterans experiencing hardship.

Tyler Bowser, Program Director of Connecting Georgia Veterans shared, “We are proud to share that this year’s golf tournament raised enough funds to provide emergency lodging for 30 Veteran families. We are deeply grateful to our sponsors and every golfer who participated and made this impact possible. We look forward to teeing off again next year for another outstanding event.” It’s not too late to support the cause. Community members can still contribute by visiting www.cgvets.org to make a donation and help strengthen the network of care for Georgia Veterans.

Veterans service organization raises $15K in Cobb golf event

Veterans service organization raises $15K in Cobb golf event

Veterans service organization raises $15K in Cobb golf event

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Cobb schools celebrate Thanksgiving with special events

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Cobb schools celebrate Thanksgiving with special events
Powers Ferry ES students take part in a Turkey Bingo game to celebrate Thanksgiving. CCSD photo.

Submitted information and photo:

As Cobb Schools headed into Thanksgiving break, schools across the District embraced the holiday with unique celebrations that brought together students, staff, and families.

Dozens of schools, including Pine Mountain Middle, Addison Elementary, and King Springs Elementary, hosted Thanksgiving lunches featuring meals prepared by the Cobb Schools Food and Nutrition Services team. Families filled cafeterias to share special moments together.

“It brings in the community, our hearts are all in the same place, and we’re all thankful,” said Cobb Schools Board Chair David Chastain, who joined families at Addison Elementary.

Other schools celebrated in their own distinctive ways. Powers Ferry and Nickajack Elementary Schools hosted lively Turkey Bingo events, drawing family’s eager for a chance to take home turkeys, pies, gift cards, and more.

At Smitha Middle School, students helped assemble food baskets to ensure families in need had the supplies to prepare a Thanksgiving meal at home this holiday season.

These celebrations serve as reminders of the gratitude felt throughout the district. “When I walk down the halls, I feel empowered every minute I’m there,” said Pine Mountain Principal Dr. David Nelson. “Seeing how excited the kids are about something happening or something they’re learning is truly a blessing.”

As students depart for the break, Cobb Schools leadership expressed appreciation for the educators who make these moments possible. “We have so much to be thankful for at the district level and the board level, but it all boils down to being thankful for our teachers for creating an environment where students can learn, thrive, grow, and succeed,” said Chastain.

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East Cobb Food Scores: Peach State Pizza; Mayan Kitchen; more

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Peach State Pizza; East Cobb food scores

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

Barnes and Noble Cafe
4475 Roswell Road, Suite 102
Nov. 24, 2025, Score: 92, Grade: A

Jimmy Mac’s Food and Spirits
3205 Canton Road, Suite 113
Nov. 2025, Score: 85, Grade: B

Johnny’s Pizza
2970 Canton Road
Nov. 25, 2025, Score: 100, Grade: A

Liliana’s Italian Restaurant
2595 Sandy Plains Road, Suite 107
Nov. 20, 2025, Score: 100, Grade: A

Mayan Kitchen
2595 Sandy Plains Road, Suite 101
Nov. 20, 2025, Score: 91, Grade: A

Paisano’s Catering
3205 Canton Road, Suite 106
Nov. 24, 2025, Score: 89, Grade: B

Peach State Pizza
4475 Roswell Road, Suite 1700
Nov. 24, 2025, Score: 84, Grade: B

Pope High School
3001 Hembree Road
Nov. 20, 2025, Score: 100, Grade: A

Subway
2872 Canton Road, Suite 100
Nov. 25, 2025, Score: 93, Grade: A

Thai Taste
4796 Canton Road, Suite 600-700
Nov. 25, 2025, Score: 80: Grade: B

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Lights of Life holiday exhibit to begin Thanksgiving evening

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Lights of Life holiday exhibit to begin Thanksgiving evening

Life University (Life U) is excited to announce the 36th anniversary of its Lights of Life holiday tradition. Each year, from Thanksgiving night through New Year’s Eve, the university transforms its campus into a holiday wonderland of sparkling lights, welcoming the community to experience the magic of the season. The beautiful Lights of Life display is one of the most affordable and family-friendly holiday attractions in the metro Atlanta area.

Visitors can enjoy a premium holiday experience featuring more than 1 million LED light bulbs, amusement rides, a petting zoo, train rides and delicious refreshments.

The Lights of Life holiday display will run every day from:

  • Start Date: November 27, 2025 (Thanksgiving)
  • End Date: December 31, 2025 (New Year’s Eve)
  • Time: Lights turn on at sunset (approximately 5:30 p.m.) and stay on until around 9:00 p.m. during the weekdays (Sunday-Thursday) and 10:00 p.m. on weekends (Friday and Saturday)
  • Location: Life University Campus, 1269 Barclay Circle, Marietta, GA 30060

Bring your friends, family or a date and soak in the wonder of the season on Life U’s magical campus.

Admission is simple and affordable:

  • Cars/Trucks: $15 (flat rate – any day)
  • Buses: $30 (flat rate – any day)
  • No advance tickets required – pay at the entrance
  • Cash and major cards accepted

All proceeds from Lights of Life support student scholarships and campus beautification initiatives at Life U. Thank you for supporting our mission!

For more information about Life University, visit life.edu.

Send Us Your News!

Let East Cobb News know what’s going on with your organization, or about any recognitions, to share with the community, as well as calendar event listings.

We want to be the go-to source for all the many ways people in East Cobb are involved in the community, especially with the holidays coming up!

It’s what we call The Power of Local, and we’d love for you to take part!

Pass along your details/photos/videos/information to: [email protected], and please observe the following guidelines to ensure we get everything properly and can post it promptly.

Send the body of your announcement, calendar item or news release IN TEXT FORM ONLY in the text field of your e-mail template. Reformatting text from PDF, JPG and doc files takes us longer to prepare your message for publication.

We accept PDFs as an accompaniment to your item. Images are fine too, but we prefer those to be JPG files (more than jpeg and png). PLEASE DO NOT send photos inside a PDF or text or any other kind of file, but d0 send them as attachments to your email.

Of course, send us links that are relevant to your message so we can direct people to your website.

Thanks for your cooperation and we look forward to hearing from you!

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East Cobb restaurant update: Luga Italian Eatery opens at Avenue

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Luga, East Cobb food scores

A few days after its sister, Giulia Italian Bakery, opened at Avenue East Cobb, Luga Italian Eatery has opened its doors.

It’s in the former Drift space (4,400 square feet) and is serving dinner only this week, from 5-10 p.m. Starting Monday, Luga will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

Operated by brothers Ben and Seth Gjuka, Luga features a one-page seasonal menu of antipasti, salads, Roma-style pizzas, and house-made pastas.

Giulia opened on Friday and is the second such-named bakery opened by the Gjuka brothers, following the original Peachtree Corners location. Specialty coffees and teas, Italian bakery items, sandwiches, pizzas and foccacias are on the menu.

Giulia is open at Avenue East Cobb daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Both Luga and Giulia aced their initial health inspections prior to opening.

The Gjurkas began in the restaurant industry as teenagers in Europe, primarily in Italy. After settling in the Atlanta area, they began their own food ventures in outlying Peachtree City and Newnan, where they have been living.

They started Positano Pizza Napoletana in both of those suburban areas, and there is a third location in Mableton.

There’s not an opening date set yet for another forthcoming restaurant at Avenue. Tenku Sushi Elevation will be opening in one of the new “jewel box” buildings that was part of Avenue East Cobb’s recent redevelopment.

Tenku’s first restaurant, in Woodstock, offers a variety of Japanese dishes that include nigiri and sashimi, signature rolls, robata grills, omakase, and flame-seared marinated octopus.

The Avenue East Cobb location will have a rooftop bar.

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Whataburger to hold East Cobb grand opening on Monday

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Another Cobb County location for Whataburger will open in East Cobb next Monday.

The Texas-based hamburger chain announced that the restaurant will open on Monday, Dec. 1, at 9 a.m. at 3550 Sandy Plains Road.

That’s in the former O’Charley’s space, and Whataburger will be open 24/7, 364 days a year, serving breakfast items from 11 p.m. to 11 a.m. daily.

The only day of the year it’s closed? Christmas Day.

The first 100 customers on opening day will get free Whataburger swag bags and either a free Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit or Breakfast Taquito (both available till 11 a.m.)

It’s been a little more than a year since Cobb commissioners approved a site plan change for Whataburger, which also has a location on Cobb Parkway in Akers Mill Square that opened in July.

Whataburger also has two locations near Town Center and KSU and just over the Cobb line in Woodstock and in Roswell.

Whataburger has been converting the former O’Charley’s building into a 7,000-square-foot fast-food restaurant with double drive-through service.

Stipulations approved for the O’Charley’s rezoning in 1999 included restrictions against those uses.

“Since that time, the world has become a different place,” said Kevin Moore, an attorney for Whataburger, explaining back in August 2024 about a built-up corridor with several commercial and retail complexes.

O’Charley’s closed in 2023 on former Gordy Family land that is subject to an architectural control committee, which approved landscaping before county commissioners formally signed off on the Whataburger property conversion.

“Instead of a dark O’Charley’s, we have a brand new Whataburger.”

Whataburger also had plans to open in Vinings but withdrew a rezoning request this fall after community opposition arose.

That wasn’t the case with the East Cobb location, situated on a busy outparcel at Sandy Plains and Shallowford Road.

“We’re so proud to be the team introducing Whataburger’s bold, fresh flavors to the people of Marietta,” Whataburger Operating Partner Jeffrey Bollman said in a company release.

“No more trekking to Buford or Alpharetta. You can get your Honey Butter Chicken Biscuits, Bacon & Cheese Whataburgers and Dr Pepper shakes, right here at 3550 Sandy Plains Road NE. We made this Whataburger restaurant for you, just like we make every order exactly the way you like it.”

The East Cobb Whataburger will have 85 local employees the company calls “family members.”

In addition to drive-through and dining room service there also will be curbside pickup and delivery via the Whataburger App and Whataburger.com.

Whataburger also aced its initial health inspection a couple weeks ago.

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Get ready to celebrate 20th Holiday Lights at East Cobb Park

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East Cobb Park Holiday Lights

Submitted information:

East Cobb Park’s brightest tradition is back and bigger than ever! Join us from 5pm to 8:30pm, Sunday, December 7, for the 20th Annual Holiday Lights at East Cobb Park, a festive community celebration that brings families, friends, and neighbors together to welcome the magic of the holiday season.

This year’s program features special performances by the Dodgen Middle School Orchestra and the East Side Elementary School Choir. Their joyful sound will help set the perfect tone for an evening filled with warmth, wonder, and holiday cheer.

A highlight of the night will be the official tree lighting, led by East Cobb Citizen of the Year, Michael Paris. Gather around as the park is illuminated with sparkling lights—a moment sure to delight attendees of all ages.

And of course, no holiday celebration is complete without a visit from Santa Claus! Santa will arrive in his sleigh to greet the crowd and will be available for photos with the family.

This event would not be possible without the hard work of our many dedicated volunteers, including the Boy Scouts of Troop 1011, who gives their time and energy to make Holiday Lights shine each year.

Event hosts Friends for the East Cobb Park and the Cobb County Parks Department appreciate the generous support of sponsors Wellstar Health System and Café Rivkah (which will be serving delicious hot cocoa and treats to keep everyone warm and merry throughout the evening). Complementary overflow parking is available at Wellstar East Cobb Health Park.

Come celebrate with us and make this year’s Holiday Lights the brightest one yet!

Send Us Your News!

Let East Cobb News know what’s going on with your organization, or about any recognitions, to share with the community, as well as calendar event listings.

We want to be the go-to source for all the many ways people in East Cobb are involved in the community, especially with the holidays coming up!

It’s what we call The Power of Local, and we’d love for you to take part!

Pass along your details/photos/videos/information to: [email protected], and please observe the following guidelines to ensure we get everything properly and can post it promptly.

Send the body of your announcement, calendar item or news release IN TEXT FORM ONLY in the text field of your e-mail template. Reformatting text from PDF, JPG and doc files takes us longer to prepare your message for publication.

We accept PDFs as an accompaniment to your item. Images are fine too, but we prefer those to be JPG files (more than jpeg and png). PLEASE DO NOT send photos inside a PDF or text or any other kind of file, but d0 send them as attachments to your email.

Of course, send us links that are relevant to your message so we can direct people to your website.

Thanks for your cooperation and we look forward to hearing from you!

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