East Cobb News

East Cobb Quilters Club challenge quilts on exhibit in March

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Three locations in East Cobb are among the six venues from the Cobb County Public Library (CCPL) and Cultural Affairs Division of Cobb PARKS’ arts centers to feature quilt exhibits throughout the county in March.East Cobb Quilters Club challenge quilts on exhibit in March

They’re “challenge quilts” from an East Cobb Quilters’ Club competition, and they’ll be on exhibit from March 4-29.

The Sewell Mill Cultural Center (2051 Lower Roswell Road) will exhibit all of the challenge quilts which were created in this yearly competition among guild members. The theme for 2023 was “Musical Madness” that challenged members to choose a favorite musical selection or type of music and create a quilt inspired by their choice.

This year’s winner (in photo) is “Canyon Melody” by Janice Chiaffredo, which was inspired by Native American flute songs. For more visit https://ecqg.com/quilts-on-display/.

Quilts also are on exhibit at The Art Place (3330 Sandy Plains Road) and the Mountain View Regional Library (3320 Sandy Plains Road).

From April 13-May 29 The Mable House Arts Center will present an exhibit as part of “Quilts on Display” that will feature award winning quilts from prior “Georgia Celebrates Quilts” shows.

“This is such an exciting year for the Guild,” East Cobb Quilters’ Guild president Devon Pfeif said.

“We are so appreciative of our strong relationships with both Cobb Libraries and Arts Centers and to have the opportunity to share our talents with the community through these exhibits. I am proud to be part of this amazing and talented group of women and men quilters.”

“Quilts On Display” exhibits lead up to Georgia’s largest continuing juried and judged quilt show, the East Cobb Quilters’ Guild “Georgia Celebrates Quilts” show with over 300 quilts by artists from all over Georgia. The show is held every other year and this year will occur June 6-8. For information visit https://www.georgiacelebratesquilts.com/.

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Cobb Elections to use disputed maps in primary qualifying

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When qualifying for May primary elections takes place next week, the Cobb Board of Elections and Registration will honor county-approved county commission redistricting maps at the heart of a continuing legal dispute.

Proposed Cobb commission redistricting map
District 2 lines (in pink) that Cobb commission Democrats approved will be used for primary qualifying next week.

The five-member appointed elections board announced Friday that the maps to be used for qualifying for commission races will be those that were approved by the three Democrats on the Cobb Board of Commissioners in October 2022.

They did that in claiming a “home rule” exemption that a Cobb judge last month ruled was unconstitutional, and that the county is appealing.

The Georgia Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the case on April 17, but primary ballots have to be printed well before that.

In its announcement Friday, the Cobb elections board said that while candidates in partisan races qualify via their respective local political party offices, “parties and citizens have requested guidance from the Board as to which maps are to be used for qualifying at this time when multiple redistricting lawsuits are still pending in various stages of appeal.”

The board said the “home rule map” for commission districts “remains in place because the [Cobb Superior] Court’s ruling was stayed . . . ”

The board concluded after conferring with its legal counsel that, “out of an abundance of caution, the Home Rule Map should be used and that it ‘remains ready to implement any further direction from the courts on this matter.’ ”

That decision will affect potential candidates in East Cobb.

Three seats on the county commission—the countywide-elected chair, District 4 in South Cobb and District 2 in Smyrna and parts of East Cobb—are on the 2024 ballot.

Current commissioner Jerica Richardson, a first-term Democrat, was drawn out of her East Cobb home in District 2 in maps approved in 2022 by the Republican-led Georgia legislature, which placed most of East Cobb in District 3, represented by GOP member JoAnn Birrell.

Richardson has since announced her candidacy for the 6th Congressional District, which includes some of south Cobb.

Five Democrats, including former Cobb legislative delegation chairman State Rep. Erick Allen and former Cobb school board member Jaha Howard, have declared their intent to run in District 2 as Democrats.

Also among the Democratic hopefuls is Kevin Redmon, a former Richardson community advisor who lives in District 3 according to the legislative-approved maps. He has declared his intent to run in districts 2 and 3.

No Republicans have announced for District 2 thus far.

New Cobb school board maps shifted the lines for Post 5 (in purple) to include Pope and Walton attendance zones and exclude some of the Wheeler zone.

The Cobb elections board statement Friday said that for Cobb Board of Education qualifying, it will honor recently redrawn maps by the legislature that were ordered by a federal court, and since there is no pending challenge to it.

Those maps redrew part of East Cobb. Post 5, which is on the ballot this year, was redrawn to include most of the Walton and Pope attendance zones, while much of the Wheeler zone was placed in Post 6. Post 4, which includes most of the Kell, Lassiter and Sprayberry zones, was not affected.

Thus far, Democrat Laura Judge and Republican John Cristadoro, both parents in the Walton zone, have announced for Post 5, where four-term Republican incumbent David Banks is not seeking re-election.

Four of the seven school board posts are up for election this year, including two of the other three posts held by Republicans. The GOP has held a 4-3 majority since 2019, while Democrats control close majorities on the commission and the county legislative delegation.

The Cobb elections board also said Friday it will honor Congressional and legislative maps passed in January and that were ordered by a federal court.

The board appointments are 4-1 Democrats, with Debbie Fisher of East Cobb the appointee of the Cobb Republican Party.

Primary qualifying takes place Monday, March 4-Thursday, March 7 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Friday, March 8, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Partisan candidates will qualify at their local party office, and non-partisan candidates will qualify at the Cobb Elections office (955 Roswell St., Marietta).

More qualifying information can be found by clicking here.

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Cobb school board extends Ragsdale’s contract along party lines

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Cobb County School District Superintendent Chris Ragsdale received a one-year extension to his current contract Thursday to run through Feb. 28, 2027.

Cobb school board extends Ragsdale's contract
Cobb Superintendent Chris Ragsdale told his critics: “Do not come after my teachers, my principals or my team.”

The Cobb Board of Education voted 4-3 along party lines to offer the extension to a contract that will continue to pay Ragsdale, who has been superintendent since 2015, a salary of $350,000 a year.

The board’s four Republicans voted in favor, the three Democrats against, following an executive session, but didn’t discuss the matter at the voting meeting Thursday night.

Ragsdale thanked the board for the “vote of confidence” but didn’t elaborate. He later launched into scathing remarks against those critical of the district’s handling of a Feb. 1 shooting in the parking lot of McEachern High School that prompted two town hall meetings.

Two former students were shot and two current students were arrested during the incident, which didn’t extend into the school buildings.

Some citizens called for public meetings to be held on school safety plans, and others wanted the removal of McEachern principal Regina Montgomery.

But Ragsdale said that the details of those plans are discussed in executive session and are not allowed to be made public. He stood by Montgomery, and said there’s a safety plan for every school, including McEachern, and that it was followed on that day.

“I find it disturbing, but not surprising, that the same people and political groups who spoke against increased security measures in our schools . . . are now the very same people screaming the loudest about not having enough resource officers.”

At that point, some in the audience began interrupting, and one person was removed from the room.

“Please sit down and quit being rude and let us conduct our business,” board chairman Randy Scamihorn said.

Cobb school board extends Ragsdale's contract
Melissa Marten of the Cobb Community Care Coalition has been a vocal critic of Ragsdale’s leadership.

Ragsdale continued that “you can continue to come at me with all of your lies, but do not come after my teachers, my principals or my team. They’re all too far and work too high to stoop to your level.”

Before the vote, some critics—wearing shirts that read “No Confidence in Ragsdale”—spoke out against him, complaining mostly about the McEachern situation and efforts they allege the district made to restrict public commenters at the September board meetings and that created what they said was a chaotic situation.

“This was dangerous, and they are lucky no one was seriously injured,” said Melissa Marten, leader of a group called the Cobb Community Care Coalition, which has been critical of the district on a number of issues, including what it contends is an “acceleration of racism, bigotry, and censorship in Cobb County School District.”

“We demand accountability for putting our safety at risk and for district employees wasting our tax dollars and spending their time orchestrating potential violence.

“How can we have safe schools when our schools are run by people like this?” Marten said. “The problem is right here in this room looking at you right now.”

Also on Thursday, the Cobb school board voted to approve a “guaranteed maximum price” of $14.5 million for the Sprayberry High School main campus building replacement project, and to spend $9.328 million for renovations at Blackwell Elementary School on Canton Road.

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East Cobb Food Scores: Tin Lizzy’s; Kale Me Crazy; more

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Tin Lizzy's The Avenue East Cobb temporarily closing

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

Addison Elementary School
3055 Ebenezer Road
February 29, 2024 Score: 100, Grade: A

Bowlero
2749 Delk Road
February 27, 2024 Score: 86, Grade: B

Kale Me Crazy
4475 Roswell Road, Suite 1620
February 26, 2024 Score: 90, Grade: A

China Great Wall
1860 Sandy Plains Road, Suite 302
February 28, 2024 Score: 91, Grade: A

Kell High School
4770 Lee Waters Road
February 29, 2024 Score: 100, Grade: A

Mediterranean Express
3162 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 100
February 29, 2024 Score: 92, Grade: A

Mellow Mushroom
2421 Shallowford Road
February 29, 2024 Score: 93, Grade: A

Parc at Piedmont
999 Hood Road
February 29, 2024 Score: 81, Grade: B

Provisions Cafe at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church 
955 Johnson Ferry Road
February 28, 2024 Score: 97, Grade: A

Tin Lizzy’s Cantina
4475 Roswell Road, Suite 1510
February 26, 2024 Score: 85, Grade: B

Tofu Village
700 Sandy Plains Road, Suite B1
February 28, 2024 Score: 92, Grade: A

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Cobb school board to set cap on Sprayberry HS rebuild

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Sprayberry High School

After approving a contractor for the replacement of the main campus building at Sprayberry High School, the Cobb Board of Education will be asked Thursday to set a maximum construction cost for the project.

The board will be asked to approve a “guaranteed maximum price” of $14.5 million at a voting session Thursday night. The item will be introduced at a work session Thursday afternoon.

The board previously approved hiring Carroll Daniel Construction of Gainesville as the construction manager for the project, which is expected to get underway this summer and take around two years to complete.

The Sprayberry rebuild is one of the first major projects of the Cobb Education-VI Special-Purpose Local-Option Sales Tax period that began collections in January.

Setting a maximum price now, according to an agenda item, will enable the contractor “to move forward procuring long-lead time equipment, sitework/utility relocation, and other enabling work” to meet the anticipated completion deadline of July 2026.

The Cobb County School District is taking out a $100 million loan from future collections in short-term tax anticipation notes (TANS) to get early projects started. The loan has to be repaid by the end of the year.

The Sprayberry main campus building that opened in 1973 will be torn down and replaced with a main classroom and office facility, the latest in a comprehensive overhaul of the Northeast Cobb campus.

A new gymnasium recently opened at Sprayberry, which also has undergone renovations to its CTAE (Career, Technology and Agricultural Education) facility.

Also on Thursday, the board will be presented with an agenda item to spend $9.328 million for renovations at Blackwell Elementary School on Canton Road.

Among the work includes roof, door, window and HVAC replacements, telephone and technology upgrades and maintenance and replacement of computing devices and equipment.

The agenda item states a recommendation for the contract is for Ward Humphrey Inc. of Marietta with an estimated completion date of July 2025.

The board is meeting in public at a 1:30 p.m. work session Thursday and a 7 p.m. business session at the Cobb County School District Central Office (514 Glover St., Marietta).

The agendas for both meetings can be found here; an executive session will take place in between and action is indicated for the voting session for personnel, land and legal matters.

The public meetings also will be live-streamed on the district’s BoxCast channel and on CobbEdTV, Comcast Channel 24.

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East Cobb high schools included in state AP honors program

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All six public high schools in East Cobb were honored in several categories Tuesday by the Georgia Department of Education as Superintendent Richard Wood designated AP Honor Schools across the state.Sprayberry High School, Cobb Education SPLOST

A total of 276 designations in 99 high schools were announced in eight categories, reflecting student achievement in Advanced Placement coursework and testing in 2023.

According to a release, “AP exams are administered by the College Board, which also administers the SAT. AP courses are one of several ways Georgia students can access college-level learning at the high school level; students who receive a 3, 4, or 5 on an AP exam may receive college credit. GaDOE began recognizing AP Honor Schools in 2008.”

Kell, Pope, Lassiter, Sprayberry, Walton and Wheeler were all included in the state’s list of AP STEM schools, which have “a minimum of five students testing in at least four AP STEM courses, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Statistics, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, AP Physics 1, AP Physics 2, AP Physics C, AP Computer Science A, AP Computer Science Principles, and a minimum of 25 exams administered.”

Pope, Lassiter, Sprayberry, Walton and Wheeler were also named AP STEM Achievement Schools, with at least 50 percent of all AP STEM exams earning scores of 3 or higher.

Kell, Lassiter, Sprayberry and Walton were named AP Humanities Schools, those “with at least five exams administered in each of the following AP categories: one ELA course, two social studies courses, one fine arts course, and one world language course and a minimum of 25 total exams administered” as well as AP Humanities Achievement Schools, with at least 50 percent of all AP Humanities exams earning scores of 3 or higher.

Pope, Lassiter, Sprayberry, Walton and Wheeler were named AP Schools of Distinction, those having at least 20 percent of the total student population taking AP exams and at least 50 percent of all AP exams earning scores of 3 or higher.

Sprayberry was included as an AP Access and Support School, which has at least 30 percent of AP exams taken by students who identified as African American and/or Hispanic (minimum of 16 students) and 30 percent of all AP exams earning scores of 3 or higher (minimum 25 exams).

 

 

70+ Cobb absentee-by-mail voters receive wrong ballots

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From Cobb Government:Cobb election results recertified

Cobb Elections and Registration workers are notifying 73 absentee-by-mail (ABM) voters they received the wrong ballot in a batch mailed out on Friday. The problem came to light when a couple came to vote during advance voting on Monday and told poll workers they had received the wrong ballot in the mail.

Election workers immediately investigated and found that a processing error resulted in only republican ballots being sent out Friday, February 23. Of the 194 ballots issued that day, 75 of them should have been democratic ballots. 

The 75 ABM ballots incorrectly sent out have been canceled, and elections workers will notify the remaining 73 voters of the issue and mail them the correct ballots on Tuesday.

“We are happy this situation was found quickly,” said Elections Director Tate Fall. “Our staff was able to pinpoint the issue, identify those who received the wrong ballot, and determine how to correct it. We believe this processing error only impacted ballots issued on Friday, February 23rd.”

Anyone with questions concerning this or any other issue should contact the Cobb County Elections and Registration office at 770-528-2581 or ElectionsInfo@cobbcounty.org.

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East Cobb residential real estate sales, Feb. 5-9, 2024

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St. Andrews Park, East Cobb real estate sales
St. Andrews Park

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

Feb. 5

2012 Eula Drive, 30066 (Kell): $739,500

471 Meadowbrook Drive, 30067 (Meadow Brook, Wheeler): $370,000

120 Yancy Drive, 30067 (Hamby Acres, Wheeler): $348,700

3189 Greenfield Drive, 30068 (Indian Hills, Walton): $30,000

2297 Woodridge Drive, 30066 (Fraser, Sprayberry): $600,000

3053 Oak Drive, 30062 (Oak Knoll, Sprayberry): $355,000

2601 Plains Court, 30066 (Plains Estates, Sprayberry): $320,000

4098 Barbara Drive, 30066 (Greenland, Kell): $32,000

Feb. 6

4100 Riverlook Parkway Unit 203, 30067 (Willows by the River, Walton): $272,000

2959 Octavia Circle, 30062 (Vestavia Estates, Walton): $875,000

511 Embers Drive, 30067 (Chimney Trace, Wheeler): $235,000

2450 Crockett Drive, 30067 (Red Oak Park, Wheeler): $350,000

1650 Paddlewheel Drive, 30062 (Wellcrest, Wheeler): $312,000

1355 Murdock Road, 30062 (Roswell Downs, Walton): $594,500

4066 Crossfield Court, 30062 (Woodbine Station, Lassiter): $454,000

Feb. 7

101 Parkaire Crossing Unit 101, 30068 (Parkaire Crossing, Walton):$297,500

884 Saints Drive, 30068 (St. Andrews Park, Walton): $863,000

4101 Thunderbird Drive, 30067 (Atlanta Country Club, Walton): $1.11 million

575 Indian Hills Parkway, 30068 (Indian Hills, Walton): $3.386 million

2330 Castle Lane, 30062 (Pope): $960,000

2311 Saint James Court, 30066 (Morgan Station, Sprayberry): $375,000

2579 Spencers Trace, 30062 (Holly Springs East, Pope): $395,000

2045 Shallowford Road, 30066 (Kell): $400,000

4467 Bay Court, 30067 (Lamplighter Cove, Kell): $373,100

Feb. 8

3331 Georgetown Place, 30066 (Northampton, Lassiter): $970,000

3597 Liberty Ridge Trail, 30062 (Liberty Ridge, Pope): $635,000

4920 Meadow Lane, 30068 (The Meadows, Walton): $340,000

Feb. 9

2016 Eula Drive, 30066 (Kell): $727,150

2991 Greenwood Trail, 30067 (Stratford, Wheeler): $440,000

585 Saint James Walk, 30067 (Salem Woods, Wheeler): $312,000

2741 Benson Drive, 30062 (Tall Pines, Walton): $516,000

1540 Bentcreek Drive, 30062 (Blackjack Hills, Sprayberry): $545,000

3250 Sewell Mill Road, 30062 (Roswell Downs, Walton): $550,000

2240 Wenlok Trail, 30066 (Cork Wren, Lassiter): $490,000

2300 Brandon Court, 30066 (Brandon Ridge, Lassiter): $415,000

5474 Woodberry Circle, 30068 (Willow Point, Walton): $500,000

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Cobb to honor fallen East Marietta Little League player

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Blake Mahoney

Next Saturday a new season begins for the East Marietta National Little League, which will hold its annual Opening Day festivities at Sewell Park.

It’s also a day that Cobb officials are expected to designate as Blake Mahoney Day.

Mahoney was 11 years old and a player for East Marietta when he was killed on April, 19, 2020, after his bicycle collided with car in his neighborhood.

On Tuesday, Cobb commissioners will be asked to designate March 2 as Blake Mahoney Day in a resolution at the start of the board’s monthly evening business meeting.

According to an agenda item from Commissioner Jerica Richardson, Mahoney “lived the Little League values of Community, Fun, Inclusion, Integrity and Teamwork. Blake was a kind person and had an infectious smile. He was always welcoming new players at the park. Blake was also a fierce competitor, playing with toughness and determination, and was the first to congratulate a teammate on a good play.”

After his death, Mahoney’s parents established a scholarship in their son’s name, awarded on financial need, to “help an inspiring baseball player—to continue in Blake’s spirit, for the love of the game.”

Those scholarships are given to East Marietta players in the spring and fall seasons.

The spring season Opening Day ceremonies begin next Saturday, March 2, starting at 10 a.m. on Field 3 at Sewell Park (2055 Lower Roswell Road).

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Scene in East Cobb: Have you seen this rare type of deer?

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We got the photo above Thursday from a reader who reported that “our teenage daughter spotted a rare albino ‘piebald’ buck in our yard this morning. Not sure if newsworthy, but we thought it was pretty cool. Our south Georgia family had never even seen one.”

“Piebald” deer have pigmented backgrounds with white, unpigmented patterns, and other animal breeds with similar conditions include birds, cattle, dogs and cats, horses, foxes and pigs.

A UGA researcher estimates that piebald deer total less than 2 percent of the deer population, and other estimates figure it’s even rarer than that.

The National Deer Association, which is based near Athens in Bogart, Ga., lays out the differences here between albino, piebald, melanistic and other off-color deer types. In case you spot one like the above in your neighborhood.

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East Side ES students experience ‘Courtroom to Classroom’ event

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East Side ES students experience 'Courtroom to Classroom' event

Submitted information and photo:

On Friday, February 9th, 2024, the Cobb County Superior Court proudly hosted the first Courtroom to Classroom event of the new year, welcoming nearly 200 enthusiastic fourth graders from East Side Elementary School. The event aimed to educate students about the intricacies of the legal system through an engaging mock trial experience.

Under the guidance of Superior Court judges Jason D. Marbutt, Kellie S. Hill, and Henry R. Thompson, alongside State Court judge Jaret Usher, the young participants delved into a scripted mock trial to determine the guilt of “Jaime Joyride” in the alleged theft of bicycles from a local store. Judge Marbutt expressed his enthusiasm for educating children, noting, “I love having the opportunity to teach kids about our jury system and due process. I was impressed with how seriously the kid jurors took their job!”

Following the mock trial, the students had the privilege of engaging with representatives from the Cobb Sheriff’s Office’s Community Engagement Unit and meeting K-9 officers Rose and Boomer, along with their handlers, Angela and Deputy Jacob Long, respectively. These officers provided valuable insights into their roles within the community and showcased tools used to ensure public safety, including bicycle and trike patrol units. Judge Henry R. Thompson emphasized the importance of public servants participating in community outreach programs, stating, “I think it is the duty of all public servants to participate in community outreach programs whenever feasible.”

The Cobb County Superior Court looks forward to hosting more mock trials throughout the 2023-24 school year, providing valuable educational experiences for fourth- and fifth-grade groups.

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Cobb DOT to hold open house on Holly Springs corridor plans

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Submitted information from Cobb Commissioner JoAnn Birrell:

Please join the Cobb County Department of Transportation and me 5 – 7 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 28, in the theatre at The Art Place – Mountain View, 3330 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta for an open house to learn more about the county’s plans to improve safety and traffic operations on Holly Springs Road. The county recently completed a study of the corridor between Sandy Plains Road and Old Canton Road and is recommending improvements at the intersections of Holly Springs Road at Sandy Plains Road and Holly Springs Road at Post Oak Tritt Road.

During this open house, the county will have concept boards on display and will be seeking input from the public and nearby residents regarding the proposed improvements to these intersections.

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Cleaver and Cork closes in East Cobb; new butcher shop to open

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Cleaver and Cork closes

A reader alerted us to he news that the the Cleaver and Cork specialty meat and butcher shop has been sold and closed, a little more than a year after opening at the Shoppes of Woodlawn (1062 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 162-D).

Social media postings indicate the sale closed to an unnamed buyer. When we went by the store, a sign said that it closed on Feb. 15 and will continue “as a top quality butcher shop and will reopen as soon as the new owners are established.”

Cleaver and Cork describes itself as a family-owned artisanal butcher with a full line of premium meats as well as seafood, side dishes, cheese, produce, coffee, spices, charcuterie products and more.

The company is run by Chad and Audrey Stine, both former meat industry and sales representatives. They founded their first butcher shop in Sharpsburg, Ga., in 2018, then in nearby Newnan the next year. A store on Haynes Bridge Road in Alpharetta opened in late 2022.

The social media postings said “Chef Josh,” who has been working at the East Cobb location for the past year—”a dedicated employee taking it on for the team, driving the drive every day”—will be working out of the Newnan location.

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Bank plans approved at former NE Cobb movie theater site

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Bank plans approved at former NE Cobb movie theater site

A 1.14-acre parcel of land that once housed a movie theatre parking lot in Northeast Cobb will finally be getting developed after all.

Nearly a year after King’s Hawaiian pulled out of plans for a restaurant at Gordy Parkway and Shallowford Road, Cobb commissioners on Tuesday approved a Fifth Third Bank branch for the property.

During consent agenda voting, commissioners approved changes to the site plan to allow for drive-through service, as well as submitted renderings and drawings.

In addition, there will be a 40-foot landscape buffer at the back of the property adjoining Carl Harrison Park.

In 2023, attorneys for Stein Investment Group said such a buffer would make it difficult to develop the King’s Hawaiian restaurant, which would have had a drive-through.

Commissioner JoAnn Birrell would not budge, saying when the land was zoned for a movie theater in 1988 the 40-buffer was a key stipulation.

Reducing it, she said, last April, “would set a precedent. It was put in place for a reason.”

In May, King’s Hawaiian withdrew, and the land has sat vacant ever since. It was part of a parking lot adjoining the GTC Park 12 Cobb theater, which closed in 2018.

In 2021, Stein got rezoning to develop part of the land for a self-storage facility.

At Tuesday’s meeting, Birrell submitted several conditions Gordy Architectural Control Committee and other stipulations that were not immediately available in the public filings.

Also on Tuesday, commissioners approved via the consent agenda a dental office use at the former Mt. Bethel Church Community Center site. (4608 Lower Roswell Road).

The board heeded staff suggestions to delete the zoning category from low-rise office to limited professional services permit.

The land has been zoned residential because its owner is Mt. Bethel Church, which has been putting up selected properties for sale since departing the United Methodist Church in 2022.

Marianna Kovitch, who has a dental practice in Buckhead, hired noted zoning attorney Kevin Moore, who represented a previous applicant who withdrew from seeking an office use last year.

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East Cobb residential real estate sales, Jan. 29-Feb. 2, 2024

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Regency Lake, East Cobb real estate sales
Regency Lake

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

Jan. 29

2575 Pope Manor Way, 30062 (Pope Manor Estates, Pope): $1.278 million

60 Brookcrest Drive, 30068 (Brookcrest, Wheeler): $650,000

4210 Summit Drive, 30068 (Indian Hills, Walton): $633,000

1524 Princeton West Trail, 30068 (Princeton West, Walton): $1.5 million

Jan. 30

4101 Rambleton Drive, 30062 (Garrison Parc, Lassiter): $860,000

921 Edmond Oaks, 30067 (Scarlet Oaks, Wheeler): $777,500

5564 River Heights Crossing, 30067 (Overlook, Walton): $250,000

1139 Roselawn Lane, 30067 (Sandpiper, Wheeler): $300,000

3266 Hunterdon Way, 30067 (Somerset, Wheeler): $767,500

2113 Pawnee Drive, 30067 (Sedalia Park, Wheeler): $263,000

3314 Ellsmere Trace, 30062 (Davis Point, Pope): $620,000

2845 Pete Shaw Road, 30066 (Lassiter): $550,000

Jan. 31

3012 Manning Drive, 30062 (Manning, Pope): $550,000

2153 Arbor Oaks Drive, 30062 (Arbor Oaks, Sprayberry): $475,000

2150 Arbor Oaks Drive, 30062 (Arbor Oaks, Sprayberry): $435,000

2461 Cedar Brook West, 30067 (Cedar Canyon, Wheeler): $282,500

942 Azalea Circle, 30062 (Eastwood Forest, Sprayberry): $240,000

2024 Addison Road, 30066 (Sprayberry): $400,000

2486 Regency Lake Drive, 30062 (Regency Lake, Pope): $925,000

567 Embry Lane, 30066 (Addison Heights, Sprayberry): $374,000

3352 Ethan Drive, 30062 (Hembree Hills, Pope): $534,000

2152 Clementine Drive, 30066 (Churchill Falls, Lassiter): $460,000

1851 Thomas Drive, 30066 (Lakewood Colony, Kell): $613,000

2228 North River Trail, 30066 (North Landing, Kell): $390,000

701 Parkaire Crossing, 30068 (Parkaire Crossing, Walton): $295,000

Feb. 1

123 Herbert Drive, 30067 (Powers Ferry Hills, Wheeler): $260,000

4687 Amberwood Trail, 30062 (Chimney Springs, Pope): $681,000

Woodridge Drive, 30066 (Fraser, Sprayberry): $600,000

2492 Cedar Brook East, 30067 (Cedar Canyon, Wheeler): $255,000

292 Robin Lane, 30067 (Red Oak Park, Wheeler): $480,000

237 Stoneybrook Drive, 30062 (Briarwood Hills, Wheeler): $334,000

616 Fairway Court, 30068 (Indian Hills, Walton): $811,000

Feb. 2

1635 Bill Murdock Road, 30062 (Princeton West, Walton): $431,000

2707 Tritt Springs Trace, 30062 (Post Oak Springs, Pope): $645,000

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East Cobb Islamic Center holding free weekly health clinic

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Submitted information:East Cobb Islamic Center free health clinic

East Cobb Islamic Center has a free medical clinic with discounted lab work through Quest Diagnostics available to uninsured members of the community.

ECIC is partnering in this effort with the Georgia Volunteer Health Care Program of the Georgia Department of Public Health to provide this service. Our goal is to support GVHCP’s vision of having a healthier and safer Georgia. Please help spread the word to anyone who may need this service.

The clinic is open every Saturday, 9 a.m. – noon. Patients must sign in by 11 a.m. No appointments necessary. Location: 1000 Johnson Ferry Road Building E, Suite 220. 404-654-0825. Click here for more information.

 

 

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Marietta Kiwanis Club Golden K presents Checks to Charities

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Marietta Kiwanis Club Golden K presents Checks to Charities

Submitted information and photo:

In September of 2023 the Kiwanis Club of Marietta Golden K,  along with the Kiwanis Club of Lost Mountain, sponsored the annual Youth Charity Golf Tournament. While being a most enjoyable outing, the event raised over  $34,000 as everyone that day helped “Tee it up for the Kids.” The proceeds were then divided between the two Kiwanis Clubs.

On Feb. 8  the Kiwanis Club of Marietta Golden K, invited representatives from charities the club supports to receive a donation.  At a regular Kiwanis Club meeting, checks totaling $17,400 were distributed to representatives of the following charitable organizations: Jeff Romig, Camp Twin Lakes; Gracie Rodriguez, Kate’s Club; Susan Worsley, North Georgia Angel House; Jonathan Fancher, Empower Cherokee; Rev. Gary MacDonald, Murphy-Harpst; Brenda Rhodes, Simple Needs GA; Lori Baker, Next Step Ministries; Brian Caims, Restore Place; Dona McKee, Path to Shine;  Glenda Bell,  Family Promise;  Angela Thornton, Center for Chlidren and Young Adults; Dennis Steele, Mountain Top Boys Home and Tom Gonter, Must Ministries.

The Kiwanis Club of Marietta Golden K is very proud to have presented donations to these worthwhile organizations. We wholeheartedly congratulate them for the services they provide and will continue to lend support.

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AARP Tax-Aide providing assistance at Cobb library branches

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Submitted information:AARP Tax-Aide providing assistance at Cobb library branches

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers will provide free tax preparation assistance at three Cobb County Public Libraries. Service is provided by appointment only.

For the do-it-yourself tax preparer, Cobb County libraries are making available federal 2023 1040 tax forms and instruction booklets to area residents while supplies last. Libraries also will offer free printing of federal and state forms, up to 10 pages. This service does not include instruction books.

The locations include Mondays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. at the Mountain View Regional Library and Tuesdays at 10:15 a.m. at East Cobb Library.

For more details, click here.

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2024 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival returns to Merchants Walk

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A total of 10 screenings of the 2024 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival will take place at the GTC Merchants Walk Cinema this weekend.2024 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival returns to Merchants Walk

The films take place from Friday-Sunday, with tickets ranging from $16-$18 (full schedule here).

Prime-time screenings include Seven Blessings (Saturday, 7:40p) and Home (Sunday, 7:30p).

The former was the winner of 10 Israel Academy Awards in 2023, telling the story of a boisterous Moroccan-Jewish clan reunites for a cross-cultural wedding that surfaces festering secrets” in early 1990s Jerusalem. This is the Atlanta premiere.

The latter is a true-crime drama featuring “a newly married young man’s ambition to open a computer store in his ultra-Orthodox Jerusalem neighborhood,” and which “begets a shocking clash of tradition versus modernity.” The film was nominated for nine Israeli Academy Awards in 2023.

The festival includes in-person screenings of 31 feature films at four other venues in metro Atlanta through Feb. 26, then streaming from Feb. 27-March 7.

For ticket and other information, click here.

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Cobb seeks grants to preserve African-American cemeteries

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Cobb seeks grants to preserve African-American cemeteries
 The Old Ebenezer Cemetery is located in a wooded area near Shaw Park.

Submitted information:

Cobb County has submitted a grant application to the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund for assistance with four of Cobb’s historic African American cemeteries.

In 2023, the Cobb County Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) worked to identify and research historic African American Cemeteries in Cobb. The four African American cemeteries included in the grant proposal are Sardis Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, Old Ebenezer Cemetery, Noonday Extension Cemetery, and Little Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery.

Bev Jackson, Chairwoman of Cobb’s Historic Preservation Commission, says the county’s African American cemeteries’ needs are immediate and long-term. They need assistance with maintenance, boundary delineation, identification of unknown graves, recognition, etc.

“We see this as just the beginning of our plan to address the needs and concerns of our historic African American cemeteries in Cobb,” Jackson said. 

The grant would pay for a consultant to perform archaeology surveys for the four cemeteries and to write a maintenance manual for African American cemeteries in Cobb. The surveys will help define the cemetery boundaries and identify locations of unknown graves. The maintenance manual will be provided to property owners, cemetery preservation specialists, and volunteers to provide specific directions on restoring and maintaining our historic African American cemeteries properly.

Volunteers are always needed to assist with the maintenance of Cobb County Cemeteries; to get involved to help restore and maintain our historic African American cemeteries, contact the Cobb County Historic Preservation Planner, Mandy Elliott, at mandy.elliott@cobbcounty.org.

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