East Cobb News

CenterStage North, Cobb PARKS reach Sunday events agreement

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CenterStage North, Cobb PARKS agreement

Following up our story last week about the possibility that CenterStage North might halt its 2024 season at The Art Place-Mountain View due to Sunday staffing issues with Cobb PARKS:

Jonathan Liles, CSN’s managing director, told East Cobb News Friday that the community theater organization and the county have come to an agreement to continue Sunday staffing by employees of The Art Place.

He said he met with Cobb PARKS staff Friday and said that CenterStage North Sunday shows and Sunday musical recitals will continue into 2024.

“We discussed the potential of future partnerships and how it could benefit The Art Place,” Liles said without elaborating.

The county told CenterStage North last month that starting next year The Art Place would be closed to all Sunday activities due to staffing issues at the county-run facility on Sandy Plains Road, located in a complex with the Tim D. Lee Senior Center and the Mountain View Regional Library.

Liles said CenterStage North had been getting inquiries from patrons about the 2024 season. He previously told East Cobb News the all-volunteer non-profit couldn’t exist financially without ticket sales from Sunday matinee performances, and there was no other place to go.

“Without the Sunday revenue, I cannot afford to stay open,” he said.

The Art Place also offers art classes and holds special arts exhibits and receptions. Earlier this year, Sunday musical recitals there were discontinued due to the staffing issues.

East Cobb News has left a message with the county seeking more information.

CenterStage North will soon proceed with planning its 2024 season, which includes four to five performances a year, including a special Christmas event.

“We’d like to thank The Art Place Staff, Cobb Parks and Rec Assistant Director Mario Henson, and Marie Jernigan, the Cultural Affairs Director, for their support and partnership,” Liles said.

The 2024 season is as follows, with ticket sales starting in October:

  • The 39 Steps – Feb 2024
  • Drinking Habits – May 2024
  • Maytag Virgin – August 2024
  • Little Shop of Horrors (Musical, rights pending) – October 2024

 

Richardson to hold kickoff event for Congressional campaign

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Cobb commissioner Jerica Richardson has launched a website and filed initial paperwork to run for the 6th District Congressional seat that includes some of East Cobb.Richardson Congressional campaign kickoff event

The first-term Democrat, whose tenure on the board is the subject of an ongoing legal dispute over redistricting, is holding a kickoff event for her Congressional bid next week.

On Thursday she announced on her campaign’s social media outlets to “join us for our big announcement in 6 DAYS!”

She’s accepting donations on Jerica for Congress website, as well as RSVPs for a kickoff event next Thursday at the Avalon mixed-use development in Alpharetta.

That’s currently within the boundaries of the new 6th Congressional District, which was redrawn by the Republican-dominated Georgia legislature after Democrat Lucy McBath won the seat in 2018.

Those boundaries included East Cobb, North Fulton, Sandy Springs and some of Buckhead.

Last year McBath, a black Democrat, won the 7th Congressional District seat based largely in Gwinnett.

But a federal lawsuit has been filed challenging the Georgia U.S. House maps, contending that they were drawn to dilute minority voting strength.

Richardson resides in the new 6th District, but reapportionment drew her out of her East Cobb home in District 2. Her term expires at the end of next year.

Her Congressional campaign website doesn’t include priorities or other specifics other than some basic biographical information.

“Jerica’s success lies in recognizing that what connects us is far greater than what separates us,” the website states. “Solving problems through collaboration and empowering others is a way of life for Jerica and she wants to put that to work for the citizens of Georgia’s 6th Congressional District.”

She and the board’s other two Democrats approved maps last fall that would have kept her in her commission seat. A lawsuit was filed by Republican commissioner Keli Gambrill to challenge Cobb’s decision to invoke home rule, arguing that only the legislature can conduct reapportionment.

Gambrill was denied standing in the suit in Cobb Superior Court but a hearing on its merits is scheduled for November.

Richardson Congressional campaign kickoff
Congressional maps showing metro Atlanta seats. Source: Georgia Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Office

The new 6th District includes some of East Cobb, North Fulton and Sandy Springs, and Republican strongholds in Forsyth in Dawson counties were added.

That seat was won last November by Republican Rich McCormick, who got 62 percent of the vote in the general election over Democrat Bob Christian, who has filed to run again in 2024.

But the plaintiffs in the lawsuit are seeking another majority-black Congressional district to be created in metro Atlanta under provisions of the federal Voting Rights Act.

A trial began this week in U.S. District Court in Atlanta, following a ruling last week that struck down a Republican-majority Congressional maps in Alabama for similar reasons. The state has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Richardson was elected in 2020 in her first campaign for public office to succeed three-term Republican commissioner Bob Ott.

According to Federal Election Commission reports, Richardson filed her campaign paperwork on Aug. 16.

In addition to Christian and Richardson, another Democrat has filed to run. Shelly Abraham of Duluth, a mechanical consulting engineer, is a first-time candidate for public office.

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New Avenue public plaza dubbed ‘East Cobb’s hometown hangout’

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Avenue East Cobb celebration

A few hundred spectators decked out in garden-party attire watched as a large green curtain was pulled down Thursday to reveal a new public plaza at Avenue East Cobb.

The centerpiece of the retail center’s redevelopment also features a live music stage, and a high-energy cover band rocked the venue for a couple of hours after that, as guests munched on appetizers from current and forthcoming restaurants, enjoyed cocktails and danced.

More than a year in the making, the new open-air plaza signals a new phase for Avenue, which has been rebranded as it has been re-energized.

An official from North American Properties, which signed on as a management partner last year, calls it “East Cobb’s hometown hangout,” with the purpose tied to getting the public to come, and stay.

Two new “jewel box” restaurants are still under construction, and some outdoor seating has been set up in front of Round Trip Brewing Co., which will be opening a German-style taproom next spring.

Avenue East Cobb celebration

But the plaza is officially open to the public, and continuing events such as Friday night live music are on tap. That includes “Electric Avenue” concerts every Friday from 6-8 p.m. through October.

The plaza features a variety of comfortable chairs and sofas and two bar areas, along with a green turf in front of the stage suitable for spreading out blankets.

Avenue East Cobb celebration
Rev. Dr. Ike Reighard, CEO of MUST Ministries, thanked the attendees.

The venue also includes optional valet parking, which some cocktail party guests took advantage of at Thursday’s event.

The cost was $75 a person, but all the proceeds went to MUST Ministries.

CEO Ike Reighard said the result was $10,000 for the Marietta non-profit, which typically served around 300 homeless clients per night before COVID-19.

That figure shot up to 1,500 a night during the height of the pandemic.

“The only thing that exceeded the level of need was the level of generosity, and that’s what you did,” he said.

Reighard, who’s also senior pastor at Piedmont Church, told the audience that “you won’t hear a minister saying ‘drink up,’ but thank you.”

Avenue East Cobb celebration
Pimiento cheese grit fritters from Peach State Pizza.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

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East Cobb Food Scores: Vatica Indian; Minas Emporium; more

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East Cobb food scores, Vatica Indian Cuisine

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

Blue Moon Pizza
2359 Windy Hill Road, Suite 100
September 6, 2023 Score: 85, Grade: B

Eastvalley Elementary School
2570 Lower Roswell Road
September 5, 2023 Score: 100, Grade: A

Minas Emporium
2555 Delk Road, Suite B4
September 6, 2023 Score: 99, Grade: A

Vatica Indian Cuisine
1475 Terrell Mill Road, Suite 105
September 6, 2023 Score: 80, Grade: B

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East Cobb art gallery to feature exhibit on natural hair

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Submitted information from LM Frame and Gallery:East Cobb art gallery natural hair exhibit

We are proud to announce our new exhibit, “From Embarrassment to Pride,” an art exhibit that deals with the history of natural hair.
The exhibit is for the first time hosted in East Cobb and is a collaboration with Guadeloupean artist Guylaine Conquet.
The opening reception is Sept. 22 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at LM Frame and Gallery (1062 Johnson Ferry Road).

Several African American guest artists may also surprise the public during this special evening.

Artist’s website: Visit.

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Atlanta Opera 2023-24 season features Rigoletto, La Bohème

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Atlanta Opera 2023-24 season features Rigoletto, La Boheme

The 2023–24 Atlanta Opera season will be getting underway in a week, with most performances at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center.

The opener will take place Sept. 15-Oct. 1 at the Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta, and it will be the East Coast premiere of “The Shining,” based on the Stephen King novel.

The Cobb Energy Center is the venue for the rest of the way, with another horror classic, “Frankenstein,” leading off on Oct. 28 in what’s being called an “imaginative presentation of vintage cinema.” The performance includes a new score for the full orchestra and singers performing live to the film.

Guiseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto will be performed on Nov. 4, 7, 10 and 12 to round out the 2023 calendar year.

Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohème will be presented on Jan. 20, 23, 26 and 28, with star tenor Long Long making his Atlanta Opera debut.

Benjamin Britten’s adaptation of the Shakespeare comedy “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” runs on March 2, 5, 8 and 10 featuring countertenor Iestyn Davies and soprano Liv Redpath.

The season finale takes place on April 27 and 30 and May 3 and 5 and it’s Richard Wagner’s “Die Walklüre,” following last year’s Atlanta Opera presentation of Wagner’s “Das Rheingold.”

Tickets are available at www.atlantaopera.org or by calling the ticket office at 404-881-8885 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

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East Cobb artist unveils breast cancer awareness initiative

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Amy Rees of East Cobb, a local artist and entrepreneur, is partnering with a non-profit called It’s The Journey to raise awareness for breast cancer.East Cobb artist breast cancer awareness initiative

The organization is holding a Georgia 2-Day Walk Oct. 7-8 that will cover 30 miles in the city of Atlanta (here’s the route).

Rees, the owner of AmyWynne Designs also created Personality Plates, a collection of hand-painted stoneware plates. That includes a line called the Sisters in Pink collection to honor women who have helped, motivated and inspired her.

Those driving forces include her mother Bobbi Strauss, now 82, who as a teenager in the late 1950s was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy.

“This aligns with our own mission of supporting women in need,” Rees said in a release. “Our Sisters In Pink initiative is more than a collection of plates; it’s a tribute to every woman, who has faced the unfathomable journey of breast cancer with courage and resilience,” said Amy.

“However, this project also resonates on a deeply personal level for me. My mom, Bobbi, is one of the reasons I wanted to create this line. I can’t even call her a breast cancer ‘survivor’ because she didn’t ‘survive’ life, she is living it to its fullest! I wanted to share her powerful story.”

Strauss was detected with breast cancer at a time when women were discouraged from being public about it beyond telling family members.

“They thought they were protecting me by keeping it a secret,” Strauss said in the release. “It was 1959 and they didn’t want people looking at me differently.”

She didn’t have a support group and didn’t confide even with friends. But photographers would take pictures during her hospital recovery for medical journals.

Rees is the only child of Bobbi Strauss and her husband, who died more than two decades ago.

“Amid all her trials, my mother has always exuded positivity, gratitude, and grace,” Rees said, “She has never viewed herself as a victim, but rather a survivor; someone who considers herself fortunate for the time she had with my father, and for the joys of being a mother and a grandmother. She stands today as a beacon of hope and strength.”

The Sisters in Pink Collection, according to Rees, “is a symbol of our collective hope for a future where early detection, comprehensive treatments, and open conversations about breast cancer become the norm, not the exception.”

A total of 10 percent of the proceeds from the Sisters in Pink sales will go to It’s The Journey.

East Cobb artist breast cancer awareness

EAST COBBER parade and festival returns for 25th rendition

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East Cobber parade
The EAST COBBER parade has regularly featured teachers of the year from East Cobb schools.

After a four-year hiatus due to COVID-19 and an ownership change, the EAST COBBER magazine is bringing back its community parade and festival Saturday.

This is the 25th rendition of the event and the first under owner Laren Brown, the magazine’s former advertising manager who purchased the publication last year from founder Cynthia Rozzo.

Everything else should be familiar to those who’ve attended before—the parade marches off at 10 a.m at Mt. Bethel Elementary School (1223 Johnson Ferry Road) and heads down Johnson Ferry Road to Johnson Ferry Baptist Church (Olde Towne Parkway entrance).

That’s where the festival takes place from 11-3, and admission is free.

The first event was in 1995 with 500 people marching and has grown to include high school marching bands and many community organizations. An estimated 1,000 participants are set for Saturday’s event, which features a tribute to local schools.

“Our principals and Teachers of the Year are the parade’s VIPs,” Brown said, “We realize many people move to East  Cobb because of the schools, and the parade has always  been a unique way to honor and celebrate all our great schools.”

The festival includes entertainment, arts and crafts, concessions, carnival  games, and local businesses (East Cobb News will be there as a first-time vendor!).

CertaPro Painters is the Presenting Sponsor of the parade and festival.

Here’s more about the parade route and traffic closures:

“As a safety measure, the Cobb County Police Department will shut down Johnson Ferry Road — both northbound and southbound lanes — between Lower Roswell Road & Upper Roswell Road and will be closed to traffic 9:45am to 11:30am. Woodlawn Road will not be closed, but traffic will be affected. Princeton Lakes Drive will be closed from 8am to 10:30am for the parade staging area at Mt. Bethel Elementary School, 1210 Johnson Ferry Road.

Cobb County Department of Transportation will be setting up road detours at the intersections of Indian Hills Parkway & Roswell Road and Indian Hills Parkway & Lower Roswell Road. Road detours will also be set up at the intersections of Timber Ridge Road & Roswell Road and Timber Ridge Road & Lower Roswell Road.”

 

 

 

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Wheeler HS Classes of 1990-1995 invited to reunion party

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Submitted information:Wheeler HS 1990-1995 reunion party

The Wheeler High class of 1993 is hosting a reunion party for classes of 1990-1995 on Saturday, September 23, 2023 from 7PM – close at The Chapter Room in Sandy Springs.

The Chapter Room is a speakeasy style bar tucked away under the Taco Mac at The Prado. All Wheeler alumni from 1990-1995 and their guests are encouraged to attend!

Tickets are $100 and include two drink tickets as well as heavy appetizers. A well stocked cash bar is also available.

Here’s more information from the official invitation:

Joseph Wheeler High 90’s Reunion, brought to you by the class of 1993

The class of 1993 knows how to throw a party! Getting rowdy at the Sheraton, the Opera night club, PBR at The Battery, and now, a speakeasy at The Prado. Join us at The Chapter Room, where the drinks are cold, the chairs are comfy, and the lights are dim. ‘Cause you know… like a fine scotch, we’ve aged 30 years.

We are extending an invitation to all those classes that didn’t get to hold a proper reunion in 20-22. All classes from 1990-1995 are invited to attend!

It’s time to relive the good old days! Join us for the Joseph Wheeler High 90’s Reunion, where we’ll be celebrating the amazing memories and friendships we made during our high school years. Get ready to reconnect with old classmates, reminisce about the unforgettable moments, and create new memories together!

Date: Sat Sep 23 2023

Time: 18:00:00 GMT-0500 (CDT)

Location: 5600 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs, GA 30342

Whether you were a jock, a nerd, a drama kid, or somewhere in between, this reunion is for everyone. Come as you are and let’s celebrate the unique bond we share as members of the Joseph Wheeler High School classes of the 90’s. Expect an evening filled with laughter, dancing, and catching up with old friends.

Don’t miss this chance to reconnect and reminisce about the good times. Mark your calendars, gather your yearbooks, tidy up your Facebook/Instagram pages and get ready for an unforgettable night. Let’s make new memories together and prove that it’s truly great to be together again!

Tickets include two drink tickets, heavy appetizers, a private party location and the chance to see all of your old crushes under the influence of alcohol (like that didn’t happen back in school). Cash bar also available.

For more information, contact the organizers at 1993.wheeler.wildcats@gmail.com and visit the event ticketing page at:
https://whsreunion.ticketbud.com

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Stretch Zone opens fitness studio at East Cobb Crossing

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Stretch Zone opens East Cobb

Kelly Boatright, who with husband Kyle Boatright is a co-0wner of a new Stretch Zone fitness studio in East Cobb, has passed the information and photos marking its grand opening.

It’s located in the East Cobb Crossing Shopping Center (4371 Roswell Road) near Dog City Bakery.

Stretch Zone features a special method “to reeducate the nervous system to increase the active range of motion,” according to a company release.

The goal is to maximize flexibility regardless of athletic ability or body type, and the instructors are certified in the method.

Stretch Zone, which has 300 locations, including Acworth, Kennesaw and Roswell, is utilized by professional athletes for training, competition and recovery, and has a partnership with former NFL quarterback Drew Brees.

Those who sign up for a package through September will enter a drawing for a jersey signed by Brees

 “I started my relationship with Stretch Zone on the table, when I started receiving treatment to alleviate my hip pain,” Kelly Boatright says. “I’ve seen firsthand the difference this practice can make in mobility and wellness, and we are extremely excited to share those differences with our neighbors in the East Cobb community.”

She said the new East Cobb location is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Friday and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. It’s closed on Sunday.

First visits are free and customers can begin earning Flex Points, Stretch Zone’s rewards program, upon sign-up.

For more information, call 770-282-7941 or visit www.stretchzone.com/locations/east-cobb-ga or www.facebook.com/stretchzoneeastcobb.

Stretch Zone opens East Cobb
Owner Kyle Boatright with Stretch Zone East Cobb’s first customer.

Stretch Zone opens East Cobb

Stretch Zone opens East Cobb

Stretch Zone opens East Cobb

Stretch Zone opens East Cobb

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East Cobb residential real estate sales, Aug. 14-18, 2023

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Belmont, East Cobb real estate sales
Belmont

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

Aug. 14

508 Augusta Drive, 30067 (St. Augustine Place, Wheeler): $244,000

498 Indian Hills Trail, 30068 (Indian Hills, Walton): $2.683 million

4579 Divine Court, 30067 (Estates at Woodlawn, Walton): $1.8 million

2648 Bethel Court, 30068 (Haven Pointe, Sprayberry): $650,000

3377 Windridge Drive, 30066 (Sprayberry): $427,000

3294 Belmont Glen Drive, 30067 (Belmont, Wheeler): $1.085 million

550 Clubwood Court, 30068 (Indian Hills, Walton): $1.85 million

2599 Stoney Brook Lane, 30062 (Holly Springs North, Sprayberry): $415,000

3024 Antler Trail, 30066 (Oak Knoll, Sprayberry): $438,000

2413 Tall Timbers Trail, 30066 (Avonshire, Lassiter): $588,000

4772 Outlook Way, 30066 (Highland Ridge, Lassiter): $1.04 million

727 Bayliss Drive, 30068 (River Springs, Walton): $433,000

4865 Fox Run Lane, 30067 (Riverside Park Estates, Walton): $1.8 million

Aug. 15

1722 Hickory Woods Pass, 30066 (Hickory Woods, Sprayberry): $830,000

3175 Hunterdon Court, 30067 (Somerset, Wheeler): $615,000

1109 Azalea Circle, 30062 (Eastwood Forest, Sprayberry): $423,000

2054 Cason Drive, 30066 (Kings Wood Estates, Sprayberry): $300,000

2300 Salem Drive, 30062 (Christophers Corner, Sprayberry): $430,000

1482 Cedar Ridge Road, 30066 (North Ridge, Sprayberry): $430,000

4443 Ormond Trace, 30066 (Hampton Ridge, Lassiter): $632,000

Aug. 16

760 Terrell Mill Road, 30067 (Stratford, Wheeler): $410,000

2865 Torreya Way, 30067 (The Woods Condos, Wheeler): $280,000

901 Oriole Lane, 30067 (Meadowbrook, Wheeler): $310,000

2698 Arbor Glen Place, 30068 (Arbor Glen Sprayberry): $327,500

2104 Longford Walk, 30066 (Longford, Kell): $436,500

1664 Hampton Oaks Bend, 30066 (Hampton Oaks, Sprayberry): $635,000

Aug. 17

3466 Brookview Drive, 30068 (Crossgate, Wheeler): $404,000

3126 Bunker Hill Circle, 30062 (Bunker Hills, Pope): $530,000

2644 Twin Lakes Way, 30062 (Twin Lakes, Pope): $667,000

6 Sherryforth Drive, 30066 (Chastain Enclave, Sprayberry): $522,000

4350 Stockton Way, 30066 (Stocktons Ford, Lassiter): $504,000

2388 Chimney Springs Drive, 30062 (Chimney Springs, Pope): $750,000

Aug. 18

2112 Arbor Oaks Drive, 30062 (Arbor Oaks, Sprayberry): $451,999

2559 Willow Field Crossing, 30067 (The Oaks at Powers Ferry, Wheeler): $505,000

13 Hardpan Alley, 30066 (The Gardens at Lauren Creek, Sprayberry): $520,000

2739 Stillwater Lake Lane, 30066 (Stillwater Lake, Sprayberry): $565,000

3786 Kensington Drive, 30066 (Canterbury Park, Sprayberry): $330,000

1730 Hickory Woods Pass, 30066 (Hickory Woods, Sprayberry): $975,000

52 Gatewood Drive, 30068 (Sentinel Lake, Wheeler): $815,000

183 Sentinel Place, 30067 (Sentinel Ridge, Walton): $1.505 million

2911 Edwards Court, 30068 (Country Place East, Wheeler): $490,000

3911 Sentry Crossing, 30068 (Indian Hills, Walton): $1.875 million

3620 Robinson Walk Drive, 30068 (Robinson Walk, Walton): $690,000

4029 Regency Lake Trail, 30062 (Regency Lake, Pope): $900,000

2973 Lowe Trail, 30066 (Brookhaven, Sprayberry): $361,101

3050 Sandy Plains Road, 30066 (Rogers Acres, Sprayberry): $342,000

3884 Running Fox Drive, 30062 (Raintree Forest, Lassiter): $411,000

4705 Outlook Way, 30066 (Highland Ridge, Lassiter): $835,000

2937 Summitop Road, 30066 (The Summit at Sweat Mountain, Lassiter): $769,000

4785 Jamerson Forest Parkway, 30066 (Jamerson Forest, Kell): $365,000

5097 Ravenwood Drive, 30066 (Ravenwood, Kell): $460,000

4631 Murphy Mill Court, 30062 (Easthampton—The Estates, Walton): $920,000

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Editor’s Note: Feeling gratitude as another Labor Day approaches

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This time a year ago I penned a longish column about my excitement in building out East Cobb News for the long haul.Labor Day gratitude Editor's Note

At the time, as we marked our 5th anniversary, I was getting down to some business I had planned before the pandemic: Securing office space, upgrading technology for advertising purposes and actively promoting the next stage of development for this news site.

It’s been an eventful and largely successful year, and I’ve come to regard Labor Day as a time to reflect, take stock of what’s happened and gear up for what’s to come.

One of my priorities continues for a few more months, as I recently launched a crowdfunding campaign, “6 for 6,” asking for readers to make financial contributions.

We did this in July, when we observed our 6th anniversary, knowing it was the middle of summer and people would be out and about.

Now that school is back in session and fall will be here soon (it feels a little like it this weekend!), we’re revving up our drive to ask you to help support the work that East Cobb News does in chronicling our community.

As I have said in previous appeals, this is totally voluntary—we do not have a paywall and do not charge readers for anything on our site or to subscribe to the newsletter.

But we hear from readers all the time about how much they value what they get from East Cobb News. If you agree, we’d like to ask you to consider making a donation. The amount can be whatever you like, but we’re suggesting $6 a month.

It’s similar to a public radio/TV fundraising drive, and every dollar is greatly appreciated. Thanks to all of you who have donated thus far!

We have a secure system on the Press Patron platform, which helps local news publishers like me solicit support from readers like you.

Contribute today!

The video below explains more about “6 for 6” as well as what’s in the local headlines this week, and tells you more about what’s coming up.

Next weekend, East Cobb News will be taking part in the EAST COBBER Parade and Festival for the very first time. We won’t be marching down Johnson Ferry Road, but we will have a table at the festival, which takes place from 11-3 at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church.

Come by and say hello, pick up some East Cobb News swag and let’s get acquainted! I love meeting my readers and can’t wait to see all of you.

Have a fantastic Labor Day weekend, and please feel free to get in touch: wendy@eastcobbnews.com.

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September events kick off fall schedule at East Cobb Park

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East Cobb Park Music in the Park

The Friends for the East Cobb Park has released a schedule of fall events starting the first week of September and concluding with its annual Holiday Lights celebration in December.

The volunteer organization will hold another family-oriented Movie Night next Friday, Sept. 8, featuring the Disney film “Encanto.”

The showing begins at dusk (around 8 p.m.) at the concert pavilion and attendees can bring blankets and chairs, food and drink.

The Friends began a series of movie showings in the spring in conjunction with the Rotary Club of East Cobb.

The Music in the Park concert series follows on Sept. 17 with Soulshine, an Allman Brothers tribute band.

Music in the Park takes place on designated Sundays from 4-6 p.m. and is free for the public to attend.

Other concerts are Oct. 1 (Rusted Melody), Oct. 15 (Man Hand Liggins) and Oct. 29 (Bach to Rock).

Wellstar Health System is the presenting sponsor of Music in the Park.

The Friends group also has begun a garden club that meets the second Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the gazebo overlooking the back quad.

Next Saturday, Sept. 9, the club’s first beautification project gets underway

Friends for the East Cobb Park is teaming up with the Rotary Club of East Cobb for the annual Holiday Lights celebration on Sunday, Dec. 3, also at the concert pavilion.

There will be live music, refreshments, a tree lighting and a visit from Santa Claus, from 5-7:30 p.m.

For more information, contact Friends for the East Cobb Park at info@eastcobbpark.org.

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CenterStage North 2024 season in limbo at The Art Place

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CenterStage North 2024 season in limbo
Lisa Clark and Bob Winsted played leading roles in “Fireflies,” a Texas-based romantic comedy staged at The Art Place in August. Photo: CenterStage North

One of metro Atlanta’s longest-running community theaters said it may not be able to offer a 2024 season due to changes at the Cobb County-owned facility where it stages performances.

Jonathan Liles, managing director of CenterStage North, told East Cobb News that Cobb PARKS (Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs) officials informed him last month that the theater organization won’t be able to have Sunday shows at The Art Place-Mountain View in East Cobb starting next year “due to staffing.”

He said The Art Place will no longer furnish an employee for Sunday activities, including rehearsals and stage set-up, even though CenterStage North pays for an employee to assist with lighting and other technical issues on its show days.

This year, The Art Place discontinued Sunday piano recital activities.

CenterStage North shows take place on Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons, typically over a two-week period in The Art Place’s theater that seats between 125-210 people.

Ticket sales fund operational costs for CenterStage North, including rental fees at The Art Place. The board members and actors are all volunteers, as are those who assist with the performances.

“CSN is on a mission to save the arts in Cobb County,” Liles said in a message responding to a request for from East Cobb News for comment. “Without Sundays, we are unable to support this mission.”

The Art Place
The Art Place holds art classes and exhibitions as well as CenterStage North shows.

But Liles said the main concern isn’t operational but financial.

“Without the Sunday revenue, I cannot afford to stay open,” he said.

“The majority of our revenue comes from subscription sales to shows and donations, and we are one of the few arts organizations that stays solvent using this model.”

In addition to Sunday being the best day for volunteer availability, Liles said the Sunday matinees are “the only time some patrons can see a performance. . . . It generates critical revenue that funds operating costs covering the next production.”

Liles said he is meeting with county officials next week to discuss the matter, and he said he’s proposing “creative scheduling with the existing staff” to come up with a solution.

East Cobb News contacted the county for more information.

Spokesman Ross Cavitt said that Cobb PARKS “is dealing with the fact that the Art Place is not staffed for a seven-day-a-week operation with only two full-time and two part-time staffers. The Art Place is the only art center open on Sundays for rentals.”

He said with the center’s hours—10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday—”it has been challenging to keep them staffed,” and that the average Sunday patron turnout is around 30.

The rest of CenterStage North’s 2023 schedule—including a political comedy, “The Outsider,” and its annual Christmas holiday show—will go on.

But this is the time of year that the theater finalizes its schedule for the next year. Liles said that hasn’t been happening, and subscribers have been asking.

“When our patrons ask us why we have not announced our next season, we had to inform them what was happening and that we are unsure that we will be able to have performances next year,” he said.

He said that CenterStage North has no other place to go if it can’t work something out to remain at The Art Place.

“We would have to go on hiatus” in 2024 at the very least, he added.

CenterStage North is an all-volunteer non-profit that has staged community theater performances in Cobb County since the 1970s, initially in the Smyrna area.

The theater group’s current name was adopted in the 1980s and it staged shows at The Steeple House Arts Center, which was located on Johnson Ferry Road at Paper Mill Road.

Center Stage North volunteers work on a set design at The Art Place.

CenterStage North later began leasing space at The Art Place, located on Sandy Plains Road near the Mountain View Regional Library and the Tim D. Lee Senior Center, and began staging full seasons, with quarterly performances, plus special shows for the Christmas holidays.

CenterStage North was set to expand its season subscription to five shows in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic was declared and performances stopped in 2020, and returned in limited fashion in 2021.

Liles said support for the arts has been decreasing since then, and that only CenterStage North and a few children’s theaters serve the East Cobb area.

He noted that in Cobb County “ball fields are open on Sundays. Why not the performing arts facilities? There are organizations clamoring to rent on Sundays if the facility is open.”

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East Cobb Food Scores: Los Bravos; Carol’s Cafe; more

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Los Bravos East Lake, East Cobb Food Scores

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

Brumby Elementary School
815 Terrell Mill Road
September 1, 2023 Score: 100, Grade: A

Carol’s Cafe
2543 Bells Ferry Road, Suite 50
August 30, 2023 Score: 96, Grade: A

Los Bravos
2125 Roswell Road, Suite B-40
August 29, 2023 Score: 92, Grade: A

Zaxby’s
3030 Johnson Ferry Road
August 28, 2023 Score: 87, Grade: B

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Motorcyclist injured in Barrett Parkway-Bells Ferry crash

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Motorcyclist injured Barrett-Bells Ferry crashCobb Police said Thursday that a motorcyclist was seriously injured this morning in a crash with a car at the intersection of Barrett Parkway and Bells Ferry Road.

Lt. Joseph McCloskey said in a news release that Zachary Newsome, 28 of Cartersville, was taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital.

Police said the crash took place at 9:22 a.m. when a black 2004 Buick Rainer driven by Gloria Kenny, 63, of Marietta, was traveling west on Piedmont Road when she approached the intersection of Bells Ferry Road.

McCloskey said that a black 2022 Harley Davidson Heritage Classic driven by Newsome was heading east on Barrett Parkway in a designated left turn lane for Bells Ferry northbound. 

 Police said that as the motorcycle was turning left onto Bells Ferry, it struck the Buick, and Newsome was ejected.

 McCloskey said Kenny suffered minor injuries and also was taken to Kennestone by a family member. 

 He said the crash investigation is continuing and that anyone with information should call the Cobb County Police Department at 770-499-3987.

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Marietta Art in the Park returns to Square for Labor Day weekend

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Art in the Park
The work of South Carolina artist Michael Allen will be featured at Art in the Park.

Submitted information:

Art in the Park has been a part of the Marietta Square’s history since 1986 and takes place in and around the Historic Marietta Square and Glover Park on Labor Day weekend. It is a Marietta signature event and tradition that celebrates the arts featuring local and national artists from around the country.

This fine art extravaganza features an artist market, children’s art alley, and the famous Painted Pots. Art displayed will include paintings, photography, pottery, graphic arts, sculptures, jewelry, and woodworking from 175 of the country’s finest artists. Festival guests will also have the opportunity to visit the unique shops and boutiques; restaurants, museums and galleries, take in a historic walking tour plus much more, all within walking distance of the festival.

The festival is free with plenty of available parking in the Cobb County Park Decks located on Waddell St. at Lawrence St (daily rates apply).

The festival was selected as a Top 200 Art Festival by Sunshine Artist Magazine. As a matter of fact, Marietta Art in the Park is listed as #13 in the nation in the Fine Art and Design category. The festival has always been about the art and artists and we are proud of this accomplishment.  The festival began 37 years ago and has become one of the premier fine art shows in Atlanta, and the only one in Cobb County. This fine art extravaganza features the Artist Market, representing the best in fine handcrafted works by 175 artists from all over the country. Art displayed during the festival includes paintings, photography, pottery, graphic arts, sculptures, jewelry, woodworking and much more. Also included in the festival is the Children’s Art Alley and the Chalk Spot. The festival supports both Marietta City Schools and Cobb County Schools through fund raising efforts during the festival.

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East Cobb MS students design cars for students with mobility needs

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East Cobb MS students design cars for students in need

Students from the East Cobb Middle School “Go Baby Go Club” recently designed and gave away customized, motorized vehicles for students with mobility needs.

The five modified vehicles, designed to assist youngsters with phyical disabilities to engage in a variety of school activities, were recently demonstrated in the ECMS parking lot.

According to a Cobb County School District release, “Go Baby Go” is “a national, community-based research, design, and outreach program that provides modified ride-on cars” for children who need help getting around.

“Kids with physical disabilities often experience play differently due to access issues,” said Dr. Jennifer Tumlin Garrett, a Cobb Schools Orthopedic Impairments Itinerant teacher.

“This impacts their ability to participate in activities with their peers and friends. Modifying these cars for each kid’s specific needs allows them to have a fun toy they can use in their neighborhood with other kids, whereas before, they just had to sit on the sidelines and watch. They can now be ACTIVE participants instead of passive participants.”

ECMS began the club after teachers Shannon Ventresca and Danielle Crabbe and a former school employee pitched the idea during Cobb Tank, an annual grant competition supporting innovation in Cobb Schools.

They received $5,000 to start the club and deliver at least six cars, but they’ve already raised enough to produce eight over the past two years. On Aug. 5, they delivered the first five vehicles to students who attend Murdock and Tritt elementary schools in East Cobb, along with the South Cobb Early Learning Center, Vaughn ES and Kemp ES.

The ECMS students added switches, joysticks, safety harnesses, and extra supports using PVC pipes and pool noodles on the new rides.

Team members include includes Abdul-Aziz Abaza, Shainne Balabuch, Sadie Culberson, Miguel Garcia, Sofia Letts, Brooklyn King, and Isaac Trzecieski, aided by ECMS ISS paraprofessional Anthony Ventresca.

“The reason I chose to join Go Baby Go is because we are helping people, and they work hard to make people’s lives better. Go Baby Go is also a family, and I want to be a part of that family,” said Balabuch, a 7th grader.

The ECMs Go Baby Go Club has an account at the school to accept donations, as well as a Walmart registry.

“We want to keep this program going forward to bring as many kids with limited mobility a Go Baby Go set of wheels and the freedom that comes with it,” said Shannon Ventresca.

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Round Trip Brewing Co. to open location at The Avenue East Cobb

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Round Trip Brewing Co. to open at The Avenue East Cobb

Round Trip Brewing Co., a German-style craft brewhouse and restaurant in the trendy Atlanta Westside neighborhood, is opening a second location at The Avenue East Cobb.

The restaurant and North American Properties, the retail center’s management company, made the announcement Thursday, projecting a spring 2024 opening.

The 4,.500-square-foot space is at Suite 1560 at The Avenue (4475 Roswell Road), next to Smallcakes in the former Hand & Stone location and near and the new “jewel box” eateries and public plaza.

Round Trip Brewing will include a taproom, a dog-friendly outdoor beer garden, private event space and a food menu featuring bratwurst, “elevated” hot dogs, Bavarian pretzels and beer cheese, as well as vegetarian and children’s options.

“We’re excited to be opening our second location in East Cobb. The family-centric neighborhoods in East Cobb really appealed to us since we have strived to make our brewery a comfortable family environment,” Round Trip Brewing CEO Craig Mycoskie said. It’s a natural fit. Being part of the community is important to us and this dynamic space will be a gathering spot for everyone.”

NAP said Round Trip Brewing will be taking part in the unveiling of “The Plaza” on Sept. 7 (previous story here), a cocktail-type event that will benefit MUST Ministries.

There are only 30 tickets left for that event, which is $75 person and includes food and drink samples from the other new restaurants, Peach State Pizza and Press Waffle.

Round Trip Brewing, which opened on the Westside in 2021, offers 14 German-style craft beers, including Straight Outta Munich Spezial Helles, Dunkel Platz, Pilsner, Oktoberfest, Isar Haze Hazy IPA, Vicarious West Coast IPA and Theresa’s Meadow Hefeweizen.

“We’ll also brew one-off creations on our pilot brewing system. More drink options—alcoholic and non-alcoholic— will be available,” Round Trip Brewing said in the announcement.

Press Waffle is set to occupy one of the jewel box buildings later this fall, and Peach State Pizza will move into the former Stockyard Burgers & Bones space.

An NAP spokeswoman told East Cobb News Thursday that lease negotiations “are still very underway” for the available jewel box space and she couldn’t disclose further information.

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Obituary: Remembering Dr. Eric Booth Karlen, 1946-2023

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Family and friends will gather on Oct. 6 at Grace Resurrection Methodist Church to honor the memory of Dr. Eric Booth Karlen, an East Cobb resident since 1993, who passed away last week. His son Tyler passed along the photos and following remembrance, with the younger photo at the bottom being taken in high school:Dr. Eric Booth Karlen obituary

Dr. Eric Booth Karlen, born January 11, 1946, in White Plains, NY, passed away peacefully on August 25, 2023, at his home in Marietta, GA, surrounded by his family.

Eric is survived by his beloved wife of 39 years, Mary “Dee” Grape Karlen; his son, Tyler Booth Karlen (Emily); his daughter, Ashley Karlen Lynch (Ryan); his brother, Sven Bernhard Karlen Jr.; his sister, Kristen Karlen Davenport; and three wonderful grandchildren – Cole Booth Karlen, Charles Ashton Karlen, and Beckett Lee Lynch.

Raised in Bronxville, NY, Eric cherished many fond memories with family at the Bronxville Field Club and at his grandfather’s Hillandale Farm in nearby Brooklyn, CT. His father Sven was the CFO of CBS, and his mother was a well-known realtor. In high school, he played varsity football, basketball, and baseball and served as President of the Student Council. Eric also won the highly distinguished American Field Service scholarship to study abroad in Melbourne, Australia as a junior.

Eric completed a BA in Psychology from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1968, an MA in Education with a specialty in Rehabilitation Counseling from Columbia University in 1972, and a Doctor of Medicine from Temple University in 1980. In between degrees, Eric also served in the Peace Corps in La Paz, Bolivia.

In 1983, Eric moved to Fairfield, CT, joining the pediatric practice, Kueffner & Scholan. He married the love of his life, Dee, in 1984, and they welcomed their son, Tyler, and daughter, Ashley, soon after. The family relocated to Atlanta in 1993 and Eric became a partner at East Cobb Pediatrics where he lovingly served hundreds of families until his retirement in 2015.

A devout member of Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church, Eric found great joy in singing in the church choir and the Kingsmen men’s ensemble. He also loved to golf and garden. More than anything, Eric was a beloved father, husband, and friend, who always offered a listening ear, wise counsel, and an abundance of love and encouragement.

He was predeceased by his parents, Sven Bernhard Karlen Sr. and Catherine “Tommy” Booth Karlen; his brother, Mark Henry Karlen; his nephew, Matthew Hamilton Grape; his niece, Caroline Oldham Grape; his grandson, Camden Lee Lynch; and several aunts and uncles.

Eric was also the proud great great grandson of General William Booth, founder of The Salvation Army, an organization close to the hearts of his family. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to The Salvation Army or the Alzheimer’s Association.

A memorial service in celebration of Eric’s life will be held at Grace Resurrection Methodist Church on Friday, October 6th at 3pm. The church is located at 1200 Indian Hills Pkwy NE, Marietta, GA 30068 and the service is open to the public.

The Karlen family would like to express their deep gratitude for the outpouring of love, prayers, and support in this challenging time. To keep Eric’s memory alive, they invite everyone to share their cherished memories, photos, and condolences on his memorial site at www.everloved.com/life-of/eric-karlen.

Dr. Eric Booth Karlen obituary

Send us your remembrance

If you’d like to honor the memory of a loved one or someone important to you that you wish to share with the community, East Cobb News publishes obituaries free of charge.

Please send you information, along with any photos, to: editor@eastcobbnews.com.

 

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