East Cobb News

East Cobb Guthrie’s Chicken rezoning request continued

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Guthrie's Chicken files for rezoning for East Cobb restaurant

The Cobb Planning Commission Tuesday voted to continue a rezoning request by Guthrie’s Chicken for a drive-through location in East Cobb.

The board voted 5-0 to push back an initial hearing on the application to December.

The item had been on the meeting’s consent agenda, but opposition arose from the East Cobb Civic Association.

The fast-food chain purchased 0.3 acres on Lower Roswell at Johnson Ferry Road last year with plans to convert a vacated medical building into a drive-through-only restaurant.

DG East Cobb Guthrie’s LLC (you can read the application here) is requesting a change from a planned shopping center (PSC) to a neighborhood retail commercial (NRC) category.

The request also seeks a reduction from the existing 15 parking spaces to 12 and a reduction of the front setback from 50 feet to 20 feet, and would increase the impervious surface maximum from 70 to 92.9 percent.

But the ECCA last week submitted a letter recommending that the request be delayed, due to concerns over some of those proposed variances and other details.

The civic group said the initial application “contained a barely readable site plan,” did not provide a rendering or landscaping, floor, lighting and signage plans.

Guthrie’s filed the application before hiring noted zoning attorney Kevin Moore.

The ECCA said that it hasn’t had much time to respond to some of Moore’s clarifications about what is being proposed, including building height, specific modifications to the structure and traffic concerns.

Moore said that between 22-25 vehicles could be accommodated on the site at any given time.

“However, without further study or analysis of this issue, ECCA is not convinced this number of vehicles can be safely moved through the drive-thru at one time and that traffic will not block access to CVS and in addition, cause a backup into the right turn lane on Lower Roswell Road,” the ECCA noted in its letter.

The ECCA also said it’s concerned about a lack of detail about how customers would pick up food at a walk-up window.

“There is no indication whether there will be a striped walkway for customers to safely cross the traffic of the drive-thru to pick up their food,” the ECCA said. “This concern must also be addressed.”

You can read the full ECCA letter by clicking here.

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Cobb government offices closed Friday for Veterans Day

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Cobb tag offices reopening

Submitted information:

In honor of Veterans Day, Cobb County Government offices will be closed Friday, Nov. 10. This will give our employees, veterans and non-veterans alike, a chance to spend time with their families for the extended holiday weekend. Veterans Day, Nov. 11, celebrates all those who have served in the United States armed forces.

Starting today, Nov. 6, Cobb County is illuminating its buildings green as part of Operation Green Light. We encourage individuals and businesses to join us by changing one light bulb in the entryway of your house or business to a green bulb. By shining a green light, we intend to let veterans know that they are seen and supported.

Click here to see Veterans Day events happening this week.

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Cobb to distribute $4.5M in ARPA funding to child care centers

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Cobb to distribute $4.5M in ARPA funding to child care centers
The Primrose School at Paper Mill Village is one of several ‘learning child care centers’ in East Cobb to receive an ARPA grant of $28,875.

Cobb County government and the Cobb Chamber of Commerce announced Monday that $4.5 million of the county’s funding from the American Rescue Plan Act will be distributed to a number of child care centers.

The county and the Chamber sent out releases Monday saying that 197 child care centers—chosen by Select Cobb, the Chamber’s economic development unit—will be receiving the funding.

The collaboration includes the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning Childhood and CobbWorks.

The recipients were chosen based on a number of criteria, including having dedicated “learning” components as designated by the Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning program.

The selection process took place this spring and summer, and the grants ranged from $10,000 to $28,275.

Several of those child care centers are in East Cobb, and a number of them received a maximum grant of $28,275 (each) to be used to help working families:

  • Bells Ferry Learning Center; Crème de la Crème; Etz Chaim Preschool; East Cobb Prep; East Cobb UMC Preschool; The Goddard School of East Cobb; Parker Chase Preschool Sprayberry; Primrose School of East Cobb at Paper Mill; Primrose School at Eastlake; Primrose School at Lassiter.

There will be an official ceremony Wednesday at Chamber offices on Circle 75 Parkway in the Cumberland area to formally present the grants.

The Cobb Board of Commissioners is in the process of allocating $147 million in ARPA grants in a number of areas to address the effects of closures and restrictions stemming from COVID-19.

Those five areas include community health, support services, economic development, public safety, and county infrastructure. Cobb County government said in a release Monday that the child care center funding is earmarked under economic development.

Here’s how the money will be used, according to the Chamber/SelectCobb release:

“The grants will be directly provided to the early childhood education and day care industry, with an additional 10% of this amount to fund program management. The purpose of the grant program is to help offset the cost of retaining and recruiting workers in this difficult labor market for a specific segment of the economy that has a profound impact on families. The Child Care Grant Program is intended to help offset some of the impacts of higher wages, retention bonuses, and training to allow childcare centers to access or upskill the talent needed to care for the youngest children in Cobb County.”

The county release quoted Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid as saying that “This investment helps ensure Cobb’s working families have a place that will educate and nurture their children, who are our future. This support would not have been possible without the American Rescue Plan Act, which provides help for Cobb citizens, businesses, and infrastructure.”

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East Cobb Weather Update: Some rain to tamp down a drought

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East Cobb Weather Update: Some rain to tamp down a drought
Drought conditions in North Georgia range from extreme (in red) to moderate in Cobb County (beige). Source: U. S. Drought Monitor.

The buzz of air-conditioning units could be heard around East Cobb on Monday, as summer-like temperatures returned, and they’ll be here most of the week.

Highs in the high 70s and even into 80 are being forecast by the National Weather Service in Atlanta, with lows still dipping into the 40s.

That follows freeze warnings a few nights last week, as the early fall continues to bring in a mix of weather seasons.

Sunny skies will continue through Wednesday, with cloudy skies in the forecast on Thursday.

Some needed rain is expected from late Thursday night through Sunday, with highs dropping into the 60s and high 50s through the start of next week.

There’s been a drought in North Georgia in recent weeks. October had only 1.71 inches of rain recorded in metro Atlanta, which is in a moderate drought.

Mountainous areas are undergoing what the U.S. Drought Monitor considers an “extreme drought.”

There’s a 30 percent chance of rain Thursday night, a 50-60 percent chance of rain on Friday, followed by a 20 percent chance on Saturday and a 30 percent chance on Sunday.

For more local weather information, click here.

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Beyond Skin holistic studio opens on Powers Ferry Road

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Beyond Skin holistic studio opens on Powers Ferry Road

Beyond Skin, an holistic skin care studio, has opened on Powers Ferry Road in the East Cobb area.

The studio specializes in customized facials, acne solutions, Nano-needling and plant-based skin care.

The owner is Frankie Coker, a licensed holistic esthetician, who said the objective is to “provide a tranquil and pampering experience, making each visit a journey towards relaxation and self-care.

“We are excited to bring the art of healing, touch, in connection to the skin to Marietta,” Coker said in a release. “I am dedicated to helping our clients achieve beautiful and healthy skin, and I can’t wait to share my passion with the community.”

Beyond Skin held a grand opening on Monday, and is continuing to offer promotions for first-time clients.

For more information, please visit the booking site https://beyondskinesthetics.as.me/schedule.php  or contact hello@beyondskinesthetics.com.

Beyond Skin is located at 119 Powers Ferry Road Suite 105.

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East Cobb residential real estate sales, Oct. 16-20, 2023

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Providence Corners, East Cobb real estate sales
Providence Corners

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:

Oct. 16

106 Creekway Lane, 30066 (Park Barrett Creek, Sprayberry): $504,000

572 Jo Ann Drive, 30067 (Red Oak Park, Wheeler): $330,000

3615 High Green Drive, 30068 (Indian Hills, Walton): $1.965 million

2248 Glenridge Drive, 30062 (Cambridge Park, Sprayberry0: $707,000

3031 Shaw Road, 30066 (Sprayberry): $452,500

2011 Shadowwood Drive, 30066 (Shadowwood, Sprayberry): $270,000

3160 Randall Drive, 30066 (Russell Plantation Estates, Sprayberry): $382,000

Oct. 17

3304 Greencastle Chase, 30062 (Wellington, Pope): $860,000

2702 Vintage Reserve Lane Unit 3, 30066 (Vintage Club Condos, Sprayberry): $410,000

1235 Partridge Way, 30062 (Providence Corners, Walton): $650,000

Oct. 18

887 Tisdale Trail, 30068 (The Reserve at Olde Towne, Walton): $685,000

2896 Treeside Terrace, 30066 (Edgewood East, Lassiter): $1.575 million

2220 Bryant Pointe Drive, 30066 (Bryant Pointe, Sprayberry): $770,000

2400 Broward Drive, 30066 (Morgan Station, Sprayberry): $392,500

Oct. 19

951 Hickory Leaf Court, 30067 (The Oaks at Powers Ferry, Wheeler): $503,000

2988 Goldfinch Circle, 30066 (Woodrush Court, Sprayberry): $500,000

1380 Dewberry Trail, 30062 (Briarwood Hills, Wheeler)) $350,000

1579 Greyson Ridge, 30062 (Greyson Knoll, Sprayberry): $715,000

2013 Addison Road, 30066 (Sprayberry): $445,000

3098 Wendy Lane, 30062 (Pine Springs, Pope): $520,000

1772 Huntingford Drive, 30068 (Willow Point, Walton): $729,900

Oct. 20

2562 Tritt Springs Trace, 30062 (Post Oak Springs, Pope): $440,000

3264 Turtle Lake Drive, 30067 (Somerset, Wheeler): $765,000

87 Wagon Wheel Court, 30067 (Cherokee Crossing, Wheeler): $480,000

2412 Spring Field Court, 30068 (Weatherstone, Wheeler): $501,000

4160 Summit Drive, 30068 (Indian Hills, Walton): $684,480

2264 Pine Warbler Way, 30062 (Chestnut Springs, Walton): $599,000

2165 Whitehall Drive, 30066 (Strathmore, Sprayberry): $465,000

2375 Castle Lane, 30062 (Newcastle, Pope): $500,000

778 Weybourne Court, 30066 (Chastain Commons, Sprayberry): $425,000

3414 Bryant Lane, 30066 (North Forty, Sprayberry): $309,076

1718 Christie Drive, 30066 (Shallowford Oaks, Kell): $270,000

4413 Inlet Road, 30066 (Lamplighter Cove, Kell): $390,000

4962 North Ellipse Road, 30068 (Wimbledon Place, Walton): $303,000

4604 Villa Chase Drive, 30068 (Villa Chase, Walton): $562,200

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PHOTOS, VIDEOS: A veterans’ appreciation at East Cobb Park

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A veterans' appreciation at East Cobb Park

Warm sunshine bathed down on several dozen veterans, their families and supporters at East Cobb Park Saturday afternoon for an appreciation picnic.

Hot dogs, chips and cookies were available for all comers, and when a local band, the Tunnel Rats, wasn’t playing, patriotic and wartime music played on the sound system at the concert pavilion.

The tunes included Vera Lynn’s World War II classic, “The White Cliffs of Dover,” and when the “Star Spangled Banner” was played, many of the veterans in attendance stood at attention. Some placed their hands over their hearts, and others saluted.

The veterans ranged from more recent conflicts in the Middle East, Vietnam and even Korea.

Organized by East Cobb-based United Military Care and the Aviation History and Technology Center of Marietta, the event is meant to do more than show thanks and appreciation for those who served in the military.

It’s also part of a larger outreach project that involve other organizations to help connect veterans not just socially, but for services and support.

United Military Care has been doing that for more than a decade.

A newer group, Connecting Cobb Veterans, got going last year in association with the Cobb Collaborative non-profit, after spending time during the COVID-19 pandemic getting organized.

West Cobb resident Dan Valentine, one of the CCV leaders, said the group was founded because “we have so many great veterans’ service providers but we have so many veterans.”

With more than 40,000 veterans living in Cobb County, the need to connect them with all kinds of services—from housing and food assistance, to employment and education, and to navigate the Veterans Administration for benefits—is acute.

A handout at the picnic Saturday called a “family activity guide” provided information about how young people can become a “junior veteran ally” and encourages them to offer gratitude to veterans when they meet and encounter them.

A veterans' appreciation at East Cobb Park
“We’re doing a lot of outreach, getting veterans to reach out to other veterans,” said Dan Valentine of Connecting Cobb Veterans.

Another new initiative is the VECTR Center (Veterans Education Career Transition Resource Center), on the campus of Chattahoochee Tech in Marietta. It’s designed a one-stop destination for veterans to visit, call, e-mail or contact otherwise to access a wide variety of service providers.

“The idea is that anyone who has some sort of challenge or problem, they can go there,” said Valentine, who was an active-duty infantry soldier and supply pilot in the Army for seven years and served 18 more in the Army Reserve.

He said United Military Care director Kim Scofi was involved in efforts to better streamline access.

“Our focus isn’t about to provide these services, but to help them get the services they need,” he said.

Part of the outreach is aimed at family members, friends and even veterans who know other veterans, when they’re unaware of what may be available to them or who may reluctant to ask for help,

“Some of them are still in their shell a little bit, they want to tough it out,” Valentine said. “All we’re trying to do is tell them, and those who know them, that ‘if you want to move forward, we’ll help you.’ ”

Veterans wishing to get in touch can contact Connecting Cobb Veterans by visiting its website, dialing 404-479-1551 (phone or text) and via e-mail at veteranhelpccv@cobbcollaborative.org.

The next CCV meeting at the VECTR Center (980 South Cobb Drive) is Nov. 14.

The Marietta Veterans Day parade takes place next Saturday, Veterans Day, starting at 11 a.m. A ceremony follows at noon on the Marietta Square.

That event is organized by American Legion Post 29, the City of Marietta and the Aviation History and Technology Center.

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Hightower Trail MS student earns $10K college scholarship

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Hightower Trail MS student earns $10K college scholarship
Karson Stevenson (at left, in green sweater), with other Cobb REACH scholarship recipients and their families. Photo: Cobb County School District.

Karson Stevenson, an eighth-grader at Hightower Trail Middle School in East Cobb, is one of five middle school students in the Cobb County School District who was awarded a $10,000 college scholarship this week.

It’s called a REACH Scholarship, after REACH Georgia, a needs-based mentorship and scholarship program, and the Cobb Schools Foundation, a philanthropic arm of the Cobb school district that supports the needs of students.

Under the REACH program, qualified students receive $4,000 in scholarship aid from the Cobb Schools Foundation, and REACH Georgia will match it by 2.5 times for a total scholarship worth $10,000.

Since its inception in 2012, Georgia REACH has provided scholarship assistance to many students who are first-generation college/post-secondary-bound students.

The students will get their scholarships after high school graduation, with criteria including maintaining a 2.5-HOPE -grade-point-average. They also must “continue to have good behavior and school attendance, and to meet with a volunteer mentor and academic coach throughout high school,” according to a Cobb school district release.

Members of the Cobb school district front office, including Superintendent Chris Ragsdale, were in attendance at a scholarship signing ceremony this week.

Karson Stevenson will be attending Pope High School next year.

Kimberly Martin, Karson’s mother, said in the release that “I just know that he always just been a special child. For somebody to come step up here and actually tell him that and just express that he was actually chosen, it just means so much to me. It just makes my mommy heart so full.”

His father, Kevin Stevenson, said his advice for his son is to “keep going. Don’t give up. Life gives you curveballs, ups, downs. You [will] get happy, you [will] get sad, but through it all, you just keep going and give it your best.”

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MUST Ministries officially opens East Cobb Marketplace store

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MUST MarketPlace opens

As we noted in late September, MUST Ministries has relocated its ‘Marketplace’ thrift store to the East Cobb area.

On Wednesday, officials from the non-profit, the Cobb Chamber of Commerce and community leaders were on hand for a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The location at 4651 Woodstock Road is in the Sandy Plains Village Shopping Center, and takes up 7,000 square feet, much larger than its previous space in Marietta.

The new facility also can have large furniture items delivered, as well as donations of selling clothing, home goods, and more that are then sold at a discount.

Here’s what MUST said after the opening event:

“A heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Our new location brings a fresh and inviting space for you to explore. We’re stocked with a wide array of items, from clothing and accessories to home goods and treasures waiting to be discovered. Your visit to the MUST Marketplace not only offers you fantastic shopping finds but also contributes to our vital mission of serving our neighbors in need.”

To donate large items such as furniture to the East Cobb store, 770-790-3900 in advance.

The MUST Marketplace is open Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information, visit the store’s website.

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Time to fall back: Daylight saving time ends Saturday night

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Daylight savings time ends

The last full day of Daylight Saving Time is Saturday, and some warmer weather will return with the weekend.

Eastern Standard Time returns at 2 a.m. Sunday, so you’re advised to set your clocks back by an hour before turning in Saturday evening.

For the next four months, through March 5, daybreak will occur around 7 a.m., with sunsets taking place in the late afternoon.

Saturday’s weather will be sunny, with highs near 70, marking some Indian summer temperatures for most of the next week.

Highs are expected to reach into the high 70s as the week goes on, with lows from the mid 40s to the high 50s.

With the time change comes renewed discussion on the whole idea of whether there should be time changes or not.

U.S. Congress currently doesn’t allow for states to switch to permanent saving time, only permanent standard time (observed only in Arizona and Hawaii).

That’s under provisions of the Uniform Time Act of 1966, which would need to be repealed before states could enact permanent saving time laws.

Georgia is among the states that has approved a measure to go to permanent saving time if that happens.

The legislature in 2021 passed a law that was signed by Gov. Brian Kemp, contingent on Congressional action. Most of East Cobb’s representatives voted in favor of that law.

The Sunshine Protection Act, sponsored by Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, passed the U.S. Senate in 2022 but hasn’t been voted on in the U.S. House.

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East Cobb Food Scores: J. Christopher’s; East Cobb Fit; more

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J. Christopher's East Lake Pavilions, 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:

East Cobb Fit Nutrition Club
2145 Roswell Road, Suite 130
November 2, 2023 Score: 100, Grade: A

J. Christopher’s
2100 Roswell Road, Suite 500
November 2, 2023 Score: 98, Grade: A

Jet’s Pizza
2900 Delk Road, Suite 300
November 1, 2023 Score: 100, Grade: A

Wing City
1750 Bells Ferry Road, Suite E
November 1, 2023 Score: 90, Grade: A

Zaxby’s
2981 Delk Road
November 2, 2023 Score: 100, Grade: A

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East Cobb high school sports teams get reclassified for 2024-26

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East Cobb high school sports teams reclassified
Walton (along with Wheeler) will continue to compete in the largest classification for high school sports in Georgia.

Every two years the Georgia High School Association “reclassifies” the divisions of competition for high school athletic teams based on enrollment.

The six public high schools in East Cobb have been spread out into three different classifications, and they will remain that way for the next two school years.

But the GHSA did some rearranging and consolidation.

The largest classification is currently Class 7A. But that has been eliminated in favor of a seven-class division that goes from Class 6A down to two divisions of Class A.

Walton and Wheeler are now in Class 7A, and next year will be competing in Class 6A. That comprises 65 schools, and will also include Campbell, North Cobb, Osborne, Pebblebrook, Marietta, Hillgrove, McEachern, Harrison, South Cobb and Kennesaw Mountain.

The current 7A only has 45 schools, and most of the new additions come from the metro Atlanta area, including Douglas and Paulding schools.

Pope, Lassiter and Sprayberry, currently in 6A, will be in 5A for the next two years, and will be the only Cobb schools among the 57 in that classification.

Kell is now in Class 5A and will be in 4A starting next fall.

The Walker School will be competing in Class A-Division I, which includes a number of private and rural schools.

That also includes Mt. Bethel Christian Academy of East Cobb and Mt. Paran Christian in North Cobb.

Schools can appeal their classification assignments by Nov. 8. Regions will be drawn up later.

For a full list of the new GHSA classifications, click here.

 

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Powers Ferry Corridor Alliance seeks volunteer board members

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Powers Ferry Corridor Alliance conducts Adopt-A-Mile cleanup
PFCA members at a recent Adopt-A-Mile cleanup event.

Submitted information:

Looking to give back to the community? Consider a role on the Powers Ferry Corridor Alliance’s Board of Directors. There are currently two board seats open for people interested in helping guide the work of the PFCA. Individual residents, HOA leaders and business owners in the area radiating out approximately two miles from the intersection of Terrell Mill and Powers Ferry Roads are encouraged to explore this interesting and fun work that does not require an excess of time. There are nine meetings a year and additional committee work depending on interest and availability.

Click here for more information or reach out by email to contact@powersferryca.com.

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East Cobb Ecumenical service to employ ‘safeguard’ measures

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Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service
The Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service at the Temple Kol Emeth synagogue has regularly included a Muslim call to prayer. ECN file.

The organizers of the Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service at an East Cobb synagogue have added what they’re calling some additional “safeguard” measures in light of heightened tensions regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Middle East.

The service, which is free and open to the public, is on Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. at Temple Kol Emeth (1415 Old Canton Road).

Rachel Barich, the senior administrator at Temple Kol Emeth, told East Cobb News that those wishing to attend are being asked to register online, and that a clear-bag policy will be followed, similar to what happens at sports stadiums and at larger public events.

“This is to make sure it’s a safe event for everyone,” Barich said, adding that “the purpose of the service remains the same.”

She said the extra measures were decided upon “in light of concerns in a number of religious communities,” and that “it seems prudent,” based on discussions with the synagogue’s security detail and the service’s organizing committee.

The service includes representatives from 21 faith communities in East Cobb and metro Atlanta, representing Christian, Jewish, Islamic and other faiths, and the program features music, reflections and an offering to benefit various charities and non-profits for Thanksgiving.

“It’s an expression of Thanksgiving,” Barich said. “It’s about what we are connecting between our many faiths.”

The service also has regularly included a Muslim call to prayer, and this year’s service, themed “Creating Courageous Connections,” includes four Islamic faith communities: The East Cobb Islamic Center, the West Cobb Islamic Center, the Roswell Community Masjid and the Islamic Speakers’ Bureau of Atlanta.

“We continue to have the representation of all the major religions,” Barich said.

She said there will be walk-up registration at the door for those who cannot do so online (click here). The clear-bag policy applies to all items, including women’s purses.

The service was started by Kol Emeth Rabbi Emeritus Stephen Lebow in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks to foster a better understanding among people of different faiths.

Other East Cobb faith communities participating in this year’s service include the Catholic Church of St. Ann; Congregation Etz Chaim; East Cobb United Methodist Church; Emerson Unitarian Universalist Congregation; Pilgrimage United Church of Christ; St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church; the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; Transfiguration Catholic Church; Unity North Atlanta Church; and Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church.

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East Cobb Weekend Events: Veterans Salute; Lassiter Craft Fair; more

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East Cobb park veterans salute
The Tunnel Rats return to pay tribute to veterans at a Saturday celebration at East Cobb Park.

A wintry blast of weather has ushered in November, as holiday-ish events are already cropping up on our calendar listings. You can get an early start on seasonal shopping, pay tribute to those who served in the military and help out one of East Cobb’s venerable animal organizations.

The Lassiter Craft Fair is back, and it’s a major fundraiser for the Lassiter Bands Program. More than 100 vendors with holiday gift ideas and more will be spread throughout the school (2601 Shallowford Road) from 10-5 Saturday and 11-4 Sunday.

Admission is free, and there will be raffle prizes, concessions and a bake sale for purchase.

Women who need some pampering are invited to do so for a good cause Saturday: The Sheltering Grace Ministry’s Ladies’ Day Out event from 10-3 at Piedmont Church (570 Piedmont Road).

Admission is free, and the proceeds from skincare and makeup purses to personalized items, holiday crafts, clothing, and other services on hand will benefit the non-profit that assists homeless pregnant women. You can register here to help organizers get a head count; the event takes place in the church’s conference room.

With Veterans Day close by, East Cobb-based United Military Care and the Aviation History Technology Center in Marietta are staging the Give Thanks: A Veterans Day Appreciation event Saturday from 11-3 at East Cobb Park (3322 Roswell Road).

A patriotic youth parade kicks things off at 11 a.m. sharp, and there will be free cookout food, military displays, family activities and live music. The weather’s expected to be much warmer by Saturday, with highs near 70 and sunny skies.

The Hindu festival of lights is officially observed on Nov. 12, and East Cobb Library will be holding a special Diwali Celebration Saturday from 2-4 (4880 Lower Roswell Road). The public is invited the free event that includes crafts, henna art, Indian food to sample, and other activities. All ages and cultures are welcome.

On Saturday night, the East Cobb-based Good Mews Animal Foundation is having its biggest fundraising event at its annual gala, this year themed as CATsino Royale. It’s from 7-10 at Olde Towne Athletic Club (4950 Olde Towne Parkway) and tickets are $75 a person, with cocktail attire.

There will be entertainment, casino table games, silent auction, dinner, drinks, and more, and all the proceed benefit the non-profit shelter’s work caring for and adopting out homeless cats.

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Free flu, COVID-19 vaccinations offered at East Cobb Library

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Cobb and Douglas Public Health

From the office of Cobb Commissioner Jerica Richardson, and added to our calendar listings:

In collaboration with the Cobb & Douglas County Public Health Department is providing free COVID and flu vaccinations 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Monday,  Nov. 6 at  the East Cobb Library, 4880 Lower Roswell Road, suite 510-B, Marietta.

No appointment needed. Walk-ins are welcome. 

Those getting vaccinated should bring their ID, insurance card and if applicable, vaccine card.

Click here for more information about upcoming Cobb & Douglas Health free COVID vaccine clinics in the Cobb County area.

Click here for more information about COVID vaccines and COVID testing in the Cobb County area, or call 770-514-2300.

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PHOTOS: Barnes and Noble store opens at Avenue East Cobb

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Barnes and Noble opens Avenue East Cobb

A few dozen book fans braved freezing temperatures Wednesday morning, patiently sipping coffee.

Right at 9 a.m., Georgia-based mystery author Mary Kay Andrews cut the ribbon for the new Barnes and Noble store at Avenue East Cobb.

She just published her 30th novel, “Bright Lights, Big Christmas,” and has attended many bookstore events.

But this is the first time she’s been asked to perform a ribbon-cutting, along with Barnes and Noble managers and Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat.

“It’s a beautiful new store,” said Andrews—the pen name of former Atlanta journalist Kathy Trocheck—at the end of a book-signing session during the store’s first hour of business.

“Any time a bookstore opens, an angel sings.”

Barnes and Noble also has invited a number of authors for signing events during the first few weeks. Among the events is a Cat in the Hat storytime for children Saturday from 9-10 a.m.

You can read through the full schedule by clicking here.

Barnes and Noble opens Avenue East Cobb

For Barnes and Noble, the 15,000-square-foot space—where Bed Bath and Beyond was located—is part of a new concept.

It’s a smaller footprint, but features a more open and airy floor plan, with sunshine beaming through large windows at the front. The café area—which was used for the book-signing—has a full-length window.

On Wednesday, customers were treated to coffee, bagels and cookies. The seating area will include a variety of tables, and there will be seating at the bar as well.

There also are browsing seats scattered around.

But the essential new feature is a more locally curated book selection, what management calls “the best of books.”

“We look at the demographics of an area—synagogues, schools, etc., and also look at what our closest stores are selling,” said Moné Fair, Barnes and Noble’s Georgia area manager.

The “best of” is also determined by sales figures, according to inventory control specialist David Mason.

He’s in charge of ordering books directly—another departure for Barnes and Noble—and will be looking at real-time data to further refine the selections for local customers.

Previously, books were ordered via company headquarters in New York. Mason, who moved about the new store Wednesday with a tablet device bearing data, said Barnes and Noble has been using this approach for three years.

He said it won’t be long “before we’ll know what sells here. We’ll have a really good sense about what an East Cobb store will look like.”

Managers said they didn’t know how many books were on display, but they have spent the last week or so unloading 75,000 pounds of books.

There are also toys, games, and puzzles with an educational focus for children, and even a display with a variety vinyl albums.

“For every CD we sell, we sell 10 vinyl records,” Mason said.

The reason? It’s an immersive feeling, he said, just like picking up a book, and turning the pages.

Barnes and Noble is open Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Barnes and Noble opens Avenue East Cobb

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Richardson advisor declares intent for Cobb commission campaign

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A member of Cobb commissioner Jerica Richardson’s “community cabinet” is considering making a run to succeed her in 2024.Richardson advisor declares intent for Cobb commission campaign

Kevin Redmon, an East Cobb resident, filed a declaration of intent form with the Cobb Elections Office on Oct. 23.

According to the filings, Redmon, an IT sales and account manager, would be running as a Democrat in District 2.

A declaration is not a formal filing for a campaign, but Redmon formed a campaign committee in August.

On Richardson’s cabinet, he serves as an East Cobb community liaison, and is a regular presence at Cobb Board of Commission meetings during public comment periods.

“I love being engaged and I was wanting to do more,” Redmon told East Cobb News.

A resident of East Cobb since 2005, Redmon said he initially got involved in community issues with the anti-cityhood group East Cobb Alliance, whose leader, Mindy Seger, introduced him to Richardson.

Thus far Redmon, who is married with a daughter, is the only individual who has expressed at least semi-formal interest in running in District 2.

Richardson, a first-term Democrat, has filed to run for the 6th Congressional District after legislative reapportionment in 2022 drew her out of her commission district.

Redmon said his priorities include “just really communicating with residents in a clear way about what’s happening.

“Complex issues are being presented to the public,” and he said it’s not always clearly understood what the potential impact of a pr0posed service or spending issue may be.

Some of those issues include stormwater management, which has become a growing concern in East Cobb since severe flooding in Sept. 2021.

The county is preparing a possible funding solution that would impose an impact fee, based on amount of impervious surface on a property, that Redmon said would likely affect larger commercial customers more than average homeowners.

“It’s a simple message, but there’s been a lot of pushback,” Redmon said.

Redmon said that it’s important to place “a focus on the future.”

Cobb’s population is growing older, and he said “the future is coming at us pretty quickly.

“We need to make decisions that respect people who have been here many years but we also have to attract people who are moving in and raising families.

The District 2 boundaries would include most of Smyrna and Marietta and areas north along the Interstate 75 corridor.

The map drawn by the legislature in 2022 placed most of East Cobb in District 3, represented by Republican JoAnn Birrell.

That electoral map is currently being contested in Cobb Superior Court after the commission’s Democratic majority voted to invoke home rule. Another hearing is scheduled for Nov. 20.

Richardson and her party colleagues are seeking to employ maps that would place the East Cobb area in Districts 2 and 3, similar to what they had been before reapportionment.

As that dispute began, Richardson launched a civic and political education non-profit, For Which It Stance, at which Redmon also serves as a community captain.

He also participated in a recent cybersecurity awareness event held by Richardson and other Cobb County officials.

The District 2 seat is one of three that will be on the 2024 ballot, and all of them are currently held by Democrats. Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid has announced she’s seeking re-election. District 4 incumbent Monique Sheffield of South Cobb will be completing her first term.

Redmon said until there’s a court ruling on what the District 2 boudaries may be, he’s going to continue “getting out to events and talking to people.

“There is a real desire for a hyperlocal focus on the job. That’s what I’m finding people are caring about.”

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Cobb to create ‘stability court’ to address evictions issues

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Submitted information:Cobb to create 'stability court' to address evictions issues

Cobb County will break new ground with a revolutionary new accountability court targeting the eviction crisis. The Board of Commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding between the county’s Magistrate Court and a nonprofit to form the Housing Stability Court.

“We’re incredibly excited about the program. We’ve been charged with bridging the gap to the future,” said Cobb’s Chief Magistrate Brendan Murphy. “This will bring resources to bear so folks can lift their families to a better situation.”

The program will be funded from a $1.3 million federal Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) allocation, which can only be used for rental and mortgage assistance. The court wanted to wait until the ERA funds designated for direct assistance were exhausted before starting the program. The county received more than $23 million from the federal government for housing assistance during the pandemic.

The Magistrate Court will work with the Marietta-based Center for Family Resources to administer the program. Participants will be referred to the Housing Stability Court, and there is no mechanism for people to apply to the program directly.  The unique court program will help families avoid losing their homes by providing small monetary assistance combined with wrap-around services to work with landlords and tenants to avoid the eviction process.

The court will crank up in the coming weeks.

 

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Guthrie’s Chicken files for rezoning for East Cobb restaurant

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Guthrie's Chicken files for rezoning for East Cobb restaurant

A small commercial building at a corner of Lower Roswell Road and Johnson Ferry Road could be converted into a fast food chicken restaurant.

Guthrie’s Chicken, which specializes in chicken finger menu items, is scheduled to have a first hearing on its rezoning application next Tuesday before the Cobb Planning Commission.

The request seeks a change from a planned shopping center (PSC) to a neighborhood retail commercial (NRC) category for 0.3 acres at 4774 Lower Roswell Road.

The 2,000-square foot building is currently vacant but previously has housed small medical offices, including a COVID-19 testing location. It’s located in front of a CVS pharmacy, and plans call to remodel the building.

The application by DG East Cobb Guthrie’s LLC (you can read it here) calls for drive-through-only service from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily. An existing single point of access on Lower Roswell would be retained in the proposed site plan.

The request also seeks a reduction from the existing 15 parking spaces to 12 and a reduction of the front setback from 50 feet to 20 feet, and would increase the impervious surface maximum from 70 to 92.9 percent.

The Cobb Zoning Office is recommending approval of the application.

Based in Alabama, Guthrie’s is a Southern franchise operation with more than 50 locations in eight states, including one in Mableton and two in Canton.

The Guthrie’s in East Cobb would be located across the intersection from Zaxby’s, another Southern chicken chain.

DG Guthrie’s purchased the land and building for $1.2 million last September, according to Cobb property tax records.

The Cobb Planning Commission, an advisory body, meets next Tuesday at 9 a.m. For more information and a meeting overview, click here.

Guthrie's Chicken files for rezoning for East Cobb restaurant

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