East Cobb News

Suspect shot by police in Northeast Cobb traffic chase dies

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Suspect shot by police in Northeast Cobb traffic chase dies

Following up our story of last week’s shooting by Woodstock Police of a suspect who allegedly dodged a traffic stop:

The suspect, Emmanuel Millard, 20, of Marietta, has died, according to his mother, who is organizing a fundraiser for burial expenses and legal fees “in our pursuit of justice for Emmanuel.”

In a GoFundMe appeal posted on Tuesday, Lenette Millard said her son died on Saturday, two days after the incident with police that ended at an intersection in Northeast Cobb.

“What’s equally devastating is the fact that this information was kept hidden from the public—my son was shot in the head by the police,” she said.

“My family is struggling to come to terms with this profound loss, and the lack of transparency surrounding Emmanuel’s tragic death only adds to our pain. The police department is wrong, yet they have provided us with no information, no closure, and no justice.”

The fundraising appeal has raised more than $1,000 of a goal of $8,000.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation—which takes over officer-involved shootings—said Friday that Millard fled a Woodstock Police traffic stop at Highway 92 and Hames Road Thursday night, then took officers on a chase that ended at Alabama Road and Old Mountain Park Road in Northeast Cobb.

The GBI release said that during the case, Millard ran off the road several times, nearly struck other vehicles and tried to hit police vehicles.

After cornering Millard’s vehicle and causing it to crash, the GBI said Woodstock Police tried to remove the suspect from the car, then shot him once.

The GBI release didn’t say where Millard was shot, but that officers rendered aid until he was taken to North Fulton Hospital. WSB-TV reported that the incident was captured on policy body camera video.

A GBI spokeswoman confirmed Millard’s death and said the investigation is continuing. She previously had said that the agency’s findings into the shooting will be turned over to the Cobb District Attorney’s Office when the investigation is completed.

The Woodstock officer has been placed on administrative leave.

“The Woodstock Police Department understands the value of every human life and will work to maintain transparency throughout this investigation,” Woodstock Police said last Friday.

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East Cobb Restaurant Update: Tasty China, Verandah openings

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Tasty China opens on Powers Ferry Road

The long-awaited reopening of Tasty China has taken place. Formerly located on Franklin Gateway, Tasty China has been serving up its popular Szechuan fare at 1808 Power Ferry Road since mid-September, after a brief soft opening.

A sign out front notes a “grand opening” after 18 years at its original location. Owner Dahe Yang also operates a Tasty China in Smyrna and at Ponce City Market in Atlanta and also had a Tasty China II restaurant in Sandy Springs that closed in 2014.

The new Tasty China is in a spacious, standalone building on the former site of the Frontera restaurant, which never reopened after a fire in 2015.

It’s the second major restaurant opening in the Powers Ferry Road area in recent weeks, following the reopening of the Rose and Crown Tavern (1935 Powers Ferry Road) after the redevelopment of the former Restaurant Row.

The extensive menu (click here) at Tasty China remains largely the same, featuring spicy Szechuan appetizers, soups and entrees as well as lunch specials.

Tasty China (website) is open Sunday-Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Online ordering also is available. Phone: 770-627-2390.

Verandah opens at Olde Mill

There aren’t many Indian restaurants in the East Cobb area, but Verandah Indian Cuisine is aiming to fill the bill with a wide variety of dishes from the subcontinent.Verandah Indian Cuisine opens at Olde Mill

Located at the Olde Mill Shopping Center (3101 Roswell Road, Suite 100, next to Los Arcos), Verandah held its grand opening on Oct. 7.

The menu (click here) features vegetarian and meat fare, from appetizers to tandoori platters, including vindaloo, curry, masala and korma specialties, Biryani entrees and a kids’ menu.

Online ordering and catering services are also available.

Verandah Indian Cuisine (website) is open Tuesday-Thursday from 11-3 and from 5-10 and Friday-Saturday from 11-3 and 5-10:30. Sunday hours are 11-3 and 5-10 and the restaurant is closed on Monday.

Phone: 678-653-9483.

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Keep Cobb Beautiful reopens recycling drop-off center

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Submitted information:

“You can recycle more materials in Cobb now that a drop-off location has been renovated and reopened. On Friday, a group of county leaders, Keep Cobb Beautiful stakeholders and residents cut the ribbon on the newly renovated recycling drop-off center on County Services Parkway. Cobb’s Board of Commissioners approved the $737,000 renovation of the recycling drop-off center earlier this year after residents complained of the old center’s poor condition and limited options.Keep Cobb Beautiful reopens recycling drop-off center

“We can take a lot more items here at this drop-off than residents can leave for curbside for their regular recycling drop-off,” Keep Cobb Beautiful Director Kimberly White said. “Here, we can take things like glass, textiles, and hard-to-recycle plastics like the Hefty Renew material. And if you live in multi-family homes or complexes where you don’t have the option to recycle these materials, you can bring them here to drop off.”

“There is no charge for the service. The 1775 County Services Parkway, Marietta, facility will be open for extended hours Monday through Saturday and closed on Sundays.

“There is no charge for the service. The 1775 County Services Parkway, Marietta, facility will be open for extended hours Monday through Saturday and closed on Sundays.”

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New Eastvalley ES ribbon-cutting celebration draws a crowd

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Eastvalley ES Ribbon Cutting
Cobb Superintendent Chris Ragsdale cuts the ribbon at Eastvalley ES, joined by members of the school board and Eastvalley staff. ECN photos.

Several hundred people braved cool, windy weather around lunchtime Monday for a moment many in the Eastvalley Elementary School community have been anticipating for years:

The official christening of a new campus that not only replaces the obsolete 63-year-old facility on Lower Roswell Road, but raises a new bar for an elementary school.

The nearly 150,000-square-foot building across from Wheeler High School on Holt Road has two stories and more than double the number of classrooms—28 to 63.

“And all under one roof,” noted Eastvalley principal Dr. Whitney Spooner, as the crowd cheered, recalling the many aging portable classrooms that have handled massive overcrowding at Eastvalley for several years.

The gym is four times larger, with six basketball goals, the learning commons includes “a top of the line recording studio” as well as a courtyard with two playscapes and is encircled by a pedestrian track.

Spooner’s teachers applauded wildly when she noted that staff restrooms have gone from three in the old building to 14.

At a cost of nearly $37 million, Eastvalley opened to students and staff two weeks ago after the fall break, after supply chain and construction delays pushed the move from the start of the current school year.

Cobb County School District Superintendent Chris Ragsdale said the delayed opening is “bittersweet—but now it is more sweet than bitter” as the doors have formally opened.

Monday was chosen for the celebration because it was an asynrchronous learning day in the district for staff development reasons.

The Eastvalley Chorus sang the national anthem and many Eastvalley students and their families turned out to tour the new building.

“This is what SPLOST is allowing us to do,” Ragsdale said, referring to the Cobb Education special-purpose local-option sales tax that funds school construction and maintenance projects.

“Y’all deserve the best and this is truly the best.”

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Students began

Banks still considering Cobb school board re-election bid

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David Banks, Cobb school board member
David Banks taking the oath of office for his fourth term in January 2021. Photo: Cobb County School District.

When we spoke with David Banks in April, after a Republican challenger had declared for his seat on the Cobb Board of Education, the four-term Post 5 incumbent told us he was undecided.

That’s still the case, more than six months later, and with a Democratic candidate also having declared for the seat that includes the Pope, Walton and Wheeler high school clusters in East Cobb.

“My wife says no but she said no last time,” Banks told East Cobb News on Monday at the new Eastvalley Elementary School, where a ribbon-cutting ceremony took place.

He said the the main issue is his health—he’s in his early 80s and is dealing with back, hearing and eyesight issues—and the energy level it takes to serve.

“I’ve got to make a decision soon,” Banks said, indicating he’s hoping that will be by December.

His term ends at the end of 2024, and he’s one of three board Republicans who will be on the ballot next year. Republicans hold a 4-3 majority on a school board that has dealt with a number of contentious issues along partisan lines in recent years.

Banks said that former school board member John Crooks was considering a campaign for Post 5 and that he would have endorsed him and retired. But Crooks decided not to run.

Republican John Cristadoro and Democrat Laura Judge are the only announced candidates thus far, and both were in attendance at the Eastvalley ribbon-cutting event.

Eastvalley is among the schools in a Post 5 that was redrawn by the Georgia legislature last year to reduce East Cobb school constituencies to two posts. In Post 4, Republican David Chastain represents the Kell, Lassiter and Sprayberry clusters, and Post 6 (formerly Walton and Wheeler) is now in the Cumberland-Vinings-Smyrna area.

“It’s in a state of flux,” Banks said. “There are still a lot of things I’d like to do. But there are a lot of reasons not to do it.”

He said he’s interested in expanding the robotics program at Walton High School and would like to see Wheeler, which has a STEM magnet program, become a “100 percent” STEM school, similar to the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology.

“The future is technology and AI,” said Banks, a retired technology executive. “People don’t understand what’s coming.”

First elected in 2009, Banks has been a controversial figure for his comments on racial and cultural issues and for using his personal newsletter to send messages against the COVID-19 vaccine.

More recently, he drew fire for social media comments disparaging the Roman Catholic faith.

In 2020, Banks won a three-way GOP primary without a runoff but defeated a Democratic challenger only by 2,639 votes.

Cristadoro and Judge are parents in the Walton cluster who have drawn high-profile support.

Cristadoro is being backed by former Cobb Chamber of Commerce President John Loud and has raised more than $30,000 in a campaign finance effort that could reach six figures.

Judge is a member of Watching the Funds—Cobb, a watchdog group that tracks spending in the Cobb County School District, and formerly served as education chair in the citizens cabinet of Democratic District 2 Cobb Commissioner Jerica Richardson.

The 2024 primaries will be in May.

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Support East Cobb News during our fall fundraising drive!

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East Cobb News fundraising drive

It’s been feeling like fall for a couple weeks now, but as we launch our fall fundraising drive autumn definitely is in the air!

It’s windy and only in the high 50s, on the first day of our effort to get readers to consider supporting East Cobb News!

We’ll be coming to you through the end of the month from the many places we visit in the community—not just East Cobb Park, above, where we took a lunch break—but also from places where we cover stories and meet with local business owners.

The video below comes to you from the new Eastvalley Elementary School on Holt Road, which had a formal ribbon-cutting this morning.

As we did earlier this summer, when we marked our 6th anniversary, the East Cobb News “6 for 6” campaign is asking readers to consider what they value about the truly authentic local news and information they get, and to contribute accordingly.

We’re suggesting $6 a month on a recurring monthly basis, but you can give whatever you like—monthly, annually or on a one-time basis.

It’s like a public radio/TV pledge drive that you may be familiar with—and your contribution goes toward powering the work we do at East Cobb News to provide first-rate coverage of this community.

Our payment platform is hosted by Press Patron, which makes it easy to support independent local journalism. Several dozen publishers like East Cobb News are powered by this platform, and we’re proud to be a part of their community.

The Press Patron platform is safe and secure, and is connected with the prominent Stripe online payment system.

Follow the link below to contribute, and click here for more information about “6 for 6.” We’ll be updating you through the rest of October as we continue in this drive.

Thanks for supporting East Cobb News!

Contribute today by clicking here!

 

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Debbie Lynn Randall Memorial Butterfly Garden to be dedicated

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Last month the Cobb District Attorney’s Office said it had solved a 51-year-old murder case involving a Marietta girl, Debbie Lynn Randall, whose body was found in January 1972 off Powers Ferry Road, several weeks after she had gone missing.Debbie Lynn Randall Memorial Butterfly Garden dedication

The DA’s office used advanced technology to conclude that the man who abducted, raped and strangled her was William Rose, then 24, and who committed suicide two years later.

The advocacy group Girls Inc. of Greater Atlanta, which was formed in the wake of that tragedy, will be dedicating a memorial butterfly garden on Thursday in honor of Randall at its Marietta headquarters.

The ribbon-cutting is Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at 461 Manget Street, and you’re asked to RSVP by e-mailing scade@girlsincatl.org if you wish to attend.

“In 1972, the tragic loss of Debbie Lynn Randall, shook our community to its core,” Girls Inc. of Greater Atlanta CEO Tiffany Collie-Bailey said in a message that went out Monday. “We saw then firsthand the risks and devastation that exist wherever girls are left unprotected.

“This horrific story and many other stories like it are the reasons that Girls Inc of Greater Atlanta (GIGA) and 76 other affiliates across the nation exist. Three weeks ago, because people never forgot Debbie or the trauma of her family, her case was finally solved.”

What eventually became the Girls Inc. of Greater Atlanta was started in 1974 by Marietta residents Irma Glover and Joyce Dunaway Parker, who appealed to the Marietta City Council to provide a safe space for girls in the form of the Marietta-Cobb Girls Club.

Cobb commissioners helped the organized acquire land near Larry Bell Park to establish not only an “organization, but to an entire mission of providing a safe space for all girls.

“We as an organization, and our founder Ms. Dunaway-Parker are fortunate to be able to witness the solving of her tragic murder 51 years later, although bittersweet,” Collie-Bailey said.

“We would like to take time to honor this long-awaited occasion by not only remembering and mourning the life of Debbie Lynn Randall, but also by acknowledging the continued need to keep girls safe physically, mentally, and emotionally.”

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East Cobb residential real estate sales, Sept. 25-29, 2023

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Blackwell Park, East Cobb real estate sales
Blackwell Park

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:

Sept. 25

233 Lakeshore Court, 30067 (Kings Cove, Walton): $580,000

911 Bradford Lane, 30062 (East Lake Ridge, Wheeler): $395,000

2952 Cheshire Drive, 30062 (Wellington Forest, Pope): $560,000

2391 Black Oak Drive, 30066 (Bristol Mill, Sprayberry): $399,000

1816 North Chestnut Grove Drive, 30066 (North Chestnut Grove, Sprayberry): $470,000

3879 Winners Court, 30062 (Village North Highlands, Lassiter): $465,000

2103 Ravenwood Circle, 30066 (Ravenwood, Kell): $475,000

5265 Willow Point Parkway, 30068 (Willow Point, Walton): $491,000

Sept. 26

1819 Lake Ebenezer Trail, 30066 (Ebenezer Farm, Sprayberry): $970,000

444 Big John Trail, 30067 (Meadow Brook, Wheeler): $319,000

1375 Woodbine Street, 30062 (Briarwood Hills, Wheeler): $450,000

1662 Paddlewheel Drive, 30062 (Wellcrest Townhomes, Wheeler): $285,000

2263 Collinworth Drive, 30062 (East Lake Ridge, Wheeler): $400,000

3689 Hembree Lane, 30062 (Hembree Hills, Pope) $455,000

4208 Lazy Creek Drive, 30066 (Thornbrook, Sprayberry): $495,000

4222 Arbor Club Drive, 30066 (Arbor Bridge, Lassiter): $465,000

Sept. 27

4571 Divine Court, 30067 (Estates at Woodlawn, Walton): $1.675 million

558 Old Canton Road, 30068 (Wheeler): $677,500

4040 Bradbury Drive, 30062 (Penhurst, Walton): $900,000

3597 Liberty Ridge Trail, 30062 (Liberty Ridge, Pope): $430,000

3421 Chastain Glen Lane, 30066 (Chastain Glen, Sprayberry): $436,000

4310 Wood Creek Drive, 30062 (Raintree Forest, Lassiter): $565,000

5371 Tall Oak Drive, 30069 (Woodland Trails, Walton): $679,000

4929 Meadow Lane, 30068 (The Meadows, Walton): $310,000

3513 Ridge View Court, 30068 (Cross Gate, Wheeler): $425,000

504 Riverview Drive Unit 504, 30067 (Overlook at Riverview, Walton): $300,000

Sept. 28

861 Valleymeade Drive, 30067 (Grovemeade, Wheeler): $528,000

2321 Chestnut Springs Trail, 30062 (Chestnut Springs, Walton): $600,000

3107 Bunker Hill Circle, 30062 (Bunker Hills, Pope): $521,000

1616 Rex Drive, 30066 (Pine Valley, Sprayberry): $400,000

3698 Hembree Lane, 30062 (Hembree Hills, Pope): $4380,000

5400 Willow Point Parkway, 30068 (Willow Point, Walton): $620,000

3071 Gateland Square, 30062 (Garden Gate on Lassiter, Pope): $828,650

Sept. 29

2285 Valla Parc Court, 30062 (The Parc, Walton): $1.1 million

4005 Blackwell Park Drive, 30066 (Blackwell Park, Pope): $762,000

1705 Crestridge Drive, 30067 (Powers Ferry Hills, Wheeler): $370,000

287 Scott Drive, 30067 (Powers Ferry Hills, Wheeler): $325,000

3538 Ridge View C0urt, 30068 (Cross Gate, Wheeler): $415,000

3800 Clubland Trail, 30068 (Indian Hills, Walton): $2.294 million

3640 Clubland Drive, 30068 (Indian Hills, Walton): $2.425 million

1684 Grist Mill Drive, 30062 (Barnes Mill Lake, Wheeler): $290,000

946 Ashebrooke Place, 30068 (Ashebrooke, Walton): $926,900

3610 Robinson Walk Drive, 30068 (Robinson Walk, Walton): $630,000

1071 Hershey Drive, 30062 (Hershey Woods, Walton): $475,000

1811 Slopewood Bend, 30062 (Piedmont Bend, Sprayberry): $400,000

3099 Saddleback Mountain Road, 30062 (Cutters Gap, Pope): $$439,900

664 Glenbarrett Court, 30066 (Chastain Glen, Sprayberry): $419,000

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Open house scheduled for Shallowford-Gordy Parkway project

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Shallowford-Gordy West traffic improvements
Cobb DOT image

Cobb DOT will be holding an open house next week for citizens to learn about proposed improvements at Shallowford Road and Gordy Parkway West.

The open house takes place Wednesday, Oct. 18 from 6-8 p.m. at the Mountain View Regional Library (3320 Sandy Plains Road) and will be conducted on a drop-in basis.

There will be no formal presentation but project displays will be available and citizens are invited to ask questions and provide feedback.

Here’s a Cobb DOT fact sheet about the project, which costs an estimated $600,000 and would include the following:

  • Shifting the left turn lane on northbound Gordy Parkway to improve sight for turning
  • Adding a fourth crosswalk on the west leg for pedestrians
  • Shifting the right turn lane on northbound Gordy Parkway to improve pedestrian visibility.

Seeking public comment is the first phase of the project, which has a tentative timetable of completion by fall 2025.

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Mabry Middle School Foundation to hold haunted house event

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Submitted information:Mabry Middle School Foundation haunted house

Did you know East Cobb’s very own Mabry Middle School has a Haunted House? It’s their 2nd annual event full of thrills, laughter, and unforgettable memories for family and friends!

Come one, Come ALL! Check out the most terrifying experience under the Big Top at the CarnEVIL of Screams Haunted House – where the terror comes to life!

Two nights only at Mabry Middle School – Friday, October 20th and Saturday, October 21st from 7pm-10pm. But beware of the sinister ringmaster and his macabre crew of carnival misfits.

From creepy clowns to freakish fortune tellers, you’ll encounter creatures that defy the laws of nature and reason. See if you can escape from the ghastly hall of mirrors and survive the Games of Misfortune.

There will be a haunted house, kids area, concessions, and food trucks!
Pre-sale tickets are NOW ON SALE and available for purchase online. Click here –https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/7dff562e-6891-46e7-9f99-56d31172f352

Pre-sale tickets are only $10, if purchased online before 10/20. After that, ticket prices will increase to $15 and you may run the risk of standing in a long line.

For additional information, visit our website at https://www.mabrymiddlefoundation.com/.

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Harry Norman Cares Drive collecting personal care kits

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Harry Norman East Cobb personal care collection drive

The East Cobb office of Harry Norman Realtors is collecting personal care kits through Oct. 23 to benefit families at the Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Members of the public can drop off items Monday-Friday from 9-5 at the East Cobb office (4651 Olde Towne Parkway) over the next two weeks.

The items needed for the personal care kits include soaps, lotions, combs and brushes, shampoo and conditioner, mouthwash, toothpaste and toothbrushes, dental floss, deodorant and related items (see wish list).

Harry Norman offices around metro Atlanta are taking part in the drive, which in its initial effort last year collected 1,185 donated kits of personal care, laundry, entertainment and snack and food items.

Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities hosts families of children receiving long-term illnesses and injuries at nearby medical facilities.

All donated items must be able to fit within gallon-sized Ziploc or clear bags.

The Harry Norman Cares initiative was established in 2021. Employees will package the items to be donated.

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Ribbon-cutting event for new Eastvalley ES campus is Monday

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New Eastvalley ES ribbon cutting
An aerial photo of Eastvalley ES peering south along Holt Road (at far right), with the relocated Wheeler tennis courts and softball field in the background. 

Monday is an asynchronous learning day in the Cobb County School District, meaning students will be instructed remotely as their teachers have staff development sessions.

Cobb County School District officials are using the occasion to formally celebrate the opening of two new school facilities.

One of them is the new Eastvalley Elementary School, which will have a ribbon-cutting event starting at noon on Monday.

The Cobb school district said the festivities include a flag raising by cadets with the Wheeler High School Air Force JROTC.

The Eastvalley chorus will perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” and principal Dr. Whitney Spooner and Superintendent Chris Ragsdale will be the featured speakers.

There also will be tours of the 150,844-square-foot, two-story building, which is located on the former campus of East Cobb Middle School (380 Holt Road).

The new Eastvalley opened to students on Oct. 2, following the fall break, at a cost of $36.7 million in Cobb-Education SPLOST V funds.

Eastvalley opened in 1960 on Lower Roswell at Holt Road but has been chronically overcrowded for several years, with more than 700 students enrolled in a facility designed for 400.

Many of them were in aging portable classrooms that were the subject of parental complaints.

The new building includes 61 classrooms with a capacity for 962 students. Car and bus parking areas are separated, and there’s an outdoor classroom in a courtyard.

There are two “playscapes” and a large playfield surrounded by an asphalt walking track.

The other ribbon-cutting is Monday at 10 a.m. at the new Betty Gray Middle School in Mableton.

New Eastvalley ribbon cutting
The new Eastvalley ES campus at right, with Wheeler High School across the street on Holt Road. Photos from Cobb County School District

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Woodstock police shoot suspect following chase into NE Cobb

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The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said Friday it is conducting an investigation into an officer-involved shooting following a vehicle chase that ended in Northeast Cobb.GBI drug trafficking arrests NE Cobb home search

A GBI release Friday afternoon said that a Woodstock Police officer shot Emmanuel Millard, 20, of Marietta, Thursday night after the suspect fled a traffic stop.

Woodstock Police said Millard ran off the road several times, nearly struck other vehicles and tried to hit police vehicles.

The GBI said Millard was seriously injured from a single gunshot wound and is hospitalized.

The GBI said a preliminary report indicated that a Woodstock officer was conducting a traffic stop at Highway 92 and Hames Road, near the Cobb County line, around 10:45 p.m. Thursday when the driver of the vehicle refused to stop.

He led officers on a pursuit before they were able to perform a PIT maneuver (Precision Mobilization Technique) on the vehicle, boxing it in near the intersection of Highway 92 (Alabama Road) and Old Mountain Park Road, near the Cobb-Roswell line.

As officers tried to remove the suspect from the car, Millard was shot once, and officers rendered aid until EMS arrived on the scene, according to the GBI.

The GBI said Millard was in serious condition at North Fulton Hospital. The agency said the results of its investigation into the shooting will be sent to the Cobb District Attorney’s Office for review. 

The officer was place on administrative leave by Woodstock Police.

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Cobb schools teacher of the year honored at Marietta Square

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Cobb schools teacher of the year honored
Dr. Elzabeth Goff with Bells Ferry Elementary School students as she was honored at the Marietta Square Thursday. Photos: Cobb County School District

Bells Ferry Elementary School teacher Dr. Elizabeth Goff left her handprints on the Marietta Square on Thursday.

It’s a tradition for those named the Cobb County School District Teacher of the Year (see our post in August), and the honors continued with the Give Our Schools A Hand celebration at the Earl Smith Strand Theatre and organized by the Cobb Chamber of Commerce.

Goff has been an educator for 25 years and is a teacher of English as a Second Language.

Inside the theatre, the Bells Ferry chorus serenaded Goff, and some students placed their handprints inside their teacher’s on the wet cement outside.

“They have all kinds of ideas. I support all of those. Occasionally, I will have students that somewhere along the line start changing that idea and they’ll tell you, ‘I would love to be a teacher. I want to be just like you,” she said in a Cobb school district release. “It is the greatest compliment. It’s a wonderful feeling. I feel so much pride.”

Goff and Candance Torrence, the Marietta City Schools teacher of the year, will be honored by the Cobb Chamber on Nov. 13 and will be presented with a free one-year car lease from the Voyles Automotive Group.

It’s part of the Chamber’s monthly Monday Marquee luncheon series and is devoted to the state of education in the county.

Cobb teacher of the year honored

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East Cobb Biz Scene: Cafe Rivkah holds special ribbon-cutting

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Cafe Rivkah ribbon cutting

Back in April we visited Cafe Rivkah when it opened at the Pavilions at East Lake Shopping Center, serving up Middle Eastern breakfast/lunch/brunch fare featuring homemade artisanal baked goods.

Earlier this week owner Vicky Savrin and her husband Phil, who helps out on the business side, treated guests from the Cobb Chamber of Commerce, Visit Marietta and the East Cobb Business Association for a special ribbon-cutting event.

Local business associations have been making the rounds like this on a regular basis, and the Savrins’ ties to Marietta go deep.

She began selling homemade pastries and bakery at the Marietta Farmers Market, and regular customers wondered if she would ever consider a cafe.

While doughnuts, bagels and breads come in many varieties, the menu also features Mediterranean dishes such as shakshuka and a Lebanese chicken tawook wrap.

Cafe Rivkah (website) also was honored at the Taste of East Cobb festival in the best overall taste category. Vicky Savrin still features at the Marietta Farmers Market on Saturday mornings, and does catering as well.

Upon the cafe’s six-month anniversary, she noted on her Facebook page that “it has been a satisfying experience so far. No regrets. We learn new things everyday and we know that we made mistakes and they will happen (unfortunately) because there are so many parts to our efforts that has to work 100 percent to make the overall experience for the customers satisfying.”

The photos come from Gina Duncan, Visit Marietta’s marketing and PR manager.

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Strongvibe Grand Opening

As we noted in our profile earlier this week of the new Strongvibe electrical muscular therapy studio, a grand opening is set for next Thursday, is from 5-7 (more info and RSVP here).

The event includes giveaways, demos, food and wellness information from Plasker Chiropractic, Meridian Health and Wellness and more, and Strongvibe membership discounts will be 25 percent off.

Strongvibe is located at 147 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 4110. Phone: 770-573-4010.

Send Your Biz News!

East Cobb News loves to tell the community about new businesses, and those marking milestones or undergoing major changes, as well as profiling local business owners and their employees.

If you have items to share that fit those descriptions, please sent them to: editor@eastcobbnews.com, and observe the following guidelines to ensure we get everything properly and can post it promptly.

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

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

If you’re a local business and are interested in advertising opportunities with East Cobb News, please contact us at advertising@eastcobbnews.com and we’ll be glad to tell you how we can help promote your business to East Cobb’s only daily, all-online audience, one that’s highly engaged in the community and growing.

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East Cobb Food Scores: Waffle House Johnson Ferry; Mi Rancho; more

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Waffle House Johnson Ferry, 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:

Bells Ferry Elementary School
2600 Bells Ferry
October 11, 2023 Score: 100, Grade: A

Marco’s Pizza
2986 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 100
October 12, 2023 Score: 92, Grade: A

Mi Rancho
1495 Roswell Road
October 11, 2023 Score: 80, Grade: B

RC’s Southern Cooking
1516 Roswell Road
October 11, 2023 Score: 85, Grade: B

Smoothie King
1271 Johnson Ferry Road
View inspections:
October 12, 2023 Score: 72, Grade: C

Waffle House
621 Johnson Ferry Road
October 12, 2023 Score: 96, Grade: A

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Cobb first responders, veterans treated to appreciation lunch

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Cobb first responders appreciation lunch

Submitted information and photos:

On Wednesday, October 11th from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, The Janice Overbeck Real Estate Team held an appreciation barbecue lunch to honor local police, firemen, EMT’s and military. Churchill Mortgage served bbq with a variety of sides and drinks sponsored by Arrow Exterminators. Attendees were welcome to use the patio to enjoy their meal, or they could take it on the road. Additional sponsors for the event included: First American Home Warranty, American Home Shield, All Atlanta Inspection Services, and Chick-fil-A East Lake. Local Cobb County and surrounding area first responders, police, fire, detective units, and military were all invited. For more information on community events at the Janice Overbeck Team office, visit: www.JaniceOverbeck.com

Cobb first responders appreciation lunch

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Cobb Commission Chairwoman issues statement on Israel

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Submitted information from Cobb County Government:Cupid re-election campaign kickoff fundraiser

What is going on in Israel is utterly heinous. The tactics are simply to cause irrepressible anguish, pain and fear. It reminds me of the early part of the Book of Matthew, “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”  The children were slaughtered simply because of their age.

To slaughter children and babies in the terrible fashion reported by the news is a horror of biblical proportions. War is a terrible thing, but such a war, who can make sense of it? And how could it end after such provocation?

My heart hurts for mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers. It hurts for my friends connected to this region and connected to the conflict of faiths. I can only imagine the pain and frustration.

As a political leader, I would ask for the division overseas not to further entrench ours. Tragedy that brings us together as a county or country need not begin on our own soil.

May leaders among us end any stirring up of conflict that would limit our ability to be of help to ourselves and others.

And if it is in you to pray, let us pray.

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East Cobb Weekend Events: Walking Tour; Music in the Park; more

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Hyde Farm Nature Camp

Picture-perfect weather is in store for this weekend’s events around East Cobb, including a number of activities suited for the season.

On Friday the Faith Lutheran School PTL is staging its Fall Festival and Trunk or Treat community event from 5-8 (2111 Lower Roswell Road), with food, clowns, facepainting, games, a pumpkin patch and bouncy castles, among other activities. Tickets are just $1 a person and can be purchased at the door.

On Saturday morning the Powers Ferry Corridor Alliance is holding an Adopt-A-Mile cleanup project with Keep Cobb Beautiful. The group is gathering at 8:30 at the Kroger Fuel Center (1310 Powers Ferry Road) for refreshments, and all supplies and equipment will be provided.

You’re asked to sign up at this link.

The second Saturday of each month Cobb PARKS conducts a free Hyde Farm Walking Tour (photo above) at the 1840s-era working farm (721 Hyde Road), starting at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.

They last 45 minutes each, and will show participants terraced agricultural fields, lowland pastures/old fields, the orchard, the home site, the meadows and the farm outbuilding, as well as a pond stacked with catfish and bass.

A busy weekend is in store at East Cobb Park (3322 Roswell Road), with the monthly meeting of the newly formed East Cobb Park Garden Club from 10-12 Saturday.

The group is undertaking its initial projects to enhance the property, including constructing gardens, beautify trails and other tasks. Meet at the gazebo in the upper parking lot overlooking the park.

Also from 10-12 Saturday is an open house for the Cobb Mobility SPLOST, a proposed sales tax referendum that could take place in 2024. Cobb DOT staff will be presenting information at the Tim D. Lee Senior Center (3332 Sandy Plains Road) and citizens can take part in a survey (see our recent coverage of Commissioner Jerica Richardson’s town hall for background).

On Sunday, the third annual Aloha to Aging Fall Festival takes place from 2-6 at Covenant Presbyterian Church (2880 Canton Road).

More than 50 vendors, businesses and crafters will be on hand as well as music, dancing, games and prizes for all ages.

There will be raffle prizes, petting goats, a pickleball clinic and a kids zone. Admission is free.

Also on Friday afternoon, Music in the Park returns to East Cobb Park from 4-6, featuring Man Hands Lizzie, an Atlanta musician who regularly performs at Kastaways in Marietta.

You can bring a blanket/chairs and food to the back quad concert shell area.

It’s the second of three free concerts this month organized by the Friends for the East Cobb Park and sponsored by Wellstar.

Send Us Your News!

Let East Cobb News know what your organization is doing, or share news about what people are doing in the community—accomplishments, recognitions, milestones, etc., as well as community events.

Pass along your details to: editor@eastcobbnews.com, and please observe the following guidelines to ensure we get everything properly and can post it promptly.

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

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

 

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Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

 

 

Wheeler HS leads Cobb schools in 2023 ACT composite scores

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Wheeler name change

Students at Wheeler High School in the Class of 2023 turned in the top composite score for American College Testing (ACT) in the Cobb County School District.

According to figures released by the Cobb school district Wednesday, Wheeler’s composite ACT score is 26.5, up from 23.4 in 2022.

Recently:

Wheeler is one of four Cobb schools with composite scores over 24. The others are also in East Cobb: Walton Walton (25.8), Pope (24.5), and Lassiter (24.4).

The ACT tests students in curriculum-based English, mathematics, reading and science. The maximum score is 36.

The 127 Wheeler students who took the ACT also turned in the highest scores in each of those subject areas in Cobb (see chart below).

Cobb’s overall composite score at 16 traditional high schools is 22.7, above the state and national averages. But that’s the third consecutive year with a slight decrease.

A total of 2,273 students in the Cobb school district took the test in 2023, including 285 at Walton, 220 at Pope and 212 at Lassiter.

“This is a remarkable accomplishment that truly reflects the dedication and hard work of our exceptional students, the support of their involved families, and the continued commitment of our outstanding and dedicated staff,” Wheeler Principal Paul Gillihan said in the Cobb school district release.

“Together, we have shown the power of teamwork which brings excellence in education and life. Go Wildcats!”

Five Cobb students earned perfect scores of 36, and they attended Wheeler, Walton and Allatoona.

Wheeler leads Cobb 2023 ACT scores

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