East Cobb News Archives

Cobb Elections sued over absentee ballots in U.S. Senate runoff

December 2, 2022 7:48 PMDecember 2, 2022 10:46 AM by Wendy Parker

Just as in the general election, the Cobb Board of Elections and Registration is being sued over delays in sending out absentee ballots for the U.S. Senate runoff. Cobb absentee ballots

The Southern Poverty Law Center, the ACLU of Georgia and the law firm Dechert LLP have filed an emergency lawsuit in Cobb Superior Court on behalf of three voters who either have not received absentee ballots before Tuesday’s runoff election concludes or are just now getting them.

Cobb Elections Director Janine Eveler said this week that 3,442 absentee ballots did not go out until Monday instead of last Wednesday, the day before the two-day county Thanksgiving holiday, when they were listed as having been mailed out.

The runoff between Democratic U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock and Republican Herschel Walker has an 11-day window for absentee ballots to be requested, returned and received, and on four of those days no ballots were mailed.

UPDATED:

Cobb Elections has agreed to extend the deadline for those who did not receive an absentee ballot by Nov. 26. Those voters will have until next next Friday, Dec. 9, to have their absentee ballots postmarked and mailed.

A hearing took place Friday before Cobb Superior Court Judge Kellie Hill, who signed a consent decree as she did last month.

Cobb Elections contended during the hearing that all absentee ballots requested for the runoff met the legal deadlines for being mailed, and that they weren’t picked up in the mail until Monday, Nov. 28, due to the holiday.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Absentee ballots from voters not subject to Friday’s agreement must be received by the Cobb Elections office by 7 p.m. Tuesday. Absentee ballot drop boxes are available at some early voting locations, including the East Cobb Government Service Center, by 7 p.m. Friday, the last day of early voting.

Another plaintiff in the lawsuit is the Cobb County Democracy Center, which bills itself as a voter advocacy organization.

The suit sought to extend the deadline for those who haven’t received their ballots to Dec. 9, when military and overseas ballots are due.

The suit also wants to allow those voters who haven’t received the absentee ballots by 2 p.m. Friday to use a federal absentee write-in ballot.

A similar suit in the general election resulted in a consent decree allowing absentee voters extra time to return their ballots. That was after Cobb Elections admitted to a “human error” in delaying the mailing of around 1,000 absentee ballots.

In a release Friday morning, the SPLC, ACLU and Dechert also want Cobb Elections to deliver absentee ballots to homebound voters and for the county to notify voters of the changes.

They say the problems are due to a new state voting law, SB 202, which reduced the time for absentee ballots to be requested and returned from the 2020 elections.

One of the plaintiffs is working out of state is not available to vote in person, according to the lawsuit (you can read it here).

She said she inquired on Tuesday about the status of her ballot, but was told she would have to wait for it to be mailed, vote early or vote in person.

County elections offices have three business days to mail an absentee ballot upon receipt of an application.

Another plaintiff said he requested his ballot on Nov. 16 but received it on Thursday, with the mailing date showing Nov. 26, last Saturday.

That plaintiff, David Medof of East Cobb, said in an affidavit attached to the lawsuit that he’s a student attending college outside the county. He said he does not have a car and is studying for final exams.

Medof said he completed and returned his ballot immediately on Thursday, “but I am still concerned that my ballot will not arrive by 7:00pm on election day in time to be counted.”

The lawsuit also claims that Cobb is slower to process returned absentee ballots, with around 20 percent of those turned in by Nov. 21, compared to nearly 30 percent in Fulton and 27 percent in DeKalb.

After today, the only location to drop off an absentee ballot in person is Tuesday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., at the Cobb Elections office (995 Roswell St., Marietta).

Those voters casting ballots in person will go their usual precincts, which do not have absentee ballot dropoff availability.

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!

Lidl rezoning request for NE Cobb store delayed to February

December 1, 2022 6:38 PM by Wendy Parker

Lidl Northeast Cobb plans
The discount grocer Lidl’s rezoning request to build a store in Northeast Cobb is being continued to February.

So is a previously delayed application to build a standalone Starbucks coffee shop at Paper Mill Village.

They were to have been heard Tuesday by the Cobb Planning Commission.

Lidl filed a revised site plan and new renderings and elevations on Nov. 18 for a 31,540-square-foot store on 3.47 acres at Canton and Piedmont roads, on the site of a closed Rite Aid pharmacy.

But the application calls for only 128 parking spaces; a minimum of 158 are required for the CAC (commercial activity center) and NAC (neighborhood activity center) categories being sought.

The new site plan includes an above-ground retention pond at the Canton-Piedmont intersection.

But the biggest concern for the Cobb Zoning Office is the limited amount of space for emergency vehicles. The staff analysis (you can read it here) recommends approval pending those and other issues being addressed.

The continuance comes after a community meeting this week involving Lidl, the Canton Road Neighbors civic group, Commissioner JoAnn Birrell and Planning Commissioner Deborah Dance.

This is Lidl’s third attempt to build a store in the Northeast Cobb area; a store at Woodlawn Square opened in the former Fresh Market space in September 2020.

In the Paper Mill Village Starbucks case, the applicant, S & B Investments, is requesting the continuance to February.

Attorney Garvis Sams said in a letter that the building’s architecture and configuration on the site are being changed.

The application for the proposed two-story, 5,000-square foot building has been continued twice before.

Zoning cases are not heard in Cobb County in January.

The Cobb Planning Commission is a five-member body appointed by the Cobb Board of Commissioners to make recommendations in zoning cases.

Final decisions are made by county commissioners, who meet on the third Tuesday of the month.

The full agenda for Tuesday’s Planning Commission meeting can be found by clicking here. A summary agenda can be found here.

You also can watch on the county’s website, Facebook Live and YouTube channels and on Cobb TV 23 on Comcast Cable.

Former Mt. Bethel UMC members start new Methodist church

December 1, 2022 4:17 PMDecember 1, 2022 2:32 PM by Wendy Parker

Former Mt. Bethel members start new Methodist church — *The newly formed Grace Resurrection Methodist Church is holding services at the former Lutheran Church of the Incarnation.*

After leaving Mt. Bethel Church over its dispute with the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church, some former members have been meeting in recent months for picnics and other gatherings, including worship services.

Some expressed a desire to form their own church, and over the summer began the process of starting what is now called Grace Resurrection Methodist Church.

They met at the tiny New Providence Baptist Church on Providence Road, as what was called the Mt. Bethel Resurrection Church Exploratory Committee was taking shape.

The leadership has included Rev. Randy Mickler, who was Mt. Bethel’s pastor for nearly 30 years, and Dr. Rev. Steven Usry, who had been appointed to the role of senior pastor at Mt. Bethel at the start of the controversy.

With attendance heading into triple figures at New Providence, they were running out of room to worship.

So the exploratory committee set out for larger, more permanent space. On Nov. 20, the first worship service of Grace Resurrection took place at that new venue, the former Lutheran Church of the Incarnation, which closed this summer.

More than 100 people attended, and the newly formed Grace Resurrection choir sang.

Among those in the pews was Donna Lachance.

“It just felt like coming home after a long dry spell,” she said.

She was a longtime Mt. Bethel member and church employee who was among the more vocal opponents of the church’s move to separate from the United Methodist Church.

Disaffected members stayed connected by starting the Friends of Mt. Bethel group, which had more than 600 names on its e-mail list until being shuttered last month.

“My husband and I have already started attending Roswell UMC, but we strongly support this initiative, and will attend periodically at the very least,” Lachance said about Grace Resurrection.

Even as the litigation between Mt. Bethel and the North Georgia Conference continued, she was hopeful the denomination would stand its ground and at least allow the church membership a vote on disaffiliation.

The mediated settlement in Cobb Superior Court required Mt. Bethel to pay $13.1 million to leave the UMC. Former North Georgia Bishop Sue-Haupert Johnson, whose reassignment of Mt. Bethel senior pastor Jody Ray in April 2021 triggered the controversy, met with Friends of Mt. Bethel members, some of whom told her they feel like they don’t have a church home.

(Haupert-Johnson was appointed the UMC’s Bishop of Virginia earlier this month.)

Former Mt. Bethel members start new Methodist church

Grace Resurrection, which registered as a domestic non-profit religious organization in late October, has covered the former Lutheran church’s signage and included its name on the marquee.

Grace Resurrection is occupying the former Incarnation facility at 1200 Indian Hills Parkway that is now owned by the Southeastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.

There’s one Sunday service, at 11 a.m.

In response to an interview request from East Cobb News, Grace Resurrection sent out a brief press release saying that weekly attendance has averaged around 200 people.

It quoted a member saying that “rather than scatter or dropout altogether, we wanted to continue worshiping together and expand our welcome to new members. Now an excellent centralized location is available to us.”

The release said that interim clergy are leading services and that “Sunday School classes and other fellowship gatherings are forming.”

A second Sunday service, mission projects and a youth program also are being planned.

“The church has come together in unity, faith and love and is excited to provide a kind, welcoming and Christ-centered worship experience for people across the East Cobb community,” the release said.

Lachance said that while wishes her friends Grace Resurrection “the best, and will likely visit from time to time,” she is joining Roswell UMC, with established mission and youth programs “for our grandkids.”

She said that many former members of the Friends of Mt. Bethel were involved in the formation of Grace Resurrection, but so were others.

“But the leadership team of Friends of Mt. Bethel UMC made a group decision to close down that organization and that name. It existed for a time and a purpose, and that time and purpose have passed,” she said.

During Advent, Grace Resurrection is offering Sunday School classes at 9:30 a.m. A Christmas concert will take place Dec. 11 at 5:30 p.m. and a Candlelight Christmas Eve service is scheduled for Dec. 24 at 5 p.m.

Former Mt. Bethel members start new Methodist church

More Mt. Bethel Church news

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

December 9, 2022 2:35 AMDecember 1, 2022 10:04 AM by Wendy Parker

Holiday Lights at East Cobb Park

The first full weekend of Christmas events may be the busiest of all in the 2022 holiday season in East Cobb.

There are three full days—and nights—of festivities, starting bright and early on Friday morning.

That’s when the Apple Annie Arts and Crafts Show starts at the Catholic Church of St. Ann (4905 Roswell Road), and all on one floor in the church’s expansive new parish hall.

More than 100 artisanal vendors will be selling their wares, and there will be food and other refreshments. Hours are 9-6 Friday and 9-2 Saturday, and overflow parking and shuttle service will be provided at the Episcopal Church of St. Peter and St. Paul (1795 Johnson Ferry Road).

The choruses from Dickerson Middle School are featured Friday from 6-7:30 p.m. in Caroling at The Avenue East Cobb (4475 Roswell Road), one of the retail center’s many holiday events.

Saturday afternoon includes more family holiday celebrations and entertainment.

From 12-2 p.m., it’s the Johnson Ferry Christmas Party (955 Johnson Ferry Road), a festival with more than 20 venues including inflatables, trains, food, live music, crafts and more. The host is Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, an East Cobb News sponsor.

Music-lovers will enjoy the Cobb New Horizons Christmas Concert from 2-4 p.m. at the Lassiter High School Concert Hall (2601 Shallowford Road). It’s free, and the musicians are seniors with musical experience.

This year is the 30th anniversary of the Bethlehem Walk at Mountain View United Methodist Church (2300 Jamerson Road), and the interactive display of Jesus’ birth takes place from Saturday-Monday from 7-9:30 p.m. each night.

After walking through the streets of Bethlehem, attendees can enjoy refreshments, including hot cider. The event is free but donations are accepted.

At the very end of the weekend, and as the sun goes down, Holiday Lights will be going on at East Cobb Park (3322 Roswell Road).

Live music including Dodgen Pops and a visit from Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus will be featured at the event sponsored by the Friends for the East Cobb Park, which will be selling hot chocolate and cookies.

You can find all of our calendar listings in one handy place on our site. If you have events to share with the public, please e-mail: calendar@eastcobbnews.com and we will post them here.

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!

East Cobb Food Scores: J. Christopher’s; Clean Juice; Mzizi; more

December 2, 2022 6:04 PMNovember 30, 2022 6:18 PM by Wendy Parker

J. Christopher's Woodlawn Square, East Cobb food scores

The following food scores for the week of Nov. 28 have been compiled by the Cobb & Douglas Department of Public Health. Click the link under each listing for inspection details:

Belen De La Cruz Empenadas & Pastries
1050 E. Piedmont Road
December 1, 2022 Score: 100, Grade: A

Brewsters Neighborhood Grille
3595 Canton Road, Suite 326
November 30, 2022 Score: 95, Grade: A

Catering Cajun of Georgia
2421 Shallowford Road, Suite 130
December 1, 2022 Score: 100, Grade: A

Clean Juice
1205 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 124
November 30, 2022 Score: 100, Grade: A

Great American Cookies/Marble Slab Creamery
4101 Roswell Road, Suite 308
December 2, 2022 Score: 100, Grade: A

J. Christopher’s
1205 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 113-114
November 30, 2022 Score: 90, Grade: A

Marietta Donuts
1282 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 109
December 1, 2022 Score: 92, Grade: A

Mzizi Coffee Roaster
2995 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 220
November 30, 2022 Score: 89, Grade: B

Parc at Piedmont
999 Hood Road
December 1, 2022 Score: 80, Grade: B

Thai Taste
4796 Canton Road, Suite 600-700
November 30, 2022 Score: 82, Grade: B

Vespucci’s Pizza & Pasta Tavern
4805 Canton Road, Suite 100
November 30, 2022 Score: 81, Grade: B

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!

The Avenue East Cobb redevelopment construction work begins

November 30, 2022 12:38 PMNovember 29, 2022 5:36 PM by Wendy Parker

The Avenue East Cobb construction work — *Fencing around the back portion of The Avenue East Cobb has prompted some significant traffic detours.*

Right before the holiday shopping season got underway, a sizable portion of the back parking lot at The Avenue East Cobb was being fenced off.

It’s the start of a redevelopment plan we’ve been following for some months, to include a public plaza and two “jewel box” buildings with restaurants and retail, as well as optional valet parking.

“Our intention is to transform AEC into a more walkable and pedestrian-friendly destination, so the current, short-term disruption to traffic flow is required to reach that goal,” said Britni Johnson, a spokeswoman for North American Properties, which manages the retail center on Roswell Road.

The groundbreaking was in August, but nothing further has happened until now to begin work on the “Central Boulevard” plan that’s scheduled to be completed early next year.

The barricades and fencing went up earlier this month, and the loss of a few dozen parking places and detours caused some traffic issues on Black Friday and over the weekend.

What you can’t do any longer—and this change is permanent—is use the traffic lane closest to the back of the main building, between the former Bravura store and what was Stockyard Burgers and Bones.

That’s where Central Boulevard will be located, featuring the public plaza and the valet service.

The jewel boxes will be constructed in the parking lot area between that building and the Michael’s craft store.

For the time being, there is no access along the back traffic lane between the Pottery Barn and Williams-Sonoma.

There is some limited parking in that area, including access to Michael’s, with detour signs and arrows on the pavement directing motorists around the fencing.

There were some complaints on social media about the construction work, especially the timing given the holidays.

North American Properties said in response to questions from East Cobb News that 88 parking spaces have been fenced off for the construction, with all but 20 to reopen when the project is.complete.

Johnson said construction is beginning late due to delays in getting necessary permits.

She said the building permit took longer than expected, and that while construction could have begun in September, when a civil permit was issued, “we chose to wait until building construction could officially get underway to reduce the amount of disturbance time for locals.”

She said the decision to begin work now, at the start of the holidays, was necessary “to keep the project on track for a summer 2023 delivery.”

Johnson said the “no thru traffic section” was opened on Black Friday and it is open again now.

The Avenue has scheduled a number of holiday events, including caroling this Friday, a live music concert next week and a Menorah lighting on Dec. 18.

When asked how extra traffic for weekend shopping and holiday events would be handled, Johnson said that “We are actively working with our general contractor to determine a low-impact solution for keeping the drive aisle open throughout the project while also moving construction forward in a timely manner.”

The Avenue East Cobb construction work A public plaza will be built at the former Bravura store.

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East Cobb traffic alert: Lower Roswell Road crash blocks lanes

November 29, 2022 4:49 PM by Wendy Parker

Cobb Police are asking motorists to find an alternate route along a busy portion of Lower Roswell Road Tuesday afternoon.

A crash on Lower Roswell eastbound near Fairfield Drive has blocked two lanes of traffic in a congested area at the East Cobb Government Service Center and Mt. Bethel Church.

Police said in a social media posting that traffic is getting by, but there are delays and “please use an alternate route.”

Early voting continues at the East Cobb government center until 7 p.m., and the parking lot was nearly full when we went by earlier Tuesday afternoon. There was a backup of traffic trying to access the entrance at Lower Roswell and Fairfield.

UPDATED, 5:15 P.M.: Cobb Police are reporting that all lanes of traffic are open.

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Sewell Mill Library, The Art Place to hold holiday markets

November 29, 2022 3:38 PMNovember 29, 2022 11:28 AM by Wendy Parker

Cobb Parks holiday market sale

The Cobb Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department once again will be holding its 12 Days of Christmas Holiday Markets at four county arts centers starting Wednesday.

Two of them are in East Cobb, at the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center (2051 Lower Roswell Road) and The Art Place (3330 Sandy Plains Road).

The markets feature handmade items sold by local artists that are ideal for the holiday season.

The markets are open Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from 12-6 p.m. through Dec. 11.

The other markets are at the Mable House (5239 Floyd Road, Austell) and The Art Station (2050 Kennesaw Due West Road, Kennesaw).

Lassiter Bands Christmas Tree sale continues through Dec. 10

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Cobb launches UDC page, announces December public meetings

December 3, 2022 1:43 AMNovember 29, 2022 7:58 AM by Wendy Parker

The Cobb Unified Development Code project has a new web address and two public meetings have been scheduled for early December as an independent consultant begins its work.

Cobb government said Monday that public meetings will take place next week—Monday, Dec. 5 at the North Cobb Regional Library (3535 Old Highway 41 Northwest, Kennesaw) and Tuesday, Dec. 6 at the Switzer Library (266 Roswell Street, Marietta).

Both meetings are scheduled from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Other meetings throughout the county will be announced at a later date.

The UDC is a project of the Cobb Community Development Agency, whose goal, according to a county release, “is to produce a document that encourages and enables development and redevelopment in identified centers while preserving the unique character of the county’s rural areas.”

Community development officials said it’s needed because development regulations in Cobb date back to the 1970s.

“The project,” according to the county, “also aims to protect existing neighborhoods, conserve natural and historic resources, support economic development and provide an opportunity for various housing types.”

Cobb commissioners in a split vote in August approved spending nearly $500,000 to hire Clarion Associates, LLC, a nationwide land-use and planning consulting firm which has provided services for a UDC in Hall County and design and development guidelines in Savannah.

Some critics of the UDC proposal in Cobb have called it “a war on the suburbs,” but agency officials said it’s an increasingly common approach to pulling together all components of development projects.

The consultant’s work will take place over an 18 to 24-month process, starting this winter with public meetings and feedback sessions and opportunities.

A code assessment process will start in the spring of 2023, followed by a draft UDC expected to be presented in the spring of 2024. Public hearings of that draft are slated from summer-fall of 2024.

The new Cobb UDC page includes a timeline of that process, along with zoning, development and design documents and project updates and other materials.

Citizens also can submit questions and sign up for project updates and other information, provide comments and review and comment on draft documents.

A gift guide for shopping small in East Cobb this holiday season

November 28, 2022 4:47 PM by Wendy Parker

East Cobb shopping small gift guide

For the holiday season we’re encouraging East Cobb residents to really keep it local with their shopping. East Cobb News contributor Tamar Levy has rounded up a few small businesses that provide a truly authentic community touch with their products, goods, services and customer connection.

Last Saturday was the traditional “Shop Small” promotion begun more than a decade ago by American Express to help promote community-focused businesses, especially retailers.

With additional promotions such as Cyber Monday, the shopping small ethos continues through the holiday season.

Levy will be contributing other holiday stories over the coming weeks. We’ll also be adding more freelancers in the new year to help us cover more of the news you’ve come to expect from East Cobb News.

In a recent reader survey, a number of you said you wanted more news and coverage of local businesses, and here’s an example of what we have in mind. Feel free to tell us how we’re doing.

By Tamar Levy

East Cobb is home to many unique small businesses, and this holiday season is a great opportunity to support them. From children’s items to home goods to wellness, you are bound to find something for everyone you are shopping for.

Pineapple Porch Boutique

Embrace your passion for southern hospitality and gracious living in an intimate shopping experience. This store has something for everyone on your list and items you won’t see anywhere else. They carry a wide variety of gifts and provide complimentary gift wrap as well.

1255 Johnson Ferry Rd, Unit 40
Marietta, GA 30068
(678) 398-9667
@pineappleporchboutique

The Orange Iris

The Orange Iris presents a carefully curated collection of pieces for baby, child and her. From the most traditional children’s clothing to whimsical gifts for your friend, they truly have something for everyone. And looking for something personalized? They have an extensive selection of both classic and modern monograms.

255 Village Pkwy, Unit 160
Marietta, GA 30067
678-667-3526
@theorangeiris

Willow Park

A curated and unique collection of women’s clothing, shoes and accessories. The items you’ll find in this store are one of a kind and will help you stand out during the holiday season. With new pieces arriving frequently, you are bound to find something new for your closet here.

255 Village Pkwy, Unit 170
Marietta, GA 30067
(404) 302-7138
@willowparkboutique

Olea Oliva! business anniversary

Olea Oliva

This shop is the perfect place for the foodie. They carry spices, balsamic vinegars and olive oils. This family-owned business sells the finest oils and vinegars from around the world. In addition to shopping at their incredible taproom, you can enjoy a culinary experience through their various events. The perfect idea for a night out in East Cobb.

4475 Roswell Rd, Unit 1725
Marietta, GA 30062
(770) 321- 0099
@oleaolivausa

Rose Jasmine Flowers and Décor

This is the first flower shop in Atlanta to offer same day fresh arrangements with the option of delivery as well. In addition to typical flower arrangements, they carry beautiful, handcrafted flower boxes. This high-end flower and décor studio is the newest floral shop to East Cobb that has already made a lasting impression.

255 Village Pkwy NE, Unit 740
Marietta, GA 30067
(404) 494-6473
@rosejasmineatl

Skin Care by Gabriela

This five-star spa offers several treatments and services just for your skin. From light therapy to dermaplaning to luxury facials, they can do it all for your skin. Their team of experts will make you feel right at home no matter where you are on your skincare journey.

286 Village Pkwy,
Marietta, GA 30067
(770)-226-9990
@skincarebygabriela

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Mr. Clean Car Wash to hold grand reopening events in East Cobb

November 28, 2022 1:46 PM by Wendy Parker

Mr. Clean Car Wash reopens East Cobb

After closing in March 2021 due to a fire, Mr. Clean Car Wash reopened in East Cobb earlier this month and is holding several events and specials this week.

The combo car wash and oil change service is located at 3950 Shallowford Road, adjacent to a CVS store that is closing.

The new facility has been entirely rebuilt and expanded from the original building.

Services include self- and full-service car washes, detailing and Jiffy Lube oil changes for all types of vehicles.

A ribbon-cutting is scheduled for Thursday at 11 a.m. with representatives of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce and an appearance by the Morning Show crew from 94.9 The Bull and comedian Brian Moote for what’s being billed as “clean comedy.”

Free express car washes will be offered to all customers between 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Thursday, Dec. 1 to Saturday, Dec. 3, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4.

Customers who purchase a single wash after that will get unlimited washes for their first month.

Mr. Clean has 11 locations in Georgia and four in Florida.

Updates for the East Cobb location are provided on its Facebook page.

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Early voting lines shrink in East Cobb after as U.S. Senate runoff continues

November 28, 2022 1:27 PMNovember 28, 2022 10:06 AM by Wendy Parker

Cobb U.S. Senate runoff early voting lines — *Nearly 2,500 voted in-person Saturday and Sunday at the East Cobb Government Service Center.*

After hours-long waits in weekend early voting in the Georgia U.S. Senate runoff, lines shrank considerably Monday in Cobb County.

Estimated wait-times of two hours and longer were reported at the East Cobb Government Service Center (above) on Saturday and Sunday.

Early voting is continuing there (4400 Lower Roswell Road) and at the Tim D. Lee Senior Center (3332 Sandy Plains Road) from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Friday this week.

Cobb Elections said Monday that turnout countywide was 13,686, with 2,469 turning out at the East Cobb government center.

When we drove by on Saturday afternoon, there also was a bit of a line to find a place to park.

But as the weekday early voting continued Monday afternoon, the East Cobb center was reporting waits of only 15 minutes, and 25 minutes at the Tim D. Lee Center.

(You can view the estimated wait-time map by clicking here; it will be updated periodically each day by poll managers at those locations.)

Other early voting spots had longer times, including two hours at the Ron Anderson Rec Center in Powder Springs and an hour at the Ward Recreation Center in West Cobb.

Turnout is high across the state in the battle between Democratic incumbent Raphael Warnock and Republican Herschel Walker, even though control of the U.S. Senate is no longer being contested.

Democrats will retain a majority with at least 50 votes and the tie-breaking powers of Vice President Kamala Harris.

But more than 180,000 voters around the state cast their ballots over the weekend.

A Fulton County judge last week allowed for Saturday voting, overruling Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.

Cobb, which had already called for Sunday voting, added five hours of Saturday voting, one of 13 counties in Georgia to do so. They are all in metro Atlanta.

Voters in Cobb can go to any early voting location in the county to cast their ballots in person. Absentee ballots can be dropped off at the East Cobb center during early voting hours only.

There is no early voting this weekend. On Tuesday, Dec. 6, voters will go to the assigned precincts to vote. Absentee ballots may be dropped off that day only at the main Cobb Elections office (995 Roswell St.) between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

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!

East Cobb residential real estate sales, Nov. 7-11, 2022

December 2, 2022 6:46 PMNovember 28, 2022 6:35 AM by Wendy Parker

Meadow Chase, East Cobb real estate sales — *Meadow Chase*

The following deeds for residential East Cobb real estate sales were filed Nov. 7-11, 2022 with the Cobb Superior Court Clerk’s Office Real Estate Department

The addresses include ZIP Codes; subdivision names and high school districts are in parenthesis:

Nov. 7

2270 Ravenwood Trail, 30066 (Ravenwood, Kell): Thomas Bae to Mackenzie and William Brackett; $430,000

4943 Keota Run, 30075 (Indian Creek, Lassiter): Opendoor Property Trust I to Bay Street Homes LLC; $375,000

3508 Parkview Drive, 30075 (Parkview East, Lassiter): Pamela Murphey Vincent to Erica and Rochelle Roberts; $465,000

190 Worthington Drive, 30068 (Sewell Manor, Wheeler): Soraya Roshan and Jay William Brown to Carmen Velazquez; $309,500

Nov. 8

4355 Stockton Way, 30066 (Stocktons Ford, Lassiter): Matthew Boyd to John and Ashley Shipp; $420,000

2416 Renny Court, 30066 (Village North, Sprayberry): Martha Martin to Jeffrey and Luis DeGuzman; $325,000

2351 Barrett Cottage Place, 30066 (Cottages at Bells Ferry, Sprayberry): The Loe Family Trust to Roberta Lee Martin; $335,000

1466 Hembree Station Drive, 30062 (Hembree Station, Walton): Veronica and James Khoury to Tanber Mehedi and Yoko Ariza-Diaz; $310,000

Nov. 9

1044 Boyd Road, 30066 (Sprayberry): Nicole Harrington to Maria Del Rosario Aguilar Gomez; $288,000

3494 Meadow Chase Drive, 30062 (Meadow Chase, Walton): Deborah and William Krupp to Venkata Koti and Prashanthi Anayavilli; $740,000

750 McBurnette Road, 30068 (Wheeler): Chelsea Price to Orchard Homes II LLC; $475,000

Nov. 10

4910 Climbing Vine Place, 30066 (Cooks Valley, Lassiter): T. Richard Arch to Curt and Carrie Cerise; $646,000

3151 Andover Drive, 30066 (Stockton Place, Lassiter): Outdoor Property C LLC to Abdallah Nabilsi and Mahmoud Hleis; $490,000

431 Buckingham Drive, 30066 (Canterbury North, Sprayberry): Weaver Assets LLC to Jesse Scherer; $465,000

3234 Belford Drive, 30066 (Chaucer Place, Sprayberry): Garrett Abdo to Osvaldo and Annette Silvera; $599,000

4215 Tirol Lane, 30062 (Alpine Forest, Pope): Preston and Elyse Easley to Phillip York and Jessica Hale; $610,000

2137 Nottley Drive, 30066 (Barrett Creek Townhomes, Sprayberry): Barbara Lincoln to Jordan Romeo and Dalton Bertine; $405,000

2160 Mark Hall Court, 30062 (Saddle Ridge Downs, Pope): Allan and Rita Lollar to Evan Phillip-Douglas Feringa and Diana Ticu; $500,000

2022 Dayron Court, 30062 (Piedmont Chase, Sprayberry): Trent Weiser to Abigail Thompson and Travis Garcia; $525,000

1931 Beaver Brook Lane, 30062 (Beaver Brook Farms, Pope): Dina Heym to Guadalupe and Jeffrey Haman; $365,000

1573 Valley Stream Drive, 30066 (Woodstream, Sprayberry): Tyler Purner to Jaclyn Lipnicki and Robert Finlay; $475,000

3665 High Green Drive, 30068 (Indian Hills, Walton): Julie and Juan Rivera to Mark and Annette Hackman; $663,000

245 Old Farm Road, 30068 (Weatherstone, Wheeler): Mariet Walter to Andrew Livingston and Ariane Lefevre; $565,000

Nov. 11

1772 Huntingford Drive, 30068 (Willow Point, Walton): Stephen and Barbara Banks to Innovating Group LLC; $320,000

2997 Clary Hill Court, 30075 (Clary Lakes, Pope): Nicholas and Megan Palmer to Bryce and Meredith Petty; $799,000

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Lassiter Band Christmas tree sale underway through Dec. 10

November 26, 2022 2:06 PMNovember 26, 2022 10:56 AM by Wendy Parker

Lassiter Band Christmas tree sale

The Lassiter Bands annual Christmas Tree sale fundraiser began on Friday, and it will continue every day through Dec. 10 at its usual location, the Highland Plaza Shopping Center (3605 Sandy Plains Road).

The hours are listed on the flyer below; in addition to trees wreaths also are on sale. All proceeds benefit the Lassiter High School bands program.

Prices start at $65 for 6-inch trees and go up to $265 for a 10-foot tree. They’re locally sourced Frazier firs, as are the bough wreaths. There’s also on-site cutting services and tree stands.

The sale takes place in the parking lot fronting Sandy Plains Road at the intersection of Gordy Parkway.

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!

Cobb Police establish e-commerce safety zones for holiday shopping

November 25, 2022 1:29 PM by Wendy Parker

The Cobb Police Department once again is implementing what it calls e-commerce safety zones for members of the public to conduct online holiday shopping in secure fashion. Cobb Police e-commerce safe zones

The signs are located at all five Cobb Police precinct locations as well as headquarters (see addresses below) and are in well-lit areas monitored by video surveillance.

Precinct One: 2380 N. Cobb Parkway Kennesaw, GA 30152
Precinct Two: 4700 Austell Rd Austell, GA 30106
Precinct Three: 1901 Cumberland Parkway Atlanta, GA 30339
Precinct Four: 4400 Lower Roswell Rd Marietta, GA 30067
Precinct Five: 4640 Dallas Highway Powder Springs, GA 30127
Headquarters: 545 Fairground St SE Suite 101 Marietta, GA 30060

The holiday shopping season also comes with a rise in entering auto and package theft crimes.

Among the recent trends in the Cobb area are daytime vehicle break-ins at public parks, gyms and especially shopping center parking lots.

Police say that if you’ve had a financial transaction card that’s been stolen to report it immediately to your institution to have it frozen since thieves tend to go to local stores and spend as much money as they can.

Motorists are encouraged to remove all valuables, especially weapons, from view every time you park and leave your vehicle. Make sure that all doors are locked.

If you see someone breaking into a vehicle do not confront but call 911 from a safe place.

Here’s more from Cobb Police about how to minimize package theft during the holidays:

Package Thefts – What You Can Do

Ship it to work. Keep your package off the porch in the first place. If your company allows, consider shipping your packages to your workplace instead of your home.

Enlist a neighbor’s help. Do you have a neighbor or a friend that’s usually home? If so, see if they can wait for your package or keep an eye out for it.

Require a signature. Consider requesting a signature for your package to be dropped off. That way, your package won’t be left on your porch exposed to potential thieves.

Take advantage of alternative delivery options and alerts. FedEx, the U.S. Postal Service and UPS all have alternative pickup and delivery options available. Visit their websites to explore your options and update your delivery preferences. You can also sign up for delivery alerts to track your package and stay up to date on delivery times.

Get technical. Doorbell cameras and other security cameras can be a deterrent to would be thieves and the recorded footage provides suspect and possibly their vehicle descriptions that can be used in developing investigative leads for police if a theft occurs.

Keep your porch clear and visible. It may seem counter-intuitive, but if a thief has no place to hide, they’re less likely to take the risk of going up to your porch in the first place.

Ask for your box to be nondescript. Ordering from a high-end store? Consider marking the “gift” checkbox when you purchase so the package comes in a plain box. You can also request this of friends and family so your box doesn’t grab attention.

Find strength in numbers. Neighborhood groups on social media or community apps like Next door can provide your neighborhood a system for reporting suspicious activity to each other.

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!

Two women identified as suspects in Canton Road car fire

November 23, 2022 6:34 PM by Wendy Parker

Cobb Fire officials said they’re looking for two women they’ve identified as suspects in a September car fire on Canton Road that’s being investigated for arson.

In releases Wednesday afternoon, Cobb Fire Chief Investigator Brian Beaty said Jazzmin Nicole Davis, 25, and Khadijah Jakalay Courtney, 24, remain at-large.

Davis is wanted on felony charges of second-degree arson and fraudulent insurance claims and a misdemeanor charge of false reporting of a fire. Courtney has been charged with second-degree arson and a false report.

Cobb Fire said in the release that a passenger vehicle fire was reported on Sept. 6 at 4:26 a.m. at 3010 Canton Road, the address of a McDonald’s.

Beaty said in the release that when firefighters arrived on the scene, they “identified multiple points of origin. The fire cause was determined to be incendiary.”

Cobb Fire is asking anyone with information to call 770-499-3869.

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East Cobb Food Scores: New Shangrila Bistro; Mezza Luna; more

November 23, 2022 6:49 PMNovember 23, 2022 3:52 PM by Wendy Parker

New Shangrila Bistro, East Cobb food scores

The following food scores for the week of Nov. 21 have been compiled by the Cobb & Douglas Department of Public Health. Click the link under each listing for inspection details:

Chipotle Mexican Grill
2675 Windy Hill Road
November 22, 2022 Score: 88, Grade: B

Domino’s Pizza
2323 Shallowford Road
November 21, 2022 Score: 96, Grade: A

Green Coyote
255 Village Parkway
November 18, 2022 Score: 90, Grade B

Mezza Luna Pasta & Seafood
2100 Roswell Road, Suite 2198
November 21, 2022 Score: 82, Grade: B

New Shangrila Bistro
3545 Canton Road, Suite 102
November 21, 2022 Score: 85, Grade: B

Paisano’s Catering
3205 Canton Road, Suite 106
November 21, 2022 Score: 100, Grade: A

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Scene in East Cobb: An Indian Summer day before Thanksgiving

November 23, 2022 3:15 PM by Wendy Parker

East Cobb Park day before Thanksgiving

After a cold spell earlier this month, warmer temperatures returned just before the Thanksgiving holiday, drawing dog-walkers and recreational enthusiasts to East Cobb Park on Wednesday.

The projected high of 70 degrees is the warmest we’ll have for the next week or so, as highs push into the 60s sporadically.

Thanksgiving Day will be a bit cooler, with highs around 60, and overcast, with lows in the mid-40s for the next few nights.

Black Friday will be wet, with a 100 percent chance of rain, tapering off to 30 percent for Saturday and up to 60 percent on Sunday.

The first full week of the Christmas holiday season will be mostly sunny with highs in the 60s or above. Rain is in the forecast for next Wednesday.

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East Cobb 2022 precinct votes in U.S. Senate, Governor’s races

November 22, 2022 7:31 PMNovember 22, 2022 6:53 PM by Wendy Parker

East Cobb results 2022 U.S. Senate general election

With early voting starting this weekend and continuing into next week for the Georgia U.S. Senate runoff, we took a deeper look at the general election results in that race as well as the governor’s race in East Cobb precincts.

While some parts of East Cobb have been trending Democratic in some areas over the last three election cycles, the area remains, along with north Cobb, a stronghold for Republican candidates.

U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock and gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams led a Democratic ticket of statewide candidates who prevailed in Cobb County.

East Cobb votes 2022 U.S. Senate general election — *Precincts for Walker in blue, and for Warnock in green. The beige precinct (Fullers Park) ended in a tie. **Click here** for more precinct details for the U.S. Senate general election results.*

But only Warnock is left standing statewide after GOP candidates, including incumbent Gov. Brian Kemp, were victorious in the Nov. 8 general election.

Kemp, who defeated Abrams in a rematch of their bitter 2018 race, finished strong in East Cobb precincts, earning around 60 percent of the vote in a number of them.

But Warnock, who is completing the end of Johnny Isakson’s term in seeking a full-six year term against Republican Herschel Walker, was competitive in many of those same East Cobb precincts.

Walker’s highest percentage in any East Cobb precinct was 53 percent. Much has been made of supposed “split” voters—those voting for both Kemp and Warnock.

A total of 11 of the 48 precincts in our coverage area were won by Kemp and Warnock: Addison, Bells Ferry 2, Bells Ferry 3, Davis, Elizabeth 5, Nicholson, Powers Ferry, Sandy Plains, Sewell Mill 1, Sewell Mill 3, Simpson, Sope Creek 2 and Timber Ridge.

East Cobb votes 2022 governor's general election results — *In the governor’s race, precincts for Kemp are in blue and for Abrams are in green. For more details **click here**.*

In some typically strong GOP precincts, Warnock also finished well. He lost by 19 votes in Eastside 2, by 15 votes in Mt. Bethel 3, by 4 votes in Murdock, by 46 votes in Roswell 1, by 20 votes in Roswell 2 and by 47 votes in Sope Creek 1.

The Fullers Park precinct was dead even, with Walker and Warnock each getting 1,212 votes.

An asterisk denotes the precinct winner; the hashtag indicates the tie in Fullers Park.

	Abrams	Kemp	Warnock	Walker
Addison	730	854*	830*	709
Bells Ferry 2	786	940*	868*	819
Bells Ferry 3	605	618*	640*	543
Blackwell	830*	755	901*	657
Chattahoochee	1,899*	759	1,996*	606
Chestnut Ridge	847	1,409*	995	1,182*
Davis	627	735*	701*	621
Dickerson	807	1,201*	949	1,001*
Dodgen	608	867*	691	751*
East Piedmont	764*	611	823*	527
Eastside 1	843	1,294*	1,003	1,069*
Eastside 2	1,159	1,666*	1,355	1,374*
Elizabeth 2	611	863*	679	761*
Elizabeth 3	772	1,162*	865	1,021*
Elizabeth 4	839*	655	925*	540
Elizabeth 5	912	1,005*	994*	869
Fullers Park	956	1,343*	1,121#	1,121#
Garrison Mill	818	1,146*	922	1,006*
Gritters	992	1,380*	1,080	1,226*
Hightower	1,194	1,731*	1,352	1,449*
Kell	507	727*	574	615*
Lassiter	955	1,453*	1,097	1,252*
Mabry	409	782*	487	664*
McCleskey	471	766*	552	646*
Marietta 6A	682*	234	701*	206
Marietta 6B	981*	913	1,081*	775
Mt. Bethel 1	1,100	1,782*	1,329	1,450*
Mt. Bethel 3	887	1,305*	1,052	1,067*
Mt. Bethel 4	783	1,272*	919	1,074*
Murdock	1,167	1,639*	1,359	1,363*
Nicholson	630	793*	693*	687
Pope	861	1,212*	971	1,026*
Post Oak	874	1,486*	1,051	1,332*
Powers Ferry	946	998*	1,044*	850
Rocky Mount	887	1,335*	1,015	1,127*
Roswell 1	1,555	2,223*	1,787	1,833*
Roswell 2	1,047	1,576*	1,257	1,277*
Sandy Plains	856	999*	960*	831
Sewell Mill 1	1,014	1,254*	1,171*	1,045
Sewell Mill 3	1,300*	1,084	1,411*	901
Shallowford Falls	953	1,433*	1,116	1,183*
Simpson	510	723*	615*	574
Sope Creek 1	628	930*	732	779*
Sope Creek 2	1,561	1,615*	1,761*	1,338
Sope Creek 3	715	1,169*	832	1,011*
Terrell Mill	1,705*	867	1,796*	712
Timber Ridge	730	1,021*	862*	842
Willeo	812	1,178*	939	1,004*

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By Tamar Levy

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Package Thefts – What You Can Do

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