Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy to honor Jimmy Carter

Submitted information:Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy to honor Jimmy Carter

The Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy (CNPC) will honor the late President Jimmy Carter with the Hightower Award at its annual Party for the Park fundraiser on March 25, 2025. This signature event, supporting the preservation and enjoyment of Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CRNRA), will be held for the first time at Ivy Hall in Roswell Mill, overlooking Vickery Creek, a treasured part of the national park system that Carter himself helped establish.

A lifelong advocate for environmental conservation, President Carter signed the legislation creating Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area as a unit of the National Park Service on August 15, 1978. His enduring commitment to public lands and environmental stewardship has left a profound impact on Georgia and beyond. The Hightower Award, named in honor of longtime CRNRA Park Ranger Jerry Hightower, recognizes those whose efforts and dedication have had a lasting and positive impact on the CRNRA and its community.

“President Jimmy Carter’s vision and leadership were instrumental in the creation of CRNRA,” said CNPC Board President Peter Coffman. “His dedication to conservation and public lands has left an incredible legacy, not just for our park here in Georgia, but across the country. It is a great honor to recognize him with the Hightower Award and to celebrate the impact he has had on preserving the places we cherish.”

As CNPC’s largest annual fundraiser, Party for the Park is a celebration of the community’s commitment to preserving and enhancing CRNRA. Guests will enjoy hors d’oeuvres, drinks, a silent auction, and a program featuring special guest speakers, all in support of ensuring a sustainable future for the park. Proceeds from the event will directly fund trail rehabilitation, habitat restoration, and community engagement initiatives that enhance visitor experiences.

“Party for the Park is a celebration of our community’s commitment to preserving and enhancing Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area,” said CNPC Executive Director Brittany Jones. “This park is a place of adventure, reflection, and connection, and we all have a role in keeping it thriving. The funds we raise go right back into the trails we hike, the waterways we paddle, and the habitats that make this place so special.”

Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available at chattahoocheeparks.org/CNPC2025.

ABOUT CHATTAHOOCHEE NATIONAL PARK CONSERVANCY

Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy (CNPC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the official friends group and primary philanthropic partner for the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CRNRA), a unit of the National Park System. Its mission is to enhance CRNRA by building community, enriching lives, and catalyzing support to ensure a sustainable national park for future generations. Through conservation initiatives, trail restoration, volunteer programs, and community engagement, CNPC works to preserve and improve this treasured greenspace. Learn more at chattahoocheeparks.org.

ABOUT CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER NATIONAL RECREATION AREA

Designated as a unit of the National Park System in 1978, Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area preserves and protects the natural and cultural resources of the 48-mile Chattahoochee River corridor from Buford Dam to Peachtree Creek. The park annually welcomes over 3,000,000 visitors.

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Crime fiction author Joshua Moehling to visit Bookmiser

Joshua Moehling, a noted crime fiction novelist, will visit the Bookmiser store in East Cobb Wednesday, Feb. 19, as part of a national book tour.Crime fiction author Joshua Moehling to visit Bookmiser

His latest work is “A Long Time Gone,” the third in his Ben Packard series of novels.

Here’s what the book is about:

“Deputy Packard is off work—he’s on leave, pending an investigation into a shooting—which gives him the time to investigate some new information about the disappearance of his older brother, Nick, who left their lakeshore family home when they were just kids, never to be seen again. The new information attracts his mother, Pam, to northern Minnesota, as much to check in on Ben as to explore where Nick may be buried. Pam—one of Moehling’s greatest creations—is a New Age, crystal wearing, sex-positive, Wiccan practitioner who would like nothing more than to see Ben find a boyfriend and does everything in her powers to hook him up. While the search for Nick takes a bit of a back seat, Ben can’t help but pursue a far more expansive and contemporary investigation that exposes corruption among County officials. See why so many people were happy to see Ben out of the picture? Add to this another story, brief but hugely meaningful, that provides yet more information about Nick. It’s amazing how Moehling keeps all these narrative balls in the air, but even more amazing is how they eventually come together. For those who love classic mysteries, police procedurals, and family drama.”

Moehling’s appearance at Bookmiser (3822 Roswell Road, Suite 117) will be from 6-7:30 p.m. and will include a book discussion of the Ben Packard series, which includes “Where the Dead Sleep” and “And There He Kept Her.”

More about Moehling can be found at the author’s website.

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Cobb first responders to carry blood products for trauma care

Submitted information:Cobb Fire Department fireworks safety reminder

Cobb County first responders have picked Valentine’s Day to unveil a new, life-saving tool.  Cobb County Fire & Emergency Services will become one of the first departments in the state to carry blood products in a program called pre-hospital blood transfusion. The program will equip select emergency response units with packed red blood cells (PRBCs) and plasma to enhance trauma care and improve survival rates for critically injured patients.

“Every second matters in trauma care, and by administering blood products at the point of injury, we can provide life-saving interventions sooner,” said Nick Adams, EMS Division Chief. “This program represents a major advancement in pre-hospital emergency medicine and underscores our commitment to delivering the highest level of care to our community.”

This initiative is made possible through a partnership with LifeSouth Community Blood Centers, a nonprofit organization that provides blood products to hospitals and emergency responders across the region. Research has shown that early administration of blood products in the field can significantly reduce trauma-related mortality by stabilizing patients before they reach the hospital.

“We are excited to begin this new partnership with Cobb County Fire & Emergency Services and are grateful for the opportunity to support the vital work they do in our community,” said Lori Russell, LifeSouth Community Blood Centers District Director of Georgia. “Cobb County blood donors can help our efforts by donating blood with LifeSouth.”

The program will launch on February 14, which is not only Valentine’s Day but also National Donor Day. Cobb Fire & Emergency Services Medical Operations (MedOps) team will be the first unit to carry PRBCs and plasma. The paramedics assigned to MedOps have received specialized training and certification in administering blood products in the field, ensuring they are prepared to deliver this critical intervention safely and effectively.

By delivering advanced treatment directly to patients, this initiative seeks to improve survival rates and outcomes for those suffering life-threatening bleeding before they reach the hospital.

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Georgia Symphony to present ‘Lux Perpetua: Light of Hope’

Georgia Symphony to present ‘Lux Perpetua: Light of Hope’

Submitted information:

Experience musical solace as the Georgia Symphony Orchestra and Chorus present ‘Lux Perpetua: Light of Hope’ on March 9, 2025, at Marietta’s historic Zion Baptist Church. This inspiring performance features Gabriel Fauré’s haunting classic, “Requiem,” along with selections from the British choral school, an African-American spiritual, and a Buddhist mantra set by a contemporary Canadian composer.

GSO Music Director and Conductor Timothy Verville will lead the orchestra and 100-plus members of the GSO Chorus alongside GSO Chorus Director Bryan Black in this inspirational performance.

Tickets are $20 and are now available online at georgiasymphony.org/all-events.

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Cobb Library System to hold mid-winter school break events

Cobb library tax forms

Submitted information:

The Cobb County Public Library events calendar for Mid-Winter Break features a range of programs for young children, students and adults. School is out for students and educators Feb. 17-21 for the Cobb County and Marietta City school districts, and for many independent schools and homeschool families.

Activities during the week at Cobb libraries cover arts and crafts, music, STEM projects, story sharing, games and dance. 

Upcoming scheduled youth programs at CCPL locations include:

Pokémon Meetup, a game program for children in grades 1-5, is 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 15 at Mountain View Regional Library, 3320 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta 30066. No registration is required. For more information, call 770-509-2725.

Pokémon Club for children ages 6-12 and families meets 3:30 p.m. Mondays at West Cobb Regional Library, 1750 Dennis Kemp Ln NW, Kennesaw 30152. Pokémon Club is a drop-in event. No registration is required.

Monday Teen Create, a chance for teens to engage in science and art by creating STEM experiments and art projects, meets 2:30 p.m. Mondays at Switzer Library. All materials are provided.

Tamil Storytime for children ages 5-8 and their participating adults, meets 3 p.m. on select Saturdays at Sewell Mill Library & Cultural Center, 2051 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta 30068. Guest presenter Jeya Maran leads the program featuring reading, songs and games all in the Tamil language. Registration is required. Visit cobbcat.org for details.

For information on CCPL events, visit cobbcat.org or call 770-528-2326.

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Bells Ferry ES reconstruction project to cost $9.8 million

Bells Ferry ES 2nd and 3rd graders to relocate to Chalker ES
An aerial architectural rendering of the Bells Ferry ES reconstruction project.

UPDATED:

The Cobb school board Thursday approved the construction price maximum by consent.

ORIGINAL STORY:

The Cobb County School District has recommended a maximum price for the cost of major renovations and additions at Bells Ferry Elementary School in Northeast Cobb.

According to an agenda item, the Cobb Board of Education will be asked Thursday to set that price at $9.8 million and to approve Winter Construction of Atlanta as the contractor.

The funding will come from the current SPLOST VI sales tax for Cobb schools.

Setting a maximum price enables the contractor “to move forward to begin procuring long lead time equipment, sitework, utility relocation, and other enabling work in accordance with the planned schedule,” according to the agenda item.

Completion is estimated for July 2027.

The project will be discussed at a board work session starting at 2 p.m. Thursday, and is listed as an action item for the board voting meeting that begins at 7 p.m.

You can view the agendas for the public meetings by clicking here.

An executive session is scheduled in between the public meetings, which will take place in the board room of the Cobb County School District’s central office (514 Glover Street, Marietta).

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

The current Bells Ferry facility at Bells Ferry Road and Piedmont Road was built in 1973, and currently enrolls 750 students.

The oldest portion of the main building will be rebuilt, and the school will get upgraded technology and communications equipment, including new computing and interactive devices for classrooms, telephone systems and replacing two playground areas.

The project will also prompt portable classrooms on the campus, and second- and third-grade classes will be relocated to nearby Chalker Elementary School starting in August.

At the evening meeting, the Cobb school board will be holding the last of three required public hearings on the district’s intent to opt out of a new state homestead exemption law. A vote on the measure also is scheduled.

HB 581 was passed by the Georgia General Assembly in 2024, and state voters approved enabling legislation in a November referendum to establish a statewide floating homestead exemption.

Those exemptions apply to counties, school districts and municipalities, and would place a cap on property tax rates based on an inflation rate set by the Georgia Department of Revenue.

The law was passed following concerns about dramatic property tax rate increases due to soaring assessments during periods of high inflation.

Like Cobb government, however, Cobb schools have stated that its current exemptions are more beneficial to parents and taxpayers.

The district claims that it would lose an estimated $43 million under the new homestead exemption law, which “could force the District to cut teacher salaries, increase class sizes, or otherwise harm student learning.”

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East Cobb Food Scores: Guthrie’s; Xengo; El Jinete; more

Guthrie's Chicken; 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:

Eastvalley Elementary School
380 Holt Road
February 10, 2025, Score: 100, Grade: A

El Jinete Mexican Restaurant
4681 Woodstock Road, Suite 440
February 13, 2025, Score: 100, Grade: A

Guthrie’s Chicken
4774 Lower Roswell Road
February 10, 2025, Score: 100, Grade: A

Handmade Dumplings and Noodles
1100 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 110
February 10, 2025, Score: 96, Grade: A

Jersey Mike’s
1050 East Piedmont Road, Suite 124
February 10, 2025, Score: 96, Grade: A

Karachi Broast and Grill
1475 Terrell Mill Road, Suite 110
February 11, 2025, Score: 91, Grade: A

McCleskey Middle School
4080 Maybreeze Drive
February 13, 2025, Score: 100, Grade: A

Mountain View Elementary School
3151 Sandy Plains Road
February 11, 2025, Score: 100, Grade: A

Nicholson Elementary School
1599 Shallowford Raod
February 13, 2025, Score: 100, Grade: A

Provision Cafe
955 Johnson Ferry Road
February 10, 2025, Score: 91, Grade: A

Saffron Cuisine
3545 Canton Road
February 11, 2025, Score: 96, Grade: A

Shallowford Falls Elementary School
3500 Lassiter Road
February 11, 2025, Score: 100, Grade: A

The Solana East Cobb
1032 Johnson Ferry Road
February 13, 2025, Score: 94, Grade: A

Timber Ridge Elementary School
5000 Timber Ridge Road
February 11, 2025, Score: 100, Grade: A

Waffle House
550 North Greenbriar Parkway
February 13, 2025, Score: 81, Grade: B

Xengo
3162 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 420
February 13, 2025, Score: 92, Grade: A

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Democratic runoff set in Cobb commission special election

Democratic runoff set in Cobb commission special election
Erick Allen

Two former public office holders will square off next month in the Democratic primary in special elections for the Cobb Board of Commissioners.

Former State Rep. Erick Allen and former Cobb Board of Education member Jaha Howard each received more than 40 percent of the vote in Tuesday’s special election in District 2, which includes a small portion of East Cobb (precinct-by-precinct results here).

They will be on the March 11 runoff ballot, since neither surpassed 50 percent of the vote.

Allen, who also was chairman of the Cobb legislative delegation, received 1,669 votes, or 46 percent, to 1,568 votes for Howard, or 43 percent.

Tracy Stevenson, a retired general contractor, had 432 votes, or nearly 12 percent.

The runoff winner will face Republican Alicia Adams in the April 29 general election.

The special elections were ordered by a Cobb judge after May 2024 primaries were invalidated due to electoral maps that were ruled to be in violation of the Georgia Constitution.

Cobb Elections estimates the special elections will cost around $1.5 million.

Ex-Cobb school board member eyes county commission seat
Jaha Howard

District 2 was held until last week by Jerica Richardson, a first-term Democrat who was drawn out of her East Cobb home by the Georgia legislature during reapportionment in 2022.

She and her two fellow Democrats on the commission voted to honor electoral maps drawn by the Cobb legislative delegation, then headed by Allen, that would have kept her in office.

Those “home rule” maps never received a vote in the legislature, but they were also used by the Cobb Board of Elections for the primaries.

Howard defeated Whorton in a Democratic runoff. At the same time, Adams appealed her disqualification under the “home rule” maps and won her legal challenge, setting off another wave of court battles involving Richardson.

Her last-ditch appeal to the Georgia Court of Appeals to stay in office was ignored last week, for now the commission has only four of its five members.

Richardson was not on the dais at Tuesday’s commission meeting.

In District 4 in South Cobb, Democratic incumbent Monique Sheffield easily won the primary, getting more than 72 percent of the vote in a race with attorney Yashica Marshall.

In the general election, Sheffield will face Republican Matthew Hardwick.

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Cobb Fire Department chief of staff appointed new chief

Submitted information:New Cobb fire chief appointed

Dr. Michael Cunningham became the seventh Fire Chief in Cobb County’s history after the Board of Commissioners confirmed his appointment Tuesday. The appointment, recommended by County Manager Dr. Jackie McMorris, followed an extensive search process after the previous Fire Chief’s retirement last year.

Dr. McMorris highlighted Cunningham’s diverse background, noting his leadership in representing Cobb County as a speaker, expert, and facilitator at numerous conferences, as well as his experience as an instructor and author. Cobb’s Public Safety Director echoed the praise.

“I believe we have one of the greatest fire services in the country, and I know you are honored to lead it,” Public Safety Director Michael Register told Cunningham.

“It is a humbling experience and an absolute honor to be standing before you,” Chief Cunningham said moments after the board confirmed his appointment. “To the men and women of this department, I am truly honored to stand alongside you and uphold our tradition of excellence in service to this community. I’m excited about the future.”

Chief Cunningham has served with Cobb County Fire & Emergency Services since 2005, rising through the ranks to Division Chief before becoming Chief of Staff. In this position, he managed the administrative system that guides the daily operations of the Fire Chief and senior command staff. He provided strategic counsel to the Fire Chief and other command staff members and performed oversight, project management, performance management, and policy direction in line with the department’s strategic plan.

An Air Force veteran, Cunningham holds a PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, a Master’s degree in Business Administration, a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, a Bachelor of Science in Professional Aeronautics, and an Associate’s in Applied Science in Avionic Systems Technology. Additionally, Chief Cunningham holds the Chief Fire Officer (CFO) designation from the CPSE Commission on Professional Credentialing. He is also a graduate of the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government EXCEL Management Development Program and the 2023 Leadership Cobb program.

Cunningham’s appointment officially begins on February 17. However, Director Register appointed him Interim Fire Chief immediately after the meeting, enabling him to assume his duties right away.

Cobb included in flood watch through Thursday

Cobb included in flood watch through Thursday

Cobb and North Georgia are under a flood watch from Tuesday afternoon through Thursday morning,

The National Weather Service issued the watch in forecasting several inches of rain during that period.

The rain is expected to move into Cobb starting at 6 p.m. Tuesday and continuing through Wednesday evening.

That’s when the risk of flooding is likely to be the highest.

Highs Tuesday and Wednesday will hover in the low 50s, with lows both nights in the mid 40s.

Thursday’s high will be around 60, and sun returns briefly on Friday before overcast skies and colder temperatures set in over the weekend.

Former Cobb Tax Assessor named to new county role

Stephen White, who has been the Cobb Tax Assessor since 2013, has been appointed the Cobb Support Services Agency director.

He was appointed Jan. 27 by the Cobb Board of Commissioners and begins his new role on Feb. 17.

He succeeds Sharon Stanley, who has retired.

Cobb Support Services oversees a number of county departments, including information technology services, procurement, property and fleet management and the tax assessor’s office.

White has been with the tax assessor’s office since 2005, starting as a senior appraiser, and was named a deputy chief in 2010.

As assessor, he oversaw daily operations of the office and the compilation of the county tax digest.

Cobb commission special election primaries set for Tuesday

Special elections for District 2 and District 4 for the Cobb Board of Commissioners will include a primary on Tuesday.

Cobb commission special election primaries set for Tuesday
District 2 contains only small portions of the East Cobb area.

The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.

District 2 includes a portion of the East Cobb area along Interstate 75 and the Powers Ferry Road corridor.

Precincts in East Cobb that are partly or all in District 2 include East Piedmont 01, Marietta 6B, Marietta 6A, Sewell Mill 03, Marietta 7A, Powers Ferry 01, Terrell Mill 01 and Chattahoochee 01.

If you live in one of those precincts and are unsure of your commission district, check the My Voter page at the Georgia Secretary of State’s office website.

Democratic candidates for District 2 include former Cobb Board of Education member Jaha Howard, former State Rep. Erick Allen and Marietta resident Tracy Stevenson.

Another Democratic candidate, Taniesha Whorton, dropped out but her name is still on the ballot.

If a runoff is needed, it would be held on March 11.

The winner of the Democratic primary will face Alicia Adams, the only Republican to qualify, in the April general election.

Early voting in the primaries took place last week, and Cobb Elections reported light turnout—around 3,300 votes in both races.

The special elections were ordered by a Cobb judge after May 2024 primaries were invalidated due to electoral maps that were ruled to be in violation of the Georgia Constitution.

District 2 was held until last week by Jerica Richardson, a first-term Democrat who was drawn out of her East Cobb home by the Georgia legislature during reapportionment in 2022.

She and her two fellow Democrats on the commission voted to honor electoral maps drawn by the Cobb legislative delegation, then headed by Allen, that would have kept her in office.

Those “home rule” maps never received a vote in the legislature, but they were also used by the Cobb Board of Elections for the primaries.

Howard defeated Whorton in a Democratic runoff. At the same time, Adams appealed her disqualification under the “home rule” maps and won her legal challenge, setting off another wave of court battles involving Richardson.

Her last-ditch appeal to the Georgia Court of Appeals to stay in office was ignored last week, for now the commission has only four of its five members.

Cobb Elections estimates the special elections will cost around $1.5 million.

The District 4 seat also is getting a do-over. First-term incumbent Monique Sheffield easily won the 2024 primary for the South Cobb seat, and Yashica Marshall once again is challenging her.

There are two Republicans on the ballot in that race, Matthew Hardwick and Julien Grhas.

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Wheeler Theatre to stage ‘Cinderella The Enchanted Edition’

Submitted information:https://eastcobbnews.com/2025-atlanta-jewish-film-festival-marks-25th-anniversary/

Join Wheeler High School Theatre as they present in royal style, Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, the Enchanted Edition on March 27, 28 and 29 at 7:00 pm and March 29 and 30 at 2:00 pm in the Wheeler Performance Arts Center.

From the amazing team that brought you Oklahoma, The Sound of Music and South Pacific, Rodgers and Hammerstein bring the classic love story of Cinderella to the stage, as told through the eyes of her Fairy Godmother. In a beloved tale of dreams, love and new beginnings, Cinderella is a young woman living in servitude to her cruel stepmother, all while dreaming of a better life.  With a little help from her Fairy Godmother, Cinderella is transformed into a beautiful young maiden so she may attend the royal ball. An evening of pageantry and dancing leads her to meet her Prince Charming. but the magic expires at midnight. Young and old will not want to miss seeing true love’s persistence prevail.

Accompanied by a full orchestra of Wheeler Student Instrumentalists, we invite you to attend this beautiful retelling of a classic tale and enjoy the timeless music from your childhood. 

Cinderella is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All Authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com 

TICKETS: WHEELERHS.BOOKTIX.COM 

Adult Tickets:  $20 

Student Tickets:  $10 / with student ID or children attending with an adult

CCSD Faculty and Staff receive ONE Complimentary Ticket with CCSD ID.

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Scout Troop 1011 announces 38th annual pine straw fundraiser

Submitted information:

2023 Dog Days Run
Scouts from Troop 1011, sponsored by the Rotary Club of East Cobb.

  • We are taking orders now through February 23 at scoutpinestraw.com

  • Rolls are $16 and bales are $7

  • Delivery will take place Friday, February 28- Saturday, March 1

  • Delivery is free with the purchase of 12 bales or 5 rolls (within a 5-mile radius of Mt. Bethel Church)

  • All proceeds benefit the Scouts of Troop 1011 for camping trips, merit badge activities, etc.

  • Scout Troop 1011 is sponsored by the East Cobb Rotary

 

 

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East Cobb residential real estate sales, Jan. 27-31, 2025

The Preserve at Holly Springs, East Cobb real estate sales
The Preserve at Holly Springs

The following East Cobb residential real estate sales were compiled from agency reports and Cobb County property records.

They include the street address, subdivision name and sales price listed under their respective high school attendance zones:

Kell

1961 Enchanted Woods Trail, 30066 (Enchanted Woods): $530,000

1366 Gray Rock Drive, 30066 (Olde Mill Ford): $400,000

1285 Harewood Trail, 30066 (Oxford Manor): $500,000

Lassiter

None

Pope

2951 Bentwood Drive, 30062 (Saddle Ridge Lake): $530,000

3334 Woods Field Drive, 30062 (Post Oak Square): $640,000

4799 Fairville Court, 30062 (Chadds Walk): $835,000

2111 Mitchell Road, 30062 (Cadence): $1.4 million

2440 Timberland Creek Trail, 30062 (The Preserve at Holly Springs): $1.45 million

3152 Normandy Circle, 30062 (Normandy): $360,000

2878 London Court, 30062 (Ashford Pines): $640,000

Sprayberry

3952 Fairington Drive, 30066 (Lookout Point): $485,000

2233 Creekway Drive, 30066 (Park at Barrett Creek): $410,500

1780 Kinridge Road, 30062 (Sandy Plains Estates): $265,000

1800 Trophy Drive, 30062 (Sandy Plains Estates): $392,000

131 Bluffington Way, 30066 (Old Bells Ferry): $400,000

1151 Malibu Drive, 30066 (Philmont Estates): $475,000

4054 Thornbrook Lane, 30066 (Thornbrook): $420,000

Walton

1143 Wonder Lane, 30062 (Crafton Heights): $600,500

1193 Colony Drive, 30068 (Lake Colony): $560,000

1881 Waltham Circle, 30062 (East Hampton): $900,000

2103 Castlewycke Court, 30068 (Brookshyre Manor): $2.3 million

4010 Paper Mill Road, 30067 (The Columns): $1.2 million

1045 Sterling Ridge Chase, 30062 (Sterling Ridge): $650,000

808 Saddle Hill, 30068 (Mulberry Farms): $400,000

Wheeler

322 Chase Lane, 30068 (Sentinel Chase): $1.783 million

885 Halston Court, 30062 (East Lake Ridge): $385,000

2265 Lower Roswell Road, 30068: $499,900

890 Cedar River Court, 30067 (Oaks at Powers Ferry): $499,000

901 Edmond Oaks, 30067 (Scarlet Oaks): $749,000

2739 Beverly Hills Drive, 30068 (Beverly Hills Estates): $650,000

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Editor’s Note: The unrealized legacy of Jerica Richardson

Cobb adopts state electoral maps; Richardson in limbo

I wish the Georgia General Assembly had not drawn Jerica Richardson out of her seat on the Cobb Board of Commissioners during reapportionment in 2022.

It was unfair and unprecedented, as she stated many times during a two-plus-years legal battle over county electoral maps that confused citizens and cost them fruitless taxpayer-funded court challenges.

But it was not illegal.

When Cobb Republican lawmakers sidestepped local courtesy in ignoring county delegation maps and filed their own maps, it smelled of the partisan odor that comes with redistricting.

As it has for decades, and always will.

Richardson, an articulate and intelligent thirty-something Georgia Tech graduate, entered office in December 2020 full of new energy, new ideas and a younger generational vibe, and was stepping in the very big shoes left behind by Bob Ott.

She was conscientious in forming a “community cabinet” of citizen advisors on such topics as education, land use and traffic, and held online “community huddles” to preview meeting agendas.

She brought young people into the fold in myriad ways, including inviting high school students to conduct “capstone” projects on pressing local issues.

Richardson also worked with the local Brazilian community, a sizable contingent of citizens in the East Cobb and Cumberland-Smyrna area in particular.

These were admirable and endearing efforts to invite greater participation in civic life, and they are a positive part of the legacy she leaves behind in her sole term in office.

Halfway through, the District 2 Richardson had been elected to serve no longer included her East Cobb home.

But when Richardson and her two fellow Democratic colleagues conjured up dubious “home rule” claims in adopting those unapproved delegation maps, and using them to conduct county business, those actions were just as wrong.

They were also violations of the Georgia Constitution–as ruled by two judges in Cobb County–which gives sole county reapportionment powers to the legislature.

Richardson’s final appeal to remain in office—her term officially expired Dec. 31, and she didn’t seek re-election—was ignored Tuesday by the Georgia Court of Appeals.

She was trying to hold on until a special election to decide her successor is determined in April.

In recent months, following those emphatic court rulings of unconstitutionality, Richardson chose her most bristling rhetoric of the whole saga.

While she said at times her legal battle wasn’t about her but the rights of communities to draw electoral maps, at the very end Richardson claimed she had been the primary target all along:

“For the last four years, this office has been under attack by the entire state infrastructure because change is scary for so many. Unfortunately, the unknown is exploited so that power can be transferred from the hands of many to the hands of few.”

That three black Democratic women formed the ruling majority on the commission in a Cobb County dominated for decades by white male Republican elected officials is hard to ignore.

For most of her time in office, Richardson didn’t play to those or other cultural issues.

But at the height of the tensions in August, Democratic Commissioner Monique Sheffield referred to the partisan sparring on the all-female board, especially over the maps, as “political Bloods and Crips.”

Richardson’s vague comments this week are a bit much to absorb. “The entire state infrastructure” was out to get her. Really? In a state with 159 counties? And what exactly is the change that is feared?

We are left to guess.

As for the charge of transferring power, it’s very likely Democrats will still hold a 3-2 majority after the special elections.

The new District 2 includes areas along I-75, from Kennesaw and Marietta to Smyrna, which are not very Republican.

What I wish Richardson would have had done as she took her final bows was to offer an apology.

To those residents of East Cobb who for the last two years were uncertain over who their commissioner was supposed to be.

And for what’s estimated to be $1.5 million for the special elections in District 2 and District 4, after the primaries last year were voided because the “home rule” maps were used.

Acknowledging the chaos and turmoil that was caused by this dispute was a missed opportunity for Richardson.

When Republican Commissioner JoAnn Birrell of East Cobb, who’s not one to relish conflict or use profanity, called this episode “two years of hell,” it’s worth noting.

Yes, Richardson had the right to appeal her removal.

And yes, as Cupid once claimed, “a great harm” was done to Cobb by the legislature in bypassing local delegation courtesies during reapportionment.

But Cupid, who also has a law degree, had to have known where this dispute would end.

In decrying norm-breaking, you don’t break other norms. Especially the law.

That will also be a part of Richardson’s legacy, and that’s disappointing.

ECN 1500 Club Update: Please donate to our February drive!

Last month I asked East Cobb News readers to consider becoming monthly recurring donors so we can keep giving you community news that you can’t find anywhere else.Editor's Note: Inviting our readers to join the 1500 Club!

We’ve been committed to making our content free to all, and to build sustainability for the long haul. East Cobb News is reader-focused community news, whose ultimate aim is to serve you.

What I’m calling our “1500 Club” is continuing into the spring, with the goal of getting 1,500 readers to join the ranks of recurring donors.

Yes, that’s an ambitious goal, and so is our goal for February—500 new monthly contributors. Thanks to those of you who have contributed.

We raised $750 in reader revenue in January, higher than in recent months, and I’m very grateful to all of you for supporting the work of East Cobb News.

We also had an outstanding traffic month to start off the year, particularly with multiple weather events, so we know that you come to rely on East Cobb News. 

With your help, we want our fundraising total to surpass that in February.

Please donate today!

We recommend a monthly contribution of $6 a month—that’s a couple of cups of drive-through coffee— on our safe and secure payment platform, Press Patron. Signing up is easy, and you can manage your account from there as well.

Local news outlets of all kinds are asking readers to help support the work they do, and not just online startups like East Cobb News.

Did you know that The Marietta Daily Journal, which has been around for more than 100 years, has begun what it calls the Cobb Journalism Fund, to support its editorial efforts?

Through the non-profit Cobb Community Fund, that effort has generated more than $100,000 to fund a reporting position and related expenses for enterprise and investigative journalism.

The paper has done some good work through that vehicle, yet it still charges readers a subscription.

East Cobb News does not do that and has no plans to impose a paywall. We want local news to be accessible to everyone.

We’re not asking for anywhere near that total of money.

But frankly, we really need more readers to step up and support the work of East Cobb News. We’ve got a sizable and engaged audience, and know that you appreciate what you get here every day and in our Sunday newsletter.

We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished, and we hear so many compliments from you about what you get here.

Now is the time to show that you value what East Cobb News means for you.

We’d like to suggest a monthly payment of $6—you can contribute more if you like, or at whatever amount of your choosing.

Consider becoming a regular supporter!

As you can tell from the stories and other content here, East Cobb News gives you local news and useful community information in a simple, straight-forward way.

Similarly, inviting you to join the 1500 Club is a simple ask. I’ll get straight to the point:

We really need you to help us sustain this community news resource, now it its eighth year of operation.

East Cobb News is a for-profit business, just like the MDJ and many of the traditional local media outlets that are also asking readers for financial support.

Please consider giving today, at whatever amount suits you. We appreciate your support!

 

Walton HS basketball players reach 1,000-point milestone

Walton HS basketball players reach 1,000-point milestone

Submitted information and photo:

Cobb Schools’ Athlete of the Week (AOW) program is a weekly recognition of male and female student-athletes performing at high levels in their sport, classroom, and school communities. The program is made possible by support from BSN Sports.

This week’s winners are basketball players from Walton. Graycen Ehlen is a senior starter for the Lady Raiders, and Caesar Burrows is a senior starter for the boy’s team.

Graycen Ehlen, Basketball, Walton

A four-year starter for the Lady Raiders, Graycen began playing basketball in the fourth grade with the Junior Raider program. She currently leads the team in points, steals, assists, and blocks. She was recently honored for scoring her 1000th career point. She has a 3.4 GPA and will attend Mississippi State in the fall to play soccer for the Bulldogs.

“Graycen has been a huge part of our program’s success over the past few seasons, including a region championship in 2023 and advancing to the Sweet 16 in both 2023 and 2024,” said her coach, Matt Kelterborn. “She was also selected to the GBCA/GACA 7A All-State team for basketball last year as a junior. She is the main engine for our team, and they look up to her greatly. She is also an outstanding goalie on the Walton Soccer team and will be attending Mississippi State next year on a soccer scholarship.”

“She leads by example. Graycen is well-respected and a hard worker in the classroom. She serves as a role model for the other kids in our program, and her teammates and coaches have the highest respect for her on and off the court,” concluded Coach Kelterborn about his Athlete of the Week.

Caesar Burrows, Basketball, Walton

A three-year starter and a four-year varsity player for the Raiders, Caesar also just scored his 1000th career point. He has been a part of the Walton basketball program since the fifth grade when he started playing with the junior program. Caesar leads the team in points, assists, and rebounds, and he is an all-star in the classroom, too, with a 3.73 GPA. Caesar will be furthering his academic and athletic career at Lehigh University on a basketball scholarship. 

“Caesar is the ultimate team leader,” said Raider Boys Head Coach Bo Abney. “He leads on the court with his play, attitude, and unselfishness. His on-court accomplishments speak for themselves, but off the court, he is a great student and well-respected by all his teachers. He is also involved in Fellowship of Christian Athletes as a member of the FCA student leadership team.”

“His example for our younger athletes is something that makes him special and someone they can look up to. Caesar truly exemplifies what it means to be a student-athlete,” said Coach Abney proudly.

 

 

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2025 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival marks 25th anniversary

2025 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival marks 25th anniversary
“Guns and Moses” will screen at the Merchants Walk Cinema Feb. 23 at 1:30 p.m.

The GTE Merchants Walk Cinema once again will be among the venues for the 2025 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, which runs from Feb. 19-March 16.

It’s the 25th anniversary of the festival, which features 50 films and kicks off at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center (festival features here).

Eight films will be shown at Merchants Walk from Feb. 22-23:

  • Art Spiegelman: Disaster is My Muse
  • The Most Precious of Cargoes
  • Never Alone
  • Soda
  • The Glory of Life
  • Guns and Moses
  • The Blond Boy from the Casbah
  • Bliss (Hemda)

Among the featured films is Guns and Moses, in which:

“A charismatic Chabad rabbi in the High Desert unexpectedly becomes a gunslinger after a fierce attack on his close-knit community. Rabbi Mo Zaltzman (Mark Feuerstein) abhors violence, but when his synagogue is riddled with bullets and a congregant assaulted, he reluctantly steps in as a protector. Guided by a Holocaust survivor (Christopher Lloyd) with a shadowed past and a veteran mayor (Neal McDonough), Mo converts into an improbable hero.

“Confronting enemies and moral dilemmas, Mo’s pursuit tests his faith and resilience, unraveling a larger conspiracy. Inspired by real events, this tongue-in-cheek, neo-Western thriller fuses intense action with a striking aesthetic, redefining the Jewish hero and challenging the myth of redemptive violence.”

Details of those and other films can be found here; and the full schedule grid for the festival can be found by clicking here.

Related:

 

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Cobb County Animal Services to hold pet ID clinic

Submitted information:For Pets' Sake Benefit
The FBI is NOT interested in your cat’s napping habits or your dog’s treat count. Microchips don’t track—it’s just a permanent ID to keep your pets safe. Join us at the ‘ID, Not FBI’ Microchip Clinic and keep your pets close, not the government closer!  Microchipping your pet is a responsibility that safeguards their well-being and strengthens animal welfare in the community. Cats, dogs, birds, and even rabbits can benefit from this simple yet effective form of identification.
If your pets aren’t microchipped and you are a Cobb County resident, NOW is the time to microchip your cat, dog, bird, and rabbit for FREE. RSVP to Jessica.Darrough@cobbcounty.org to set an appointment on February 17 from 11am-3pm to bring your pet to Cobb County Animal Services at 1060 Al Bishop Drive, Marietta, GA 30008. For additional information, visit CobbCounty.org/pets.
It’s Just Lunch adoption events to be held: February 10, February 24, March 10, & March 24. Each day the event is held from 11am-3pm:
🌟 It’s Just Lunch Adoption Event 🌟
🐾 Looking for the perfect lunch date? 🐾
Stop by the Cobb County Animal Services Parking Lot on Mondays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and meet your future forever friend! 💕
✨ Why you’ll love it:
✔️ Featured pets in our adoption trailer are FREE to adopt!
✔️ Every pet is spayed/neutered, microchipped, and up-to-date on vaccinations.
✔️ Make your lunch break unforgettable with a wagging tail or a soothing purr.
🍽️ Forever Friends = The Best Lunch Dates
Skip the usual lunch spot—share your midday with a furry companion waiting to meet you!
📍 Location:
Cobb County Animal Services Parking Lot
1060 Al Bishop Dr., Marietta, GA 30008
👉 CobbCounty.org/pets

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