East Cobb News

Cobb schools report 106 new COVID cases, lowest since Nov.

March 5, 2021 1:36 PM by Wendy Parker

This week’s COVID-19 update in the Cobb County School District is the lowest single-week total for new reported cases since the pandemic was on the rise in November.

The district is reporting 106 new cases among teachers and staff, the same number as the week of Nov. 20, when case totals in Cobb and Georgia began their late fall and early winter surge.

That was a month after Cobb students who chose in-person learning returned to their classrooms.

The 106 new cases bring to 4,066 the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in the district since it began reporting them last July 1.

There were 7 new cases this week at Kell High School, the most of any school in the 112-school district, and Walton High School’s 3 new cases bring its overall total to 105, the most in the district.

There also are 50 schools this week that did not report any new cases. The figures do not break down between students and staff.

After an online-only end to the fall semester, the spring semester started in frazzled fashion in January, and during that period 3 Cobb schools teachers died from COVID-19, setting off emotional protests and calls for a return to virtual learning.

After 470 new cases were reported the week of Jan. 15—the highest for any week this school year—those numbers steadily began to drop. By Feb. 15, the new case total had fallen to 232, and was 229 last week.

The district announced last week it was making plans to distribute vaccines to teachers and staff.

In Cobb County, the rate of new COVID-cases has been declining sharply. According to Thursday’s Georgia Department of Public Health daily status report, the 7-day moving average of cases according to date of onset in the county is 160, the lowest since early November.

That’s for both PCR and antigen tests, and that combined 7-day moving average stood at 801 in early January.

The rate of community spread of the virus in Cobb also has dropped sharply, with a 14-day average of 234 PCR cases per 100,000. That number had been higher than 1,000 in January.

A two-week average of 100 cases per 100,000 is considered high community spread.

Cobb Superior Court conducts ‘implicit bias training’ for judges

March 5, 2021 3:41 PMMarch 5, 2021 9:41 AM by Wendy Parker

Submitted information:

The Cobb Judicial Circuit is among the first in the state to have judicial officers across all classes of courts attend implicit bias training. The Superior Court hosted this training for the entire Cobb judiciary on Friday, Feb. 26. Chief Justice Harold Melton of the Supreme Court of Georgia was also in attendance.

This interactive training from the National Training Institute on Race and Equity was led by Dr. Bryant T. Marks, Ph.D., who is the organization’s founder and chief equity officer. It focused on recognizing how implicit biases are normal byproducts of being human, living in society, and being overexposed to certain groups with certain traits and in certain roles. A key concept highlighted was this is about the machinery of the mind and not the content of one’s character. Judges learned how to take steps to be more cognizant of and guard against these implicit biases in judicial decision-making.

“Today, we believe Cobb County became the first judicial circuit in Georgia to offer this type of impactful training to its judiciary from top to bottom, across all classes of courts,” said Chief Judge Rob Leonard, who organized the training. “It’s important to let the public know that we take very seriously our solemn obligation to dispense justice fairly and impartially.”

With 50 judges in attendance from the Cobb Superior, State, Juvenile, Probate, Magistrate, and Municipal Courts, Leonard added, “I could not have been more pleased with the participation, engagement, or the turnout. I am very proud of the leadership role that our bench played in bringing this training to judicial education in Georgia.”

Superior Court Judge Angela Brown, who attended the training, said “It is important for us to begin to understand and address the historic race issues affecting justice in the court system and this training was a great first step. To see my colleagues from all classes of Cobb courts and such great participation from my own Superior Court bench is encouraging.”

Chief Magistrate Brendan Murphy also found the training extremely useful.

“As magistrate judges, our decisions set the trajectory for the entire criminal justice process,” Murphy said. “Even small unconsidered and unchecked unconscious biases can have devastating consequences. I’m grateful Chief Judge Leonard organized this dynamic presentation and proud that all 18 Cobb magistrate judges actively participated.”

Chief State Court Judge Carl Bowers added “The State Court of Cobb County, along with our colleagues in the other courts, is pleased to have participated in the implicit bias training offered by Dr. Marks. His topic is timely, relevant and beneficial.”

Dr. Marks served on President Obama’s Board of Advisors with the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans and as a senior advisor with the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. He has provided implicit bias training to more than 2,000 police chiefs and executives via a series of briefings at the White House. He has also trained tens of thousands of police officers in local police departments across the United States, as well as local prosecutors.

The Superior Court of Cobb County is a court of general jurisdiction handling both civil and criminal law actions. The Superior Court has concurrent jurisdiction with the State Court over cases involving misdemeanors, contract disputes, premises liability, and various other actions. In addition, the Superior Court has exclusive equity jurisdiction over all cases of divorce, title to land, and felonies involving jury trials, including death penalty cases. The Superior Court of Cobb County has 10 elected judges who preside over jury trials, rule on evidence, hear motions and render verdicts in bench trials. Each Superior Court Judge is elected to a four-year term.

For more information, please contact Amanda Marshall at 678-522-9261 or amanda.marshall@cobbcounty.org.

Cobb school bus driver appreciation event to donate PPE supplies

March 4, 2021 2:27 PM by Wendy Parker

Cobb school bus safety

East Cobb parent Mindy Seger is organizing a second bus driver appreciation drive to raise funds for PPE supplies for drivers in the Cobb County School District.

She was prompted into action when learning that not all of the district’s estimated 1,100 bus drivers and monitors have enough masks and other safety supplies in response to COVID-19.

The second driver appreciation event will take place at the Freeman Poole Senior Center (4025 S. Hurt Road, Smyrna) on Saturday, March 13 from 2-4 p.m.

That’s where the initial PPE pickup event took place last month. Seger and her fellow volunteers raised enough in donations and supplies for 100 bags to give away, but nearly 200 people showed up.

Seger said she wants to give away 500 bags at the next event “but that will take huge community support.” Here’s how you can help:

Items bit.ly/cobbbus
Money bit.ly/fundcobbbus

Here’s more about what Seger’s doing in a Fox 5 report.

East Cobb food scores: Mediterranean Grill; Mirko Pasta; more

March 6, 2021 3:51 PMMarch 4, 2021 8:34 AM by Wendy Parker

Mirko Pasta East Cobb, East Cobb restaurant scores

The following East Cobb food scores for the week of March 1 have been compiled by the Cobb & Douglas Department of Public Health. Click the link under each listing for inspection details:

Chick-fil-A
3046 Shallowford Road
March 2, 2021 Score: 97, Grade: A

Domino’s Pizza
2146 Roswell Road, Suite 100
March 4, 2021 Score: 98, Grade: A

Johnboy’s Home Cooking
3050 Canton Road
March 1, 2021 Score: 88, Grade: B

Jordan Lounge and Hookah Bar
2755 Canton Road
March 2, 2021 Score: 81, Grade: B

McDonald’s
4819 Lower Roswell Road
March 5, 2021 Score: 100, Grade: A

Mediterranean Grill
1255 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 15
March 1, 2021 Score: 98, Grade: A

Mirko Pasta
1281 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 120
March 2, 2021 Score: 95, Grade: A

Mt. Bethel Elementary School
1210 Johnson Ferry Road
March 5, 2021 Score: 100, Grade: A

Panera Bread
4475 Roswell Road, Suite 1530
March 4, 2021 Score: 100, Grade: A

Taco Bell
4880 Lower Roswell Road
March 5, 2021 Score: 100, Grade: A

Cobb schools cancels contract for UV disinfecting lights

March 3, 2021 7:57 PMMarch 3, 2021 7:27 PM by Wendy Parker

Cobb schools COVID safety products — *Cobb schools had been installing UV disinfecting light systems on elementary campuses.*

The Cobb County School District said Wednesday it was cancelling a contract for ultraviolet light (UV) disinfecting lights in elementary schools after those lights at a school malfunctioned last month.

In a message to the “Cobb Schools Team,” the district said that it was discontinuing its contract with Cobb-based ProTek Life after the UV light system at Argyle Elementary School in Smyrna failed on Feb. 22.

The UV lights were designed to disinfect classrooms overnight as part of COVID-19 safety measures. They were to have a “fail-safe” element that would prevent the activity from taking place if a student or teacher entered a classroom.

The Cleanz254 lights disinfect classrooms daily after the school day is over. The process takes an hour overnight, and the vendor claims it kills 99.99 percent of all microbes in a classroom.

But the district said in its message that “it appears timing hardware and motion detectors did not work as described” and the UV lights went on in two offices at Argyle during the school day on Feb. 22.

“Although no students were present, one adult was present” and other UV lights “flickered on and off throughout the building in appeared to be attempts to turn on,” the district said, adding that no one appeared to be hurt during the incidents.

The message said an investigation into the problems began and while the problem was limited to one school, “the District’s high expectation and safety requirements were not met despite ProTek Life’s Assurances.

“We have determined ProTek’s hardware does not meet the safety requirement described in and required by our RFP process,” said the district’s message, which added that CCSD would be asking for a repayment under the terms of its contract.

(You can read the full letter by clicking here.)

The district expanded the UV lights contract to all 67 elementary schools after what Superintendent Chris Ragsdale called a successful proof-of-concept at three schools in the fall.

Only a few schools have had the UV lights installed thus far, including Murdock ES and Sope Creek ES in East Cobb.

The contract with ProTek Life was part of a $12 million request by Ragsdale in December with other vendors that included high-tech hand sanitizers.

The board voted to approve the contract, but some board members objected, saying they hadn’t seen any evidence that the products worked, and thought it was not the best use of funds.

One of those objecting members, Jaha Howard, was prevented from asking further questions of Ragsdale during the board meeting.

No information about the $12 million spending request, with the funds to come from the district’s reserve, was ever included on the board’s meeting agenda.

After that, a citizens group called “Watching the Funds—Cobb” organized to question and scrutinize school district spending, and was critical of the $12 million purchase.

The group also has questioned the district’s contract with AlertPoint, a Kennesaw company that manufactures an emergency alert system that’s been installed in all Cobb schools starting in 2017.

On Feb. 2, an alert went off throughout all Cobb school campuses that led to a brief Code Red, which the district said is being investigated as a deliberate cyber attack.

Recent news reports in metro Atlanta and south Florida said that Tony Hunter, a former AlertPoint employee, was indicted in Fort Lauderdale in January for alleged bid-rigging for a technology contract in his position as the information officer for Broward County schools.

A contract for school equipment there was won by David Allen, head of the Kennesaw-based EDCO, an education technology provider.

Allen, who also was the ProTek president and was the founder of AlertPoint, died of COVID-19 last month.

Hunter started work for AlertPoint in 2019 after leaving Florida. He has pleaded not guilty to the Florida charges and is out on bail, according to news reports.

In a report last week, WSB-TV reported that a potential vendor for the Cobb schools UV disinfecting lights contract expressed “concerns about installing a toxic system around kids.”

The TV station also cited unnamed sources who said that Cobb District Attorney Flynn Broady is conducting an initial investigation into the Cobb school contracts after meeting with “whistleblowers.”

In its message on Wednesday, the Cobb school district said in announcing the ProTek contract cancellation that “we do not believe even a single failure to meet the high health and safety standard established in our RFP process is acceptable.

“Nothing is more important than the health and safety our our students and staff.”

Powers Ferry rezoning cases get first hearings in Marietta

March 3, 2021 2:42 PM by Wendy Parker

The Marietta Planning Commission on Tuesday recommended denial of two major rezoning cases in the Powers Ferry Road corridor, but the attorney for the applicants said he will appeal to the City Council next week for a delay.

The advisory planning board voted unanimously in both instances against a mixed-use project, Nexus Gardens, near Powers Ferry Elementary School, and Laurel Park, a townhome project in Cloverdale Heights.

Both projects would be developed by Macauley Investments, an Atlanta real estate developer specializing in mixed-use projects. The properties are owned by Ruben McMullan, a real esate investor with East Cobb ties, and his assorted entities.

Tuesday’s meeting was the first time the requests have been heard publicly after months of delays.

Nearby residents in both communities turned out to speak against the projects (see our weekend story), which they said are incompatible with their communities and would worsen traffic in the congested Powers Ferry area near the South Marietta Parkway.

“This will ruin the lives of everyone in the neighborhood,” said Anna Holiday, a resident of the Meadowbrook neighborhood, which is mostly in unincorporated Cobb.

Kevin Moore, the applicant’s attorney, wanted to table the Nexus Gardens case again after receiving comments from Cobb DOT on a traffic study on Tuesday afternoon. Meadowbrook Drive, the only access point for Nexus Gardens, is located in the county.

He also said Laurel Park, which would consist of 204 homes adjacent to Cloverdale Heights, is “not the plan we want to build, but we are working on it,” including a traffic study in progress.

The seven-member planning commission, however, voted twice against tabling the requests, which were first filed last fall.

The traffic issues stem from limited access to Powers Ferry in both Meadowbrook, which is mostly in Cobb County, and Cloverdale Heights, which is in the city of Marietta.

Nexus Gardens would have apartments, senior living and restaurants on nearly 17 acres, mostly undeveloped and facing Interstate 75. Some of those parcels include 19 single-family homes.

The density of the project calls for two five-story apartment buildings totalling 280 units served by a three-story parking deck, a five-story senior-living building with 160 units, 39 townhomes and restaurants and retail space.

Laurel Park would be accessible via four residential streets in Cloverdale Heights, which residents said would be a traffic nightmare in their community.

“These are small homes, but they are our homes,” said Cloverdale Heights resident Brian Peters, describing his neighbors as “solid, working-class folks.”

Many of them are first-time homebuyers in a neighborhood with homes costing around $200,000.

“Clo-Hi is that American dream, and we feel it’s now under threat,” Peters said, adding that he’s not against development, but “reckless, poorly thought development.”

The land tracts—nearly 17 acres for Nexus Gardens and 30 acres for Laurel Park—are mostly undeveloped and front I-75.

Moore said the land proposed for Nexus Gardens was rezoned by the city for “more intense purposes” in the 1980s, although development plans then fell through.

“You will hear that this doesn’t reflect the neighborhood,” he said. But “this proposal is a far better use than what is currently zoned.”

To say the property should not be developed for a mixed-use purpose, Moore said later, would be tantamount to “taking the owner’s property.”

Lily Reed, a Cloverdale Heights resident, urged the planning commission to consider the “cumulative effects” of both rezoning requests on the community.

James Rosich, who lives near Meadowbrook in the Hamby Acres neighborhood, said due to the lack of a completed traffic study, “there’s no reason [Nexus Gardens] should go forward.”

If it does, he said, “it’s a travesty.”

Among the issues are the close proximity of Meadowbrook Drive to the Powers Ferry-Loop intersection, the traffic impact on Powers Ferry Elementary School and the amount of general traffic that would use a small residential street for access to a large mixed-use project.

“Please deny this,” Rosich said. “They need to start over again.”

Planning commissioners didn’t discuss the Nexus Gardens case before voting unanimously against it, and only one member made brief traffic remarks about the Laurel Park project before the vote to recommend denial.

The Marietta City Council will meet next Wednesday, March 10, to consider the rezonings.

Walton HS, East Cobb MS teachers named NASA Astronomy Ambassadors

March 3, 2021 1:18 PMMarch 3, 2021 11:03 AM by Wendy Parker

Walton East Cobb teachers NASA Astronomy Ambassadors — *L-R: Teachers Dana Evans of Walton HS and Shannon Ventresca, East Cobb MS.*

Submitted information:

Three more Cobb Schools science teachers will join the elite group of NASA Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors following an announcement by The SETI Institute. The Cobb teachers are the only educators selected from Georgia. The 2021 Class of NASA Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors (AAAs) includes 30 educators from 10 states.

Cobb Schools 2021 NASA Ambassadors:

•   Shannon Ventresca, East Cobb Middle School

•   Tami McIntire, Palmer Middle School

•   Dana Evans, Walton High School

“We are so excited to continue our partnership with SETI and NASA for cycle 9 of the Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors Program. The selection of Shannon, Tami, and Dana to fly on SOFIA is just more evidence of why Cobb is the best place to Teach, Lead and Learn,” said Cobb Schools Science Supervisor Christian Cali, who joined Cobb’s 2019 NASA Ambassadors on part of their flight mission.

The professional development program for science teachers is designed to improve science teaching and increase student learning and STEM engagement. This year’s expanded AAA program includes not only high school teachers but also middle school and community college teachers.

“Over its history, our NASA-funded AAA program has impacted tens of thousands of high school students through the immersive and inspirational experience of their teachers,” said Bill Diamond, CEO of the SETI Institute. “This powerful STEM program will allow the SETI Institute to help bring NASA science into classrooms across the country.”

Last year, three Cobb teachers were also selected as NASA Ambassadors:

•   Doug LaVigne, Kell High School

•   Heather Guiendon, Walton High School

•   Starrissa Winters, Wheeler High School

Kennesaw Mountain High School’s Berkil Alexander and Philip Matthews both sported NASA flight jackets in 2019, as did Hillgrove High School’s Nikki Bisesi and Wheeler High School’s Season Stalcup.

Due to the challenges over the past 12 months, the 2020 Class, also referred to as Cycle 8, has not completed its mission as Ambassadors yet.

AAA teachers receive training in astrophysics and planetary science. Their training includes a week-long STEM immersion experience at a NASA astronomy research facility such as the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA). After their training, the AAAs teach a physical science curriculum module created by the SETI Institute that connects curriculum concepts to NASA- and SOFIA-enabled research. WestEd education consultants assess the impact of the specialized curriculum module on student STEM learning and engagement. Past evaluations of the AAA program have shown statistically significant improvements in performance and STEM engagement among students whose teachers participated in the program.

“We are grateful that NASA will be funding the AAA program through 2025 and are especially excited to be adding middle school and community college teachers and their students,” said Dr. Dana Backman, AAA program lead. “These teachers will use their professional development and SOFIA experiences to convey real-world content to their students that illuminate the value of scientific research and the wide variety of STEM career paths available to them.”

3 East Cobb branches among Cobb libraries reopening March 15

March 3, 2021 12:57 PMMarch 3, 2021 8:44 AM by Wendy Parker

Sewell Mill Library opens

The Cobb County Public Library System issued this announcement on Wednesday:

Seven Cobb County Public Library branches will reopen starting on Monday, March 15, 2021 officials announced.

The seven libraries will return to in-person limited services operations under health and safety guidelines of Cobb County and public health authorities for preventing the spread of coronavirus, officials said. These facilities will be open for the public to browse, check-out items, use a limited number of public computers and other services.

The seven libraries are East Cobb, Mountain View, North Cobb, Sewell Mill, South Cobb, Vinings and West Cobb. Hours of operation will be Mondays, 10 am to 8 pm; and Tuesdays through Fridays, 10 am to 6 pm.

“Our Cobb library teams work hard to develop ways to open access to library spaces and resources in support of Cobb families, schools, adult learners and the community as a whole,” said Cobb Library Director Helen Poyer. “This shared commitment to service, safety and resiliency runs deep.”

Curbside services will continue at these seven branches and the following libraries: Gritters, Kemp, Powder Springs, Sibley and Stratton.

For information on Cobb County Public Library locations and services, visit www.cobbcounty.org/library/news/library-express.

The branches that are reopening partially reopened last summer, only to close indoor access to patrons in December.

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!

Sprayberry Crossing rezoning request granted continuance

March 2, 2021 3:24 PMMarch 2, 2021 11:04 AM by Wendy Parker

Sprayberry Crossing zoning case

The Cobb Planning Commission voted 5-0 Tuesday to grant another continuance to the developer of the proposed redevelopment of the Sprayberry Crossing Shopping Center.

As we noted over the weekend, Atlantic Realty, an apartment developer that first filed for rezoning in September, asked for another continuance last week after the deadline for a delay to be automatic.

The planning commission, whose members are appointed by county commissioners and whose recommendations are advisory, had to take a vote on whether to grant a continuance.

A few people turned out in person and online to speak against the mixed-use project, which has been the subject of vocal community support and opposition.

“Word must have gotten out that the applicant wanted a continuance on this one,” Planning Commission chairman Galt Porter said. “I expected to have a whole lot more here in opposition.”

Deborah Dance, the newly appointing planning board member from District 3, where Sprayberry Crossing is located, moved to grant the delay, but just for one more month.

She said a revised site plan submitted in January (above) hasn’t been fully analyzed by the Cobb zoning staff, which last fall recommended tentative approval of the project.

“My observation is that the applicant has been working in good faith with staff and has been responsive to the concerns that have been presented,” said Dance, a former Cobb County Attorney, who was reading from prepared remarks.

“At present there exists at least one critical issue affecting [transportation] access that’s in the process of being addressed by county staff and with the applicant’s expert.

“This case is not ready for consideration at the present time,” Dance added. “I believe there are good grounds for the continuance, and it’s in the best interests of all concerned that it is continued.”

She said she wanted her motion to be stipulated that “there would be no further continuances.”

Whiile many area residents have wanted the blighted shopping center redeveloped for years, others have opposed the proposed 125 apartments. Sprayberry Crossing also would include 125 senior living apartments, 44 townhomes, 36,000 square feet of retail (mostly for a Lidl grocery store) and 8,000 square feet of office space.

In the latest renderings (above), the height for the residential buildings has been reduced from five to three stories. But a previous site plan included community green space that is not part of the latest version.

Traffic concerns also have been raised, and in particular Cobb DOT is looking at the impact on Sandy Plains Road at Kinjac Drive, what would be the main access point for the development.

Porter said additional information from Cobb DOT about the latest revision “is pretty key to looking at this case. It’s not a minor issue. It’s a major access issue, so I fully agree with a continuance.”

Another major East Cobb rezoning case, involving another proposed mixed-use development, is being continued by the Cobb zoning staff.

That’s North Point Ministries’ application for the East Cobb Church and 125 townhomes at Johnson Ferry Road and Shallowford Road.

Both of those delayed cases will be scheduled to be heard by the Cobb Planning Commission on April 6.

Metro Atlanta gas prices jump more than 30 cents in a month

March 2, 2021 2:21 PMMarch 2, 2021 8:15 AM by Wendy Parker

Submitted information from AAA Georgia:

Georgia gas prices increased at the pump compared to a week ago. Georgia motorists are now paying an average price of $2.57 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline. Monday’s state average is 6 cents more than a week ago, 33 cents more than last month, and 29 cents more than this time last year.

It now costs motorists $38.55 to fill a 15-gallon tank of gasoline; that is $1.65 more than what motorists paid in January of 2020, when pump prices hit their peak of $2.46 per gallon.

“Because U.S. crude production was offline due to the Gulf Coast winter storm we can expect gas prices to be impacted,” said Montrae Waiters, spokeswoman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Georgians should anticipate pump prices to rise this coming week.”

NATIONAL AVERAGE CLIMBS AS CRUDE PRICES INCREASE

Since last Monday, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline has increased by 9 cents to $2.72. The national average continues to increase as crude prices march higher. Gas prices have also increased from longer-than-expected refinery outages due to last week’s winter storm that impacted the Gulf Coast. As refineries restart and resume normal operations, supply is expected to increase in impacted areas and should bring stability to pump prices.

At the close of last Thursday’s formal trading session, WTI increased by 31 cents to settle at $63.52 — the highest settlement price since May 2019. Crude prices have increased this week due to growing market optimism that as vaccines become more available, crude demand will recover. Prices continue to increase despite the Energy Information Administration’s new weekly report revealing that total domestic crude inventories increased by 1.3 million barrels last week, bringing the supply level to 463 million barrels. However, if market optimism continues to increase, crude prices will likely end the week higher.

REGIONAL PRICES

Atlanta ($2.57)

Most expensive Georgia metro markets – Savannah ($2.62), Brunswick ($2.61), and Valdosta ($2.58).
Least expensive Georgia metro markets – Catoosa-Dade-Walker ($2.51), Rome ($2.52), and Athens ($2.53).

Limited COVID vaccine appointments open at Jim Miller Park

March 1, 2021 3:14 PM by Wendy Parker

Jim Miller Park COVID vaccine appointments

Cobb and Douglas Public Health said Monday it has limited appointments available for COVID-19 vaccines for people age 65 and selected other groups.

Those include elderly caregivers, health care workers and first responders.

They’re in the Tier 1A+, the highest priority, and they must book an appointment online and show validation that they’re in an eligible group before getting a vaccination.

In Cobb, the vaccination site is at Jim Miller Park, and in Douglas County, it’s at Arbor Place Mall.

The agency hasn’t been booking new appointments for the last three weeks due to limited vaccine supplies, and had been vaccinating those who previously had made appointments.

Georgia residents who are eligible can go to any state public health vaccination site in the state, and search for other private providers (such as grocery stores and pharmacies) by clicking here.

The Georgia Department of Public Health recently launched a vaccine dashboard that shows how many people are getting vaccinated and other related data; it is updated daily at 3 p.m.

Thus far nearly 130,000 vaccinations have been administered in Cobb County, with most of those first doses.

More than 2 million vaccinations have been administered statewide, and last week Gov. Brian Kemp announced plans to add teachers and school staff to the eligible list.

Mabry MS sisters to help Atlanta Dream promote girls’ sports

March 1, 2021 2:26 PM by Wendy Parker

Mabry MS sisters promote girls sports

East Cobb resident Karen Wyman shares this news that her twin daughters, Kate and Kenzie—students at Mabry Middle School—have been chosen as co-captains by the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream as “Nike Game Growers.”

It’s a promotion the league has undertaken with Nike to help encourage girls to play sports.

Here’s more information from the Dream about the program and what Kate and Kenzie have been doing; the photos are from their mother:

The Dream renewed their partnership with Nike, the WNBA and the NBA for the second consecutive year, offering an exclusive opportunity for 7th and 8th Grade girls aged 13+ to share their ideas on how to encourage more girls to play sports.

Kate and Kenzie were surprised with a video from their favorite player on the Dream roster, forward Cheyenne Parker, who told them that they had been selected as the Dream’s Game Growers co-captains for 2021.

Watch an interview with the girls here.

Kenzie Wyman stretches at first base.

The twins’ game plan is to create a program called GEAR UP (Girls Everywhere Are Ready, Unleash their Potential) that they can then implement in elementary and middle schools in their area. The program brings current female high school and college athletes to schools to introduce their sport and share their love for the game in physical education classes.

Their program aims to keep their peers playing sports as they progress through middle school and enter high school. By the time girls reach 8th grade, they are 50% more likely to drop out of sports than boys, creating physical and social barriers that can last a lifetime.

The Dream’s pair will participate in a virtual camp with other WNBA and NBA teams’ co-captains February 19-21, building out their idea and learning how to bring it to life.

Last year, the Dream chose Dailey and Sierra, also from Marietta, who built the brand NESP Sportz (Never Ever Stop Playing Sportz) and created a social media presence that highlighted younger girls playing and learning new sports. Hear more about their project and their experience at Nike Headquarters here.

Download raw video from the surprise and the interview on dreammediacentral.com.

Kate Wyman on the softball field.

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!

Atlanta Israel Coalition to begin free virtual tours of Israel

March 1, 2021 3:17 PMMarch 1, 2021 11:40 AM by Wendy Parker

Submitted information:

The Atlanta Israel Coalition is hosting Re-Discovering the Land of Israel, a series of five FREE virtual tours beginning Sunday, March 28 at 10:00 am.

The Atlanta Israel Coalition, in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, the Consulate General of Israel to the Southeastern U.S., Herut, and the Evans Family Foundation, is presenting Re-Discovering the Land of Israel, a series of five FREE virtual tours of Israel beginning Sunday, March 28 at 10:00 am. These virtual tours, led by David Sussman Israel Tours, will be engaging for families, students, and individuals of all ages.

Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to connect to and learn more about Israel. You may register for all five tours or just pick specific tours. Register at https://bit.ly/TourIsrael-AIC. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Can’t attend on the specific dates? Register anyway and you’ll receive a recorded link of the tours.

Sunday, March 21st @ 10 am – The Biblical Heartland of Gush Etzion: This tour includes the Path of the Patriarchs, an ancient mikvah, biblical agriculture, Roman roads, and stunning landscapes

Sunday, April 25th @10 am – The Holy City of Hebron: Tour the tombs of our Patriarchs and Matriarchs, the ancient stairs and city gates where Abraham purchased the cave to bury Sarah, 1st & 2nd Temple period ruins, we will meet a soldier, and discover the modern development of Hebron

Sunday, May 23rd @10 am – The Artist Colony of Tzfat:  Let’s walk the winding ally ways of this mystical city together as we tour the city of Kabbalah. We will visit important synagogues, meet local artists, learn about Jewish mysticism from a leading Rabbi, and delve into its history both ancient and modern.

Sunday, June 6th @10 am – The Old and the New in Tel Aviv/Jaffa:  Described as the city that never sleeps, Tel Aviv is Israel’s financial capital. Let’s discover its roots, beaches, diversity, and the place where Israel’s independence was discovered.

Sunday, June 27th @10 am – The Golan Heights;  One of Israel’s most scenic areas. It boasts extinct volcanoes, Israel’s largest mountain, sits along the border of Israel, and has a rich Jewish history. This episode will feature Major Ya’akov Selevan who will discuss with us the political climate of the Golan Heights.

Atlanta Israel Coalition virtual tours

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 Chamber to hold PPP business recovery webinar Tuesday

March 1, 2021 1:37 PMMarch 1, 2021 8:25 AM by Wendy Parker

Submitted information:

With the Small Business Administration announcing enhancements to the Payment Protection Program, the Cobb Chamber is hosting its 19th business recovery webinar on Tuesday, March 2 at 3 p.m. “PPP Changes & Tax Credit Opportunities for Small Businesses” features local experts weighing in on the changes to the Payroll Protection Program, tax credit opportunities and other upcoming deadlines to help small business owners and professionals through the impacts of the pandemic. This webinar is free to attend. Attendees will be able to ask questions through the webinar chat function.

Speakers for the business recovery webinar will include the following:

Carl Garner, Mauldin & Jenkins CPAs & Advisors Partner

John Garner, OneDigital Benefits Consultant

Darin Mitchell, Chase Bank Executive Director for Middle Market & Commercial Banking

Drew Tonsmeire, Georgia Small Business Development Center Area Director

Sharon Mason, Cobb Chamber President & CEO
John Loud, 2021 Cobb Chamber Board of Directors Chairman

To register for this virtual event, visit cobbchamber.org/events. There is no cost, and Chamber members and non-members are welcome to attend on a first, come first served basis up to 500 attendees.

For more information about the PPP Changes & Tax Credit Opportunities for Small Businesses webinar, contact Monica Gonzalez at mgonzalez@cobbchamber.org.

Comcast RISE Investment Fund seeks BIPOC business applicants

Submitted information:

The Comcast RISE Investment Fund will soon accept applications for grants being provided to hundreds of Black, Indigenous and People of Color-owned small businesses in five cities nationwide — including $1 million in metro Atlanta.

Beginning March 1 through March 14, eligible businesses in Atlanta can apply for a $10,000 grant at comcastrise.com. A total of 100 grants in Atlanta, or 500 grants overall, will be awarded in May. The Investment Fund is the latest extension of Comcast RISE, a multi-year, multi-faceted initiative launched in October that initially focused on black-owned, small businesses and then extended to BIPOC-owned to help those hardest hit by COVID-19.

The Comcast RISE Investment Fund is focused on small business owners who have been in business for three or more years with one-25 employees. Businesses must be located in the City of Atlanta or the five surrounding metro counties (Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett) to be eligible.

More delays likely for East Cobb mixed-use rezoning cases

February 27, 2021 2:13 PM by Wendy Parker

East Cobb Church rezoning case delauyed — *A rendering of East Cobb Church, including a parking deck, fronting Shallowford Road.*

The Cobb Zoning Office on Friday said the East Cobb Church mixed-use zoning request won’t be heard on Tuesday.

It’s been pulled from the Cobb Planning Commission agenda and is being continued (you can view the agenda here).

There wasn’t any further explanation in the case filings for the continuance.

The proposal for a church, retail and townhomes at the southwest corner of Johnson Ferry and Shallowford roads has drawn community opposition as well as support.

East Cobb Church, which is run by Northpoint Ministries, is planning to sell a portion of the 33-acre assemblage to Ashwood Development for 125 townhomes.

That’s the part of the mixed-use proposal that’s drawn most of the opposition, as well as for traffic concerns.

The zoning staff recommended denial of original application in October, but site plan revisions have been underway.

As we noted on Monday, another major East Cobb redevelopment project was also to finally be heard, several months after being proposed.

The Sprayberry Crossing case is still scheduled for Tuesday, according to the meeting agenda, but the developer has asked for another continuance until April.

That’s according to the Sprayberry Crossing Action, a citizens group on Facebook that has been pushing for the blighted shopping center to be redeveloped for years, as well as a group opposed to the project.

Atlantic Realty, an apartment developer, made the request for a continuance on Thursday, a day after the deadline for getting an automatic delay.

When that happens, the planning commission must vote whether to grant a continuance or not.

If the planning commission denies a continuance, the Sprayberry Crossing case would be the first item to be heard following the consent agenda.

Those against the project are strongly opposed to apartments coming to an area dominated by single-family subdivisions.

Atlantic Residential has reduced the number of apartments and townhomes in the project, which includes a grocery store, other small retail and event space.

The meeting begins at 9 a.m. Tuesday and can be seen on the county’s Facebook Live and YouTube channels, as well as Channel 23 on Comcast Cable.

Limited in-person attendance is available in the meeting room, the 2nd floor board room of the Cobb government building, 100 Cherokee St., in downtown Marietta.

Powers Ferry Road communities oppose mixed-use proposals

February 27, 2021 3:39 PMFebruary 27, 2021 11:19 AM by Wendy Parker

Residents in two older neighborhoods along the Powers Ferry Road corridor have been organizing for several months to fight mixed-use proposals filed with the City of Marietta.

After several delays, both of those cases are scheduled to go before the Marietta Planning Commission Tuesday night (you can view the agenda here).

Both proposals are on either side of the South Marietta Parkway, on land that’s in the city of Marietta, and both projects would be developed by Macauley Investments, an Atlanta firm that specializes in mixed-use projects.

The Nexus Gardens project we’ve written about before would have apartments, senior living and restaurants on nearly 17 acres, mostly undeveloped and facing Interstate 75. Some of those parcels include 19 single-family homes, as seen above on Meadowbrook Drive, and all of the land is owned by Ruben McMullan, an East Cobb resident, or his related entities.

Sole access to Nexus Gardens would be via Meadowbrook Drive, which is in unincorporated Cobb. That’s one of the major objections, in addition to the density of the project, which calls for two five-story apartment buildings totalling 280 units served by a three-story parking deck, a five-story senior-living building with 160 units, 39 townhomes and restaurants and retail space.

A group called Save Marietta has been created to oppose the project, and includes residents of the Meadowbrook neighborhood that’s partly in the city and also in the county.

McMullan’s real estate interests also include an assemblage of 22 parcels on 30 acres, mostly undeveloped but some with single-family homes, also off Powers Ferry and across the Loop.

That’s being proposed by Nexus Marietta for a 204-unit townhome development called Laurel Park.

Like the Nexus Gardens project, this one also has singular access via a residential street on Crestridge Drive, in the Cloverdale Heights neighborhood.

That’s entirely within the city of Marietta, and a community group has formed to oppose that project.

The full agenda packet for the Marietta Planning Commission meeting, with proposal details, maps and traffic information, can be found here.

The Marietta Planning Commission meeting starts at 6 p.m. Tuesday and will be streamed live on the city’s website.

The Marietta City Council make final decisions on March 10.

Jefferson Township Parkway lane closed due to rain erosion

February 27, 2021 1:15 PMFebruary 27, 2021 8:05 AM by Wendy Parker

Jefferson Township Parkway lane closed

Cobb County DOT is saying this weekend that traffic on Jefferson Township Parkway, located off Sandy Plains Road in northeast Cobb, is reduced to one lane for the time being.

The cause is erosion due to heavy rain.

The road is residential, serving the Jefferson Township neighborhood off Sandy Plains Road, near Alabama and Woodstock roads, and close to the Cherokee County line.

The county didn’t indicate how long the closure might last, but said it would do so until repairs can be made.

Cobb school COVID cases continue drop as vaccine prep begins

February 26, 2021 3:42 PM by Wendy Parker

The day after Gov. Brian Kemp announced plans to vaccinate school teachers in Georgia against COVID-19, the Cobb County School District said Friday it had briefed staff members with more details.

In a news release, the district said it would be working with Cobb and Douglas Public Health to implement a vaccination program, and that staffers will be eligible for vaccines starting March 8.

That program includes the creation of mass vaccination sites for district staff once vaccine supplies are sufficient.

Three educators in the Cobb school district, including a paraprofessional at Sedalia Park Elementary School, have died since December due to COVID-19.

Those deaths led to emotional calls by some teachers and parents to go to all-remote learning.

School nurses, police officers and school staff 65 and older already have been able to get vaccinated through other providers.

Starting March 8, school employees can book an appointment for a vaccine at any public health agency in the state. But they’ll have to vie with others already on the eligible list for those vaccines, including people over 65, health care workers and first responders.

Cobb and Douglas Public Health has not been booking new appointments for the last three weeks due a shortage of vaccine supplies, and has said it may not get an increase until March or April.

The Cobb school district’s message to staff indicated that “as soon as vaccine supply is in hand, we will quickly schedule our mass vaccination drive-through events for Cobb educators. Specific dates, times, and locations will be made available once vaccine supply is in hand. At this time, only full-time and part-time school staff are eligible.”

Those appointments will be booked online and eligible individuals will be required to have an appointment to get a vaccine. The district said the vaccines are not mandatory.

Timber Ridge Elementary School teacher Laurie Weiner, who is older than 65, has received both doses of the vaccine. In the district’s release, she said that “I am appreciative of the seamless sign-up and procedures taken through the process. . . . Timber Ridge has implemented suggested guidelines as well. I feel more secure teaching my students since I have received both vaccinations.”

COVID-19 case rates in the Cobb school district continued their fall this week after staff and students returned from winter break.

The district announced in its weekly update on Friday that there were 229 new confirmed cases of the virus, the lowest weekly figure since before the Thanksgiving holidays.

On Feb. 12, before last week’s winter break, that figure was 232 new cases, which aren’t broken down between students and staff.

Kell High School in East Cobb was the only school in the 112-campus district to report double-figures in new cases, with 11 this week. There were nine new cases at Pope High School.

Since the district began compiling figures last July 1, there have been 3,960 cases reported. The district recently began indicating cumulative cases per school, and Walton High School and North Cobb High School have the most, at 102 cases each.

There have been 94 cases at Lassiter High School, 9 each at Pope and Kennesaw Mountain High School.

Cobb Family Justice Center leaders to begin ‘Listening Tour’

February 26, 2021 4:13 PMFebruary 26, 2021 12:08 PM by Wendy Parker

Submitted information:

Cobb District Attorney Flynn D. Broady Jr. announces the Family Justice Center “Listening Tour” kickoff, hosted by Cobb’s FJC Site Coordinator TaNesha McAuley, and Jenny Aszman of Georgia’s Criminal Justice Coordinating Council.

The Listening Tour will begin March 1 with the FJC’s Core Partners and service providers.

“The listening sessions will give us the opportunity to meet each of our Core Partners in small-group sessions to hear why they believe a Family Justice Center in Cobb County would be ideal and to gain perspective into how we can ensure that all of our ideas come together to best serve the needs of individuals who have been harmed by domestic or family violence or other types of interpersonal violence,” McAuley said.

Cobb was one of three counties in Georgia awarded a grant last fall through the Victims of Crime Act to implement this model, which has proven to reduce domestic violence, sexual assaults, child and elder abuse, and human trafficking. The four-year grant, worth up to $400,000, is administered through Georgia’s Criminal Justice Coordinating Council.

The Family Justice Center initiative is one of the most inclusive and evidence-based models that brings all our partners together in one location to best meet the needs of victims and survivors of abuse.

The listening sessions will be held with Core Community Partners of the FJC, including Cobb’s Public Safety Department; the Cobb Solicitor General’s Office; liveSAFE Resources; SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center, Inc.; Kennesaw State University’s WellStar College of Health and Human Services, and others.

The Listening Tour will expand into our Cobb communities as we invite residents to be part of the planning, development, and implementation of Cobb’s FJC. Earlier this year, dozens of community members responded to the readiness assessment, providing input to tailor the FJC to meet Cobb’s specific needs. Also, a recording of the December 2020 kick-off meeting is available online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koyu5s3P090.

For more FJC updates, visit www.cobbda.com or email fjccobb@cobbcounty.org.

East Cobb business and civic leader Johnny Johnson dies

March 4, 2021 1:38 PMFebruary 25, 2021 4:42 PM by Wendy Parker

East Cobb Citizen of the Year, Barbara Rhodes — *Johnny Johnson presented Brenda Rhodes of Simple Needs GA the 2018 East Cobb Citizen of the Year Award. Johnson was a former recipient of the honor. (ECN file).*

Johnny Johnson, the owner of a jewelry store in East Cobb, a former member of the Cobb Board of Education and a longtime community leader, died on Wednesday.

The East Cobb-based Kiwanis Club of Marietta Golden K said that Johnson, who turned 75 in December, died of complications from COVID-19.

“Johnny was a great Kiwanian and leaves a legacy of passion and service that is rare but sets a high standard which we should all strive to emulate.”

For more than 40 years, Johnson was the owner of Edward-Johns Jewelers, located at Woodlawn Square Shopping Center on Johnson Ferry Road for many years until moving to the nearby Regency Park office building in 2018.

He served on the Cobb school board from 1997-2008, one of many public roles he took on after settling in the East Cobb area in the 1970s.

He was a leader of the East Cobb Area Council of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce, which names a citizen of the year each fall. After being named an East Cobb Citizen of the Year, Johnson had the honor of presenting future recipients with the same award.

Johnson also dressed up as Santa Claus for the Holiday Lights celebration at East Cobb Park, riding in on a sleigh and visiting with children.

Each December he would dress up as Santa at his Edward-Johns store and pose for free pictures with children.

Johnson was an active member of the Golden K Kiwanis, as well as Kiwanis International and its board of trustees, and was a past president of the Cobb County YMCA.

Holiday Lights East Cobb Park

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Comcast RISE Investment Fund seeks BIPOC business applicants

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