Cobb schools report 241 new COVID cases as total nears 1,000

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Over the last two weeks there have been 241 new confirmed COVID-19 cases reported in the Cobb County School District.Campbell High School lockdown

Last week the district didn’t provide its usual weekly update due to the Thanksgiving holiday, but on Friday provided new numbers that show nearly 1,000 cases that have been reported overall.

There have been 962 cases confirmed by Cobb and Douglas Public Health since July 1 in the Cobb school district.

A total of 675 of those cases among students and staff have been reported since students began returning to campuses in early October.

The most recent report includes confirmed COVID cases at 67 schools in the 113-school Cobb district. They are being reported at 37 elementary schools, 16 middle schools and in 14 of the district’s 17 high schools.

All of them are reporting 10 or fewer cases, as has been the case since the district began providing the weekly updates.

Also on Friday, the Cobb school district updated health and safety resource information, including quarantine guidance, that you can find here.

In East Cobb the following schools have confirmed new COVID cases over the last two weeks:

  • Elementary: Addison, Brumby, Davis, East Side, Eastvalley, Garrison Mill, Keheley, Mt. Bethel, Mountain View, Murdock, Nicholson, Rocky Mount, Sedalia Park, Shallowford Falls, Timber Ridge, Tritt;
  • Middle: Daniell, Dickerson, Dodgen, East Cobb, McCleskey;
  • High: Kell, Lassiter, Pope, Sprayberry, Wheeler.

The newest figures for the Cobb school district come as community spread of COVID-19 continues to increase in the county and Georgia.

Georgia Department of Public Health figures as of Friday show a 14-day average of 332 cases per 100,000 in Cobb County, much higher than the “high” community threshold of a 14-day average of 100 cases per 100,000.

That figure dropped to around 100 early in the fall, but has been steadily going up.

On Friday, Dr. Janet Memark, the director of Cobb and Douglas Public Health, issued a “surge alert” expressing concern about “an alarming number of cases being reported to public health this week. The timing is right for the beginnings of the results of any activities over the Thanksgiving break.”

Also on Thursday, Cobb and Douglas Public Health figures showed that 501 people have died in Cobb County from COVID-19, and 110 in East Cobb.

More than 27,000 COVID cases have been reported in the county since March, and another 346 cases were reported on Thursday.

No schools or classes in the Cobb school district have been closed for COVID reasons since the return of face-to-face learning. During a Cobb Board of Education meeting in November, Superintendent Chris Ragsdale said he would determine possible action along those lines on a case-by-case basis, and does not anticipate returning to all-virtual learning.

The fall semester ends on Dec. 18 and the spring semester starts on Jan. 6.

Parents of Cobb school district students had until last Friday to choose between in-person and remote learning options for their children for the spring semester.

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East Cobb food scores: AJ’s Famous Seafood; schools; more

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New East Cobb Middle School

The following East Cobb food scores from Nov. 23-Dec. 4 have been compiled by the Cobb & Douglas Department of Public Health. Click the link under each listing for inspection details:

AJ’s Famous Seafood & Poboys
2100 Roswell Road, Suite 2148
November 23, 2020 Score: 90, Grade: A

Atlanta Country Club
500 Atlanta Country Club Drive
December 1, 2020 Score: 99, Grade: A

Beer Barrel
1294 Roswell Road
November 30, 2020 Score: 100, Grade: A

Brumby Elementary School
815 Terrell Mill Road
December 4, 2020 Score: 100, Grade: A

East Cobb Middle School
825 Terrell Mill Road
December 3, 2020 Score: 100, Grade: A

Eastside Baptist School
2450 Lower Roswell Road
December 4, 2020 Score: 100, Grade: A

Faith Lutheran School
2111 Lower Roswell Road
December 4, 2020 Score: 100, Grade: A

Mabry Middle School
2700 Jims Road
December 3, 2020 Score: 100, Grade: A

Sprayberry High School
2525 Sandy Plains Road
December 4, 2020 Score: 100, Grade: A

Starbuck’s Coffee
31 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite A
November 23, 2020 Score: 100, Grade: A

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Cobb COVID-19 deaths surpass 500; 110 reported in East Cobb

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Cobb COVID deaths surpass 500
To view ZIP Code map details, click here. Source: Cobb and Douglas Public Health

While the rate of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Georgia mounts, the number of deaths due to the virus in Cobb County has surpassed 500.

That’s according to the latest figures from Cobb and Douglas Public Health, which on Wednesday reported that there have been 501 deaths and 26,973 cases in Cobb County since March.

Of those, 110 deaths have come in East Cobb, which has 6,331 cumulative cases to date.

UPDATED: On Friday, Dr. Janet Memark, the director of Cobb and Douglas Public Health, issued a “surge alert” expressing concern about “an alarming number of cases being reported to public health this week. The timing is right for the beginnings of the results of any activities over the Thanksgiving break.”

She said that emergency room visits and hospitalizations are on the rise, and “critical care beds for the district remain critically low” and there is “a continuing rise in patients with COVID-19 requiring hospitalization.” She did not provide any figures.

A link to a hover map of the above ZIP code map can be found here; the data is updated through Wednesday.

The heaviest areas for cases and deaths in Cobb is in South Cobb and the Marietta ZIP Code of 30060, which has 1,941 cases and 55 deaths. In Powder Springs 30127, there have been 2,144 cases and 48 deaths.

Here’s how cases and deaths break down in East Cobb ZIP Codes:

  • 30062: 1,875 cases; 28 deaths
  • 30066: 1,706 cases; 27 deaths
  • 30067: 1,611 cases; 20 deaths
  • 30068: 931 cases; 33 deaths
  • 30075: 208 cases; 2 deaths

Of the 110 deaths in East Cobb, 36 have been reported at long-term care facilities, according to the latest figures from the Georgia Department of Community Health.

Since we last took a deep look into those numbers in July, another 14 people have died in those facilities located in the ZIP Codes shown above.

Six of those new fatalities have been reported at the A.G. Rhodes home on Wylie Road and two at Manor Care on Johnson Ferry Place.

Cobb COVID deaths surpass 500

The ZIP Code data does not include age breakdowns. But as of Wednesday, as reflected in the pie chart above, Cobb and Douglas Public Health figures show that 72.4 percent of all Cobb COVID deaths are those age 70 and over; 87 percent are age 60 and older.

Nearly 42 percent of the deaths are among those who were age 80 or older.

By contrast, younger age groups make up the largest portion of confirmed COVID cases in Cobb County. Those ages 19-50 account for 58.8 percent of all cases, and the 18-60 age groups make up 72.9 percent of the cases.

More details about cases and deaths by race and sex can also be found here.

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health’s Daily COVID Status Report, 2,459 cases have been reported in Cobb County over the last two weeks.

More importantly, the level of community spread continues to rise, and for the first time this summer exceeds a 14-day average of 300 cases per 100,000 people. As of Thursday, that number is 311 (100 cases per 100,000 is considered “high” community spread).

That’s a metric that has been steadily going up over the fall, after dropping to just under 100 briefly after the start of the school year.

Georgia DPH breaks down several statistical categories by the date numbers are reported, and the date which a case or death was confirmed.

In Cobb, 322 cases were reported on Thursday. According to the “date of onset,” or the date a case is confirmed, Cobb has been reporting daily cases in excess of 200 in recent weeks.

On Nov. 30, for example, there were 2,939 cases confirmed on that date, close to the 2,988 figure reported on Nov. 16. The latter is the highest single-day date of onset case total in Cobb since August.

On Thursday, three more deaths were reported in Cobb; there are no deaths in the date of death figures, but that’s a preliminary figure that is likely to be updated.

As of Thursday, the 7-day moving average of deaths according to date of death in Cobb is 4.6, but that also is likely to be revised. As of Nov. 19, the last day before the current 14-day window, Cobb reported 21 deaths for a 7-day moving average of 20.4.

A total of 433,353 COVID cases have been confirmed in Georgia since March, along with 8,879 deaths.

On Thursday 4,419 new cases were reported, the highest single-day figure since July. Another 53 deaths were also reported, along with 245 new hospitalizations.

You can view those and other details at the Georgia DPH COVID Daily Status Report link; it is updated daily at 3 p.m.

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Pope Band to hold recycling fundraiser in mid-January

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East Cobber parade, Pope Band community show

Here’s a productive way to start the New Year, by getting rid of recyclable materials you don’t need and helping out the Pope Band. Submitted by the Pope Band Parents Association:

Recycling Fundraiser: Saturday, January 16, 9 am-2pm at the Northeast Cobb YMCA located at 3010 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta, GA 30062 to support the Pope Band.

Bring your metal, electronics, appliances, paint and paper documents for shredding. Cost is $10 per car PLUS additional disposal fees of $40/TV, $30/monitor, $20/large item, $2-$25/paint container depending on size, and $20 for 1-8 standard boxes of paper for shredding. Pick-up of large items available within a 5-mile radius of Pope during the week prior with advance reservation. See www.popeband.com/recycle for complete details. For questions and pickup reservations, email popebandrecycling@gmail.com. Please wear a mask to help protect the volunteers. 

Thank you for supporting the Pope Band and the environment. 

website: www.popeband.com/recycle.html

email: popebandrecycling@gmail.com

 

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EDITOR’S NOTE: A farewell grinder at Kouzina Christos

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Christos restaurant farewell

Since 1979, the Giannes family has been serving up Greek and Mediterranean specialties at their restaurant in the Terrell Mill-Powers Ferry area.

What’s been Kouzina Christos since 2012 at the revitalized Terrell Mill Village Shopping Center first opened next door, at Terrell Mill Junction, at a time when that East Cobb community was undergoing a transition.

Christos Restaurant, as it was first called, later moved up the road a bit, at the Delk Spectrum Shopping Center at the corner of Powers Ferry, and continued to persist and thrive.

As other independent, mom-and-pop and chain restaurants came and left the area, Christos became a fixture. It seemed able to adapt to changing demographics and tastes in a busy commercial area with more competition from the national casual restaurant brands.

In three different locations, the Christos menu, and the familiar faces, have stayed essentially the same. In my many visits there, I thought of it as comfort food with a little extra spice.

But on Saturday, the long-standing eatery will be serving its final gyros, salads, sandwiches, pizzas and spanakopitas.

Owner Christos Giannes announced the restaurant’s closing on Monday, as first reported by ToNeTo.

The calamitous impact of COVID-19 closures was just too much, and Giannes said in a social media message he’s no longer working with his landlord “over options to remain operational.”

As far as restaurants go, anything over even 10 years can seem like an eternity, even in the pre-COVID-19 world.

But more than four decades? It’s stunning, really, a testament to a determined Greek immigrant family that loved serving up affordable, family-style meals to a loyal East Cobb community of customers.

Among them was my mother, who came to the original Christos in the early 1980s for lunch with co-workers from a nearby office park.

I was in college during those years, and after I returned she and I would go there often. I don’t remember what she liked in particular, but I know what I did: A very generous and tasty Italian grinder.

Over the years, I have gone there on occasion, typically for that Italian grinder at lunch.

On Wednesday, I did so again, for the last time, and the familiar flavors of Genoa salami, pepperoni, capicola, tomatoes, lettuce and Duke’s mayonnaise on toasted bread brought back fond memories.

Christos restaurant farewell

It was a bittersweet dining experience all the same, as I looked around and saw the beginnings of a packing-up.

Christos Giannes wasn’t there when I stopped in, but he’s been frank about the fate not only of his own restaurant but others like his during the long months of closures, partial reopening and government action over COVID-19.

He said on the restaurant’s Facebook page that Kouzina Christos was doing well before March, after some years of experimenting with an expanded menu to include Greek dinner delicacies, as well as the addition of an outdoor patio.

A proud champion of independent restaurants, he was critical of what he said is a “flaccid and shortsighted response from local, state and national sources for support to buttress businesses who’s loss will negatively affect business viability, employees, their families, the community, the schools is laughable. The losses to the foundation, the fabric that buttress our communities will be felt for many years.”

This is one of the greatest fears of business closures due to COVID-19, especially in the restaurant and retail sectors, and the horrible reality is unfolding before us everywhere.

Within eyeshot of Kouzina Christos is a brand new Panera Bread in the MarketPlace Terrell Mill development underway, and around the corner on Powers Ferry is a Jimmy John’s.

They’re known for their sandwiches, but they don’t have anything like my Italian grinder, much less the gyros and falafels of Christos.

I’m not knocking the chains; they’ve been oh-so-convenient with drive-through service and I’m as guilty as anyone of pulling in when the sit-down places were closed.

And that’s been just the problem.

Christos restaurant farewell

“Chains are happy to see the mass failure of independents, expanding the labor pool, increasing competition and increasing downward pressure on hourly wages,” Christos Giannes wrote. “Corporate greed and avarice…supporting the Chinese economy.”

He shares company with so many venerable dining and watering hole institutions, including Atlanta’s Manuel’s Tavern, where I had many a meal and adult beverage during my years at the AJC. Owner Brian Maloof, son of the famous barkeep and politico Manuel Maloof, doesn’t see how he can keep his doors open in Poncey-Highland beyond the end of the year.

That would end a 64-year run on land that is now owned by corporate real estate interests and is surrounded by pricey regentrification. Maloof has spurned acquisitions in the past from the likes of Hooter’s, and completely overhauled his freestanding building a few years ago.

Christos Giannes was becoming gradually pessimistic in the weeks and months over summer when he began discussing reduced rents for Kouzina Christos with his landlord.

In late August, he said “it’s quite probable this will be the final year of business in our present location. The continuing pandemic has made it almost impossible to maintain profitability.”

Another crippling factor is the surrounding office market, where many employees who can work from home have been doing so. That’s gutted the lunch business of places like Kouzina Christos that have always depended on it.

With the Terrell-Mill Powers Ferry area going through another transformation—with several mixed-use developments in the works yielding many new residential dwellings—the timing of Kouzina Christos’ closure is even more unfortunate.

For those of us who ate there somewhat regularly, it seemed like we’d be able to eat there forever.

The old-world feel of Kouzina Christos held up well over four decades, and it took something as devastating as a pandemic to close the doors.

I get many messages from readers asking about new restaurants that are opening—especially the new chain casual spots that are dotting East Cobb like never before.

What I’d like to ask my readers is to think of their favorite truly local restaurants these days and patronize them like never before. These are community gems that are teetering on the edge of extinction.

At the very least, many are trying to stave off a gradual death like Kouzina Christos, barely holding on amid continuing uncertainty and with no end in sight to health restrictions.

Kouzina Christos (1453 Terrell Mill Road) will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. through Saturday.

After that, Christos Giannes said “we will all take a long rest and start looking at other possible locations to build on our 40 years of history” including “options to re-imagine the next chapter of Kouzina Christos.”

I hope that chapter comes soon, and that the Italian grinder is on the menu.

Christos Restaurant farewell

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Cobb Board of Elections to hold post-recount meeting Thursday

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Gabriel Sterling
Gabriel Sterling, a Georgia elections official, lashed out over death threats and other forms of intimidation he said are being aimed at elections workers during the state’s recount.

Cobb County Government has sent out word that the Cobb Board of Elections is meeting Thursday at 4 p.m. “in anticipation they will have to recertify the results of the November 3rd election.”

This will be a virtual meeting due to COVID-19 and you can watch on the Cobb Government YouTube Channel.

On Wednesday Cobb Elections staffers were expected to finish a machine recount of the presidential voting.

That work has been taking place at Jim Miller Park, site of a previous hand recount ordered by Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.

Raffensperger gave county elections offices until Wednesday to complete the machine recount.

That process—which is being done on eight scanners in Cobb County—comes at the request of the campaign of President Donald Trump.

He finished 0.2 percent and less than 13,000 votes behind Joe Biden in Georgia after election-night and absentee voting was complete, and after the hand recount.

In Georgia recounts are allowed if a losing candidate comes within 0.5 percent or less.

Nearly 5 million votes for president were cast in Georgia and around 400,000 in Cobb, where Biden won with 56 percent of the vote. Most East Cobb precincts favored Trump.

The recount is finishing up amid what a top Georgia elections official said is intimidation and continuing threats of violence against elections workers from the pro-Trump camp.

Gabriel Sterling, the voting systems implementation manager for the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office, said Tuesday he’s among those who’ve received threats, as has Raffensperger and his wife, who’s gotten “sexualized texts” with threatening messages.

“It has all gone too far,” said Sterling, who like Raffensperger is a Republican. “Someone’s going to get hurt, someone’s going to get shot, someone’s going to get killed.”

In a press conference at the Georgia Capitol, Sterling was enraged describing a threatening Twitter thread aimed at a 20-year-old elections contractor in Gwinnett County that includes “a noose put out saying he should be hung for treason because he was transferring a report on batches.”

The contractor, Sterling said, “was just trying to do his job” and now there’s a “noose with a name on it . . . This kid just took a job, and it’s just wrong. . . . I cannot begin to explain the level of anger I have.”

Cobb County spokesman Ross Cavitt said he doesn’t know of any threats directed at Cobb Elections, but said the county “did increase police presence at the start of the recounts because of concerns expressed by some elections workers.”

Sterling directed further comments at Trump, who has not conceded to Biden, but who Tweeted derogatory comments over the weekend about Raffensperger and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, whom the president said he was “ashamed” to have endorsed.

“It has to stop. Mr. President, you have not condemned these actions or this language. Senators, you have not condemned this language or these actions. This has to stop. We need you to step up. And if you take a position of leadership, show some.”

Both of Georgia’s Republican U.S. Senators, David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, have called on Raffensperger to resign as they face Jan. 5 runoffs that could determine party control of the Senate.

Among those most vocal in claiming election fraud against Trump in Georgia is Atlanta attorney Lin Wood.

Over the last two weeks he’s posted videos on his Twitter feed claiming that ballots in Cobb County were being shredded, which county elections officials have said is not true.

On Wednesday, Wood was appearing at a “Stop the Steal” rally in Alpharetta.

Sterling said while it’s one thing to demand a fair counting of the ballots, the threats have gone too far. Again directing his comments at Trump, he said “stop inspiring people to commit potential acts of violence

“It’s time to look forward,” Sterling said. “There’s not a path. Be the better man here.”

You can watch his full remarks by clicking here.

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Dodgen MS student is national finalist in science contest

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Submitted information and photo from the Cobb County School District:

Broadcom Foundation and Society for Science & the Public has proudly recognized Dodgen 8th Grader, Abhijeet Ghosh, as one of the 30 national finalists of the 2020 virtual Broadcom MASTERS science & engineering competition. Abhijeet was selected as a finalist in this national competition after completing an entry based on his Dodgen science fair project completed last spring. His project went on to win at the county level and beyond. Abhijeet recently participated in finals week of the competition. During the competition, Abhijeet presented his research to judges and the public and competed in team STEM challenges.  

In recognition of Dodgen supporting Abhijeet as a Broadcom MASTERS finalist, the Broadcom Foundation and the Society for Science & the Public are proud to award Dodgen Middle School with $1,000 for each finalist named in the Broadcom MASTERS. The award will be used to support the development of excellence in science, math, or engineering education at Dodgen.  

More on the Broadcom Foundation and the Society for Science and the Public can be found here.

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Cobb Police describe fatal Shallowford Road crash

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Shallowford Road crash

Cobb Police said a fatal crash on Shallowford Road last Wednesday was caused when a car heading westbound veered into an eastbound lane and hit another vehicle.

In a release issued Tuesday morning, Cobb Police said Andrew Halloran, 47, of Roswell was pronounced dead at the scene.

The accident took place at the Lassiter Road intersection at 11:49 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25, according to the release. Police said Halloran was driving a beige 2008 Kia Optima that was traveling in an eastbound lane.

Police investigators said a white 2014 Chevrolet Cruze was traveling west on Shallowford Road and approaching the intersection when the driver crossed into the eastbound lanes.

The Cruze struck the Kia, which was pushed in a southbound direction, and then the Kia collided with a black 2017 GMC Yukon that also was heading east, according to police.

Police said that neither Danielle Erickson, 24, of Acworth, driver of the Cruze, nor Jennifer Mire, 45, of Marietta, driver of the Yukon, required medical attention at the scene.

An online fundraiser for Halloran’s family has raised more than $32,000. He was active with the Lassiter High School Bands booster club.

The crash remains under investigation and anyone with information is asked to call Cobb Police at 770-499-3987. 

 

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Put your home on our East Cobb News Home Holiday Lights Map!

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East Cobb home holiday lights map

This is going to be a different holiday season during a time of pandemic, but that’s no reason we can’t share the same good cheer with family, friends and neighbors in some new and creative ways.

So this year East Cobb News is putting together a map — or maps, given the size of our community — of holiday light displays for your fellow East Cobbers to enjoy as they drive by in the safety of their cars.

We did something like this last year, asking readers to send in their light display photos, and we’d love to have you send them in again if that’s what you prefer.

But we want to expand the idea, given our present circumstances. Let us know what you are doing, where you are and when you expect to light it up—or if it’s a daytime-only display without lights, that’s fine too. We’ll make it clear this is a “drive-by” event only and ask viewers to be considerate on the roads. Ideally, evening displays will be available for viewing between dusk and 9 p.m.

During the holiday season, we will select displays to feature in East Cobb News and on our Instagram page.

The maps will be limited to our coverage area—which is actually quite large—and includes neighborhoods east of I-75 and I-575, in ZIP Codes 30062, 30066, 30067, 30068 and the Cobb portion of 30075.

So that’s why we say “maps”—there’s a lot of ground to cover, and we want to localize these displays as much as possible.

They’ll take some time to construct, and we’ll be adding to it as we hear of more displays, so let us know as soon as possible if you’d like us to map yours.

E-mail us with your information, photos, etc. at editor@eastcobbnews.com by Dec. 7; we’re aiming to post this by mid-December. 

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Lassiter student chosen for AP College Board digital art exhibit

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Abigail Cutler, Lassiter student AP digital art exhibit

Reader Lisa Cutler passed along a really cool honor for her daughter Abigail, a senior at Lassiter High School.

She’s been selected as one of 51 students worldwide for the AP College Board Art digital art exhibit.

Lisa says 63,000 students submitted their work for the contest, and Abigail’s work is the only one from a student in Georgia.

Her exhibit is called “Do you see right through me?” and the subject explores anxieties and inner securities when not taking proper medication.

She used acrylic paint, magazine paper, digital images, and a permanent marker. Says Abigail’s Lassiter art teacher, Suzette Spinelli:

“Abigail is a student that can mentally visualize something from real life into a profound work of art. Her experience is not the final art but a trigger for a new idea. This helps her create art that becomes higher-level, incorporating critical thinking skills that she thrives upon.”

 

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The Avenue East Cobb holiday events include tree lighting

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The Avenue East Cobb holiday events

UPDATED, TUESDAY DEC. 1, 3:45 P.M.

All events scheduled for this coming Friday, Dec. 4, have been pushed back to next Friday, Dec. 11, due to rain in the forecast. Here’s what The Avenue sent out Tuesday:

Our Christmas Tree Lighting and Santa Arrival Event scheduled for this Friday is being POSTPONED to Friday December 11th at the same time 5-8 PM.
Don’t miss all the fun! Snow machines, Holiday Music Show, Olaf and a Living Xmas Tree photo ops, Hot Chocolate Bar by Smallcakes and more!
Santa photos will take place after his arrival on Dec. 11th and again on Dec. 18th from 4-7pm. Our Carriage Rides are still happening from 4-7 PM on Dec. 11th and Dec. 18th!

ORIGINAL STORY:

The Avenue East Cobb is kicking off its schedule of holiday events with its outdoor Christmas Tree lighting on Friday that includes a visit from Santa Claus.

The event takes place from 5-8 p.m. and includes a holiday music show, gift card giveaway, a hot chocolate bar and more. The event is sponsored by East Cobb Church and will take place weather permitting.

There are no reservations required; guests must adhere to CDC guidelines during the event and maintain a six-feet distance and wear a mask. Guests will sanitize their hands before entering the event area. Folding chairs are permitted.

On Friday Dec. 11 and Friday Dec. 18 The Avenue’s annual carriage sleigh rides and Santa photos will be available from 4-7 p.m.

More details about those here:

Sleigh Carriage Rides are complimentary and first come-first served. The carriage has 2 rows, each row fits 2 adults and 2 children, so bring the grandparents! One family per ride. The starting point and line will begin at the fountain in front of Bravura. Check in with the attendant before boarding.

Santa Photos are complimentary and first come-first served. You must provide your own camera or cell phone to take pictures. Guests will stand in front of the sleigh when instructed by attendant. Line will begin on the sidewalk in front and to the left of the sleigh. Watch for Santa boot footprints!

The same social-distancing, mask and sanitizing requirements will be in effect. There will be a sneeze guard between the carriage driver and guests, and the driver will wear a mask. Both events are also weather permitting.

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New Waldron and Lee Dentistry location to have ribbon-cutting ceremony

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Waldron and Lee Dentistry ribbon-cutting

Submitted information:

The staff and doctors at Waldron & Lee Dentistry invite the public to commemorate the completion of their new building with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 2419 Roswell Road. The celebration will take place on December 3, 2020 at 11:00 AM and will include light refreshments and coffee.

Dr. Jon Waldron founded the dental practice over 30 years ago and continues to practice in the new location along with current owners, Dr. Blair Waldron and Dr. Christopher Lee, as well as Dr. Edward Schlissel and Dr. Henry Almquist.

When asked about the new location, Dr. Blair Waldron states, “We worked really hard to create a space that felt both calming and comforting, as well as incorporate the latest technology for infection control and environmentally friendly practices.”

Dr. Waldron further explained how the newly designed space allows the care team to continue to accommodate new patients while delivering a high level of customer service that patients appreciate. Waldron & Lee Dentistry offers sedation, surgical and cosmetic dentistry including a variety of services such as fillings, one visit crowns, digital x-rays and impressions, whitening, veneers and bonding, extractions and implants, Invisalign, Six Month Smiles, and teeth in a day.

For more information, visit www.waldrondentistry.com or call the office at 770- 977-5547.

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GoFundMe started for family of Shallowford Road crash victim

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Halloran Family, Shallowford Road crash victim

Friends of an East Cobb man killed in a car crash on Shallowford Road on Wednesday have started a GoFundMe online fundraiser for his family.

The Andy Halloran Memorial Fund has already raised more than $13,000 of a designated $15,000 on behalf of his family.

Jen Halloran, the victim’s wife, said the following on the fundraising message:

“Andy was literally the very best person I’ve ever known, and he made me a better person each day. He was hard-working, kind, generous, loyal, faith-filled, and funny. Andy was also the most amazing dad. Our kids were so lucky to have had him as a faith leader, tennis partner, math tutor, band dad, driving instructor, and friend.”

The Lassiter Bands posted a message Friday saying Halloran was a volunteer in their organization and whose son Will played in the band and is a student at UGA. Daughter Claire was the band drum major last year and is Lassiter’s STAR student.

A three-car crash occurred Wednesday shortly before noon at the intersection of Shallowford Road and Lassiter Road. Eastbound lanes of Shallowford were closed at the intersection for several hours as police and emergency crews worked the scene.

One individual was transported from the scene by ambulance and occupants of another car were able to walk away without injuries.

Cobb Police have not released any information about the crash or the victim; when contacted by East Cobb News on Friday, department spokeswoman Officer Shenise McDonald said a release would be sent to the media “once we return back to the office.”

She didn’t indicate when that would be.

Jen Halloran said in her message she was unsure of funeral arrangements due to COVID-19, but asked for prayers for her family “as we take our next steps on very shaky legs.”

 

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GAgives local non-profit fundraiser designated for Tuesday

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Gagives fundraiser

Submitted information on the upcoming GAgives fundraiser that benefits a number of non-profits, including the Good Mews Animal Foundation and the Tommy Nobis Center of East Cobb:

GAgives on GivingTuesday, the record-setting fundraising event for our state’s nonprofits, returns this Tuesday, December 1st, as part of the international generosity movement that culminates each year on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. 

Just like the communities they serve, Georgia nonprofits are in greater need than ever. Fortunately, Georgians are poised to make a difference: During our COVID-relief event this spring, 7,260 individuals jumped in on short notice to contributing a total of more than $1.2 Million.

Every dollar can make a difference, from providing free food in an economic crunch to caring for seniors in a time of extreme vulnerability to rescuing animals, preserving the arts and the environment, educating our children, and much more. There are thousands of nonprofits taking part in this year’s initiative, including many based in and serving Metro Atlanta communities.

As always, this event is hosted by the Georgia Center for Nonprofits and a range of corporate and media partners (see below). Once again, a range of sponsors have funded prizes for the nonprofits with the most unique donors over the full day and during designated “power hours,” helping nonprofits engage their supporters’ competitive spirit – another way that every dollar makes a difference.

You’ll find more details about this year’s #GAgives campaign here.The full list of participants is available here.

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Cobb Police set up e-commerce ‘safe trade zones’ at precincts

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Cobb tag offices reopening

Submitted information from Cobb Police about e-commerce “safe trade zones” it’s set up for the public for holiday shopping:

This holiday season, everyone will be searching for the perfect gift at the perfect price and many will turn to e–commerce sites like Craigslist, Offer-Up and Facebook Market Place to purchase those gifts. Cobb County wants to ensure these purchases are done in a safe manner at a safe location.

Cobb Police Department staff has implemented “E–Commerce Zones” at all five precincts and headquarters to provide residents with safe places to conduct trades and sales. The zones are marked with blue signs in well-lit places that are monitored by video surveillance.

  • Precinct One: 2380 N. Cobb Parkway, Kennesaw

  • Precinct Two: 4700 Austell Road, Austell

  • Precinct Three: 1901 Cumberland Parkway, Atlanta

  • Precinct Four: 4400 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta

  • Precinct Five: 4640 Dallas Highway, Powder Springs

  • Headquarters: 140 North Marietta Parkway, Marietta

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East Cobb Church, Sprayberry Crossing rezoning cases delayed

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East Cobb Church rezoning case delayed

After we posted details earlier this week about North Point Ministries’ plans for a church campus at Shallowford and Johnson Ferry roads, the Cobb Zoning Office is continuing the case until February.

The Cobb Zoning Office noted the continuance in updating the agenda for Tuesday’s Cobb Planning Commission meeting—which you can read here.

In its staff analysis posted earlier this week, the zoning office recommended denial of North Point’s application for land-use, density, traffic and school capacity reasons.

The Alpharetta-based church wants to build a 4-story building for what it’s calling East Cobb Church with close to 125,000 square feet, including a sanctuary seating capacity of nearly 1,300, along with a parking deck, parking lot and future retail space.

The back of the 33-acre assembly would contain 125 townhomes, which zoning staff contends is far too dense for an area with mostly single-family detached residential communities.

The land is owned by prominent attorney Fred Hanna and his wife’s outreach ministry, and which they tried to assemble for a residential project in 2016 that was withdrawn.

East Cobb Church was formed in January and has been meeting at Eastside Baptist Church on Lower Roswell Road.

We also noted earlier this week that another major rezoning request on Tuesday’s agenda—Sprayberry Crossing—also has been scratched again, until February.

Kevin Moore, an attorney for Atlantic Realty Acquisitions, LLC, which is submitting the mixed-use development request, filed for the continuance on Wednesday, the deadline for removing it from Tuesday’s agenda.

Moore said another continuance would give his client time to incorporate revisions to its site plan “in continued response to community concerns.”

While many nearby residents have pushed for redevelopment of the blighted shopping center for years, some are opposed to apartments that are a major part of Atlantic Realty’s proposal.

Cobb County does not hear zoning cases in January.

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Cobb Elections extends hours to complete presidential recount

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Cobb Elections said Thursday that its staffers will be working longer hours next week to complete the presidential recount.Cobb election results certified

According to a message put out by Cobb County Government, those hours will be from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday and from 8 a.m. to as much time is needed on Wednesday to complete the recount.

Wednesday is the deadline given to all Georgia counties to complete the recount. Nearly 400,000 Cobb County ballots are being recounted on eight scanners, according to the county, and nearly 5 million Georgia ballots are being recounted across the state.

No recounting is being done on Friday. The recount, which started on Tuesday, is taking place in Cobb at Jim Miller Park (2245 Calloway Road), and the public is invited to observe.

The recount was requested by the campaign of President Donald Trump after a hand recount slightly reduced Democratic former vice president Joe Biden’s lead in Georgia to less than 13,000 votes.

Biden has 49.51 percent of the vote compared to 49.25 percent for Trump, which falls within the 0.5 percent threshold for a recount in Georgia.

Biden won more than 56 percent of the vote in Cobb County.

Another lawsuit was filed in Georgia on Wednesday by Trump supporters alleging voter fraud, and naming two of the state’s top Republican leaders—Gov. Brian Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.

The lawsuit also seeks to dismiss the Georgia election results. The Cobb County Courier reported Friday that the Cobb County Republican Committee voted to join the lawsuit as a plaintiff, and quoted county GOP chairman Jason Shepherd as saying that party leaders “believe that there are issues in this election which can only be sorted out in a court of law. An issue as important as the integrity of a Presidential election deserves to have evidence heard in a court of law, not a court of public opinion.”

Over the past week, Cobb Elections has been accused by Trump supporters of shredding ballots. Elections director Janine Eveler said last week that documents “not relevant” to the election were shredded after the hand count, but no ballots.

On Monday, a video posted on social media claimed ballots were being shredded at the Cobb Elections headquarters, but the county said the shredding was routine and involved materials from the Cobb Tax Commissioner’s Office.

In both instances the allegations were posted on Twitter by Lin Wood, an Atlanta attorney and Trump supporter who has repeatedly claimed that Trump won the presidential race by a landslide.

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Lassiter Bands Christmas tree sale slated for Highland Plaza

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Lassiter Band Christmas tree sale

The Lassiter Bands annual Christmas tree sale is a regular fundraiser for the organization run by the booster club, and it’s set to start on Friday at 10 a.m. in its usual spot in the parking lot of Highland Plaza Shopping Center.

The space is in the lot fronting Sandy Plains Road at Gordy Parkway, as we snapped the shot above on Wednesday, as crews were getting ready for Friday.

Dates, hours and other details are below.

Lassiter Bands Christmas tree sale

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East Cobb Church donates new box truck to Simple Needs GA

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Simple Needs GA box truck

Submitted information and photo:

Members of East Cobb Church have responded to the pressing needs of the poor in Cobb County by buying Simple Needs GA a brand-new box truck for picking up and delivering furniture. 

In addition to the donation of the 16-foot GMC Savana box truck, the congregation also made a large financial donation that will cover the cost of insurance and maintenance for the vehicle over the course of its lifetime.  

More than 250 church members also purchased about 3,000 full-sized toiletries and other useful items for distribution by SNGA to shelter check-ins and people experiencing homelessness in Cobb County.  

Taken together, the gifts are by far the largest donation in the history of the Marietta-based nonprofit. 

As a result, SNGA will no longer need to spend large sums of money to rent box trucks for picking up and delivering furniture and household items as part of its Simple Household Needs program, said Brenda Rhodes SNGA Founder and President. 

“The donation of the box truck gives our volunteers much more capacity for picking up and delivering furniture as needed,” she noted. “We’ve already been making pickups and deliveries with the truck and have seen firsthand how being more efficient will allow us to help many more people over time.” 

Located at 2450 Lower Roswell Rd., East Cobb Church was founded in January 2020.  

The donation came as part of its first-ever “Be Rich” campaign, which gets its name from 1 Timothy 6:18 (“Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.”). 

The goal of the fundraising portion was to help SNGA with its furniture logistics challenges. “Our volunteers often had to scramble to find a way to get much-needed furniture and household items to our clients in Cobb County,” Rhodes noted. 

Initially, though, Pastor Jamey Dickens assumed the campaign would bring in enough money to buy the nonprofit a used pickup truck—not a far-more-expensive, brand-new box truck, he said. Dickens and Katie Peters, a pastoral counselor at East Cobb Church who coordinated the campaign, asked the church’s roughly 800 members to each donate at least $39.95. 

 The outpouring of generosity that resulted was remarkable, Dickens said. “The money just came pouring in,” he said.  

On October 23, East Cobb Church delivered the truck to SNGA’s Marietta warehouse near Cobb Parkway to the applause and tears of SNGA board members, volunteers and other contributors. 

Already deeply involved in community service, members of East Cobb Church were well aware of the disproportionate effects of the pandemic on the poor and were eager to answer the call when the Be Rich campaign was launched, Dickens said.   

“Our people deserve a major shout out and so does Katie, who did a fantastic job leading this effort,” he said. “We’re grateful, too, for how God has led and moved in our church.” 

As Dickens sees it, the successful campaign illustrates the power of people coming together as a community to help others. 

“I loved that it was a very large group effort,” he said. “The ask was just basic, but people stepped up and did what they could—and look at what happened. People give where their heart is engaged.” 

Hearts at Simple Needs GA were touched as well, said Yolanda Kingsberry, a member of SNGA’s board and frequent furniture volunteer. 

“We’re so fortunate to live in a community of generous supporters who value our work and want to help us help others,” she said. “We will make East Cobb Church proud by using this truck to bring comfort to many more deserving families.” 

In a reflection of the generosity of our community at this time, the largest prior donation to SNGA also came during the pandemic when Linked UP Church in Powder Springs donated $14,250 to SNGA this past summer. 

Founded in 2010, SNGA has distributed thousands of duffel bags of full-sized toiletries to shelter check-ins and people experiencing homelessness. Among other activities, the Marietta-based nonprofit last year brought birthday presents and other useful items to more than 270 homeless children; brought furniture and household items to 151 clients; and provided 166 children in 64 families with $100 in requested Christmas gifts. 

For more information about SNGA, email brenda@simpleneedsga.org.

 

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East Cobb traffic update: Shallowford Road reopens after crash

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Shallowford Road crash

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UPDATED 2:58 PM: Cobb Police say all lanes are reopened and the crash scene has been cleared.

ORIGINAL STORY:
Shallowford Road at Lassiter Road eastbound is closed after a multi-vehicle crash with what appear to be serious injuries.

Westbound traffic is open but moving slowly in sight of a scene involving at least three cars.

We were in the area and saw an ambulance crew wheel a passenger away who had been sitting on the sidewalk; Cobb Police investigators were just getting to the scene and asking bystanders for initial information. There also are two Cobb Fire/EMS crews standing by.

All three cars had spun near a bank in front of a CVS store at the intersection; one landed near the intersection and another is covered with a blue tarp. An SUV suffered less damage and the passengers provided some eyewitness information.

A woman who was in her car when the crash took place said she didn’t see the collision but said “there were cars flying everywhere.”

We’ll update when we have more information.

 

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