Deadline for East Cobb PTA scholarship applications is Feb. 28

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The East Cobb County Council of PTAs awards a $1,000 scholarship to graduating seniors from each of the six Cobb County School District high schools in East Cobb (Kell, Lassiter, Pope, Sprayberry, Walton, Wheeler).ECCC PTA

The deadline for submitting applications for the Margie Hatfield Scholarship Fund is Feb. 28. Here’s more from ECCC PTA about how to apply:

The scholarship, known as the Margie Hatfield Scholarship, honors the dedication and years of service given by Mrs. Hatfield to the youth of our council. In recognition of her volunteer involvement, the Margie Hatfield Scholarship Fund awards deserving seniors who have made significant contributions to the community.

Any graduating senior enrolling in a full-time course of study at any institute of higher learning may apply. Students, however, must be a member of your school’s PTSA, and if awarded a scholarship, must use the funds for continuing education.

ECCC PTA Scholarship Awards Ceremony 
Date: Monday, April 20, 2020 
Time: 9:30 – 11:30am 
Location: Walton High School

Please contact Kimberly Webb, ECCC PTA Scholarship Chair, at kwebb1970@gmail.com if you have any questions.

 

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Cobb Development Authority member launches Commission bid

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East Cobb resident Kevin Nicholas, a member of the Development Authority of Cobb County, has launched a bid for the District 2 seat on the Cobb Board of Commissioners.Kevin Nicholas, Cobb Development Authority

A software development and technology professional, he’s the fourth Republican to announce for the seat being vacated at the end of the year by retiring commissioner Bob Ott.

Nicholas also ran in the Republican primary for Post 6 on the Cobb Board of Education in 2014, and was defeated by then-incumbent Scott Sweeney.

Nicholas declared his intent to receive campaign contributions on Jan. 29, and on Friday made a brief statement on his Facebook page, saying “we face real challenges that have come along with the growth in Cobb for families like ours and the businesses we work with and support.”

East Cobb News has left a message seeking more details about his candidacy. Nicholas said in that same message that “we need to look forward and prepare for the eventuality of change while embracing values which support our community and make it a forever home for our children and grandchildren. . .  I am passionate to continue serving you – not the establishment or special interests.”

District 2 includes most of East Cobb as well as the Vinings/Cumberland area. Ott was first elected in 2008, and said last month he would not be seeking a fourth term.

The seven Cobb Development Authority members are appointed by county commissioners and consider economic development initiatives and incentives, including tax abatements for redeveloped land.

In recent years, their votes on tax incentives have come under increasing scrutiny.

Nicholas was one of two votes against a measure in 2018 to provide $35 million in revenue bonds for a Kroger superstore at the MarketPlace Terrell Mill project currently under construction on Powers Ferry Road.

The Development Authority’s vote in favor of those abatements was challenged legally by East Cobb resident Larry Savage, and a retired Cobb judge ruled against the bonds being issued.

However, Kroger and the Development Authority appealed the ruling, and the Georgia Supreme Court upheld the abatements last summer.

Nicholas’ term on the Development Authority was due to expire in March 2021.

Another GOP commission candidate, Andy Smith of East Cobb, announced on Monday his intent to accept campaign contributions. He’s been Ott’s appointee to the Cobb Planning Commission since 2018.

The other Republican candidates are entrepreneur Fitz Johnson of Vinings, who announced last week, and East Cobb resident Shane Deyo, an Army veteran and software consultant.

The lone Democrat thus far is Jerica Richardson of East Cobb, who announced last summer.

Savage is running for the third time for Cobb Commission Chairman, and is the only Republican thus far challenging incumbent Mike Boyce in the primary. Savage also ran in 2012 and 2016.

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LGE Community Credit Union scholarship applications accepted

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LGE Community Credit Union scholarships
Maayan Lantzman of Pope High School (third from left) was a 2019 LGE Community Credit Union scholarship winner from the Cobb County School District.

Submitted information and photo:

Applications are now open for LGE’s 2020 Community Service Scholarship Program. The program awards scholarships to high school seniors who display an exceptional commitment to serving their community and others.

LGE is strategically partnered with both Cobb County School District and Marietta City Schools, and is proud to offer scholarship opportunities specific to students at those schools. Seniors who attend a Cobb County School District or Marietta City Schools public high school are eligible to apply for a $5,000 scholarship through their respective school. Students should contact their high school for application and details. One winner from each district will be selected as the recipient of a $5,000 scholarship.

An additional $3,000 scholarship is open to all other high school seniors within LGE’s footprint that attend a school that falls outside of LGE’s district-specific scholarships. The application and official rules for this scholarship can be found at LGEccu.org/scholarships. All applications must be received by March 18, 2020 at 5 p.m. ET.

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Cobb voter registration deadline for presidential primary is Feb. 24

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If you want to vote in the March 24 presidential primary in Georgia and aren’t a registered voter, you’ll have until Feb. 24 to do so.East Cobb advance voting

You can check your registration status or file an online registration form by clicking here with the Georgia Secretary of State’s office.

While Democratic voters will have several hopefuls to choose from, the Republican ballot will have only one name—incumbent President Donald Trump.

In Cobb County, some polling precinct locations have changed, including several in East Cobb, as noted last month. The Cobb Board of Elections formally approved those changes last week.

Advance voting in the presidential primary starts March 2; full schedule here.

The deadline to register for the May 19 general primary—which includes Congressional, state and local offices—is April 20. 

Last week, Cobb Elections formally adopted filing fees for candidates running for local office. Qualifying for various judgeships, county commission, county school board, court clerks, sheriff and tax commissioner is March 2-6.

This year, Georgia is rolling out new voting machines that includes a paper balloting system, and they will be used initially for the presidential primary.

 

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Mountain View ES recognized for book drive for Cobb students

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Mountain View ES book drive

Students and teachers at Mountain View Elementary School in East Cobb were recognized last week by the Cobb Board of Commissioners for a book drive they conducted for students at Clay Elementary School in Mableton.

During the drive, the Mountain View students met their goal of providing a new book for each Clay student to take home over the Christmas and New Years’s holiday break, collecting and donating used books, making bookmarks and wrapping and decorating each book with bows, ribbons and stickers.

The drive was undertaken in response to hearing about a dearth of reading materials for students at Clay, whose principal, Dr. Cynthia Winter, attended Mountain View. The Mountain View students took measures to provide books for Clay students that closely matched their reading interests.

Here’s Mountain View Elementary Principal Renee Garriss, in a comment from the Cobb County School District:

“We make it a priority to engage our children in acts of compassion and gratitude, of being nice to one another and thinking globally about kindness. Every day we invite our students to live out our mottos, which are ‘Be Nice, Show Compassion, and Express Gratitude.’ This is just one way in which they connect their learning with the world around them, and it so beautifully shows the kind of kids we have, thoughtful, generous, and kind.

“To be able to play a small part in connecting the students’ efforts allows us all at Mountain View to be active in what we believe: that the world is made better by practicing compassion and expressing gratitude. Our students are committed to not only doing their best every day but being their best, to making a difference in their community and to the world. It’s a simple act, to give someone a book, but the impact goes far beyond, and in the case of a child, can last a lifetime.”

 

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St. Ann Catholic to hold Cobb emergency preparedness training classes

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Submitted information:

Cobb CERTThere are two Cobb County Community Emergency Response Team training opportunities in February and residents are encouraged to sign up now.

Cobb Senior Services Wellness Center, 1150 Powder Springs Street, MariettaClasses will be held from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on three consecutive Wednesdays (must attend all three classes), Feb. 5, 12 and 19.To register, contact Tracy Shehab at tracy.shehad@cobbcounty.org.

St. Ann’s Catholic Church, La Salette Hall, 4905 Roswell Road, MariettaClasses will be held from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on three consecutive Saturdays (must attend all three classes), Feb. 22, 29 and March 7.To register contact Linda Walsh, RN at LWalshRN@st-ann.org or call 770-552-6400 ext. 6019.

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Georgia gas prices drop 7 cents at the start of February

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Georgia gas prices New Year

From AAA:

Georgia gas prices declined at the pump compared to a week ago. Georgia motorists are now paying an average price of $2.30 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline. Monday’s state average is 7 cents less than a week ago, 14 cent less than last month, and 16 cents more than this time last year.

It now costs $34.50 to fill a 15-gallon tank of gasoline; that is $6.60 less than what motorists paid in April of 2019, when pump prices hit their peak of $2.74 per gallon.

“Increased total domestic stocks of gasoline have helped to ease pump price,” said Montrae Waiters, spokeswoman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Typically, we see lower demand during this time of year. When combined with higher stock levels, pump prices usually decrease in response.”

Rising Gas Stocks Put Downward Pressure on Winter Pump Prices

The national gas price average is $2.47, which is 5 cents cheaper than last week, 11 cents less than last month, and 22 cents more than a year ago. Gas prices have continued to drop over the last week as gasoline stocks grew again, measuring at 260 million barrels– the highest stock level ever recorded by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) since it began recording the data in 1990. EIA estimates that demand grew slightly from 8.56 million b/d to 8.66 million b/d. However, the current rate is lower than last year’s 8.87 million b/d at this time.

Regional Prices:

Atlanta ($2.31)

  • Most expensive Georgia metro markets –Brunswick ($2.43), Hinesville-Fort Stewart ($2.42), and Savannah ($2.38).
  • Least expensive Georgia metro markets – Catoosa-Dade-Walker ($2.19), Dalton ($2.20), and Rome ($2.21).

Click here to view current gasoline price averages

 

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East Cobb food scores: Biscuits and More; Seed; Stem; and more

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Seed Kitchen and Bar, East Cobb food scores

The following East Cobb food scores from Jan. 27-31 have been compiled by the Cobb & Douglas Department of Public Health. Click the link under each listing for details of the inspection:

Alto Senior Living Marietta
840 Lecroy Drive
January 30, 2020 Score: 94, Grade: A

Biscuits and More
3162 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 140
January 29, 2020 Score: 98, Grade: A

Catfish Hox
2595 Sandy Plains Road, Suite 101
January 30, 2020 Score: 90, Grade: A

Hoboken Bread & Bagel Company
1033 Sandy Plains Road, Suite G
January 28, 2020 Score: 99, Grade: A

Seed Kitchen & Bar
1311 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 504
January 31, 2020 Score: 97, Grade: A

Stem Wine Bar
1311 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 516
January 31, 2020 Score: 100, Grade: A

Taco Bell
4880 Lower Roswell Road
January 29, 2020 Score: 90, Grade: A

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Walton Chorus Fashion Show and Silent Auction slated for Saturday

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Submitted information:Walton Chorus Fashion Show

The 16th annual Fashion Show and Silent Auction will be held on Saturday, February 1. We will be raffling some FANTASTIC prizes as well as holding our famous Silent Auction featuring some of the coolest items and themed gift baskets. Doors open at the Walton Theater at 6:00 for the Silent Auction. The Fashion Show starts at 7:00.

Raffle tickets are on sale from Chorus students. You could win!

  • Music Midtown tickets
  • $1000 Delta gift card (domestic flights)
  • $750 Avalon shopping spree
  • iPhone 11
  • 13.3” MacBook Pro

 

For more information visit the Walton Chorus website.

 

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Upcoming events, classes and activities at The Art Place

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Registration for Spring 2020 is OPEN

You can view our course booklet here:
https://www.artplacemarietta.org/spring-2020-listings

Call for Artists

Click Here to Apply

The Art Place Celebrates Black History Month

Directed by Cyd Prather

The Art Place has partnered with the Tiny Theater Company to bring their incredibly successful production to East Cobb.

Tiny Hamlet is an urban retelling of Shakespeare’s classic told in 45 minutes. The show’s cast is comprised entirely of people of color, and is directed with the energy of a feature film. We are excited to celebrate black history month with this production, and believe everyone will benefit from watching this show.

Click Here to Buy Tickets

Coming in February

Center Stage North Presents: Unnecessary Farce
Two cops. Three crooks. Eight doors. Go. In a cheap motel room, an embezzling mayor is supposed to meet with his female accountant, while in the room next-door, two undercover cops wait to catch the meeting on videotape. But there’s some confusion as to who’s in which room, who’s being videotaped, who’s taken the money, who’s hired a hit man, and why the accountant keeps taking off her clothes.

Buy Tickets Now

 

 

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Cobb Police Coffee With a Cop meetings coming in Precinct 4

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Submitted information about several upcoming Cobb Police Coffee With a Cop meetings, where the public is invited to bring questions and discuss crime and public safety issues with Precinct 4 community officer Nathalie Jegg:Northeast Cobb car crash, Cops on Donut Shops

  • Tuesday, February 11, 10:00 AM to noon at IHOP, 3130 Johnson Ferry Road
  • Tuesday, February 186:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Starbucks, 2424 Roswell Road
  • Monday, May 4 10:00 AM to noon at Jacobs Java 1350 Terrell Mill Road

Upcoming major/public events for Cobb Police Community Affairs:

  • Ride with the Blue Charity Motorcycle Ride on Sunday, April 19 at Jim Miller Park time TBA (for more info contact Officer Granell at, Raymond.Granell-Reyes@cobbcounty.org)
  • Copz, Kidz, & Chicken event at Zaxby’s, 2981 Delk Road, April 22 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. A portion of the proceeds to benefit Brumby Elementary School to pay down outstanding school lunch debts (for more info contact Officer Jegg at Nathalie.Jegg@cobbcounty.org)

 

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East Cobb, NE Cobb YMCA volunteer, teen leader to be honored

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Submitted photos and information:

McCleskey-East Cobb and Northeast Cobb YMCA volunteers and teen leaders of the Year will be honored on Feb. 10 at the YMCA of Metro Atlanta’s Celebration of Community Champions: 2020 Vision event at the Cobb Galleria. Ambassador Andrew Young and Dr. Walter Young will be honored with the Bransby Christian Leadership Award.

Molly Khan YMCA volunteer
Molly Khan

McCleskey-East Cobb / Northeast Cobb Family YMCAs

Volunteer of the Year: Molly Toland Khan joined the YMCA with her family in 2012. New to Marietta, Molly found community and friendship at the Y, joining spin class and connecting with other families. She currently serves on the board and community engagement committee with the McCleskey East-Cobb / Northeast Cobb Family YMCAs

Quote about Molly from Y staff member Becky Shipley: “Molly’s time and efforts contribute to strengthening the foundation of the community. She currently serves on our board community engagement committee and oversees the success of our local school food pantry by recruiting volunteers and organizing food pick up day. Molly has grown the pantry’s outreach to serve over 50 families each month.

Quote from Molly: “My path to serve really became clear when I got more involved in our Y community programs which ensure all children have equal access to reaching their full potential. I want to be an example to my children that being a part of a community is about helping and serving others.”

Fatima Gonzalez YMCA volunteer
Fatima Gonzalez

Teen Leader of the Year: Fatima Gonzalez’ first connection with the YMCA was through youth soccer and swim lessons nine years ago. She is currently involved as the Leaders Club president. She has attended YMCA Blue Ridge Leaders School for two summers and has attended three global service leadership trips. After high school graduation, Fatima plans to attend college in Georgia so she can continue her YMCA involvement.

Quote about Fatima from Y Staff Member Rachel Singer: “Fatima embodies teen leadership and commitment to giving back to the community. She makes time to volunteer and takes the opportunity to lead by example. Fatima is someone I can easily say truly believes in the Y and has been grateful for all of the opportunities that have presented themselves because of her commitment.”

Quote from Fatima: “It is crucial to make time to be involved with the Y because it is our duty to serve our community. It is our duty as servant leaders to give back to the community that raised us and leave it better than it was before. I have found that I feel at home at any Y, even in other states or in other countries like Costa Rica or England. The Y has the ability to unite complete strangers and make them family. I don’t know of any organization that is even comparable to the work, service and impact of the YMCA.”

 

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St. Andrew to hold Methodist women’s district mission study

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Submitted information:United Methodist Women

Feb. 22, 2020 – 8:30am-2:00pm – Atlanta Marietta United Methodist Women’s District Mission Study – St. Andrew United Methodist Church, 3455 Canton Rd., Marietta, GA – Keheley Bldg.

All women of the Methodist Church are invited to the Atlanta Marietta United Methodist Women’s District Mission Study on “Women United For Change – 150 Years in Mission.” Cost: $10 (includes breakfast, lunch and study). Study books can be ordered (and are suggested) through www.umwmissionresources.org. Registration starts at 8:30am. Lunch is 12:00pm. Our program is led by Cindy Davis Campbell, United Methodist Deaconess, whose ministry is with Cobb Senior Services. The study is learning about the history of the United Methodist Women and its predecessor organizations. 

 

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Registration Deadline: Sat., Feb. 15, 2020 (contact: Edna Felmlee, felmleee@gmail.com or 678-494-4213).

Sope Creek ES students learn problem-solving in STEM program

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Sope Creek ES STEM

Photos and information submitted by Cobb County School District:

Stewardship, citizenship, and leadership are central to the mission and vision at Sope Creek Elementary where young students develop skills to be the leaders of tomorrow. The nearly 1,200 students – from preschool to fifth grade – have used STEM education as a catalyst to change the world. 

“We have helped our students view the world as problem solvers. Even our youngest learners know that they have the potential to change the world,” said Sope Creek Principal Dr. Doug Daugherty.

Sope Creek Elementary teachers, together with their students, explore global problems through an interdisciplinary approach focused on science, technology, engineering, and math. The educators create lessons that give students the opportunity to serve as young agents of change in their community.  

As a result, a culture of care has spread throughout the school.  

After learning about the importance of conserving wildlife habitats, first-grade students at Sope Creek jumped into action. They decided to help the Atlanta Zoo by designing enclosures specific to the most endangered animals. 

“It is exciting to see our students demonstrating compassion and feeling empowered enough to imagine bold solutions,” explained first-grade teacher Nadia White. 

As second-grade students explored past and present Georgia, their research unearthed the pollution issue currently impacting the Savannah River. So, in partnership with Coca-Cola’s litter catcher initiative, students created their own designs to decrease water pollution, doing their part as great stewards of their home state.  

To fight the declining bee population, Sope Creek fourth-graders planted wildflowers in the garden beds right outside their classroom doors. Thanks to the 9 and 10-year-olds research and planning, the bees will have a reliable food source. 

Each year, Sope Creek Elementary chooses a theme. This year’s theme “Hero Makers” not only emphasizes the importance of being heroes but also helps students recognize their potential of being the heroes of today and tomorrow.  

 “We are most proud of the impact on our students who see the world differently,” Dr. Daugherty added. “They know that they have the ability to make a difference and to be the leaders to make change happen.” 

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Cobb public safety step-and-grade plan approved unanimously

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Susan Hampton, Cobb public safety advocates
Susan Hampton

Cobb public safety personnel will be receiving a new salary structure that becomes effective in March.

The Cobb Board of Commissioners voted 4-0 Tuesday night to implement a step-and-grade plan that will provide for incremental pay boosts, based on years of service and other factors.

Details of the plan were revealed last week as a “next step” toward increasing salary and benefits for Cobb public safety workers. Commissioners last year approved a seven-percent raise and a one-time bonus after coming under pressure from public safety personnel and community activists.

“This is a step forward,” South Cobb commissioner Lisa Cupid said before the vote. “It is not a panacea.”

The new plan kicks in March 22, and all qualified personnel in Cobb police, fire and sheriff’s departments will move up a step at that time.

The additional funding will come to $5.7 million for the current fiscal year 2020, which goes through the end of September.

The step-and-grade plan would increase starting pay for entry-level police officers, sheriff’s deputies and firefighters from $41,000 a year to $46,000.

Salaries for the highest police officer and firefighter positions would range from $67,290 to $103,626. For rank-and-file sheriff’s deputies, that top-end range would be $48,435 to $74,590.

Unlike other step-and-grade pay models—including the Cobb County School District—the Cobb public safety raises would not be automatic, and would have to go before commissioners during the annual budget process.

East Cobb commissioner Bob Ott was absent from the meeting.

“We still have work to do, but a lot has been done in the past 11 months,” said Susan Hampton of East Cobb, an advocate with the Cobb County Public Safety Foundation.

She urged commissioners to “never allow public safety to be removed as the No. 1 priority in future budgets.”

But another public safety advocate, Kimberly Peace Hill, was irate, saying “this scale does nothing for retention.”

She told commissioners that “if you’re going to do this, don’t drop the ball. Give them [public safety employees] a commitment.”

Cobb Sheriff Neil Warren, whose department is understaffed, said the step-and-grade plan “is outstanding. It’s long overdue.”

The commissioners’ comments were brief, with East Cobb commissioner JoAnn Birrell pledging that “as long as I’m in this seat, [public safety] will be my No. 1 priority.”

North Cobb commissioner Keli Gambrill voted for the measure, but wondered how the plan will be financed in the long haul since the county brings in $21 million less in property tax revenues ($392 million) than it pays for county employee salaries ($414 million).

She wanted future public safety raises to be tied to additional revenues from the state tag and ad valorem tax, the source of most of the funding for the step-and-grade costs.

“I hope our actions over the last year will show we are moving in the right direction.” Cupid said.

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GOP business executive joins Cobb Commission District 2 race

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Some more political campaign news to round up here, after yesterday’s announcement of a Democratic candidate for the Cobb Board of Education Post 5 race:Fitz Johnson, Cobb commission District 2

The battle to succeed Bob Ott on the Cobb Board of Commissioners gained a Republican candidate last week. T. Fitz Johnson, a Vinings resident, filed a declaration of intent to accept campaign contributions.

Johnson is CEO of ASID Group International, a prison healthcare company, and was a GOP candidate for Georgia Superintendent of Schools in 2014. His community service work includes serving on the WellStar Health System Board of Trustees and the board of the Cobb Hospital Authority.

A former collegiate wrestler at The Citadel, Johnson is a military veteran and was the owner of the Atlanta Beat women’s professional soccer team from 2009-11.

He’s the third Republican to announce after Ott’s decision not to seek a fourth term to represent District 2, which includes some of East Cobb and the Smyran-Vinings area. The others are East Cobb residents Shane Deyo, an Army veteran and software consultant, and Andy Smith, Ott’s appointee to the Cobb Planning Commission.

Smith hasn’t formally declared his candidacy and will have to resign from the planning board once he does.

Last week, East Cobb real estate agent Pamela Reardon told the MDJ she would be running too, as a Republican. On Monday, however, she left a message on the Cobb Central Facebook page that she has decided against that, citing stress and a previous bout with cancer.

The only Democrat to announce for the District 2 seat thus far is Jerica Richardson, who campaigned for current Cobb school board member Jaha Howard.

6th District Congress update

After several Republican candidates withdrew for the 6th Congressional District seat before the holidays, another has jumped into the fray.

Mykel BarthelemyMykel Barthelemey, who runs Barthelemy Commercial Capital in Atlanta with her husband, is the third GOP hopeful seeking to unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath.

She joins former Congresswoman Karen Handel in the Republican primary and recently launched her campaign website.

Barthelemey, who hails from Louisiana, was a sub-contractor for the Small Business Administration in Atlanta and was involved in the Reform Party. She’s the author of a new book, “Trump Is Not A Racist! Here’s Why” and is the founder of Coming Out Red USA, a grassroots conservative organization.

In her mission statement, she said Trump is “the greatest President in the history of our country that ever lived” and that “I’m the Left’s worst nightmare because my nonconformity destroys their narrative.”

The 6th District includes East Cobb, North Fulton and Sandy Springs and North DeKalb.

Dem roundtable on crime, opioids

Next week two Democratic candidates will hold a roundtable event in East Cobb on criminal justice reform and opioids.

The roundtable takes place next Tuesday, Feb. 4, at 6 p.m., at Seed Kichen and Bar (1311 Johnson Ferry Road)

The hosts are Sarah Riggs Amico, who is running for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican David Perdue, and Jimmy Herndon, a candidate for Cobb County Sheriff.

 

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Walton student raising funds for YMCA Global Service trip

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Izaiah Hooper, Walton student, YMCA Global Service trip

In December we posted a fundraising appeal from a Lassiter student who’s part of a YMCA Global Service project this summer to the Republic of Georgia.

Izaiah Hooper, a student at Walton High School, is part of the same program, and is asking for community help to collect $3,000 in donations by May 1. As he explains:

“Only a select amount of teens get to go on this trip and I was picked! We would fly out there and stay at the YMCA there and help out for 10 days around the camp. I would learn new leadership skills to bring back to my community and I would be able to help the locals there.”

Izaiah has been involved in various community service work in addition to the YMCA, having raised funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 13). He also has been a page in the Georgia State Senate.

Izaiah has more information about him and the leadership program at his YMCA page, including a button where you can make a donation.

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Democratic candidate announces for Cobb school board Post 5

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The first Democrat to seek the Post 5 seat on the Cobb Board of Education has announced her candidacy.Julia Hurtado, Cobb school board candidate

On Monday, Julia Hurtado launched her campaign website and posted a brief introductory video (see below).

She is a physical therapist with the Shepherd Center, a rehabilitation facility in Atlanta for people with spinal cord and brain injuries.

Hurtado said on her campaign website that she is running “to build a coalition between teachers, parents, and students, and to help our community keep up with our changing world.”

Hurtado and her husband, David Hurtado, an attorney, moved to the Atlanta area 12 years ago to attend Emory graduate school. They have been in Cobb County for the last eight years and live in the Sedalia Park Elementary School attendance zone.

Post 5 includes the Lassiter and Pope attendance zones; Hightower Trail, Simpson and Mabry middle schools; and Davis, East Side, Eastvalley, Garrison Mill, Mountain View, Murdock, Powers Ferry, Sedalia Park, Shallowford Falls and Tritt elementary schools.

Republican David Banks is completing his third term representing Post 5 on the school board, and announced recently he is seeking re-election.

Three other Republican candidates have declared: Delta pilot Shelley O’Malley, attorney Rob Madayag and IT consultant Matt Harper (previous ECN post here).

Banks has said his goals for a fourth term include expanding STEM programs in East Cobb schools, including the addition of an arts component; continued support for the Cobb Teaching and Learning System that provides real-time assessments of academic progress; and to push for more teachers and better compensation when funding is available.

Hurtado said that in a county that’s becoming more diverse, “I want to amplify all of these voices in our community to ensure that every student’s needs are met,” and that her specific objectives will be to “focus on equal access, opportunity, and success for all students.”

Four of the seven posts on the Cobb school board are up for grabs this year; Post 5 is the only one in East Cobb. Republicans hold a 4-3 majority.

The general primary in Cobb and Georgia is May 19.

Post 5 map

Cobb BOE Post 5

 

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East Cobb traffic alert: Post Oak Tritt-Hembree roundabout opens

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Post Oak Tritt-Hembree roundabout opens

Cobb County government is sending out this message today:

Cobb Department of Transportation crews opened the new roundabout at Post Oak Tritt and Hembree Roads in time for the Monday morning rush hour. The $1.5 million project is designed to improve traffic flow through the area and also includes enhanced lighting and brings sidewalks up to modern ADA standards.

Traffic might be slow in the area due to the changes in flow, so please drive carefully. More information on roundabouts can be found here.

https://www.cobbcounty.org/transportation/traffic/safety-education

The roundabout was scheduled to have been completed in July, but Cobb DOT requested and was granted a delay from the Cobb Board of Commissioners in July due to what were cited as weather and utility relocation delays.

The original cost of the project also was pegged at $1.3 million.

The roundabout was built at a busy intersection that previously had only a stop sign for drivers turning left or right from Hembree onto Post Oak Tritt.

It’s also located close to a roundabout opened in the fall of 2017 at Pope High School on Hembree Road.

 

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East Cobb resident earns Cobb Chamber’s public service award

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Susan Hampton, Cobb Chamber public service award
Susan Hampton with outgoing Cobb Chamber of Commerce president Mitch Rhoden. (Cobb C of C photo)

At its annual gala dinner Saturday, the Cobb Chamber of Commerce presented East Cobb resident Susan Hampton with its Mack Henderson Public Service Award, given to “someone who is outstanding in their commitment and dedication to enhancing the quality of life for the citizens of Cobb County.”

Hampton has organized the East Cobb Business Association’s appreciation events for Cobb Police Precinct 4 officers and Cobb Fire personnel, and is part of the newly formed Cobb County Public Safety Foundation.

Over the last year, she has been outspoken in favor of better pay and benefits for Cobb public safety workers.

In being presented the award Saturday, the Chamber called Hampton a “tireless advocate for Cobb’s public safety personnel. Whether it’s acting as a vocal supporter for higher wages or organizing an appreciation event for local law enforcement, this award winner devotes her volunteer efforts to the community she serves.”

Hampton also is active with the Cobb County Coalition of Business Associations, “working with the coalition’s founders and other committed volunteers continuing the legacy of Barbara Hickey, lending her hand whenever it is needed,” according to the Chamber’s presentation.

The Cobb Chamber also honored former U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson at the gala dinner. The Republican from East Cobb was presented with the Chamber’s Senator Johnny H. Isakson Leadership Award, which has been renamed in his honor.

The Chamber has dedicated the 10th floor of its new offices at 1100 Circle 75 Parkway in Isakson’s name.

Sen. Johnny Isakson, Cobb chamber
Retired U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson speaks at the Cobb Chamber gala dinner Saturday. (Cobb C of C photo)

 

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