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!
“It’s clear people want to hear what we have to say,” Watching the Funds-Cobb leader Heather Tolley-Bauer said.
Cobb Board of Education election results last week ensured that a 4-3 Republican majority will continue for the next two years.
But critics of the board and the Cobb County School District, including a Democratic candidate who ran for a seat in East Cobb, vowed that they will continue to speak out.
Following public comments at board meetings Thursday, Cobb superintendent Chris Ragsdale delivered another broadside at those whom he accused of having a political agenda, including school book removals, spending and finance matters, school board redistricting and school safety.
“I would ask this of our critics,” Ragsdale said in reading from prepared remarks. “The election is over. Perhaps you could take a break from the political rhetoric and false allegations for just a bit, allowing us to perform the duties Cobb County expects of us—providing its children with a world-class education in a safe environment.”
He said some of those critics, especially those who have faulted the district for its response to the deadly school shooting in Barrow County, are making false claims about what can be discussed in public, and that its decision to hire a private intelligence firm without going through a formal contractual vote in public violates state procurement laws.
“In the past four years, more activists than can be named or remembered have attempted to take control of your children’s education and our schools,” he said. “While there is a time and place for political debates, they never have a place in our schools.”
Cobb superintendent Chris Ragsdale said some of the district’s critics have “a goal requiring unreasoning criticism of everything the district attempts to do, regardless of whether the critic knows anything about it. “
Republicans held all three Cobb school board seats that the GOP had held going into the elections, including an open seat in East Cobb in Post 5, where John Cristadoro defeated Democrat Laura Judge.
In two of those races, Democrats fielded candidates who’ve been involved in groups that have been vocal against district and Republican school board leadership.
One of them is Judge, who has been part of Watching the Funds-Cobb, a citizens watchdog group that scrutinizes district finances and spending.
At a work session Thursday, Judge said the Cobb school district needs to demonstrate greater transparency in a variety of ways, including re-establishing parent advisory councils at the school level, and to conduct town halls.
She said the board is too accommodating to “the one employee” who directly answers to it—the superintendent.
“I urge you to stop being a rubber stamp and get back to why you originally ran for your seat, versus holding a party line,” she told school board members during a public comment period.
“I will be advocating relentlessly for policies that truly benefit our children. I will be here to make sure the board upholds its responsibilities, and I’m not going anywhere.”
Heather Tolley-Bauer, a Watching the Funds-Cobb leader and East Cobb resident, followed Judge by saying that the group will continue to monitor district fiscal activities.
The group was outspoken against a proposed $50 million special activities center that the school board dropped from consideration after Watching the Funds-Cobb obtained a site plan the district had not publicly revealed.
She said Watching the Funds-Cobb—which has nearly 3,000 followers on its Facebook page—sent out an e-mail about that issue that reached more than 6,500 people, and had a high click-through rate.
“It’s clear people want to know what we have to say,” she said. “While we don’t have the power to put tens of thousands of messages” to parents as the district does through its online portal, “we don’t need it. Our reach is growing fast.”
She referenced an East Cobb News report quoting Cristadoro as “acknowledging the need for improvement in academics, transparency and public communication by the board. We’re optimistic.
“We’re here to stay, and we’re bringing more Cobb parents with us every day.”
At Thursday night’s board meeting, Watching the Funds-Cobb member Stacy Efrat, also of East Cobb and a Democratic appointee to the Cobb Elections Board, echoed those sentiments.
But Ragsdale countered those criticisms by saying his detractors have “a different—and competing—perspective” about what the district’s priorities should be.
“Some believe schools should spend time and money on a whole variety of ideas that have nothing to do with keeping students safe or the knowledge necessary to prepare them for a life of success,” he said. “It is a vision in which parents and the social and religious beliefs in a child’s home are seen as barriers to overcome rather than partners.
“It is a vision built entirely on the goal of disrupting the educational environment, with little to no concern about how it affects and impacts children, families, or educators. It is a goal requiring unreasoning criticism of everything the district attempts to do, regardless of whether the critic knows anything about it.”
On Friday morning, Ragsdale’s critics pushed back with sarcasm.
Micheael Garza of East Cobb, a Democratic candidate for State House 46 and a member of the Cobb Community Care Coalition, another group opposed to district leadership, responded on social media by translating Ragsdale’s comments in mocking fashion:
“How dare you question us about spending money on keeping our kids safe using secret military intelligence from a company that did not exist a few months ago and that has never used this technology in a school.”
And also:
“‘Can’t you all just go away?’ Says leader of district currently under a new lawsuit for violating the first amendment rights of parents who were denied the right to speak.”
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!
A Gritters Library patron browses the shelves at the new facility, located adjacent to the old library at Shaw Park. ECN photos and video.
Four years after groundbreaking, the new multi-purpose building at Shaw Park anchored by Gritters Library is open to the public.
The 20,000-square foot facility, which opened on Nov. 6, includes the relocated Northeast Cobb Community Center and the workforce development headquarters for CobbWorks, the county’s job and employment resource center.
The Gritters building will also serve as an outreach center for civic engagement and health and wellness matters.
At a Thursday ribbon-cutting celebration, officials from those entities and others touted the new center as a dynamic asset for a growing area.
“Wow. Wow,” said Commissioner JoAnn Birrell of East Cobb, who championed the reconstruction project through financial and other hurdles. “Have you ever seen a more beautiful thing than this?”
The main area of the new Gritters Library features computer work stations as well as bookshelves.
The Gritters replacement project was included in the 2016 Cobb SPLOST, with $6.8 million originally budgeted for the library and $1.2 million for the community center.
There was a ground-breaking ceremony in 2021, but a $2.5 million shortfall emerged due to rising construction costs. Cobb commissioners approved some creative financing in 2023 to set the project in motion.
After thanking the many parties involved in the funding and building—including State Rep. Don Parsons of Northeast Cobb and the Georgia Public Library Service, Birrell declared the new Gritters to be “a community asset for the whole area because of the partnerships invested here.”
When the small wooden frame building that served as the Gritters Library branch opened in 1973, it was designed to serve a population of 25,000.
Today, that 3-mile radius now includes more than 65,000 people, as well as a number of educational institutions. There are 11 Cobb County School District campuses, Kennesaw State University and a branch of Chattahoochee Tech in the community.
The children’s room at the new Gritters Library.
“It truly is about community connection—neighbors to neighbors,” Cobb County Manager Jackie McMorris said. “The word is spreading about this beautiful facility. We are excited to be a part of this with you.”
Sonya Grant, executive director of CobbWorks said that “this partnership with the library is the perfect fit for us.” With its “wealth of resources,” she said, “CobbWorks is 100 percent committed to the economic vitality of all of our citizens.”
The community center space is expanded from its old quarters in Shaw Park, said Cobb PARKS director Michael Brantley, serving as a venue for public meetings and things like weddings and special celebrations.
It’s the second such collaboration between the parks and libraries, along with the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center.
“This is a great investment in your future,” Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid said. “What I love about libraries is they foster fellowship with our neighbors.”
Gritters Library is open Monday —Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Click the middle button to view the slide show below.
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!
Butch Carter with his wife Kimberly Shea-Carter and former East Cobb Citizen of the Year Susan Hampton.
Business owner and civic leader Butch Carter was named the 2024 East Cobb Citizen of the Year Thursday by the Cobb Chamber of Commerce.
The honor was announced during the Chamber’s East Cobb Area Council breakfast at Indian Hills Country Club.
According to the Chamber, “the Citizen of the Year Awards are given to honor an individual whose impact through the years will be recognized and regarded with pride throughout the area as a role model. These outstanding citizens are chosen for their definable, exceptional deeds, with which he or she has made their community a better place to live. Awards are given based on local area nominations.”
Carter is the owner of Honest-1 Auto Care on East Cobb Drive and is a past president of the East Cobb Rotary Club, supervising the distribution of over $100,000 to local charities in the 2023-2024 Rotary year.
The club also raised $30,000 to Lunches for Learning, a charity that provides food for needy children in Honduras. Carter leads the club’s volunteer efforts with East Cobb Park, road cleanup, clean water projects, and veteran organizations.
More from the Chamber about Carter’s community activities:
“Carter’s volunteer endeavors include service at MUST Ministries, the McCleskey-East Cobb YMCA, and the East Cobb Business Association. Some of his notable achievements with the East Cobb Business Association has been supporting the East Cobb Public Safety Celebration and winning the East Cobb Business Association Business Person of the Year award. He served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force after attending North Carolina State University on an Air Force ROTC scholarship. His generosity and positive energy are an invaluable part of the East Cobb community.”
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
The Cobb Board of Elections and Registration voted on Tuesday to schedule special elections for two seats on the Cobb Board of Commissioners in early 2025.
District 2 no longer includes areas of East Cobb that took part in a 2024 primary election later invalidated in court.
The primary election for District 2 and District 4 will be held on Feb. 11, and the general election will take place on April 29.
If runoffs are necessary, they would take place on March 11.
Qualifying for both seats takes place from Dec. 18-20.
The special elections were ordered by a Cobb judge in July after she struck down electoral maps that the commission’s Democratic majority approved in 2022, claiming home rule redistricting powers.
Those maps had part of East Cobb in District 2. But the ruling declared that only the Georgia legislature can conduct county reapportionment and that the “home rule” maps were unconstitutional.
District 2 Democratic commissioner Jerica Richardson, who had been redrawn out of her East Cobb home by the legislature, ran unsuccessfully for Congress this spring.
Primary elections were held in May under those maps, but Judge Kellie Hill ordered a do-over in both.
Hill’s ruling was based on an appeal by a Republican candidate, Alicia Adams, who had been disqualified.
Adams’ qualification was challenged by Mindy Seger, an East Cobb Democratic activist and Richardson ally, who claimed Adams didn’t live in District 2 under the home rule maps.
The Cobb elections board agreed and voted to disqualify Adams, but she prevailed in Cobb Superior Court.
Previous legal efforts to void the home rule maps failed in the Georgia Supreme Court, which claimed that the plaintiffs didn’t have standing.
Former Cobb Board of Education member Jaha Howard won the Democratic primary for District 2, and East Cobb resident Pam Reardon qualified under the home rule maps.
But under the legislative maps, she lives in District 3, represented by Republican JoAnn Birrell, whose term expires in 2026.
The only East Cobb-area precincts still included in District 2 are Terrell Mill 1, Powers Ferry 1, portions of Sewell Mill 1, Sewell Mill 3, Elizaebeth 2, Elizabeth 3, Elizabeth 4 and East Piedmont 1.
Democratic District 4 commissioner Monique Sheffield easily won her primary. The District 1 seat, held by Republican Keli Gambrill, also expires in 2026.
It’s unclear whether Richardson and Sheffield will be able to continue serving after their terms expire on Dec. 31.
Commissioners voted in September to vacate the District 2 seat, and Richardson is appealing that decision in Cobb Superior Court.
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!
During the 2024 grant cycle, the Capital City Bank Group (CCBG) Foundation reinvested $13,500 into the Cobb County community, awarding grants to Cobb Collaborative, Marietta Schools Foundation, Marietta Cobb Museum of Art, 10 Women of Hope, Cobb & Douglas Public Health and Communities In Schools of Georgia. The donations provided by the CCBG Foundation help nonprofits carry on the mission of the Foundation to enhance the quality of life for countless local citizens in the areas where we do business.
“Enriching the quality of life in the communities we serve is the primary mission of the Capital City Bank Group Foundation and a calling our bankers are proud to share,” said Ron King, Capital City Bank president of Cobb County. “Whether by way of dollars pledged annually by the Capital City Bank Group Foundation or through the individual efforts of our associates to donate their time and talents, Capital City Bankers are deeply invested in making a meaningful difference in the places we call home.”
The CCBG Foundation – a nonprofit organization created in 1983 by Capital City Bank Group, Inc. – is designed to build strong communities by enhancing the quality of life in communities where Capital City does business. The Foundation provides grants to nonprofits, charitable organizations and institutions exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The mission of the CCBG Foundation is to invest in initiatives that benefit local communities. Most of the funds are distributed to specific areas of focus, including: arts/culture, children/youth services, economic/community development, education, health/sciences and human services.
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
East Cobb resident Dan Larkin said ADUs “are cute but they’re not very livable.”
After hearing from vocal opposition, the Cobb Board of Commissioners on Tuesday voted unanimously to withdraw a proposed code amendment that would allow for small homes in residential backyards.
The 5-0 vote also included withdrawing other proposed changes that would expand the definition of a family for single-family residential zoning purposes and increase the number of cars allowed to park in a single-family property from four to five.
For nearly 90 minutes, most citizens speaking at a public hearing Tuesday urged commissioners not to allow accessory dwelling units (ADU), which they said would increase density, traffic and safety issues.
The code amendments would have allowed a second dwelling unit on a residential property, either attached to or detached from the primary residence, and that was hooked up to the main home’s utilities.
The ADUs could not be rented out under the county’s recently updated short-term rental code, and the pr0perty owner must reside in either of the dwellings, according to the proposal, which was drafted at the behest of Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid to address affordable housing issues.
But after the Cobb Planning Commission panned the proposal last week at the first public hearing on the issue, citizens from across the county showed up Tuesday in even greater numbers.
One of them is Dan Larkin, a real estate agent who lives in the Meadowbrook neighborhood off Powers Ferry Road.
Wearing a signboard that said “Vote No SHACKS in the BACK,” he said that the ADU proposal would be “ruining our quality of life in Cobb.
Larkin also said that “tiny houses may look cute but they’re not very livable.”
Others opposed to ADUs questioned the timing of the proposal, right after an election, while some said the proposed code changes were being rushed through and were not well thought-out.
Some brought signs that said “ADU = Adulterating Cobb.”
Richard Grome and Jill Flamm of the East Cobb Civic Association repeated concerns they expressed at the Planning Commission hearing that allowing ADUs could result in a “cascade effect” of “spot zoning.”
Many wanted commissioners to delay the ADU other zoning amendments to get more feedback from citizens at town halls and through other means.
One who spoke out in favor of ADUs, Matt Stigall of North Cobb, accused his fellow citizens of being motivated by fear.
“What’s being proposed here is super restrictive,” he said, adding that the county’s current zoning code has resulted in a “systemic segregation” of affordable housing supply.
He said opposition has been “fear-mongering about how to control the county. . . . Fear of change. Fear of other people.”
Cupid engaged in lengthy remarks to defend measures to address affordable housing, and the timing of the proposals now.
“Those who are struggling with housing in our county issues don’t have time,” Cobb Chairwoman Lisa Cupid said.
“I asked [county staff] for what would be the lowest-hanging fruit that could be considered?”she said. “We’re not building the supply [of affordable housing] and there is great demand.”
She acknowledged the need to “step back” and gather more information and public response, but said that citizens who are struggling to afford housing don’t have a lot of time.
While Cupid said she’s “amenable” to having further dialogue, “I’m not amenable to us not not addressing this issue constructively.”
Commissioner Keli Gambrill of North Cobb said commissioners currently and in the past have contributed to the issue by zoning primarily for bigger homes, hollowing out the middle-size home market.
The average home sale price in Cobb is approaching $500,000.
“Developers know they can get 4,500 square feet and sell,” she said. “They don’t care” about affordability. “We’re going to have to start pushing back against the developers.”
Commissioner JoAnn Birrell of East Cobb reiterated her opposition to ADUs, saying that the current code allows for in-law suites without having go through zoning.
She’s also skeptical that ADUs will address the cost of housing.
“How do you know if an ADU is going to be affordable?” she asked.
While the ADUs and other zoning proposals are on hold, a number of other code amendments will be subject to another public hearing and scheduled vote on Nov. 21.
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!
According to the restaurant’s social media accounts, the last day of business will be Sunday, Nov. 17.
No reason for the closing was stated in the announcement, which said that it was made with “mixed emotions” and thanked customers.
“Please come by one last time before we close to enjoy your favorite dishes, share stories with our staff and say goodbye. We look forward to seeing you.”
Kat Brown of Willie Jewell’s told East Cobb News that the restaurant space at Sprayberry Crossing Shopping Center will be turned over to an operator who will be opening up a new barbecue concept soon.
The Florida-based Willie Jewell’s opened in an outparcel 2550 Sandy Plains Road in 2017, serving up slow-cooked smoked barbecue beef, pork, turkey and chicken dishes, including ribs, Southern side dishes and desserts, as well as salads and burgers.
The surrounding East Cobb area includes a number of barbecue restaurants, including Righteous Que, Williamson Bros., Sam’s BBQ-Q, Jim ‘N Nick’s and others.
Willie Jewell’s is a fast-casual spinoff of the venerable Bono’s Pit Bar-B-Q concept in Jacksonville, Fla,, and has 10 other locations, mostly in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.
It’s named after a young woman who came to Bono’s and was a longtime cook there.
Local customers expressed surprise at the news of the East Cobb closing, with one saying on the restaurant’s Facebook page that “I’m going to miss being able to be in the ‘know’ and walk in, sit at the bar and order. I already miss several employees that I’ve met since y’all opened, it’s going to be sad to miss your place.”
Opening hours at Willie Jewell’s are from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
Cobb PARKS and the M0untain View Arts Alliance are holding a holiday cabaret, and is seeking performers for the Dec. 23 show at The Art Place (3330 Sandy Plains Road). From an e-mail message soliciting participants:
Performers of all ages and types will be performing holiday pieces throughout the evening, and at intermission, attendees are encouraged to check out the silent auction out front, where 50% of the proceeds will go to the Best Friends Animal Society!
The cost to register to perform is $10 per artist, and can be done so by clicking here.
The performances must be connected to the holidays and there’s a maximum time limit of seven minutes. The content must be family-friendly (no profanity or content relating to drugs, sex, violence, etc.) and participants will be asked to participate in at least two of workshop days of rehearsals.
Tickets are on sale for $18 person and can be purchased by clicking here.
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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!
Wheeler High School Theatre’s Student Acting class presents Arthur Miller’s Tony Award-winning play All My Sons, opening in Wheeler’s Black Box Theatre with shows on November 15 & 16 at 7:00 pm and November 16 & 17 at 2:00 pm.
Set in 1945 after World War II, this is a story about the Keller Family and how the actions of their father affected those around them, including their neighbors and their life long friends, The Deever Family. An American masterpiece, All My Sons examines the relationships between a father and a son, the price men pay for the American Dream, the moral and emotional scars of war, and human struggle for moral and legal conscience. A family drama that established Arthur Miller as a leading voice in the American theater, All My Sons takes the audience to a startling and heartbreaking conclusion.
ALL MY SONS is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection. (www.dramatists.com) PG-13 – not recommended for children under the age of 13.
TICKETS: WHEELERHS.BOOKTIX.COM Adult Tickets: $20 Student Tickets: $10 / with student ID or children attending with an adult CCSD Faculty and Staff receive ONE Complimentary Ticket with CCSD ID.
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
The final East Cobb Area Council of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce breakfast of 2024 takes place Thursday.
Travis Ellis
The event takes place from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Indian Hills Country Club (4001 Clubland Drive) and features a special tribute to veterans.
The 2024 East Cobb Citizen of the Year also will be named.
The deadline to register is Monday and can be done by clicking here. The cost ranges from $30 for Cobb Chamber members to $40 for non-members.
Here’s more on the veterans’ portion of the program, involving the Shepherd’s Men organization:
“Ten years ago, a movement was born in Cobb County. Travis Ellis and his friends had a dream to create something bigger than themselves in support of our nation’s veteran heroes affected by the hidden injuries of war. That dream came to life in the form of Shepherd’s Men. Their mission is simple. They would raise funds and awareness for the SHARE Military Initiative, a life-saving program for post-9/11 military veterans at Shepherd Center in Atlanta. Each year, they set out on grueling multi-state runs and rucks, symbolically sharing the burden these veterans face each day. Ten years later, Shepherd’s Men has run more than 5,000 miles and raised over $11 million for SHARE, covering the annual clinical budget of $1.2 million and growing the number of veterans served each year. “Join us for this moving program featuring a fireside chat with Shepherd’s Men co-founder, Travis Ellis, and a long-time supporter and Marine Veteran, Mitch Rhoden. Travis and Mitch will reflect on ten years of life-saving impact through Shepherd’s Men, what’s on the horizon, and how you can help amplify their impact. In addition to their roles with Shepherd’s Men, Travis and Mitch are local business owners and long-time Chamber members. Travis runs Mobilized Fuels in Marietta, GA and has served as a Chairman for the Cobb Chamber’s Honorary Commanders Program. Mitch is the President and CEO of Futren Hospitality and is a Past Chairman of the Cobb Chamber Board of Directors.”
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!
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!
ADUs have “the potential to destabilize and destroy many existing single-family neighborhoods,” said Jill Flamm of the East Cobb Civic Association.
The Cobb Planning Commission voted unanimously on Tuesday to recommend denial of a sweeping proposal to allow accessory dwelling units on residential property.
The proposal—which is set for an initial public hearing before county commissioners this coming Tuesday—would permit homeowners to build smaller homes (up to 850 square feet) in their backyards.
In a 5-0 vote, the planning board voted to recommend denying the creation of ADUs. But the board split 3-2 on a vote to recommend expanding the definition of a family for the purpose of occupying a single-family home to extended family, included nieces, nephews, guardians and others.
The code amendments were proposed by Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid as a “tool” to address housing affordability issues.
During a work session last month, however, Commissioner JoAnn Birrell of East Cobb called the proposal “a bad idea.” Commissioner Keli Gambrill of North Cobb cited a figure that 85 percent of eligible properties for ADUs would be in her and Birrell’s districts.
They’re the two Republicans on the county board, and their appointees to the planning commission were most vocal at Tuesday’s hearing.
A number of changes to the proposal were made and presented at a Monday work session, which member Fred Beloin, Gambrill’s appointee, called “sloppy” and “haphazard.”
During the hearing, representatives of the East Cobb Civic Association expressed opposition to the ADU proposal (you can read it here) and the changes in the definition of a family.
Jill Flamm said ADUs have “the potential to destabilize and destroy many existing single-family neighborhoods” and said homeowners associations would be able to do little to prevent them.
ECCA president Richard Grome said that in redefining a family unit as proposed, “we’re all related” and that “rooming houses” would essentially be allowed in single family areas.
Planning board member Christine Lindstrom, Birrell’s appointee and a former ECCA leader, remarked that under the proposed definition, “there could be 20 people in my house.”
Grome said of the code amendments that “not only do they not solve any problems, they have the potential to create more problems.”
Beloin said for the code amendments to be rushed now—typically they’re presented in January—”is extraordinary.
“We don’t live in Houston, Texas,” he said, where there is no zoning code and where covenants offer the only protections from spot zoning.
He said there are people from “Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and College Park, Georgia, who want to shove down our throats a completely different code and undermine the fabric of what we’ve had in Cobb County for a long time.”
At the Oct. 22 commission work session, Cupid said that “the way that people are living is changing, and housing affordability is changing. This is one tool and I don’t know how robust of a tool this is compared to other tools.
“You keep several tools available because at some point in time one of them may be helpful for us wanting to fix something. The thing we’re trying to fix is providing places for people to reasonably live in our county.”
Cobb commissioners will hold a public hearing on Tuesday at their regular meeting, the first of two scheduled before a vote on the code amendments is scheduled for Nov. 21.
You also can watch Tuesday’s meeting on the county’s website and YouTube channels and on Cobb TV 23 on Comcast Cable.
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up and you’re good to go!
The Cobb Schools Foundation and Cobb County School District (CCSD) are proud to announce a new partnership with the Center for Family Resources (CFR) to support families in need by providing nonperishable food boxes ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. This collaboration aligns with CFR’s annual Thanks-for-Giving campaign, which delivers thousands of meals to families across the community.
“We are incredibly grateful for this partnership with CFR, which amplifies our shared mission of ensuring that every student and family in Cobb is supported in meaningful ways,” said Cobb Schools Superintendent Chris Ragsdale. “This initiative allows us to help families put food on the table during a critical time of year, and we couldn’t be more proud to work alongside CFR.”
The Cobb County School District reports approximately 2,000 homeless students each year, with over 40,000 families qualifying for free or reduced lunch. These families are scattered throughout our schools, with 100% of our schools reporting at least one or more homeless students.
“The Cobb Schools Foundation is committed to enriching the lives of our students and families. This partnership undoubtedly is taking student success to new heights. Schools are limited in resources that support families in need, and partnerships can fill the needs of our families far greater than school staff can,” added Cobb Schools Foundation Executive Director Felicia Wagner.
The food distribution will take place on November 13th and 14th, with schools and volunteers working together to ensure the food reaches families promptly.
To learn more about the Center for Family Resources and their annual Thanks-for-Giving campaign, visit https://thecfr.org. To learn how to help the Cobb Schools Foundation take student success to new heights, visit the Cobb Schools Foundation website.
About the Cobb Schools Foundation: The Cobb Schools Foundation is the nonprofit arm of the Cobb County School District, dedicated to fostering student success and enriching educational experiences across the district.
About the Center for Family Resources (CFR): The Center for Family Resources is a nonprofit organization committed to preventing homelessness and supporting families in need throughout Cobb County.
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!
But Democrat Kamala Harris, who won Cobb County, was competitive in a number of precincts in what has been a traditional GOP stronghold.
In Cobb, Harris received 227,640 votes, or 56.8 percent (results here), the third consecutive Democratic candidate to win the county, as metro Atlanta continues to be a state battleground.
But after losing a disputed state election in 2020, Trump reclaimed Georgia on Tuesday en route to his return to the White House.
Trump’s 2,660,936 votes in Georgia were good for 50.75 percent, while Harris 2,543,929 votes, or 48.51 percent (results here).
He won all of the seven national battleground states—including Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Arizona and Nevada—to collect 312 electoral votes.
That’s the most for a Republican presidential candidate since George H.W. Bush in 1988.
As Cobb has turned Democratic in general (there are no Republican elected countywide officials any longer), parts of East Cobb have followed that trend.
Trump won 29 precincts in the East Cobb area to 18 for Harris, but many of them were close.
Trump won the Dickerson 1 precinct with only 50.5 percent of the vote, and by similar slim margins in both Eastside precincts.
In Fullers Park 1, Trump got more votes but only 49.98 percent, compared to 48.25 percent for Harris.
A similar result occurred in Timber Ridge 1, with Trump collecting 49.9 percent and Harris 49.19.
Trump just got 50 percent of the votes in both of the Roswell precincts.
Harris won the Mt. Bethel 3 precinct with exactly 50 percent of the vote, and she took two of the three Sope Creek precincts.
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Incumbent federal and state lawmakers with East Cobb constituencies easily won re-election on Tuesday.
U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk
In Congress, Republcian U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk of the 11th District cruised to his sixth term in office, defeating Democrat Katy Stamper with nearly 68 percent of the vote (full results here).
Some Democrats urged their supporters to write in another candidate, saying that Stamper had a history of supporting and voting for Republicans.
But the 11th District, which was redrawn after the 2020 Census to include most of East Cobb, is heavily Republican, and includes Loudermilk’s home base of Bartow County, as well as Cherokee, Dawson and Gordon counties.
In East Cobb, Loudermilk’s margin was smaller, at 54 percent (results here), and Stamper won the Blackwell 1, Elizabeth 1, Elizabeth 4, East Piedmont 1, Sewell Mill 3 and Terrell Mill 1 precincts.
Georgia’s Congressional delegation includes nine Republicans and five Democrats, and the GOP will retain the majority in the Housey. Final results are pending, but Republicans currently have a 213-200 lead.
Republicans also will continue to control both chambers of the Georgia General Assembly after Tuesday’s elections.
In the Senate, all three members with East Cobb constituencies were returned to office. Republican Kay Kirkpatrick of District 32 and Democrat Doc Rhett of District 33 were unopposed.
State Rep. Sharon Cooper
In District 56, which includes Northeast Cobb, Republican incumbent John Albers got 61 percent of the vote to defeat Democrat JD Jordan (results here) to continue serving in a seat he has held since 2011. The district includes north Fulton and parts of Cherokee.
State Rep. Sharon Cooper of East Cobb, a Republican and a senior House leader, won District 45 with 57 percent of the vote over Democrat Eric Castater (full results here).
GOP member John Carson of District 46 also prevailed over Democrat Micheal Garza (full results here), while in District 44, veteran Republican lawmaker Don Parsons was re-elected with 53 percent of the vote over Democrat Danielle Bell (full results here).
Democratic Rep. Mary Frances Williams will serve another term in District 37 after downing Republican Shea Taylor with 55 percent of the vote (full results here). First-term Democratic Rep. Solomon Adesanya was unopposed in District 43.
The Cobb legislative delegation will continue to be in Democratic control.
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The Cobb County District Attorney’s Office will host its Annual Homicide Candlelight Vigil on Thursday, Nov. 14, at the Cobb County Superior Courthouse in the Jury Assembly Room. The vigil is to recognize and support families and friends affected by homicides in Cobb County and marks a significant moment for communal remembrance.
Doors will open at 6 p.m., allowing attendees time to gather and share in some light refreshments before the program commences at 7 p.m.
“This candlelight vigil serves as a powerful testament to the resilience and unity of the Cobb County community in the face of loss,” said District Attorney Flynn Broady. “It offers a space for reflection, support, solidarity and emphasizes the enduring strength of those impacted by tragic events. The Cobb DA’s Office stands committed to providing solace and fostering a sense of community among all attendees.”
DETAILS:
Location: The Cobb County Superior Courthouse – Jury Assembly Room, 70 Haynes St. in Marietta, GA 30090. Time: Doors open at 6 p.m. Program begins at 7 p.m.
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A choir representing nine faith communities in East Cobb and north metro Atlanta sang “We Are One” at the 2023 service.
What had been called the Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service is now the Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration as the event marks its 20th rendition.
But the date—a week before Thanksgiving—and the venue—Temple Kol Emeth—remain the same.
On Nov. 21, various faith communities in East Cobb and surrounding areas will gather for music, prayers, reflections and a reception.
This year’s theme is “Embracing Responsibility: Doing My Part,” and organizers describe it as follows:
“A reminder that each of us can contribute to building a more connected and caring community.”
Coming amid continuing war in the Middle East, and following last year’s service in the wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict (our coverage here), service organizers recalled “this powerful discussion from last year” that “opened our eyes to the incredible similarities between our religions and how they shape our values and beliefs. This year, we’re diving even deeper into these important conversations!”
The local faith communities include Atlanta Christian Chinese Church, Bahá’í Faith Center for Learning, Chestnut Ridge Christian Church, Congregation Etz Chaim, East Cobb United Methodist Church, Emerson Unitarian Universalist Congregation, St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church, Transfiguration Catholic Church and Unity North Church of Atlanta.
As was the case last year, online registration is required (click here) and a clear-bag policy will be observed. “If at all possible, we ask that no personal bags be brought into the event.”
Music will begin at 6:30 and the program begins at 7:00. Temple K0l Emeth is located 1415 Old Canton Road.
Admission is free but an offering will be collected to be distributed to local charities for Thanksgiving.
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Military Times has recognized Kennesaw State University as one of the nation’s top schools for veterans in its 2024 Best for Vets: Colleges rankings.
The annual Military Times list spotlights the top colleges and universities for military service members and veterans. The 2024 ranking reflects Kennesaw State’s commitment to providing resources and opportunities to the university’s more than 2,000 military-connected students, including nearly 600 veterans.
“Kennesaw State University is proud to support our nation’s veterans in pursuit of their academic and career goals,” KSU President Kathy S. Schwaig said. “This recognition from Military Times reflects our priority to provide a world-class education to students who have served their country, and we will continue to offer support systems that help them succeed both in and out of the classroom.”
Kennesaw State was the first University System of Georgia institution to open a Military and Veteran Services (MVS) department, in 2009, which continues to serve as a comprehensive, easily accessible resource hub for service members, veterans and dependents who want to start or continue their college education. Part of Student Affairs, Military and Veteran Services assists military-connected students with enrolling at KSU, applying for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs educational benefits, and tapping into resources such as counseling services and career planning.
Along with the resources available on campus, KSU Military and Veteran Services partners with more than 20 community organizations to support veterans. MVS also awards several scholarships, has an active Student Veterans of America chapter, and hosts programming throughout the year to engage all students and connect them with the resources they need.
“We understand the unique challenges that veterans face when transitioning to college life, and we are here to ensure they have the tools and support they need to succeed,” said Stacey Dixon, the director of KSU Military and Veteran Services and a 20-year Marine Corps veteran. “Our team is committed to empowering veterans and military-connected students by providing resources, guidance, and a strong community to help them achieve their aspirations.”
To determine its Best for Vets rankings, Military Times surveys hundreds of colleges and universities across the country about their offerings for veterans. The survey responses are factored along with a scoring rubric that evaluates data from multiple sources.
According to Military Times, student success metrics are the most important factor in determining the ranking of schools, followed closely by the range of military-specific resources and the level of financial assistance schools offer. Admissions and registration policies, human resources, and “assorted miscellaneous considerations” also factor into the scoring rubric.
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Concert-goers of all ages are invited to a sensory-friendly event Saturday with the Georgia Symphony Orchestra at Wheeler High School.
If you’ve got electronics to be recycled, there’s a Keep Cobb Beautiful Community Recycling event Saturday from 9-1 at Jim Miller Park (2245 Callaway Road). Bring electronics, metals and textiles for recycling; shoes, accessories and clothing will be donated to America’s Thrift Stores to support Children’s Health Care of Atlanta.
Local physician Dr. Dolapo Babaloa of Living at Your Finest Wellness is holding her monthly Walk With a Doc event from 9-10 Saturday at East Cobb Park (3322 Roswell Road). In addition to trekking the paths of the park, participants will learn about hormonal health. The event is free, and all fitness levels are welcome.
Saturday is Girls in Parks Day, and girls ages 7-16 are invited to take part in outdoor activities at Hyde Farm Park (726 Hyde Road) from 9-12. Cobb PARKS is sponsoring the event that includes outdoor life skills, arts and crafts, rock climbing, archery, and more. The cost is $5; Register here at code 42401.
Get your mapping geek on Saturday at Cobb GIS Day from 10-3 at Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center (2051 Lower Roswell Road). It’s free for all ages to attend, and Cobb GIS staff members will explain the world of maps and GIS, ranging from stormwater management, real estate properties and community development. There will be games, door prizes, presentations and refreshments.
The holiday season will be here soon, and the Tim D. Lee Senior Center (3332 Sandy Plains Road) will hold its annual Holiday Craft Fair Saturday from 10-3. Admission is freee, and you cans shop for handmade crafts and creations and unique gifts for friends and family. Contact the center at 770-509-4900 for more information.
On Saturday afternoon, the Georgia Symphony Orchestra will hold a family sensory-friendly concert at Wheeler High School (375 Holt Road) from 203. The 45-minute program includes cinematic works ranging from Captain Jack Sparrow, the Dark Knight, the Man of Steel, and many more. Up to 30 minutes before or after each concert, children and families are invited to touch and experience a myriad of instruments first-hand as part of a musical petting zoo. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here.
On Sunday, the Cobb Wind Symphony is holding its annual Veterans Day concert starting at 3 p.m. at the Lassiter HS concert hall (2601 Shallowford Road). Admission is free, but freewill donations will be accepted.
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