2025 Cobb property tax bills mailed out; due Oct. 15

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2025 Cobb property tax bills mailed out; due Oct. 15

Cobb County property owners should be getting their 2025 tax bills in the mail this week.

They were mailed out on Monday, according to a release from the Cobb Tax Commissioners Office (you can read through it here).

The bills for residential and commercial property owners are due on Oct. 15, and payment is via online, by phone, regular mail or in person (details below).

The property tax bills are to fund fiscal year operations for the Cobb County School District and Cobb County government, based on the July 2025 Cobb tax digest approval.

Cobb Tax Commissioner Carla Jackson said that 271,757 tax bills were calculated, totaling $1.364 billion in revenues.

You can view your bill online at Cobb Tax Payments, and you can also pay your bill there by clicking this link.

By phone, you can pay by calling an automated system at 1-866-PAY-COBB (1-866-729-2622).

To submit your payment via regular U.S. Postal Service Mail, send to: Cobb County Tax Commissioner, P.O. Box 100127, Marietta, Ga. 30061.

And to pay in person, you can visit one of three locations during regular business hours (M-F 8-5):

  • Cobb Board of Tax Assessors: 736 Whitlock Ave., Marietta
  • East Cobb Government Service Center: 4400 Lower Roswell Road
  • South Cobb Government Service Center, 4700 Austell Road, Austell.

Each of those locations also has a dedicated drop box that’s available 24/7 for checks or money orders. There’s also a drop box in Northeast Cobb, at the Cobb Tax Commissioner’s satellite office at 2932 Canton Road.

For more information about understanding your tax bill, visit the Cobb Tax Commissioner’s Office website, e-mail: tax@cobbtax.gov or call 770-528-8600.

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Suspects arrested in 2024 murder on Powers Ferry Road

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Cobb Police said Monday that two men have been arrested in Pennsylvania as suspects in the shooting death of another man who was found in a car on Powers Ferry Road last year.Northeast Cobb car crash, Cops on Donut Shops

Cobb Police Sgt. Eric Smith said that Jayden Hooks, 21, and Malik Drake, 23, are awaiting extradition to Cobb County to face felony murder and aggravated assault charges in the killing of Curtis Coleman, 43, of Powder Springs.

Police said that Coleman was found shot to death on March 21, 2024, in a vehicle parked in the 2200 block of Powers Ferry Road. That’s near the intersection of Akers Mill Road, and police were called there in response to reports of an injured person.

In a release issued late Monday afternoon, Cobb Police didn’t offer any more details of what may have led to the shooting, which was investigated by its Major Crimes Unit.

Nor did Smith, in the release, indicate how the suspects were identified or captured, except to say that Hooks and Drake were taken into custody without “significant incident in Pennsylvania by U. S. Marshals.”

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East Cobb Biz Scene: Café Rivkah reopens with a new menu

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Cafe Rivkah ribbon cutting
Vicky Savrin (behind the counter) has made a myriad of changes since opening Cafe Rivkah in 2023. File photos.

Earlier this month, Vicki Savrin posted a notice near the front door and closed the blinds to Café Rivkah, the bakery and cafe she started in the Pavilions at East Lake Shopping Center in 2023.

She has struggled almost since opening to find qualified and reliable labor, weathered a major price increase for eggs and changed up her menu many times to respond to customer tastes.

But two and a half years in, the professional baker, who got the idea for a neighborhood cafe from customers at the Marietta Farmers Market, was wondering if it was worth it to stay open.

“I do love the work, there’s no question about it,” Savrin said near closings hours on Sunday, at the end of the first weekend since coming back to open during limited hours and with a slimmed-down menu.

For a couple of weeks this month, Savrin thought about closing altogether. But on Friday, Café Rivkah reopened, and is now serving from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday-Sunday.

Café Rivkah was closed briefly earlier this month, which caused some confusion for customers.

The family meals for takeout that she had prepared are on hold, and the cafe menu has been reduced, not only because of her smaller workforce but also to focus on breads and gourmet pastry items that have been the focus all along.

Savrin called the changes the latest of the “variations” she’s made in running Café Rivkah along with her husband, Phil Savrin, an attorney who has helped out on the weekends.

She admitted that her wide range of breakfast and lunch offerings, served up fresh and made-to-order six days a week, along with catering and family meals, might have been too much to take on, especially with a revolving staff.

Over the last two weeks, some customers were concerned by the sign on the door and a similar notice on the restaurant’s Facebook page indicating the cafe would close, and that the business would be focusing on catering, special orders and brunch and dinner events by reservation.

But during the middle of last week, the website announced the reopening. The new menu items will eventually be posted there.

She explained to customers that “to maintain the quality of food and service that meets these standards, I’ve made the decision to scale back and take a more hands-on approach to everything we prepare. This will mean more limited production and operating hours . . . so that everything we offer reflects the standards I’ve set for myself and am committed to upholding.”

Breakfast items include Shakshuka, a Mediterrean dish of eggs cooked in tomatoes and spices, Khachapuri, a Georgian (the nation, not the state) baked dish of cheese bread, Challah French toast, bagels, croissants and pastries and some egg/omelet offerings.

The lunch menu is focused on a variety of personal-pan pizzas. Coffees, teas, juices and other drinks are also served.

Savrin admits that she’d like nothing more than to “bake and cook all day,” but said that simplifying her managerial tasks were imperative.

Cafe Rivkah opens in East Cobb
Gourmet pastries are a big draw at Café Rivkah.

Finding consistent help has been hard for many restaurants and retail businesses, especially since COVID-19. She said Café Rivkah had paid “above the market rate” for kitchen and front-counter help, and that “when we tried to limit pay, that didn’t work out well.”

The biggest obstacle has been keeping a cook. Café Rivkah opened with a chef go match Savrin’s desire for a Mediterranean-oriented menu, and has had several others running the kitchen since then.

One of the reasons she decided to keep the doors open is that “we have good people who love this place.”

That refers to her current staff of herself and three others, plus a doughmaker who comes once a week, on Sunday, to help expedite the new arrangement.

She waves to the latter, expressing a sigh of relief, as he heads out the door.

“He’s been my safety net.”

Café Rivkah is located at 2100 Roswell Road, Suite 2104. Phone: 678-402-5809.

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East Cobb resident promoted to GBI chemistry section manager

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East Cobb resident promoted to GBI chemistry section manager

Submitted information and photo about an East Cobb resident:

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation announces the promotion of Nicole Astor to Manager of the Chemistry Section of the GBI Crime Lab. Astor will be responsible for the supervision of staff in the Chemistry Section at the GBI Headquarters Laboratory, as well as operations within the statewide Chemistry discipline.

“I am proud to announce the promotion of Nicole Astor to Manager of the GBI Chemistry Section,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey. “Since joining the GBI in 1998, Nicole has served in multiple roles with dedication, professionalism, and a passion for forensic science and public service. Her wealth of experience and proven leadership make her exceptionally well-suited to lead the Chemistry Section.” 

“Nicole’s promotion is a reflection of her years of commitment to the mission of the GBI and her outstanding contributions to the field of forensic chemistry,” said GBI Crime Lab Division Director Cleveland Miles. “Her leadership, integrity, and deep institutional knowledge will be tremendous assets in her new role.” 

Astor began her career at the GBI in May 1998 as a crime lab scientist in the Chemistry Section of the Headquarters Lab. She was promoted to statewide Chemistry Technical Leader in 2010 and Assistant Chemistry Section Manager in 2016.

Astor graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 1997. She obtained her professional certification as a Technical Specialist in Drug Analysis with the American Board of Criminalistics in 2010.

Astor has been a member of the Southern Association of Forensic Scientists since 2000 and served as a Member-At-Large on their Board of Directors for approximately five years. She has been a member of the Clandestine Laboratory Investigating Chemists since 2009.

Astor also served as a Member-At-Large on the Board of Directors for the American Board of Criminalistics from 2016 to 2019, and she has been the GBI representative on the National Institute of Justice Forensic Science Research and Development Technology Working Group (TWG) – Controlled Substances/Toxicology since 2014.

Astor is originally from Petoskey, Michigan, and currently lives in Marietta, GA. 

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is comprised of three primary divisions: the GBI Crime Laboratory, the Investigative Division, and the Georgia Crime Information Center. The GBI has over 900 employees and a current budget of $162.6 million.

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Help us keep East Cobb News free with your donation today!

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Wheeler defeats Sprayberry
Please donate today to support the local news you love. Please visit eastcobbnews.presspatron.com. Thank you!

A couple weeks ago, one of our local competitors decided to drop its paywall for a weekend.

At East Cobb News, we don’t hide our reporting behind a paywall.

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But to keep this local news resource free, we need your help. It takes work to provide this important service to our community.

East Cobb News is a local business that just proudly marked its 8th anniversary. In that time, we have grown tremendously, and it’s become an outlet that thousands of people rely upon every day to stay informed.

The photo above is one of our favorites from our archive, a high school football game shot at twilight—Friday Night Lights in East Cobb—taken early in our history.

East Cobb News has been at this since 2017, and we intend on staying at it for a long time to come—giving you the local news that you love, and that makes a difference in this community.

We wrote here before that we’ve been asking for reader support to help us defray some of our business costs.

With our growth has come some additional costs, and while we’re thrifty, we have bills that come due every month.

Put a better way, here’s how to think about what you can do to help us out:

For the price of a couple of cups of coffee a month, your support will help keep free, real local journalism alive.

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We appreciate whatever you are able to donate. Please click the box below to show your support for the only daily news source serving East Cobb. Our Press Patron payment platform is safe, secure and easy. 

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East Cobb residential real estate sales, Aug. 4-8, 2025

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Highland Pointe, East Cobb real estate sales
Highland Pointe

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

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

Kell

None

Lassiter

2850 Forest Chase Drive, 30066 (Forest Chase) $546,000

2949 Summitop Court, 30066 (The Summit at Sweat Mountain): $1.04 million

4508 Club House Drive, 30066 (Highland Pointe): $749,000

2735 Jims Road, 30066 (Windsor Oaks)L $670,000

4370 Mabry Lane, 30075 (Springdale): $471,000

Marietta

1355 Pinebreeze Way, 30062 (East Worthington): $459,842

1003 Springdale Drive, 30062: $260,000

543 Harbor Lake Court, 30066 (Oak Harbor)L $235,900

Pope

2502 Tritt Springs Trace, 30062 (Post Oak Square): $640,000

2801 Holly Oaks Drive, 30062 (Holly Oaks): $608,000

Sprayberry

2195 Morgan Road, 30066: $1.075 million

2941 Foothill Trail, 30066 (Caribou Hills): $420,000

1807 North Chestnut Grove Drive, 30066 (North Chestnut Grove): $620,000

2240 Spalding Drive, 30062 (Sandy Plains Estates): $355,000

579 Chapman Drive, 30066 (Woodgate): $390,000

174 Vintage Club Circle, 30066 (Vintage Club Condos): $415,000

2074 Kinridge Trail, 30062 (Piedmont Bend): $432,000

2977 Lowe Trail, 30066 (Brookhaven): $280,000

166 Bluffington Way, 30066 (Bluffs at Bells Ferry): $425,451

2856 Colleton Drive, 30066 (Colleton Plantation): $465,000

3421 Fawn Trail, 30066 (Stags Run): $507,000

Walton

3609 Meadow Chase Drive, 30062 (Meadow Chase): $762,000

1813 Baldwin Farms Drive, 30068 (Baldwin Farms): $1.425 million

812 Burning Tree Court, 30067 (The Columns): $1.1 million

4052 Providence Road, 30062: $430,000

895 Fawn Way, 30068 (Fawn Ridge): $582,000

4316 Granby Way, 30062 (East Hampton): $1.3 million

1111 Waterford Green Point, 30068 (Waterford Green): $1.2 million

5236 Forest Brook Parkway, 30068 (Forest Brook): $695,000

4789 Crest Park Lane, 30068 (Lake Crest Estates): $1.413 million

Wheeler

3300 Windy Ridge Parkway, Unit 1212, 30339 (Horizon Condos): $482,500

301 Millbrook Farm Court, 30068 (Millbrook Farm): $640,000

622 Powers Ferry North, 30067 (Powers Ferry North): $257,000

2785 Old Sewell Road, 30062 (Sentinel Chase): $865,000

2219 Lisa Drive, 30067 (Sunvalley Estates): $350,000

912 Chipley Court, 30063 (Stoneoak Pointe): $780,000

521 Smithstone Road, 30067: $640.500

243 Indian Trail, 30068 (Sewell Manor): $321,000

431 Vinewood Point, 30068 (Indian Hills): $575,000

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East Cobb man reflects on Mt. Everest quest to ‘aim high’

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East Cobb man reflects on Mt. Everest quest to 'aim high'
Brian O’Malley (right) and “sherpa” Alex Clark at rest before O’Malley had to be rescued short of completing his Mt. Everest quest. All photos/video courtesy Brian O’Malley

Updating a story we’ve been chronicling since the spring, about longtime East Cobb resident Brian O’Malley’s attempt to scale Mt. Everest:

He and his team of expert “sherpas” made the climb in late April, after he made an initial trip with his brother-in-law in February.

O’Malley tied his quest to fundraising for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which provides mortgage-free homes for the families of fallen first responders, Gold Star families, and catastrophically injured veterans and first responders. (If you’d like to donate, you can do so by clicking here.)

After arriving in Nepal on April 15, O’Malley needed some medication, but it came with a very bad side effect—he lost his appetite and wasn’t eating much at all as the journey got underway

As the trek continued, O’Malley lost 20 pounds and “considerable strength.” Eventually he had to be rescued by one of his sherpas and hospitalized in Kathmandu before returning to the United States.

Speaking in mid-May, as he was still recovering at his daughter’s home in Norfolk, Va., O’Malley’s voice was cracking a bit as reflected on what he called “the experience of a lifetime.”

His quest to become the third-oldest man to scale the tallest point in the world came up short, but he said that the lessons he drew from the expedition were deeply profound.

“I’m glad I did it and I had the opportunity to do it,” O’Malley told East Cobb News.

O’Malley awaiting rescue after growing weak from not having an appetite.

He said he was grateful to be able to keep his promise to his family to survive—although he and his crew passed a sobering graveyard of Everest’s climbing victims along the way.

“If I had continued one more day, I may not be talking to you. I had no problem with the altitude. I just could not eat without feeling very nauseous.”

As O’Malley was walking to his rescue helicopter, he fell through an icy crevice on an unmarked trail and had to be pulled out by two of his sherpas.

Looking up from 22,000 feet, he could see Mt. Everest (elevation 29,031 feet), but knew that’s as far as he would get.

“The summit was right there, and I wanted to feel like I could get through it.”

As O’Malley admitted in the video below, however, when he was taken away, “it didn’t feel heroic, it felt hollow. Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is to stop—not because you’re weak, but because you know your limits.

“Anyone can be a sherpa to anybody at any time, to help people out, and at the same time to not be afraid to ask for help.”

A basecamp below the Everest peak.

O’Malley, who with his wife Shelley raised three children who graduated from Lassiter High School, said he wouldn’t say “never” to contemplating Everest again.

But he wants to spread the insights he gained from that experience to others, in speaking engagements and otherwise, “to help people go for their dreams and not let fear drive them.

“God gives us multiple lives and one death. It’s up to us in the days of our lives to spend them wisely.”

Again, if you want to support what was called the “Boomer Veterans and First Responders Mt Everest Summit Expedition 2025” and its continuing fundraising efforts for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, you can donate here.

O’Malley tells more of his story in an excellent video below; please click the middle button to view the photo slideshow before that.

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East Cobb Weather Outlook: A cooling respite from the heat

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East Cobb Weather Outlook: A cooling respite from the heat

Earlier this week we took a late afternoon break at East Cobb Park, which in the summer you know what that means: A very high chance of a thunderstorm breaking out.

And there was no doubt about that a few minutes upon arriving, when the skies opened up, and everyone there was quickly drenched.

The rain didn’t last long, and it felt great, after some stuffy conditions during the week.

But the late summer heat is back, and will be with us for most of next week, as sun, humidity and high temperatures are in the forecast.

High temperatures will be in the high 80s to low 90s through Thursday, according to the National Weather Service, with lows in the low 70s.

The conditions will also be dry, with a slight chance of thunderstorms. But the chances of more rain will increase toward the latter part of next week, with a 30 percent chance on Thursday and a 50 percent chance on Friday and Saturday.

Highs will be in the low to mid 80s during that stretch, and by next weekend, the rain is expected to clear, with highs again in the low to mid 80s.

For more local weather information, click here.

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Cobb Library Foundation donates $26K to Cobb library system

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Cobb Library Foundation donates $26K to Cobb library system
Cobb County Public Library System Director Keith Schuermann with Cobb Library Foundation vice president Nona Ley (L) and executive director Sandra Morris (R).

Submitted information and photo:

The Cobb Library Foundation today announced a donation of $26,200 to the Cobb County Public Library. The funds will be used to support the library’s list of projects, which are designed to enhance library services, technology, and programs for the community.

“We are incredibly grateful for the hard work and generosity of our community,” said Sandra Morris, Executive Director of the Cobb Library Foundation. “This donation is a direct result of the support we’ve received from our dedicated sponsors, event attendees, and library patrons. Their commitment to the Cobb County Public Library makes it possible for us to continue our mission of supporting literacy and lifelong learning.”

This year’s fundraising efforts and grants enabled us to:

  • Provide funds for the Summer Reading Program, which continues to inspire readers of all ages. The 2025 program was an outstanding success, with 4,291 participants logging an impressive 2.7 million minutes of reading and completing 6,409 activities, all while earning exciting prizes and recognition.
  • The Foundation provided funds for the Teen Book’d Program and the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten completion ceremonies.
  • Continue our support for building the bookmobile, which started as a Sprinter van and was transformed into a full mobile library with custom shelving, book carts, a vehicle wrap, a wheelchair lift, and—coming soon—a new awning.
  • Purchase new plants and materials for the North Cobb Regional Garden.
  • Purchase toys, equipment, and other materials through the Love Your Library Fundraiser.
  • Fund the Library Tech Ops Retreat in September, and the library’s full-day Staff In-service Development Day in December.

What we’ve accomplished thus far is truly inspiring,” Morris added. “Expanding creative spaces, bringing new technology to our branches, celebrating thousands of reading milestones, and building a fully equipped bookmobile. We’ve made incredible strides. The best part? We’re just getting started—2026 is full of exciting possibilities.”

Upcoming fundraisers include a Ghost Tour in September, a shopping day at Merchants Walk in November, and the Book for the Evening Gala in March 2026.

For more information about how to support the library, visit cobblibraryfoundation.org.

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Marietta Art in the Park festival returns Labor Day weekend

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Submitted information and photo:Marietta Art in the Park festival returns Labor Day weekend

For three days during Labor Day weekend, the Marietta square will come alive with 200+ fine artists, painted pots, chalk art, activities for children, live music and more at Marietta Art in the Park.

Cobb County’s only fine art festival, this 39th annual event is expected to draw more than 55,000 attendees. In addition to enjoying the festival features, visitors can browse numerous businesses, restaurants and cultural institutions located in the historic neighborhood. A portion of the proceeds from Art in the Park benefits the Marietta Business Association.

FINE ART & FINE ARTISTS     

More than 200 fine artists from throughout the country have been chosen to be part of the juried Art in the Park Artist Market. Showcasing work in numerous mediums, genres and styles, these artists are present and ready to discuss their work and creative process with festival attendees.

The Artist Market gives visitors the chance to view and purchase works in acrylic, oil and mixed media, as well as jewelry, pottery, glass, photography, metal, wood and digital media. There are styles and price points to appeal to every art lover on site. Art in the Park attendees can also admire the Painted Pots display, a long-time favorite feature that brings together stunning and sometimes surprising examples of ceramic craft.

STREET PAINTING WITH CHALK

Once again, Art in the Park has teamed up with the Marietta High School Visual Arts Program to host the Chalk Spot street art experience, presented by GPB. This year, Chalk Spot also welcomes chalk artist Jessica Gurell, senior graphic artist at GPB, who will be on-site Saturday, creating fleeting masterpieces featuring PBS Kids characters and Georgia and Marietta themes on the street.

Art in the Park will also include elevated chalk activities and games throughout the festival, such as hopscotch, an obstacle course or tic-tac-toe.

For participants, Chalk Spot offers the chance to make their mark on a 3-ft. square space on a closed street festival Saturday, Aug. 30. Using chalk, young artists will draw their own one-of-a-kind illustrations, which will remain on display throughout festival weekend (weather permitting). The fee to participate is $10, and pre-registration is not required. Participating children will receive a box of sidewalk chalk and two tickets to the North Georgia State Fair (while supplies last).

CHILDREN’S ART ALLEY

There are plenty of possibilities for younger kids to enjoy themselves at Art in the Park too, and the emphasis is on creativity! Families can head to Children’s Art Alley to find activities, games and crafts for kids, many of which offer free participation. Activities like face painting and sand art require a small fee.

FOOD & BEVERAGES

The historic square features a variety of local eateries that will be open during Art in the Park, and Glover Park Brewing will be on-site with ice cold brews on tap. Additional beverages, including wine, soft drinks and water will be sold throughout the festival.  

LIVE MUSIC

The gazebo in the center of Marietta Square comes alive throughout the three-day festival with complimentary performances from local singer/songwriters. Visitors are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs to sit back, relax and enjoy the tunes. Sponsored by the North Georgia State Fair.

TAKING A TOUR        

Attendees can make even more of their Art in the Park experience by visiting the shops, boutiques, museums and galleries throughout Marietta Square or taking a self-guided walking tour of the city’s historic district.

DATE & TIME

Saturday, Aug. 30 – Monday, Sept. 1, 2025

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, includes Children’s Art Alley

Chalk Spot – Saturday, Aug. 30 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.           

LOCATION

Glover Park on the Historic Marietta Square

50 N. Park Square, Marietta, GA 30060

Free Festival Admission

PARKING 

There are many options for Art in the Park parking. The Marietta City Hall Parking Deck (205 Lawrence Street) has free weekend and weekday evening parking, and free on-street parking is available around Marietta Square. Additional free and paid parking is available in nearby lots. Parking information is available here:

https://www.mariettaga.gov/1462/Downtown-Parking

FEES

Attendance at Marietta Art in the Park is free! Chalk Spot registration $10 on-site (supplies are limited).  

WHO 

Professionally managed, Art in the Park’s mission is to showcase fine art, support local downtown business and bring a positive economic impact to the historic square. Marietta Art in the Park is one of the oldest annual events in the city.

Marietta Art in the Park and Marietta Business Association awarded a $1,000 scholarship to a Marietta High School student toward a post-secondary degree in the arts.

AWARDS

Since 2007, Art in the Park has been honored as a Top 200 Event, ranked in the Top 100 in the nation in the Classic and Contemporary Craft Shows by Sunshine Artist Magazine.

Festival Map & More Information: http://www.artparkmarietta.com/
Festival hotline – 404-966-8497

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Atlanta Ballet 2025-26 season debuts with Balanchine pieces

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George Balanchine’s “Emeralds.” Photo by Hiromi Platt, Courtesy Cincinnati Ballet.

Submitted information and photo:

Atlanta Ballet welcomes its 2025-26 season with a watershed mixed-rep performance Balanchine & Peck, a series of three pieces showcasing the exquisite choreography of the renowned George Balanchine and Justin Peck. Premiering on September 12 -14, 2025 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Balanchine & Peck features the classic Emeralds, the award-winning In Creases and the time-honored Prodigal Son.

“As we kick off Atlanta Ballet’s 2025–26 season and my 10th season with the company, Balanchine & Peck is the perfect way to set the tone for the year, seamlessly combining three dynamic works from across ballet history,” said Gennadi Nedvigin, Atlanta Ballet Artistic Director. “It is a true honor for Atlanta Ballet to perform pieces that pay tribute to one of the most prolific ballet icons and one of the most in-demand choreographers of this generation. Prodigal Son holds deep personal meaning for me, it was the role that led to my promotion to principal dancer at San Francisco Ballet and continues to inspire my work as an artist and director.”

Choreographed by the “father of American ballet”, George Balanchine, and set music by Gabriel Fauré, Emeralds evokes the elegance and romanticism of France. The piece is a true reflection of the graceful Balanchine style performed by two leading couples, three soloists and a corps of ten women in shimmering, gemstone-inspired costumes. Balanchine was inspired to create Emeralds through his friendship with famed jeweler Claude Arpels.

Contrasting with the delicate fluidity of Emeralds, In Creases is an abstract ballet by Tony Award-winner and New York City Ballet’s resident choreographer, Justin Peck. In Creases, Peck’s first commissioned work for New York City Ballet following his time as a soloist, enchants audience members with innovative choreography that manipulates dancers’ bodies to form geometric shapes and complex structures. Acclaimed pianists Western-Li Summerton and Dr. Hyunjung Rachel Chung will share the stage with the eight dancers to perform ‘Four Movements for Two Pianos’ by Philip Glass.

The third work in this triple bill of masterworks is Prodigal Son by George Balanchine and music by Sergei Prokofiev. First premiering in 1929, the ballet tells a story of sin and redemption from the biblical parable and was Balanchine’s last work for Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes. A pivotal work in Artistic Director Gennadi Nedvigin’s own dance career, Prodigal Son was one of the first Balanchine works to capture international attention and has continued to impact audiences for more than 95 years.

For more information about Atlanta Ballet’s production of Balanchine & Peck and to purchase tickets, please visit https://www.atlantaballet.com/performances. Tickets can be purchased online at atlantaballet.com or in person at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre box office. For groups of twenty or more, please order tickets via the groupsales@atlantaballet.com email.

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Pope HS teacher named 2025 Cobb County Teacher of the Year

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Pope HS teacher named 2025 Cobb County Teacher of the Year
Amanda Dillard, her husband Josh and their sons with Cobb County School District Superintendent Chris Ragsdale. CCSD photos.

As a packed gym began to roar, officials from the Cobb County School District and her own family awaited away from the bleachers.

The rally at Pope High School on Tuesday morning turned into a celebration for one of their own. Amanda Dillard was named Cobb’s teacher of the year for 2025, two weeks after being named the district’s high school teacher of the year.

“It was a huge surprise to be named the District Teacher of the Year for Cobb County. I feel really honored and just really blessed overall for being recognized that way,” said Dillard, whose students also gave testimonials for her impact on their lives.

“My goal is to help my students be successful, not just here at Pope, but when they graduate and later on in life as well,” she said.

Benjamin, a sophomore, said Dillard helped him catch up academically, and wouldn’t let him give up.

“The times that I wasn’t feeling like I could do it, or if my brain just wasn’t clicking on whatever it was, she wouldn’t stop saying, ‘I can do this. You got this. I can help you,’ ” Benjamin said in a release issued by the Cobb school district.

Another Pope student, Landon, a senior, said that Dillard is “…a joy to see. . . . She always manages to find a way to make us want to do our best,” Landon explained.

Superintendent Chris Ragsdale and Cobb Board of Education members John Cristadoro, David Chastain and Brad Wheeler were in attendance at the pep rally, as were Dillard’s husband Josh, and their three sons.

As the district’s teacher of the year, Dillard will be honored at a special ceremony this fall at the Marietta Square, where her handprints will be cemented on the Walk of Fame.

That’s part of a celebration organized by the Cobb Chamber of Commerce called Give Our Schools a Hand. Her students will also join her for a memorable pep rally that honors Teachers of the Year across Cobb.

“Seeing Ms. Dillard with her students today reminds me why Cobb’s families love our schools. Our teachers really, actually care about our students, and, especially on days like today, it shows,” Chastain said.

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KSU gym to become VyStar Arena in $4M naming-rights deal

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KSU gym to become VyStar Arena in $4M naming-rights deal

The Kennesaw State University Convocation Center, where Cobb County high school graduations take place, will take on additional branding soon.

The KSU Athletics Association and VyStar Credit Union announced a $4 million, 10-year partnership Tuesday to rename the interior of the facility after the financial institution.

“The new VyStar Arena will serve as a symbol of shared values and a space where school pride, progress and connection come together,” KSU said in a release Tuesday.

KSU basketball and volleyball teams compete there in NCAA Division I competitions and Conference USA.

The partnership includes ticket discounts for sporting events for military members and first responders, as well as additional game-day events and experiences for students and other participants.

The KSU Convocation Center, which opened in 2005, seats more than 3,800 people.

VyStar is based in Jacksonville, Fla., and has 78 locations Florida and Ge0rgia including Smyrna, Suwanee and Peachtree Corners.

 

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East Cobb Food Scores: Los Abuelos; Zeus Greek Street Food; more

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Los Abuelos MarketPlace Terrell Mill

The following food scores have been compiled by the Georgia Department of Public Health. Click the link under each listing for inspection details:

Asian Foodie and Bubble Drink
3349 Canton Road, Suite 201
Aug. 1, 2025, Score: 100, Grade: A

JR Crickets
1854 Terrell Mill Road, Suite 100
Aug. 14, 2025, Score: 90, Grade: A

Los Abuelos Mexican Grill
1420 Terrell Mill Road, Suite 117
Aug. 7, 2025, Score: 83, Grade: B

Mellow Mushroom
2000 Powers Ferry Road, Suite G-3
Aug. 14, 2025, Score: 82, Grade: B

Sabores de Mexico (re-inspection)
1951 Canton Road, Suite 330
Aug. 11, 2025, Score: 91, Grade: A
Previously: Sabores de Mexico fails inspection

Taco Bell
2169 Roswell Road
Aug. 8, 2025, Score: 92, Grade: A

Three Dollar Cafe
3000 Windy Hill Road, Suite 132
Aug. 14, 2025, Score: 85, Grade: B

Timeless Kitchen and Cocktails
2769 Delk Road
Aug. 4, 2025, Score: 100, Grade: A

Zeus Greek Street Food
2022 Powers Ferry Road, Suite 130
Aug. 11, 2025, Score: 82, Grade: B

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Kell kicks off 2025 Cobb football season at The Stockyard

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Corky Kell Classic, Kell HS Stockyard

Football on a Wednesday night?

The Kell Longhorns will be putting on their pads in the middle of the week for real on Wednesday, and not for practice, when they become the first Cobb County high school to play a regular season football game.

The Longhorns will be the hosts against South Paulding at 8 p.m. Wednesday at The Stockyard (more info and ticket information).

It’s the second game of a doubleheader in the Corky Kell Classic, the annual start-of-season slate of games involving some of metro Atlanta’s top teams.

Kell, No. 10 in the preseason in the Georgia High School Association’s Class 4A rankings, is a mainstay in the Corky Kell Classic, named after the former Wheeler football coach. The Longhorns are coming off a 7-5 playoff season.

Also returning to the Corky Kell Classic again is Walton, which is unranked in Class 6A going into the 2025 season. The Raiders will be playing Saturday at 4 p.m. at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta against Cobb rival McEachern.

Walton was 7-4 last year but got knocked out in the first round of the state playoffs.

Everybody else kicks off their season on Friday, and the other four East Cobb high schools will be playing on the road.

That includes Sprayberry, No. 7 preseason in Class 5A. The Yellow Jackets will be playing at Alexander in Douglas County, looking to build off an historic 2024 season.

Sprayberry reached the state semifinals for the first time, and posted a school record 11 wins. But head coach Brett Vavra has left for Etowah, and his successor is Pete Fominaya, who comes from Hiram.

Lassiter, which as 2-8 last year, visits Midtown, while Pope, which was 4-6, will be at Cambridge, ranked No. 7 in Class 4A.

Wheeler, which was 2-9 but still reached the Class 6A playoffs, will play at North Forsyth on Friday.

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Cobb approves contract for Canton-Piedmont intersection work

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Cobb approves contract for Canton-Piedmont intersection work
A right turn lane from northbound Canton Road to eastbound Piedmont Road will be added to improve traffic flow at the intersection.

Cobb commissioners on Tuesday approved a construction contract for traffic improvements at the intersection of Canton Road and Piedmont Road in Northeast Cobb.

The vote was 5-0 to award the contract to Glosson Enterprises for $861,297 in 2022 Cobb SPLOST (Special-Purpose Local-Option Sales Tax) funding.

Glosson was one of five companies bidding on the project, according to an agenda item.

The project includes adding a right turn right turn lane from Canton Road northbound onto Piedmont Road eastbound. Other work will include traffic signal and pedestrian improvements.

“This has been on hold for a while, I’m so glad to see it, thank you,” Commissioner JoAnn Birrell of District 3 in East Cobb said to Cobb DOT director Drew Raessler. “It will help a lot on Canton Road, especially the turn lane.”

The agenda items states that the $688,400 of the funding is for the road construction work and another $172,895 is for Cobb Water System construction costs.

The project will take an estimated year to complete once work gets underway, according to the agenda item.

Commissioners also approved revisions to the 2022 SPLOST transportation budget. Cobb had budgeted $431 million in transportation projects, but as of July 21, the amount that’s been expended comes to $444 million.

The increases are due to rising costs for some projects, including improvements on the upcoming Bells Ferry Road improvements over Noonday Creek. The initial budgeted amount was $2.5 million, but the revised cost is $5.4 million, according to the list of revisions (you can read them here).

Cobb DOT indicated that the increase would be made up with $13.8 million in interest earnings and developer revenue.

Other East Cobb-area projects on the list include ongoing or upcoming work on the Holly Springs Road Corridor, the Shallowford Road-Gordy Parkway intersection, Trickum Road at Eula Drive and Johnson Ferry Road at Little Willeo Road.

Also on Tuesday, commissioners voted 5-0 to spend $1.5 million to purchase 12.47 acres of land at 5245 Macland Road in West Cobb for the future site of the Cobb 911 emergency call center

The current facility on the North Marietta Parkway is considered inadequate, according to an agenda item.

Specifically, “the current facility lacks the space needed tooperate effectively, system redundancy, and physical security necessary for a mission critical environment, which requires continuous functionality under all hazards and conditions, without degradation of service,” according to the agenda item.

The call center operates 24/7 365 days a year, and serves the entire county for police, fire and other law enforcement and first responders, except for Smyrna, Kennesaw and Acworth, which have their own 911 operations.

The budget for the new center, including the land purchase, is $14 million, with funding provided in the 2022 Cobb SPLOST. Separate contracts for design and construction must be approved by commissioners.

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Cobb EMA seeks feedback for hazard mitigation updates

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East Cobb clobbered Hurricane Zeta
Downed power lines on Sewell Mill Road following Hurricane Zeta in 2020.

Submitted information:

The Cobb County Emergency Management Agency is updating its Hazard Mitigation Plan for 2026, and your input matters. Updated every five years, this plan helps officials identify and address risks from natural, technological, and human-made hazards across unincorporated Cobb County and the seven city jurisdictions. View the plan here.

Share your feedback by taking this short survey.

In this update, Cobb EMA considers factors like expected annual loss, community risk factors (including social vulnerability and community resilience), and the National Risk Index to evaluate hazards affecting the area. Once complete, the updated plan will be submitted to Georgia Emergency Management for review and then to FEMA for final approval. After approval, Cobb County and all city jurisdictions will adopt the plan to enhance our community’s safety and resilience. The public has until Aug. 22 to complete the survey.

 

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Cobb DOT official to provide Lower Roswell Road update

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Cobb DOT official to provide Lower Roswell Road update
Eastbound vehicles on Lower Roswell Road stop for a red light at Woodlawn Drive as construction crews close off lanes at the intersection. ECN photo.

As the Lower Roswell Road traffic project continues, a representative from Cobb DOT will be providing an update to the community later this month.

Cobb DOT project manager Karyn Matthews is the featured speaker at the East Cobb Civic Association meeting on Aug. 27, starting at 7 p.m. at the Wellstar East Cobb Health Park (3747 Roswell Road). Admission is free and open to the public.

The long-planned $7 million Lower Roswll project got underway earlier this year, stretching from Woodlawn Drive to Davidson Road, and with major changes at the Johnson Ferry Road intersection.

Funding comes from the Cobb 2011 SPLOST (Special-Purpose Local-Option Sales Tax), and the anticipated timetable for completion is November 2026.

Approval came with plenty of controversy, as it was passed by Cobb commissioners on a 3-2 vote after former commissioner Jerica Richardson made the motion for the work to move ahead.

That was after a redesign in 2022 and a few delays early in 2024, and in spite of vigorous community protests, including some business owners in the corridor.

Opposing the project was commissioner JoAnn Birrell, whose district includes the Lower Roswell Road area that Richardson, whose office was declared vacant in January, represented at the time.

That approval came more than a decade after it was first proposed, and a couple of years after renewed concerns about the impact on local businesses in the area.

The most controversial part of the project is a raised median along Lower Roswell, between Johnson Ferry Road and Davidson Road, that business owners have protested would be “a bad idea.”

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East Cobb Biz News: 24/7 veterinary clinic sold for $3.33M

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East Cobb Biz News: 24/7 veterinary clinic sold for $3.33M

A 24/7 emergency veterinary clinic in the Powers Ferry Road area has been sold to a real estate investment group.

The Dogwood Veterinary Specialty and Emergency clinic at 1234 Powers Ferry Commons was sold to Terravet Real Estate Solutions, for $3.33 million, according to a release.

The sale was completed in coordination with the initial purchase of the practice by Innovetive Pet Care, a Texas-based firm that operates veterinary clinics nationwide.

The business will continue to go by the Dogwood name.

The release said that Dogwood’s 12,726-square-foot facility has been the only 24/7 emergency hospital in the Marietta area, and that the practice includes 17 full-time doctors and more than 70 total employees.

Dogwood operates in a standalone building in an office park off Powers Ferry Road, near the Delk Road intersection, and behind the China Doll and Brazilian Bakery restaurants.

“Facilities like Dogwood play a critical role in their communities by providing the specialized expertise and round-the-clock availability that pet owners depend on during emergencies,” said Daniel Eisenstadt, CEO of Terravet Real Estate Solutions, said in the release.

“Expanding our partnership with Innovetive reinforces our commitment to supporting practices that deliver this level of essential care.”

Dogwood is the first Georgia location for Terravet, which recently purchased veterinary facilities in Fairburn and Peachtree City and owns more than 1.5 million square feet of real estate across more than 165 veterinary properties.

Innovetive provides business support for veterinary clinics in 15 states, including three others in Georgia.

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Cobb Library fall book sale cancelled due to storage issues

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Weekend events, Cobb Library Book Sale
The Cobb Library System’s book sales at the Cobb Civic Center feature big inventories.

The Cobb County Public Library System said Monday that its fall book sale was being cancelled “due to limited storage.”

Library officials said in a release that they stopped collecting donated items for the sale earlier this year because of “storage challenges faced by all county departments.”

Instead, the library system will be having sales at various library branches.

Cobb government spokesman Ross Cavitt told East Cobb News that some of the county facilities used to store book sale items are no longer available.

They include the former Cobb Division of Family and Children Services building on Fairground Street in Marietta that has been converted into client interview space, as well as the Cobb Elections Office warehouse on Cobb Parkway, which he said is “filled up.

“Space is always an issue as Cobb departments try to provide service to a growing population with a limited capital budget, but I wouldn’t say there are significant issues right now,” Cavitt said.

The book sales are held twice a year, with proceeds supporting the library system operating budget. Citizens donate books, albums, CDs, videos and other materials that have been sold at the Cobb Civic Center, in the spring and the fall.

“While we’re disappointed we can’t hold the event this fall due to circumstances beyond our control, we’re committed to exploring solutions and hope to return stronger in the spring,” Teresa Tresp, the Cobb Library System’s Division Director of Branch Services, said in the release.

“In the meantime, we invite everyone to visit our branch book sales, where they can still find great reads and support the library in a more personal setting.”

The release said that the library system “is actively exploring storage solutions and hopes to move forward with the Spring 2026 Book Sale as scheduled.”

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