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!
Next Wednesday marks the 10th anniversary of the death of Skip Wells and four other military personnel who were shot and killed during a terrorist attack in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Wells was a Sprayberry High School graduate who was a Marine lance corporal at the time of his death.
Wednesday’s ceremony takes place at 10:30 a.m. at the Committal Service Shelter 1, Georgia National Cemetery, 1080 Scott Hudgens Drive, Canton.
That’s where Wells, who was 21, was laid to rest. He had served in the Marines for a year, and was on a temporary assignment in Chattanooga.
“The public, fellow Marines, veterans, and community members are welcome to reflect on the sacrifices of LCpl Wells and his comrades,” Cobb Commissioner JoAnn Birrell noted in her weekly e-mail newsletter Thursday.
A gunman, Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez, 24, went to three military recruiting offices in the Chattanooga area in a 30-minute span on the morning of July 16, 2015 and opened fire.
Wells and the four others who died were shot at the Navy Operational Support Center/Marine Corps Reserve Center, the second location on the rampage, which ended a short time later at a third location at which Abdulazeez was shot and killed by law enforcement.
As the attack reached his location, Wells texted his girlfriend “ACTIVE SHOOTER,” the final message he would send. He and Caroline Dove met as students at Georgia Southern University before he followed a long family tradition of serving in the military.
Wells’ mother was watching television coverage of the shootings with Marines visited the family home to deliver the tragic news.
Wells, Marine Gunnery Sgt. Thomas J. Sullivan, Marine Staff Sgt. David A. Wyatt, Marine Sgt. Carson L. Holmquist and Navy Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Randall Smith were posthumously awarded the Purple Heart in 2016.
The FBI declared the attacks an instance of domestic terrorism. Authorities found multiple weapons in the home and vehicle of Abdulazeez, who grew up in the Chattanooga area and was from a Muslim family hailing from Kuwait.
At Sprayberry, Wells was a member of the Band of Gold marching band, playing for four years, and also played in the symphonic band.
Wells served in the 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve. He had received the National Defense Service Medal and an Certificate of Appreciation.
Cobb County honored Wells’ memory by renaming what had been Bells Ferry Park the Skip Wells Park.
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!
We’re excited to announce the launch of the updated Cobb County Government mobile app, redesigned to make staying connected with your local government easier and more convenient.
The new CobbGov app puts key county services and information right at your fingertips. With an improved design and user-friendly interface, the app provides quick access to:
County news and emergency alerts
Upcoming events and public meetings
Commissioner contacts and district information
Road closures, traffic updates, and construction alerts
Parks, facility locations, and public safety resources
Contact information and service requests
You can also enable push notifications to receive real-time alerts about major events, weather updates, or service changes impacting your area — ensuring you’re always informed when it matters most. Whether you need to look up your commissioner, report a pothole, or check the latest traffic advisory, the CobbGov app is your go-to tool for staying informed and engaged with your community.
Download the app today by searching for “CobbGov” in the Apple App Store or Google Play:
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 Marietta History Center is honored to present Witness to the Holocaust, a traveling exhibit presented by the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust. “Witness to the Holocaust” is a photographic essay of one of Atlanta’s leading African American citizens, William Alexander “W.A.” Scott III, who witnessed the liberation of the Buchenwald concentration camp through the lens of his camera.
The exhibit also draws parallels between the Jim Crow Laws of the 1880s–1960s implemented in the United States and the Nuremberg Race Laws of 1935–1945 implemented in Germany and Nazi-controlled areas of Europe.
Through a series of striking photographs and historical context, visitors will explore the life and legacy of W.A. Scott III, whose rare and courageous documentation sheds light on the atrocities of the Holocaust, as well as the injustices faced by African Americans in his own country. The exhibit encourages reflection on themes of racism, injustice, and human rights across time and place.
Witness to the Holocaust will be on display at the Marietta History Center starting on Tuesday, August 12 through Friday, October 10, 2025, and is included in the price of regular admission
For more information, visit www.MariettaHistory.org or follow us on social media @MariettaHistoryCenter.
Where: Marietta History Center 1 Depot Street, Marietta, GA 30060 Cost: Adults-$10.00, Students & Seniors (60+) – $7.00 Members, Children under 5 & Active Military and Veterans–Free Guided Tours (10 or more persons)-$10.00
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“La Traviata” is part of a star-studded lineup for the Atlanta Opera’s upcoming season.
Submitted information and photo:
The Atlanta Opera—”a powerhouse in the Atlanta arts scene” (ArtsATL) and “one of the most exciting opera companies in America” (OperaWire)—embarks on its 46th season in 2025-2026. Tickets for all individual productions will go on sale July 15, offering audiences the opportunity to experience a season themed around twilight and transformation (website and info).
This season features six productions, including Carl W. Knobloch, Jr. General & Artistic Director Tomer Zvulun’s new production of Richard Wagner’s Twilight of the Gods (“Götterdämmerung”), the fourth and final opera in The Atlanta Opera’s Ring cycle. This highly anticipated production will showcase world-class talents such as Stefan Vinke, Lise Lindstrom, and Morris Robinson, running from May 30 to June 7.
The mainstage series at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre will also feature a stellar lineup of productions, including Giuseppe Verdi’s La traviata, featuring Mané Galoyan and Long Long, directed by Francesca Zambello (Nov 8–16); W.A. Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro with Sydney Mancasola and Luke Sutliff (March 14–22); and Angela Meade in the title role of a new Zvulun production of Giacomo Puccini’s Turandot opposite Piero Pretti (April 25–May 3).
A co-production between The Atlanta Opera and Alliance Theatre of Fiddler on the Roof, a blockbuster American musical, will open the season for both companies (Sep 4-Oct 5). Additionally, the critically acclaimed Molly Blank Discoveries Series will present Philip Glass’s opera for film and ensemble, La Belle et la Bête (Nov 15). The evening’s performance will feature a “masquerade” as guest are invited to wear their best ballroom wear and creative masks for post-show entertainment.
TICKETS
Single Tickets:
Flex subscriptions with benefits: Including priority seating with an option to select 3 or more of the productions offered this season, Flex subscriptions make it easy to fit opera into your schedule and personal tastes.
Full season subscriptions with full benefits: Including renewable seat assignments, advance purchase options, shopping discounts, and other benefits, a full-season subscription offers concierge-level services. A full-season subscription starts at $180 for our 4 mainstage operas (La traviata, The Marriage of Figaro, Turandot, and Twilight of the Gods).
Specialty tickets: Groups of 10 or more save up to 25% off the full price. Student tickets are $25 for all productions. Forte tickets for young professionals (21-49 years) include social networking, pre-opera cocktails, and small bites along with excellent seating.
Veterans & Military: Honoring those who serve or have served, veterans and active-duty military are hosted as guests of the Opera at all mainstage performances. These free tickets are offered through the support of The Home Depot Foundation.
Don’t miss the chance to secure your tickets starting July 15 and be part of this transformative season at The Atlanta Opera.
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!
This weekend’s East Cobb events include the revival of a long-standing religious revival that dates back just about as long as there’s been a Cobb County.
The 187th Marietta Campmeeting gets underway Friday with an opening potluck picnic and service starting at 6 p.m., kicking off daily events through July 20 at the Marietta Campground (2301 Roswell Road).
On Saturday, the 7:30 p.m. service features a Gospel concert by the group Old Tradition, followed by a watermelon-cutting.
You can find the full slate of services, speakers and events by clicking here; they’re free and open to the public.
Female business professionals are invited on Friday to the monthly Professional Women of East Cobb luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at J. Christopher’s Woodlawn Square (1205 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 114). There’s open networking and a speaker from among the membership; cost is $20-30.
Step out to East Cobb Park Saturday morning from 9-10:30 for the monthly Walk With a Doc session organized by the Living at Your Finest Wellness clinic, an event marking its second anniversary. The guest speaker is Allison Adams, owner of Icebox Cryotherapy of East Cobb, who will discuss reducing inflammation, boosting recovery, and enhancing overall well-being.
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game is coming to Truist Park this week, and special events in the run-up include a family fun event Saturday morning at the Kroger at Terrell Mill MarketPlace (1310 Powers Ferry Road). From 12-4, you’re asked to bring to the OxiClean-Kroger Family Pop-Up Benefit Event a non-perishable food item to benefit MUST Ministries.
There will be free food, games, and exciting giveaways, including a chance to win All-Star and MLB event tickets and high-energy Oxi-Clean demos offering free products.
Send us your event news!
If your organization or entity is holding an event that’s open to the public, please send East Cobb News your information and we’ll be glad to post it!
This can include festivals, pumpkin patches, Thanksgiving activities, holiday concerts, Christmas tree and Menorah lightings, New Year’s celebrations and fundraisers.
Pass along your details to: editor@eastcobbnews.com, and please observe the following guidelines to ensure we get everything properly and can post it promptly.
Send the body of your announcement, calendar item or news release IN TEXT FORM ONLY in the text field of your e-mail template. Reformatting text from PDF, JPG and doc files takes us longer to prepare your message for publication.
We accept PDFs as an accompaniment to your item. Images are fine too, but we prefer those to be JPG files (more than jpeg and png). PLEASE DO NOT send photos inside a PDF or text or any other kind of file. Of course, send us links that are relevant to your message so we can direct people to your website.
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Delta Community Credit Union Logo (PRNewsFoto/Delta Community Credit Union)
Delta Community Credit Union, Georgia’s largest credit union, is now accepting applications for its 2026 Philanthropic Fund Program. Through its annual initiative, Delta Community will award a total of $150,000 in grants to support 20 metro Atlanta nonprofit organizations that align with the credit union’s commitment to help families manage household finances and improve the physical and financial well-being of youth.
“Community investment and engagement are essential to good corporate citizenship,” said Hank Halter, Delta Community’s CEO. “We allocate a minimum of two percent of our annual projected earnings to local community development as a means to foster the ongoing prosperity and success of the municipalities and counties where Delta Community operates. Although our investments take many forms, our annual philanthropic grants have been fundamental to our approach for 13 years.”
Grant awards of $10,000, $7,500 and $5,000 will be awarded to selected organizations. Applications must be submitted online at DeltaCommunityCU.com/PhilanthropicFund by 5 p.m. ET on Aug. 29, 2025.
Since launching the Philanthropic Fund Program in 2013, Delta Community has invested approximately $1.3 million in more than 240 organizations that provide educational opportunities, job and career training, and medical and human services support to people in need. Delta Community also invests in local communities through scholarships, school partnerships, and support for chambers of commerce and civic organizations.
Send Us Your News!
Let East Cobb News know what’s going on with your organization, or about any recognitions, to share with the community. We love to get photos and stories like the above, as well as calendar event listings and more.
We want to be the go-to source for all the many ways people in East Cobb are involved in the community.
It’s what we call The Power of Local, and we’d love for you to take part!
Pass along your details/photos/videos/information to: editor@eastcobbnews.com, and please observe the following guidelines to ensure we get everything properly and can post it promptly.
Send the body of your announcement, calendar item or news release IN TEXT FORM ONLY in the text field of your e-mail template. Reformatting text from PDF, JPG and doc files takes us longer to prepare your message for publication.
We accept PDFs as an accompaniment to your item. Images are fine too, but we prefer those to be JPG files (more than jpeg and png). PLEASE DO NOT send photos inside a PDF or text or any other kind of file, but d0 send them as attachments to your email.
Of course, send us links that are relevant to your message so we can direct people to your website.
Thanks for your cooperation and we look forward to hearing from you!
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!
After nearly six years in business, the SPENGA East Cobb fitness studio has closed at Merchants Walk.
A notice was posted on its Facebook page on Tuesday saying “thanks for the memories East Cobb” with a heart shape. At the bottom of notice it said “location permanently closed.”
There was no explanation given after readers on the page inquired.
“SPENGA East Cobb was the absolute best!,” wrote one. “Everyone is going to miss the classes, staff and amazing instructors so much. How I wish someone would buy it and keep it going.”
Denese Faulkner, the studio’s owner, told East Cobb News that “I closed SPENGA because it was time for me to move on to a new chapter in my life. I would love for someone to buy it and keep it in the community!”
On July 1 SPENGA asked for customer testimonials for a chance to win a gift card, and had posted a full schedule of designated workout sessions for the month of July.
“Covid changed our trajectory and we had a hard time recovering,” Faulkner said. “Therefore, it’s time for me to start a new chapter. It was a hard decision to make but it was the right decision for me.
“The East Cobb community welcomed us 6 years ago with open arms and excitement and has embraced us with such kindness and warmth over the last few days. We had AMAZING members and I will miss them all terribly.”
Faulkner said that members received an e-mail letting them know that their memberships will be pro-rated and canceled.
SPENGA is a fitness franchise based in Evanston, Ill., and was founded in 2015. It features a trio of exercise concepts—spin, strength training and yoga—into a 60-minute workout, and has locations in more than 20 states.
SPENGA opened at Merchants Walk, across from Marlow’s Tavern, in the fall of 2019. The only other Georgia location is in Roswell.
The East Cobb area has become a magnet for a variety of national fitness franchises, including multiple locations of Club Pilates, Orangetheory Fitness and LA Fitness, as well as a number of yoga-specific studios.
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!
Leadership Cobb, the Cobb Chamber’s premier leadership development program, has selected 60 new participants for the 2025-2026 class. Founded in 1983, Leadership Cobb brings together diverse business and community leaders for a 10-month journey focused on personal and professional growth. The program accomplishes this through leadership training, teambuilding, and educational experiences highlighting our community’s greatest success stories and most significant ongoing challenges.
The 2026 Class:
Kimberly Allred, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce
Kate Beasley, Walton Communities
Priti Bhatia, Georgia Institute of Technology
Mike Bonnette, Kennesaw State University
Nicholas Booth, O’Dell Hungerford Blanchard & Booth
Tonya Byrd, Gilbane Building Company
Carl Carlson, The Walker School
Lauren Cedor, Cobb & Douglas Public Health
Chase Clark, Brasfield & Gorrie
Vic Collins, Hounds Town Atlanta – Smyrna
Christina Cummings, Kidz2Leaders
Rodney Drinkard, The Coca Cola Company
David Esterline, CROFT & Associates
Richard Freeman, Wellstar Health
Chuck Gardner, Marietta City Schools
Jenn Garner, Papa Johns
Jessica Guinn, Cobb County Government
Jules Harper, The Four Walls Group
Gina V. Hawkins, Cobb County Sheriff’s Office
Karen Heard, Marietta Wine Market
Tim Henderson, LGE Community Credit Union
Molly Holm, Glory Haus
Amanda Hughes, Cobb Travel & Tourism
Stephanie Idland, Chick-fil-A, Inc.
Simon Janman, Nothing Bundt Cakes
Keisha Jeffcoat, City of Mableton
Kyle Johnstone, TK Elevator
Shea KonigsmarkMetro Regional Educational Service Agency, Metro RESA
Rachel Langelotti. City of Marietta
Kyoung Lee. Arcadis
Kafi London, Kafi London Intl.
Jose Lopez-Vera, Northside Hospital
Toby Mabry, Cobb EMC
Christopher McKellar, Mauldin & Jenkins
Daniel McKinney, RaceTrac, Inc.
Tomeca Mosley, Cox Enterprises
Ben Needle, Osborne High School
Scott Orr, Cetera Investors
Gina Owens, Verizon
Tahnicia Phillips, Cobb County State Court
Paul Powers, Powers Electrical Solutions
Brian Rutledge, City of Marietta
Courtney Santry, CDH Partners
Alisha Thomas Searcy, Center for Strong Public Schools
Abby Smith, Visit Marietta
Andy Stearns, Atlanta Braves
Zach Strickland, Croy Engineering
Darrell Sutton, Sutton Law Group
Jaret Usher, Cobb County State Court
Ryan Varchetti, US Air Force/Dobbins Air Reserve Base
Dan Vasquenza, id8
Heather Walker, Cobb County Tax Commissioner’s Office
Ashley West, Georgia Power Company
Anthony White, Adio Chiropractic
Megan Will, Cumberland Community Improvement District
LaTonya Williams, Vanderlande Industries
Jordan Wilson, Corporate Tax Advisors
Laurie Wong-Burns, Reflections of Trinity Inc.
Crystal Wyche, Vinsere Group
Darrell Young, Compliments Salon and Barbers
Joyette Holmes, Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles, and Eddie Wade, Croy Engineering, will be co-chairs for the 2025-2026 program year. Andy Gaines, Earl and Rachel Smith StrandTheatre, and Tricia Newton, Waterworks Atlanta, will be the vice co-chairs for the 2025-2026 program year. This year’s class theme is “Lead the Way.”
The Leadership Cobb class of 2026’s Yearlong Presenting Sponsor is Kennesaw State University Executive MBA; and Legacy Sponsors, Accounting Consultants of Cobb, CDH Partners, Cobb Travel & Tourism, Croy Engineering, Genuine Parts Company, Johnson & Alday, and Mauldin & Jenkins. For more information about Leadership Cobb, contact Kai Lawrence at 770-859-2346 or klawrence@cobbchamber.org.
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 Commissioners on Tuesday approved a contract for traffic improvements at the intersection of Shallowford Road and Gordy Parkway in Northeast Cobb.
The project was awarded to Backbone Infrastructure of Sugar Hill in the amount of $995,561, and was the low bidder out of four companies.
According to an agenda item, the work will focus on the western intersection of Shallowford and Gordy, including realigning the turn lanes and pavement markings onto Gordy northbound and modifying the traffic signals.
The Shallowford-Gordy intersection is in a congested area with a heavy mix of commercial, residential and institutional uses. It includes Highland Plaza Shopping Center, the Sandy Plains Centre Shopping Center, several outparcel businesses and provides access to subdivisions along Gordy Parkway.
It sits between the Shallowford-Sandy Plains intersection and Lassiter High School, and traffic issues there have played into zoning and other development issues in recent years.
There was a movie theatre at the western intersection, the Park 12 Cobb, that was proposed to be a Lidl grocery store. But commissioners rejected the rezoning in 2017 following community oppositions concerned about traffic.
A self-storage business now occupies the former theatre building. In 2023, the King’s Hawaiian restaurant chain got approval from commissioners to alter the site plan to occupy space at the intersection despite traffic concerns being raised again.
But King’s Hawaiian backed out, saying that the conditions imposed in the approval “weren’t going to make it work,” including reductions in buffers to accommodate parking and drive-through service.
Commissioners approved the traffic project 4-0 on its consent agenda at Tuesday’s meeting, with Commissioner Erick Allen absent. The agenda item states that the contractor is expected to finish the work in 300 days after getting notice to proceed.
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 5th Annual “Backing the Need” Backpack & School Supply Drive is happening Now—July 19th. KIDS CARE, a Marietta based nonprofit, and the Cobb County Police Department are seeking new donations to support local students in need. Donations of new backpacks and school supplies for students of all ages are being collected in several locations throughout the county AND on the final day of the drive—July 19th. Any donations are greatly appreciated!
Business Partners collecting donations for this drive are: The Champion Firm, the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office, Redbud Family Justice Center, The Credit Union of GA, LGE Community Credit Union, School of Rock West Cobb, School of Rock Woodstock, The Artful Rabbit, Sterling Estates of West Cobb, Staples (Dallas Hwy), Edward Jones Financial (Kennesaw), Burn Boot Camp Sprayberry, STV Inc., LiDL (Mableton), Kroger (Mableton), Walmart (Austell) and the Cobb County Civic Center.
JULY 19TH AT THE COBB CIVIC CENTER 9 am – 2 pm. Bring new backpacks & school supplies on this day & enjoy the following:
Meet “Rose” the Comfort Dog who will be onsite to meet and greet. Presented by the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office, “Rose” and her amazing handler Angela, will be visiting with us all day. Come get a belly rub in & a cute pic with this pup!
Watch Cobb PALS Youth Step Team Perform @11:15 & 11:45 am. Led by Officer Mitchell of the Cobb County Police Athletic League. Drop your donations off and catch their FREE performances.
Look inside a Cobb County Police Department patrol car & meet a Police Officer.
FREE RECYCLING & SMILES! Keep Cobb Beautiful will be onsite to help us manage our waste & will also be accepting recycling from the public. {Accepted items include: flattened cardboard, plastics, aluminum cans, food grade glass bottle/jars and hard to recycle plastics in the orange Hefty bag.}
Most Needed Items: new backpacks (all ages), spiral & composition notebooks, paper, folders, scientific & pocket calculators, USB drives, 3 ring binders, markers, glue, scissors, pencils, crayons, pens, highlighters, eraser—etc.Prefer to Shop Online? Order directly from KIDS CARE’s Amazon or Walmart Wishlist and have your donations shipped hassle-free!
Monetary Donations Welcome! 100% of funds go towards bulk purchasing of backpacks and school supplies. Every item or dollar helps! https://kids-care2018.org/donate
Thank you! In the past four years, the “Backing the Need” Backpack & School Supply Drive has donated 1,963 new backpacks & school supplies to Cobb County students in need. Your support helps students start the school year with the essential supplies they need—and the confidence to succeed. For a list of donation recipients please visit: “Backing the Need” – RECIPIENTS
Let East Cobb News know what’s going on with your organization, or about any recognitions, to share with the community. We love to get photos and stories like the above, as well as calendar event listings and more.
We want to be the go-to source for all the many ways people in East Cobb are involved in the community.
It’s what we call The Power of Local, and we’d love for you to take part!
Pass along your details/photos/videos/information to: editor@eastcobbnews.com, and please observe the following guidelines to ensure we get everything properly and can post it promptly.
Send the body of your announcement, calendar item or news release IN TEXT FORM ONLY in the text field of your e-mail template. Reformatting text from PDF, JPG and doc files takes us longer to prepare your message for publication.
We accept PDFs as an accompaniment to your item. Images are fine too, but we prefer those to be JPG files (more than jpeg and png). PLEASE DO NOT send photos inside a PDF or text or any other kind of file, but d0 send them as attachments to your email.
Of course, send us links that are relevant to your message so we can direct people to your website.
Thanks for your cooperation and we look forward to hearing from you!
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!
On July 8, 2017, East Cobb News published our first story—about a motorcycle ride honoring a slain Sprayberry HS graduate—and we’ve been rolling ever since!
Eight years ago today, East Cobb News came into existence, and our first post, although rather modest and short, still holds immense value for me, and not just for sentimental reasons.
The specific plans to launch an independent local news site in the community that I call home was years in the making, after I had spent many years as a newspaper reporter.
But in truth, the idea to start what seemed at the time an improbable dream may have flickered decades before that, and I just didn’t know it.
2018: Students enjoy a a Wheeler HS STEAM symposium.
A lot of journalists I know get into this business because they want to serve—their communities, their readers, those whose stories need telling—and deep down, that’s what was at the heart of what I really wanted to do.
Not long after first pushed the button on this site, I wondered “What was I thinking?” and I’ve thought that a few times ever since. Because this isn’t just a news site, but a small business, something I’ve never tried before.
It’s been challenging at times, especially with COVID, the East Cobb Cityhood saga and a good bit of political conflict that continues today.
But I have never wavered in the belief that old-fashioned, independent, hometown local news would find an engaged and growing audience here, and East Cobb News continues to strive to serve all of you who bother to read.
2019: East Cobb cityhood town halls featured packed houses—and a parish hall.
We’ve published more than 6,000 stories and just about as many calendar listings, with many of you contributing to that. You’ve given us news tips, your own stories and events to share, or asked us to look into something.
We’ve tried to follow up on every suggestion we get, knowing we can’t answer all your questions, or make everyone happy.
All that I can pledge to you is to be accessible, to hear you out and try to understand what makes this community tick. I grew up here, but East Cobb continues to evolve with younger generations, and with newer sensibilities.
There’s still so much to learn, and so much that surprises me, about a place where I’ve been for many years. It fuels the daily objective of giving people here more than just a snapshot of the community, but a way for them to feel more invested in it.
That’s one of the most enjoyable things about being a journalist—you never know who you’re going to meet, or what’s going to happen. No two days running this site have been the same, and while some people want predictability, I think it’s important to remain flexible.
2020: Supporting medical professionals during COVID at Wellstar East Cobb Health Park.
We’re living in changing times, and it’s intriguing to me as I continue in middle age to chronicle how this community changes.
And that includes reaching out to and appealing to business owners with our digital advertising products. One of the main reasons I think local news is best done online is because it’s the best bet for local businesses to market themselves.
East Cobb News provides local business owners with something they can’t get anywhere else—dozens of dynamic formats and customized reporting to show how their ad is performing.
I think it’s a win-win for readers and businesses, and it’s my highest commitment to continue serving you all as best I can.
2021: An East Cobb resident’s swimming challenge helped veterans and first responders.
I have always envisioned East Cobb News having impact beyond the headlines, and I hear this quite often from readers.
Just the other day, after the newsletter was published, a reader wrote to say that “you are a true journalist, not a loyalist, reason why I look forward to getting your publication every weekend! Keep up the good work in our community.”
I’m not sure what a “loyalist” means, except that I’m loyal to those who take the time to read what’s published here, and to stay in touch. Even those who have complaints, I do want to hear from you.
In an age of lower trust—especially the news media—and heated, tribalized rhetoric about almost everything, East Cobb News hasn’t shied away from explaining how that has happened here.
2022: Live entertainment at Avenue East Cobb ramps up an overhaul project.
But we know that conflict, crime and grim headlines don’t define any community, and that’s not all there is to the news. We love getting out and cover events, especially arts and entertainment, or just illustrating how people relax.
Readers tell us constantly how important quality-of-life issues matter to them in our coverage of the community.
As a general interest publication, that’s a core to our mission.
But it doesn’t stop there.
2023: A neighborhood cafe opens at the Pavilions at East Lake.
The people who drive this community—parents and professionals, business owners and volunteers, faith leaders and civic activists, among many others—figure in a major way in what you see at East Cobb News.
We enjoy getting to know why people do what they do, and in showcasing them, underscores what’s vital to maintaining the essence of this community.
Readers help us out in so many ways, and not just sending news about a recognition, but in the real-time reporting of stories that nobody else covers like we do.
And even when the news isn’t good. But that’s all in a day’s, week’s, month’s and many years of work here at East Cobb News that we plan to continue doing for a long time to come.
2024: Readers send East Cobb News real-time news and photos that other outlets can’t match.
We’re buoyed by your support, including those of you who have contributed financially.
This message isn’t to solicit your support, but if you’d like to contribute, you can do so by clicking the green box below.
Providing you with the local news that you love is our first objective, and our true passion.
As East Cobb News begins Year Nine, we want to do even more, and not just with the news we provide. We’ve been honored to be a sponsor for the Taste of East Cobb, and we have plans to expand our community outreach.
2025: The Taste of East Cobb continues to be a top community event.
While your donations certainly help us do what we do best, we want you to tell us how we can do better.
I’ll be getting out a reader survey after the summer break, but please send along your feedback any time. Contact me at wendy@eastcobbnews.com and give me your thoughts, compliments, complaints, suggestions, etc.
It’s been an honor to serve you these last eight years, and I eagerly look forward to the future!
In the meantime, enjoy the rest of your summer, and thanks so much for your readership!
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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!
Not long after the historic McAfee House was relocated by preservationists to Cherokee County, the two-acre site at Bells Ferry Road and Barrett Parkway is being proposed for a commercial use.
And not for the first time.
Preliminary filings with the Cobb Zoning Division indicate that RaceTrac, Inc. is seeking rezoning for a fuel station and convenience store where a home with Civil War connections once stood.
RaceTrac has hired prominent Cobb zoning attorney Kevin Moore to handle the application, which is scheduled for a first hearing on Aug. 5 before the Cobb Planning Commission.
The 2.009 acres at 2595 Bells Ferry Road and across from Bells Ferry Elementary School is owned by The Medford Family Limited Partnership and is currently zoned Planned Shopping Center (PSC).
According to the filings (you can read them here), RaceTrac will be asking for the land to be rezoned to Neighborhood Activity Center (NAC). The fuel station and convenience store would be open 24/7, according to the filings.
RaceTrac also is seeking variances to waive the rear setback from 30 feet to eight feet and to increase the maximum amount of impervious surface from 70 to 74 feet (see site plan below), according to the filings.
The zoning staff hasn’t yet conducted a full analysis or made a recommendation, but said in its summary that the NRC zoning “will permit a use that is more suitable to the Subject Property” which is surrounded by other commercially-zoned development.
“The proposed zoning will allow for a higher and better use of the Subject Property,” according to the preliminary zoning staff summary.
In 2023, a car wash was proposed for the Medford Family LP land, and the Cobb Planning Commission recommended approval. But the request was withdrawn by the applicant due to what it said were other business obligations.
That was as Cobb Landmarks, a preservation non-profit, was renewing efforts to have the McAfee House removed.
The McAfee House, which dates to the 1840s, was the headquarters for Union Gen. Kenner Garrard, whose cavalry troops guarded the Noonday Creek valley after Northern troops seized Big Shanty in June 1864, in the run-up to the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain.
(Garrard’s Confederate cavalry opponent during that time, according to the Georgia Historical Society, was Gen. Joseph Wheeler, namesake of Wheeler High School in East Cobb.)
“Reportedly, blood stains remain visible on the upstairs bedroom floorboards, hidden beneath modern carpeting,” Cobb Landmarks wrote in a fundraising appeal earlier this year.
“As one of the oldest surviving structures in the Atlanta area and the last pre-Civil War building in Cobb’s Town Center area, the McAfee House is an important piece of Georgia history.”
The pine house was facing demolition when Cobb Landmarks offered to sell the home to anyone who wanted it for $1. A Cherokee County couple, Lee and Brittani Lusk, were the buyers in February, and they had it transported in three pieces in May to their private property in Ball Ground.
According to a local Civil War blog, the Lusks are in the real estate industry and own a wedding and special events venue, also in Ball Ground, and have invested in other historic structures.
While some locals were hoping the McAfee House could have been kept and restored inside Cobb (like the Powers-Jackson Cabin), the cost of the Medford LP land figures to be very desirable.
According to Cobb property tax records, the Medford property has an appraised value of $749,750.
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The East Cobb Rotary Dog Days Run raises funds for community service projects.
Submitted information:
The East Cobb Rotary Club is proud to announce the upcoming 20th annual Dog Days 5K Road Race, a cornerstone fundraising event set to take place on August 9, 2025, at the McCleskey YMCA. This milestone event continues the club’s long-standing tradition of supporting vital local charities within the East Cobb community.
The announcement follows a highly successful year for the East Cobb Rotary, which recently distributed an impressive $100,000 to 29 local charities during a special giveback ceremony on March 4, 2025, at Piedmont Church. These funds were directly raised through the previous year’s Dog Days Road Race, demonstrating the significant impact of community participation. The distributed funds support a diverse range of organizations focused on critical areas such as youth programs, housing, and mental health services.
“We are incredibly grateful to everyone who participated in and supported the Dog Days Road Race,” said Jonathan Lyons, Immediate Past President of East Cobb Rotary. “This significant contribution reflects the strong commitment of our community to supporting those in need. It is a testament to the power of collective action and the spirit of giving that defines East Cobb”.
Over the past 19 years, the Dog Days Road Race has become a pivotal event, raising and distributing over $1.2 million directly benefiting the community. More than 10,000 runners have participated in the 5K race since its inception.
“We are excited to celebrate 20 years of the Dog Days Road Race,” said Liz Myers, President of East Cobb Rotary. “We look forward to another successful event and the opportunity to further our impact in the East Cobb community.”
The East Cobb Rotary invites runners of all ages and potential sponsors to join in the 20th-anniversary celebration and continue this impactful tradition of community support.
For more information about the Dog Days Road Race, to register, or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities, please visit: https://dogdaysrun.com/.
About East Cobb Rotary: The East Cobb Rotary is a service organization dedicated to making a positive impact in the East Cobb community and beyond. Through various initiatives and events, the club strives to support local charities, promote goodwill, and foster community engagement. East Cobb Rotary meets Wednesdays at 7 AM at Indian Hills Country Club in East Cobb.
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After several weeks of a soft opening period, Pho Hoa and Jazen Tea is holding a grand opening celebration this weekend.
The Vietnamese-style franchise opened its first Georgia location at Market Plaza in the former Kouzina Christos and Aurelio’s space (1255 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 22) in May.
Owner Leo Zheng announced that on Saturday and Sunday, pho entrees and drinks will be 50 percent off, and there will be other gift giveaways during the weekend.
In addition to a variety of pho specialties (spicy beef stock with noodles and protein, including brisket, chicken and shrimp), Pho Hoa serves up rolls, rice and vermicelli plates and banh mi, a baguette-style Vietnamese sandwich.
In addition to the Jazen Tea specialties, other drink offerings include tropical specialties and smoothies and slushies.
Pho Hoa is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; more updates on its Facebook page.
Einstein Bros. Bagel opens
The second Einstein Bros. Bagels shop in Cobb County has opened at Providence Square Shopping Center (4101 Roswell Road, Suite 801), between Sprouts and Mattress Firm, as we first reported in May.
The company sent out a release Monday with the following information:
To celebrate, for the next two weeks at the new Marietta location, guests can enjoy a BOGO Free Egg Sandwich when they order in bakery, online, or in the app with code BOGO.
“We’re thrilled to bring our fresh-baked breakfast to the Marietta community,” said Adam Modzel, Chief Operations Officer at Einstein Bros. Bagels. “Atlanta has always been a welcoming market for us, and we’re excited to serve even more guests in this vibrant area. There’s no better way to start the day than with a warm, delicious bagel – and that’s exactly what we’re proud to deliver.”
Hours are daily from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.; here’s the store’s website with more information.
Wing Café bash
The Wing Café and Tap House (2145 Roswell Road, Suite 170) is celebrating its 30th anniversary Saturday with a Pig Roast starting at 2 p.m.
The event features a full pig roast, live music from Baditude, featured beers from New Realm Brewing and whiskey specials from WhistlePig (more details here).
An independent establishment for more than 20 years, Wing Café originally opened in the East Lake Shopping Center in 1995 as part of the North Carolina-based Wild Wing Café chain, which still has locations in Alpharetta and Dacula.
It still retains the neighborhood tavern and features a variety of live music on the weekends, and has a Tiki Bar that’s open seasonally.
ECBA July events
The Professional Women of East Cobb will hold its monthly luncheon on Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at J. Christopher’s at Woodlawn Square (1205 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 114).
The cost is $20 for East Cobb Business Association members and $30 for non-members, and you can register in advance at this link. The event includes networking and a speaker from among the membership.
The objective, according to the ECBA, is “to build relationships with other East Cobb businesswomen. This group is intended to support, learn, and grow from one another.”
The featured speaker at the July 15 ECBA luncheon is Rainy Lynn, who will discuss “Experience Over Exposure: Building Deeper Client Connections,” devoted to developing marketing experiences that “that drive real engagement, brand loyalty, and long-term growth.”
The event, which lasts from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Wellstar East Cobb Health Park (3747 Roswell Road) includes lunch and open networking.
The cost is $20 for ECBA members and $25 for non-members and you can sign up at this link.
There’s no ECBA After-Hours networking event in July.
NCBA on hiatus
The Northeast Cobb Business Association will resume activities in August.
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!
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!
By a razor-thin partisan votes the U.S. Congress this week approved President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Budget Bill,” a sweeping omnibus budget bill for fiscal year 2026.
U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk
The bill (H.R. 1, you can read through it here) includes making permanent 2017 tax cuts implemented during Trump’s first term, reduces taxes on tips and overtime and increases spending on defense, border security and energy exploration as well as cutting spending on some entitlements, including Medicaid.
Vice President JD Vance broke a tie in the early hours Tuesday, ensuring final passage by a 51-50 vote that was entirely along partisan lines.
The House vote was 219-214, with Republicans also holding a slim majority. Some GOP members have threatened to stop the legislation as the House faces pressure from the Trump White House to adopt the measure before the July 4 holiday.
Other measures in the bill (quick summary here) would reduce taxes on small business and prevent state regulation of artificial intelligence.
Republican U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk, whose 11th District in Georgia includes East Cobb, was an enthusiastic supporter of the bill.
“President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill will deliver historic tax relief for hardworking Americans, and a vote against it is a vote for the largest tax hike in American history,” Loudermilk wrote Tuesday afternoon on his Facebook page.
He laid out a series of “myth vs. fact” talking points, insisting that the bill “delivers the largest middle- and working-class tax cut in U.S. history. This legislation will put more than $10,000 a year back in the pockets of typical hardworking families. This is one of the most pro-growth, pro-worker, pro-family pieces of legislation ever crafted.”
Loudermilk also called the bill “the most pro-American worker bill ever” with the cuts on taxes for tips and overtime, a boon to Trump’s populist base, and denied that it will cut Medicare, close rural hospitals and increase the national deficit.
But the Congressional Budget Office has calculated that $3.3 trillion would be added to the national deficit over the next decade. Some estimates are higher than that.
U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock
Among the more outspoken critics of the bill is Democratic U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia, who said passage was”a big, ugly betrayal. Republican politicians in Washington just voted to dismantle Obamacare and spike your health insurance bill. They’re taking from you to pay for another tax break for big corporations.”
He complained that his overnight amendment to save “thousands of clean energy jobs in Georgia and across the nation” was blocked by Republicans.
Earlier, Warnock, a former pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, took to the Senate well to ask “Sometimes I find myself wondering: Are Washington Republicans with whom I share the same faith reading from the same Bible?”
Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia said Tuesday afternoon the bill “is a disaster for Georgia,” and that it “guts Medicaid, crushes nursing homes and hospitals” in addition to adding to the debt.
Also opposing the bill is entrepreneur Elon Musk, who supported Trump’s re-election and headed up a federal budget-cutting project before recently leaving.
On the X (formerly Twitter) social platform he owns, Musk said that “every single member of Congress who campaigned on reducing government spending and then immediately voted for the biggest debt increase in history should hang their head in shame!”
He claimed the debt would climb by $5 trillion, and declared that “we live in one-party country—the PORKY PIG PARTY!”
But the White House summarized the Senate vote in stark partisan terms, noting that no Democrats voted for it.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement that the “Senate vote is a major step forward in enacting President Trump’s agenda to revitalize the American economy and provide certainty to households and businesses alike.
“We encourage House Republicans to act quickly so that we can deliver on President Trump’s promises to power the future of our economy and ensure the United States remains the world’s premier destination for capital and innovation.”
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!
All Cobb County Government offices will be closed Friday, July 4, in honor of Independence Day. We hope everyone has a fun, relaxing and safe weekend. Go here to see the area events planned.
The National Fire Protection Association recommends skipping at-home fireworks and just attending professional shows. In its warnings about consumer use, it notes that fireworks cause thousands of injuries and fires each year.
If you do use consumer fireworks, be as safe as possible and abide by regulations. See the state law here. Ordinances and safety tips include:
Fireworks may only be used 10 a.m. – 11:59 p.m. July 3 and July 4.
Cobb County prohibits any pyrotechnics in its parks.
Read and follow label directions.
Fireworks should only be used with adult supervision.
Only use fireworks outdoors.
Ensure you have water and fire extinguishing equipment handy.
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!
Bingocize, an evidence-based health promotion program for older adults that mixes bingo, health education and exercise in a fun setting, will be offered for 10 weeks, two mornings sessions per week at 11 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting July 8, at Gritters Library, 880 Shaw Park Road, Marietta 30066. Space is limited and registration is required.
The Bingocize workshops feature exercises for improving functional fitness, including balance, muscle strength, range of motion and cardio-respiratory endurance centered around the game bingo. To get the most out of Bingocize, participants should attend all 20 sessions through September 11.
For information on Bingocize and other programs offered by Georgia HealthMatters through the Atlanta Regional Commission and the 11 other Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) across Georgia, visit georgiahealthmatters.org. Georgia HealthMatters is coordinated through a partnership with the Georgia Department of Human Services’ Division of Aging Services (DAS) and the state’s twelve AAAs.
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