Fireworks explode above the Marietta Square on July 4, 2024 (City of Marietta Flickr stream photo).
The City of Marietta will continue its longstanding Independence Day traditions in 2025.
The Let Freedom Ring Parade kicks off the festivities on Friday, July 4, starting at 10 a.m. The parade route begins at Roswell Street Baptist Church and continues to the Marietta Square for the 4th in the celebration, and fireworks.
Here’s the schedule, per the city website:
10:00am thru 9:00pm Festival – Arts & Crafts, Kid’s Zone, Festival Food, Free Concerts
12:00pm Concert Featuring Scott Thompson
2:00pm Bell Ringing Ceremony
2:30pm Atlanta Concert Band
7:00pm Cat Carter
8:00pm to 9:30pm Featuring: Chuck Martin and the Line Up
The fireworks will take place after dark.
There will be a number of street closures in effect for most of the day (map here), and some will be closed late Thursday, July 4.
The city also has a map detailing public parking availability at this link.
The Marietta History Center will be holding a fundraising event, “July 4th Fireworks on the Bricks,” with views of the fireworks.
Some reserved tables will be set up in front of the Kennesaw House, along the railroad tracks, with packages ranging from $200 to $300 for a table of four.
Tables and parking can be purchased through the Marietta History Center’s online store at www.MariettaHistory.org. Quantities are limited, so early reservations are encouraged.
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A couple weeks ago Cobb commissioners accepted a $207,000 donation from East Side baseball to complete the work of replacing grass fields with synthetic turf that’s been years in the making.
That work was just one part of continued improvements at the Cobb PARKS facility on Robinson Road.
On Tuesday, commissioners will consider a request for a new accessible sidewalk from the main parking lot to the Fullers Park tennis courts.
That project falls under the Americans With Disabilities Act, will cost $122,165 in 2022 Cobb PARKS SPLOST funding, according to an agenda item.
The agenda item states that county staff is recommending the contract be awarded to W.E. Contracting Company, Inc.
Fullers Park has four tennis courts located in the front of the park, adjacent to the main parking area.
Also on Tuesday, commissioners will be asked by the Cobb Water System to spend $390,625 for stream stabilization work along Sope Creek near its mouth on the Chattahoochee River.
That’s the amount of the low bidder, CGS, LLC, to repair a portion of an eroded sewer pipe on River Heights Crossing, near Columns Drive.
According to an agenda item, the work will replace “160 linear feet of a reinforced concrete retaining wall along the streambank and covering the sewer line with fill material.”
In other items on the agenda, Cobb DOT has revised the cost of a contract to begin engineering design work for sidewalks along Pete Shaw Road in Northeast Cobb.
An agenda item states that an additional $13,000 is being requested due to modifications that include adding a wall design and drainage revisions, bringing the contract amount to $400,000.
The 0.8-mile sidewalk between Sandy Plains Road and Hazlehurst Drive was to have been completed by the end of 2025, but the agenda items states that timetable has been pushed back to March 2027.
The agenda item states that the project, to be funded from the 2022 SPLOST, has a budget of $1.8 million, with $416,614 already spent.
Another agenda item related to that project is asking for right-of-way condemnation for 0.8 acres along Pete Shaw Road.
Another right-of-way condemnation is being sought at the southeast corner of Canton Road and Piedmont Road, the location of a Wells Fargo Bank, as Cobb DOT continues preparing for traffic work along the Canton Road corridor.
The $2.4 million project also is funded from the 2022 SPLOST. The work stipulated for that intersection includes the addition of a right turn lane from Canton Road eastbound onto Piedmont Road and the addition of sidewalk along Canton Road.
The agenda items state that the condemnations would take place only if continuing negotiations with property owners break down.
The Board of Commissioners meeting begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the second floor board room of the county office building at 100 Cherokee Street, Marietta. You can view the full agenda by clicking here.
You also can watch the hearing on the county’s website and YouTube channels and on Cobb TV 23 on Comcast Cable.
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The Honorable Judge Sonja N. Brown of the Cobb County Superior Court was presented with the Distinguished Judicial Award by Young Lawyers Division (YLD) President Kenneth Mitchell, Jr. during the 2025 State Bar of Georgia Annual Meeting held on Friday, June 6, 2025.
The award honors members of the judiciary who actively support and encourage the professional growth of young lawyers while also demonstrating steadfast support of the YLD President’s leadership throughout their term. Judge Brown’s exemplary mentorship, service-minded leadership, and consistent engagement with the legal and broader community made her a natural choice for this prestigious recognition.
“I love serving Cobb County both on and off the bench,” said Judge Brown. “I am honored to be recognized by the YLD, and I remain committed to mentoring young lawyers and encouraging meaningful community service throughout our profession.”
Judge Brown began serving on the Cobb County Superior Court bench on January 1, 2023, following her tenure as a full-time Magistrate Court Judge in Cobb County. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Tommy Nobis Center, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting individuals with disabilities through job training and employment services.
Before joining the bench, Judge Brown built an extensive legal career serving in leadership roles within the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office and Solicitor-General’s Office, as well as the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office. She also held corporate legal roles at Convergent Media Systems Corporation, where she advanced from Paralegal to Staff Counsel.
Judge Brown holds a Juris Doctor from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, a Master of Arts in Christian Practice from Duke Divinity School, and a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Media Arts from Clark Atlanta University. Of all her roles, she proudly considers being an aunt to her two nieces and four nephews among her most cherished.
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The Georgia Symphony Orchestra is proud to announce its 2025-26 season in celebration of the organization’s 75th season. Led by Music Director and Conductor Timothy Verville, the multifaceted arts organization continues to set itself apart by offering an array of innovative orchestral, choral, jazz, family, and sensory-friendly programming.
“At its heart, the GSO’s 75th season is a celebration of the transformative power of live music. Over the decades, this orchestra has grown not just in size but in spirit. We’re continually pushing artistic boundaries while staying rooted in community. It’s a privilege to lead these musicians in a season that honors our past and embraces the bold possibilities ahead,” said Timothy Verville, GSO Music Director and Conductor.
Classics Series
The Symphony’s 75th season begins on Saturday, October 25, with Drama and Destiny: Opera Meets Broadway, a sweeping musical journey through timeless stories of love, power, and passion. Internationally acclaimed soprano Indra Thomas joins the GSO and GSO Chorus for a powerful program featuring iconic selections from Verdi’s Aida, Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries, and Puccini’s Tosca and Gianni Schicchi. The evening also includes beloved Broadway favorites from Wicked and West Side Story, and a medley tribute to Rodgers and Hammerstein.
Symphonic sound and captivating jazz collide in Big Band and Beyond on February 7 as the Symphony joins forces with GSO Jazz! This electrifying concert will include selections from Charlie Parker with Strings, the Latin jazz hit La Suerte de los Tontos, the bossa nova classic Desafinado, and medleys celebrating Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong. Symphony meets swing in a high-energy tribute to jazz past and present in this concert featuring GSO Jazz! director Sam Skelton on saxophone.
This memorable season concludes with GSO 75: A Musical Celebration on May 23. This milestone performance will be a community-wide celebration of legacy and future. Over 200 performers will take the stage at Symphony Hall in the Woodruff Arts Center, including the Georgia Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, the Uzee Brown Society of Choraliers, the Wendell P. Whalum Community Chorus, the Georgia Spiritual Ensemble, and the extraordinary young musicians of the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra (GYSO). Together, they will perform selections from Holst’s The Planets and the transcendent final movements of Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony in a breathtaking display of musical unity and excellence.
Holiday Pops
The beloved holiday tradition Holiday Pops returns on December 6 and 7. Audiences of all ages are invited to this festive celebration featuring new and classic holiday hits, a lively sing-along, and photo opportunities with Santa. Holiday Pops is the perfect way to share the season with friends, family, and the community.
GSO Jazz!
Mas Que Nada: The Music of Sergio Mendes on February 28 will have audiences feeling the rhythms of Brazil with an irresistible blend of bossa nova, samba, and jazz of Sergio Mendes in this lively concert. This unforgettable performance celebrates the iconic Brazilian pianist and composer whose signature blend of bossa nova, samba, and jazz has captivated audiences around the world.
GSO Chorus
The GSO Chorus, led by director Bryan Black, will perform Anniversary Songbook on March 22. This uplifting program honors the ensemble’s rich legacy while embracing new musical voices.
Family and Sensory-Friendly Concert Series
In keeping with its commitment to bringing live music to members of the region’s underserved communities, the GSO will offer sensory-friendly concerts on October 11 and March 28. The series offers two separate performances, one designed specifically for individuals with sensory sensitivities and one designed to be an introductory orchestra experience for young children. Both concerts offer a pre-concert instrument “petting zoo” and a quiet room.
Leading the Next Generation of Musicians
The GSO is also the parent organization of the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestras (GYSO), one of the top 10 largest youth orchestra programs in the nation. GYSO serves elementary through high school students across the metro Atlanta region, providing an inclusive and enriching musical environment for all skill levels. The 2025-26 season marks the GYSO’s 20th anniversary. Performance details will be announced soon and will be available at GYSO.org.
Additional Programming
In addition to an exciting line-up of concerts, the GSO’s Diamond Anniversary season will include special events, exclusive opportunities, community celebrations, and more. Stay tuned for details! For the latest updates, sign up for GSO’s bi-monthly e-newsletter and follow us on social media @georgiasymphony.
“This 75th season means so much to all of us. We’re celebrating a legacy built by passionate musicians and visionary leaders. This milestone is both a tribute and an invitation to honor where we’ve been and to imagine what’s next and to invite our community to join us on that journey,” said Suzanne Tucker, GSO Executive Director.
From iconic symphonic masterpieces to joyful holiday traditions and innovative community programs, the GSO’s Diamond Season promises something extraordinary for everyone.
Season subscriptions are now on sale, and they’re the best way to experience the full spectrum of programming created for the Diamond Anniversary, from tributes to the organization’s past to bold steps toward its future. Individual concert tickets go on sale August 4.
Secure your seats now for this landmark season and be part of the GSO’s next legendary chapter. Visit GeorgiaSymphony.org for more information.
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Driven by purpose and the power of community, 145 mothers and daughters from the National Charity League (NCL) of East Cobb came together at St. Ann Catholic Church for the 3rd Annual Impact Day. Their mission: to fight food insecurity across Metro Atlanta—one sandwich at a time.
In just one afternoon, the group assembled an astounding 2,099 sandwiches, setting a new chapter record and surpassing last year’s total by more than 450. The event supported The Sandwich Project, a grassroots nonprofit that delivers fresh, homemade sandwiches to those facing food insecurity throughout the region. All 2,099 sandwiches were delivered the following day to homeless shelters and shelters for women and children in the Metro area.
“This experience opened my eyes to the reality of food insecurity in our community,” said Madelyn Sullivan, a 2028 Ticktocker. “It’s humbling to know that something as simple as a sandwich can bring comfort to someone who might not know where their next meal is coming from.”
The day began with a brief chapter meeting, followed by a guided discussion led by NCL East Cobb President Jeanette Severson. The conversation focused on the growing crisis of food scarcity in Metro Atlanta, emphasizing the impact small acts of service can have in the face of such large-scale challenges.
NCL East Cobb is dedicated to strengthening the bond between mothers and daughters through meaningful service, leadership development, and cultural experiences. This year’s Impact Day reflected that mission in action—combining hands-on volunteering with heartfelt connection and education.
Founded in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Sandwich Project has grown into a powerful volunteer network with more than 4,000 participants and over 30 sandwich collection sites. The organization distributes meals to more than 60 charities across the metro area, including shelters, outreach centers, and food pantries. Since June 2021, NCL East Cobb has contributed over 46,000 sandwiches to the project. Remarkably, fifteen mother-daughter teams have each prepared more than 625 sandwiches, a testament to the chapter’s enduring commitment.
This year’s event was made possible thanks to generous support from community partners including Whole Foods Merchants Walk, Publix Charities, Trader Joe’s, Sam’s Club Woodstock, Costco Woodstock, and Kroger.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to every volunteer who gave their time, energy, and compassion to make this year’s Impact Day an overwhelming success. Together, we are not only feeding neighbors in need—we are building a stronger, more connected community.
Click the middle button below to view the slideshow of more photos.
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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!
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Andrew Young, the former civil rights activist, Atlanta mayor, diplomat and leader of Atlanta’s 1996 Olympic bid, will make an appearance in East Cobb this weekend.
He’ll be signing copies of “The Many Lives of Andrew Young,” a 2022 biography, at the Barnes and Noble at Avenue East Cobb (4475 Roswell Road, Suite 102) on Saturday from 2-4 p.m.
Young cooperated with the book, written by AJC journalist Ernie Suggs and published by the University of Georgia Press, that tells the story of Young’s long and distinguished career.
The foreword was written by the late former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, whom Young served as United Nations Ambassador from 1977-79.
Last month Young turned 93, and a gala event was held in in his honor to benefit Atlanta Jewish Health. In an interview with Georgia Public Broadcasting, Young said that he’s not interested in slowing down.
“It’s the funny thing about birthdays — everyone has them, but nobody knows what to do with them,” he said.
Young said that he’s gratified at how the Atlanta area has changed and grown in his time since he arrived in the early 1960s to work with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference founded by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King III.
After that, he served as a member of Congress and in his UN post before becoming Atlanta Mayor and spearheading the Olympic effort. The school of policy studies at Georgia State University is named in his honor.
“Just go out anytime, look up and look around. And see what you see. If you’re in Atlanta, any direction in which you look is amazing,” Young told GPB.
“It’s been a wonderful life. And I can’t think of any place I’d rather live.”
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The Town Center Community Improvement District (CID) today announced the election of Britt Fleck as chairwoman and Michael Davis as vice chair of its Board of Directors.
Fleck, general manager of land at Georgia Power, oversees the company’s land engineering and acquisition operations strategy. With more than 35 years of experience guiding communities toward a higher quality of life, she brings extensive expertise to her new leadership role. Fleck previously held the position of vice chair on the CID Board. In addition, she serves as vice chair on the Board of Trustees for Kennesaw State University Foundation and as secretary on the Board of Directors of the Georgia Department of Driver Services.
“Since joining the Board, my passion for the Town Center area has grown tremendously,” said Fleck. “I am honored to work alongside such an impressive group of community leaders to bring the CID’s vision to life.”
Michael Davis is the co-founder of D&G Development Group, a real estate development company. In this role, he pursues new development opportunities, advances existing projects and maintains external relationships for the company. Prior to founding D&G Development Group, Davis led the development of the $1 billion Avalon project in Alpharetta, Georgia. Appointed to the Board in 2024, he brings a wealth of entrepreneurial and real estate experience to his role as vice chair.
“I am honored to serve in an organization dedicated to the betterment of the area I call home,” said Davis. “Despite my short tenure on the Board, I’ve seen such impactful work done by an incredible group of people and I’m excited to help continue the CID’s legacy.”
Darin Mitchell serves as treasurer and Tracy Styf as secretary, while Dan Buyers, Steven Cadranel, Jo Ann Chitty and Nicolas Porter hold the remaining seats on the Board.
“Britt and Michael have proven themselves to be strong leaders,” said Styf. “I’m confident the transition to their new roles will be seamless and their guidance will continue to make Town Center Community an accessible, prosperous place to live, work and visit.”
For more information about the Town Center CID, visit towncentercid.com.
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!
Left to right—Chief of Staff David Jones, Kalani Thomas (guest speaker), Robert Haley (Cobb Sheriff’s Foundation founder and executive director) and Dr. J. Sebastian Anderson (Parenting 101 program director) gather following the “Live Nobly” Father’s Day Celebration at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center on June 12, 2025. Thomas received a $1,000 scholarship to support his academic journey.
Submitted information and photos:
The Cobb County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) hosted its second annual “Live Nobly” Father’s Day Celebration on Thursday, June 12, 2025, at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center.
The event welcomed speakers from Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc. Each speaker offered reflections on fatherhood, manhood, responsibility, and service. Their messages, grounded in community leadership and lived experience, were delivered to a room of approximately 30 attendees, many of whom will soon return to their families and communities.
Several detainees also shared powerful personal stories about growth, accountability, and their hopes for the future. Their reflections added a moving, firsthand perspective to the event’s themes of redemption and renewal.
Remarks were also shared by Sheriff Craig Owens, Chief of Staff David Jones, and Detention Center Commander Col. Michael Williams, who joined the CCSO leaders in celebrating the importance of second chances and personal growth.
A detainee bows his head in prayer.
Cobb Sheriff Craig Owens meets with a detainee.
Guest speaker Kalani Thomas and Dr. J. Sebastian Anderson embrace after Thomas’ remarks to the detainees.
Dr. J. Sebastian and Robert Haley of the Cobb Sheriff’s Foundation.
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The Sope Creek 3 voting precinct in East Cobb will be open a little bit longer Tuesday due to a late opening in primary elections for the Georgia Public Service Commission.
Cobb Superior Court Judge Kim Childs issued an order to keep the precinct open until 7:14 p.m. The Sope Creek 3 location is at the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection (4814 Paper Mill Road).
After a number of legal challenges that delayed 2022 elections, a special election was called for Tuesday to determine two seats on the PSC, which regulates electric and utility rates for Georgia consumers.
The seats are District 2, which covers eastern Georgia, and District 3, which covers DeKalb, Fulton and Clayton counties.
But all eligible voters across the state can cast ballots at their voting precincts until 7 p.m.
In District 2, Republican incumbent Tim Echols is facing primary challengers, and there is a Democratic primary in District 3.
Later this year, the Democratic winner in District 3 will face GOP incumbent Fitz Johnson of Vinings, a former Cobb Board of Commissioners candidate.
Turnout was light in early voting, with only 18,000 votes cast, according to the Georgia Secretary of State’s office.
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Marxist glad-handing from The Cocoanuts (1929). Will you lend a hand to East Cobb News today? Please donate at this link.
We got a few accusations over the weekend about our coverage of the No Kings rally in East Cobb, but also a lot of compliments and a generous amount of contributions from our readers as we continue to ask for your financial support.
I am overwhelmed by both, for different reasons, and I do thank all of you for what you’ve said (even the criticisms) and for what you’ve contributed.
To all those who have donated—thank you so much! Your gift is truly appreciated!
(Please click any of the enlarged links below to offer your support, if you haven’t already.)
We picked up some newsletter subscribers, and lost a few others, including one just now from a person who told us exactly why:
“I did not know East Cobb was Marxist and it is my belief that to support criminals over the American U.S. Soldier is evil and a community magazine should not be Leftist.”
Well, I don’t think East Cobb is Marxist at all—we still elect Republicans over here!—and if the former reader is referring to us, we’re not either. We’re a for-profit news site. We love capitalism!
(And it appears some conservatives don’t understand what Marxism is any better than how some liberals define Fascism. Both are hurled mindlessly as epithets with little regard to accuracy, but that’s another topic).
No, we’re not Marxists in the political sense, but having a sense of humor amid all this has helped immensely, and we’re glad to consider ourselves Marxists in the Groucho-Harpo-Gummo-Zeppo fashion.
Yes, this column already is probably falling flat in trying to get you to laugh. Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk. But what we’d really like to do is ask you to consider becoming a monthly recurring donor. We’re suggesting $6 a month, but it can be for any amount that you like.
Your gift of $6, $12, or even $25 a month helps us to tell countless stories—keeping you informed about what’s happening in East Cobb. And your gift delivers the news to readers—via email, social media, and of course, at eastcobbnews.com.
When you support East Cobb News, you ensure stories don’t slip through the cracks. Every story we tell matters —whether it’s about local events, school board and county commission decisions, interesting people, or how people are helping out one another in East Cobb.
Here’s what a reader told us over the weekend:
“As one of your loyal readers, I appreciate your journalistic talent as always presenting the news in an unbiased fashion. I didn’t interpret your first story as one sided, only informative.”
I wish I could adequately convey how much this means to read this. It’s not that any human is unbiased—none of us are—but that we as journalists set our views aside about stories, issues, candidates, when we cover them.
We’ve set a special goal of getting to 250 monthly recurring donors by the end of June, and we’d like you to consider becoming one of them if you haven’t donated already.
Even old-school political Marxists are welcome to support East Cobb News, but a word of warning: We’re a for-profit site! Please donate at this link.
The Press Patron platform we use is safe and secure, and you can manage your account how you like.
There’s no place else to find news and information that highlights our community and keeps it strong.
East Cobb News is proud to fill that role. As your local news provider, we pledge to provide free, relevant, local reporting about issues and events that affect you.
Please don’t take that for granted. We want to keep giving this to you for free, but we are considering some paywall options.
When you give today, you’ll ensure quality coverage with a local focus that is free and accessible to all.
Nobody else is doing this in our community, and our plans are to keep giving you the local news that you love for a long time to come.
Let us know what you think about all of this: e-mail me: [email protected]. I’m interested in hearing from you.
So readers of East Cobb News unite! You have nothing to lose but a homegrown news site that works for you every day to give you the local news that you love!
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!
As we noted in November, a location of Marietta Donuts is coming to the Sprayberry High School area (2520 East Piedmont Road, Suite 3) in the Sprayberry Collection shopping center.
Original plans were for the opening to be before Christmas, but that has been delayed for a few months, and it’s coming up this Friday.
To celebrate, owner Sokcheat Heng is giving away free hot or iced coffee with the purchase of a dozen donuts at the new location and the original (1282 Johnson Ferry Road), from Friday-Sunday.
The new place (Facebook page) is bigger than the original, with 1,200 square feet of space, and some tables.
In addition to a wide variety of doughnuts, Marietta Donuts sells fritters and kolaches, a Polish-style pastry with sausage, as well as croissants, cinnamon rolls, eclairs, breakfast biscuits, bagels, coffees and teas.
Avenue traffic changes
Starting Tuesday, Avenue East Cobb will be implementing some traffic access changes the retail center said is being done to “create a smoother, more beautiful arrival experience.”
The entry lane of the main driveway will be closed starting at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, hours before the stores open. The two exit lanes “will be temporarily converted into a dual-purpose entry and exit to maintain access to the property.”
Then, at 5 p.m., according to an Avenue social media post, “the entire main entrance will be closed for safety purposes.”
Shoppers should use the side entrances closest to Lenscrafters and Barnes and Noble during this time.
Lauren Ness, a spokeswoman for Jamestown L.P., the Avenue East Cobb property manager, told East Cobb News that “weather permitting, the team is working diligently with the goal of completing the project by Thursday, July 4. Construction will generally occur Monday through Saturday. The enhancements will create a visual and functional upgrade that better reflect our redevelopment efforts and makes navigation more clear.”
The organizers of the Gifts, Galore and More Show in East Cobb announced the dates for their 13th annual holiday show.
They’ll be Tuesday, Oct. 7 from 10-2 and 5-8, and Wednesday, Oct. 8 from 10-3 at 3275 Somerset Trace, in the Somerset subdivision.
That’s the home/studio/garden of Lynn Weinberg, a textile designer, and one of the dozen or so artisans and vendors whose work will be available for sale.
Here’s more about how Weinberg got this show going:
“The idea for the event which started in 2009 came from Weinberg’s interest in connecting with other artists and local vendors in East Cobb. It started as a yearly event, but now only takes place every other year. ‘It’s also a reflection of my own lifestyle – the people, products, services and businesses showcased are ones I personally admire and use.’
“She started her career as part of an artist cooperative in Alexandria, VA., called The Torpedo Factory and this event gives her the opportunity to recapture that environment. Weinberg also loves working in the garden and the show features the work of a local garden sculptor in the front, along with many works that she has created, a greenhouse built by her husband and several other unique garden features.
“Weinberg’s husband, an avid birder, has turned the yard into a bird haven and now that he is retired he will be showing his woodworking as well.”
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
A rendition of Beowulf at a previous MiniCon at the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center.
Submitted information:
Please note that all Cobb County Public Libraries will be closed and will not offer curbside hold pickup Thursday, June 19 in honor of Juneteenth. Normal hours will resume on Friday, June 20.
Our digital resources are available every day of the year! Visit our Research and Digital page to find eBooks, eAudiobooks, digital magazines, comics, and newspapers, streaming video, and hundreds of other databases and resources in dozens of topics.
MiniCon 2025 set for Saturday
Join us Saturday, June 21 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center for a family friendly fandom event for all ages! Enjoy a day of panels, art vendors, activities, musical performances, and more!
Come dressed in your best cosplay and take part in our annual cosplay contest!
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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!
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!
Several hundred people lined the intersection of Roswell and Johnson Ferry roads Saturday at a ‘No Kings’ rally against President Trump. ECN photos and video.
The “No Kings” events across the country coincided with a military parade in Washington Saturday night to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, Trump’s birthday and Flag Day.
Those plans were in the works before violent protests broke out in Los Angeles over immigration raids conducted by the Trump administration.
And before California U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla interrupted a press conference by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to protest the raids, and was pushed to the floor and handcuffed by Secret Service for refusing to leave.
Along the way, East Cobb News readers were complaining that our report simply informing the community about the event was “promoting” it, and somehow proved our bias.
Given the location, I was simply trying to give a traffic heads-up to motorists in an always-congested area. It’s also a news story, which should have been fairly obvious even to low-information readers.
All week this ignorant nonsense persisted. I got this cordial, erudite e-mail from a reader on Friday:
“U have proven to be a left leaning news source. Tomorrow I will be at 120 and Johnson ferry to counter the BS rally you left, want to protest ICE arresting rapists, pedofiles and illegals that are in our country illegally overwhelming our schools, hospitals and killing* our citizens, and I will have an American flag, a TRUMP FLAG and will be armed.”
When I woke up this morning, I heard the news about a Minnesota state legislator and her husband being shot to death at their home in what’s suspected as a political assassination.
Another lawmaker and his wife were also shot, and are recovering. The suspect is believed to have compiled a long list of elected officials and might have been making plans to go to “No Kings” events in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.
As I write this, there is a manhunt underway for him.
The gunman’s motives aren’t clear, but the murdered legislator, a former Speaker of Minnesota House, recently voted for a bill to end free health care for illegal immigrants.
As I prepared to go to the rally here, I saw a social media post by U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk, who’s now our Congressman, noting that Saturday also was the eighth anniversary of the shooting of the House Majority Leader at a Congressional softball practice.
U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise was seriously injured and had a long recovery, but his Secret Service detail shot and killed the assailant, or more casualties would have been likely. Loudermilk, who was on the scene, was not hurt.
Reading this, however, I was more than unnerved, and weary of complaints about our coverage about an event that hadn’t happened.
A couple readers yakked at me that they had gone to the Roswell-Johnson Ferry intersection Saturday morning and didn’t see any protesters.
The same cordial, erudite reader sent this to me around 1:20 p.m.:
“There is nothing, why would you do that unless you are a left leaning, democrat run site”
If he had bothered to read the story, it said the rally was on Saturday afternoon from 2-3:30 p.m. Click the links, folks, that’s why we provide them.
This is not something I do, but we’re living in overheated times fraught with ridiculous political grandstanding and performative theater designed to curry attention (and campaign donations) but not much more.
But there was a good crowd of several hundred or so people, perhaps more than I anticipated, staving off some raindrops.
Thankfully, they were doing nothing more than holding signs and asking motorists to honk their horns. Many vehicles blasted away, with some waving at the protestors.
It was all rather uneventful, and that was a blessed relief.
Whatever you think about their political positions, and however contrived you think the “No Kings” rallies may be, they symbolized what peaceful protest should be about.
(At some point those who dislike the president are going to have to do more than protest; they don’t seem to have an alternative vision to Make America Great Again. And quite a few not only don’t know the meaning of fascism, they don’t care.)
With nearly 2,000 protests planned around the country, it’s possible some of Saturday’s “No Kings” rallies may have gotten out of hand. But in East Cobb, that wasn’t the case.
I talked to Cobb Police Maj. Brian Batterton, the Precinct 4 commander, who was standing near the Five Guys with several of his officers and patrol cars, and he said there hadn’t been any reported incidents.
He said a couple people stepped out into the roads, and there was a medical emergency that prompted an ambulance, but there wasn’t any sign of counterprotests (if you know otherwise, please let me know).
At one point, an organizer kindly asked me to step out of a shopping center exit, in keeping with orderly protocols set up for the event.
Free speech is the bedrock principle of what it means to be an American, and the right to dissent should be sacrosanct. In recent years, it has been coming under fire from all sides of the political divide.
That’s nothing new, as the late, great civil libertarian Nat Hentoff noted in his 1992 book “Free Speech For Me—But Not For Thee.”
Now he truly was cordial and erudite during a long and distinguished career, and is one of my journalistic heroes. He died shortly before Trump’s first inauguration, and I wonder what he would make of the times we’re in now.
He’s who I thought of when I wrote my Facebook post, and as I’m finishing this now.
But he’s almost forgotten today, in a troubling era of unhinged social media rants, cringeworthy behavior by elected officials and escalating political violence that is proving to be deadly.
Hentoff’s gentle voice and deep passion for the best values of America are in such short supply. I’m grateful we had a protest that embodied some of those qualities, and I hope they’ll be making a comeback very soon everywhere in this country.
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Just a couple weeks into its summer lunch program for needy kids, MUST Ministries this week issued a call for the public to help provide food.
In a social media posting Thursday, the Marietta-based social services charity said it’s run out of lunch entree items, and it’s asking for food or monetary donations:
“This can be a single-serve noodle bowl, rice bowls, Hamburger Helper or Chef Boyardee. For example items, please see our Amazon wish list below.
“Week 2 MUST Summer Lunch wrap-up. The last two weeks, we have served nearly double what we were during weeks one and two last year. We have had generous volunteers and donations, but the need is still great. We appreciate everyone who is helping us serve our littlest neighbors in need.
“This is a great opportunity for community groups and churches to get together to build Kids’ Kits to help our littlest neighbors in need this summer. We are serving for 7 more weeks, and will need all the help we can get. Instructions are on our website at mustministries.org/summer-lunch.”
MUST said that if you want to drop off food, you can do so at its donation center at 1280 Field Parkway, from Tuesday-Saturday 9-5. It’s closed Sunday and Monday.
MUST has been providing summer breakfasts and lunches to children since 1995, and its goal this year is to feed 7,500 children in Cobb and seven other metro Atlanta counties during the summer school break (June and July).
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The Cobb County Branch of the NAACP will once again host its annual Juneteenth celebration in the heart of Marietta Square. The holiday, recognized as the most popular annual commemoration of emancipation from slavery in the United States, is a powerful day of reflection and community.
The festivities start 6 – 11 p.m. Friday, June 13, with an “all-white” block party. The cultural festival happens 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Saturday, June 14. Enjoy a day filled with delicious food, unique merchandise, informative vendors, a valuable health fair, and captivating entertainment for all ages! Then dads will get their due 2 – 6 p.m. Sunday, June 15, with a “Salute to our Heroes: Happy Father’s Day” celebration. All events are open to the public
All Cobb County Government offices will be closed Thursday, June 19, in honor of the holiday.
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“The bottom line is we’re going to be focused on having school,” Cobb superintendent Chris Ragsdale said.
When a student cell-phone ban takes effect in Georgia public schools in the fall of 2026, the Cobb County School District won’t be providing pouches or any other items for students to store their personal electronic devices during the school day.
They’ll have to bring their own.
What’s called the Distraction-Free Education Act becomes effective in July of 2026, and school districts must implement policies to adhere to the new state law, which covers students in kindergarten through eighth grade.
They don’t cover educational devices provided by the district or pertain to staff and teacher cell-phones, and devices for special-needs students with an Individualized Education Program.
Georgia is one of several states to enact the cell-phone bans that advocates say reduce distractions and improve the well-being of young people.
During a Cobb Board of Education meeting Thursday night, Ragsdale said that the policy must stipulate what “storage solutions” school districts will be offering to students.
“The storage place is going to be a student’s backpack, or purse, or what have you,” he said.
“The bottom line is we’re going to be focused on having school.”
Cobb has more than 100,000 students and is the second-largest school district in Georgia.
Ragsdale said the policies must be in place by January 2026, and must include punishments for violations of the ban. He said that there will be updates to the student code of conduct that will be announced when the policy has been completed.
Marietta City Schools, which has fewer than 10,000 students, enacted a comprehensive student ban on electronic devices last June, including Marietta High School.
The policy also required students at the Marietta Sixth Grade Academy and Marietta Middle School to place their devices in a Yondr pouches provided by the school district during class periods.
According to a late 2024 report, more than 4,000 school districts in the country provide the Yondr pouches, which generally retail for about $25.
“These pouches lock with a proprietary magnet, ensuring devices remain secure throughout the day,” according to the MCS policy. Teachers at those schools “understand that no assignment should require using a cellphone or access to social media.”
The policy also states that “students will keep the locked pouches with them until the end of the school day, ensuring minimal disruptions during class. Exceptions will be made for students with documented medical conditions.”
Marietta students can use their devices during lunch periods and in after-school programs.
Ragsdale didn’t indicate during his remarks at Thursday’s Cobb school board meeting whether the new Cobb policy might incorporate some of the measures in place in Marietta.
That policy will have to be approved by the Cobb school board.
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Nassir Boukari of Wheeler High School with Gail Devers and Champ Bailey. Photos courtesy of Cobb County School District.
Three students and a coach at high schools in East Cobb were among the honorees this month at the 2024–25 Positive Athlete Georgia Awards at Piedmont Church.
According to its website, “Positive Athlete is a recognition program that celebrates high character, high school student-athletes and coaches who have overcome difficult circumstances, given back to their schools and communities in a significant way, or just have an infectious positive attitude that makes everyone around them a better person.”
The banquet featured three-time Olympic track and field gold medalist Gail Devers and former UGA and NFL football star Champ Bailey.
The honorees include:
Wheeler High School’s Nassir Boukari, who was named the state’s most positive wrestler;
Ty Brown, a senior and four-year varsity soccer manager at Lassiter High School, the state’s Most Positive Special Olympian;
Elizabeth Michalek of Walton High School, who received the Northside Hospital Leadership award;
Chris Marcusky, Kell High School boys golf coach, who received the Most Positive Boys Coach award.
“These accolades highlight the dedication of Cobb’s student-athletes, coaches, and schools to not only athletic excellence but also to character, leadership, and community involvement,” Cobb County School District Athletic Director Don Baker said in a release.
“Positive Athlete is an outstanding program, and it is an honor to have so many of our own recognized at this banquet.”
Ty Brown of Lassiter High School with Champ Bailey.Elizabeth Michalek of Walton High School with Positive Athlete CEO Scott Pederson. Chris Marcusky of Kell High School being interviewed as the Most Positive Boys Coach award recipient.
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Publix presented the Cobb Schools Foundation with a donation nearing $175K in 2022 for school supply gift cards for students. CCSD photo.
The Cobb Board of Education on Thursday heard a proposed change to its bylaws that would open the door for major corporate donors to sit on the board of the Cobb Schools Foundation.
The latter is a non-profit the Cobb County School District operates to support school families in need with learning interventions, food distribution and scholarship assistance.
The district, which operates the foundation, currently requires that board members live in Cobb County. The proposed bylaw change, which was discussed at a school board work session Thursday, would require board members to meet one of three criteria.
They would include having a student in the district, being a graduate of the district or working for a business in Cobb County.
Board chairman David Chastain of Post 4 in Northeast Cobb said that the all-volunteer foundation board of trustees asked for the change. Trustees are volunteers who are appointed by the school board, superintendent and the trustees themselves (here’s a list of the current foundation board).
“Think of the large corporations for the most part, part of Cobb County, and imagine having an officer or a manager who wanted to serve—and I would like to think would want to write a big check—and if they don’t live in Cobb County they’re eliminated from being considered,” Chastain said.
But board member Nichelle Davis of Post 6 in Smyrna said that under the proposal, she wouldn’t qualify, and wanted to amend it to keep residency as a qualifier.
Superintendent Chris Ragsdale responded that “that would defeat the whole purpose of the amendment, because you’re saying you’d keep it as is.”
Davis said she meant to keep residency as an “additional”qualifier if someone didn’t meet the other three.
Board member Tre’ Hutchins of Post 3 in South Cobb welcomed the proposal, using Six Flags of Georgia and Wellstar as examples of Cobb businesses that might have potential board members, but also asked to keep the residency option.
Chastain and Ragsdale mentioned Publix, the Florida-based supermarket chain that has donated nearly $350,000 over the last two years to the Cobb Schools Foundation.
“That’s who we’re looking for,” Chastain said.
He said the foundation board members do “actual work” interviewing potential scholarship recipients and performing other tasks.
“It’s not a thing where you show up once a month and take a vote and go home. . . . You’ve got to find the person who really wants to do it.”
Board member Becky Sayler of Post 2 in Smyrna asked for the proposal to be tabled to sort through the residency issue, saying it could be unintentionally exclusive. “Maybe it was a typo in the way that it was prepared, it seemed kind of unusual.”
School board attorney Suzann Wilcox said the proposal, which was not written by her, wouldn’t exclude a parent of a student in the Cobb school district.
“What you could do, if you wanted to, is go back and ask questions of the foundation, and postpone it,” she said.
Chastain withdrew the bylaw proposal, with the intent of having it come back to the school board in July.
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