East Cobbers take in the solar eclipse in August at East Cobb Park. (East Cobb News photos and slideshow by Wendy Parker)
Previously we posted about the notable news stories in East Cobb during the past year. What follows is a photo gallery of other East Cobb community events since East Cobb News launched in July.
Click on the photo for a related story and photo link, and scroll all the way down for a gallery of even more photos from our first six months of publication.
Enjoy, and Happy New Year!
Skip Wells Memorial Ride
Braves dedicate Sandy Plains Baseball field
East Cobber Parade marches down Johnson Ferry
East Cobb Garden Tour debuts
Mt. Zion UMC celebrates 125th anniversary
East Cobb Rotary Club’s Dog Day Run
Labor Day BBQ and Classic Cars at Holy Smoke Festival
A new community piano for East Cobb Park
13th annual Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service
But wait, there’s more!
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The McFarlane Nature Park features a 1940s-era country home and nature garden that’s open to the public. (East Cobb News photos and slideshow by Wendy Parker)
At the end of a short gravel road off Paper Mill Road is a slice of Southern rural life that’s been preserved close to what its longtime owner had in mind. In addition to a rustic farm home and wide open green spaces, the McFarlane Nature Park also includes a nature garden that was featured on Sunday as part of the first East Cobb Garden Tour. Four nearby private homes also were part of the tour.
The dining room of the 1941 home, designed by Henry Toombs, architect of the Little White House in Warm Springs. Florence and William McFarlane bought the house in 1958. John Stewart has been caretaker at McFarlane for 22 years. Valerie Stewart, John’s wife and also a caretaker, points out the wall and ceiling panels that were part of the home’s original construction.A guest room on the ground floor. The home has two chimneys and four fireplaces, including one with materials from the Sope Creek quarry.
The McFarlanes rode horses and raised lineage dogs on their property, which at one time stretched to 1,500 acres. When Florence McFarlane died in 1990, she stated in her will a desire to keep the remaining 11.5 acres of her property for a natural preserve and green space, instead of suburban development.
After court rulings, the non-profit Cobb Land Trust became the lease owner of the McFarlane property in 1992, and the nearby Chattahoochee Plantation Community Association donated funding for repairs and renovations that were needed. Restoring McFarlane was the first project for the Cobb Land Trust, which preserves land and property with historical and cultural value.
Before the McFarlanes lived here, the land was part of a larger agricultural spread owned by Hughes Spalding Sr., a noted Atlanta attorney.
Flowers and plants on the McFarlane property are tended to by volunteers from Cobb Master Gardeners, which has a spring flower show here in the spring. Continued support also comes from the Chattahoochee Plantation Women’s Club and there have been Art in the Park fundraisers since 2013.
Garden paths are common throughout the McFarlane property, which also has a pavilion and picnic tables. The paths have been built and maintained by local boys as part of their Eagle Scout commitments. East Cobb resident Ed Cahill painting in the nature garden.
The Walton High School band, including the flag team, will once again participate in Saturday’s East Cobber parade. (East Cobb News photo by Wendy Parker)
After a harrowing week of stormy and fall-like weather, the East Cobb weekend schedule is perfectly suited for the Indian Summer-like conditions that are on tap.
In other words, get—and stay!—outdoors! In addition to some local rivalry football tilts, one of East Cobb’s biggest most festive events returns, while another that figures to become a big hit makes its debut. Check our full calendar listings for more, but here are some of the highlights of a jam-packed schedule of events designed to soak up some welcome sun and warmth in mid-September:
Walton vs. Wheeler football, Friday, 7:30 p.m.: Raider Valley (1590 Bill Murdock Road) is the site for this backyard bout, which also is a key regional game. The Raiders are 3-0 and Wheeler is 2-1;
Lassiter Homecoming: Parade starts at 5:30 p.m. Friday, followed by the 3-0 Trojans vs. Marietta at 7:30 (2601 Shallowford Road);
East Cobber Parade & Festival, Saturday 10 a.m.: Johnson Ferry Road from Princeton Lakes Drive to Johnson Ferry Baptist Church (955 Johnson Ferry Road) for the parade, featuring dozens of schools, faith communities, organizations, businesses, elected officials and more. The festival featuring exhibitors, food, live music and more takes place in the church parking lot from 11-3;
East Cobb Garden Tour, Sunday 12-5 p.m.: The inaugural event, sponsored by the Cobb Master Gardeners, starts at the McFarlane Nature Park (280 Farm Road) and extends to several nearby Chattahoochee Plantation homes;
Sunday Funday at East Cobb Park, Sunday 4-6 p.m.: Free family entertainment includes live music from The LooSe ShoEs Band. Bring a blanket and picnic food in the last Sunday Funday of the summer. 3332 Roswell Road.
Check out our full calendar listings for more events, including more football games and live music. Did we miss something? Would you like to let the community know about your event? E-mail us: calendar@eastcobbnews.com.
