Here’s looking at you, East Cobb: Community events, people and happenings in 2017

solar eclipse, East Cobb Park
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.

Related coverage

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

Skip Wells Memorial Ride

Braves dedicate Sandy Plains Baseball field

East Cobber Parade marches down Johnson Ferry

East Cobber parade, Walton flag team

East Cobb Garden Tour debuts

McFarlane Nature Park

Mt. Zion UMC celebrates 125th anniversary

Mt. Zion UMC 125th anniversary

East Cobb Rotary Club’s Dog Day Run

East Cobb Rotary Dog Days Run

Labor Day BBQ and Classic Cars at Holy Smoke Festival

Holy Smoke Festival

A new community piano for East Cobb Park

'Sunny" Piano Dedication at East Cobb Park

13th annual Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service

Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service

But wait, there’s more!

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EAST COBB IN PICTURES: Photos from the first 6 weeks of East Cobb News

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East Cobb News has been online for about six weeks, and already we’ve covered quite a few events in the community that you may not have seen—averaging about two a week, sometimes more.

Since we’re new, and picking up new readers all the time, we thought we’d serve up a “best of” photo gallery from these events. Because we launched in the middle of the summer, we have a lot of outdoors and sports-related pictures, but they’re all popular community events we enjoyed attending. As we continue to grow, we plan to cover all kinds of events that capture the essence of the East Cobb community, and the spirit of the people who live here.

That’s why we’re asking for your help. If you know of a community event you’d like for East Cobb News to cover in the future, or have photos of an event that’s taken place that you’d like to share, please contact: editor@eastcobbnews.com.

East Cobb News is practicing the community-collaborative approach to local news, and reader/organization contributions are always welcome! When you submit your news and photos, you’re helping us serve our readers better. East Cobb is a big place with so much going on, and we want to earn your trust and become this community’s leading source of real-time news, events and information.

To see more photos and read stories about these events, please click the links below.

PHOTOS: Sandy Plains Baseball-Atlanta Braves Foundation field rededication at Harrison Park

Atlanta Braves, Sandy Plains Baseball
Cobb commissioner JoAnn Birrell, Sandy Plains Baseball players and present and former Atlanta Braves cut the ribbon at Field 2 at Harrison Park Saturday. (East Cobb News photos and slideshow by Wendy Parker)

Several dozen uniformed players from the Sandy Plains Baseball Association gathered on Field 2 at Harrison Park Saturday morning to celebrate a renovated field, courtesy of the Atlanta Braves Foundation, and in the name of former Braves great Chipper Jones.

Jones wasn’t in attendance, but several current and former Braves were, including Sid Bream, Brian Hunter, Marvin Freeman, Sean Newcomb and Luke Jackson, as well as Braves executive Mike Plant.

The “Chipper Jones Field” was the second the Braves foundation has paid to renovate in East Cobb (there’s also one at Fullers Park), and that’s one of the 10 the organization will refurbish in a 10-year period throughout metro Atlanta.

Sandy Plains Baseball Association
Sandy Plains Baseball players do the Tomahawk chop.

Sandy Plains Baseball Association

Atlanta Braves Foundation, Sid Bream
Sid Bream, playoff hero for the Braves in 1992, signs autographs for the Sandy Plains players.

Atlanta Braves Foundation, Sandy Plains Baseball Association, Harrison Park

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EAST COBB WEEKEND: Triathlon; Lutzie Run; Sandy Plains BB & SB; prep football picture day; Good Mews clinic

Sandy Plains Baseball Association, Harrison Park

This weekend’s events in East Cobb are heavy on sports and recreation, including a cluster of events Saturday morning in the Mountain View area:

  • The East Cobb Triathlon starts early at the Mountain View Aquatic Center. About the same time, 5k and fun runners will be on their marks at Lassiter High School for the Lutzie 43 Road Race, honoring the memory of former Trojans football star Phil Lutzenkirchen and benefit the East Cobb chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes;
  • Later in the morning, at the adjacent Harrison Park, two events are going on simaltaneously, both starting at 11. The dedication of a new “Chipper Jones” ball field courtesy of the Atlanta Braves Foundation, for the Sandy Plains Baseball Association, takes place on Field 2. From 11-1, the Sandy Plains Softball Association is holding its “fun day” and walkup registration for the fall season;
  • The high school football season is fast approaching, and the Pope Greyhounds are having their pancake breakfast and picture day starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday. From 2-4 Sunday, Raider Day takes place at Walton High School;
  • Also on Sunday, the Good Mews cat shelter is having a microchip and vaccination clinic from 10-3, and nail clippings also will be available.

Check out more calendar listings here, for this weekend and beyond. Didn’t see your event? Would you like to share your calendar listing with the community? Please e-mail: calendar@eastcobbnews.com.

Please stay in touch, and have a great weekend!

Braves renovating Harrison Park field for Sandy Plains Baseball Association

Harrison Park, Sandy Plains Baseball Association

One of the youth baseball fields at Harrison Park is getting a makeover, thanks to the Atlanta Braves Foundation, as part of its continuing “Chipper Jones” projects in the Atlanta area.

Cobb commissioner JoAnn Birrell announced at the Northeast Cobb Business Association luncheon on Wednesday that construction work began last week, and will include upgrades to the field, dugouts and fencing.

The new field, a venue for the Sandy Plains Baseball Association, will have a ribbon-cutting on Saturday, Aug. 5, at 11 a.m. Harrison Park is located at 2653 Shallowford Road, adjacent to Lassiter High School.

The Atlanta Braves Foundation embarked on a “10 for 10” youth baseball field refurbishment program upon Jones’ retirement in 2013, funding the completion of one project a year over 10 years. In January 2015, a field at Fullers Park in East Cobb, home of the East Side Baseball Association, was renamed after Jones, who donated materials for a renovation project there.

Birrell said she’s been told some Braves players will be in attendance for the ribbon-cutting at Harrison Park.

Harrison Park, Sandy Plains Baseball Association