Name: Popefest
Start: 2026-08-14T17:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-08-14T21:00:00-04:00
Location: Pope High School

Former Cobb school board member Scott Sweeney dies

July 14, 2026July 14, 2026 by Wendy Parker

Scott Sweeney, an East Cobb resident who served two terms on the Cobb Board of Education and later the Georgia Board of Education, has died.

His death was announced Tuesday by the State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia, to which Sweeney had been appointed in 2025.

The cause of death was not disclosed, but a release by the state charter schools commission said Sweeney passed away on Friday.

Sweeney and his wife Sandy, to whom he was married for 28 years, had two sons who graduated from Walton High School.

He served on the Cobb school board from 2011-18.

“Marty and I are deeply saddened by the passing of State Charter Schools Commissioner Scott Sweeney,” Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said in the release.

“Throughout his service on the Cobb County Board of Education, the State Board of Education and most recently the Commission, his longstanding commitment to improving the quality of education in Georgia has made our state stronger and our students better prepared for opportunities beyond the classroom. We are keeping his wife, Sandy, and their two sons in our prayers.”

Sweeney was a Republican who represented Post 6 on the Cobb school board, which at the time included the Walton and Wheeler attendance zones.

He was defeated for re-election in 2018, then served on the Georgia Board of Education, including a stint as chairman.

“Scott Sweeney cared deeply about Georgia students and families, a commitment he made clear during his years of distinguished service on the State Board of Education,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said in the state charter school commission release.

“He was a thoughtful leader, a strong partner with both the Georgia Department of Education and the local districts he represented, and a man of kindness and integrity. He will be deeply missed, and I am lifting his wife and children up in prayer.”

In February 2025, Kemp appointed Sweeney to the State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia.

“The State Charter Schools Commission mourns the loss of Commissioner Sweeney. He will be remembered as a champion of excellence in public education in all its forms, from traditional district schools to charter schools,” said SCSC Chair Cayanna Good, Ph.D.

“It was both a personal and professional honor for the Commission Board, staff, and charter school community to work alongside Commissioner Sweeney. His leadership, thoughtfulness, and collegiality will be deeply missed.”

John Floresta, the Chief Strategy and Accountability Officer for the Cobb County School District, said in a statement to East Cobb News that “we are stunned; there’s no other way to say it. There will be a time very soon to celebrate his life and his impact on schools but for now, we are mourning with and supporting his family.”

David Chastain, the current Cobb school board vice chairman from Post 4 in Northeast Cobb, called Sweeney “a mentor, a colleague, and a friend,” who helped him navigate his arrival to the board in 2015.

“His talent for unpacking challenging issues and asking the poignant questions often guided the board to coming to consensus. Scott was loved his wife, Sandy, and was proud of his family. He often shared the latest news of family adventures and his sons’ accomplishments.

“I am proud of him for continuing to serve all the students of Georgia during his time on the Georgia State Board of Education and later the State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia.”

Sweeney was a business advisor at InPrime Legal, an East Cobb firm providing outsourced legal services to small businesses.

In response to a request for comment from East Cobb News, InPrime said that “0ur team is in incredible pain as we grieve the loss of Scott. Right now, our focus is on supporting his family and honoring his memory.”

On Sunday, former Cobb GOP chairman posted on his Facebook page a photo of Sweeney being sworn in as a member of the charter school commission with Kemp and others.

Shepherd’s post said only “Happier times…joining Scott Sweeney as he is sworn in to the Charter School Commission, April 2025. RIP my friend.”

Sweeney was a native of California and was a graduate of UCLA.

He was active in the Cobb County Republican Party, the Georgia School Boards Association and the Cobb Chamber of Commerce.

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!

Lisa Cupid to hold ‘All In Town Hall’ at East Cobb Library

July 14, 2026July 14, 2026 by Wendy Parker

Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid will be holding a town hall meeting at the East Cobb Library next week.

It’s part of what she is calling her “All In Town Halls” to get public feedback on the county budget, “data centers, proposed code amendments, and other county initiatives.”

The town hall at the East Cobb Library (4880 Lower Roswell Road, at the Parkaire Landing Shopping Center) takes place on Wednesday, July 22 from 7-8:30 p.m.

The proposed Cobb fiscal year 2027 budget will be adopted later this month, and the county also is pondering an extension of a moratorium on considering data centers that expires in August.

Last week, the county also held an open house on the proposed Cobb 2050 Comprehensive Plan update that has garnered some community opposition.

Cupid has been holding “All In Sessions” throughout the county, including the four districts on the Cobb Board of Commissioners.

The others are Wednesday at the Tommy Nobis Center (240 Interstate North Parkway), and July 23 at the Milford Recreation Center (675 Smyrna Powder Springs Road).

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Former Congregation Etz Chaim rabbi to hold book launch event

July 13, 2026 by Wendy Parker

Submitted information and photos:

Rabbi Shalom J. Lewis, respected spiritual leader, speaker, and educator, announces the release of his new book, Faith Without the Leap, a thought-provoking exploration of faith, reason, and spirituality in today’s increasingly skeptical world. Faith Without the Leap explores the questions that matter most— centering on God and the soul, life and death, ethics and faith, tradition and change. Faith Without the Leap is now available for purchase on Amazon.

The community is invited to celebrate with Rabbi Lewis at a Book Launch Event, Sunday, August 9 at 1:00 pm at Congregation Etz Chaim (1190 Indian Hills Pkwy NE, Marietta, GA 30068). The event is free to attend.

In Faith Without the Leap, Rabbi Lewis challenges the widespread belief that faith requires abandoning logic or taking a “blind leap.” Instead, the book offers readers an intellectually honest and deeply personal approach to spirituality — one that embraces questions, welcomes doubt, and demonstrates how faith can coexist with reason, critical thinking, and modern life.

Rabbi Lewis explains, “This book is the synthesis of my life — an expression of my theology and the evolution of my thinking and beliefs over the years.”

Drawing from years of teaching, counseling, and community leadership, Rabbi Lewis combines timeless Jewish wisdom with relatable stories, humor, philosophical insight, and practical guidance. The book addresses universal questions about purpose, morality, suffering, and belief while encouraging readers from all backgrounds to engage more deeply with their own spiritual journeys.

“Faith is not about checking your brain at the door,” says Rabbi Lewis. “It’s about discovering meaning, connection, and truth through both the heart and the mind.”

About the Book

Faith Without the Leap is written for believers, skeptics, seekers, and anyone wrestling with life’s biggest questions. The book offers an accessible and compelling perspective on how faith can serve as a source of strength, clarity, and hope in uncertain times. Rabbi Lewis explains that faith can emerge through thoughtful inquiry, lived experience, moral conviction, tradition, and human connection.

“The unique appeal of my book is that it provides spiritual substance and intellectual honesty wherever and whoever one might be, in the quest for a holy, credible God-centered life,” says Rabbi Lewis.

About Rabbi Shalom Lewis
Known for his engaging teaching style, thoughtful insights, and ability to connect timeless spiritual principles to modern life, Rabbi Lewis continues to inspire audiences seeking deeper meaning, faith, and purpose through his writing and public speaking.

Originally from Camden, New Jersey, Rabbi Lewis has been a prolific writer, a gifted teacher, and an inspired pulpit rabbi. After 40 years of service to Congregation Etz Chaim in Marietta, GA, Rabbi Emeritus Shalom Lewis, retired in 2019. A graduate of Temple University, he was ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. He holds graduate degrees in education and Judaica. Married to Cindy Lewis, together they have four children and four grandchildren.

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Sewell Mill artist’s work added to Cobb Library Shop

July 13, 2026July 13, 2026 by Wendy Parker

Local watercolor artist Lynn Müster, who has taken classes at the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center in East Cobb, is one of three individuals whose work is being newly featured in the Cobb Library Shop Collection.

The collection is an 18-product line of the work of local artists voted on by the community. What’s being called the Summer ’26 People’s Collection is the ninth addition to the Cobb Library Shop, which sells merchandise and artwork to raise funds for the Cobb County Public Library System.

According to a library system release, Müster’s watercolor is entitled “Summer in Georgia” (shown above), and was selected four years after she began taking watercolor classes at Sewell Mill.

“Inspired by Southern botanicals and organic elements, her work blends soft watercolor techniques with modern composition,” reads the the Summer ’26 Collection’s description of Müster’s work.

“To honor their creative contributions, each winning artist will receive a curated prize package featuring a piece of their choice from the newly debuted line, paired with an exclusive library swag bag,” the Cobb Library release said.

“To commemorate the historic collaboration, the library will host an intimate celebratory reception, uniting the artists with the Community and User Engagement Team and members of the Cobb Library Foundation to present the gifts and honor the intersection of local art and public service.”

Slone Williams, retail operations and creative director for the Cobb Library Shop, said the idea for the design shop came from the community “and a desire to elevate the voices of the library’s patrons.

“The heart of this project lies in creating a collection that mirrors the identity of the community we serve, giving them the agency to shape the very fabric of our shop.”

The Cobb Library Shop produces curated merchandise collections that celebrate literacy, local history and Georgia culture.

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East Cobb Biz Scene: Kroger unveils 2 new store renovations

July 13, 2026July 13, 2026 by Wendy Parker

While the expansion continues at its Parkaire Landing store, Kroger is putting the finishing touches on renovations at two other stores in East Cobb.

Last week the newly renovated store at the Sandy Plains Centre (2960 Shallowford Road) reopened to the public.

The $1.95 million renovation includes a new Murray’s Cheese shop and sushi island, updated dairy, bakery and produce departments, and additional interior and exterior infrastructure improvements.

The event drew local public officials and included recognitions of Mountain View Elementary School, McCleskey Middle School and Lassiter High School, Kroger’s Partners in Education, as well as Kroger’s Zero Hunger | Zero Waste partner, the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

On July 24, a similar event will take place at the Kroger at Shallowford Falls Shopping Center (3162 Johnson Ferry Road), which is undergoing a $1.1 million renovation project.

That store will be getting a new floral department, a new Murray’s Cheese shop and updated dairy, bakery, produce meat and seafood departments.

Kroger’s Partners in Education at that store are Shallowford Falls Elementary School, Hightower Trail Middle School and Pope High School.

Those Kroger stores remained open during their renovations, as is the Parkaire Landing location, which began in the spring.

That’s a $23 million project that will vastly expand Kroger’s space there from 59,000 square feet to 85,000 square feet—almost as large as the Kroger Superstore at Terrell Mill MarketPlace on Powers Ferry Road.

The project also includes the construction of a Kroger fuel center, an expanded produce department and an enlarged deli counter, a full-service Murray’s cheese counter and the addition of a sushi culinary kiosk.

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!

East Cobb Real Estate: Column Gate brick sells for $1.9M

July 13, 2026July 13, 2026 by Wendy Parker

This week’s featured real estate sale is a brick estate home in the Column Gate subdivision, in the Walton High School, Dickerson Middle School and Sope Creek Elementary School attendance zones.

It has 5 bedrooms and 5.5 baths and includes 9,122 square feet on 0.33 acres, and sold for $1.9 mllion on June 30, 2026.

Click the middle button below to see more photos.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The following East Cobb residential real estate sales from June 29-July 2, 2026 were compiled from agency reports and Cobb County property records.They include the street address, subdivision name and sales price listed under their respective high school attendance zones:

Kell

1262 Harwick Knolls, 30066 (Oxford Manor): $500,000

4064 Longford Drive, 30066 (Longford): $435,000

2054 South Cove Trail, 30066 (North Landing): $445,000

Lassiter

2252 Turtle Club Drive, 30066 (Turtle Rock): $330,000

Marietta

1274 Cameron Creek, 30062 (Cameron Park): $585,000

Pope

3269 Rangers Gate, 30062 (Pine Springs): $725,000

2336 Edgemere Lake Circle, 30062 (Edgemere Estates): $1.325 million

3390 Williams Road, 30062: $990,000

2849 Water Wheel Court, 30062 (Holly Mill): $397,000

3315 Ellsmere Trace, 30062 (Davis Point): $642,500

1883 Clinton Drive, 30062 (Cedar Hill Estates): $545,000

3651 Chestnut Ridge Court, 30062 (Chestnut Ridge): $574,500

Sprayberry

197 Parkstone Way, 30066 (Barrett Creek): $560,000

1540 Blackjack Drive, 30062 (Blackjack Hills): $574,000

2053 Mozelle Drive, 30062: $445,000

793 Weybourne Court, 30066 (Chastain Commons): $425,000

117 Willowfern Lane, 30066 (Greenhouse): $657,251

1613 Huntington Drive, 30066 (Huntington Woods): $445,000

1058 Boyd Road, 30066: $355,000

2038 Renford Pointe, 30062 (Cambridge Park): $525,000

3482 Chastain Glen Lane, 30066 (Chastain Glen): $460,000

999 Malibu Drive, 30066 (Lakewood Estates): $415,000

2423 Retreat Close, 30066 (Stone Creek): $795,000

176 Vintage Club Circle, 30066 (The Vintage Club): $370,000

2132 Carefree Circle, 30062 (The Crossings of East Cobb): $345,000

2231 Tourney Drive, 30062 (Sandy Plains Estates): $390,000

2563 Alberta Lane, 30062 (Holly Springs): $350,200

2730 Harper Woods Drive, 30062 (Harper Woods): $525,000

Walton

1121 Promontory Drive, 30062 (Walton Reserve): $1.1 million

1817 Jacksons Creek Bluff, 30066 (Jacksons Creek): $775,000

1731 East Bank Drive, 30068 (Jacksons Creek): $850,000

5104 Sapphire Drive, 30068 (Tiffany Park): $1.65 million

4131 Thunderbird Drive, 30067 (Atlanta Country Club): $4.25 million

1032 Muirfield Drive, 30068 (Indian Hills): $605,000

3560 Saxon Way, 30062 (Meadow Chase): $800,000

889 Waterford Green, 30068 (Waterford Green): $1 million

2042 Old Forge Way, 30068 (River Forest): $950,000

4895 Hampton Lake Drive, 30068 (Hampton Lake): $1.01 million

107 Gateside Courts, 30067 (Column Gate): $1.9 million

1358 Murdock Road, 30062 (Roswell Downs): $490,000

4477 Dobbs Crossing, 30068 (Woodlawn Commons): $580,000

Wheeler

2684 Meadowlawn Drive, 30067 (Sandpiper): $265,000

522 Stepney Court, 30067 (Glens at Powers Ferry): $464,900

571 Oriole Drive, 30067 (Meadow Brook): $380,000

2798 Lawrence Mill Run, 30068 (Princeton Mill): $625,000

771 Woodmont Drive, 30062 (Woodmont): $580,000

558 Lullingstone Drive, 30067 (Glens at Powers Ferry): $495,000

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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!

East Cobb massage business appeals health spa permit denial

July 11, 2026July 11, 2026 by Wendy Parker

A Canton Road massage business that was closed by Cobb County government in 2024 over allegations of improper operations is appealing a denial of a health spa permit.

Top Massage will be presenting its appeal Tuesday before the Cobb Board of Commissioners after the Cobb County License Review Board upheld the denial.

The Board of Commissioners is the last avenue of appeal in such cases, and the hearing will take place at the end of Tuesday’s regularly scheduled meeting.

Businesses in unincorporated Cobb that offer massage services must obtain a special health spa permit from the county. Massage therapists also must be certified by the state.

Top Massage was among a number of massage businesses that were closed by Cobb officials in 2024 for a variety of allegations, including not having properly licensed therapists.

In May, the Cobb Business License Division turned down Top Massage’s application for a health spa permit, saying that Xingtong Meng, the licensee, didn’t disclose previous employment at a Cartersville massage business that reportedly advertised “illicit sexual services,” and that Meng “did not honestly disclose his arrest history.”

According to a denial letter included in an agenda for Top Massage’s appeal, Meng was arrested by Duluth Police in August 2025 for a failure to appear on traffic citations.

The county said in the health spa application that Meng indicated he had not been arrested, “which is not truthful.”

Cobb officials also allege that Meng did not disclose that he was the “likely” licensee of an Acworth massage business that the county closed down and that also wasn’t disclosed in the application for Top Massage.

The county’s denial letter also states that Top Massage employee Haixing Jin is a state-licensed massage therapist, “his license is currently on probation.”

The Business License Division sent an investigator to Vivi Massage of Cartersville, where Meng worked, and found employees there apparently living there but who did not have state massage licenses. The business was later closed due to cooking activity on-site.

The county’s denial letter states that Meng confessed to Cobb officials he was untruthful about his arrest in Duluth. The letter also states that Meng doesn’t personally know Yunji Jin, the Top Massage owner and the father of Haixing Jing, but that he is a flight instructor wanting to make some extra income as a spa licensee.

Meng told county officials he was asked to serve as the Top Massage licensee due to Haixing Jing’s probationary status.

When Cobb commissioners upheld the Top Massage closure in October 2024, they weren’t sympathetic to pleas from the business’ former owner, Zhe Han, to rectify issues over licenses and permits.

“These cases we don’t take lightly,” Commissioner JoAnn said in moving to extend the Top Massage license suspension. “There’s no excuse not to know the law and our code.”

The Cobb commissioners meeeting begins at 9 a.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 meeting on the county’s website and YouTube channels and on Cobb TV 23 on Comcast Cable.

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!

Marietta OK’s fitness center for Powers Ferry ex-Kroger site

July 11, 2026July 11, 2026 by Wendy Parker

The Marietta City Council Wednesday approved variances requested by the owner of the former Kroger property on Powers Ferry Road.

Habersham Partners LLC is proposing a location of a national fitness center chain, EoS, which will be making major renovations.

The variances would reduce a 40-foot buffer between the back of the building (at left) and allow more parking spaces between landscaping islands.

The measures were approved by a unanimous 7-0 vote after little discussion.

The 4.8-acre site on Powers Ferry at Delk Road has sat vacant since the grocery retailer relocated up the street nearly three years ago.

The council voted unanimously to approve a five-story, 322-unit apartment complex on the property at the same time, but that was vetoed by the mayor.

Local residents supporting the apartments expressed concern that the former Kroger site would become blighted, and in its application for the variances, Marietta planning officials noted some of the erosion.

The property been the subject of code enforcement complaints, including the presence of trash and debris, outdoor storage and marked by graffiti.

Habersham Partners doesn’t need rezoning, since the existing community retail commercial (CRC) category includes fitness centers.

EoS has several other metro Atlanta locations, including Smyrna, Milton and Alpharetta.

Cobb-based Habitat awarded $235K for veterans’ repairs

July 11, 2026July 11, 2026 by Wendy Parker

Submitted information:

Habitat for Humanity of NW Metro Atlanta is pleased to announce The Home Depot Foundation has awarded the affiliate a $235,000 grant to provide no-cost critical home repairs for veterans in Cobb, Douglas, and Paulding counties.

“It is an incredible honor to have The Home Depot Foundation dedicated to our home repair program. The opportunity to partner in serving veterans to repair their homes brings an incredible sense of purpose. Preserving their home as a safe, secure environment brings stability to these families who are experiencing difficult life transitions,” said Kyle Huhtanen, CEO of Habitat NWMA.

Thanks to a generous grant from The Home Depot Foundation in 2025, Habitat NWMA completed critical home repairs for 13 veteran households, improving living conditions for 26 individuals. These projects addressed essential exterior and interior needs, including roof, porch, window, deck, and driveway repairs; insulation and weatherization improvements; and safety and accessibility modifications such as wheelchair ramps, widened doorways, and accessible bathroom renovations for disabled veterans.

One family impacted by these repairs is Luther and Angela Washington, a married couple of 35 years who have dedicated their lives to serving others. Luther, a former U.S. Army Sergeant and combat engineer, served for 14 years and completed multiple tours of duty. Today, he lives with a 70 percent service-connected disability. In 2006, the couple founded the Family Life Restoration Center in Mableton, a nonprofit organization that supports families in need throughout the community. Over time, however, they found themselves in need of a supportive hand as their own home fell into severe disrepair, creating safety and accessibility challenges. Through Habitat’s Veteran Repair Program and support from The Home Depot Foundation, critical repairs were completed, restoring their home and improving their overall quality of life.

By addressing unsafe living conditions, these repairs help reduce injuries and emergency calls related to falls and other home hazards. They also improve health by reducing exposure to conditions that can lead to negative health outcomes, such as wood rot, mold, and weather damage, while enhancing neighborhood appearance. Most importantly, they create safer homes that support veterans’ independence, stability, and overall quality of life.

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Marietta tables data center request; issues moratorium

July 9, 2026July 9, 2026 by Wendy Parker

Marietta delays data center request; issues moratorium — *Approving a new data center for local responses is a “win-win,” former State Sen. Chuck Clay told the Marietta City Council.*

After more than two hours of discussion and some fiery comments from citizens, the Marietta City Council on Wednesday voted to table a request for a data center off Delk Road.

The matter will be taken up again Aug. 12 at the behest of council member Joseph Goldstein, whose Ward 7 includes most of East Marietta, including the Delk Road area.

Before that vote, and with a packed crowd on hand, the council issued a six-month moratorium on considering any other data center requests.

A week after the Marietta Planning Commission voted 4-3 to recommend approval, the City Council heard plenty from citizens in favor of and opposed to the data center request, which entailed adding another use under the existing Community Retail Commercial (CRC) category.

Prime Storage has operated a self-storage facility on Powers Ferry Place, off Delk Road and fronting Interstate 75, for the last 30 years.

It wants to convert a portion of its existing 90,000-square-foot facility for an 18-megawatt data facility for what it calls “mission critical” local purposes.

That includes law enforcement, medical and emergency services and local businesses in the area.

Former State Sen. Chuck Clay, from one of Marietta’s most prominent families, was among those representing Prime Storage.

He said that Marietta historically has always been a “vision city,” developing an old air field for what became Dobbins Air Force Base (and now Dobbins Naval Air Station), and more recently has been building up the Franklin Gateway corridor.

Adding a data center to meet local communications needs is no different.

“These things just don’t happen,” Clay said, as opponents heckled during his remarks.

He urged the city “to do what’s best” to continue to provide “local jobs with local power.”

Clay said that a new data center—located adjacent to another data center that has existed for years—would be a “win-win.”

‘What I heard was a lot of fear’

Opponents came from all parts of Marietta, including Chris Conley a former UGA and NFL football player who relocated his family off Burnt Hickory Road.

He said one of his daughters has respiratory issues, and like a number of the speakers Wednesday, raised environmental concerns about data centers.

“You don’t want people like me coming here,” Conley said, telling the council that “you messed up.”

*Sun Valley Estates resident John Mendoza*

Other citizens live close to the data center, including neighborhoods in unincorporated Cobb.

John Mendoza, who lives on Powers Ferry Drive, in the Sun Valley Estates subdivision, read from the city zoning staff analysis about a lack of code or any kind of guidance on data centers.

“So why are we even considering this?” he asked.

The council extended time to speakers, most of whom continued to express opposition.

But that also gave Prime Storage additional time to explain what they have in mind.

“What I heard was a lot of fear,” applicants’ attorney Parks Huff said about the data center opponents.

The proposed data center would be a “closed loop system” for cooling the servers and therefore reducing water consumption.

He said Prime Storage would be paying market rates for energy needed to power the data center, and would take necessary measures to go beyond complying with the city’s noise ordinance.

*“I just have too many sound questions,” Marietta City Council member Cheryl Richardson said.*

That’s where the discussion with council members stayed for quite a while.

Cheryl Richardson of Ward 1, which is near Dobbins, said she’d like to see a noise study as well as talk to the proposed data center’s sound engineer.

Of Huff’s point that another data center has existed near the proposed site with no incident, Richardson said that “just because we’ve done it once doesn’t mean we should do it twice.”

Some opponents broke out into applause, but Richardson told them they shouldn’t presume anything by her remarks,

“I just have too many sound questions. I’m not a scientist.”

The Marietta moratorium on considering other data centers ends on Dec. 31.

“We just want to make sure we’re doing the right thing,” Mayor Steve “Thunder” Tumlin said.

East Cobb Food Scores: Pho Hoa; Delicias do Brasil; more

July 9, 2026July 9, 2026 by Wendy Parker

The following food scores have been compiled by Cobb and Douglas Public Health. Click the link under each listing for inspection details:

American Deli
2100 Roswell Road, Suite 2194
July 8, 2026, Score: 99, Grade: A

Delicias do Brasil Bakery and Grill (re-inspection)
2610 Delk Road
July 6, 2026, Score: 100, Grade: A
Previous inspection: June 29, 2026, Score: 63, Grade: U

Jimmy Mac’s Food and Spirits
3205 Canton Road, Suite 113
July 6, 2026, Score: 100, Grade: A

Pho Hoa and Jazen Tea
1255 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 22
July 7, 2026, Score: 83, Grade: B

Taquito Express
3065 Shallowford Road, Suite A
July 7, 2026, Score: 73, Grade: C

Waffle House
4797 Canton Road
July 6, 2026, Score: 96, Grade: A

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Cobb Sheriff’s deputy kills dog while serving arrest warrant

July 9, 2026July 9, 2026 by Wendy Parker

The Cobb Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday that one of its deputies shot and killed what it termed an “aggressive” dog while trying to serve an arrest warrant.

Hassan Glenn, the Cobb Sheriff’s Office communications manager, did not provide any further details in issuing a release late Wednesday afternoon, including the circumstances and location of the incident.

He said that no further information is available because “this remains an active internal investigation.”

Glenn said that “as with any use-of-force event, the discharge of the deputy’s firearm is under review by the Sheriff’s Office Internal Affairs Unit.”

Glenn also stated that “we recognize that situations involving animals can be distressing, and our thoughts are with those affected by this incident.”

In late 2024, Cobb Police went public with an internal investigation into an officer-involved fatal shooting of a dog during a 911 call in South Cobb.

Then-Chief Stuart VanHoozer held a press conference to state that while “the event was ‘tense and unpleasant,’ no apparent department policies were violated.

He said that a dog at the residence rushed toward an officer “who ‘perceived the dog’s actions as potentially threatening’ and then shot the animal in self-defense.”

The dog’s owners took issue with the department’s actions and demanded information on how police are trained to handle animal situations.

At the press conference, VanHoozer said that “part of doing right is to look into what happened to see if we can do better as a profession.”

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Editor’s Note: On our 9th anniversary, why local news matters

July 8, 2026 by Wendy Parker

*Publishing a local news website requires more than an act of faith, but belief in the power of community is an imperative.*

One day in the spring of 2020, a few weeks after the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, I was driving around East Cobb in a daze, gathering photos of what was looking like a ghost town.

For a while, I was also wondering if East Cobb News would go down with the dozens of small and local businesses in the community that simply went away, unable to handle the shutdowns and restrictions.

I was angry about their fate, but had to scramble to ensure that mine wouldn’t be the same. East Cobb News was making some headway in terms of business viability at the time, not quite three years old, and I was feeling good about our prospects.

We had broken or led significant stories in the community, especially the failed effort over East Cobb Cityhood.

As strong as we’ve been in providing vital local news and useful community information, East Cobb News is also a for-profit business, in the mom-and-pop category that’s always vulnerable to even the barest of economic fluctuations.

Skip Wells Memorial Ride — *East Cobb News first rolled out on July 8, 2017, and we’re just getting started.*

We stared the end of the road squarely in the eyes more than once during that time. I tried like hell not to blink. I have to be honest here; I wasn’t sure if East Cobb News could survive.

But our readers, who had come to expect coverage unlike anything else in this community, picked me up when I needed it the most. I’d get an e-mail or other message asking if I could find out whether a store was open, or tip me off about an accident or something, anything, to get me back to the task of doing the news.

A few readers checked in to say hello, to see how I was doing, and said they appreciated what we’ve been doing all along.

That meant more to me than any of those well-wishers will ever know.

I felt the same way on that day I mentioned above, when driving around, I saw the sign on the neighborhood fence that’s in the photo above. I pulled over to safe spot and snapped that picture and published it. It’s stayed with me far longer than COVID.

It’s been one of the symbols of my pledge to carry on with East Cobb News, no matter what.

Please help us keep local news free.

On July 8, 2017, East Cobb News first began publishing, just a few times a week at first, and now several times a day six days a week.

We’ve added a Sunday newsletter since then, and grown a healthy readership. Currently we’re averaging 125,000 pageviews and nearly 80,000 unique visitors a month—the latter figure representing a third of our coverage area.

We have more than 9,400 subscribers to our newsletter, and around 25,000 who follow us on social media.

We’re proud of those numbers and what they reflect about our readers, who’ve kept the faith with us all along.

East Cobb News is thriving journalistically, and I’m so proud of that, after more than 40 years as a reporter and editor.

We’ve built a modest small business with local business advertising, but like other news outlets—including many that are much larger and older than we are—East Cobb News also relies on reader support to sustain our efforts.

*East Cobb News remains undaunted in chronicling a community that’s undergone a lot in our time online.*

We have been asking for some months now for modest donations—suggesting $6 a month—and some of you have responded.

Frankly, we’re not getting a whole lot, and I understand why these appeals can be annoying.

But East Cobb News was founded on the premise that local news needs to be accessible to all. We have been publishing non-stop since this day nine years ago, more than 7,000 posts in all,

We intend on keeping it that way, and to keep publishing indefinitely into the future.

It’s what I called in my last message “the local news revolution,” and of which I’m proud to be a part.

East Cobb News is among the hardy band of local, online independent news entrepreneurs that wears their passion about their hometowns and the business of building up a local news business on their sleeves—and just about everywhere.

We can’t help it, because it’s not just what we do, it’s who we are.

We consider ourselves local news revolutionaries here at East Cobb News, and we invite our readers to join us.

For just a few dollars a month, your support will help sustain local journalism—right here in East Cobb.

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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!

Free caregiver session set for living with dementia patients

July 8, 2026 by Wendy Parker

Submitted information:

ACAP Cobb & Cherokee will present “Living Well with a Parent with Dementia: Basic Tips for Daily Care,” a free educational program for family caregivers, on Thursday, July 16, 2026 from 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.. The in-person program will be held at Covenant Presbyterian Church – Kapperman-Williams Hall, 2881 Canton Road, Marietta, GA.

Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia can be challenging. This program gives important information about the signs and behaviors of these diseases and offers helpful tips for daily care.

The program will be presented by Staci Hannah, DCP Owner Graceful Journey.

This program is free and open to everyone. Reserve a spot today at acapcommunity.org, or contact ACAP Cobb & Cherokee at [email protected].

Program Details
What: Living Well with a Parent with Dementia: Basic Tips for Daily Care
When: Thursday, July 16, 2026 | 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Where: Covenant Presbyterian Church – Kapperman-Williams Hall, 2881 Canton Road, Marietta, GA
Cost: Free and Open to the CommunityRSVP:

acapcommunity.org | [email protected]

About ACAP – Adult Children of Aging Parents®

Adult Children of Aging Parents® (ACAP) provides information, resources, support, and community for adult children as they care for their aging parents and for themselves. Through its network of local chapters, ACAP offers free monthly educational programs, expert speakers, and a compassionate community to help families navigate the challenges of eldercare. For more information, visit www.acapcommunity.org or email [email protected].

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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!

Military family food drive set for Powers Ferry Road Kroger

July 8, 2026July 8, 2026 by Wendy Parker

Submitted information:

Kroger’s Atlanta Division and the USO are teaming up for the “Kick Hunger to the Sidelines | Stuff the Truck” Food Drive, inviting customers to donate items that will support military service members and their families.

The food drive will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 12, at the Powers Ferry Kroger, 1310 Powers Ferry Road SE in Marietta. The USO | Kroger Mobile Food Truck will be on-site during the event.

A suggested list of items especially needed by military service members is below and will also be available onsite. Customers may use the list as a guide; additional helpful donations also are welcome.

SUGGESTED DONATION ITEMS:

Food and Beverages:

Kroger Protein & Fiber Bar

Simple Truth applesauce pouches

Kroger individual trail mix

Kroger fruit snacks

CLIF Builders Protein Bars

KIND granola bars

Kroger snack meat sticks

Small packages of beef jerky

StarKist tuna packets

Lunch-to-go kits

Jif To Go peanut butter

Kroger flavored drink packets

Nutella & Go! snack packs

Kroger cheese dip sticks

Kroger tuna packets

Liquid I.V. hydration packets

Folgers coffee-to-go packets

Personal-care items:

Gold Bond foot powder

Kroger razors, three- or four-packs

Small containers of Vaseline petroleum jelly

Kroger tampons and pads

Kroger sunscreen

OFF! insect repellent

Items for children and families:

Kroger apple juice
Boxed candy, such as Sour Patch Kids
Crayons and coloring books
Pop-its
Play-Doh
Bubbles

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!

Kincaid PTA to receive Georgia state arts education grant

July 8, 2026July 8, 2026 by Wendy Parker

The Kincaid Elementary School PTA is among the recipients of an arts eductation grant from the Georgia Council for the Arts.

The council, which is part of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, awards a variety of grants to community arts organizations and programs, including schools.

In Wednesday’s announcement by the Georgia Council for the Arts, several other Cobb organizations also were named as recipients for the grants, which total more than $1.3 million and will be distributed to 179 entities.

Here’s more from Wednesday’s release:

The Arts Education Program Grant will be distributed to 32 organizations to support the arts in K-12 education, and many include a variety of disciplines, from visual art to music or theater, to dance and creative writing.

Kincaid is the only school in the Cobb County School District to receive an arts education grant, which also was awarded to Marietta City Schools.

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!

Moon family legacy at Sprayberry HS stretches 60-plus years

July 8, 2026July 8, 2026 by Wendy Parker

Submitted information, photos and video from the Cobb County School District:

When you drive past Sprayberry High School this summer, you’ll see more than construction crews and renovation work. You will see the next chapter of a school that has helped shape generations of students and families.

For the Moon family, every trip past Sprayberry is a reminder of the generations of memories, friendships, and traditions built within its walls.

From the Class of 1963 to the Class of 2026, the Moon family has a history with Sprayberry spanning more than 60 years.

“I think people in Sprayberry don’t keep up with the Joneses. They keep up with Sprayberry, and it’s a different pace of life,” said Stephen Moon, Class of 1988.

Moon’s uncle, Arthur Cochran, started the family tradition when he graduated in 1963. From there, cousins, aunts, and Moon’s three children added to the family’s long history at Sprayberry.

“I think it helped. Me and my sister looked out for each other, and we were both in class together. But it was also really good to have my senior brother there as a freshman,” said Samuel, Class of 2025.

From STEM programs and track and field to the arts, this legacy family has embraced all that Sprayberry has to offer.

“The Moon family is a testament to what the school does. This community really anchors the neighborhoods, and it’s something that people keep coming back for,” said Sprayberry principal Dr. David Church.

During the 2026 graduation ceremony, Rosie sang the national anthem to begin the special night for her and the rest of the senior class.

“It’s just cool to have a legacy like that. It gives you something to look back on and be proud of,” said Rosie.

Moon’s children — Rosie, Samuel and Max — said they were grateful for Sprayberry and felt prepared for the next chapter of their education after graduating.

“I just appreciate that you guys are here to represent the community and the meaning behind Sprayberry High School,” said Vice Board Chair David Chastain.

While the family’s current chapter at Sprayberry has come to a close, future generations could one day continue the tradition of making memories at Sprayberry for years to come.

“It was a kind of a sense of closure on an era. For now, we’ll see. Maybe down the line I’ll have kids of my own, and then maybe they come here too,” said Max, Class of 2022.

As Sprayberry continues its Ed-SPLOST-funded renovation, the campus is being reimagined for the next generation of students while preserving the traditions and community spirit that have defined the school for more than six decades. While the Sprayberry campus may look remarkably different when students return in August, the sense of belonging that has connected families like the Moons across generations remains unchanged.

Today’s construction is creating tomorrow’s Sprayberry — a school ready to welcome future generations and thousands of more students who will create their own memories, traditions, and legacies for years to come.

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!

Fitness center proposed for Powers Ferry Road ex-Kroger site

July 7, 2026July 7, 2026 by Wendy Parker

The former Kroger site on Powers Ferry Road has sat vacant since the grocery retailer relocated up the street nearly three years ago.

The 4.8 acres on Powers Ferry at Delk Road was proposed for apartments at the same time, and plans were approved unanimously by the Marietta City Council, but then vetoed by the mayor.

The developer who wanted to build a five-story, 322-unit apartment building said then that the site wasn’t viable for other commercial or retail uses.

And since then, the property been the subject of code enforcement complaints, including the presence of trash and debris, outdoor storage and marked by graffiti.

But now the property owner, Atlanta-based Habersham Partners LLC, is proposing a location of a national fitness center chain for that site, and will be asking the City of Marietta for approval.

The City Council on Wednesday will be asked to consider two variances for an EOS Fitness Center, which has three metro Atlanta locations.

According to an agenda item (you can read it here), Habersham Partners doesn’t need rezoning, since the existing community retail commercial (CRC) category includes fitness centers.

What is being requested is a reduction of a 40-foot screening buffer adjacent to residentially zoned property, as well as a reduction of the requirement to install landscaped parking lot islands for every 12 consecutive parking spaces.

The agenda item states that EOS will be undergoing extensive interior and exterior renovations to operate in the old Kroger, which opened in the early 1980s.

“The site plan provided contains very little detail about the proposed improvements to the building and site,” states the city’s zoning staff analysis, which doesn’t make a recommendation on the variance requests.

Nearby apartments that are in unincorporated Cobb and located off Delk Road were built around the same time, “and have coexisted, presumably without issue, for 30 years without a buffer,” according to the zoning analysis.

“Should this variance be approved, consideration should be given to requiring a new fence and also limiting the area to overflow parking to minimize impact on the residential neighbors.”

As for the parking island requirement, the staff analysis said the proposal for the fitness center would include retrofitting the parking lot “to add numerous islands bookending rows of newly striped parking spaces.

“While not meeting the strict rule of ‘no more than 12 parking spaces in a row without an island,’ these changes will substantially improve the look (and drainage) of the site. And, again, although there is no hardship present, these changes will only incur benefits and drastically reduce the nonconforming parking area.”

The Marietta City Council also will hear on Wednesday a data center proposal off Delk Road near Interstate 75 that that was recommended for approval by the Marietta Planning Commission in a split vote.

The City Council also will consider a request for data center moratorium, similar to one in Cobb County. You can read through the full meeting agenda by clicking here and here.

The City Council meeting begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Marietta City Hall. (205 Lawrence Street).

Subdivision request off Old Canton Road continued again

July 7, 2026July 7, 2026 by Wendy Parker

Tucked away off Old Canton Road is a narrow-single lane road with some older houses that evokes a rural feel amid East Cobb’s suburban sprawl.

Although the road is paved, residents say there isn’t much other modern infrastructure to serve the few homes along Clackum Road, some of which are owned by members of the Clackum family.

One of those residents is a developer who wants to assemble 11.8 acres along Clackum Road, as well as Old Canton Road and Shelly Court for a luxury single-family subdivision.

Jairo Murillo wants the land—which is split into two non-contiguous parcels—to be rezoned from R-30, a low-density residential category to R-15, which is more dense than most of the surrounding subdivisions.

*The proposed homes on Clackum Road would start at $1 million.*

Last month, the Cobb Planning Commission continued the case following opposition, and on Tuesday voted again to hold the request (you can read through it here) following the submission of a new site plan.

Murillo initially proposed building 20 homes on the land, which stretches beyond a cul-de-sac at the end of Clackum Road and along property he owns near Sewell Mill Creek (see the site plan below).

Residents of the nearby Mill Creek subdivision expressed opposition in June, especially over stormwater concerns.

On Tuesday, a revised site plan reduced the number of homes to 14, and included three designated areas for stormwater retention.

Murillo’s representative said Tuesday the homes envisioned would be at least 4,800 square feet and feature three-car garages and would be priced starting at $1 million.

For Jeb Beardsley, a commercial real estate specialist whose family owns one of the homes on Clackum Road, the development would be a welcome addition.

Clackum Road, he said, is only 16 feet wide, and it’s difficult for traffic getting in and out.

“All of this will help the neighborhood tremendously,” he told Planning Commission members Tuesday. “This is a local developer, a local family-owned business.”

But other residents, including in Mill Creek, again expressed opposition. The site plan doesn’t address their stormwater or density concerns.

Mike Cotti, who lives nearby and owns a construction and remodeling business, said the R-15 category isn’t compatible with the surrounding area.

“The people that live in the area aren’t anti-development,” he said. “They just want to see a reasonable development.”

He suggested an R-20 category, which is what Mill Creek and the nearby Canton Hills subdivisions are zoned. The Olde Canton Chase subdivision to the south of the Murillo property is zoned R-15.

The Cobb Zoning Division had recommended denial based on the initial site plan. John Pedersen, the zoning manager, told Planning Commission member Deborah Dance that his office hadn’t had time to analyze the revised site plan, which was received last Monday.

She moved to continue the case, and the motion passed 5-0 to bring it back in August.

**Click here** to see a larger view of the site plan, with homes on Clackum at Old Canton (top) and at the left, close to Sewell Mill Creek.

Cobb commissioners to hold property tax public hearings

July 7, 2026July 7, 2026 by Wendy Parker

Submitted information:

The Cobb County Board of Commissioners announces its intention to increase the property taxes it will levy this year, over the rollback millage rate, by 4.07 percent in the County Maintenance & Operations (General) Fund.

Each year, the Board of Tax Assessors is required by Georgia law to review the assessed value for property tax purposes of taxable property in the county. When the trend of prices on properties that have recently sold in the county indicate that there has been an increase or decrease in the fair market value of any specific property, the board of tax assessors is required by law to revalue such property and adjust the assessment. This is called a reassessment.

When the total digest of taxable property is prepared, Georgia law requires that a “rollback” millage rate must be computed according to specific instructions issued by the Georgia Department of Revenue. This “rollback” millage rate would have produced the same total tax revenue on the current year’s digest that last year’s millage rate would have produced had no reassessments occurred.

The 2026 proposed millage is higher than the recently computed “rollback” millage rate. Therefore, before the Cobb County Board of Commissioners may set the final 2026 millage rates, Georgia law requires that three public hearings be held to allow the public an opportunity to express their opinions on the increase.

The Cobb County Board of Commissioners (BOC) is proposing to maintain millage rates. The General Fund M&O will be set at 8.46; the Fire millage rate will be set at 2.97; and the Cumberland Special Services District II millage rate will be set at 2.45. Although these millage rates are not increasing from the prior year, Georgia law requires the County to advertise a “Tax Increase” in the press and on the County’s website because the tax digest has increased.

All eligible property owners who have claimed the homestead exemption for the 2026 tax year will see no change in their County M&O tax bill, as long as the property owner made no changes to the property that affect its taxable value. The floating homestead exemption maintains the net taxable value of the primary residence. When the millage rate remains unchanged from the prior year, the assessed tax for County M&O also remains unchanged.

All citizens are invited to the public hearings on this tax increase to be held at the Board of Commissioners meeting room located at 100 Cherokee Street, Marietta, Georgia on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at 9:00 AM, Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at 6:30 PM and on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at 7:00 PM.

The Board of Commissioners will adopt the 2026 Property Tax Millage Rates for its three tax districts (General, Fire, and Cumberland Special Services District II) following the third public hearing at the BOC Meeting on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at 7:00 PM.

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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