The rain stopped early Saturday morning and the sun came out for the 20th Taste of East Cobb.
The weather couldn’t have been more ideal, as attendees enjoyed tasty bites provided by local restaurants, listened to music from local school jazz bands and took in a picture-perfect spring weekend day at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church.
The festival is a fundraiser for the Walton Band Parent Association, which sold tickets for food and other activites, including a kids’ zone, face painting and more.
Local businesses displayed their wares and special offers, and there also was a silent auction.
After the event was over, organizers announced the following winners, as voted on by the public on hand:
East Cobb News was proud to be a sponsor of the Taste of East Cobb for the fourth year in a row!
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When a Dickerson Middle School student and lacrosse and football player was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer, the members of the Walton High School boys lacrosse team became his biggest fans.
Jackson Jefcoat, a sixth-grader, learned a few months ago that he suffers from T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma, and he soon began undergoing a lengthy treatment plan.
He’s already endured fatigue, hair loss and other effects of chemotherapy, and according to the Cobb County School District, his family says he’s cancer free and his prognosis is good, all things considered.
But Jackson is continuing treatment, and while he does, the lacrosse team and the Walton community are providing their support.
“This program is built on family,” Walton head coach Griffin Spotz said in a release issued by the district. “We want Jackson to know he’s seen, supported, and still a vital part of our team.”
He’s been visited by the football and lacrosse teams during his hospital stays, and players have invited him to watch games when he can along the sidelines.
On Friday, the Raiders’ lacrosse team advanced to the Georgia High School Association quarterfinals, so Jackson will have at least another game to cheer them on.
More from the district release, along with their photos:
That support has taken many forms. Coaches and players from both the lacrosse and football programs have visited Jackson in the hospital, brought team gear, and included him in special team moments. Jackson was named an honorary captain for a senior select game and received a commemorative chrome helmet typically reserved for special occasions.
The lacrosse team also created custom helmet decals featuring a green lymphoma awareness ribbon and Jackson’s initials, symbolizing solidarity, and ongoing support.
The Walton community remains committed to supporting Jackson throughout his treatment and eventual return to athletics. The Jefcoat family expressed deep gratitude for the overwhelming support.
Jackson, in turn, shared a message of thanks and encouragement for the team: “Thank you all so much. Keep going in the playoffs. Never give up. I’ll get better.”
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As a former Cobb County School District teacher, Nichelle Davis sought in her initial run for public office in 2022 to be an advocate for the needs of students in the classroom.
As she seeks re-election to Post 6 on the Cobb Board of Education, Davis said some good progress has been made in improving student outcomes and other academic initiatives.
But after running unopposed four years ago, Davis is facing a firebrand Democratic primary opponent who accuses the incumbent of settling for the status quo.
Davis, a native of Florida who taught at Lindley Middle School, is vying for a second term on May 19 against Jennifer Susko, a former Cobb school counselor who regularly blisters the district and school board (our Susko profile can be found here).
Davis recently voted to extend the contract of Superintendent Chris Ragsdale, and for Susko, that was more than enough to challenge her.
As one of three Democrats on the seven-member board, Davis told East Cobb News that “I am not a polarizing candidate. That’s not who I am.”
She says that “I represent a unique voice” and her mission is a simple one: “To get the job done” to help students achieve academic success.
Here’s Davis’ campaign website; she is senior manager at Achieve Atlanta, a non-profit which helps students prepare for postsecondary education.
Early voting in the primaries began Monday and continues through May 15; consult our early voting guide for more information.
The winner of the Post 6 primary will be elected to serve a four-year term on the school board, since no Republican qualified.
Post 6 (see map) includes the Campbell and some of the Wheeler high school attendance zones
It formerly included Walton zone but has been redrawn to boundaries that have made it a predominantly Democratic post.
Susko has received the endorsement of Davis’ predecessor, Charisse Davis (no relation), who was at the center of several school board controversies during her one term.
But Nichelle Davis said that as the only black female member of the board, she understands the importance of treating students fairly.
Susko thinks that minority students in particular are at a greater disadvantage than they should be, and supports restoring banned Critical Race Theory and the 1619 Project program.
Nichelle Davis said that she was “surprised” when Susko announced her candidacy but that “advocacy for everyone looks a little different.
“I lead with joy.”
In explaining her vote to extend Ragsdale’s contract, Davis said that she went on the “facts and data presented to me” about his job performance. She wouldn’t get into details, since those were discussed in executive session, but she said that she made her decision based on “what he has done, based on how we measure success.
“I think we have a lot of good things going on [in the Cobb school district] and I recognize that there is a lot of room for improvement. . . . I made the best decision in that moment.”
She said her approach to serving also reflects the reality of being a Democrat on a Republican-majority board.
“We may not agree on everything,” Davis said, “but we have to move from a space of being confrontational to having courageous conversations. Positive things have been happening” in the district and on the board in moving forward on some of those priorities.
“I’m proud of our enrichment and career-ready programs, charter schools, SPLOST projects and Georgia’s BEST,” she said.
“We agree more than we disagree,” Nichelle Davis said of the Cobb school board.
Davis said her objectives are focused on “doing what’s best for kids,” including more curriculum and student support, and in particular improvements in literacy programs.
She also favors more mental health support and resources for students, improving communications between students and their families and the district and the district being more transparent with the public in general.
Davis was critical of the board’s policy last year to ban airing of public comments at board meetings, which she says has hurt dialogue and citizen engagement she thinks is necessary.
She also thinks high school students should be able to speak at board meetings without a parent present (Davis occasionally holds a “Youth Roundtable” with high school students to discuss a variety of issues in the schools.)
“How do we find the right balance between our resources and our needs?” as a district, Davis asked, if the larger public doesn’t know what community members are expressing.
She admits that some of the things she advocates for at times up short on board votes when there’s a distinct partisan difference.
“That is a challenge,” Davis said. “It’s hard to gauge the progress when it moves by inches. There are many things we agree on. But we agree more than we disagree.”
While to some members of the public “it looks the same, there’s ongoing work” that suggests otherwise. “When put to a vote, it still takes a board majority.”
School safety concerns have loomed larger during Davis’ term in office.
That includes a rapid and sometimes secretive expansion of safety programs within the Cobb school district. Last year the district announced it was accepting a state school security grant to hire a cyberintelligence company, Servius, to conduct risk assessments at schools and identify students who may pose threats.
The district also has approved funding for dogs trained with “vapor wake” technology to detect weapons in high schools.
The board has been briefed in executive session about some of these programs, but Davis said that “we need more updates in helping to identify threats quicker.”
But she said that an important measure for the public is to improve gun safety advocacy in the community.
Davis said that regardless of how the partisan dynamics may be on the board—and it could become non-partisan in 2028—this current board is making significant strides.
After some fractious debates prior to her arrival in 2023, Davis said, “we’re starting to find some middle ground. It’s about moving forward with solutions that work” in what would be her second term.
“I love to reframe my thoughts about what a win looks like,” she said. “People know where I’m coming from.”
Davis said the question she constantly asks herself, regardless of the issue before her, is “what is best for students?”
That’s because “I’m a solutions-oriented person . . . it’s the educator in me. That’s why I want to continue serving.”
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Since she began speaking out against Cobb County School District leadership a few years ago, Jennifer Susko has hardly stepped out of the spotlight with her blistering criticisms of the powers-that-be.
And now the former Cobb school counselor is vying for a spot on the Cobb Board of Education that she routinely criticizes—and not just the Republican majority.
Susko is a Democratic challenger to Post 6 first-term board member Nichelle Davis in the May 19 primaries precisely because the incumbent recently supported extending the contract of Superintendent Chris Ragsdale.
Susko, who noisily resigned as a counselor at Mableton Elementary School in 2021 so she could speak out on a range of issues—and after the school board banned the teaching of Critical Race Theory and the 1619 Project—says Davis’ vote was the final straw for her.
“I am running because I believe voters deserve representation that is willing to question leadership when necessary,” Susko told East Cobb News, “insist on answers and not offer automatic support in the face of ongoing concerns about student outcomes, equity, and district direction.”
Here’s Susko’s campaign website; she is currently a counselor with the Georgia Cyber Academy, an online charter school.
Early voting in the primaries began Monday and continues through May 15; consult our early voting guide for more information.
The winner of the Post 6 primary will be elected to serve a four-year term on the school board, since no Republican qualified.
Post 6 (see map) includes the Campbell and some of the Wheeler high school attendance zone.
It formerly included Walton and Wheeler areas but has been redrawn to boundaries that have made it a predominantly Democratic post.
Susko has received the endorsement of Nichelle Davis’ predecessor, Charisse Davis (no relation), who was at the center of several school board controversies during her one term.
Davis was outspoken on diversity and equity issues, but Susko began to speak out at board meetings prior to that in 2016-17, sparked by what she said was a racist message sent out via social media by a North Cobb High School student.
As a regular during public comment periods, Susko has been especially critical of how the Cobb school district treats minority students. Like Charisse Davis and former board member and now State Sen. Jaha Howard, Susko thinks the district is too harsh with disciplinary measures for minority students in particular.
“For many families, especially Black students and parents, there are long-standing, well-documented concerns about racism in Cobb schools that have not been meaningfully addressed,” Susko said.
“In some cases, efforts intended to respond to those concerns have been reduced or rolled back. A ‘yes’ vote on the superintendent’s contract communicates approval of that trajectory.
“The sky may not be falling to you, but for Black parents and students experiencing racism in schools, it is,” she said. “Ignoring that does not make it disappear. There is documented evidence in district data along with years of students and families describing what they are facing in classrooms and hallways every day.”
Susko cited a policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics that “although progress has been made toward racial equality and equity, the evidence to support the continued negative impact of racism on health and well-being through implicit and explicit biases, institutional structures, and interpersonal relationships is clear.
“Failure to address racism will continue to undermine health equity for all children, adolescents, emerging adults, and their families.”
She said during her time in the Cobb school district, black students told her about being called racial epithets, “hearing adults laugh about the KKK, and constantly facing assumptions that they are not academically capable.”
Sukso said a teacher told her once not to worry about teaching career lessons to a second-grader “because at least he looks great in orange,” a suggestion that “a 7-year-0ld by would end up in prison. These are repeated, compounding harms.”
If those are the incidents that sparked Susko’s activism, they have expanded to include her general priorities if she were elected: accountable leadership and effective oversight, responsive governance and student-centered policies.
“The clearest difference between me and my opponent is how we understand accountability and what we are willing to support in public,” Susko said.
Susko has been a frequent critic of the Cobb school district at board meetings and in the community.
“A vote to renew Superintendent Ragsdale’s contract is one of the strongest signals of confidence in district leadership. My opponent supported that contract; I did not.”
Susko also has been critical of the Cobb school district investing in school safety measures without board action, including a contract with a private cyberintelligence company about which little has been said publicly.
The district has said that Servius is conducting threat assessments at individual schools and developing processes to help schools identify patterns in student behavior that could become safety concerns.
“There have still been incidents where weapons entered school buildings, leaving families questioning whether those systems are effective and whether leadership has been fully held accountable,” Susko said.
She also said the board fails at governance by preventing the airing of public comments, and prohibiting board members from making them.
She supports allowing students to speak during public comment without having a parent present, a change from the current district policy.
“I think a parent permission form is fine, but removing the barrier of parent presence would ensure student voices are heard and allow them to actively practice the civic engagement skills they learn in social studies classrooms,” she said.
Susko said that if she were elected, “maybe” she could support retaining Ragsdale if he “can listen, demonstrate accountability, and make changes when they are necessary for student success without becoming defensive or responding with long public remarks that feel dismissive of students and families . . However, there is very little evidence of that kind of responsiveness, which makes continued support unlikely.”
When asked if she could make the transition from political bomb-thrower to board member and work with colleagues she may disagree with, Susko told East Cobb News that “a working relationship does not mean agreement, and it does not mean I would ever stay silent in the face of issues harming students. If there are ongoing concerns, I will address them directly and consistently with any board member.
“Some people like to reduce my work to the idea that all I do is get kicked out of boardrooms by police, but that is in my role as a community organizer and through participation in direct action activism. I understand how to navigate both contexts appropriately, but I do not confuse being direct with being unprofessional.”
Susko also has received the endorsement of the political arm of the Southern Poverty Law Center, which recently was indicted by the federal government. Susko has said that she did not seek that endorsement.
While she said she understands how her views—and style—are seen as controversial, she won’t back down from confrontation if she thinks conversations about school issues are not improving education outcomes, especially for what she describes as disadvantaged students.
“But when you are talking about life-and-death issues and nothing changes, or the response is inadequate or even harmful, you realize that tone alone does not drive outcomes,” Susko said.
“At that point, you must shift from simply speaking to insisting on change. My approach is to name problems clearly and put them on the public record so they cannot be deferred through process or silence.
“I do not adjust my advocacy based on comfort in the room, because the stakes are too high for students and families to be sidelined.”
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Cobb PARKS officials met this week with board members of the Sandy Plains Softball Association concerned about the proposed redevelopment of Shaw Park and presented a new relocation proposal.
The Save Shaw Park Softball Facebook group posted an aerial shot of what was discussed (above), noting that all five existing softball fields will be retained.
Softball parents publicly expressed opposition to a proposal that called for nearly doubling the pickleball courts at Shaw Park from nine to 19, saying softball fields would be reduced.
County officials and Cobb Commissioner JoAnn Birrell said that wasn’t the case, but they put the project on hold in March to hold further discussions.
“Field 1 will be relocated behind Field 3 and will feature a 125-foot layout with a full turf surface,” parent Ryan Hicks reported to the Save Shaw Park group on Wednesday.
“In addition, Field 5 will be upgraded with a turf infield.”
Birrell was in attendance at the meeting this week and told East Cobb News Thursday that the new proposal is just that—a draft—and that “there are other things to finalize before we can get the final site plan bridging documents and go out to bid.”
She said that there are no changes proposed for the pickleball courts beyond the initial expansion plans.
“We are pleased and excited that any and all issues were resolved and look forward to this project being completed,” said Birrell, who has come under political fire from softball parents.
She’s a four-term incumbent from District 3 in East Cobb and is facing first-time candidate Chris Wasserman in the May 19 Republican primary.
He’s been campaigning on the Shaw Park issue, but Birrell has maintained that softball fields were never going to be reduced in the redevelopment proposal.
On Wednesday, Hicks thanked other softball parents for contacting county officials and expressing their concerns.
“Your voices have been heard . . . Thank you again to everyone involved for contributing to a solution that supports the needs of the entire community.”
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After getting a 79 score in a health inspection in April, Marlow’s Tavern Sandy Plains was re-inspected this week, and got a score of 97.
Cobb and Douglas Health reinspects restaurants that score 80 or below.
On April 13, the agency found that Marlow’s (2960 Shallowford Road) had improper food storage issues, including some that were repeat violations, among them uncovered food items.
There also were soap/sanitary issues at sinks. One of the soap dispensers in the women’s restroom was not working, and the manager went to a nearby store to buy batteries for it to become operable.
A food prep gasket also wasn’t working and was unable to remain below the 49-degree maximum, and three containers with Creme Brulé’ prepared the day before were stored above 41 degrees (inspection report here).
When inspectors returned on Thursday, they found only one violation, improper cooling methods for food in a walk-in cooler, a three-point deduction (inspection report here).
Among the other remarks on the report are that Marlows “will need to find a way to prevent flies from entering the facility.”
The 97 score is the highest for that Marlow’s location since a 90 score in August of 2023.
The following food scores have been compiled by the Georgia Department of Public Health. Click the link under each listing for inspection details:
Beyond Juicery and Eatery (pre-opening inspection)
4101 Roswell Road, Suite 901
April 27, 2026, Score: 100, Grade: A
(See related ECN story)
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After ending a 40-year teaching career, most of it in the Cobb County School District, Susan McCartney said she still felt like there was more she wants do with local education.
A longtime teacher and later paraprofessional at Shallowford Falls Elementary School, McCartney filed to run as a Democrat in the Post 4 primary election for Cobb Board of Education.
“This is my chance to give back to education,” McCartney said in an interview with East Cobb News.
She’s facing school activist Michael Garza (here’s our profile of him) for the right to challenge three-term incumbent David Chastain in November.
Chastain is unopposed in the Republican primary—we’ll be interviewing him during the general election campaign.
Early voting in the primaries began Monday and continues through May 15; consult our early voting guide for more information.
The Post 4 race is considered a crucial one given the GOP’s 4-3 majority status, and it’s the only seat among the three up for election this year that is in Republican hands.
Post 4 includes most of the Sprayberry, Kell and Lassiter high school attendance zones (see map below), and it was redrawn in 2022 to maintain most of its previous boundaries in partisan redistricting battles that preserved that Republican majority.
The Post 4 boundaries were redrawn in 2022; for a larger view click here.
A native of Florida, McCartney taught at Shallowford Falls from 1998-2003, and after living in Texas, her family returned to Cobb and she returned to the same school, this time as a parapro.
It was in that role that her eyes widened to what she says are disparities that need attention, especially in some special education areas.
“Being a parapro gave me the chance to see schools with a different perspective,” McCartney said.
“Those are some of the hardest-working people in the profession.”
Addressing changes in special education programs are among her priorities, especially the Mild Intellectual Disabilities program, whose offerings are being reduced in some areas.
That includes at the kindergarten level, where McCartney said she saw as a parapro a student not get the attention she thought was needed.
A girl diagnosed as having a MID was placed in a general education program, and McCartney said that “my concern is that had she been [in a specialized program], her learning may have been more impactful.”
McCartney also disagrees with a board policy enacted last year that prohibits the airing of public comments during board meetings.
The comments are heard only in the meeting room and don’t get distributed to the general public, a decision Democrats have claimed is being done by a Republican-led board to discourage dissent.
“It’s essential that we understand the community that we serve,” she said. “They are part of what makes us who we are.”
School safety issues also have grown in recent years, and the Cobb school district is contracting with a private cyberintelligence company and has hired another firm to place and train specially-trained dogs to detect weapons in high school.
The Cobb school district has paid more than $2 million to Servius, the intelligence firm, much of that via state grant money, but the school board never voted on the contract.
McCartney said the board did so “with no understanding of how it would be spent.” Superintendent Chris Ragsdale has said publicly only that board members will be briefed in executive session as needed about the details.
The district has said that Servius is conducting threat assessments at individual schools and developing processes to help schools identify patterns in student behavior that could become safety concerns.
But the program otherwise has been shrouded in secrecy. The district issued this Q and A in February, but McCartney said the public deserves more information.
“We needed it,” McCartney said of more initiatives to enhance safety, and the Servius contract. “But we should have been told more on how it was going to be spent.”
McCartney said she’s spoken to a woman who did speak out at public comment session—and not aired publicly—and “who wants to know why we’re not getting important updates” from the district.
She said she appreciates how the district, and Ragsdale in particular, recognize the contributions of educators and of student achievers, and said Cobb schools have much to be proud of in terms of general academic achievement.
But she thinks he’s being heavy-handed in overseeing removals of books from school libraries he says are sexually explicit and not appropriate for minors.
McCartney also said she takes a dim view of his recent comments aimed at those who are critical of him sending out “thoughts and prayers” messages at school board meetings.
Those comments normally come when he’s announcing deaths in the school district. Ragsdale responded in March that ““If you’re going to say it, do it. Words matter.”
McCartney said she thinks Ragsdale at times is too opinionated about the wrong things.
“Who are y0u to say that? The way he stands out—that’s not the place for him to say that. He’s not a member of the board.”
While she considers herself a longtime Democrat, McCartney said her first time seeking public office is about helping students and families.
The board could become non-partisan by 2028, which would be just fine with her.
“What we have to focus on is what’s best for our students, staff and communities,” McCartney said, adding that her experience navigating the school district “is what I bring to the table.”
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After running twice for the Georgia legislature against an entrenched incumbent, Northeast Cobb resident Micheal Garza is taking aim at another long-time elected official in a domain where he’s been very active.
Garza, who owns a web development business and has been a vocal opponent of Cobb County School District leadership, is seeking the Democratic nomination for Post 4 on the Cobb Board of Education.
He’s facing retired Cobb teacher Susan McCartney in the primary election (here’s our profile of her) for the right to challenge three-term incumbent David Chastain in November.
Chastain is unopposed in the Republican primary—we’ll be interviewing him during the general election campaign.
In an interview with East Cobb News, Garza said in reference to the Cobb school district that he’s running because “I see a lot of the great things that we do, but I see a lot of room for improvement.
“It’s the right time, it’s the right moment.”
Early voting in the primaries began Monday and continues through May 15; consult our early voting guide for more information.
Garza’s campaign website can be found by clicking here; he was defeated by Republican State Rep. John McCarson in Georgia House elections in 2022 and 2024.
The Post 4 race is considered a crucial one given the GOP’s 4-3 majority status, and it’s the only seat among the three up for election this year that is in Republican hands.
Post 4 includes most of the Sprayberry, Kell and Lassiter high school attendance zones (see map below), and it was redrawn in 2022 to maintain most of its previous boundaries in partisan redistricting battles that preserved that Republican majority.
The Post 4 boundaries were redrawn in 2022; for a larger view click here.
Garza, a native of Texas, and his wife are the parents of a daughter who attends Keheley Elementary School. He’s been involved in PTA activities at the school and with the East Cobb County Council of PTAs.
He’s been better known as a leading member of a group of critics of the Cobb school district in recent years.
The Cobb Community Care Coalition focuses on advocacy for racial and social justice and inclusion, and has been outspoken on other hot-button issues facing the district, including school book removals, school safety and the tenure of Superintendent Chris Ragsdale.
Garza has sounded off on many of those themes during public comment periods and elsewhere, critical of the “intense partisanship” he blames Republicans for fomenting.
Those votes on many key issues have proliferated in recent years, after what had been a 6-1 GOP majority was reduced in 2018.
“All of these things speak to a board that wants to hold power,” Garza said, adding that the redistricting saga is what prompted him into this race.
(Another Cobb Community Care Coalition figure, former Cobb school counselor Jennifer Susko, is taking on Democratic incumbent Nichelle Davis in the Post 6 race that includes some of the Wheeler attendance zone. We will be publishing profiles of both candidates shortly.)
Even though Post 4 was redrawn by the GOP-led legislature to favor a Republican, Garza says a Democrat can win it, and he is touting his regular involvement as an advantage.
“I’m somebody who is in our schools all the time,” Garza said. “I’m closer to the parents and the educators themselves.”
He said he wants to be an advocate for families and students he says are being ignored by the district, or who are afraid of retaliation if they speak out.
Some of those issues concern curriculum matters, special education and board-superintendent relations.
He said he hears from parents “a lot” about special education needs.
“We have a lot of amazing educators and parapros,” Garza said, but added that he hears about a lack of communication “when [concerns are] brought past the local level.
Michael Garza has been critical of library book removals in the Cobb school district.
“These are conversations the board should be having. I’m not saying that I have all the answers, but there are conversations we can have as a board in partnership with the community and our educators.”
When the board ended public airing of public comments at board meetings last year, Garza said that’s another example of the Republican majority—at the behest of Superintendent Chris Ragsdale—heading off public criticism.
He also thinks the district is unwise to remove books from school libraries that Ragsdale has said are sexually explicit and inappropriate for minors.
Garza thinks that’s a function that “we should be putting in the hands of educators and media specialists” and not a committee close to the superintendent’s office that’s been reviewing such materials.
On school safety issues, Garza thinks it’s important for parents to educate their children on gun safety and “to lock up their firearms” at home.
He said metal detectors in schools are “problematic,” but has questions about how the district is spending money with a cyberintelligence firm as a partner and on a “vapor wake” specialty dog detection system in high schools.
The latter couldn’t detect a gun at Hillgrove High School, Garza said, adding that “I don’t think we should be spending money on unproven solutions.”
Garza said if he’s elected, he would do more than be a yes-man for Ragsdale—which is what he thinks the Republicans have been doing for too long.
“I will ask questions, especially ‘is it a good idea?’ ” Garza said. “It’s our job as board members to question” what’s brought before them by the administration, on any number of issues, which he also said includes other academic matters and school transportation.
He also favors changing board policy that now allows only the superintendent or chairman to place items on the agenda unilaterally. Other board members must get at least three other votes, which Garza says deliberately freezes out Democratic members.
Should Democrats gain the majority, Garza said he wouldn’t do anything dramatic regarding Ragsdale’s tenure, which Republicans claim would be endangered with party switch.
“I am going to meet with the superintendent to discuss the priorities of the district,” Garza said, noting that the board could become non-partisan after 2028.
“I especially want to have a good relationship with the superintendent. And I would have to govern in which I have to listen to everyone.”
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The Atlanta chamber choral ensemble Coro Vocati will be performing a special concert Sunday at St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church. The concert is from 3-5 and is free and open to the public.
“Dirt Roads and Footpaths” draws from artistic director Stanley Roberts’ personal journey and life experience – from his childhood on a dirt road in South Georgia to the wonder he experienced recently walking the ancient footpaths of England’s Lake District.
Here’s more about what’s behind this show:
Roberts grew up on his family’s farm in Alapaha, GA, a town with less than 500 residents, and he credits his rural upbringing on a dirt road with shaping who is he is today. Fifty years later, as he hiked through northern England, Roberts marveled at the variety of scenes he encountered – small villages, pastures of sheep, orchards, and private gardens – and the responsibility local communities and landowners have to ensure safe passage for travelers. A connecting theme between these two experiences is the idea that a place can remain familiar while also changing over time. Coro Vocati’s upcoming concert explores this idea and how humanity’s shared journey through life relates to time.
“Dirt Roads and Footpaths is something of a metaphor on which we will focus musically,” said Roberts. “Some days we are simply travelers on the path…we enjoy the walk, the adventure, the scenery along the way. Sometimes, we are called to help maintain the path for others, be the good steward, help other people on the journey; keep the way clear and mark the path forward.”
Roberts organized Dirt Roads and Footpaths so that audiences journey along this metaphorical path with Coro Vocati. Divided into six phases, the concert begins by “Opening the Door” with the song My Spirit Sang All Day by 20th century British Composer Gerald Finzi.
The third phase, “Looking Back,” showcases the program’s signature piece, composer John Corigliano’s setting of Dylan Thomas’ Fern Hill, which recalls the poet’s youth on his family farm and how the passing of time changes the lens through which he views the world. This particular work resonates deeply with Roberts, who sometimes refers to his own family farm as Fern Hill and can identify with the varied emotions that accompany witnessing surroundings evolve over the decades.
The second half of the concert chronicles the journey along Roberts’ metaphorical path, with the program’s final phase, “Beyond the Path,” describing what follows its conclusion. Coro Vocati closes the concert on a hopeful note with Moses Hogan’s powerful arrangement of the celebrated spiritual Walk Together Children.
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Activities this weekend include East Cobb’s signature’s food festival, plenty of music and other outdoor activities as spring continues. From our calendar listings:
Rain is in the forecast Saturday for the Taste of East Cobb, but it’s slated to go on rain or shine from 11-5 at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church (955 Johnson Ferry Road).
It’s the 20th anniversary of the festival featuring local restaurants, businesses and other organizations, to benefit the Walton band programs. Jazz bands from several local schools will be playing, and there will be raffle prizes, giveaways, a kids zone and more.
Admission and parking are free; you pay for food tickets as you go, and as you like.
The Cobb Fire Station 12 Open House on Saturday will celebrate the new facility at 853 Chastain Corner from 11-1. You can tour the station, meet the firefighters and see how they operate. It’s free and open to the public.
East Cobb Park (3322 Roswell Road) will be busy all day and into the evening on Saturday, starting with the East Cobb Park Garden Club Work Day from 10-12. This month’s project is the assessing newly planted annuals for pests.
Meet up at the lower level gardens to the right of the concert stage, and if you’ve got gloves, tools and shovels, bring them with you. It’s also a kid-friendly event if you wish to bring along little ones.
At the same 10-12 time frame in another part of the park, the Cobb Water System and volunteers will be having a Sewell Mill Creek Waterway Cleanup.
All you have to do is show up in clothing that can get wet, including rubber boots or waders if you have them. All equipment for the cleanup will be provided.
Just before dark on Saturday is the first Music in the Park concert at night. It features the 10-piece high-energy band 120 East, which will sound off starting at 7 p.m.
The concert is free and you can bring food, blankets and chairs to enjoy.
It’s the first of a double-dip of concerts at the park. From 3-5 Sunday you can hear Rusted Melody, a Music in the Park regular, featuring folk and light pop sounds.
One more blast of music is coming your way as the weekend concludes, also on Sunday. The Atlanta-based chorale ensemble Coro Vocati will be performing from 3-5 at St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church (571 Holt Road).
The program is called “Dirt Roads and Footpaths,” based on a musical setting of the Dylan Thomas “Fern Hill” poem evoking “youth and memory, while other works illuminate the landscapes, challenges, and joys of the human journey.”
The concert is free and free-will donations are accepted; refreshments will be served.
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The health-focused fast-casual and smoothie scene in the East Cobb area is getting competitive.
We’ve reached out to find an opening date, but a second Georgia location of the Beyond Juicery and Eatery chain will be coming soon to the Providence Square Shopping Center.
It’s a franchise operation based near Detroit that serves wraps, health bowls, smoothies and juices and has 50 locations, mostly in Michigan and Ohio.
There’s currently a Beyond Juicery in Buckhead, and another spot will be opening soon in Brookhaven.
The Beyond Juicery location at Providence Square got a 100 score on its initial health inspection on Monday.
The East Cobb location is next to Subway in the former Game Stop space (4101 Roswell Road, Suite 901).
In recent months the area has seen several similar concepts open, including Toastique and Playa Bowls last year, joining the likes of Kale Me Crazy and J’mz Bowls.
While the latter is locally- owned and operated, the others are part of growing national chains targeting high-income areas with their menu options.
Most recently, Beyond Juicery introduced a broccoli chicken caesar crunch wrap lunch item and “three vibrant lemonade-based refreshers featuring blue coconut, mango and dragon fruit flavors” available through the summer.
Beyond Juicery offers combos that include smoothies with breakfast burritos, bacon, egg and avocado grilled cheese and chicken sausage and egg (see full menu here).
The bowls include a range of sorbet-based varieties, and there are selections of specialty and classic smoothies, as well as teas and coffees.
The natural-sugar juice items range from “immunity hero” to wellness shots, juice by the cup and build your own raw juice combination.
Beyond Juicery joins a restaurant roster at Providence Square that includes La Madeleine, Chicken Salad Chick, Einstein’s Bagels, Salata, Chili’s and Subway.
In addition to Georgia, Beyond Juicery also is expanding into Florida, with a location in Naples and another coming soon in Delray Beach.
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Kennesaw State University and Shorter University are partnering to offer students a streamlined pathway to earn two bachelor’s degrees simultaneously – one in mathematics from Shorter and one in engineering from Kennesaw State.
As part of Kennesaw State’s LINK program of collaborative academic pathways, the KSU-Shorter partnership enables students to take coordinated coursework at both institutions, with credits transferring seamlessly between the two. The structured pathway and aligned curriculum will help students navigate both degree programs and stay on track to graduate.
Participating students will complete 45 credit hours at Shorter and then apply to Kennesaw State as a transfer student. Once the student has completed all requirements for their Bachelor of Science in Math, they will reverse transfer to be awarded their bachelor’s degree at Shorter while completing a second bachelor’s degree in KSU’s Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology, the second-largest engineering college in Georgia.
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Pictured (left to right): David Bartow, Executive Director of PeachSkinSheets, and Heather Rees, President of the East Cobb County Council of PTAs (ECCCPTA), at the ECCCPTA awards event.
Submitted information and photo:
PeachSkinSheets has been named the 2025–2026 Community Partner of the Year by the East Cobb County Council of PTAs (ECCCPTA), recognizing the company’s ongoing support and partnership with local PTAs and school communities.
The award highlights organizations that demonstrate meaningful impact and consistent engagement in supporting students, educators, and families across the East Cobb area.
PeachSkinSheets has worked alongside PTAs through its fundraising platform, PeachSkinSheetsFundraising.com, providing a streamlined approach that lets PTAs benefit from online sales without needing inventory, order handling, or distribution. Through this model, families receive exclusive pricing, and $20 from every set purchased supports the PTA.
PeachSkinSheets has been featured on Good Morning America and has received national recognition, including the 2025 Newsweek Readers’ Choice, 2026 Good Housekeeping, and the 2026 Oprah Daily Sleep O-Ward. The company has donated over $100,000 to schools through its partnership efforts.
“We’re honored to be recognized by the East Cobb County Council of PTAs,” said David Bartow, Executive Director of PeachSkinSheets. “PeachSkinSheets is committed to supporting schools, including our Teacher Appreciation program in May.”
The East Cobb County Council of PTAs represents 35 schools and works to strengthen family and community engagement in education.
PeachSkinSheets, a woman-owned company founded by Karen Levine, continues to expand its partnerships with PTAs and school communities through its microsite program.
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The Walton High School Chess Club delivered an impressive performance at the 2026 Georgia K‑12 Team State Qualifier, held on April 26 at Berkmar High School in Lilburn. Representing East Cobb with skill and confidence, the Walton team earned plus‑score results across the board, marking a strong showing in one of the state’s most competitive scholastic chess events.
The team was led by President – Sarvesh Prabhu, whose leadership has helped elevate Walton’s chess program in recent years. He was joined by Vice President – Logiit Mugunthan, along with team members Ritvik Rachamallu, Noel Karu, and Soursih Kavale. Together, the group demonstrated strategic depth, composure under pressure, and a commitment to excellence that reflects the growing strength of scholastic chess in East Cobb.
The Georgia K‑12 Team State Qualifier brings together top teams from across the state, and earning plus scores is a significant achievement. Walton’s performance highlights both individual talent and cohesive team preparation.
With momentum building, the Walton Chess Club continues to establish itself as a rising force in Georgia scholastic chess, inspiring younger players and strengthening the East Cobb chess community.
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Let East Cobb News know what’s going on with your organization, or about any recognitions, to share with the community. We love to get photos and stories like the above, as well as calendar event listings and more.
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Of course, send us links that are relevant to your message so we can direct people to your website.
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It contains only a few changes from the original proposal, but the last addition in particular set off some differences on the five-member board.
The board will vote in June on establishing a referendum in November for voters to decide on more than $794 million in county government construction and maintenance projects.
They include relocating the East Cobb Library, expanding the Tim D. Lee Senior Center, building a new Cobb State Court building, spending $130 million in road repaving projects and earmarking $60 million for a new infirmary building at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center.
But at a voting meeting Tuesday night, a last-minute addition totaling $5 million drew objections from the board’s two Republican members.
JoAnn Birrell and Keli Gambrill opposed shifting that amount of funding from repaving projects for an indoor track facility in South Cobb at the behest of Chairwoman Lisa Cupid.
She’s been wanting to construct such a facility for years, when she was the District 4 commissioner, and added the request prior to Tuesday’s vote.
Gambrill and Birrell said they disliked not only the timing—and without any public feedback as a result—but taking away money from what Gambrill called “a critical infrastructure need.”
The project list first went out for public review in early 2025, without the indoor track listed on it—”and that’s because it didn’t have support” from the board, Gambrill said.
“So I think we are being very disingenuous to the public by making this change.”
She said while she doesn’t support the track project, “I do believe the voters have the right to vote on this referendum. But I also think the voters need to be aware that we are putting on a project that is not properly funded.”
Cupid said the track project was originally on the 2016 SPLOST list, and said her interest didn’t start with that source of funding.
She said there have been other recreational projects that were put on previous lists without a full funding amount.
Cupid added that she approached two commissioners she did not identify who said they would support, and she asked county staff to place the track project on the list “and to please help find some funding sources to put it back into the program.”
She said complaints about a lack of transparency are wrong.
“I have not tried to hide this, I have asked commissioners for support,” Cupid said, calling the project important to “adding to the recreation portfolio of this county.”
Cobb’s cities also must finalize their project lists. The 2028 Cobb SPLOST, if adopted by voters, would continue a one-percent sales tax that would collect an estimated $1.15 billion over six years, starting on Jan. 1, 2028.
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During a time of political flux and at times turmoil in recent years, JoAnn Birrell said her tenure on the Cobb Board of Commissioners reflects a record of steady leadership that continues to be needed.
A Republican first elected to represent District 3 in 2010, Birrell is seeking a fifth term in the May 19 primary against Chris Wasserman, a first-time candidate.
She said that continuing her advocacy for improving public safety salaries and benefits, working to establish a Cobb veterans memorial and seeing through various renovations and other initiatives in her District are her priorities as she seeks re-election.
“I am seeking another term to ensure the projects I have initiated come to fruition and to continue serving the people of District 3 and Cobb County,” Birrell told East Cobb News.
Birrell’s website can be found by clicking here. The winner of the GOP primary on May 19 will face Democrat Kevin Redmon in November.
Early voting began Monday and continues through May 15; consult our early voting guide for more information. Our profile of Wasserman can be found by clicking here.
District 3 includes most of East Cobb (see the map). In 2022, Birrell was easily re-elected with similar boundaries. There has been some speculation since then that she would not seek another term, especially as tempers flared on the board over redistricting, a conflict she called “two years of hell.”
Wasserman has said that the five-member board needs new energy and ideas, and that Birrell bears some responsibility for occasionally fractured proceedings.
But Birrell responded by saying that she’s forged deep connections that reflect a high level of energy that she will continue to exert if re-elected.
“I have faced primary opposition in all four of my previous terms, so this was not a surprise,” Birrell said of Wasserman’s candidacy.
“Regarding the need for ‘new energy,’ a constituent recently compared my pace to the ‘Energizer Bunny.’ I have built strong community relationships and business partnerships over many years of leadership. I would be interested to know what new ideas are being proposed that have not already been explored.”
Wasserman has been critical of what he says is the board’s inability to separate needs from wants in budgeting, and that the focus should be on what he calls “core services.”
Birrell countered that she’s advocated fiscally responsible spending in county government, and that her top priorities have been public safety and reducing the amount of general fund money the county receives from Cobb Water revenues.
“I am committed to reducing the water transfer to zero percent,” Birrell said (the current rate is 4 percent, and it has been as high as 10 percent during her time on the board).
In addition to supporting the gradual installment of a pay-and-grade salary structure for public safety personnel, Birrell also pushed for the creation of a new police precinct in Northeast Cobb that eventually will be full-service.
“Public safety has always been my top priority,” Birrell said. “I am dedicated to supporting our law enforcement, firefighters, 911, EMA, and animal services to ensure the safety of our citizens, businesses, and visitors.”
Birrell also pulled together a variety of sources to fund the rebuild of the Gritters Library, which now houses the Northeast Cobb Community Center.
But it’s more recent projects that have prompted objections from Wasserman. He’s against the proposed relocation of the East Cobb Library, and thinks the $20 million price tag could be even higher, perhaps more than double that amount.
Birrell recently proposed shifting $5 million from that project to address flooding issues along Columns Drive and for park upgrades in District 3.
Birrell (center) with East Cobb Civic Association members at an April Adopt-A-Mile cleanup.
In 2017, Birrell suggested closing the East Cobb library during a budget crunch (and when it was not in her district.) Now, she is justifying the need for a new library facility not just for financial but also for space reasons.
It’s the second-busiest branch in the Cobb library system, and the county pays $400,000 annually in rent at the Parkaire Landing Shopping Center. The proposed relocation would be to county-owned property that hasn’t been revealed.
That lease ends in 2029, and she said that “it is fiscally prudent to use SPLOST dollars to build a county-owned facility rather than continuing these lease payments.”
She added that the original cost for the relocation came to $35 million, but that has been reduced by keeping the square footage comparable to the current size.
“Despite receiving very little negative feedback directly, we still reevaluated and scaled back the costs, and the final survey showed significant community support,” she said.
In March, Cobb PARKS officials “paused” plans to redevelop Shaw Park after softball families complained a field would be taken out for pickleball courts.
Wasserman accused Birrell of waffling on the issue, saying that the pause on park plans is only because “she’s seeking re-election.”
But she said in acknowledging a miscommunication on the issue that the fields that are being relocated are being spread out, not reduced.
Birrell said previously that some critics were “trying to make it sound like we don’t care about girls softball. I’m a girl. I care.”
She said she’s stressing to voters a long history of keeping their priorities and their pocket books in mind, especially when it comes to taxes.
“Keeping taxes low and maintaining fiscal discipline remains a primary focus,” Birrell said. “My conservative record reflects this; I have never voted for a millage increase in 16 years.”
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As a business owner and young father raising a family in East Cobb, Chris Wasserman said he has become alarmed in recent years about the leadership of county government, and in particular how it taxes its citizens and spends their money.
The founder of Wasserman Talent Solutions, the Osborne High School graduate now lives in a Northeast Cobb neighborhood where his children attend school, and where he has become invested in community affairs.
He said that as he has watched a fractured Cobb Board of Commissioners spar over budgets, spending priorities and other issues in recent years, “I became very concerned about the decisions and directions” made by that five-member elected body.
Calling himself a “home-grown candidate,” Wasserman announced earlier this year that he would challenge the elder member of the board in his first campaign for public office.
“It’s time for fresh blood and new ideas,” said Wasserman, a Republican facing four-term incumbent commissioner JoAnn Birrell in the May 19 general election, with the winner to face Democrat Kevin Redmon in November.
Wasserman’s campaign website can be found by clicking here. He’s also having a public campaign event next Thursday, May 7, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at East Cobb Park.
Wassserman and his wife are the parents of a daughter, 10, who attends Keheley Elementary School, and a son, age 4.
District 3 includes most of East Cobb (see the map). In 2022, Birrell was easily re-elected with similar boundaries. There has been some speculation since then that she would not seek another term, especially as tempers flared on the board over redistricting, a conflict she called “two years of hell.”
Wasserman said he met with Birrell several months ago when those rumors were abounding not just in East Cobb, but around the county.
When Birrell announced she would be running again, Wasserman said he wasn’t deterred from launching his bid “to be an advocate for our taxpayers and their champion.”
In an interview with East Cobb News, Wasserman said that the board requires some new leadership.
“Sixteen years is a long time,” Wasserman said, referring to Birrell. “It’s time that we expect more from our county government.”
Since 2021, the commission has had a 3-2 Democratic majority, led by Chairwoman Lisa Cupid, who previously had served as the only Democrat on a board when Republicans dominated with a 4-1 majority.
Birrell has bridged that transition, and Wasserman said she bears some responsibility for a county government that he said taxes too much and doesn’t spend that money as wisely as it should.
“The county is basically nickel- and diming us,” he said. “Enough is enough.”
He said the commission needs greater fiscal discipline, and it hasn’t been separating “needs and wants.” If he’s elected, Wasserman said, “I will be looking out for the taxpayer.”
The current Cobb fiscal year 2026 budget of $1.325 billion has held the line in general fund property tax rates, but includes increased revenues due to rising assessments that have drawn citizen protests.
But the board hasn’t reduced the millage rate to reflect that, and in starting in June, Cobb property owners will pay a stormwater fee for services that previously had been included in their water and sewer bills.
Wasserman said his priorities would be to “focus on the core services and take a hard look” at everything else.
As an entrepreneur, he continued, “I have a superpower for looking at a budget and cutting the waste. The lack of a small business owner on the BOC is a detriment.”
Among those priorities are better pay and benefits for public safety personnel, which has been one of Birrell’s signature issues during her term on the board.
“We need to do a better job of looking after the people protecting our community,” Wasserman said.
More specifically, he pointed to projects in the East Cobb area where he thinks Birrell has come up short.
The original cost for the new library that was cited in the proposed 2028 Cobb SPLOST (Special-Purpose Local-Option Sales Tax) was $25 million, but Birrell recently proposed shifting $5 million to address flooding issues along Columns Drive and for park upgrades in District 3.
“That’s just a number on paper today,” Wasserman said, adding that this typifies what he’s seeing from a county government that is “trying to remodel the basement when you’ve got a leaky roof.”
He pointed to the $60 million cost to rebuild the Cobb Animal Services shelter. While acknowledging that “costs are rising, we need to be taking care of our core services.”
As his campaign got underway, Birrell came under fire for the proposed redevelopment of Shaw Park to include more pickleball courts. Softball parents objected, saying a softball field would be taken away, a charge that Birrell and Cobb PARKS say isn’t true.
Wasserman quickly sprung into action, meeting with Sandy Plains Softball parents and taping a campaign video at Shaw Park. The county quickly announced that it was putting an indefinite hold on the redevelopment.
He accused Birrell of waffling on the issue, saying that the pause on park plans is only because “she’s seeking re-election.”
Wasserman said he’s also running to help small businesses deal with red tape and other frustrations he says he hears a lot about, including the slow pace of permitting (“there’s no sense of urgency”) and the need for better technology in county government and a “customer service mentality.”
But the larger issues concerning Cobb government are larger and deeper than that, Wasserman said, pointing to a lot of “bad blood” on the commission that he claims is preventing collaborations and healthy conversations to take place about the future of the county.
He said Birrell “should be doing that. That’s her job. We should expect more.
“People are telling me that while they appreciate what she’s done, they are ready for change. My value proposition is resonating.”
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The Cobb Board of Elections and Registration said Tuesday that a number of voting precinct locations will be changing for the 2026 elections, starting with the May 19 primaries.
These changes will not affect early voting for the primaries—see our guide to how to do that—or for the general election early voting period, but only for election-day voting.
Here are the changes for precincts in the East Cobb area:
BELLS FERRY 02 (formerly Christ Worship Church)—Kulture Event Center, 2932 Canton Road, Suite 290
EASTSIDE 02 (formerly Eastside Baptist Church)—Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center, 2051 Lower Roswell Road
The other locations can be found by clicking here; and here’s what else Cobb Elections is saying about these changes:
“Signage will be posted at former polling locations directing voters to their new assigned location, and affected voters will also receive an updated precinct card by mail reflecting their new polling place. All voters are strongly encouraged to confirm their assigned polling location before heading to vote. Personalized voter information, including polling location, sample ballot, and more, is available through the Georgia My Voter Page at www.mvp.sos.ga.gov .
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Family Promise of Cobb County recently received a $20,000 grant from Clayton, ensuring that families in Cobb County receive the support they need to stay safely housed.
The grant is a portion of the $2 million dollars Clayton is donating to the Family Promise national network. The funds are a result of the recently announced partnership extension between Family Promise and Clayton. A Future Begins at Home, the initiative created through this collaboration is focused on supporting families experiencing homelessness by helping them remain in their homes and quickly regain stability. Since its inception in 2019, A Future Begins at Home has helped catalyze over $14 million in additional funding, resulting in more than 43,000 families served.
“This grant allows families with children to remain in their home and avoid the trauma that homelessness causes. We are thankful for the donation and that Clayton understands the importance of stability,” said Autumn Sines, Executive Director of Family Promise of Cobb County.
In addition to Clayton’s generous financial support, they have donated 20 homes to the Family Promise national network since 2019. These homes are used primarily as transitional housing, allowing families to stay together while receiving case management and support services as they work toward permanent housing.
Send Us Your News!
Let East Cobb News know what’s going on with your organization, or about any recognitions, to share with the community. We love to get photos and stories like the above, as well as calendar event listings and more.
We want to be the go-to source for all the many ways people in East Cobb are involved in the community.
It’s what we call The Power of Local, and we’d love for you to take part!
Pass along your details/photos/videos/information to: editor@eastcobbnews.com, and please observe the following guidelines to ensure we get everything properly and can post it promptly.
Send the body of your announcement, calendar item or news release IN TEXT FORM ONLY in the text field of your e-mail template. Reformatting text from PDF, JPG and doc files takes us longer to prepare your message for publication.
We accept PDFs as an accompaniment to your item. Images are fine too, but we prefer those to be JPG files (more than jpeg and png). PLEASE DO NOT send photos inside a PDF or text or any other kind of file, but d0 send them as attachments to your email.
Of course, send us links that are relevant to your message so we can direct people to your website.
Thanks for your cooperation and we look forward to hearing from you!
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The Cobb Chamber Marquee Monday series continues on Monday, May 11 at the Coca-Cola Roxy Theatre with the 2026 Small Business of the Year Awards. The luncheon will celebrate the outstanding achievements and contributions of Cobb’s top small businesses.
During the program, we will recognize the:
2026 Small Business of the Year- announced at the event
2026 Hall of Fame Inductee, 1885 Grill
Business to Watch Winner, Esteem Dental Studio
Top 25 Small Businesses of the Year
Woman-Owned Business Award Winner- announced at the event
Minority-Owned Business Award Winner- announced at the event
Veteran-Owned Business Award Winner- announced at the event
Community Service of Excellence Award Winner- announced at the event
Registration is now open through Wednesday, May 6. Doors open at 11:15 a.m., with the program starting at noon and concluding by 1:15 am. Tickets are $50 for Cobb Chamber members and $75 for non-members. Attendees may register for the event at https://tinyurl.com/56uebadv. Parking is available at The Battery Red Deck for free up to two hours. For further parking options, please refer to the Battery Atlanta Parking Guide. A security screening will be required at check-in.
The Marquee Monday Series is presented by Superior Plumbing, Three-13 Salon Spa & Boutique, Verizon, Coca-Cola Roxy & Live Nation Special Events, Delaware North, Pure Melon, and Classic Tents & Events. The Small Business of the Year Awards are sponsored by 1885 Grill, S.A. White Oil Company, CDH Partners, Pickleball Kingdom South Cobb, Comcast, KSU Small Business Development Center, Eclipse Networks, Genuine Parts Company, VyStar Credit Union, Kennesaw State University’s Family Enterprise Center, 524 Creative, Manay CPA, Cobb County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia Banking Company, Cobb County Economic Development, Delta Community Credit Union, CROFT & Associates, BrillantBox, Preferred Personnel, Renasant Bank, and Johnson & Alday.
For more information about the Marquee Monday event series or the Small Business of the Year Awards, contact Jani Dix at jdix@cobbchamber.orgor 770-859-2335.
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The Post 4 boundaries were redrawn in 2022; for a larger view 
