The Cobb County Police Department is offering tips to make Halloween safer for your family and young ones.
• Ensure costumes are flame retardant so children aren't in danger near burning jack-o-lanterns.
• Keep costumes short to prevent trips, falls and other bumps in the night.
• Try make-up instead of a mask. Masks can be hot and uncomfortable and they may obstruct a child's vision. That can be a dangerous thing when kids are crossing streets and going up and down steps.
• Have kids wear light colors or put reflective tape on their costumes.
• Trick-or-treaters should always be in groups so they aren't a tempting target. Parents should accompany young children.
• Exercise extreme caution when driving a vehicle. Be on the alert for excited youngsters whose vision may be obscured by masks or darting out into traffic.
• Remind kids to keep a safe distance from moving cars.
• Cross only at street corners, never between parked cars, and never diagonally across an intersection.
Knowledge can help fight epidemic
Find out more about how the opioid epidemic is affecting every community. This epidemic doesn’t see any demographic barriers - it can happen to you or your family. Cobb District Attorney Flynn Broady will host a town hall about the issue 6:30 - 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1, at the North Cobb Regional Library in Kennesaw. Community partners will provide information and resources to help the community. The library is located at 3535 Old 41 Highway, Kennesaw.
Smashing pumpkins event brings the fun
Instead of throwing away your jack-o-lanterns, make a big splat at Ward Recreation Center 6 - 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3. Join PARKS staff for a safe and fun time smashing your pumpkins to smithereens. The event is free and additional pumpkins will be available for purchase. All pumpkin guts will be donated to local farms for compost and farm animal food. Call 770-528-8885 for answers to any questions. The recreation center is located at 4845 Dallas Highway, Powder Springs.
Lewis A. Ray Library is scheduled to reopen Monday, Nov. 27, following completion of a renovation that began in August. The library is being transformed by the county Property Management Department to become a Family Services branch that will focus on children’s collections, programming and resources.
The renovated space will include new enclosed children’s program and study rooms, reconfigured staff and service desk space and updated furniture. The library is located at 4500 Oakdale Road, Smyrna, between South Cobb Drive and Atlanta Road, near Interstate 285 and Cumberland Parkway.
Cobb County Department of Transportation and CobbLinc are seeking your input for new transit centers in Marietta and South Cobb. Come to the public open house meetings scheduled this week:
South Cobb Transit Center Study
5 - 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 1
Sanders Elementary School (Cafeteria)
1550 Anderson Mill Road SW, Austell
Marietta Transit Center Study
5 - 7 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 2
Cobb County Civic Center (Lobby)
548 South Marietta Parkway SE, Marietta
Transit center site selection studies being done are for improvements and/or potential relocation of the current Marietta Transfer to accommodate future transit growth as well as the placement of a new transit center in South Cobb.
The Cobb County Economic Development Department invites industry leaders to the bi-annual existing industry luncheon 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, at Cobblestone Golf Course in Acworth. This event, hosted by Cobb Economic Development, is only open to big industry leaders and commercial businesses located in Cobb County. It will provide an opportunity for industry leaders to connect with county staff, network with neighboring businesses, and learn how Cobb is available to support their business growth and workforce needs. Space is limited. An RSVP is required. Send RSVP to Economic Development Specialist Tarrah Rogers at tarrah.rogers@cobbcounty.org.
Learn about Cobb County's study regarding the effectiveness of the county's supplier diversity program. The virtual information meeting, noon on Thursday, Nov. 9, will review the past five years.
The disparity study, conducted by Griffin & Strong P.C., will look at contracts in construction, goods, and services and then recommend modifications or adjustments if needed. The study will also examine the use of minority-owned and women-owned businesses and service-sisabled veteran-owned small businesses.
Prevent sewer problems at home during the holidays by scraping leftovers and wiping fats, oils and grease (FOG) off plates and pans into the trash, using a sink strainer, and emptying the collected debris into the trash. Never put frying oil, grease or leftovers down the garbage disposal.
Once in the pipes, fats, oil and grease cool and cling to everything in the sewer system. Over time, this causes blocked pipes and sewage back up into homes, streets or creeks. In Cobb, about 85% of sewer blockages are grease-related and occur in residential areas. Help protect the environment and reduce costs by properly disposing of FOG.
Veterans Day events start early around Cobb County this week.
There will be a special salute to veterans during the monthly Good Grub Social Club, noon - 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3 at West Cobb Senior Center. The event is also a fundraiser to benefit the Center. Free for Veterans and spouses and $8 for civilians. Click here for required registration or call 770-528-5355.
United Military Care is hosting a Veteran Appreciation celebration program 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, at East Cobb Park, free and open to the public. Click here for a flyer with details.
Starting Nov. 6, Cobb County will go green in support of our veterans. As part of Operation Green Light, Cobb County is illuminating its buildings green. We encourage individuals and businesses to join us by changing one light bulb in the entryway of your house or business to a green bulb. By shining a green light, we let veterans know that they are seen, appreciated and supported.
The yuletide season is fast approaching. Load up your sleigh and head over to Shadrack's Christmas Wonderland, Cobb's County's new drive-through light show, open Nov. 17 - Jan. 7 at Jim R. Miller Park in Marietta.
Take a magical journey through a mesmerizing light display synced to holiday music you can hear on your car radio. It features a kaleidoscope tunnel, 50-foot sparkling Christmas trees, towering lights, toy-making elves, reindeer flight school, and Mr. and Mrs. Claus at the North Pole.
After the show, visit Santa's village inside the event center for wintery fun. There's inflatables, tasty treats and the man in red himself. Lots of photo opportunities and insta moments.
CobbTV's YouTube channel highlights the latest county meetings, informational videos and live events. Subscribe to the channel so you don't miss an update.
Cobb's Drug Treatment Court is celebrating 20 years of changing lives and improving the county. WATCH this video on CobbTV to learn more about the program and hear from some of its graduates.
Commissioner Monique Sheffield recently announced a much anticipated restaurant development coming to a popular stretch of road in District 4. Check out her announcement featured on CobbTV.
A lot happens during the seven days between newsletters. Keep up with the most up-to-date Cobb County news on social media. You'll be informed of new events and programs, cancellations/delays, emergencies, disruptions to services and more.
• Not on social media? Get a daily "quick hit" of what's happening in Cobb County on the NEWCobb Blog here.
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