The National Night Out event on Tuesday, Aug. 1, will bring together public safety personnel and the citizens they serve for an evening of fun. The local event will be held 6 - 9 p.m. at Jim R. Miller Park in Marietta. The Cobb Police Department and Fire and Emergency Services will have a variety of their equipment on display, including specialty teams such as SWAT, Bomb, K-9, Dive, Motors and Medical Operations. Food and dessert vendors will be at the park as well. There will be giant inflatables for the children to enjoy and The School of Rock will perform on the main stage throughout the evening. Entry and parking are free.

Click here for more information.

Service members past and present are invited to the We CARE Veterans Fair 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Friday, Aug. 4, and 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5, at the Cobb Civic Center, 548 South Marietta Parkway SE, Marietta. The event provides an opportunity to sign up for VA benefits, access state and local programs for veterans and have questions answered. 

There is no charge and appointments are not required. 

Click here for more information.

Cobb’s first Pickleball Challenge between Cobb County Government directors and officials, known as the Battle of the Paddles, will raise money for Meals on Wheels Friday, Aug. 4. You can play too by backing your favorite player. Your votes will go towards helping Senior Services Meals on Wheels. The event will take place 10 a.m. - noon at Oregon Park, 145 Old Hamilton Road, Marietta, Marietta. The public is welcome to attend the match.

Click here to learn more and donate.

Walk, jog, or run – in person or virtually – to support Cobb County's second annual First Responder 5K Saturday, Aug. 5. This event is for all fitness levels. Join everyone at The Battery to support our Cobb County first responders.

This family-friendly event will include first responder vehicles and displays, field games with The Atlanta Braves mascot Blooper and a performance from the Braves Heavy Hitters. Sign up today and “Run to Help Those Who Run to Help You.” The Battery Atlanta is located at 800 Battery Avenue, Atlanta.

Click here for registration and parking information.

Test your chess skills against others 6 - 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1, at the Mountain View Regional Library in Marietta. Don't know how to play chess? No problem. Play and learn from others of all ages in a relaxed atmosphere. Chess boards are available for use or bring your own. The event is for all ages. Space is limited and registration is required. Click here to register.

An all ages, all experience levels, Black Light Chess event will take place 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 2, at the West Cobb Regional Library in Kennesaw. Dress in clothing that glows in black light just like the chess pieces do. Open play is also available under normal lighting. There will be 30 boards to use, but players can bring their own. Contact Suzanne.Brizzi@CobbCounty.org or 770-528-4699 for more information.    

There will also be a chess meetup for youths, kindergarten through fifth grade, at Switzer Library near downtown Marietta 6 - 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 7 and Aug. 21. Meet up with other chess enthusiasts in the library children's department. Call 770-528-2331 for more information.

Fall into a new artistic passion! Cobb County PARKS autumn art classes begin the week of Aug. 7. Check out all of the class offerings opening 9 a.m. that Monday.

Click here to find your choice and register.

Contact the art centers for more information:
The Art Station Big Shanty, Kennesaw: 770-514-5930
The Art Place, Marietta: 770-509-2700
Sewell Mill Cultural Center, Marietta: 770-509-2711
Mable House Arts Center, Mableton: 770-819-6735

Cobb’s Animal Shelter is critically overcrowded. If you’ve been thinking about getting a pet, now is the time. Throughout August, all pets with an eligible adoption date of July 31 and prior are free to adopt. All other animals are discounted to $50.

Veterans can adopt pets at no cost through the Superior Pets for Patriotic Vets program. View available pets and learn more about the above programs at cobbcounty.org/pets.

Clean and safe drinking water is essential to human and environmental health. Knowing that your tap water is safe for drinking and cooking is vital to you and your family. Cobb County Water System is pleased to report that our drinking water has met or exceeds federal and state quality requirements. The annual Water Quality Report, also known as the Consumer Confidence Report, provides important information about the quality of your drinking water.

Click here for digital copies of the CCR in English and Spanish. 

Click here to have a printed copy of the report mailed to you.
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Click here to learn more about environmental protection laws and regulations.

On Monday, Aug. 7, the Lewis A. Ray Library in Smyrna will be closed for a renovation project that will last for three months. The library is expected to reopen in November. The transformation will focus on family services including areas for children's programming and study rooms.

The last day the library will be open to the public will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5. Patrons that place holds for library items to checkout will be able to retrieve the materials at the Vinings Library, 4290 Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta. South Cobb Regional Library in Mableton also serves the area.

In December, the organization Wreaths across America will be at Marietta National Cemetary to honor veterans by laying rememberance wreaths on the graves and saying the name of each deceased out loud. Sponsors can support this project by volunteering or donating. 

Click here to learn more.

Residents can also donate to the ongoing Cobb Veterans Memorial project. The planned memorial in Marietta aims to honor all veterans and their families, regardless of service branch, war/conflict or what they did in their service branch. 

Click here to learn more or donate.