The nation's Election Day is tomorrow, Nov. 5. Voters must go to their assigned polling places 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. on this date. Bring a valid photo ID. To find your precinct, visit https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/.
Extended hours are now available to return absentee ballots ONLY at 995 Roswell Street, Marietta. 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. today, Nov. 4, and 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Hand-delivered absentee ballots must be received at the Elections Office by 7 p.m. Nov. 5, to be counted.
If you haven't received your absentee ballot yet, you can still exercise your right to vote in person on Tuesday.
Seven Cobb County libraries will serve as polling sites and will be closed on Election Day: Switzer, Mountain View, South Cobb, West Cobb, Sewell Mill, Vinings, and Gritters (which continues to be closed). All other library branches will remain open.
The election will also impact certain recreation centers. Fullers Park Recreation Center and Ward Recreation Center will not hold open gym or pickleball Nov. 4 - 5. Fair Oaks Recreation Center will be closed those same days.
During the general election, Cobb voters have an opportunity to vote on a local referendum to expand transit in our community. Learn more about what the Mobility Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax is offering residents.
Last week, Cobb County officials and leaders from the transit technology company Via, gathered at Silver Comet Linear Park to celebrate the launch of the pilot microtransit program CobbLinc Go. The new on-demand transit system will be the first of its kind in Cobb County. Microtransit provides a curb-to-curb option for riders commuting to and from areas without fixed route service.
This pilot program will replace CobbLinc’s current FLEX service and increase the transit service area while keeping a comparable cost. It will operate 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Monday through Friday at a fixed cost of $2.50 a ride within the zone. The program is scheduled to operate for two years.
Cobb County Government offices, libraries, and PARKS facilities will be closed Monday, Nov. 11 in observance of the Veterans Day holiday. Events celebrating the day will be held throughout the county this week, including:
★ A Tribute to Veterans, 1 - 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7 at West Cobb Senior Center. Free. Learn the history behind Veterans Day and honor those who served.
★ Bravo to the Brave at North Cobb Senior Center - Coffee and sweets, 1 - 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8. 770-975-7740
★ Kennesaw Veterans Day Luncheon, noon Friday, Nov. 8, at the Ben Robertson Community Center, 2753 Watts Drive. No registration needed.
★ Marietta Veterans Day Parade, The Horace Orr Post 29 American Legion and City of Marietta invites the public to honor the community's veterans at the annual Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony on Monday, Nov. 11, on the Marietta Square. The parade will start at 11 a.m., proceed down Roswell Street to the Square and at approximately 11:11 a.m., an observance will be held with a gun salute and Taps.
★ Veterans Day Lunch, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 13 at Tim Lee Senior Center. Free. Register here. 770-509-4900
New library rolls out the welcome mat this week
The new Gritters Library will open its pages to the public starting 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, at 880 Shaw Park Road, Marietta, off Canton Road, one mile north of the Piedmont Road intersection.
To celebrate the opening, there will be a public ribbon cutting ceremony 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14. The library replaces the former Gritters facility which opened in 1973 and is designed to serve as a focal point for a growing, diverse community.
For more information, visit cobbcat.org or call 770-528-2326.
Clean out your house the best way
Make room in your home when you recycle your junk at the Community Recycling Event 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, at Jim Miller Park, 2245 Callaway Road SW, Marietta.
Bring your electronics, metals, and textiles. Clean clothing, shoes, and accessories will be donated to America’s Thrift Stores, supporting Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Old sneakers will be recycled. You can also drop off hard-to-recycle plastics in the orange Hefty ReNew™ bags—available at Walmart, Target, Kroger, and Publix.
Geographic Awareness Week is just around the corner, which means Cobb County Geographic Information System will once again host a free GIS Day Celebration 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, at the Sewell Mill Library & Cultural Center, 2051 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta. Attendees can meet with staff members to learn about maps and GIS. There will be games, door prizes, presentations and refreshments.
The public is invited to open house events this month to learn more about two projects being studied by the Cobb County Department of Transportation.
The first is 5 - 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13, to discuss the Cobb Parkway at McCollum Parkway Realignment Study at the Ben Robertson Community Center, 2753 Watts Drive, Kennesaw. Attendees can review proposed plans to improve mobility along this vital corridor. Residents are encouraged to review the concepts and provide feedback. County staff will be on hand to answer questions and gather input.
DOT has also started an initial scoping study for the Allatoona Creek Greenway Trail, one of the eight priority projects in the county’s Greenways and Trails Master Plan. The open house for this study will be 6 - 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, at the West Cobb Regional Library, 1750 Dennis Kemp Lane NW, Kennesaw. There will be no formal presentation. Attendees are encouraged to provide feedback and talk with study team members. To learn more, visit the project website at CobbCounty.org/ACGStudy.
A tasty way to help Cobb County 4-H
The UGA Cobb Extension Green Box 4-H fundraiser is here, bringing you a colorful selection of seasonal veggies from Moultrie, Ga. Grab your 20-pound box filled with a mix of bell peppers, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, green beans, corn, cabbage, and sweet satsuma for just $30. Order until Nov. 14. Click here to grab your box.
The pick-up spot will be the Cobb County Extension Office, 678 South Cobb Drive, Suite 200, Marietta, on Nov. 19.
Plus, you can spread the love. Choose to donate a box to help those in need—each donation will be distributed by the County Extension Office.
Board considers proposed amendments
The Cobb County Board of Commissioners is considering amendments to the county’s code, specifically definitions and these chapters:
Chapter 2 (Administration) - Film Permits
Chapter 2 Part 2 (Administration) - South Cobb Redevelopment Authority
Chapter 50 (Environment) - Soil Erosion, Sedimentation, and Pollution Control Ordinance
Chapter 78 (Licenses, Permits, and Businesses) - Door-to-Door Salesperson’s Permit
Chapter 110 (Subdivisions) - Plat Approval
Chapter 122 (Utilities) - Water and Wastewater Systems
Chapter 134 (Zoning) - Accessory Dwelling Units
Residents can give feedback about these changes during public hearings at 9 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 12, and at 6 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 21, at David Hankerson Building, 100 Cherokee Street, 2nd floor, Marietta.
The Center for Family Resources is collecting non-perishable food during its annual Thanks for Giving food drive. The goal is to provide 1,000 Cobb families with food for the Thanksgiving school break.
The CFR is a nonprofit dedicated to assisting Cobb families facing homelessness and equipping them with resources to achieve self-sufficiency.
For donations of food, drop off your non-perishable food items through Nov. 15 at the Cobb Family Advocacy Center, 277 SE Fairground Street, Marietta.
Donated items will be distributed to families the week before Thanksgiving. Click here to contribute.
Assistance just a click away
Cobb County has partnered with FindHelp to create a new online resource that connects residents with local, vetted assistance programs. On the site, you can search for free or reduced-cost services like medical care, food, job training, and more. Residents can access this new portal by visiting findhelp.cobbcounty.gov. The initiative is funded through an allocation of the American Rescue Plan Act.
Upcoming public meetings
Board of Commissioners regular meeting, 9 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 12
Board of Commissioners zoning hearing, 9 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 19
Board of Commissioners regular meeting, 6 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 21
Meetings take place at 100 Cherokee Street, 2nd floor unless otherwise noted. Many public meetings and hearings are broadcast live on CobbTV and YouTubeand are available on demand on YouTube.
There's a lot going on in Cobb County that doesn't fit in one newsletter. Keep up with what's going on by subscribing to department enewsletters and following us on social media. You'll be informed of new events and programs, cancellations/delays, emergencies, disruptions to services and more.
Upcoming public meetings