Advance voting in the Cobb County special election for two commission seats will continue this week through Friday, April 25. There is no voting April 26 - 28. In District 2, Democrat Erick Allen faces Republican Alicia Adams. Candidates in the District 4 race are Democratic incumbent Monique Sheffield and Republican Matthew Hardwick. Only registered voters residing in Districts 2 and 4 are eligible to cast their ballots in this special election.
• Election day is April 29 and voters must vote only at their precinct.
The upcoming Senior Services Annual Expo will be a day filled with resources, connections, and valuable information 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 23, at the Cobb Civic Center in Marietta. Admission and parking are free and the first 400 households will receive a bag of free produce.
Find a variety of vendors offering services in life enrichment, transportation, nutrition, senior living, Medicare, wellness, safety, and much more. Plus, Northside Hospital will be providing free health screenings, and there will be informative seminars on important topics throughout the day.
Proposed transit changes available for public review
The Cobb County Department of Transportation and CobbLinc will hold another open house 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24, at Acworth Elementary School for the public to learn more about proposed service changes to commuter routes and the service equity analysis findings. No formal presentation will be given. County staff will be on hand to answer questions. The school is located at 4220 Cantrell Road NW, Acworth.
The public can also provide comments by calling Cobb County Department of Transportation, Transit division at 770-427-4444. All comments concerning the proposed service equity analysis should be in writing and sent to CobbLincComm@cobbcounty.org or dropped off at 463 Commerce Park Drive SE, Marietta 30060, and will be accepted until May 9.
Cobb County Senior Services invites you to celebrate the grand reopening of the Austell Senior Center at an open house 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 25. Located at 4915 Austell Powder Springs Road SW, Austell, the newly renovated center features exciting updates including two new activity rooms, refreshed bathrooms, upgraded office space, a modernized kitchen, brand-new furniture, and even a putting green. Come tour the space, connect with the community, and learn about all the programs available for seniors.
To RSVP, call 770-819-3200.
Spring Arts Festival this Saturday
The Cobb PARKS Spring Arts Festival is your gateway to fun. Take a stroll along the artist's way, see a variety of handmade goods, fine arts and crafts, soak in the energy of performing artists and groups, and play at creative demos and activities 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Saturday, April 26, at Jim R. Miller Park and Events Center, 2245 Callaway Road, Marietta.
Adventure awaits at Camp Puzzle, a fun-filled, energy-packed, half-day experience for children and adults on the Autism spectrum. The free event will be held at the Cobb Safety Village, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturday, April 26. There will be fire trucks, police cars, crafts and activities. Find more information and register here.
Cast off your cares at fishing rodeo
Grab your fishing gear and try to reel in the big one at the Kids Fishing Rodeo at Hyde Farm Park 9 - 11 a.m. Saturday, April 26. Kids aged 3 - 16, along with their parent or guardian, can partake in a thrilling fishing adventure. The event will happen rain or shine. Register for $5 here.
Medication disposal made easy for public
Don't flush them. Keep medications out of the water supply and safely dispose of unused and expired medications by bringing them to any one of these three locations on Medication Take-back Day, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturday, April 26:
Police Precinct 1: 2380 Cobb Parkway NW, Kennesaw
Freeman Poole Senior Center: 4025 S. Hurt Road NW, Smyrna
Tim D. Lee Senior Center: 3332 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta.
There are so many ways to celebrate Earth Day from recycling to upcycling, cleanups and gardening. Check out some of Cobb's Earth focused events:
🌳 Earth Day Forest Bathing, 9 a.m. - noon Tuesday, April 22, at Heritage Property, 60 Fontaine Road, Mableton. Register for Forest Bathing here.
🌎 Create unique upcycled beads out of magazines and newspaper, 6 - 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 23, with Keep Cobb Beautiful at Switzer Library, 266 Roswell Street. Register for Upcycled Beads here.
🌎 Waterway Cleanup 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24,at Fair Oaks Park, 1465 West Booth Road Extension Southwest, Marietta. Register for the cleanup here.
🌎 Sustainability Forum and Expo. Learn what's new in sustainability. Attend sessions, demonstrations, and interactive exhibits and hear guest speakers discuss green initiatives and how they affect you 4 - 8 p.m. Thursday, April 30, at Jim R. Miller Park and Event Center, 2245 Callaway Road SW, Marietta. Read more and register here.
Town Center open house next week
Your input is needed for the Town Center Community’s Livable Centers Initiative plan update. Stop by the open house either noon - 2 p.m. or 4 - 6 p.m. Monday, April 28, at the Children’s Healthcare Town Center Community Room to meet the team and share your thoughts on what you love about Town Center, opportunities for improvement, and what you want to see here in the future. Your input will help guide the team through the first phases of the LCI Plan development process.
Chairwoman Lisa Cupid's office will host a series of meetings to learn about and impact how Cobb can work better for everyone. The first of the "All In" Cobb Policy Discussions, Effective and Efficient Government, will take place 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 1, in the Board of Commissioners' meeting room, 100 Cherokee Street, Marietta. The county finance director and various county leaders will delve into how Cobb government operates and the resources it requires to run smoothly.
Cobb County Animal Services is offering special pet adoptions this April.
Dogs 50 pounds and bigger are only $20
All cats are only $20
All other pets cost $50
The department is also offering free adoptions if you donate unexpired/unopened dog or cat food to their food pantry. Find more details here.
View available pets here. The shelter is located at 1060 Al Bishop Drive, Marietta. Stop by and visit the companions waiting for you.
Membership has its privileges
Library card holders get new benefits around town thanks to the Cobb County Public Library Perks Program. The new initiative offers exclusive discounts to Cobb Library cardholders at local businesses in the Marietta Square area. Participating businesses in Marietta Square include Marietta Proper, Hamp and Harry’s, Warm Hugs Bakery, Sweet Treats Ice Cream, and Bomb Babes (Pop-up) inside The Local Exchange.
Findhelp.cobbcounty.gov is the county's new resource making it easier to find local, vetted assistance programs. Cobb residents can get assistance and a leg up with many of the county's nonprofit partners.
On the site, you can search for free or reduced-cost services like medical care, food, job training, and more. Access this new portal at findhelp.cobbcounty.gov. The initiative is funded through an allocation of the American Rescue Plan Act.
A lot happens around the county that just doesn't fit into one weekly newsletter. Get more news and information from the Cobb departments you want to hear from.
