Pictured at the 2024 Art at Avenue Book Drive, from left, are Irene Barton of the Cobb Collaborative; Nicole Knox and Lo Lahmon of Cobb Libraries; Cindy Tisdale and Joyce Broughton of the Marietta Woman’s Club; JoAnne Telcide Bryant, a children’s book author; and Julie Bates and Ginny Calhan of the Marietta Woman’s Club.
Special
The Marietta Woman’s Club announced their “Books for Little Hands” book drive will be located at the Art at the Avenue West Cobb Exhibition, 3625 Dallas Highway in Marietta.
Donated books will benefit the children of Cobb County and be distributed by the Cobb Collaborative through their over 70 Little Free Libraries. Participants can bring gently loved children’s books for donation to the children’s room in the rear of the exhibition.
Art at the Avenue, produced by the South Cobb Arts Alliance is a National Juried Art exhibit. The free event is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays through Aug. 4. The event celebrates 52 years of art inspiration with music, performing arts, art classes, artisan market and demonstrations by local artists.
Upcoming Back to School events
Check out these upcoming back to school events:
The Powder Springs Community Task Force, LinkedUp Church and Empty Stocking Fund will host their 23rd annual Back to School Bash from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 27 at the Ron Anderson Recreation Center, 3820 Macedonia Road in Powder Springs. The event will feature a school supply giveaway, food, a live DJ, games, rides and vendors. To register, visit https://emptystockingfund.org/parents/.
A Back to School Drive will be 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on July 28 at the Riverside EpiCenter, 135 Riverside Parkway in Austell. The event will feature free school supplies, cool cars, live music and local food trucks. To register, visit https://aftontickets.com/event/buyticket/27x0g38o9d.
6th Annual School Prayer Walk
First Christian Church of Mableton, 878 Old Alabama Road in Mableton, will have its 6th annual School Prayer Walk from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on July 27.
The event invites the community to walk through local schools, offering prayers for administrators, teachers, students and their families as they prepare for the new school year.
Free volleyball clinics
Volleyball is coming to the Riverside EpiCenter’s EpiFIT Club.
To kick off the venture, 575 Volleyball is providing free volleyball clinics on July 28, July 30 and Aug. 1. This is an opportunity for young girls to learn from experienced coaches and improve their skills at EpiFIT Club Sports Hall at the Riverside Epicenter, 135 Riverside Parkway in Austell. The clinics are open for girls in 3rd to 10th grades. Space is limited.
Cobb and Douglas Public Health Farmers Market and Resource Fairs
Residents can get free produce, food, resources and services at the Cobb and Douglas Public Health Farmers Market and Resource Fairs in July and August.
Events will be from 8 a.m. to noon on Aug. 7 and Aug. 21 at 1738 County Services Parkway in Marietta; and July 30, Aug. 13 and Aug. 27 at 875 Riverside Parkway in Austell.
There will be fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables and herbs. Markets are open to the entire community. WIC participants should bring a WIC ID to receive $30 free per eligible WIC participant per season.
Cobb 4-H Annual Open House is Aug. 8
Cobb 4-H staff will kick off the 2024-2025 school year at its annual Open House from 5 to 8 p.m. on Aug. at the Cobb UGA Extension Office, 678 South Cobb Drive in Marietta.
In 4-H, students from kindergarten to 12th grade can explore a wide range of activities including STEM, archery, creative arts, public speaking, cooking, horse and pony, competitive teams and agriculture. Participants can visit each club; enroll in Cobb 4-H and learn how to register for specialty clubs; and meet the youth leaders, adult volunteers and county 4-H staff.
Cobb County’s First Responder 5K
Cobb County’s First Responder 5K will be Aug. 17 at The Battery Atlanta.
Participants can walk, jog or run either in-person or virtually. This family-friendly event for all fitness levels will include first responder vehicles and displays, field games with The Atlanta Braves’ mascot Blooper and a performance from the Braves Heavy Hitters drumline. The event is a qualifier for the Peachtree Road Race.
Flood insurance discounts coming for residents
Cobb residential and commercial property owners will save 15% on flood insurance premiums starting April 1, thanks to a recent improvement in the county’s rating by the National Flood Insurance Program.
The county’s rating improved recently after an assessment of the Water System’s floodplain management activities. This included acquisition of land susceptible to flooding, widening stream buffers, creation of dam breach zone mapping below Category I dams and increased public education.
20th Annual Fun in the Park photo contest
Residents can enter up to 10 of their best shots in the 20th annual Fun in the Park photo contest.
Homemade cleaning supplies program
Cobb County Water System will have an in-depth discussion on household cleaning products from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Aug. 7 at Vinings Library, 4290 Paces Ferry Road SE in Vinings.
Experts will discuss how chemicals affect one’s health and the environment. The event is for adults only.
Tails and Tales: The Concord Covered Bridge Historic District
The Georgia Room and the Friends of the Concord Covered Bridge Historic District will have a walking tour of the district from 10 a.m. to noon on July 27.
The tour, designed for people with dogs, will visit six historic sites and homes along the trail. It will begin at the Concord Road Trailhead of the Silver Comet Trail and last between 90 to 120 minutes.
Southeast Homeschool Expo is July 26-27
The Cobb Galleria Centre, 2 Galleria Parkway in the Cumberland area, will have the Southeast Homeschool Expo from July 26-27.
Participants can see all kinds of home education materials, hear from homeschool speakers, get tips on how to choose a homeschool curriculum and find tutors, classes, and Georgia homeschool support groups.
Acoustic Covers by Julz & Reid at Frog Rock Brewing
Frog Rock Brewery, 2764 Broad Street in Austell, will have Julz & Reid’s live acoustic covers from 4 to 8 p.m. on July 26.
Participants can enjoy Avales Taco Truck and Support Sweetwater Creek State Park at this free event.
Cobb Idol at The Strand is July 27
Cobb Idol is a live concert competition where the best voices in Cobb County battle for a chance to be named this year’s Cobb Idol.
The 2024 Cobb Idol: Rock ‘N Royalty Edition will be July 27 at The Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre, 117 North Park Square in Marietta. There are two VIP opportunities for the event: the Premier VIP Dessert & Drink Course Experience, which includes early access to the Lumiere Lounge for dessert and cocktails at 6:30 p.m., premier seating at 7 p.m. and a mini VIP pre-concert at 7:10 p.m.; and the VIP Pre-Concert Experience, which includes early access to priority seating at 7 p.m., two drink tickets and the mini VIP pre-concert.
Sunday Folk: How Sweet It Is! Steve Leslie Sings James Taylor
The Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre, 117 N. Park Square in Marietta, will have Sunday Folk: How Sweet It Is! Steve Leslie Sings James Taylor on July 28.
Recording artist Steve Leslie will perform the music of James Taylor in How Sweet It Is! concert event. The Sunday Folk Series is sponsored by the W. Ross Buchanan Trust.
4th Annual Fighting the Darkness event is Sept. 10
The Green Phoenix, in collaboration with local artists and field experts, will host the 4th Annual Fighting the Darkness event from 6 to 8 p.m. on Sept. 10 at the Ben Robertson Community Center in Kennesaw.
This event coincides with World Suicide Prevention Day and aims to shed light on the importance of mental health and raise awareness about suicide prevention.
It will feature a panel of experts who will share insights, personal experiences and strategies to combat the darkness surrounding the sensitive topic of suicide. The panel will begin with prepared questions before opening the discussion to the audience. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions anonymously by submitting them on individual cards.
There will also be an art gallery showcasing works by local artists throughout the event. Attendees will also receive resources to take home, providing further support and information on suicide prevention.
Mableton Masonic Lodge meetings
The Mableton Masonic Lodge No. 171 F&AM, 90 Veterans Memorial Highway in Mableton, meets the second and fourth Thursdays of the month.
Town Center CID hosting King of Pops giveaway event
Join the Town Center CID at its King of Pops giveaway event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 3 at Aviation Park, 2659 Barrett Lakes Boulevard NW in Kennesaw.
In partnership with Kaiser Permanente of Georgia, the organizations will be handing out King of Pops, giveaways and information on events in Town Center. The Town Center CID, established in 1997, is focused on safety, beautification, economic growth and infrastructure improvements within the district.
Presentation on Indian Territory is July 24 at Switzer Library
“Indian Territory: Removal and Rebirth,” a lecture by historian and researcher James Camp, will be presented at 6 p.m. on July 24 at the Switzer Library, 266 Roswell Street in Marietta.
The program will cover the history of places designated by the U.S. government for the settling of the eastern Native American tribes and a range of facts about tribes that settled out West, especially in what became Oklahoma. Camp is a retired Cobb County librarian.
