Lawn Chairs Now Okay At Renovated Amphitheatre

Visitors check out the new terraced seating area that allows lawn chairs at the Mable House Barnes Amphitheater during a recent open house.

The Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre’s season is underway and concert goers and performers are benefitting from extensive renovations.
“We have a robust concert series that we are this hosting on behalf local promoters,” said Robert Edwards, general manager. The amphitheater is a rental only facility.

“One of our promoters, Royal Entertainment, has brought in some 20 concerts over the summer.”

Royal also helped facilitate moving all of the Kiss 104.1 Flashback series from Lakewood Amphitheater. Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends have back to back concerts.

“It’s going to be a fun series over the summer,” Edwards said during an open house at the facility in May.

A new movie series on the first Friday of each month called Movies , Band and Brew, will be a nostalgic evening with the theme of an individual artist and film.

“We are teaming up with the Arts Center so the first Friday in July is a Prince experience. A national touring, exhibit, then have Hero, The Band playing music of Prince and the movie Purple Rain.

An Evening of Jazz series is already underway.

Edwards said that in the winter of 2017 renovations began the backstage area, including the green room and dressing areas.

“We ripped up all the floors which now with polished concrete, bought new furniture, and gave it a new look. We really spruced up the place to give the artists a better impression of our backstage,” he said.

“This past winter we redid the lawn area so it is now terraced instead of a steep hill. Now we allow all of our patrons to bring in their own lawn chairs. It’s a big deal since we never allowed that in the past. We have new bar areas in the venue so we have full cash bars available to the public,” he said.

The entire SPLOST renovation was $2 million spread out over two years.

The seating area remains the same capacity at 2,500 with 1,500 under the roof and 1,000 on the lawn.

“It’s just a more user friendly lawn area,” he said.

Here are some of the shows coming this summer and fall at the Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre.

An Evening of Jazz series:

• June 22 – featuring Gregory Porter, Ken Ford and Kathy Kosins.

• July 6 – featuring Boney James, Avery Sunshine and Alex Bugnon.

• Aug. 3 – featuring Brian Culberson and Najee.

• Aug. 17 – featuring Jeffrey Osborne and Jody Watley.

• Sept. 21 – featuring Jonathan Butler, Kirk Whalum, Eric Darius and Nick Colionne.

July 20 – The Gentlemen of Soul featuring Peabo Bryson, Freddie Jackson and Howard Hewett

Kiss 104.1 Flashback Festival:

• Aug. 31 – The Whispers with Ruben Studdard, and Evelyn Champagne King.

• Sept. 1 – Cameo with Midnight Star, and Glenn Jones.

Also, Sept. 7 – Sounds Good Medicine with Dave Koz, Gerald Albright, Rick Braun, Kenney Lattimore, and Bryan Thompson, hosted by M.C. Lightfoot.

The Wednesday night children’s series, sponsored by Kaiser Permanente, will feature free movies such as Black Panther on June 12; Spiderman Into the Spiderverese on June 26; A Wrinkle In Time on July 10; and How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World on July 24.

First Fridays feature Movie, Bands and Brews:

• July 5 – Purple Rain, featuring Hero, the Band, playing Prince music.

• Aug. 2 – Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, featuring The Neon Queen.

• Sept. 6 – Nine to Five with a performance by Diva Royale.

• Oct. 4 – Bohemian Rhapsody featuring a Queen tribute performance by the Georgia Players Guild.

For showtimes and tickets visit mablehouse.org or call 770-819-7765.

From the June 2019  issue of The Bright Side, Cobb County Georgia’s Newspaper covering Smyrna, Vinings, Mableton, Powder Springs and Austell, GA.

Group Plans For City In South Cobb

Mableton could be the “the next best city in Cobb County” within two years if the South Cobb Alliance wins funding and support from the legislature.

Enthusiastic supporters recently held a town hall meeting at South Cobb Regional Library.

“The time has come for us as a community to determine if it is feasible for us to become Cobb County’s next city,” said Tre Hutchins, an organizer of the cityhood effort. “This will allow us an opportunity to customize our needs as it relates to the quality of life we deserve in South Cobb.”

Mableton, an unincorporated community in south Cobb, would be joined with the unincorporated part of Austell to create Cobb’s newest city, which would also be called Mableton.

The new city would be bordered on the north by Hurt Road just north of the East-West Corridor, on the west by Austell, on the east by Smyrna and go southward all the way to Cobb’s southern tip.

The first step is having a bill introduced in the General Assembly. Hutchins said State Rep. Erica Thomas, D- Austell, has agreed to do that.

Hutchins said the group needs $30,000 for a Feasibility Study.

“We have 1/3 of it and need another $20K to make sure this happens,” he said. “The South Cobb Alliance is dedicated to securing the funds to complete the study. For more information: www.SouthCobbAlliance.org/.

Hutchins said he thinks the study will show the city of Mableton will be able to provide at least three of the 16 state constitutionally mandated municipal services currently provided by the county without raising taxes on its residents.

March Calendar

14: COMMUNITY GARDEN Kick-off Meeting at 10 a.m. March 14 at Quick Tax Professionals. Grow fresh veggies and new community connections in MIC’s Historic Mableton Community Garden. The kick-off meeting is a great place to get started!

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17: TEEN TIME: UPCYCLED REUSABLE BAGS. Tuesday, March 17 6:00-7:00 p.m. Smyrna Library, Meeting Room RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/uz9rps5. Upcycle kids tees into reusable shopping bags. Bring required school documentation if volunteer credit is needed.

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18, 25: INFANT & TODDLER STORY TIME (0-2 year-olds). Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. March 18, 25 Limited to 25 infant/toddlers. Smyrna Library.

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19, 26: PRESCHOOL STORY TIME (3-5 year-olds) Smyrna Library Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. March 19, 26.

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20:  WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH BOOK DISCUSSION. Discussion:  Why They Marched: Untold Stories of the Women Who Fought for the Right to Vote  by Susan Ware. Friday, March 20 from noon – 1 p.m. Smyrna Public Library, Meeting Room. Discussion will focus on chapters 1, 2, 6, 7, 17, 18, 19.  Open to the public.  Bring a sack lunch. Drinks and dessert will be provided.

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21: MABLE HOUSE SPRING ARTS FEST from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. MARCH 21. Discover the arts and artists in our own backyard at the Mable House complex on Floyd Road. The festival features an artist market, artist demos, a chalk competition, tours of the historic Mable House, food trucks, a beer and wine garden, and live performances throughout the day.

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.21: DOCUMENT SHREDDING EVENT. One of our most popular events already has a spring date! Keep Smyrna Beautiful’s document shredding event provides a safe and secure way to shred and recycle your documents. This event is free to community members and is a great way to kick off spring cleaning!  The event is Saturday, March 21from  9 a.m.-noon at Church Street Park, 884 Church Street, Smyrna.

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22: ST. BENEDICT’S FRIENDS OF MUSIC RECITAL Sunday, March 22nd at 6:00 p.m. at St. Benedict’s Episcopal Church on Atlanta Road. “Awakening: A Song Cycle of Lullabies” will feature soprano Tory McKenna and dancer Frances Mulinix. All ages are welcome.

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24: JONQUIL GARDEN CLUB . March’s presentation will be presented by Kristin Androvic, from Floral Creations a family owned florist in Smyrna.  Kristin will be talking on floral arrangements and wreath designs. The March 24 meeting will be held at Smyrna Public Library, 100 Village Green Circle, Smyrna.  Meetings are held on the 4th Tuesday of each month (Sept-May) from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Each meeting includes information on horticulture and a presentation that will enhance your knowledge of gardening. New members are always welcome. Jonquil Garden Club includes members from novice to master gardeners. For additional information visit our website at www.jonquilgardenclub.org or call our president, Lorelei Clapper at 404-786-8440.

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WEEKLY EVENTS

BOY SCOUT TROOP 61 meets every Monday night at 7:30 p.m. in the Troop Lodge at Bethany Methodist Church at the intersection of Hurt and Hicks Roads. Cub Pack 61 meets Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in the Bethany Gym.

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BOY SCOUT TROOP ONE meets every Sunday at 4:30 p.m. New Scouts Welcome! 2845 Log Cabin Drive, Smyrna (off Atlanta Road). www.bsatroop1.net

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SMYRNA BOY SCOUT Smyrna Boy Scout Troop 11 meets at Smyrna First United Methodist Church every Tuesday evening 7:30- 9 p.m.  Contact us at 770-883-1123. Website: www.smyrnatroop11.com.

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BOY SCOUT TROOP 220 meets every Tuesday Night at 6:30 p.m. at Life Church Smyrna Assembly of God located at 4100 King Springs Road (right next to Griffin Middle School). For more information see our website www.troopwebhost.org/Troop220Smyrna/Index

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GIRL SCOUT TROOP 625 (K – 5th Grades) meets every Monday night at 6:30 p.m. at Austell First United Methodist Church. 6th Graders meet 2nd / 4th Saturdays at 2 p.m.. Contact us @470-377-2221 or troop625rocks@gmail.com.
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THE LORD’S STOREHOUSE sponsored by Shaw Temple AME Zion Church provides free of charge clothing, small household items, canned goods and toiletries to needy families, individuals and shelters. We also accept donated items in gently used and clean condition. We are located at 775 Hurt Road, SW, Smyrna Ga. and are opened Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday from 10 am to 1 pm. For Info call the church at 770-801-8185 or contact at shawtemple.org. Church open Monday – Thursday 10-8 p.m.

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JONQUIL CITY KIWANIS SMYRNA: 10 a.m. Tuesday, Wolfe Senior Center, 884 Church Street, Smyrna.

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SMYRNA OPTIMIST: 7 a.m. Friday, American Legion Post 160, 160 Legion Drive, Smyrna.

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SMYRNA ROTARY: noon Tuesday, Brawner Hall, Smyrna. For further information, see www.SmyrnaRotary.com

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SOUTH COBB ROTARY: noon, Thursday, Presbyterian Village, East-West Connector

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SOUTH COBB TOASTMASTERS Tuesday at 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. South Cobb Regional Library, Mableton 678-799-4425.

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TOASTMASTERS: Interstate North Toastmasters at 3100 Cumberland Boulevard. We meet every Monday at 6:30 p.m. Visit our website: 2823.toastmastersclubs.org

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TOASTMASTERS: T-Toasters. Paces West, 2727 Paces Ferry Rd., Bldg 1. We meet Wednesday nights at 6 p.m. and welcome visitors. Visit www.ttoasters.com to find out more.

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VININGS CUMBERLAND ROTARY: Noon on Wednesday, The Georgian Club, 100 Galleria Pkwy #1700 Vinings.

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THE GALLERIA WORLDSPAN Wings Toastmasters Club Tuesdays 12 to 1 p.m., Building 300, main conference room.

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SMYRNA BUSINESS EXCHANGE: The Smyrna Business Exchange is Smyrna’s premier close contact networking group representing over 30 local businesses (and growing).  The Smyrna Business Exchange meets at the Smyrna Community Center every Thursday morning from 7-8:30 a.m. Questions or to RSVP for a complimentary visit, call Jeff Daxe at 770-795-5079 (or email at jad@mijs.com).

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MONTHLY OR MORE

 

AMERICAN LEGION, Post 160. Membership Meeting at 7:30 p.m. every 3rd Tuesday. The AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY, Unit 160 Membership Meeting at 7:30 p.m. every 3rd Tuesday each month.  SONS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION, Squadron 160 meets at 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday each month. All of these meetings are at 160 Legion Drive, Smyrna. For more information, access AmericanLegionPost160.org or call 770-436-2501.

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AMERICAN LEGION POST 264, 6251 Ivy Road, Mableton meets every third Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. Bingo–Mon, Tues, Friday 8 p.m., Sat. 5 p.m. and Sun. 4 p.m.

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ATLANTA FREETHOUGHT, Regular Meeting at 1 p.m. every 2nd Sunday. 4775 N. Church Lane, Smyrna (a mile inside I-285, just off Atlanta Rd). Our historic building was a church in Smyrna/Vinings for 141 years. We’re a nonprofit educational organization and meetings/programs are free and open to the public. Call 678-662-3857 or visit our website, www.atlantafreethought.org, for more about us.

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GREATER ATLANTA BEGONIA SOCIETY meets monthly at Cochise Riverview Club, 3773 Cochise Dr., Vinings. Meetings are held on the 3rd Saturday of each month (Feb-Nov) from 1 p.m. to 3. Each meeting includes information that will enhance knowledge of propagating and growing begonias. Membership includes from novice to master gardeners. Join us and see how much satisfaction and fun can be added to your gardening experience. For further info call Sharon Oliver at 770-617-1101

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BUSINESS GROUP. The West Metro Atlanta Woodard Group meets at 6pm EST at the South Cobb Diner on the 4th Thursday of each month. Woodard Groups provide opportunities for small business advisors and business owners to network with other to foster cooperation, strengthen relationships, and leverage mutual opportunities for mutual support and referrals. For more info check out our Facebook group at this link www.facebook.com/groups/westmetroatlwoodardgroup

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COBB-MARIETTA RETIRED EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION meets the second Thursday of each month. The monthly luncheon is held at the

First Methodist Church in Marietta at 11:30 a.m.  For more information visit www.cmrea.org.

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CUMBERLAND VININGS OPTIMIST CLUB: Meeting for breakfast the 2nd Wednesday of each month at the Vinings Club, 2859 Paces Ferry Road NW. We are an inclusive club dedicated to community service and welcome everyone to come as our guest to a meeting of your choice.

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GARY HILL NETWORK monthly networking luncheons are held at 11 a.m.to 1 p.m.. on the 3rd Thursday of each month at different locations. Call 770-438-6961 for more information. November 21 is at McCray’s Tavern, 4500 West Village Place, Smyrna.

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KIWANIS CLUB OF GREATER SOUTH COBB meets at noon the 2nd and 4th Tuesday each month at O’Charley’s 4130 Austell Rd, Austell GA 30106. Call 770-438-6961 for more info.

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KIWANIS CLUB OF SMYRNA meets every last Wednesday of the month  Noon  to 1 p.m. at  Provident Village  at Creekside, 4838 South Cobb Drive, Smyrna.

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MOMS Club of Smyrna West: For stay-at-home or part-time working moms, we have added to the elementary school districts served in the Smyrna area: in 30080 and 30082 zip codes AND any of the following school districts: Smyrna Elementary, Norton Park, King Springs, Nickajack, Teasley, Belmont Hills, Green Acres, Argyle, and Russell. We offer morning and afternoon weekly playgroups and activities. For questions about our club or if you are interested in becoming a member, please contact us directly at membership@momsclubofsmyrnawest.com

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MOMS CLUB SOUTH COBB. Do you ever feel like you are the only at-home mother who stays home? If so, you are not alone! Come meet other moms and kids at the MOMS CLUB of Austell and Mableton! We meet monthly and would love to meet you and your kids. If interested in attending, contact us momsclubofaustellandmableton@gmail.com, 770-841-8631 or momsclubofaustella.wixsite.com/momsclubofaustell.

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NEWCOMERS CLUB OF COBB COUNTY meets the third Tuesday of each month September through May at 10 a.m., John Knox Presbyterian Church, 505 Powers Ferry Road, Marietta.  Please join us for fun activities and new friends or contact us at newcomersofcobbcounty.com.

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SMYRNA STITCH-IN GROUP meets at 4:30pm the first Monday in the class room at Hobby Lobby, 1355 East-West Connector, Austell. If you like to cross stitch, do crewel work, needlepoint, etc and want to meet women in the area, please come join us.  Contact Holli Hallmark at hah1627@gmail.com

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SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS – The Gen. Leonidas Polk Camp meets on the 4th Thursday of each month (except for Nov, Dec, & Jan) in the meeting room at the Piccadilly Restaurant, 536 Marietta Pkwy S, Marietta. We begin gathering at 6 p.m. for socialization and dinner followed by the meeting at 7 p.m. For further info contact: Jack Williams at 404-256-4208 or songofjoy2@aol.com.

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SOUTH COBB HOMESCHOOLERS.  Are you a homeschool parent in need of support?  The South Cobb Homeschool Support group meets monthly at the South Cobb Regional Library at 805 Clay Road, Mableton. If interested in attending email us at schomeschoolers@thestudyhalledu.com or call 404-644-8391. Visit our website at schomeschoolers.blogspot.com

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SOUTH COBB LIONS CLUB meets the 1st and 3rd Monday evenings 6:30 p.m. of each month at the South Cobb Community Center 620 Lions Club Drive, SW Mableton. Contact: South Cobb Lions Club: Phone 470-554-2128 on Facebook South Cobb Lions Club or email southcobblionsclub@yahoo.com

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VININGS VILLAGE CIVIC CLUB meets the first Monday of each month September through June at 6:30 p.m. at various locations around Vinings. For further information, e-mail us at viningscivicclub@gmail.com or visit our new website: viningsvillagecivicclub.org. Members and Guests are welcome.

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SUPPORT GROUPS

CANCER SUPPORT GROUP, The Star Group To help patients and their families feel more hopeful and less alone through the mutual sharing of thoughts, feelings, and concerns related to living with, and surviving cancer. Fourth Thursday of each month at Noon. (A light lunch is served) WellStar Cobb Hospital Magnolia Room Group leader: Raymond Coffman Please call 770-732-3780 to RSVP.

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OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS now meets at Ridgeview Institute, Room 8, 3995 S Cobb Drive, Smyrna. Mondays 7 p.m.

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Smyrna Parkinson’s Support Group meets at 2 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month, January through November at the Aline Wolfe Adult Recreation Center at 884 Church St., Smyrna, GA  Phone: 678-631-5541.The facilitator is Carl Proctor  Email: carlcproctor@aol.com Contact: 404-275-9383. Smyrna Parkinson’s Support Group Membership is free to Parkinsonians, care partners, family members, medical professionals and other people whose lives have been touched by PD. We are grateful to the Aline Wolfe Adult Recreation Center for providing our meeting space.

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RECOVERY INTERNATIONAL Self-help support group for stress, anxiety, depression, etc. Meets every Saturday at 10 a.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 4300 King Springs Road SE, Smyrna, in the old rectory next to the church. Contact Alicia Garcia at 678-665-5233 for more information.

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REFORMERS UNANIMOUS (RU) is a Christ-centered addictions program that meets every Friday at 7 p.m. at Westside Church located at 4900 Floyd Road, Mableton next to Walgreens. RU helps adults find freedom from addictive behavior. Call Westside Church at 770-948-0121 for more information or see www.wbcfamily.org.

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E-mail your organization’s calendar news to news@brightsidecobb.com. Deadline for MARCH issue is FEBRUARY 23 with publication the week of MARCH 5. Calendar items are accepted from civic groups, non-profits, schools and church organizations and run as space is available. Due to the increasing number of calendar listings, please keep announcements brief. Please do NOT send calendar announcements in flyer format. For more information about submitting calendar items or other news, contact us at 770-426-9388 or by e-mail to news@brightsidecobb.com. Find updated calendar items on our website at www.brightsidecobb.com.

From the December 2019  issue of The Bright Side, Cobb County Georgia’s Newspaper covering Smyrna, Vinings, Mableton, Powder Springs and Austell, GA.

Harvest Festival To Be Held at Mable House

The Harvest Festival will be held at the Mable House Historic Grounds on October 12, 2019.

Produced by The Friends of The Mable House in partnership with Cobb Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, The Harvest Festival was formerly the Storytelling Festival.

“The Friends organization wanted to rebrand the event to create an enhanced family experience,” said Libby Geiselmayr, Mable House Arts Center Coordinator.

Professional storytellers Josie Bailey and Joanna Maddox will be telling tales, plus, there will be musical performances, food and other activities.

This free event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. will include Hay Rides given by the South Cobb Lions Club, a sweet potato garden, corn shucking, butter churning, homemade Johnny cakes, professional blacksmith Wind Chapman, farm animals, live storytellers, arts and crafts with clay throwing demonstrations, old time games, sweets and drinks by the girl scouts, live musical performances, Mother Goose, and gold panning.

There will be Historic House Tours with live demonstrations of quilting, spinning, weaving and sewing.

The South Cobb Lions Club will be selling BBQ both Saturday and Sunday.

Musical performances are set by FlatPickin’, Inc., and Soulful Praise, the Pebblebrook High School Gospel Choir.

From the October 2019 issue of The Bright Side, Cobb County Georgia’s Newspaper covering Smyrna, Vinings, Mableton, Powder Springs and Austell, GA.

WellStar Cobb Celebrates 50 Years

WellStar Cobb Hospital, one of the premier healthcare providers offering top quality, community-based professional healthcare services to the residents of Austell and South Cobb communities, marked the 50th Anniversary of its opening on June 3.

What began as a 50-acre peach orchard is now a nationally recognized campus for hope and healing with 382 licensed beds and 2,200 staff members who care for more than 104,000 patients annually. From the first patient treated 50 years ago, to the millions seeking care and comfort since, WellStar Cobb Hospital continues to fulfill its founding vision of being there for patients every minute of every hour of every day.

“For 50 years, this hospital has been a proud example of what a community can accomplish when they come together for the better of all,” said Callie Andrews, president of WellStar Cobb Hospital. “This year isn’t just a celebration of the hospital and our team, but also for the surrounding communities as we reflect on what we’ve been able to accomplish together. As we look toward the future, we will continue the hospital’s legacy of focusing on patient experience and quality care to create a healthier, hope-filled community.”

No history of WellStar Cobb Hospital would be complete without recognizing the tireless dedication and support of Charles “Pete” Wood. From his participation in 1962 as founding Trustee of the Hospital Authority of Cobb County, to his leadership as Chairman of the WellStar Board of Trustees, Wood gave freely of his talents and time to ensure quality healthcare for Cobb County residents. WellStar Cobb Hospital’s Therapeutic Horticulture Garden – completed in 1993 for recovering patients and their families – was dedicated and renamed the Charles “Pete” Wood Garden in 2000 to honor him for his many decades of service.

The 50-year history of the hospital is filled with many milestones, most notably its merger with Kennestone, Douglas, Paulding and Windy Hill hospitals in 1993 to form a robust health system, Northwest Georgia Health System, Inc. On March 6, 1998, the name WellStar was introduced as the umbrella for these community hospitals. The words “Well” represent the mission of providing for the health of the community, and “Star” represents leadership, innovation and commitment to excellence.

“WellStar Cobb Hospital has a longstanding history of providing high-quality healthcare services focused on improving the health and wellbeing of the individuals and communities served. For the past 50 years, the physicians, caregivers and team members at WellStar Cobb have strived to exceed the expectations of our patients and consumers by creating an outstanding hospital and medical community that has expanded and thrived,” said Candice L. Saunders, president and CEO of WellStar Health System. “We are excited to celebrate this milestone and look forward to building upon our legacy as the healthcare partner of choice for greater South Cobb and its surrounding communities.”

Dedicated physicians work hand-in-hand with nurses and others to bring the best in modern medicine at WellStar Cobb Hospital. The hospital offers several exemplary programs, including a recently renovated burn and wound unit, a state-of-the-art cardiac program and women’s center and a leading cancer program that will have a new facility unveiled in late 2018.

“Physician leadership was instrumental in the hospital’s early history,” said Thomas Gearhard, MD, family medicine for WellStar Cobb Hospital and member of WellStar Cobb regional health board. “Dedicated medical staff provided family care, delivered newborns and served those in need in Cobb County where healthcare services were warmly welcomed in 1968. As the hospital has grown, it’s always enjoyed a close relationship with the community, through local governance, staff outreach, vibrant volunteer support and events.”

From the July 2018 issue of The Bright Side, Cobb County Georgia’s Newspaper covering Smyrna, Vinings, Mableton, Powder Springs and Austell, GA.

Tickets On Sale For Blue Jeans Gala

If you ever have to dial 911, what do you expect to be the outcome? Professionals with the highest level of expertise and professionalism to respond. The Smyrna Public Safety Foundation (SPSF) is dedicated to support the professional endeavors of the public safety agencies within Smyrna and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for those who live or work in the City of Smyrna and surrounding communities.

The 2018 Blue Jean Gala is Aug. 18 in Wallace Hall at Adventure Outdoors, 2500 South Cobb Drive, Smyrna. The title sponsor is The Charyn Darby Foundation. This event is different from others in the community because it allows attendees to spend the evening with our local heroes and all funds raised stay here in the Smyrna community to promote and support the many important initiatives of the Smyrna Fire and Police Departments.

“We strive to ensure that each police officer and firefighter is qualified, trained, and equipped to perform at the highest levels of professional standards,” said Barb Allen, executive director of the Smyrna Public Safety Foundation.  “Funds raised at this year’s Gala will be dedicated to funding some critical training and equipment that is outside their operating budgets.”

Annually, the SPSF sponsors the Smyrna Public Safety Awards and Recognition banquet where these Heroes are recognized for their exemplary service to the community. In December, the SPSF teams up with the Smyrna elementary schools and takes youth on a shopping spree for the Shop with a Hero event.

Make plans now to attend the Annual Blue Jean Gala. Ticket price includes live entertainment, dinner and beverages. There will be numerous unique raffle items as well as silent auction items, many which are experiences involving public safety.

At this event you are encouraged to dress casual (jeans and your favorite accessories are totally acceptable). There will be a photo booth available where you can memorialize the event.

For more information and purchase tickets, visit the website at www.smyrnapsf.org,  send an email to admin@smyrnapsf.org, or call 404-791-6935.

From the July 2018 issue of The Bright Side, Cobb County Georgia’s Newspaper covering Smyrna, Vinings, Mableton, Powder Springs and Austell, GA.

Mableton Park Gets Compromise Name

Cobb Commissioners have agreed on a compromise name, “Mableton’s Chattahoochee River Line Park,” for a new 103-acre park along the Chattahoochee River.

Parks Director Jimmy Gisi says the members of the Mableton Improvement Coalition and the River Line Historic Area, Inc. came up with the new name and ran it by District Commissioner Lisa Cupid who approved of it.

The property runs for one mile along the river and includes a variety of well-preserved Civil War-era earthworks. A large part of the property is on the National Register of Historic Places. Cobb County has owned the property since 1990 when it acquired it through the settlement of litigation.

The work on the park will cost approximately $1 million. Funding will come from the 2016 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) as part of the P.A.R.K.S. program approved by voters. Gisi told commissioners the improvements include a small parking lot, restrooms, signs and historical markers. A small display will show what a confederate Shoupade looked like. Another trail will lead to the remnants of a federal Redan.

From the July 2018 issue of The Bright Side, Cobb County Georgia’s Newspaper covering Smyrna, Vinings, Mableton, Powder Springs and Austell, GA.

 

Smyrna Village Players Present ‘Anything Goes’

The Smyrna Village Players presents “Anything Goes,” a hilarious shipboard romp filled with music and dance wrapped in one of Cole Porter’s most magical scores as its summer production.

Smyrna Village Players is an outreach of Smyrna First United Methodist Church and the local Methodist community. Proceeds from this year’s production will support Murphy-Harpst Children’s Center.

The show will run in the Fellowship Hall of Smyrna First United Methodist Church 1315 Concord Road, Smyrna. July 19, 20, 21 at 7 p.m. and at 2 p.m. on July 21. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students under 18 and seniors 65 and older. Visit smyrnavillageplayers.com to purchase tickets.

From left are “Renos’ Angels” Katherine Francois, Bella Stoichev, Megan Bunkley, Hannah Wildes, Grace Regan, Kay Bolick and Kaitlynn Rivas.

From the July 2018 issue of The Bright Side, Cobb County Georgia’s Newspaper covering Smyrna, Vinings, Mableton, Powder Springs and Austell, GA.

Vinings Hosts Ice Cream Social

The Vinings Ice Cream Social on Sunday, July 15 salutes “National Ice Cream Day” with fun for the whole family.

The event, sponsored by the Vinings Historic Preservation Society, will be held at from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Historic Pace House and Pavilion on Paces Mill Road. There are certain to be some surprises and fun for all ages is guaranteed. Come on out and bring your family and friends for a day of good old fashioned summer fun.

Admission is free to VHPS members and children under 12. Admission for non-VHPS members over the age of 12 is $5 at the door. Please park across the street in the Piedmont Medical and Fidelity Bank parking lot.

From the July 2018 issue of The Bright Side, Cobb County Georgia’s Newspaper covering Smyrna, Vinings, Mableton, Powder Springs and Austell, GA.

Smyrna History Museum Closes For Remodel

The Smyrna History Museum is closed as of July 2 to allow the museum manager, city workers, and volunteers time to clean up the museum storage space in preparation for a massive renovation.

The new Smyrna Historical Society, which was created to support and aid the museum in its operations, is playing a significant role in the museum’s renovation. Once the cleanup has completed

The museum, which dates back to 1992, has been in its present location in a former railroad station for almost two decades. The cleanup is the first step in a complete renovation to its exhibits. This renovation will bring a chronological, narrative layout to the museum that will be accessible to all visitors.

In the next couple of months, a company will be hired to create and build all new exhibits for the museum. Requests for proposal are due on July 20. The projected start date for the renovation project will be Sept. 3.

Museum Manager, Jennie Eldredge, began work in October and has been inventorying the collection.

“It’s a long term process of taking all the objects and measuring and determining what stories they can tell about Smyrna History,” she said.

Previously run by volunteers, Eldredge is the first museum professional in the job.

In 1985 the Smyrna History and Genealogical Society started collecting records, photographs and objects until opening a physical museum in 1992. It moved to the present location in 1999.

Recently, the Smyrna Historical Society was created by the city council to support and aid the museum in its operations.

“We recognize the massive efforts that Harold Smith, his late wife Betty, and all of the members of the Smyrna Historical and Genealogical Society have undertaken to preserve Smyrna history.” Eldredge said. “Without their interests and efforts, Smyrna would not have a history museum, and much knowledge and physical evidence of Smyrna’s history might not have survived in such abundance. They have truly created a great legacy.”

A native of Marietta, Ms. Eldridge earned an Anthropology degree from Georgia State University and has done field work in archeology

“I wanted to focus on museum work to marry my love of objects with bringing their stories to a public audience. She previously worked at the Atlanta History Center.

While the 1,500 sq. ft.museum building will not be expanding, an open scaffolding concept will maximize space.

“As we redo the exhibits in the museum, they will show a more chronological walk though Smyrna’s history,” she said. The preliminary design breaks Smyrna history into six time periods and themes and includes a temporary exhibit space for rotating exhibits.

The scope of the museum will be limited to the southern Cobb area, she noted. “Vinings has a historic society, but it’s not a collecting society. We will also work with the Marietta Museum. It’s about telling the story and what you see in Smyrna today.”

The items that have been on display make up only a fraction of the collection. There are more than 10,000 items in inventory, many of them stored in the basement.

“They never really said no to anyone donating,” she said. “We have the original ballot box that was used for early city elections plus an X-ray machine from Dr Crow’s office, and old medicines.”

Ms. Eldredge said she will be writing a guide to collections to judge future donations.

“My archeology background has come in handy in the museum basement. It’s like an excavation,” she said. “I’m recording the location of objects that I find in the basement storage.”

“We are not actively collecting at this time as I am still going through what we have.”

If you are interested in helping, the Smyrna Historical Society is looking for volunteers at all levels, including board members. Please email them at smyrnahistoricalsociety@gmail.com  and let them know you want to help.

From the July 2018 issue of The Bright Side, Cobb County Georgia’s Newspaper covering Smyrna, Vinings, Mableton, Powder Springs and Austell, GA.