Winter Issue - January 2023

A TEAM SERVICES 68

A. G. RHODES HEALTH & REHAB 23

ANSLEY REAL ESTATE, CHRISTIE’S INTERNATIONAL 3

ATLANTA BAY BREEZE INC..................................................................................56

ATLANTA COMMUNITIES 56

ATLANTA WEST DENTISTRY 4

BLACKWELL’S JEWELRY 44

BRUMBY CHAIR 31

CARMICHAEL FUNERAL HOME 51

CAUTHORN NOHR & OWEN 30

CHOW KING - SMYRNA 18

CLASSY CLAY CATERING 41

COBB ENERGY PERFORMING CENTRE 58

COBB HARDWARE...................................................................................................14

DAYCO SYSTEMS HEATING & COOLING 15

DERMATOLOGY & SURGERY SPECIALIST OF NORTH ATLANTA 28

DOUGH IN THE BOX 27

ELON SALON 9

FLEMING CARPET 13

GENTRY LAW FIRM, LLC 44

GILREATH FAMILY DENTISTRY 49

HARRY NORMAN-COBB MARIETTA 53

HONEYSUCKLE BISCUIT & BAKERY 39

JOHNSON & ALDAY 23

JRM MANAGEMENT 61

MARIETTA HEARING CENTER 29

MARIETTA PLASTIC SURGERY 64

MAYES WARD-DOBBINS 67

MIDWAY COVENANT CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 38

MIRACLE METHOD 27

NORTHSIDE REAL ESTATE 24

O’DELL & O’NEAL, P.C. 25

PARC AT PIEDMONT 43

PET SUPPLIES PLUS 22

PINNACLE ORTHOPAEDICS 5

POWDER SPRINGS YOUTH BASEBALL 37

POWERS ELECTRIC 57

PRESBYTERIAN VILLAGE 52

RIGHT PATH HYPNOSIS & WELLNESS 53

SEAN PERREN- STATE FARM 65

SKIN CANCER SPECIALISTS 24

STERLING ESTATES-WEST COBB 45

SUPERIOR PLUMBING SERVICES 2, 34-35

THE BOTTOMS GROUP 7

THE MANELY FIRM 12

THE WALKER SCHOOL 41

THREE -13 SALON SPA & BOUTIQUE 19

TRATON HOMES 30

VICKERY ACE HARDWARE 42

WINNWOOD RETIREMENT COMMUNITY 48

INFORMATION

Cobb Life is published nine times a year by the Marietta Daily Journal and distributed to more than 25,000 homes and businesses. To subscribe, email circulation@cobblifemagazine.com or call 770-795-5001. To advertise, contact Tara Guest at 770-428-9411, ext. 4511. Send letters to the editor, article pitches and any other content queries to Skyler Heath at sheath@mdjonline.com.

cobblifemagazine.com

COBB LIFE

EXECUTIVE

PUBLISHER

Otis Brumby III GENERAL MANAGER Lee B. Garrett

V.P. OF CONTENT J.K. Murphy

EDITORIAL STAFF EDITOR PRO TEM Skyler Heath CONTRIBUTORS

Skyler Heath, Lisa Mowry, Hunter Riggall, Jon Styf, Tamacia Woolcock

PHOTOGRAPHY

Mowry, Robin

Riggall, Tamacia Woolcock

Greetings,

Cobb Life Readers.

HAPPY NEW YEAR and welcome to 2023! Transitioning into a new year calls for a clean slate and a fresh start. May we use 2023 as a tool to grow, learn and transform into the best versions of ourselves. Let’s make this the year of action — live your life to the fullest and treat every day like it’s your last—you won’t regret it.

Allow me to introduce myself.

My name is Skyler Heath and I’m an intern at the Marietta Daily Journal and Cobb Life Magazine

I’m a senior(ish) studying journalism at Kennesaw State University. You may be wondering how I found myself in this position. And to be honest, I ask myself the same thing.

Before landing my current position at the Marietta Daily Journal, I began my journey as a news writer for my school’s student newspaper. Here I found my writer’s groove and began to turn my dreams into reality. Shortly after, I landed my first professional byline— an important milestone for young journalists.

My time at the MDJ began in August after scouring the internet for a fitting internship position. I completed the application and met with then-Cobb Life Editor Madison Hogan. We instantly clicked and things just fell into place.

letter from the intern

After Madison parted ways with the MDJ for a new career path, Managing Editor J.K. Murphy gave me the biggest opportunity of my career thus far: putting together this Winter Issue of the Cobb Life Magazine — hence the title, “Letter from the Intern.”

This issue is filled with great reads that are perfect for kicking off the New Year. Speaking of new, our cover story invites you to meet the new president of my school Kennesaw State University, Kathy Schwaig. Madam President sits down with MDJ reporter Hunter Riggall and details her journey to becoming president of the third largest university in Georgia.

Start the new year off strong with a road trip to Music City aka Nashville, Tennessee. Travel columnist Lisa Mowry has a full itinerary of Nashville’s best hotels, cuisine and tourist attractions that you won’t want to miss.

For those of you looking to venture into your genealogical past, the Georgia Room at Switzer Library in Marietta is a great place

to start. This local resource invites anyone to discover information about their ancestral history. Hear from Lauren Craig, who journeyed into her genealogy and found herself at the Georgia Room. The piece is written by Times-Journal copy desk editor Tamacia Woolcock.

For people who enjoy delicious indulgences and local cuisine, pay a visit to the famous Marietta Diner. This local treasure offers every type of food under the sun; you name it, they have it. Ultimately, the hardest part of your visit will be deciding what to order. Hear from the man who started it all, Gus Tselios, and his journey to running the successful restaurant since 1995. And read what his employees have to say about working at this Marietta landmark.

The cold weather can’t stop us from having fun! For those of you looking to take a trip to the movie theater, binge watch a new show or cozy up for a good read, scan through the list of January and February releases.

For the book worms who love crime thrillers, check out a Q&A with local author Jax Kearny as he features his new book, “The Whistler’s Mother.”

I hope you enjoy this issue just as much as I enjoyed putting it together. I wish you a healthy, prosperous and Happy New Year.

Until next time, Skyler Heath

Skyler Heath

AT THE

Marietta Diner EVERYONE’S FAMILY

us Tselios’ dream was to put a flashy, East Coast 24-hour diner in Marietta and have it stick.

In August 1995, as a 20-year-old with a few loans and some credit card debt, he bought the former Village Inn Pizza building at 306 Cobb Parkway Southeast in Marietta, renamed it Marietta Diner and put everything he had into making

Now, 27 years later, Tselios owns a group of Marietta restaurants, but the Marietta Diner remains his baby, his home base and the restaurant he

“If we could bring that flashy 24-hour diner concept to Atlanta, it would be a home run,” Tselios thought as he arrived from New all those years ago. “It took a few years for people to understand what we were doing but then it started to take off. Word of mouth and reputation over the years just kept going and going and going.”

The diner is always open, 24 hours a day including all holidays. In fact, there are no locks on the doors.

The exception was in 2020. As COVID-19 shut down America, the restaurant did close for two weeks. Tselios stayed up late trying to think of a solution for his restaurant,

“I remember a three in the morning meeting with him,” said Fernando Aliaga, director of marketing for Teselios’ Marietta Family Restaurants Group. “He said, ‘Where are these people going to go? These people aren’t going to have jobs.’”

Then and now, Tselios thought of his employees and the community. So he had a drive-thru built onto the diner in roughly three or four days and the Marietta Diner was back in business. They put 10 outdoor tables in the parking lot, they even hired an Elvis band and for the first few days of the drive-thru served free meals in the afternoon to car lines so long they had to call police to assist with the traffic.

Opposite Page When COVID-19 shut down America, Tselios came up with a solution to continue to serve his employees and the community: a drive thru built in less than four days which put the Marietta Diner back in business.

Top Diner Dan Okst, from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, visits the area and family here several times a year, making sure to get to the Marietta Diner for dinner and, of course, dessert, he says.

Above Left The Marietta Diner is Gus Tselios’ dream come true, even with the addition of five more restaurants, the Diner remains his baby and home base.

Above Right The Marietta Diner has undergone some changes since the first picture at left was taken in 1995 and the picture at right taken in 2012, while the neon remains the same, the addition of a lobby and drive thru have expanded the restaurant.

SECRETS TO LONGEVITY

Tselios said much of the diner’s success has to do with the dedicated long-time staff. High employee turnover is a trend in the restaurant industry, but many of the chefs, cooks, wait staff and other workers at the Marietta Diner have bucked that trend. At first, Tselios said, it was tough finding staff ready to serve the diner’s full menu at 3 a.m., 3 p.m. and anytime in between. But now, it’s just business as normal.

“It helps when you have great people and great people stay with you when you treat your staff with respect and you treat them like family,” Tselios said.

One of those family members is Chef Marco Louissaint, who has known Gus’ father for 50 years and known Gus since he was a child. Louissaint came with Gus to Marietta to open the restaurant.

He said that a key to effectively running a kitchen with such a wide variety of options is to have specialists in the kitchen, who have set responsibilities on the menu, and also using the best ingredients and kitchen equipment to efficiently prepare food in the best ways possible.

It’s also about food prep, having the highest quality steaks in the market already marinating and waiting for the customer to order it. And it’s about listening to customers, adjusting the menu and recipes based on what people want and food trends, rather than keeping things stagnant over time.

He said that Tselios treats the staff as equals, that they work together to create the best menu and food options,

Above Left Evan Gruenenfelder and Miranda Acedo, from Knoxville, Tennessee, deliberate over the vast array of cakes and pies, finally agreeing on the Peanut Butter Cheesecake for the win.

Above

Above Chef Marco Louissaint has headed up the kitchen from the beginning when he came with Gus Tselios to Marietta in 1995 to open the restaurant. Louissaint watched Tselios grow up while he worked in Tselios’ father’s New York diners.

and that in turn the staff stays at the Diner because it feels like family.

“Sometimes money is not everything, friendship is everything,” Louissaint said. “A lot of people don’t think like that, but we are like family.”

Hostess Rafaela Marson has worked at the Diner for 14 years and said that it’s the people that keep her coming back. She is Greek and said that people from the Greek culture love family and want to remain around them.

“I’m close to these people because they’re like the same as my family,” Marson said. “.. I like this place.”

Alliaga said that he met Tselios when he was a food distributor doing business with Marietta Diner. Other owners,

Alliaga said, might lean on staff to place food orders and inspect the shipments. Tselios, though, made sure he was hands-on and would often call Alliaga to discuss, for example, the size and quality of the shrimp the diner received.

Above Hostesses Rafaela Marson and Dora Nikolova have become best friends working together at the Diner for years.

“I’m close to these people because they’re like the same as my family,” Marson says.

“I would get 2 in the morning calls, telling me ‘Hey, the cases of French fries you are sending me are small.’ He would send me pictures,” Alliaga said.

But Alliaga respected Tselios’ commitment to quality and consistency.

“Usually, when you get to a certain level of success and money, a lot of business owners relieve and let the managers take over and they just enjoy it, from their home or their beach house. Quality and

consistency goes down.

“He literally still, with how successful he is, he is 100% involved at every step of the way.

He knows the names of every dishwasher, every new hire. The size of his French fries, every wash rag. It’s unbelievable.”

Tselios said that some of that is just the impression he’s able to leave, part of what Alliaga said is seemingly infinite knowledge and memory of the intricacies of his businesses, all stored in his head.

Tselios’ main office is in the Marietta Diner, which he says is geographically in the center of his restaurant group that includes the newly renovated and

“He [Tselios] literally still, with how successful he is, he is 100% involved at every step of the way. He knows the names of every dishwasher, every new hire. The size of his French fries, every wash rag. It’s unbelievable.”

Fernando Aliaga Director of marketing for Teselios’ Marietta Family Restaurants Group

Above Marietta Diner server Abel Huerta, a 20-year employee, enjoys the laughter from a large softball team from Richmond, VA while serving the large party. After winning a local softball tournament the team of parents and players chose celebrated at the Marietta Diner.

re-opened Cherokee Chophouse, Marietta Fish Market, Casa Grande, Pasta Bella and Yeero Village. Tselios says he tries to make it to at least two of the restaurants every day. It’s how he stays on top of what’s happening everywhere, all the time.

“About 95% of his senior management or leads have been with him since the beginning, 25 years,” Alliaga said. “His main cooks have been with him 20-years plus. I think that has a lot to say about the business, especially in this kind of industry where usually there is heavy turnover.”

SERVING CUSTOMERS AND COMMUNITY

For Tselios, it comes down to customer service and serving the Marietta

Top The Marietta Diner offers eight pages of dining choices catering to all tastes: breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as daily specials.

Above Near the intersection of Cobb Parkway and South Marietta Parkway, the iconic neon lights of the Marietta Diner draw diners in, at all hours of the day and night, in fact, the diner never closes.

community that has supported him so well for years. He said that success in the restaurant industry starts at the front of the house, keeping diners entertained with full drinks and smiles.

And the dessert case has to be stocked well, too.

“You’ve gotta have desserts and you’ve gotta have them available 24 hours a day,” Tselios said. “It’s the first thing you see on the way in and the last thing on the way out.

If your pie case is full and looks bright and vibrant, your restaurant is like that.”

Diner Dan Okst, who lives in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, but visits the area and family here several times a year, agrees. On a recent weekend, Okst ate at the Diner on Saturday night and then went back and had breakfast at the Diner for the first time on Sunday morning, sharing a vegetable omelette with bacon, a Belgian waffle and biscuits and gravy with his fiancé.

But the desserts, those are his favorite.

“You can’t go wrong with any cheesecake they have there,” Okst said.

Alliaga said that Tselios’ mentality, caring so much about the customer and quality, is why Tselios has been and will remain successful in a tough industry that doesn’t always have the staying power that Tselios has seen, especially through the pandemic years.

“He didn’t come from a wealthy family, per se, and he built his business from the bottom,” Aliaga said.

Gus Tselios brought the New York Cheesecake recipe with him when he started the Marietta Diner, making the scrumptious dessert himself to be sure it was perfect. Perhaps the most popular dessert, though there is so much to choose from in the dessert case, it’s hard to know for sure.

What’s new and what’s always a good idea to do Nashville,

[ BY LISA MOWRY ]

NASHVILLE has always attracted dreamers and creative types, which gives this big city a dynamic energy unlike anywhere else. With its location less than a four-hour drive from Cobb County, Nashville should be on the top of any getaway bucket list.

For one thing, Nashville is well-deserving of the nickname Music City, with its 180 live music venues and museums dedicated to musical icons of all genres. You can even stand on the stage of Ryman Auditorium — referred to as “the mother church of country music” — as part of a tour. Plus, there’s a big food revolution going on there, history and art to explore and a walkable downtown.

What’s New:

A lot is going on in Nashville. Since 2020, more than 5,000 new hotel rooms have been added — many in the thriving downtown area — and hundreds of new restaurants to feed the hungry visitors. Rooftop bars are a big thing, and so are whiskey tasting rooms.

Backstage tours at the legendary Grand Ole Opry includes peaks into “green rooms” with their different themes, where performers can relax before or after a trip to the big stage.

Tennessee

Above The free Music City Walk of Fame is near the Country Music Hall of Fame (itself a popular attraction) in downtown.

Immediate Right The free Music City Walk of Fame is near the Country Music Hall of Fame (itself a popular attraction) in downtown.

Top Right The elegant lobby at the historic Hermitage Hotel recently was refurbished, while keeping the original architecture that speaks of its 100 -year-old-plus history. It played a role in the women’s suffragette movement a century ago, so look for displays in the lobby.

Above The newly opened National Museum of African American Music is the only museum dedicated to celebrating the diverse musical genres created, influenced and produced by African Americans.

Left Locally sourced goods are fun to browse in the lobby shopping area at the boutique destination, Hotel Noelle.

Hotels: The Conrad Nashville is one of several luxury hotels to open near the thriving downtown. Its soaring lobby, custom architectural elements and commitment to local art make an excellent first impression; inside the rooms, marble bathrooms, Frette bedding and views of downtown are a treat. Other new destinations include The Four Seasons, One Hotel Nashville and Hotel Fraye, while the historic and elegant Hermitage Hotel recently underwent a big refresh with new décor.

Things to do: The new National Museum of African American Music shows that Music City is more than just about country music. Start the experience with a film tracing the history of African American muse-

Far left Avocado toast at the jewel-toned restaurant inside The Conrad Hotel is always a good idea.

Immediate left The sophisticated Lounge at Blue Aster in the Conrad Hotel provides guests a place to have coffee in the morning, and specialty cocktails throughout the day against the backdrop of its large-scale art and modern décor.

ums of the centuries, then explore the sections ranging from blues, jazz, gospel and hip-hop, with a chance to take home music and dance along the way. Mint Julep Tours are now in Nashville, offering both public tours (“Mimosas and Murals” is a popular one; a favorite for Instagram-worthy pics) or custom trips to artisan whiskey-makers, all in the comfort of a van. With its combo of elevated bar food and live music, new destination The Electric Jane is a two-fer for visitors.

What’s Always a Good Idea:

Places to eat:

Have you even been to Nashville if you didn’t eat a hot-chicken sandwich? The famous Hattie B’s restaurant has a newish location on Broadway to sample its spicy chicken served to your hot level (I opted for medium, which still requires lots of iced tea to wash it down, but worth it.) Also nearby is the new Assembly Food Hall, with inventive food and drink options overlooking the Ryman Auditorium.

A.G. Rhodes is embarking on a landmark effort.

We recently began construction to build a new home on our Cobb campus that will improve the quality of care and safety of elders, particularly for those living with dementia.

For more information and updates: agrhodes.org/legacyofcare

VOTED BEST NURSING HOME

Skin Cancer

Best Dermatology Group in Cobb County

Above In the don’t-miss category: the Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash museums are in the same building downtown.

Things to do: Live music starts in the morning in downtown Nashville. I saw people having breakfast with a dash of live country music on the side at the Johnny Cash Café. Next door, visitors can learn all about the Man in Black at the Johnny Cash Museum, and don’t miss the Patsy Cline Museum in the same building. Next, head to the Glen Campbell Museum — a quick walk — and then get tickets for a tour of the Ryman Auditorium. Honky-tonks on Broadway are open throughout the day, but you can also check the

Visit Music City website for numerous locations throughout the city to hear music. Free concerts called Musician’s Corner are held in a park with food trucks in May, June and September, and there’s also the Americana Music Festival, Bonnaroo and popular spots such as Bluebird Café. Don’t miss a concert at Grand Ole Opry, the famous live concert venue that features established and newcomer musicians.

For more information on what to do and see, go to visitmusiccity.com.

Bringle’s Smoking Oasis — new to the Nations neighborhood — honors the cuisine of the southwest from the crew behind celebrity BBQ spot Peg Leg Porker, with carve-on-thespot meats, Mexican Street Corn and other delicious sides.

By TAMACIA M. WOOLCOCK

DIGGING

MANY JOURNEYS INTO THE GENEALOGICAL PAST begin with a piece of oral history passed down from generation to generation. Once that search begins, many trace their ancestral tree across countries, continents and centuries. Lauren Craig’s journey was no exception.

When digging into her family genealogy, Craig found that her ancestors had been in America since the late 1700s, with some coming through Jamestown as indentured servants.

Craig began her family research – along with her mother and uncle – shortly after she graduated Clemson University in 2017 with a degree in history. “We each took different branches of the family and went to see how far we could kind of go with it,” Craig said.

Their quest led them to the Georgia Room at the Switzer Library, a resource collection used for researching ancestry and history in Cobb County and across state lines. The collection was founded in 1970 through a bequest of Virginia Vanstone Crosby, the first woman to run for Marietta mayor.

Top Georgia’s Census Index from 1830 open at the Georgia Room at the Switzer Library.

BY ROBIN RAYNE

Bottom Georgia Room library associate Cole Hale says that researching one’s genealogy takes more time and effort than a DNA swab, but offers more detailed results.

PHOTO BY TAMACIA M. WOOLCOCK

At first glance, the Georgia Room is modestly sized, but once entered, the breadth of the collection is breathtaking. A donation from the Library Foundation in 2007 allowed for an expansion of the room and its resources.

For Craig, that passion for genealogy transformed into a job opportunity. She was hired at the Georgia Room at Switzer Library four months after graduation. The facility afforded her access to

Opposite Page Georgia Room at Switzer Library.

PHOTO BY ROBIN RAYNE

PHOTO

RootS

BY TAMACIA M. WOOLCOCK

BY ROBIN RAYNE

microfilm, old newspapers, the “Ancestry Library” and family search databases – all useful tools to unlock a family’s past.

Georgia Room library associate Cole Hale explained that researching one’s genealogy takes more time and effort than a DNA swab, but offers more detailed results. Research provides both a story and its context.

“A lot of the recent books that we’ve got are on how to do African-American genealogy, Asian-American genealogy, Hispanic genealogy,” Hale said. “So, it’s not just limited to people trying to join the Sons or Daughters of the American Revolution.”

The Georgia Room offers beginners an hour-long service called “Book a Genealogist,” which is geared to assist those who do not know where to begin or become stuck in their search.

“I think that sometimes people see us and get a little intimidated, but we are beginner friendly,” Library Assistant Amy Albers said.

Craig worked at the Georgia Room for four years while completing her master’s degree in library science at the University of Alabama. “Something that we told everybody at Georgia Room whenever they were starting research is your family is always more interesting than you think,” Craig said.

The Georgia Room has a conference room where groups like the Daughters of the American Revolution

Above Enter into the Georgia Room at the Switzer Library to begin a journey of discovery.

PHOTO

Right The Georgia Room at Switzer Library offers a plethora of resources for anyone to use to discover their ancestry.

PHOTO

“Oh, it is surprising,” said Beatrice Coker, a member of the Cobb County Genealogical Society and D.A.R., of genealogical research. For instance, she learned her 13th or 15th great grandmother and her daughter were accused of witchcraft long before the Salem witch trials.

Coker’s family research also shed light on her own personality. “I always wondered why I had an interest in science and I have a master’s in chemistry. I found that my great grandfather had a lot of patents. He was an engineer in science. You find out a little bit about yourself and your personality and what your interest is through your ancestors,” she said.

A good place to start your genealogical research, Albers said, is to speak with an older relative and find a name that is at least 75 years old. “Find out the information and then come here, and we can help you put it into more than just names and dates,” she said.

Above Tom Brooks, Library staff, examines aerial photographs of Cobb County made in the 1970s in the Georgia Room at Switzer Library. PHOTO BY ROBIN RAYNE

The Georgia Room is more than research of genealogy— It is a treasure box for preserving the past and putting it into perspective. Here, families can scan records and heirlooms, and digitize oral family history to ensure those who are curious in the future will be well informed. They offer monthly presentations on different research topics, an array of vertical files, a growing collection of African American and Native American books and other historical materials.

The Ancestry Library allows users to enter their last name into the search bar and watch as pages of possible relatives are called up from several databases.

Professionals use the resources for construction, laws, maps, records and more. The conference room is

Below The journey into discovering one’s genealogy begins at the Georgia Room at Switzer Library. PHOTO BY TAMACIA M. WOOLCOCK

Above Alex Beswick, Central Regional Manager, Carolyn Crawford, Georgia Room Head Librarian, and Cole Hale, Library Assistant, in the stacks at the Georgia Room at Switzer Library. PHOTO BY ROBIN RAYNE

“It’s important that we understand … where we come from … but because we can kind of see what (our ancestors) may have gone through, what we share with them, what we don’t … what the world looked like at that time, and how similar, different it was to the world we now live in and the things that we might want to change in our world.”

available by reservation to facilitate group meetings. The library accommodates out of towners with guest passes.

“It’s important that we understand … where we come from … but because we can kind of see what (our ancestors) may have gone through, what we share with them, what we don’t … what the world looked like at that time, and how similar, different it was to the world we now live in and the things that we might want to change in our world,” Craig said.

The Georgia Room is at 266 Roswell St. in Marietta inside the Switzer Library. The hours of operation are: Monday to Wednesday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m.

LAUREN CRAIG

Above Detailed drawings of historic downtown Marietta on display at the Georgia Room.

PHOTO BY TAMACIA M. WOOLCOCK

cover story

MADAM PRESIDENT

Kat Schwaig’s journey

FROM TEXAS YOUTH TO KSU PRESIDENT

Story Written By HUNTER RIGGALL

K

athy “Kat” Schwaig doesn’t consider herself a born public speaker. An introvert by nature, the president of Kennesaw State University has had to learn the art of standing at a podium and commanding the attention of a room.

It’s an important skill when you’re head of the third-largest university in the state. And Schwaig had a good model to study growing up — her father, a Baptist preacher in small-town central Texas.

“Very often when I walk to a podium, I feel my dad, because there were so many times that I sat in a church, and I watched him in the pulpit,” she said.

Born in Houston as the youngest of four children, Schwaig was reared in Temple, Texas. Though the city’s population has more than doubled since her childhood, at the time it was a town of about 35,000, a number smaller than KSU’s student body.

Schwaig’s father led the largest church in the community. Her mother was a homemaker, and Schwaig’s childhood and friendships were centered around the church.

“My parents were just salt of the Earth people,” she said. “They were just good people.”

Schwaig, a former professor of information systems, didn’t plan to go into academia as a

President Kathy Schwaig in her office at Kennesaw Hall. (KSU)

cover story

child, or even when she was in college. But she was raised in a family that prioritized education.

Schwaig’s family lived humbly, she said, but her parents paid for her and her siblings to attend private school.

“I still don’t know how they did that,” she said. They never considered not attending college, and all four children have earned advanced degrees.

CUTTING HER TEETH

After graduating from Temple High School, Schwaig went off to nearby Baylor University, where she earned a bachelor’s in accounting and a MBA in information systems.

Her plan was to enter business. She went to work for a “quintessential” Texas businessman — a tough, hat-wearing septuagenarian from Waco who owned oil and cattle companies.

Schwaig worked there in the mid-1980s, doing accounting and information systems work, when a friend who taught accounting at Baylor asked if she had

ever thought about being an academic. She laughed at the prospect — “I hadn’t been a very good student” — but was convinced to reach out to Baylor’s information systems department chair.

As it happened, a faculty member had left abruptly, leaving four classes that needed an instructor. Schwaig joined Baylor as a lecturer to try her hand at teaching.

“I really did love it,” she said.

To continue in academia, Schwaig knew she’d need a doctorate. So she left Baylor after three years and made for the University of South Carolina. She spent five years in Columbia earning her Ph.D. in information systems.

The next stop was Georgia State University, where she spent seven or eight years. The information systems faculty there were “some of the best in the world” when it came to research, Schwaig said. But her true passion was being in the classroom. That led her to her present home, joining KSU in 2002.

Schwaig “never, ever, ever” intended to be an adminis-

Above Kathy Schwaig (3) with her parents Ed and Nola Stewart at a reception honoring her dad. Ed Stewart was a pastor at a church in Galena Park, Texas and the family was relocating to Midwest City, Oklahoma.

Above KSU President Kathy Schwaig at an ice cream social on campus. (KSU)

trator. But twice she ended up as an interim department chair, and was eventually tapped to be associate dean of the business school. In 2012, she became dean, a position she served in until 2019, when she was made provost and senior vice president for academic affairs.

Schwaig was appointed interim president in July 2021, following the departure of predecessor Pamela Whitten who left to assume the presidency of Indiana University. In March of this year, the state Board of Regents made it official by appointing Schwaig as the sixth president of KSU.

PLANNING TO STAY PUT

The university, founded in 1966 as a junior college, was led for a quarter-century by the late Betty Siegel, from 1981 to 2006. Siegel’s successor, Dan Papp, served a decade. But the two presidents preceding Schwaig had shorter tenures — Sam Olens led the university for just 15 months, and Whitten served just shy of three years.

Schwaig, 60, said she plans to finish her career at KSU. After 20 years, she has a warm affection for the community. Her daughter has grown up in the area.

“But you never know — it’s not always my decision … I’m not looking for anything else. And I’m just truly grateful for being here,” Schwaig said.

Commitment to the institution was important for KSU’s presidential search committee, said Darina Lepadatu, a KSU sociologist who chaired the committee.

“I hope President Schwaig will stay with us for a long time, because we were really looking for a president that is committed and invested to stay and to serve the KSU

Above KSU President Kathy Schwaig speaks at the ribbon cutting for The Summit, a 500-bed dorm for freshman students, in August.

community … We had a bit of a revolving door of presidents over the past years, so stability is very important for us,” Lepadatu said.

The 18-member committee included professors such as Lepadatu, along with non-academic staff, students and KSU Foundation trustees. The diverse group conducted a national search before deciding to recommend Schwaig to the Board of Regents.

Trent Turk is founder and CEO of Marietta-based land surveying firm GeoSurvey. A KSU Foundation trustee and former board chair, he is an alumnus of Southern Polytechnic State University, which merged with KSU in the 2010s.

Turk said the KSU community “breathed a collective sigh of relief” when Schwaig was selected as president.

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Turk first met Schwaig during the Southern Poly-KSU merger, and got to know her when she was provost. His stint as board chair overlapped with the appointment of Schwaig as interim president.

“During her time as interim president, and while I was chair, we faced two or three headwinds, serious issues where she and I had to speak very deeply,” Turk said.

Turk declined to elaborate on those issues, but said Schwaig is “the most centered, level, person.”

“She’s able to deal with the most controversial things in a steady, solid way. And it instills confidence,” Turk said.

BOOMING GROWTH

Schwaig joined KSU, enrollment was a little more than 15,000. It was still considered a commuter school, which students attended at night after work.

When

Since then the college has ballooned in size. This fall, there were more than 43,000 students, a fourth consecutive year of record enrollment.

Undergraduate enrollment grew about 1% over the past year, while postgraduate enrollment jumped by about 6%.

A rate of 1-2% growth in undergraduate enrollment is healthy for the university’s budget and provides a sense of momentum, Schwaig said. But colleges and universities anticipate challenges in the coming years due to an impending “enrollment cliff,” a key focus for the new president.

The cliff has its roots in the 2008 recession, when births declined in the U.S. As a consequence, the number of college-aged adults in the U.S. is expected to decline in the near future.

“The decades that we’re getting ready to go into in higher ed are different than the decade that we’re coming from,” Schwaig said. “And so I think that requires us to think more strategically about how we’re using our resources.”

KSU’s location near Atlanta is an asset, she said, and many other colleges in Georgia are not booming like KSU. “But again, the future will not be like the past,” she added.

The strategy moving forward includes a mix of initiatives, such as recruiting more international students, offering more online learning options and increasing graduate programs.

Right KSU President Kathy Schwaig, right, and Provost Ivan Pulinkala bring cake to students on the first day of classes in August. (HUNTER RIGGALL)

In recent years, KSU has added graduate programs in high-demand areas — financial technology, cybersecurity, computer science and engineering.

“Never before … have we seen such a demand for highly educated individuals in the workforce,” Schwaig said. “... And the supply of college-age students is going down.”

Helping to build an educated workforce for the state is part of the institution’s mission. As business school dean, Schwaig said the school worked hand in hand with the business community.

“You are bringing them into the classroom, you’re getting them to help you evaluate curriculum and design curriculum. So there’s a very tight connection at a business school to the real world,” she said.

To continue enrollment growth, KSU must attract students who might not otherwise attend college, by

providing them the additional financial and academic support they need. A key part of that is growing KSU’s endowment.

As of June 30, 2016, the end of fiscal year 2016, the endowment was about $38 million.

In recent years, that figure has more than doubled, and was about $102 million by the end of the 2021 calendar year.

Endowments are used to fund short- and long-term goals of universities. They are made up of many individual funds, often with restrictions on their use. Some help fund scholarships and other financial aid, while others pay professors, fund certain research, or support arts or athletics.

The vast majority of KSU’s endowment funds are restricted, meaning donors designated the gifts for certain purposes.

Many restricted gifts are used for facilities. Schwaig said the biggest need is growing the endowment for scholarship support — some 75% of students are in need of financial support.

“Our scholarship endowment is not where it needs to be,” Schwaig said.

“... Universities that have deeper endowments and deeper scholarship programs can cover those dollars,” she added. “So if a student’s thinking about coming to us or to another institution that can cover that, they may go there, if money is the main issue.”

Turk explained that the KSU Foundation was created primarily to develop real estate, constructing buildings using bonds and financing, before turning them over to KSU.

The foundation is “a conduit to get things done, when

just the university ... being a government entity, could not do,” Turk said.

Turk agreed that the endowment must grow in order for KSU to support its scholarship goals. When it comes to the amount of financial assistance it can provide per student, the university does not measure up against schools that have had centuries to build wealth, he said.

“It needs to be grown significantly,” he said. “We are a young university … and it takes a long time to build up a multibillion dollar endowment that can spin off those scholarships for all the kids. … We are certainly on that path.”

KEEPING PACE

her 20 years at KSU, Schwaig has watched the university grow by leaps and bounds, adding athletic programs, new teaching facilities and student housing. The campus has become more of a traditional college environment, moving away from its commuter roots.

In

There have been some growing pains, the president said. The university has had to grow its infrastructure — buildings, roads and technology — to keep up. And it has had to recruit more professors. Making sure all classes are staffed with instructors has been a challenge, she said, necessitating the hiring of a “boatload” of faculty.

The school is now one of four in the University

KSU President Kathy Schwaig, left, and University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue at Schwaig’s investiture ceremony in October. (KSU)

cover story

System of Georgia with more than 40,000 students. Georgia State is the largest (nearly 52,000 as of this fall). KSU lands slightly below Georgia Tech in size, and slightly above the University of Georgia.

“I don’t think we want to put a limit on where we could go,” Schwaig said. “I think what we have to make sure is that as we grow, we build the infrastructure along with it.”

Among the big four public universities in Georgia, three are classified as R1 research institutions (the highest level) by the Carnegie Institute, which classifies universities on their level of research.

KSU since 2018 has been designated as an R2 university . The current ambition is not to gain R1 status, Schwaig said, but to be “the best R2 that we possibly can be.”

The classification is determined by how many research doctorates a school bestows and the amount of external research funding it receives.

The university is at a good place when it comes to bestowing doctorates, but is looking to grow external funding by about 20% a year, Schwaig said. Currently it is meeting R2 requirements, but building out its grant-writing infrastructure and drawing in more external funding will make that classification more solid, she said.

The school’s growing diversity is also exciting, Lepadatu said. In fall 2021, for the first time minority students accounted for more than half of KSU’s students.

“We’re definitely excited to see this growth in diversity on our campus. Georgia State used to have this reputation of being one of the more diverse universities in the nation, but now KSU has a reputation nationwide for providing … (one of) the highest number of degrees to minority students,” Lepadatu said.

Schwaig’s business school background

‘WHAT WE DON’T WANT TO LOSE’

informs her leadership.

“I DON’T THINK WE WANT TO PUT A LIMIT ON WHERE WE COULD GO,” SCHWAIG SAID. “I THINK WHAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE IS THAT AS WE GROW, WE BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE ALONG WITH IT.”

“Which is not always a popular thing at a university,” she said. “But I think it’s important. Especially because we’re in an era of higher education where there is a lot more accountability, and a lot more need to think about the university in a very pragmatic way.”

Higher education has not always been run in such a way. Talking about a university as a business, she admitted, doesn’t speak to the core mission of a school and its faculty — research and educating students.

Schwaig recognizes that professors “could go work in corporate, and they’re choosing to work in higher education, because it provides a different environment.” And she tries to balance the pragmatic aspects with the more traditional, idealistic goals of education.

“There has to be something about the experience here that goes beyond just getting a job,” she said.

Even after earning three business degrees, Schwaig felt a need to pursue the more classical side of education. So she earned a master’s of liberal arts from Johns Hopkins University.

“And I did learn to think in a different way. And I learned to look at things in a different way,” she said. “And so that’s what we don’t want to lose about a place like this.”

That tradition continues at KSU, where all students must fulfill general education

requirements, taking a breadth of classes in liberal arts and sciences.

“Workforce development is important,” Schwaig said. “But this aspect of what students get from a traditional university experience, which is this kind of transformative way of looking at the world, is still very, very important. So it becomes important for me in my role to make sure I’m not talking about one at the expense of the other.”

BUSY AS A BEE

it comes to the day-to-day, the president’s schedule includes frequent meetings with her cabinet, which includes a slew of vice presidents. She doesn’t micromanage them, though.

When

“I want to hire somebody who is an expert in that area. And then I want to help remove roadblocks for them,” Schaig said.

The president’s office occupies the top floor of Kennesaw Hall in the heart of the campus. Floor-to-ceiling windows and a balcony look west over the grassy oval known as the Campus Green. Schwaig tries to get out of that lofty space as often as possible to meet with students, professors and guests down below.

“This is a big place,” she said. “And it’d be really easy for me to sit in this office and at that desk, and I can always find work to do, there’s always something to do. So I want to see my calendar reflect events that are going on on campus. And it gives me the opportunity, whether I’m interacting with students, or interacting with faculty or with staff, it’s extremely important,” Schwaig said.

At home, Schwaig has a 13-year-old daughter, Emma, who attends Mt. Paran Christian School and plays volleyball. Schwaig adopted Emma at birth with her ex-husband, Mike. Though divorced since 2019, the parents see each other daily.

“We still take family trips together, and

Above KSU President Kathy Schwaig poses with Scrappy the Owl, the university’s mascot. (KSU)

it’s kind of all about raising Emma. And so we’re good friends, and that all works out well,” she said.

In her free time, Schwaig likes to bake with her daughter. Years ago she was a long-distance runner by hobby. One day, while jogging by a lake in South Carolina, she stopped in her tracks.

“And I decided I’m going to be a walker,” she said.

Schwaig likes to walk for 90 minutes, four or five days a week. It’s a stress reliever, giving her time to think through things. When she can’t find time for long walks, she walks her two golden doodles up and down the hill she lives on.

“My neighbors think I’m crazy,” she joked.

In keeping with her upbringing, she listens to Christian and Gospel music. Gospel singer CeCe Winans’ latest record is her current favorite.

The family are members of Mt. Vernon Baptist, but also go to North Metro Church, where Emma is involved in the youth group.

‘SHE DEALS WITH IT’

Live your best life at Parc!

described Schwaig as kind, thoughtful and transparent. Though likely deluged with messages, the president always finds a little time to acknowledge comments and respond to emails.

Lepadatu

“Sometimes in executive decisions, you cannot share everything with everyone, but she’s really trying to improve processes, where she makes our decisions as transparent and as democratic as possible,” Lepadatu said.

The president is also a respected leader on campus, Lepadatu added, who other faculty have watched climb the academic ladder.

“I can speak for women, she’s an inspiration for female faculty. … I remember going to her inauguration with five of my PhD students,” Lepadatu said. “And they were all very moved at the ceremony.”

For Turk, the president is the type of leader he aspires to be — level headed, considerate and dedicated.

“Kat is a serious leader. She has a way about her of making anybody feel comfortable to speak with her,” Turk said. “She looks people square in the eye and listens to what they’ve got to say with no judgment whatsoever. She acknowledges it, she takes it seriously, and then she deals with it.”

“THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE HERE THAT GOES BEYOND JUST GETTING A JOB.”

JJAX KEARNEY grew in the small town of Portland, Connecticut. Writing stories ever since the first grade, Jax had the gift of storytelling. As a freshman in high school, he was one of only 25 kids in the state to be selected to participate in Wesleyan University’s prestigious “Center for Creative Youth” for creative writing. It was here that Jax learned that he could make a living off his creativity. He was one of the youngest students accepted that year, and learned to hone his writing craft and interact with 125 other artistic students in other artistic disciplines, in what he credits to this day as the most important influence on his creativity and budding style as a writer.

Following his graduation from high school, Jax joined the military becoming a Sonar Technician for the U.S. Coast Guard, furthering his

CL: How did the idea for “Whistler’s Mother” come about?

JK: There’s a great back story to the creation of this novel. When I started it I had a roommate named Vicki who was an avid reader, and had read the first three or four chapters I had finished at the time. She loved the early story and was pushing me to finish it. But when she was in a catastrophic car accident that nearly killed her, she ended up in the

QA AND

MEET THE AUTHOR

By J.K. Murphy

experiences as he traveled extensively in the U.S., Caribbean, and Europe giving him valuable life experiences most will never encounter, that he would draw upon in his later writing.

After the Coast Guard, Jax turned to standup comedy. He toured the country for years earning a living as a professional comedian writing and performing his own act. But, eventually life on the road alone took its toll, and Jax decided to stop touring and concentrate solely on writing.

Settling in the Atlanta, GA area, Jax began to focus solely on writing again, adding script-writing and film-making to his arsenal of talents. He quickly began to garner good reviews for his screenplays, and made the decision to start making short films. In the summer of 2008, he shot his first short film “Indian Hill”, an autobiographical coming of age tale about growing up in Portland, CT, which he premiered in February 2009. Several other short films have followed since. Now Jax is writing and producing the web-series; www.NoirTheSeries.com!

Jax is increasingly finding himself in demand as a script doctor and consultant to other writers. Jax’s feature length scripts continue to garner great reviews, including

hospital for over a month. I wanted her to have something to read and keep busy with, so I kept working on the novel’s first draft at a pretty furious rate. I would bring each chapter to her in the hospital on loose pages, so she only had to hold one piece of paper at the time. (One of her arms was broken in the accident.) It was a great motivator for both of us, as it let her escape her situation, and I wrote a great novel to help my friend get better.

“Neptune’s Prison” which won “Best New Writer” at the 2015 Action on Film Festival’s screenplay competition. It’s only a matter of time before Jax’s talent is recognized by the powers that be in the industry, and avid film goers will know and revere the name Jax Kearney.

The pandemic shut down most of smaller film work, and Jax returned to work on his first novel “Whistler’s Mother” and focused on a final edit of the book. He is proud to announce the release of his first novel, now available in paperback and eBook, as well as a planned audio-book version that will be coming in the near future.

Recently Jax released his first children’s book (as Jack Kearney) as well, inspired by his three young nieces called “The Adventures of Impy Wimpy”. It’s an early reader books for kids between five and ten years old, with an emphasis on family.

Jax was worn a myriad of hats during his lifetime; A comic book kid, military veteran, computer geek, and comedian, he brings all his varied experiences to his characters and stories. He remains to this day, a creator and lover of all forms of written and live entertainment.

CL: What separates this book from other pieces you’ve written? What connects it?

JK: I have mainly focused on screenplays the past ten years or so, with a few award wins on the festival circuit, and a hired re-write job, but I’ve yet to sell one of my own scripts yet. This is the first full novel I have released. The original idea for this goes back to 2005, with the first draft finished in 2008, but then it languished on a shelf while I honed my screenwriting.

During the pandemic I had a hard time starting new projects for some reason, so I decided to edit and release this novel finally. I wanted to write this as a novel to get deeper into the mindset and motivations for each character. With screenplays you can show motivations, but with a novel you can really get into the inner thoughts and motivations of the characters better.

CL: What can readers expect from “Whistler’s Mother”?

JK: It is a somewhat dark, fast moving crime thriller with three main characters the story centers around: The main detective Frank Carmine, the gay psychologist who runs the shelter for abused women Jim Whistler, and the killer of course. They all end up tied together in the story-line along with support characters of importance, most obviously, Jim’s mother. It is a fairly dark novel as it concerns a serial killer, albeit one who’s killing abusers of women. So if crime dramas interest you, you’ll love this novel.

CL: How does inspiration strike you?

JK: As a holdover from my years of being a standup comedian, I always carry a small pocket recorder. Thanks to this practice, I can make notes on story ideas, plot twists, or even just good ideas for a line of dialogue any place, anytime, anywhere! So many things trigger ideas for me. Fortunately I’m not one of those writers who’s stuck for ideas. My idea file is over 400 story ideas, and whichever one takes up the most space in my head and thoughts, is the next one that hits the paper.

CL: Do you have any rituals/best practices for writing?

JK: I think all writers have a time of day they like to write, and write best, for me that’s between midnight and 3 to 4 a.m. I’m a night owl. But I can write almost anywhere if I’m really motivated to finish a story. (I’ve knocked out pages in loud bars and restaurants. I’m from a big family of five, so it all becomes white noise when you’re really focused on the story) especially when you get into the third act or final chapters when you want to get to the end yourself. It’s always a good sign when you want to write the ending, not just to finish the story, but that the story is motivating me, and it’s a good sign that it will interest others.

CL: What advice can you share with other local aspiring authors?

JK: Finish the first draft NO MATTER WHAT! It doesn’t have to be good, that’s what re-writing is for, but get the story down on paper. This alone is a major accomplishment. You should always have a good idea or even better a written outline of your story’s beginning, middle and ending. I can’t start a story I don’t know how I want it to end. I personally like to write a page or two on what each characters life has been up until my story begins. It lets me know the character better so they can be consistent in my story, or see the reasons for them changing over the course of my script or novel.

CL: How has your environment influenced your work?

JK: I’ve lived through a lot of turmoil in my life. My father was an alcoholic, and although I grew up in a great small town in CT, there was a lot of family strife around me. I think that’s shaped my

storytelling in a way that I lean towards troubled characters, unrequited love, and usually some form of redemption that a lot of us never got to experience. But one of the biggest influences on me as a writer happened when I was a freshman in High School. I was accepted to a prestigious six week summer school at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, called “The Center for Creative Youth.” They accepted 25 high school kids in five art disciplines each year; creative writing, acting, music, dance and visual arts, and out of the entire state of Connecticut, I was accepted for creative writing! Not only did a grow up so much that summer as a person, it taught me that you could possibly make a living from your art.

CL: What’s your favorite part about writing? Your least favorite?

JK: My favorite part is that excitement of the spark of creation and starting a new project. I love when an idea is new and you’re finally putting it down on paper to share with others. That’s a big part of it for me, as it was being a standup

THE FOLLOWING IS AN EXCERPT FROM JAX KEARNEY’S BOOK

“Whistler’s Mother”

Smiling and shaking her head, she knelt down to evaluate the abuser. Jim staggered to the stairs and sat down on the first step. Looking over his shoulder with a faint smile, he addressed the women on the porch.

“I’m sorry about the disturbance ladies, but it’s over now. You can go back to your rooms, except for Stacy. I think you’ll need to identify him for the police.”

“Yeah, especially since you knocked his punk a-- out” added one of the girls, to which they all murmured in agreement and approval. Jim turned to face them. “Please, let’s not glorify the violence. Not here. Not after what each of you have been through to end up as our guests. I did what I did because I had to, and I’d do it again in a second, but don’t think I enjoyed having to do that,” pointing to the motionless body in the grass.

“Sorry Doctor Jim,” the woman repented. “You’re right.”

Turning back to the prone body on the ground, he allowed himself a short smile for his conquest over the abusive husband. Deep inside, in that place where you try not to admit to yourself the things you don’t want others to know about you, came an overwhelming wave of approval for a just and righteous victory. And as he looked at the unconscious man laid out in front of him, with his back to all the women, his smile widened a little more.

Stacy pulled one of the girls back into the hallway for some privacy.

Whispering to the other woman, “Who’s that guy? How come he was inside the shelter?”

“That’s Doctor Jim.” The other replied. “He’s one of the psychiatrists that run this place. Besides, you of all people should be glad he was here.”

“Oh, I am. Trust me.” She explained earnestly. “I just thought they don’t allow men in here at all, you know, to make us feel safe.”

“It doesn’t get much safer than having Doctor Jim here. He’s a black belt.” The other woman continued. “And, besides that, he’s gay.”

comedian, I love to entertain people. I know life is hard for a lot of us, so if I can entertain you for a while and take you away from your troubles, so that when you face them again you are refreshed and ready to take them on again, then I’ve done a good thing.

My least favorite part is the business of writing. SO many great stories and scripts are never seen because of the mechanics of the writing industry, and especially the screenwriting business. Production companies will not even read your work unless it’s presented through an agent or actor they respect. There are good legal reasons for some of it, but it’s disheartening to have script or story everyone including peers love (not just friends and family) and you still can’t get it into the right hands due to lack of representation. That’s why the self publishing movement has become a thing, and it’s a good thing.

CL: Why did you start writing? What made you take the plunge?

JK: In my memory, I do not EVER remember a time when I wasn’t writing. My mother has a book I wrote and bound

for her when I was six-years-old! It was a few pages long, and a folded a piece of oak tag around some blank sheets of paper, and sewed them together in the crease, because that how books are made right? I think she still has it somewhere. When I was around 10, I wrote my own comic books. I had my own comic book label “Kid Comics” and about five or six different superheroes who I wrote multiple issue for. I still have a bunch of those in my files.

CL: What/who is your favorite book/ author of all time? Why?

JK: This is a very tough question. Different books stand out if different ways. I just re-read George Orwell’s “1984” during the pandemic which made it even more terrifying. I discovered a love for the writings of James Baldwin and recommend “The Fire Next Time” as my favorite of the four or five books of his I’ve read. I’m of mixed heritage, but didn’t meet my African American father until I was 30, so his books speak to me on discovering that side of my heritage.

CL: What makes your work stand out from other authors in the same genre?

JK: Because of my cross training, so to speak in screenwriting, I have a very lean style in my novels. I hate when an author spends two pages describing something that isn’t even relevant to the story. I like to tell the story, so I keep the detail to a level of painting the picture, but letting the story flow.

L OCAL SCRIBES

In addition to our Q&A with a local author, be sure to check out these new releases written by local authors in Cobb.

Marietta author Roni Robbins has published “Hands of Gold,” a work of fiction loosely based on an inspiring true story.

Acworth author Roger Graham has published “Fly By Knights,” that details personal recollections of 37 pilots, navigators, maintenance and armament personnel and family members in the Vietnam War.

Cobb restaurant wrap-up and new beginnings

The last few months of 2022 saw a lot of restaurant news with Cobb diners saying goodbye to some and welcoming others.

After 42 years, Marietta’s staple sandwich shop, the Lunch Basket, closed its doors Nov. 15. But the Lunch Basket’s legacy lives on at a newer restaurant with the same owner and menu – the Daily Bread, at 531 Roselane St. in Marietta. Owner Tonya Bruce said her Daily Bread Cafe, almost a decade old, will honor its elder sibling. Bruce plans to add “the Lunch Basket” to the newer shop’s name by the start of 2023.

After celebrating its fifth anniversary in early October, barbecue joint Hawg & Ale Smokehouse on

Powder Springs Street just off the Marietta Square has closed its doors for good.

After two years of serving the community, an Ohio-based sushi and burrito eatery, Roll On In, closed its doors in east Cobb last November.

A Roswell Street storefront just east of the Square is now Boru Ramen & Poke, following the closure of Fox Dogs, a specialty hot dog restaurant that operated in that spot. Fox Dogs, founded in fall 2019 by Marietta native Zach Fox, announced it was closing in September after the business struggled with rising food and labor costs.

Boru’s Marietta location marks the second store, complementing its first on Barrett Parkway in the Town Center area. Boru offers “authentic southern Japanese style ramen in a fast-paced and casual environment,” as described by the restaurant. Its menu includes ramen noodles, bento boxes and poke bowls in the $10 to $14 range, as well as bubble tea, dumplings, edamame and other sides.

Top Left: The Lunch Basket

Bottom Left: Hawg & Ale Smokehouse

Top Right: Boru Ramen & Poke; Bottom Right: Cherokee Chophouse

Cherokee Chophouse at 2710 Canton Road in Marietta reopened for business in November after a head-to-toe renovation.

Popular salad brand Chopt opened a new east Cobb store in November at 4250 Roswell Road, Suite 630 in Marietta.

A drive-thru Chipotle opened its doors in the fall on Cobb Parkway adjacent to the Big Chicken.

Cozy Coop, the innovative new fast-food concept from Atlanta chef Ricky Navas and restaurateur Mike Madonna, opened its doors in November at 2500 Barrett Creek Blvd in Marietta. Owners said the restaurant offers “chef-driven” fried chicken and Southern cuisine.

Kai’s and Ko Restaurant and Lounge, a restaurant in east Cobb, announced its official relaunch in November which introduced new management, new menu items and weekly live entertainment.

The Cleaver and Cork butcher shop opened its fourth metro Atlanta location in late October at 1062 Johnson Ferry Road in Marietta.

Marietta Theater Group announces season

The Marietta Theater Company announced its upcoming 2023 season, which marks the fifth full season for the company.

The 2023 season lineup begins with “I Love You, You’re Perfect Now Change” which will run Feb. 17 –March 4. Next up is contemporary musical, “Calvin Berger” which will run April 14 – April 29. Running June 16 – July 1 is the new musical “Head Over Heels”, a comedy with music of the Go-Go’s. Beginning Aug. 16 and running through Sept. 2 will be the unique and personalized musical comedy, “The Real Housewives of Marietta”. The season will conclude with “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” which can be seen Oct. 27 through Nov. 11.

“We are over the moon excited about the 2023 season lineup, and we are so grateful for the many people who have made our growth possible in the Marietta community,” Marietta Theatre Company Executive Director Blaine Clotfelter said.

Season tickets are now on sale and can be purchased on the Marietta Theatre Company website:

www.mariettatheatre.com. All performances take place at the Lyric Studio at 12 Powder Springs St. in the Marietta Square.

Georgia Tech alum opens new sports lounge in Marietta

Professional athlete and Georgia Tech alumnus Alade Aminu made a new play in Marietta: opening a sports lounge.

Aminu recently celebrated the grand opening of Bar 44, located at 2755 Canton Road. As a new sports bar in Cobb County, Aminu said Bar 44 is a unique addition to the area where patrons can comfortably enjoy signature cocktails, hookah, weekend brunch and elevated bar cuisine.

“We wanted to create a comfortable feeling, different from the typical sports bars,” Aminu said. “So, we created an innovative ‘sports lounge’ concept.”

Bar 44 provides a diverse food and beverage selection different from local sports bars, Aminu said. The

Funeral

Tidings of Comfort

sports-themed menu offers lamb chops, seafood, sandwiches, pasta, vegan options and more. The cocktail menu features a custom drink called “The 4th & 1” where four top-shelf tequila brands are mixed with fresh ingredients to create a peach margarita.

Aminu said Bar 44 is home to 15 large-screen televisions, a full-service bar, custom embroidered couches and lounge seating options inside and outdoors.

“What we did here is we created an elevated sky box feel,” Aminu said. “If you’re not at the arena or stadium, you’re at Bar 44 with the same energy and feel as a sports game.”

As an Atlanta local and avid sports fan, Aminu said he recognized there was a lack of sports bars in the Marietta area where people could gather comfortably to watch games. Additionally, Aminu said his goal was to create a space that is gender-inclusive.

“This sports bar was designed to cater to women,” Aminu said. “Women love sports just as much as men, and we want women to feel comfortable and welcome in this space.”

Before Bar 44, Aminu played basketball for the Yellow Jackets before playing ball overseas, even reaching the Olympics. But Aminu said his achievements in basketball began in high school where he wore jersey No. 44, the namesake of his restaurant. Aminu said the number represents the beginning of a new career path while also memorializing his old one.

”I’ve always had this boss mentality,” Aminu said. “I thought to myself, ‘I love sports, real estate, having a good time with my friends and the energy of people.’ All of my passions fused together to open Bar44.”

Aminu said the opening of Bar 44 would not be possible without his partners, Garry Ellis and Abdul

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Olayiwola. While Ellis provides his restaurateur expertise, Olayiwola works on Bar 44’s operations.

“It’s going to be a fun type of energy that you don’t normally see in Marietta,” Aminu said. “I’m blessed to have a wonderful team and business partners to help me bring this dope idea to life.”

Marietta book store closes its doors

The beloved Marietta book store, the Book Nook, which has been a local staple in the used book market since 1973, closed its doors at the end of the year.

“Although we have enjoyed serving our loyal customers, we, along with thousands of other bookstores across America, can no longer make ends meet,” the Book Nook store owners said in a letter.

Before shuttering, the Marietta Book Nook on Roswell Road discounted nearly everything in its stock by 50% every weekend in November. The store was not open on other days. Trade credits are still accepted at the other Book Nook locations in Decatur and Lilburn.

Prior to the official closing announcement, the Book Nook was temporarily closed to customers for about a month because of a change in management, according to the store’s manager, Alexa Dunford. Dunford was not sure what caused the change.

Prior to writing the letter, Dunford was hopeful that the store would remain open.

“I think that we’re going to see how the sale goes and then probably, potentially, pending approval, consider reopening for business in January,” Dunford said.

Dunford said she has been coming to the story since she was a girl, for more than 20 years.

“When people hear the store is closing it is this sort of crestfallen look of heartbreak,” Dunford said.

Long-time customer Vern Wilks of Marietta said she has always found good books there.

“For me, it’s just so calming coming to find some books,” Wilks said. “I’d like to be able to come back.”

MOVIES

N M3GAN

Theaters

January 6

When Gemma suddenly becomes the caretaker of her orphaned 8-year-old niece, Cady (Violet McGraw, The Haunting of Hill House), Gemma’s unsure and unprepared to be a parent. Under intense pressure at work, Gemma decides to pair her M3GAN prototype with Cady in an attempt to resolve both problems—a decision that will have unimaginable consequences.

N PLANE

Theaters

January 27

After a heroic job of successfully landing his storm-damaged aircraft in a war zone, commercial pilot Ray Torrance finds himself caught between the agendas of multiple militia who are planning to take the plane and its passengers hostage.

N A MAN CALLED OTTO

Theaters

January 13

A grumpy isolated widower makes an unlikely and reluctant friendship with his new neighbors.

STREAMING

N THE PALE BLUE EYE

Netflix

January 6

A veteran detective and a detail-oriented young cadet team up to solve a series of murders that took place in 1830 at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. The young cadet later becomes world famous author, Edgar Allan Poe.

N SHOTGUN WEDDING

Amazon Prime January 27

A couple’s extravagant destination wedding is hijacked by criminals. In the process of saving their families, they rediscover why they fell in love in the first place

N TEEN WOLF: THE MOVIE

Paramount+

January 26

A terrifying new evil has emerged in Beacon Hills calling for the return of Alpha Werewolf Scott McCall (Tyler Posey), to once again reunite the Banshees, Werecoyotes, Hellhounds, Kitsunes, and other shape shifters of the night. With new allies and trusted friends like Derek Hale (Tyler Hoechlin), Lydia Martin (Holland Roden), Jackson Whittemore (Colton Haynes), Malia Tate (Shelley Hennig), and the return of a long lost love, Scott and his pack just might stand a chance.

BOOKS

N FINLAY DONOVAN JUMPS THE GUN

By Elle Cosimano January 31

Author and single mom Finlay Donovan has been in messes before―after all, she’s a pro at removing bloodstains for various unexpected reasons―but none quite like this. When Finlay and her nanny/partner-in-crime Vero accidentally destroyed a luxury car that they had “borrowed” in the process of saving the life of Finlay’s ex-husband, the Russian mob did her a favor and bought the car for her. And now Finlay owes them. Mob boss Feliks is still running the show from behind bars, and he has a task for Finlay: find and identify a contract killer before the cops do. The problem is, the killer might be an officer themself. Luckily, hot cop Nick has just been tasked with starting up a citizen’s police academy, and combined pressure from Finlay’s looming book deadline and Feliks is enough to convince Finlay and Vero to get involved. Through firearm training and forensic classes (and some hands-on research with a tempting detective), Finlay and Vero use their time in police academy to sleuth out the real contract killer to free themselves from the mob’s clutches―all the while dodging spies, confronting Vero’s past, and juggling the daily trials of parenthood.

N SPARE

By Prince Harry January 10

It was one of the most searing images of the twentieth century: two young boys, two princes, walking behind their mother’s coffin as the world watched in sorrow— and horror. As Diana, Princess of Wales, was laid to rest, billions wondered what the princes must be thinking and feeling—and how their lives would play out from that point on. For Harry, this is that story at last. With its raw, unflinching honesty, Spare is a landmark publication full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief.

N EXILES

By Jane Harper

January 31

At a busy festival site on a warm spring night, a baby lies alone in her stroller, her mother vanishing into the crowds. A year on, Kim Gillespie’s absence casts a long shadow as her friends and loved ones gather deep in the heart of South Australian wine country to welcome a new addition to the family. Joining the celebrations is federal investigator Aaron Falk. But as he soaks up life in the lush valley, he begins to suspect this tight-knit group may be more fractured than it seems. Between Falk’s closest friend, a missing mother, and a woman he’s drawn to, dark questions linger as long-ago truths begin to emerge.

MOVIES

N IT’S ALL COMING BACK TO ME

Theaters

February 10

A young woman tries to ease the pain over the death of her fiancé by sending him romantic texts. Unbeknownst to her, a single guy across town starts to receive the messages (the number has been reassigned). At first, he thinks it’s spam but then is so moved by the words that he endeavors to find out who is writing them.

N KNOCK AT THE CABIN

Theaters

February 3

While vacationing, a girl and her parents are taken hostage by armed strangers who demand that the family make a choice to avoid the apocalypse.

N ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA MOVIE Theaters

February 17

Scott Lang and Hope Van Dyne, along with Hank Pym and Janet Van Dyne, explore the Quantum Realm, where they interact with strange creatures and embark on an adventure that goes beyond the limits of what they thought was possible.

STREAMING

N YOUR PLACE OF MINE

Netflix

February 10

Two long-distance best friends change each other’s lives when she decides to pursue a lifelong dream and he volunteers to keep an eye on her teenage son.

N RADIANT SIN

By Katee Robert February 7

As a disgraced member of a fallen house, Cassandra Gataki has seen firsthand what comes from trusting the venomous Thirteen. But when the maddeningly gorgeous and kind Apollo asks her to go undercover as his plus-one at a week-long party hosted by a dangerous new power player...Cassandra reluctantly agrees to have his back. On one condition: when it’s all over, and Apollo has the ammunition he needs to protect Olympus, she and her sister will be allowed to leave. For good. Apollo may be the city’s official spymaster, but it’s his ability to inspire others that keeps him at the top. Despite what the rest of Olympus says, there’s no one he trusts more than Cassandra. Yet even as their fake relationship takes a wicked turn for the scaldingly hot, a very real danger surfaces... threatening not only Cassandra and Apollo, but the very heart of Olympus itself.

N THE WRITING RETREAT

By Julia Bartz

February 21

Alex has all but given up on her dreams of becoming a published author when she receives a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: attend an exclusive, month-long writing retreat at the estate of feminist horror writer Roza Vallo. Even the knowledge that Wren, her former best friend and current rival, is attending doesn’t dampen her excitement. But when the attendees arrive, Roza drops a bombshell—they must all complete an entire novel from scratch during the next month, and

the author of the best one will receive a life-changing seven-figure publishing deal. Determined to win this seemingly impossible contest, Alex buckles down and tries to ignore the strange happenings at the estate, including Roza’s erratic behavior, Wren’s cruel mind games, and the alleged haunting of the mansion itself. But when one of the writers vanishes during a snowstorm, Alex realizes that something very sinister is afoot. With the clock running out, she’s desperate to discover the truth and save herself.

N THE ANGEL MAKER

By Alex North February 28

Growing up in a beautiful house in the English countryside, Katie Shaw lived a charmed life. At the cusp of graduation, she had big dreams, a devoted boyfriend, and a little brother she protected fiercely. Until the day a violent stranger changed the fate of her family forever. Years later, still unable to live down the guilt surrounding what happened to her brother, Chris, and now with a child of her own to protect, Katie struggles to separate the real threats from the imagined. Then she gets the phone call: Chris has gone missing and needs his big sister once more. Meanwhile, Detective Laurence Page is facing a particularly gruesome crime. A distinguished professor of fate and free will has been brutally murdered just hours after firing his staff. All the leads point back to two old cases: the gruesome attack on teenager Christopher Shaw, and the despicable crimes of a notorious serial killer who, legend had it, could see the future.

January Events

Taylor Tomlinson –Have It All Tour

Comedian Taylor Tomlinson comes to the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre Jan. 14 with two shows at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. The New York Times opines, comedian Taylor Tomlinson “demonstrates tight joke writing, carefully honed act-outs and a ruthless appetite for laughs” in her second hour-long special, Look At You, now streaming on Netflix. New York Magazine adds, “Watching Tomlinson gives you the same comfort as a Swift concert or a Broadway show that’s been on for years. This is a professional. This performance will be ultra produced. You do not need to be anxious,” and the Los Angeles Times observes, “Even when she’s navigating painful waters, she can’t help but find the humor… her wit and pinpoint delivery reveal both an incisive writer and also a talented actor.” She is the woman Mashable calls “whip-smart and spectacularly cynical.” Tickets start at $25. For more information, visit www.cobbenergycentre.com/events

Culture Collision Trade Show

2023

The Culture Collision Trade Show will be at Cobb Galleria Centre Jan. 27 from 1 to 7 p.m., Jan. 28 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Jan. 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is an action-packed event for attendees to buy, sell and trade sports cards, collectibles, sports memorabilia

Cobb Life Events

and sneakers all under one roof. The show features a basketball court, trade nights, discussion panels and several events throughout the weekend. This is a family-friendly event with free gifts available for children.

Don Giovanni, The Atlanta Opera

The murderous Don Giovanni deceives women with impunity, leaving destruction in his wake. This Don Juan is not just a rakish cad but someone much more sinister. Mozart and Da Ponte’s masterwork explores vengeance and unsatiable desire. Glamour, grit, and the glow of neon infuse this film noir production in which Kristine McIntyre directs the action on the stage and Atlanta Opera Music Director, Arthur Fagen, leads The Atlanta Opera Orchestra Jan. 21 through Jan. 29. Tickets start at $48. Discounted tickets are available for students, veterans and active-military with a valid ID.

Trains, Trains, Trains

Trains, Trains, Trains is an annual family event hosted by The Southern

Museum that features train crafts, operating model trains and tips and techniques for building a home layout. This year, the family-friendly event will take place on Jan. 28 and Jan. 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will also include interactive activities, activity center, railroad music and vendors selling a variety of train-related items. In addition to the day’s events, visitors have an opportunity to explore the museum’s permanent exhibits to learn about the General, a locomotive involved in the Great Locomotive Chase, one of the Civil War’s most thrilling episodes. The museum also includes a full-scale replica of Glover Machine Works, a locomotive factory in nearby Marietta that helped rebuild the South after the war. Museum admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors 65+, $5 for children ages 3-17, $5 for active-duty military, $5 for students and free for children two and under. The Southern Museum is at 2829 Cherokee St. in Kennesaw.

Book, CD and DVD Swap

Books, CDs, and DVDs can be expensive. Now is the time to trade it for something else at The Kennesaw Book, CD and DVD Swap at the Ben Robertson

Cobb Life Events

Community Center Saturday, Jan. 22. Simply drop off your gently used hardcover or paperback books, music CDs and DVD movies on Thursday Jan 12. and Friday Jan 13 before the event from noon to 8 p.m. You will then receive a ticket redeemable for the same number of items during “open swap” time on Saturday from 8 to 11 a.m. Books must have both the front and back covers intact and be in good condition. DVDs and CDs must be in their original cases and fully operable. Please do not bring any magazines, software, record albums, VHS or cassette tapes, adult content or any unauthorized or illegal material. All items remaining after the swap will be donated to a local charity.

February Events

Polar Plunge

The 2023 Special Olympics Polar Plunge takes place at Acworth Beach at Cauble Park Feb. 25. from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The event is hosted by the Law Enforcement Torch Run For Georgia. Anyone is welcome to participate, and participants are asked collect pledges from friends and family in exchange for the opportunity to jump into icy waters in the middle of winter. Prizes will be awarded in categories like best costume, highest individual fundraiser, highest team fundraiser and more. The Polar Plunge supports and spreads awareness for Special Olympics Georgia athletes and is the largest fundraising effort benefiting Special Olympics. The Polar Plunge is an official Law Enforcement Torch Run event.

GSO Jazz! Presents: Samba at The Strand

GSO Jazz! is bringing the steamy sounds of Samba to the Strand Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 4 from 8 to 10 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 5 from 3 to 5 p.m.

Join director Skelton and the GSO jazz combo as they perform the swinging beats from south of the equator.

Tickets start at $13.

For more information, visit www.georgiasymphony.org

Valentine’s Dance Party

The annual Valentine’s Day Dance Party at the Ben Robertson Community Center in Kennesaw returns on Feb. 4 from 6 to 9 p.m. The party features all your favorite tunes spun by a DJ, plenty of dancing, character entertainment, games, prizes, memorable photo opportunities, an “all-you-care-to-eat” dinner, along with decadent desserts. It’s the perfect night with your son or daughter; or make it an entire family outing. All adults must be accompanied by a child, and all children must be accompanied by an adult. Seating will be open; however, tables will be reserved for parties of six or more.

Tickets are $15 per person, and can be purchased online at kennesawparksandrec.com, or at the Ben Robertson Community Center. Advance purchase is required. Children two-years-old and under do not need a ticket; however they must sit on an adult’s lap.

You Shall Hear…

The GSO Chorus, led by Music Director Bryan Black, will join the orchestra to pay tribute to renowned Black composers on Saturday, Feb. 25 from 8 to 10 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 26 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Marietta Performing Arts Center. A composition co-written by GSO Music Director Timothy Verville and guest artist, cellist and songwriter Okorie “OkCello” Johnson, will premiere at the event. Tickets start at $13. For more information, visit www.georgiasymphony.org

Annual Family Fancy Pants Dance

The annual Family Fancy Pants Dance at Custer Park Sports and Fitness Center in Marietta is open to children ages 5 to 12-years-old as well as their fathers, mothers or another special person in their life. The event on Sunday, Feb. 12 from 2:30 to 5 p.m. features a fun afternoon with great music, dancing, games and activities. Dress is semi-formal to formal. This is a great opportunity to make another magical childhood memory. Bring your dancing shoes and camera. The theme for 2023 is “Dance Around the World”. Tickets are $30 per couple ($5 for each additional child; $10 for one additional adult). Tickets include dinner, dessert, DJ entertainment, prizes and activities. Tickets must be pre-purchased by Tuesday, Feb. 7.

Georgia Food and Wine Festival

JIM R. MILLER PARK, MARIETTA, GEORGIA

Georgia Food + Wine Festival celebrates the best of Georgia and the South, from its culinary superstars and beverage experts to its farmers, artisans, live musicians and more. A variety of events for all taste buds starting with Cobb Life Magazine’s “Best of Cobb” event and the legendary barbecue event, “Fired-Up” an all-inclusive, food

event. Saturday’s main event, “Savor” offers hundreds of unlimited beer, wine and spirits tastings, a Georgia Celebrity Chef Stage, VIP Lounge, artisans, and live music. “Sunday/Funday” is the budget friendly and

Cobb Scene NAACP Gala

After a two-year pause due to the pandemic, the Cobb County NAACP’s Oscar Freeman Freedom Fund Awards Gala returned for its 41st installment, honoring leaders throughout the county, from students and educators to religious and law enforcement leaders.

One of this year’s honorees was Smyrna Police Lt. Louis Defense, a veteran of the department for more than two decades. Defense received the Cobb NAACP’s Community Service Award, one he said goes beyond recognizing his work as the department’s spokesperson, after being nominated by Smyrna Mayor Derek Norton and Councilwoman Latonia Hines.

1. Left to right, Deane Bonner, Chairwoman Cupid and Jeriene Grimes celebrate the return of the Cobb County NAACP’s Oscar Freeman Freedom Fund Awards Gala after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.

2. Left to right, Louis Defense, Travis Lindley, Tim Gould, Mayor Derek Norton, Lewis Wheaton, Mayor Clemons, Chief Scott Hamilton, wife of Chief Scott Hamilton, wife of Mayor Thurman and Mayor Thurman enjoying the tasty food and beverage options offered at the Cobb County NAACP’s Gala

3. Left to right, Georgia FBI Director Michael Register and Cobb Chairwoman Lisa Cupid joined fellow community leaders at the NAACP Gala.

4. The Cobb County NAACP honors leaders throughout the community at the 41st installment its Oscar Freeman Freedom Fund Awards Gala.

5 6

Cobb Bar Association General Monthly Luncheon

Earlier in the fall, the local Cobb Bar Association gathered at the Roswell Street Baptist Church for its October General Monthly Luncheon and featured guest speaker TaNesha McAuley, the Site Coordinator of the Family Justice Center.

Cobb County attorneys, work peers and community leaders celebrated their accomplishments and hard work over delicious lunch cuisine.

5. Leroy Tre Hutchins grins from ear-to-ear and reflects on his impressive achievements at the Cobb County NAACP’s Oscar Freeman Freedom Fund Awards Gala.

6. Left to right, Taniesha Whorton, Judge Angela Brown, Alisha Morgan Searcy, Leroy Tre Hutchins, Chairwoman Lisa Cupid, Judge Kelly Hill and Mayor Al Thurman gather together at the NAACP’s Oscar Freeman Freedom Fund Awards Gala.

7. Left to right, Mayor Ollie Clemens, Chairwoman Cupid and Mayor Thurman celebrate their achievements and community service initiatives within the community.

1. Left to right, Attorney Surinder Chadha and Cobb Assistant District Attorney, John Pursley attended the monthly luncheon.

2. Left to right, Bar President Soo Hong introduces guest speaker of the October General Monthly Luncheon, Tanesha McAuley of the Family Justice Center.

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Left to right, Staff Attorneys Grace Power, Haley Solomon, Brittany Herbet, Cathy Waddell and Amy Spangler joining peers at the luncheon hosted by the Cobb Bar Association.

Left to right, R. Kipp Buis joins his son, Attorney Kent Buis, at the October General Monthly Luncheon at the Roswell Street Baptist Church.

Left to right, Kim McCoy, Victim/ Witness Director of the Cobb District Attorney’s Office and Retired Judge Roland Castellanos of the Cobb State Court joins colleagues of the Cobb Bar Association.

Left to right, Jo Nelson, Cobb Legal Aid Temporary Protective Project Attorney and Cobb Assistant District Attorneys Ashley Stills and Bailey Rogers enjoying the Cobb Bar Association luncheon with work peers.

Left to right, Sonal Patel of Ameris Bank, Attorney Carlos Rodriguez, attorney and former Cobb Bar president Maddox Kilgore and Cobb District Attorney Flynn Broady celebrate their hard work with laughs and good food.

Left to right, Judge Marsha Lake, Attorney Clay Thompson and Assistant District Attorney Trina Griffiths gather together after a wholesome meal.

Marietta Theatre Company announces 2023 season

Marietta Theatre Company (MTC) announced its 2023 season at their first ever Season Announcement Gala on Oct. 14, 2022 at the Marietta History Center. This first annual event celebrated not only the new season but the many volunteers, patrons, sponsors and nonprofit organizations that MTC is proud to have contributed to in 2022. 2023 will be the fifth full season for the company, and they wanted to thank all of those who have made that possible.

Cobb Scene

1. Left to right, Back Row: Jeff Cooper, Katrina Stroup, Heather Schutz, Scott Solloway, Blaine Clotfelter, Madison Willits. Front Row: Rachel Rudd, GinaAnn Carlton-Riggs, Claudio Pestano, Bekah Medford. 2. Left to right, MTC performers Caty Mae Loomis, Jim Dailey, Stephanie Earle, Alexander Eberhardt, Magda Roub and Josh Baldwin sing in unison and harmonize a tune.

Blaine & Mike Clotfelter present the Volunteer of the Year Award

Sean Perren, Agent 3247 Austell Road SW Marietta, GA 30008 Bus: 770-432-7775 sean@seanperren.com

Sean Perren, Agent 3247 Austell Road SW Marietta, GA 30008 Bus: 770-432-7775 sean@seanperren.com and to support Cobb County.

That’s why I’m proud to be here to help life go right ™

If there’s anything you need,

Sean Perren, Agent 3247 Austell Road SW Marietta, GA 30008 Bus: 770-432-7775 sean@seanperren.com and to support Cobb County.

That’s why I’m proud to be here to help life go right ™ –

Community means everything. That’s why I’m proud to be here to help life go right™ – and to support Cobb County.

If there’s anything you need, call me.

If there’s anything you need, call me.

1601483

State Farm, Bloomington, IL

1601483

State Farm, Bloomington, IL

Now:

Do you have any old photos of The Strand? The Strand Theatre is looking to add vintage photos before its current restoration to archives and the Strand History exhibit. If you have any photos or news clippings, send them over to mail@strandmarietta.org.

Then:

Three boys sit at the bicycle rack outside of the Strand Theatre in this undated photograph. The theater was advertising “Teacher’s Pet,” a 1958 film starring Clark Gable and Doris Day. Other features were three color cartoons and “Hometown Movies of Cobb County - See Your Town - Maybe Yourself In the Movies.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARIETTA MUSEUM