Cobb Chamber Announces Small Businesses of The Year

In early August, the Cobb Chamber named its Top 25 Small Businesses of the Year and declared that Three-13 Salon, Spa & Boutique in Marietta is the Business of the Year.

With a motto of “Be Your Best You,” Three-13 welcomes in partners, employees, and customers from every imaginable background with open arms. They also host an annual “Angels of Life” event, which has raised awareness and $560,000 over the past nine years for The Georgia Transplant Foundation, an organization near and dear to managing partner Lester Crowell, whose own two heart transplants have given him new life and determination.

To be considered for the Top 25 Small Businesses of the Year, each hopeful submits an application to the Cobb Chamber. The applicants must prove an increase in sales or unit volume, provide examples of innovation, discuss adversity and challenges, and thoroughly detail their community involvement. Below is the complete list of winners:

Top 25 Small Businesses
of the Year

All Roof Solutions
Artisan Custom Closets
Brookwood Christian School
CFO Navigator
CROFT & Associates
Deluxe Athletics, LLC
Digital Yalo
DynamiX
Eclipse Networks, Inc.
Fulfillment Strategies International, Inc.
Georgia Trade School
Governors Gun Club
id8 Agency
InPrime Legal
Janice Overbeck Real Estate Team
K. Mike Whittle Designs Inc.
Manay CPA, Inc.
Mills Specialty Metals, LLC
The Partnership of Atlanta, Inc.
Ruby-Collins, Inc.
Southeastern Engineering, Inc.
Stablegold Hospitality, LLC
Three-13 Salon, Spa & Boutique
Vertisys
Win-Tech, Inc.

Marietta City School Reopening Plan

Marietta.com

Marietta City Schools started the 2020-2021 school year with classes online only beginning on August 4. On August 11, the board of education approved the “Flexible Approach to Teaching and Learning” reopening plan that was developed with the goal of giving students and their families the ability to choose between in-person or online classes.

Phase 1:
Phase 1 is scheduled to begin on September 8 for students in pre-k, kindergarten, first, and second grades. This phase also includes low-incidence special education students in grades 3-5. Those choosing to attend will receive 2 days of in-person classes per week – either Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday. Classes will be limited to a maximum of 9 students. Students who would like to continue with classes online, and all students not included in phase 1, will continue with their current online class schedule.

Phase 2:
Phase 2 extends the 2 days per week of in-person class option to grades three, four, and five. In addition, low-incidence special education students in grades k-12 will have the option for in-person classes 2 days per week.

Phase 3:
Phase 3 allows for students in grades PreK-5 to learn at the school 5 days per week. Grades 6, 7, and 9 can choose 1-2 days of in-person learning. In addition, low-incidence special education students in grades k-12 will have the option for in-person classes 5 days per week.

Phase 4:
Phase 4 allows for students in grades PreK-5 to learn at the school 5 days per week. Grades 6-12 can choose 1-2 days of in-person learning. In addition, low-incidence special education students in grades k-12 will have the option for in-person classes 5 days per week.

Phase 5:
Phase 5 is a return to 5-day weeks for all students in PreK-12. This will begin when community transmission is “minimal to moderate” (100 or fewer cases per 100,000 people).

In each phase, students eligible for in-person learning may opt to remain in online-only classes. Students opting for in-person classes will still have online classes during the weekdays when they are not at school. The transition to each phase could begin as early as 2-4 weeks after the previous phase, and the decision will be guided by both community COVID-19 transmission and school-based staffing and mitigation strategies.

Marietta City Schools Factors for Each Phase:

Risk Mitigation Strategies: Ability to successfully execute each of the daily risk mitigation strategies, which align to CDC guidelines for safely reopening schools
Staffing: Ability to staff required positions for teaching and school operations

Public Health Considerations for Each Phase:

Transmission Data: Consistent decline in 14-day case rate (date of onset) per 100,000 people in Cobb County (as determined by Georgia Department of Public Health and Cobb & Douglas Public Health)
COVID-19 Testing: Timely access to testing and results
Contact Tracing/Case Investigation: Ability to quickly notify individuals who may have come in contact with person who has tested positive for COVID-19 or is showing symptoms of COVID-19

Read the full reopening plan on the Marietta City Schools website:
Flexible Approach to Teaching and Learning

Cobb Schools 2020-2021 school year start to be virtual only

Marietta.com

During a Board of Education work session on July 16, Cobb County School District announced that the start to the 2020-2021 school year will be virtual only. All students in grades K-12 will be remote and the start date remains Monday, August 17, 2020. Teachers began pre-planning in schools on July 27.

Cobb County School Calendars:
Cobb County School Calendar 2020-2021
Cobb County School Calendar 2021-2022

Marietta City School Calendars:
Marietta City School Calendar 2020-2021
Marietta City School Calendar 2021-2022

Cobb school superintendent Chris Ragsdale said, “This decision has been weighing on me for a while. I know we need to get back to face-to-face instruction. That is why we tried to offer parents two options – in-person and virtual – to start the school year. Unfortunately, public health guidance does not make that possible.”

Unlike the end of the school year last year, Ragsdale said that grades will be real, and attendance and engagement will be required. For employees, social distancing will be encouraged, and zoom meetings should substitute for face-to-face meetings, even for employees in the same building. “It is incumbent upon us all to do whatever we can to flatten the curve” Ragsdale said, noting that the sooner we can get out of high-spread, the sooner we can get back to school in person.

Students, teachers, and parents will be able to login to one platform for all student learning during the fall of 2020. The Cobb Teaching and Learning System (CTLS) will be introduced to all parents and students and will enable learning to happen effectively and conveniently from a remote classroom or the living room.

At this time, the district is not postponing or delaying the start of fall athletics, however all other extracurricular activities (including ASP and clubs) are suspended until students return to face-to-face instruction. Cobb County plans a return as soon as public health guidance and data allows for it, though no timeline has been set for a return to the classroom.

Fulton County Schools Superintendent Mike Looney also announced Thursday that classes will begin August 17 entirely online, joining Atlanta Public Schools, the DeKalb County School District, Decatur City, and the Clayton County Public Schools in starting virtually. Marietta City Schools’ Superintendent Grant Rivera also said the Marietta schools would be starting virtual only.

During a special called meeting on July 2, the Cobb County School District Board of Education voted to delay the start of the 2020-2021 school year until August 17th in response to a recommendation by Superintendent Chris Ragsdale.

“We are ready to see learning taking place but the health and safety of our students and staff is always our first priority.” said Superintendent Chris Ragsdale.

From the Cobb County School District:

“Building a plan that works for nearly 19,000 employees, 113,000 students, and 750,000 residents in our county has been and will continue to be a tremendous task as COVID-19 continues to evolve. Our team of educators is thankful for the school community’s patience and continued support as we navigate these unprecedented times together.

For the last three months a team of more than 100 district leaders – including principals, assistant principals, teachers, and district employees – have been working around-the-clock to develop solutions that are both practical in school settings and in line with public health guidance, even as that guidance continues to change.

It is more important than ever that our team comes together to serve students, they need us more than ever. This year will be like none other, and I am confident the plan to start the 2020-2021 school year is based on the needs of students,” said Superintendent Chris Ragsdale.

Cobb Schools has launched an  informational site  dedicated to the 2020-2021 School Year. Please visit this site for the most up to date details regarding the opening of schools and more details regarding online learning.

Extended Hours for Covid-19 Testing

Marietta.com

Free drive-thru COVID-19 testing is ~~available~~ no longer available at Jim Miller Park. The extended hours for testing are Monday through Friday from 7am to 7pm and Saturday from 7am to noon. Testing is now available for all, regardless of symptoms, though it was initially reserved for potentially exposed healthcare workers, first responders, critical infrastructure workers, residents in long-term care facilities or group residential settings experiencing an outbreak of COVID-19.

To find a testing or immunization location near you, please visit Covid19.dph.ga.gov.

Hours:
~~Monday through Friday from 7am to 7pm~~
~~Saturday from 7am to noon~~

Cost:
Free

Address:
Jim R Miller Park
2245 Callaway Rd SW
Marietta, GA 30008

For more information, please contact your healthcare provider, a provider at a federally qualified healthcare center, complete an assessment at CDPHCOVID19testing.org, or contact the CDPH Call Center at 770-514-2300.

The information in this article was current as of Tuesday, August 18, 2020. For more information and to get the most recent updates, please visit CobbAndDouglasPublicHealth.com.

New Kennestone Emergency Department Virtual Ribbon-Cutting

Marietta.com

On Thursday (7/16) at 2pm, you are invited to tune into Wellstar Health System’s ribbon-cutting ceremony for its brand new Wellstar Kennestone Hospital Emergency Department – a 263,000-square-foot facility, which will be one of the largest and busiest emergency departments in the nation. The small, outdoor, social distanced, ribbon-cutting event will feature Governor Brian Kemp and a small group of Wellstar leaders.

You can view the Wellstar Kennestone Hospital Emergency Department ribbon cutting ceremony livestream at www.facebook.com/wellstarhealthsystem.

Wellstar Kennestone Hospital will open the new emergency department to patients on July 23, 2020.

Date:
Thursday, July 16, 2020 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Admission:
Free to stream on Wellstar Health System’s Facebook page

Address:
Wellstar Kennestone Hospital
677 Church St, Marietta, GA 30060
Event is not open to the public in order to practice safe social distancing. Viewers are invited to view the live stream on Wellstar Health System’s Facebook page.

For more information, please call (770) 793-5000 or visit http://www.facebook.com/wellstarhealthsystem

Cobb County School Calendar 2020-2021

Marietta.com

The Cobb County School Calendar for the 2020 to 2021 school year began on Monday, August 17, 2020 and ended on Wednesday, May 26, 2021. The start date was sixteen days later than last year, and the end date was six days later than last year.

Cobb County Schools were open for in-person learning or virtual learning online. Schools were open to students in person on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Wednesday was a virtual only Instructional Support Day for all students.

Temporary changes to Instructional Support Day as Cobb educators and staff are offered COVID-19 vaccinations:

To give all interested Cobb educators the chance to receive COVID-19 vaccinations, the Instructional Support Days were move from:

Wednesday, April 14th to Friday, April 16th
Wednesday, April 21st to Friday, April 23rd

School holidays:

First Day of School – ~~August 3, 2020~~
First Day of School Postponed 2 weeks, opened virtual only on August 17, 2020
Labor Day – September 7, 2020
Fall Break – September 28 – October 2, 2020
Phase 1 – October 5, 2020
Phase 2 – October 19, 2020
Student Holiday/Staff Workday – November 3, 2020
Phase 3 – November 5, 2020
Thanksgiving Holidays – November 23 – 27, 2020
Winter Holidays – December 21, 2020 to January 5, 2021
Martin Luther King Jr Day – January 18, 2021
Winter Break – February 15 – 19, 2021
Spring Break – April 5 – 9, 2021
Last Day of School – May 26, 2021

School Calendar Guidelines and Notes:
State law requires that students are in school 180 days or its equivalent. Each year, school districts are given four “emergency days” they can use for a variety of purposes. Many districts have been building those days into their calendars. In Cobb County, there are 178 days scheduled for students, and 188 days scheduled for teachers. The first semester includes 88 school days and ends prior to Winter Holidays. Second semester includes 90 school days, and ends prior to Memorial Day. Fall Break begins on the fourth Monday in September. Winter Break begins on the third Monday in February (Presidents Day). Spring Break begins on the first Monday in April, providing consistency with other metro school systems. The school year ends on a Wednesday to provide enough time to schedule graduation ceremonies.

Archived Calendar News:

All Cobb County schools will be virtual only for the week of January 19-22, 2021.

Tuesday, January 26 is a virtual only Instructional Support Day for all students due to PSAT and DNMQT’s taking place on Wednesday, January 27. Wednesday, January 27 will be a regularly scheduled instruction day through in-person and virtual instruction.

To give all interested Cobb educators the chance to receive COVID-19 vaccinations, the Instructional Support Days will move from:

Wednesday, March 17th to Friday, March 19th
Wednesday, March 24th to Friday, March 26th

Cobb County School Calendars:
Cobb County School Calendar 2022-2023
Cobb County School Calendar 2021-2022
Cobb County School Calendar 2020-2021
Cobb County School Calendar 2019-2020
Cobb County School Calendar 2018-2019
Cobb County School Calendar 2017-2018

Marietta City School Calendars:
Marietta City School Calendar 2021-2022
Marietta City School Calendar 2020-2021
Marietta City School Calendar 2019-2020
Marietta City School Calendar 2018-2019
Marietta City School Calendar 2017-2018

UCB to Expand Headquarters in Smyrna

Marietta.com

Belgian-based pharmaceutical firm UCB plans to invest $47.5 million to expand its U.S. headquarters campus in Smyrna, bringing 100 new high-paying jobs to Cobb County. “UCB’s long-term commitment to creating jobs and promoting growth within Cobb County and the City of Smyrna should be commended,” said Dana Johnson, executive director of SelectCobb. “The jobs they are creating are high-quality jobs that will have incredible financial impact on Smyrna and the surrounding areas — and keep Cobb County Georgia’s number one business destination.”

Cobb Passes Resolutions to Continue Fight Against Racism and Prejudice

Marietta.com

In June of 2020, the Cobb Board of Commissioners approved a resolution condemning racism, in the wake of tragic incidents in this country, and reaffirming its commitment to provide an environment that supports civil rights for all.

The board also adopted a resolution in support of a state Hate Crimes Bill that addresses crimes involving bias, hate, bigotry or prejudice. The unanimous decision encourages the Cobb legislative delegation to continue working closely with the state legislature in adopting the bill.

The Home Depot Foundation Awards $200,000 Grant to Habitat for Humanity of NW Metro Atlanta

Marietta.com

The Home Depot Foundation has awarded Habitat for Humanity of NW Metro Atlanta a $200,000 grant to provide a minimum of 15 critical home repairs for Veterans in Cobb, Douglas, and Paulding counties. “The Home Depot Foundation shares our passion to ensure local veterans live in safe, warm and dry shelter,” said Jessica Gill, CEO, Habitat for Humanity of NW Metro Atlanta.

West Cobb Business Association Aids Community During Pandemic

Marietta.com

Recently, in an effort to continue its support of the community during the COVID-19 crisis, the West Cobb Business Association’s (WCBA) public safety committee delivered lunch to local front line heroes at Cobb County Police Precinct Five, Cobb Fire and Rescue Station 23, and Powder Springs Police Departments. Additionally, in May of 2020, WCBA partnered with Sandra Cook at Catered Southern Events to help feed those in need through an outreach effort with MUST Ministries.

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