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MIC Newsletter  November 2023

As we approach the year-end holiday season, I would like to express our deepest thanks and appreciation to our Board of Directors, Sponsors, Members, Volunteers, and Partners. 

Without you, we would not be able to do the things we do to advocate for a better Mableton. Many of you give freely and unselfishly. You embody the most important things in life – love, kindness, time, family. Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!

Ray Thomas, President, Mableton Improvement Coalition

You may access survey by clicking on this live link:

SouthCobbTransit Center

Mableton Has Highest Year Over Year Increase In Median Home Sales Price

According to a recent article published in Forbes Magazine, Mableton had the highest year-over-year median sale price increase in the Atlanta housing market, from August 2022 to August 2023. 

Police Precinct #2 (Mableton/Austell)

Calendar Year 2023: January 1, 2023 – October 1, 2023  

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the New Betty Gray Middle School 

A host of faculty and staff, district administrators, community members, family, and friends attended the launching of the new Betty Gray Middle School, while honoring the life of Betty Gray. She was a lifelong educator, serving as a teacher, the school district’s first female administrator, one of its first female principals, and a Cobb Board of Education member after retirement. 

The new Betty Gray Middle School educates students in grades 6-8 and was created when the attendance zone for Lindley Middle was split. Prior to the start of this school year, the building was renovated, adding six classrooms and 17,500 square feet of administrative space. 

From left: MIC Board Members: Ray Thomas, President; Brandeis Thompson, Education Committee Co-Chair; Cassandra Brown, Transportation Committee Chair; Michael McNeely, Public Relations Chair; Nate Smith, Chairman.

The Cobb County School District is the second-largest school system in Georgia and the 23rd largest in the nation, serving nearly 107,000 students. Consider joining the MIC Education Committee in helping to build strong working relationships between the citizens of Mableton, faith communities, nonprofits, the business community, and our schools. 

Find out more at www.mableton.org/education

On October 23, the MIC Education Committee held a Welcome Call for the new Ambassador program. Attendees learned about the Ambassador program and its importance in our community. The committee was happy to announce that 10 of the 15 Mableton schools have committed ambassadors. If you are interested in becoming an Ambassador, click here. 

Brandeis Thompson, Education Committee Co-chair, presents the sponsorship check to Dr. Giles, Pebblebrook High Principal

The education committee supported Pebblebrook High School in celebrating its 60th Homecoming by donating water to the tailgate event held on Saturday, October 21. The committee also sponsored five student tickets to the homecoming dance.

Congrats again, Pebblebrook!  

Happy Family Literacy Day and National Author’s Day! On November 1st, we have so many reasons to celebrate! Let's explore how family literacy increases student achievement, how to boost family literacy at home, and how MIC is paying tribute to the authors who inspire us.

🌟 Fact: Family Literacy Enhances Student Achievement 🌟

Family literacy holds the key to unlocking student success:

1. Expanded Vocabulary: A language-rich home environment fosters a broader vocabulary, paving the way for academic excellence.
2. Strong Reading Skills: Reading as a family nurtures a lifelong love for books and equips children with essential reading skills.
3. Critical Thinking: Engaging in family discussions about stories and ideas cultivates critical thinking abilities.

💡 Strategies to Foster Family Literacy at Home 💡

• Read Aloud: Make reading a daily tradition for your family. Choose books tailored to each family member's age and interests.
• Home Library: Create a home library with a diverse collection of books for everyone to enjoy.
• Book Exchange: Share books with other families to explore new literary adventures.
• Digital Literacy: Utilize educational apps and online resources to engage children in reading and learning.
• Apps like "Epic!" and "Reading Rainbow" provide a vast library of children's books, often with read-aloud features.
• There are several YouTube channels focused on education and literacy. Examples include "StoryBots," "Sesame Street," and "TED-Ed." These channels offer engaging videos and content for various age groups.
• Storytelling Time: Encourage children to create and share their stories to enhance creativity and language skills.

📖 Celebrate National Author's Day 📖

National Author's Day is a perfect occasion to honor the creative minds behind the stories that inspire us. Take a look at our board recommendations:

(Click on images to view our book recommendations)

LOCAL AUTHORS

With each page turned, we are not only nurturing a love for reading but also paying homage to the brilliant authors who bring magic to our lives.

Share your literary adventures, tag your favorite authors, and inspire others to join the reading revolution!

Celebrating Literacy Leaders at Austell Elementary School and Riverside Elementary School!

We are thrilled to announce that Austell Elementary School and Riverside Elementary School have been recognized as 2022-2023 Literacy Leaders by the Georgia Department of Education! This prestigious recognition highlights the schools' remarkable achievements and growth in third-grade reading proficiency, emphasizing the fundamental significance of early literacy. Austell Elementary School and Riverside Elementary School have exemplified dedication and commitment to fostering a culture of literacy, ensuring that our students not only meet but exceed expectations in reading. The diligence and efforts of our educators, staff, parents, and, most importantly, our students have made this accomplishment possible.

Outstanding Growth: Riverside Elementary School and Austell Elementary School are being recognized for their extraordinary growth, demonstrating a 15% or higher increase in third-grade reading proficiency from the academic year 2021-22 to 2022-23. This growth underscores the proactive measures taken to continually enhance and elevate our students' reading abilities.

Out of 155 schools meeting the rigorous qualifications, Austell Elementary School and Riverside Elementary School stand out as beacons of literacy excellence, embodying the spirit of determination, perseverance, and dedication to the success of our students. Let us all take a moment to celebrate and acknowledge the hard work, enthusiasm, and passion that have propelled Austell Elementary School and Riverside Elementary School to the forefront of literacy leadership. Together, we are shaping a brighter future for our students, instilling in them a love for reading that will last a lifetime.

Congratulations to Austell Elementary School and Riverside Elementary School for this well-deserved recognition as 2022-2023 Literacy Leaders!

ZONING NEWS

Hearings Coming Up in November and December

November 7 - Planning Commission

• Z-42 - William and Lydia Tiku - for a self-storage facility on Blair Bridge Road, Austell - MIC recommends denial.
• Z-46 - Morrison Building and Investment - for a professional office use at 259 Veterans Memorial Highway - MIC recommends approval with conditions.
• Z-50 - CIVF VII - for warehouses on Cityview Road, Austell - MIC recommendation pending.
• LUP-23 - Alfredo Diaz - for permission to park 5 cars at this home - MIC recommends denial.

November 21- Board of Commissioners

• applications from November 7 Planning Commission hearing and:
• Z-39 - Tunnels to Towers Foundations - convert the Wingate hotel to permanent housing for veterans at 65 South Service Road, Austell - MIC recommends approval with conditions - MIC recommends approval with conditions.
• OB-40 - Kerley Family Homes - for a new site plan for a townhome development approved in 2019 at 32 and 34 Cooper Lake Road, Mableton - MIC recommendation pending.
• OB-45 - Alan Baran - for a new site plan for a trucking terminal at 370 Six Flags Parkway - MIC recommendation pending.
• OB-57 - Susan Pryor - to split a lot to allow an additional single family home at 275 Lane Drive - MIC recommendation pending.
• OB-58 - Bennett Real Estate - to change conditions for the existing zoning for Kids R Kids on Veterans Memorial Highway - MIC recommendation pending.

December 5 - Planning Commission and December 19 - Board of Commissioners

• Z-43 - Suhel Kazani - for a convenience store at Cooper Lake and Veterans Memorial in Mableton - MIC recommends denial.
• Z-64 - Cedar Real Estate - for an expansion of a truck terminal on Queensferry Drive - MIC recommendation pending.
• LUP-29 - James Frank - for permission to manufacture firearms at 6585 Queen Mill Road - MIC recommendation pending.

Applications Completed in September

• Z-35 - Suzanne Lemmond Brown, Barbara Lemmond Kilgore - change from commercial to residential zoning for a single family home at 1350 Oak Ridge Road, Austell - MIC recommended approval and it was approved by the BOC.
• OB-47 - Garner Group - for sign variances and changes to the site plan for Heritage Hills shopping center on the East-West Connector - MIC recommended approval and it was approved by the BOC.

If you live in an area near one of these zoning applications, the MIC Zoning Committee wants to hear from you! We welcome new neighbors to Mableton, but we also want to do all we can to protect existing neighborhoods. Email us at [email protected]!

Hearing and Meeting Information - The Planning Commission hearings are the first Tuesday of each month and the Board of Commissioners Zoning Hearings are the third Tuesday of each month, except January. Both are at 9 am at 100 Cherokee Street just off Marietta Square. The Board of Zoning Appeals hearings begin at 1:30pm in the same location.

Comment Online - Use this easy form to let the Planning Commission and Board of Commissioners know your thoughts on pending applications.

Each month, District Commissioner Monique Sheffield and Planning Commissioner Michael Hughes hold a virtual "In The Zone" meeting to review pending zoning applications. Meetings are usually the 4th Wednesday of each month, but the holidays will affect that schedule. Sign up for Commissioner Sheffield's newsletter to receive the link and instructions.

There is more information related to zoning cases on MIC's website. Please email the MIC Zoning Committee with any questions.

Email Link: [email protected]

Adopt A Mile

Make a difference where you live! Join MIC and other community groups on Saturday mornings for an hour or so and help pick up litter. It's not glamorous work, but our community will look so much better! All events begin at 9am.

Visit the MIC website calendar for meeting places and additional dates. Learn more about the Adopt A Mile program here.

Thank You to our sponsors who are committed to helping people, strengthening families, and building a more vital and vibrant Mableton. With the help of our sponsors, MIC continues to fulfill our mission to promote activities, enhance communication, and facilitate initiatives that will benefit the welfare of the Mableton community and its spirit. 

PREMIER SPONSORS

DELUXE SPONSORS



GENERAL SPONSORS

Welcome New General Sponsor!!!!!

Barnes Law Group, Bellhop, Cobb Travel & Tourism, DaLee and Company, Dogs We Trust, First Christian Church of Mableton, Georgia Power, Go Juicy, Harris Advisors Group, H.O.P.E Family Resource Center, JJA Project Management, John Thornton Chevrolet Cadillac Buick GMC, Keller Williams Cityside – Taiwo Oniru-Akintokun,  MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes, M3 Innovations dba Aquatree, Moore Diagnostic Laboratory, Printridge, Putnam Body Shop, Quick Tax Professionals, Readyset Atlanta, Refuge Law PLLC, Riverside EpiCenter, SOS Holdings, Sweetwater Mission, The Pillar Church Mableton, The Real Estate Maven, TS Tax & Accounting Services, Vitality Village, Inc. White Columns Funeral Home, Wilson Agency/Farmers Insurance, Yeah Man Jamaican Restaurant, and Zaxby's.