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February 2010

Daddy/Daughter - Mother/Son Dance
Open to fathers and daughters, sons and mothers of all ages! Enjoy a night with your “date” where there will be great music, dancing, and refreshments. Dress is semi-formal to formal. This is a great opportunity to make another magical childhood memory! Bring your dancing shoes and camera! Register early because space is limited. Reservations are required.

Cobblestone Improvements Planned

Major renovations will begin at Cobblestone Golf Course to recapture the look and quality of play that made it one of the premiere public courses in the southeast.

"We have lost about 6,000 rounds over the past 18 months because of the condition of the course," Bob Ash, public services agency director, said. "It is just good business to invest now in renovations and recapture that business. Cobblestone was a top-rated public course in its early years and the work we are planning will restore that reputation."

In July, with assistance from Affiniti Golf, the greens will be replaced with Champion Bermuda. This hybrid grass is much more tolerant to heat and traffic. All bunkers and traps will also be renovated, along with installing a new irrigation system. The work is anticipated to take nine weeks and the course will be open using temporary greens during the construction and grow-in period. Rates will be reduced during this time.

Special Olympics Georgia Honors Cobb Employees

Prior to the Special Olympic Winter Games held in January, Special Olympics Georgia presented to Clintina Mitchell (Therapuetic Recreation Coordinator) the 'Always a Champion' award. According to Special Olympics Georgia, Clintina brings energy to those who work with her and the athletes. She is a star in our community.

Also receiving an award was park's employee, Tim Gilbert, who received the 'Special Olympics Athlete' award. Tim has not only been a gold medalist since 1982 in softball, bowling and basketball; but he is also a volunteer, while serving on the Special Olympics Winter Games planning committee.

Harrison Tennis Center Receives USTA Southern Award
The United States Tennis Association Southern announced the co-winners of the 2009 USTA Southern QuickStart Facility Award: the Cary Tennis Center, Cary, N.C. and the Harrison Tennis Center, Marietta, GA.  The award honors outstanding facilities that have either painted permanent QuickStart lines or built permanent QuickStart courts in 2009. Additionally, the facilities were judged on how proactive they were in supporting and executing QuickStart programs, making QuickStart a permanent part of their community and impacting the growth of youth tennis.

Accepting the award for Cobb County was facility manager, Steve Lottinger, of the Harrison Tennis Center. The recipients were recognized during the USTA Southern Annual Meeting in January. QuickStart is a format that allows 6 to 10 years-olds to play tennis on smaller courts, with lower nets, shorter racquets and more simplified scoring than used by adults. The 36’ court (the width of a regular tennis court) is used mostly by 6 to 8 year-olds hitting a foam ball about twice the size of a regular ball. The 60’ court (about three-quarters the size of a regular tennis court), used by 8 to 10 year-olds, employs a low compression ball. Many youngsters play the QuickStart format as a part of USTA Jr. Team Tennis leagues.

Cobb Receives Award of Excellence

At its recent national convention in Reno, NV, the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) presented Cobb County Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department with its 'James Farrell Award of Excellence' in recognition of Cobb having hosted one of the highest-rated national softball championship tournaments in 2009. The department played host last July to the Girls’ 14-Under Class 'A' Fast-Pitch National Championship at the Al Bishop and Lost Mountain softball complexes and posted an overall qualifying score based on ratings by the participating teams, ASA national office, ASA Umpire-In-Chief and the ASA National Office Representative. Cobb has hosted 41 ASA national championships and has received the Farrell Award each year since 1992 when the award was established by the ASA.

Winter Open House at Wright Property

Join the Natural Resource Management Unit at the Wright Center for a 'Winter Walk in the Woods'. This is an open house for the Jean & Elwood Wright Environmental Education Center located at 2661 Johnson Ferry Road Marietta, Georgia 30062. The open house will be Monday, February 15th from 10:00am to 2:00pm. Please note parking for the center is located on Post Oak Tritt Road behind Chestnut Ridge Church. For more information or directions please contact Kaye Wilson at (770) 528-8824 or kaye.wilson@cobbcounty.org.

Adult Softball/Kickball Registration Is Here

Registration is here for the 2010 adult spring/summer softball and kickball leagues. Teams returning from the spring 2009 season can register online for the same league from February 1-15. Contact your athletic coordinator to obtain your PIN and ID numbers. Walk-in registration for returning teams will be February 16th from 6:00pm-8:00pm and new team registration will be February 18th from 6:00pm-8:00pm at the parks administration offices. The fees for softball are $455 and for kickball the fees are $250. The leagues will have a minimum 14 game season and the season begins in mid-March.

2010 Encore Schedule

Fun Classes Offered at The Art Station

The Art Station – Big Shanty has funtastic classes for February! Don’t wait until the last minute to register as openings are limited. Register online or over the phone, (770) 514-5930, or in person at 2050 Kennesaw Due West Road in Kennesaw.

My First Art Class: February 18 – March 17 (ages 4-5)

Pastels Are Fun: February 4 – March 11 (ages 6-10)

Arts and Crafts for Kids: February 17 – March 17 (ages 6-10)

Leather and Beads: February 10 – March 3 (ages 10-14)

Manga Drawing: February 10 – March 17 (ages 10-14) Ultimate Art: February 9 – March 16 (ages 11-16)

The Basics – Art’s Little Black Dress: February 9 – March 16 (ages 14-adult)

Paint What You See & Draw What You Dream: February 9 – March 16 (ages 14–adult)

Pastels For Fun: February 4 – March 11 (ages 16-adult)

Glass Fusing Pate De Verre Workshop: February 10-17 (adults)

Glass Fusing Etching Workshop: February 24 – March 3 (adults)