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January 2012

Time is Now to Register for Spring Sports and Activities

It may still be cold outside, but now is the time to register for sports and activities for the spring season.  Many sports and activities have registrations in January, including baseball, softball, soccer, track, tennis, and BMX.  Our youth league programs are administered by volunteer organizations, so dates and times of registrations will vary.  For specific information on the activities your child is interested in participating, click on the following links:  baseball, softball, soccer, track, tennis, and BMX.  Many registration deadlines are fast approaching - don't be left out!!!!

Adult spring softball registration begins in February. For those interested, you can download a softball registration packet on the adult softball web page.  See the adult athletics web page for a listing of all programs.

NAACP to Host Auditions for Upcoming MLK Celebration

Residents interested in being a part of Cobb's 26th anniversary celebration honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., will have the opportunity to audition. Auditions will be held 6:00pm, Thursday, January 5th, and 10:00am, Saturday, January 7th, at Jennie T. Anderson Theatre. Audition slots are limited, so please RSVP to (770) 528-8490. For more information, call the Cobb County NAACP office at (770) 425-5757.

The celebration will be held 10:00am, Monday, January 16th, at the Cobb Civic Center. The theme will be "Keeping the Dream Alive: Continuing the Journey," and the event is free and open to the public. It will include the annual presentation of the “Living the Dream” award to a community member who demonstrates the ideals King exemplified.

My Aquarobics Success Story

The following was submitted by West Cobb Aquatic Center participant Bonnie Brown: In June of 2000, I joined an international non-profit support group for weight loss, TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly). My weight was 190 pounds and the extra weight was causing excessive pain. I was in so much pain that I could hardly pick up a piece of paper off the floor or even put on my socks. The pain became worse when I sat down. I went to my orthopedist and was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my lower back as well as sciatica in my right leg. My doctor had prescribed a large size back brace and recommended that I enroll in an aquarobics class that is held in a heated pool.

The West Cobb Aquatic Center opened Memorial Day weekend of 2001. I purchased an annual pass during the Grand Opening and began to work-out on a regular basis. After three weeks the brace didn’t fit properly because I had lost weight by working out at the pool and rigidly following a diet taken from the TOPS manual. After six months, it was no longer necessary to wear the back brace because I had lost so much weight. Within a few years I stopped taking all of my medication that had been prescribed.

I am currently working out at the pool six days a week, for ninety minutes daily. I have NO pain. I look forward to going to the pool every day. The employees are great and I know by heart who will be life-guarding on any given morning. On June 13, 2011, I received my seven year pin from TOPS for maintaining my weight loss of over sixty pounds. I am now known as a KOPS (Keep Off Pounds Sensibly) because I reached my doctor’s weight loss goal. I could never have achieved this loss without the West Cobb Aquatic Center and TOPS. I require both: the WCAC for physical therapy and TOPS for the mental aspect and the group support. I have made a lifetime commitment to both the WCAC and TOPS.

Nature Appreciation for Toddlers

It is never too late to 'plant the seed' of nature appreciation and wonder in your children. Bring your toddlers (ages 2-4) and join us for a morning of outdoor nature exploration, stories, songs and more! Upcoming programs include 'Are You My Mother' (Baby Animals). This program will be held January 26th at the Hyde Farm Visitor Center, located at 721 Hyde Farm Road, Marietta, 30068. On February 16th, the program will be 'Holes by the Hundred'. This program will be held at the Jean and Elwood Wright Education Center located at 2661 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta, 30062. The fee for each program is $2.00 per child. To register or for information, call Karen Faucett at (770) 528-8803 or email karen.faucett@cobbcounty.org.

Help the Environment by Recycling Christmas Trees

Now that the holiday season is over, residents are encouraged to help the environment by recycling their Christmas trees. Recycling trees makes mulch, fuel, wildlife habitats and other useful material. Keep Cobb Beautiful will sponsor free recycling drop-offs. Trees will only be accepted Saturday, January 7th, at select Home Depot locations throughout Cobb. For a list of those locations, visit cobbcounty.org/kcb.

Cobb County Parks and Recreation will also accept drop-offs December 26th-January 7th at the following locations:

• Lost Mountain Park, 4845 Dallas Highway, Powder Springs
• Fullers Park, 3499 Robinson Road, Marietta
• Sewell Park, 2085 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta
• Noonday Creek Park, 489 Hawkins Store Road, Kennesaw
• Harrison Park, 2650 Shallowford Road, Marietta
  

Cobb parks chipper locations, and Davey Trees, will have free mulch available to residents after January 7th. For more information, visit cobbcounty.org/kcb or call (770) 528-1135.

Ward Recreation Center is offering a full slate of diverse and exciting classes and activities for the winter. Classes include affordable piano lessons for adults and youth, dance classes for all ages, ZUMBA and ZUMBA Gold classes, and Choi Kwang-Do martial arts classes. For the youth basketball player, we offer the Powder Springs Basketball Skills Academy. For more details on all the classes, see our website or call Ward Recreation Center at (770) 528-8885.

Volunteers Needed

Special Olympics volunteers are needed for teaching basketball team and individual skills.  No coaching background needed - just a positive attitude and good interpersonal skills.  Please contact Wendy at Ward Recreation Center at (770) 528-8885 for more information.

3 + Pro Drills Offered at Kennworth Tennis Center

Head Tennis Professional, William Fawcett, is now offering 3 + Pro Drills in the morning at Kennworth Tennis Center. These small group lessons are available Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9:00am-10:00am and 10:00am-11:00am. The cost is $15 per player.

These drills involve 3 players, approximately the same level, splitting the cost of a private lesson. We work on the needs of the three individuals as a group. For example: one person wants to work on serves, the second volleys, and the third overheads. We spend about 15 minutes working on each stroke. The final 15-20 minutes is playing out doubles points with the pro (William) as the fourth player and we work on strategy, shot placement, and doubles movement. To register text or call William at (770) 265-3599 or e-mail premiertennis@comcast.net.

Part-time Positions Available - Instructor / Lifeguards
There are 31 lifeguard positions that are available. The positions will be working at one of four indoor aquatic centers: Central Aquatic Center, Mountain View Aquatic Center, West Cobb Aquatic Center and South Cobb Aquatic Center. Applicants must be age 15 or older, must have American Red Cross Lifeguard certification, and must be able to pass water and skills tests. Applications accepted through February 19th. For more information, contact your local Cobb County aquatic center.