Forecast 2025

FORECAST 2025 PUBLISHED BY THE MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL

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FORECAST 2025 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION HEALTH REAL ESTATE SENIOR LIVING Forecast is published annually by the Marietta Daily Journal and distributed to homes and businesses throughout Cobb County.

To subscribe email: circulation@mdjonline.com or call 770-795-5001.

To advertise contact Maryann Holland at mholland@gwinnettdailypost.com.

Cover photo by: Stanley Leary In Cumberland, the Akers Mill Ramp will be the newest access point to the I-75 Northwest Corridor Express Lane system when it’s unveiled early 2025.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Strand to Expand Youth Involvement in Arts Education

Strand Theatre Executive Director Andy Gaines.

By Jack Lindner It was a year of growth and resilience in 2024 for The Strand Theatre on Marietta Square.

In the last year, one of the theater’s biggest goals was to expand its reach. This, Executive Director Andy Gaines said, was accomplished through dedication to enhancing the Strand’s youth-based education program, The Strand Academy.

Although it has been part of the theater for many years now, The Strand Academy has slowly been expanding since the COVID-19 pandemic. Its main focus is to provide students hands-on theatrical experiences through summer camps, classes and live productions.

In 2024, the program saw a significant amount of growth, according to education associate Savannah Patton. The academy offers children the chance to get involved in live theater both on and off stage.

In total, she estimates The Strand Academy hosted over 600 students

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Brian Weaver Photography/Special

across all their camps, classes, internships and productions in 2024. “(It) really shows how much effort has gone into making the program accessible and impactful,” Patton said. “It’s exciting to see so many young people getting the chance to explore theater.”

Throughout the year, performers are trained in singing, acting and dancing for musical theater.

For those who want to work behind the scenes, the academy’s internship program offers training in areas including stage management, costume design, lighting design, assistant directing, dramaturgy, and education assistance. These efforts, Patton said, are to help non-performers find their place in the theater world.

One of the academy’s biggest goals this past year was to expand theater offerings beyond traditional summer camps to students. In July, the academy’s production of “Shrek The Musical Jr.” became the first junior production to be performed since before the pandemic.

Gaines said the production was one of the theater’s highlights in this

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Marietta Sixth Grade Academy’s Advanced Drama students showcase opportunities offered in the drama program for prospective Marietta City Schools fifth graders during the Show On The Road event inside The Strand.

MCS/Special

last year and called it an inspiration to see the young performers grow in their skill and confidence levels.

Patton said the show’s large turnout makes her excited to see what the academy can accomplish in the future.

“The overwhelming community response showed just how valuable programs like this are,” she said.

WHAT’S NEXT? Speaking of the future, Gaines and Patton said the theater plans to continue expanding the educational program in 2025 to ensure all kids who want to can get involved. The program plans to bring back their junior production in the summer by performing “Anastasia: The Musical Youth Edition.”

Alongside their annual performing summer camp, they will also be hosting a second camp in 2025 called “Performula,” for rising third through sixth graders. Over the course of the camp, students will learn the ins and outs of theater production by putting together a bite-sized musical from start to finish.

One new, major highlight for 2025, Patton said, is the launch of Cobb Idol Jr., a youth-centered version of The Strand’s annual singing competition where students are welcome to audition for a chance to win prizes, including a cash prize for the first place winner.

In August, the academy will be launching another new class called The Strand Academy’s Spotlight Players to offer students more yearround opportunities for kids to get involved. Much like their performing summer camps, the program will focus on honing the craft of musical theater, from mastering stage directions to embodying stage etiquette.

For those who may need assistance with paying tuition for these programs, Gaines said the theater plans to increase scholarships for Strand Academy programs.

“It’s shaping up to be an amazing year of growth for the Strand Academy, full of unforgettable experiences for everyone involved,” Patton said.For more information about The Strand Academy and plans for 2025, visit earlsmithstrand.org/strand-academy/.

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Photos above are scenes from the “Show on the Road” event at the Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre in Marietta on March 12.

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BUSINESS

Cobb Friendly to Businesses Big and Small

Roger Tutterow, a professor of economics at Kennesaw State University, speaks to bankers, customers, and real estate professionals at a forum held by Synovus bank at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.

Annie Mayne

Staff reports Whether you run a Fortune 500 company or a true mom-and-pop shop, Cobb County — and the state of Georgia — remains one of the best places to do business.

According to the Georgia Department of Labor, of the more than 445,000 Cobb Countians eligible to work, 432,000 are employed.

That puts Cobb’s unemployment rate at 3%, which is on par with surrounding counties and below the state of Georgia’s (3.4%) and the country’s (3.9%).

Kennesaw State University economics professor Roger Tutterow said going into 2024, there were over 9 million unfilled jobs in the U.S. economy. Heading into 2025, that number has shrunk to 7.7 million.

“The interesting part of that is it means that at one time, back in March of 2021, you had roughly two jobs for every available worker.

And now that’s come back down to more like 1.1 jobs for every available worker, a world in which we’re moving back toward some

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parity between the openings of jobs and the workers that are there to fill them,” Tutterow said.

Georgia has had the advantage of an ample workforce as one of the fastest growing states in the nation. But that advantage has begun to fade, Tutterow said, as the state and metro-area employment growth has begun to stagnate.

“The employment growth, statewide and in metro Atlanta, is moving closer to the national average over the past year or so, after having grown much faster in the past,” Tutterow said.

The industry employing the most people in Cobb this year was health care and social assistance, according to the Department of Labor, with more than 182,300 Cobb Countians working in the field.

Two health systems are among the Top 10 employers in Cobb. When excluding most government agencies, Piedmont Healthcare is ranked fifth, and Wellstar Health System is listed as tenth.

The Cobb County School District is the largest employer in Cobb, with over 18,000 faculty and staff members.

BUSINESS

Community means everything.

Cobb Commissioner JoAnn Birrell, left, and Cobb Director of Economic Development Sabrina Wright, right, present a $5,000 check for the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Grant to the owner of A Better Today Books & Boutique in December 2024.

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According to the Department of Labor’s list, Amazon is the largest corporate employer in Cobb.

Despite that, the county and its business community remain steadfast in support for small business, seen in the Development Authority of Cobb County’s expansion of a small business grant program run in partnership with Cobb County.

The Entrepreneurship and Innovation grant program has awarded roughly $250,000 to two dozen small businesses in Cobb County for four purposes: marketing; equipment, furnishings, machinery or technology; operational funds like lease payments and job retention; and leasehold improvements or building renovations.

Of the 24 businesses that have gotten a boost, 20 are still open today — a testament, development authority member Jason Shepherd said, to the hard work and dedication of business owners who may just be the next big thing.

“The world’s largest corporations started off with one or two people, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Google, all those,” Shepherd said. “It doesn’t necessarily mean that we’re gonna give $10,000 to the next Jeff Bezos, but you may.”

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

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BUSINESS

Toni Brooks and her dog Marteeny pose for a photo during the grand opening of The Drafty Dane in November.

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Co-owner Emily Matthews stands with her two Great Danes, Knox and Roxy, during the grand opening of The Drafty Dane.

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Co-founders Elizabeth Kunetz and daughter Caroline Tillman stand in front of The Reading Attic’s new expansion in July.

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From left: Relay Payments President Spencer Barkoff, The Lumistella Company co-CEO Christa Pitts, Biolyte CEO Jesslyn Rollins, and Superior Plumbing President Jay Cunningham.

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FORECAST 2025 15

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Road Improvements Continue to Drive Cobb’s Economic Development

Tracy Styf, executive director of the Town Center CID, stands before construction of the third phase of the South Barrett Reliever Project at Barrett Parkway and I-75 begun in 2023. Phase three of the project will open in 2025.

MDJ

Staff reports Improving access and the appearance of roadways continues to be a major driving force in Cobb County’s economic development.

The Cumberland and Town Center community improvement districts (CIDs) pump more than $12 billion annually into projects to drive the local and state economy, with much of the funding directed toward improving auto access in their respective districts.

In Cumberland, the Akers Mill Ramp will be the newest access point to the Interstate 75 Northwest Corridor Express Lane system when it’s unveiled in early 2025.

“You’ll be able to come into Cumberland, and go out of Cumberland, from the express lanes. We’re very excited about that,” Cumberland CID Director Adam Ross told lawmakers at the Cobb County Legislative Delegation’s annual wish list meeting in December.

According to the Cumberland CID, the ramp will be the newest of 12 access points to the system and provide more than 100,000 drivers safer, more direct entry to the express lanes.

The $44 million project saw investments from the Cumberland CID ($6.3 million), Cobb County Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax funds ($15 million) and the Atlanta Regional Commission ($10 million), among others.

Up in north Cobb, the third phase of the South Barrett Reliever project is also set to open in 2025, thanks to $33.5 million pooled

from the ARC, state of Georgia and others.

“This is the largest infrastructure project in the history of Town Center,” CID Director Tracy Styf told lawmakers at the same meeting.

Phase one of the project wrapped in 2010, and included improvements to Cobb Parkway, running east to Greers Chapel Road and then north along Greers Chapel to Barrett Parkway.

The $7.3 million second phase was completed in 2018 and highlighted by a two-lane roundabout where Shiloh Valley Drive meets Barrett Lakes Boulevard on the west side of I-75.

The third phase will see a roadway built over I-75, connecting the area near the Costco to Roberts Court by Home Depot, complete with bike lanes and crosswalks.

Styf said beautification is also a major priority for the Town Center CID, which spends more than $1 million annually on aesthetic improvements for the area.

That includes monitoring the 1 million miles of “curb and gutter” in the district, operating trash pickup, doing landscaping and adding improved directional signs inside the district.

In the future, Styf said, improvements to the area could also look like redeveloping Town Center mall, which narrowly escaped foreclosure a few years ago.

The Cumberland CID runs similar beautification efforts, pumping more than $1 million into landscaping for the district every year, according to its website.

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Chattahoochee River tourism adds over $161 million to local economy

The Chattahoochee River

By Jack Lindner The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area’s 3.1 million visitors in 2023 contributed over $161 million in revenue to the local economy, the national park reports.

According to the report, this spending supported 2,149 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit of $236.8 million to the local economy. Park Superintendent Ann Honious said the park is proud of their contributions to the community.

“Chattahoochee River NRA visitors are not just from the Atlanta region, but from across the United States. These visitors support the U.S. and local economies along the way,” Honious said.

Across the U.S., 325.5 million visitors spent $26.4 billion in communities

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Annie Mayne

near national parks, according to the National Park Service annual report. This spending supported 415,400 jobs and provided $55.6 billion in economic contributions to the U.S. economy, a record high.

An interactive tool is available online for those looking to explore a complete breakdown of the total contributions to national, state and local economies. The tool also allows users to view year-by-year trend data. To view the report and use the interactive tool, visit the National Park Service website at nps.gov/subjects/socialscience/vse.htm.

“I’m so proud that our parks and the stories we tell make a lasting impact on more than 300 million visitors a year,” National Park Service Director Chuck Sams said. “And I’m just as proud to see those visitors making positive impacts of their own, by supporting local economies and jobs in every state in the country.”

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Cumberland Hopper sees more than 11k riders Staff reports The Cumberland Community Improvement District announced the AV Pilot Shuttle Program, or Cumberland Hopper, has attained over 11,000 riders.

In July 2023, the Cumberland CID partnered with Beep, a national leader in AV technology and operations to provide the Hopper free to the community. The pilot program has been one of the most successful pilots in Beep’s history.

The pilot program ended in December. The goal is to continue the program in the future as part of the Cumberland CID’s major mobility project, the Cumberland Sweep.

Survey results from Hopper riders were 90% had a good experience riding the Hopper, 95% felt safe riding the Hopper and 90% support seeing more AV shuttles in the Cumberland area.

The pedestrian bridge over I-285 has been updated with signage designating routes for pedestrians and the Cumberland Hopper self-driving shuttle.

The Cumberland Community Improvement District announced the AV Pilot Shuttle Program, or Cumberland Hopper, has attained over 11,000 riders.

Cumberland CID/Special

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Kim Menefee, executive director of the Cumberland Community Improvement District, with the Hopper, the autonomous vehicle that is part of the district’s Cumberland Sweep project.

File Photo

Learn more

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Powder Springs’ downtown development pushing city’s progress When was the last time you visited downtown Powder Springs?

If it’s been a few years, you might be surprised about its current and continuing progress toward an even more thriving area for both residents and visitors.

The epicenter of Powder Springs’ downtown remains its Thurman Springs Park. It and its amphitheater will play host to nearly three dozen city-sponsored events in 2024, from its fifth-annual Sounds of the Springs Concert Series across three exciting summer Saturday nights, to a Brown Bag Lunch Concert Series that will offer some toetapping tunes from local artists during your lunch break.

The downtown location will continue to host the city’s annual Seafood Festival this May, with other returning favorites including the annual July 4th Celebration, family movie nights throughout the summer,

Trunk-or-Treat, and the Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting.

Across from the park, renovation and expansion of the former Municipal Court site will ultimately become Powder Springs’ new City Hall, which will be an important landmark in the flourishing city. Construction of a parking deck behind the project site is also underway. Both are scheduled for completion by the middle of this year.

Future additions to Powder Springs Park, meanwhile, will include a dog park for both large and small dogs, and a parking lot/farmer’s market area.

New communities have come to life across the city, offering a choice of affordable housing options to meet the diverse needs of city employees, young families, professionals, mid-life residents, and seniors.

Among these communities is Springside Apartments — with its main property between Marietta Street and Jackson Way and another along Hotel Avenue and Lewis Road. Springside, which held its grand opening in November, has 226 total units on 6.6 acres. Springside joins Heartwood Powder Springs as the first non-senior multifamily communities in the city in nearly 20 years. Heartwood, located at 4493 Brownsville Road just off U.S. Hwy. 278, held its grand opening in October 2023.

Single-family home building also continues as we begin 2025.

Powder Springs remains a welcoming city to those who currently call it home, as well as visitors and future residents. Visit cityofpowdersprings. org to learn more about the city and its happenings.

THERE’S ALWAYS SOMETHING WORTH STEPPING OUT FOR

Photos by Liz By Design Photography

24 FORECAST 2025

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Next-level experiences

North Cobb Christian School offers unique programs to develop student gifts.

“We believe that if students are encouraged to discover their gifts from a young age, they will develop a strong sense of who God made them to be,” says Head of School Todd Clingman. In addition to 17 award-winning performing arts ensembles and over 55 athletic teams (from mountain biking to the backto-back state-champion baseball team), NCCS intentionally guides students to discover their unique bent.

1. NCCS Academies | Exclusive to NCCS, high school students can select one of five tracks, which provide real-world experiences and networking opportunities in the arts, business, STEM, sports science, and ministry/education. Scan this QR code to watch NCCS Academy Singers’ music videos.

2. spring term | NCCS students in 7th through 12th grades dedicate a week for international, domestic, and local mission trips. From Kenya to Cartersville and everywhere in-between, students participate in life-changing service projects and cultural immersions that exponentially broaden their sense of purpose and biblical worldview. Peruse recent Spring Term blogs at ncchristian.org/springterm!

3. DUal enrollment | NCCS gives high school students a distinct advantage for their futures. Students can earn up to 41 college credit hours without leaving campus through over 14 dual enrollment courses, which are offered in addition to robust Advanced Placement (AP) options.

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EDUCATION

Isabelle Manders Cobb Teacher of the Year Karen Wright reveals her handprints on the Teacher Walk of Honor on Marietta Square Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024.

Marietta, Cobb Schools See Steady Academic Gains in 2024

By Isabelle Manders imanders@mdjonline.com

Families across Georgia continued to choose Cobb County schools in 2024, drawn by rising graduation rates, academic gains, and a commitment to expanding innovative programs that prepare students for the future.

With 106,358 students across 112 schools, the Cobb County School District is Georgia’s second largest and the 23rd largest in the nation. The district is also Cobb’s largest employer, with more than 18,000 workers.

Neighboring Marietta City Schools educates the public school-attending children in the city of Marietta, with almost 9,000 students and about 1,400 employees.

For the second year in a row, both school districts saw steady gains in the latest College and Career Ready Performance Index report, released in December.

The biggest improvements for both systems were seen in the “closing gaps” category, which evaluates efforts to reduce achievement gaps among different student groups.

Both Cobb schools and Marietta High School also saw an increase in graduation rates in 2024.

Cobb’s 2024 graduation rate was 87.9%, up from 87.7% in 2023, while Marietta’s was 91.4%, compared to 86.4%.

As for college-entry tests, Cobb and Marietta students improved on both the ACT and SAT this past year.

On both tests, the two districts continued to outperform the statewide and national averages.

Both Cobb and Marietta ranked in the top 10 for average ACT scores in Georgia.

Cobb had an average composite score of 22.8, compared to 22.7 in 2023, while Marietta had an average composite score of 22.7, up from last year’s average of 21.9.

While Cobb and Marietta saw improvements, the state and nation saw a 0.1 decrease in average ACT scores.

Georgia students’ average composite score was 21.2, down from 2023 when it was 21.3.

On the SAT, Cobb’s average score increased by one point to 1105. Marietta had an average SAT score of 1063, 11 points higher than in 2023.

Out of 168 districts, Cobb’s average score ranked ninth in the state for SAT, while Marietta’s ranked 24th.

The past year saw a variety of new initiatives across both schools.

Marietta introduced a cell phone ban to its sixth grade academy and middle school in August. At the start of each school day, students in sixth, seventh and eighth grade lock their cell phones and smartwatches into personal pouches until teachers unlock them before the final bell rings.

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Isabelle Manders Marietta Teacher of the Year Maria Nelson reveals her handprints on the Teacher Walk of Honor on Marietta Square Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024.

Since the implementation, the district has reported significant reducThis summer, renovations to Marietta High School are anticipated to tions in disciplinary issues and improved classroom management. begin. The work will be split over two summers and be completed durMeanwhile, Cobb brought a modern approach to teaching math and sci- ing summer 2026. ence, implementing Prisms virtual reality headsets in classrooms across the district.

In April, the district announced that a second Cobb Innovation and Technology Academy will be located at Allatoona High School. The first academy, which focuses on preparing students for a career tech pathway, opened at Osborne High School in fall 2020 and saw its first group of seniors who attended the school all four years graduate in May. The new academy will be funded by the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, which is used to pay for capital projects in both of the county’s school districts.

Cobb voters have approved six of these taxes, most recently in 2021. EdSPLOST VI began collecting revenue Jan. 1, 2024, and will run through 2028.

In the Cobb School District, Ed-SPLOST VI is expected to collect roughly $895 million.

In addition to the new academy, the tax will fund several renovation and construction projects including an HVAC, roof and flooring replacement at Timber Ridge Elementary School, a rebuild of Sprayberry High School, renovations to Tapp Middle School, additions to Bells Ferry Elementary School and annex replacements at Kincaid, Mt. Bethel, Murdock, Sope Creek and Tritt elementary schools.

The Marietta school district is expected to receive around $72 million from Ed-SPLOST VI. At Burruss Elementary School, a new carpool loop was installed, while several classrooms at the Emily Lembeck Learning Center received new Annie Mayne flooring.

In October, $5.6 million renovations at the Marietta Center for Advanced Prisms CEO Anurupa Ganguly, left, helps a Cobb teacher use his VR headset and Academics were completed, creating a corridor connecting all buildings. controls during a training at Wheeler High School Monday, Aug. 19, 2024.

30 FORECAST 2025

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EDUCATION

Cobb County School District Sprayberry High School will undergo a $71.9 million rebuild project that is scheduled to be completed in July 2027.

Cobb School Board approves $71.9M Sprayberry rebuild

By Annie Mayne

amayne@mdjonline.com

MARIETTA — In April, the Cobb County School Board approved a $71.9 million contract to rebuild Sprayberry High School.

The district tapped Atlanta-based Carroll Daniel Construction for the project, which is expected to be completed in July 2027. The existing twostory building with 66 classrooms will be replaced with a four-story building with 68 classrooms.

During the construction period, 37 portables will be put on campus to continue education for Sprayberry students. Superintendent Chris Ragsdale said not all of the portables will be trailers, and some will be buildings equipped with bathrooms and other amenities.

Ragsdale acknowledged the three years of construction will not be easy.

“It is not going to be a fun time of construction. There’s no other way to cut it. It’s just a bad deal all the way around. However, the end of the tunnel is the bright spot, and it will be an awesome campus once everything is complete,” Ragsdale said. “But again, everybody is having to compromise and sacrifice so that we can get this project underway and completed.”

The school currently serves 1,700 students. Board member David Chastain, who represents Sprayberry, said he doesn’t expect the capacity of the

school to greatly expand with the additional classrooms.

“I think just a little bit. I don’t know that we’re getting a whole lot of growth at the moment in the student population,” Chastain said.

The school was built in 1973, with some renovations completed in recent years. The new 3,000-seat gymnasium and the new career, technology and agricultural education building will remain.

But all instructional classrooms, the main office and the cafeteria will be rebuilt during the project, which was funded by voters in a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. Chastain, who graduated from Wheeler High School, said he has plenty of fond memories of the outgoing campus.

“One of the first Sadie Hawkins dances there, a young lady at Sprayberry invited me to dance in the cafeteria,” Chastain said, smiling. “I have great memories there.”

But he said the project was overdue for many in the Sprayberry community and his constituents look forward to seeing the new campus.

“The community has been asking for a rebuild for years and years,” Chastain said. “... The Sprayberry community is delighted. And again, this just so happens it coincides with the rehabilitation of the Sprayberry Crossing area. I’m hoping that between the changes at Sprayberry and the improvements (across) the street, the whole community around it is gonna benefit.”

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Our Expertise is in Creating Highly Skilled Professionals

ChattahoocheeTech.edu 770-528-4545 A Unit of the Technical College System of Georgia. Equal Opportunity Institution.

Chattahoochee Tech – The College of Real-World Training Cobb County does not have to look far from home for an excellent and affordable college education that prepares students for exciting career opportunities in the local workforce. Students can graduate in two years or less at Chattahoochee Technical College with a meaningful degree that is immediately usable and builds a lasting career. Chattahoochee Tech offers real-world training in a wide range of programs for students at all stages of life to quickly start, change, or accelerate their careers. A Unit of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), Chattahoochee Tech awards certificates, diplomas and associate degrees in programs of study linked to the state’s fastest-growing, high-demand career fields.

Programs of study at Chattahoochee Tech range from nursing and healthcare to computer technology, engineering, business and digital media. Innovative new programs like brewing have been added recently along with programs of study in aviation at the college’s new Aviation Training Academy. Chattahoochee Tech is also an excellent and affordable path to a bachelor’s degree. Students can transition easily from Chattahoochee Tech into four-year colleges in order to continue their education. Making this transfer process even better for many students is the new LINK program, an academic bridge from Chattahoochee Tech to Kennesaw State.

Chattahoochee Tech serves the community through nine campuses, which are conveniently located in Cobb, Bartow, Cherokee, Paulding and Pickens counties. Three of the nine Chattahoochee Tech campuses are located in Cobb County. The Chattahoochee Tech Marietta Campus continues to have the college’s largest campus enrollment each semester. Popular areas of study at the Marietta Campus include Practical Nursing, Dental Assisting, Phlebotomy Technician, Medical Assisting and Health Care Management. These programs are housed in the college’s 71,716-square-foot Health Science building, which features Technology Enhanced Active Learning (TEAL) classrooms and dedicated labs for anatomy, biology, chemistry, physics and physiology. Programs of study at the Marietta Campus also include Cybersecurity, Computer Programming, and Web Application Development, along with Early Childhood Care & Education, Automotive Technology and Criminal Justice Technology.

The college’s Marietta Campus is also home to the Superior Plumbing Veterans Education and Career Transition Resource (VECTR) Center.

As one of only two VECTR Centers in the state, it serves as a place to help veterans translate military skills and experience into training programs for high-demand and meaningful careers. It provides veterans and military-affiliated students with a supportive environment to assist them as they transition into the civilian workforce and into post-secondary education institutions. Chattahoochee Tech has been designated as a national top ten Military Friendly School, and the college’s Director of Veteran Services was honored with the national 2024 Veteran Champions of the Year in Higher Education award.

In East Cobb, the Chattahoochee Tech Mountain View Campus is located off Shallowford Road next to the Mountain View Aquatic Center. Students enrolled in the college’s new Esthetician program at this campus have the opportunity to pursue a rewarding career in the beauty industry. Popular programs of study based at this campus also include Film & Video Production Technology, along with Design & Media Production Technology.

Graduates of these programs may apply their skills in the state’s robust film and television industry. In South Cobb, the college’s Austell Campus is located on Veterans Memorial Parkway, with convenient access to I-285. This campus has a major focus on continuing education courses and professional development training offered through the college’s Office of Economic Development. Chattahoochee Tech also offers customized workforce training, continuing education classes, and adult education programs at multiple locations, which include free GED preparation classes.

Since the college began 62 years ago, Chattahoochee Tech graduates have been helping to build our communities and our local workforce. Most of our students come from towns near one of our campuses and they tend to stay in our communities for work. The evolution of Chattahoochee Tech through the years has been grounded in dynamic enrollment for programs of study designed to transform lives and meet workforce needs. These programs of study prepare Chattahoochee Tech students to become the highly skilled professionals who are needed within the local workforce.

More information is available at www.ChattahoocheeTech.edu.

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HEALTH

Colon cancer screenings recommended Staff reports MARIETTA — More younger adults are being diagnosed with colorectal cancers, physicians at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital report.

Consequently, they have joined other health experts in recommending adults receive colorectal cancer screening starting at age 45, rather than age 50, as previously recommended. And the most effective way to receive a screening is through a

colonoscopy, said Dr. Sahir Shroff, lead of surgical oncology at Kennestone.

According to Shroff and Dr. Ashanti Franklin, who works in colon and rectal surgery at Kennestone, colonoscopies can detect polyps that could potentially evolve into cancers, as well as existing colon cancers.

“We’ve been seeing more and more patients that are younger (with colorectal cancers),” Shroff said. “It’s unclear for that, whether it is a lifestyle or increasing obesity or what

MDJ Dr. Ashanti Franklin, of Wellstar Colon and Rectal Surgery, shows what malignant polyps could look like in a colon, seen in a giant inflatable colon that was at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital’s Cancer Center. Those malignant polyps could potentially turn into colon cancer, seen behind Franklin.

is really driving it.”

Nancy Page, oncology nurse navigator at Kennestone, said people as young as their late 30s are being seen for rectal and colon cancers, and while it was unclear why the instances of such cancers had risen, she had a theory.

“Personally, I think it has to do with the foods we eat, maybe how food is being packaged and processed with the different additives to keep it longer on the shelf, but cancer is definitely on the rise in the younger population because we think about it, those people are raised on processed foods now, from birth on,” Page said.

Shroff said the risk factors for colorectal cancers include the kind of diet one may have, especially if it is a low-fiber diet or one high in red meat. Other risk factors include those who have irritable bowel syndrome or Crohn’s disease.

The Colorectal Cancer Alliance says risk factors also include a family history of colorectal cancer or colorectal polyps and ulcerative colitis.

The organization, as well as Shroff and Franklin, emphasized the importance of screening because often there are no symptoms present for colorectal cancers. Symptoms that would be present include blood in or

on a stool, unusual bowel movements that do not go away like constipation or diarrhea, persistent stomach pains and unexplained weight loss.

Shroff and Franklin emphasized that early detection can lead to a high likelihood of survival, with Franklin saying that 90% of patients that have colorectal cancers detected early can survive.

“In patients who have any issues with rectal bleeding, we’d always like to attribute it to hemorrhoids and things like that,” Franklin said.

“It’s important that if you start to have symptoms like changes in your bowel habits, worsening abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, rectal bleeding, anemia, it’s important to start screening even earlier than the recommended age of 45.”

Over 150,000 people are diagnosed with cancers of the colon and rectum every year in the United States, and over 50,000 people die from those diseases, according to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance.

To demonstrate what certain ailments in the colon look like, a giant inflatable colon, courtesy of Boston Scientific, was displayed at Kennestone’s Cancer Center.

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.

Cobb Health Provides Overdose Prevention Kits Staff reports Cobb & Douglas Public Health is partnering with local emergency services and public safety agencies to provide naloxone, the opioid overdose reversal drug, to the residents of Cobb County who are at most risk for overdose deaths.

Opioid overdose deaths, especially due to the synthetic opioid fentanyl, have been on the rise in Cobb County.

All Cobb County fire departments, Metro Atlanta Ambulance Service and Puckett EMS have begun providing free “leave behind kits” to patients and/or their families after responding to an opioid overdose.

These kits include the opioid overdose reversal drug naloxone, fentanyl/xylazine test strips, Dispose Rx for proper medication destruction and resources for treatment and recovery services.

34 FORECAST | 2025

The Cobb County Sheriff ’s Office at risk for opioid overdose, knowFor more information, visit: https:// is also providing similar kits to those ing how to use naloxone and keep- cobbanddouglaspublichealth.com/ leaving incarceration who have an ing it within reach can save a life.” programs/opioid-response/. opioid use disorder. The CCSO kits include the addition of hygiene supplies and Sweetwater Mission has contributed socks. CDPH will also be distributing naloxone, fentanyl/ xylazine testing strips and Dispose Rx during overdose prevention community events. This project is made possible through Cobb County American Rescue Plan Act funding.

According to the U.S. Surgeon General: “For patients currently taking high doses of opioids as prescribed for pain, individuals misusing prescription opioids, individuals using illicit opioids such as heroin or fentanyl, health care John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune/TNS practitioners, family and friends of people who have an opioid use Karen Bigg, a harm reductionist for the Chicago Recovery Alliance, shows the disorder and community members contents of a kit for administering naloxone, aka Narcan, for drug overdoses, while who come into contact with people working in a mobile outreach van at Humboldt Park, July 25, 2023, in Chicago.

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Jack Lindner Wellstar Kennestone Hospital’s new bed tower is reportedly on-budget and on-time for an April 2026 opening, the health system reports.

Wellstar: Kennestone Hospital New Tower On Time for 2025 Opening

By Jack Lindner

jlindner@mdjonline.com

Wellstar Kennestone Hospital’s $263 million new tower being built in Marietta is reported to be on budget and on schedule for a spring 2026 grand opening, the health system reports.

The project was first announced in 2021 and construction began in March 2023. The nine-floor, 147-foot tower will have five floors of patient care, as well as a new hospital-wide kitchen, a cafeteria with a green space and an interfaith chapel.

Wellstar spokesperson Matthew O’Connor said the project is in various stages of completion, with the main levels 75% complete. It is scheduled to welcome its first patients in April 2026.

According O’Connor, once completed, the tower will have more than 300,000 additional square feet of healthcare space with 223 private patient beds.

“If you’ve been anywhere around the campus, you’ve seen the construction going on,” Vault said. “That has been a focus of Wellstar for a while. To take all of our facilities from shared rooms to total private rooms, and so that takes time and capital. We’re very excited about the new tower and where we are going.”

The extra space, O’Connor said, will allow for the flexibility to meet the community’s evolving patient care needs.

“The new tower will also allow the hospital to expand high-acuity services lines including neonatal, cardiology, neurology, and surgery,” O’Connor said.

Speaking to the Cobb County Legislative Delegation in December, Stephen Vault, Wellstar’s vice president of Strategic Community Development, said the purpose of the new tower is to provide services to the growing Cobb community and help continue to make Kennestone Hospital a “regional referral center for much of the state.”

He also expressed his satisfaction with the hospital’s emergency department, saying it continues to thrive as one of the largest and busiest emergency rooms in the southeast and the nation.

Looking to the future, Vault said Wellstar is focused on implementing more technology in 2025. In the next year, the system’s “innovation arm,” Catalyst by Wellstar, will continue to make large investments with other technology companies.

Vault said Catalyst invested over $17 million in various healthcaretechnology-related companies in the area in 2024.

“We’re making huge investments from an innovation standpoint,” Vault said. “Partnering with many institutions ... to really grow and advance how healthcare looks for the future.”

2025 | FORECAST 35

HEALTH

Wellstar names new Kennestone president Staff reports Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center has a new president.

Lorrie Liang was named president of Kennestone and Wellstar Windy Hill Hospital and senior vice president of the Wellstar Health System.

Liang moved to Wellstar from Sarasota Memorial Hospital, where she served as president and oversaw its 900 beds, 6,400 employees, 1,300 medical staff, a Level II trauma center in southwest Florida, according to a press release from Wellstar.

She brings 25 years of experience in hospital operations, service lines, physician practices, graduate medical education and research in academic and community hospitals and healthcare systems.

She holds a Master of Health Services Administration degree

from The George Washington University School of Business and an undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.

Liang succeeds Mary Chatman, who is executive vice president of Acute Care Operations for Wellstar and oversees the operations of the health system’s 11 hospitals, post-acute services and emergency departments.

“Lorrie is well poised to lead the complexities of Wellstar Kennestone and Wellstar Windy Hill,” Chatman said. “She will be accountable for leading Kennestone’s executive team, collaborating with the other Wellstar markets, partnering with our physician enterprise and engaging with key community stakeholders to further the outstanding work and successes we’ve seen at both hospitals in recent years.”

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REAL ESTATE

Hunter Riggall Officials break ground on Beazer Homes’ Greenhouse development off Bells Ferry Road. Pictured, from left: Melanie Graf, vice president of land development; CFO David Goldberg; Mayor Steve “Thunder” Tumlin; CEO Allan Merrill; Kyle Lyne, Atlanta division president; and City Manager Bill Bruton.

Cobb Housing Market Sees Improving Inventory, High Costs

By Isabelle Manders imanders@mdjonline.com

Although inventory levels improved in 2024, high interest rates continued to challenge homebuyers in Cobb County.

However, if the Federal Reserve continues to lower rates, the region could transition into a buyer’s market by spring 2025, said Derek Whitner, 2004’s Cobb Association of Realtors president.

“2024, overall, was kind of like being stuck in the mud,” Whitner said.

While there was an increase in inventory by 56% in 2024, it still lagged behind pre-pandemic levels, according to Cassandra McCrory, the association’s president for 2025.

A healthy real estate market typically has five to six months of inventory. As of December, Cobb had almost three months of supply, McCrory said.

While the Cobb market remained strong overall, Whitner said many people were still feeling the impacts of high prices.

“Your average police officer, school teacher, they can’t afford to live where they work. That’s

38 FORECAST | 2025

a problem,” Whitner said.

He said median home prices in Cobb increased by 6.8% from 2023, climbing from $440,000 to $470,000, January through November. Before the pandemic, in 2019, Whitner said the median was $296,000.

The average sales price in 2024 was $548,000, nearly double the 2019 average of $345,000.

Despite higher home values, McCrory said sales volume declined by 7.5%, falling from 7,999 units sold in 2023 to 7,401 in 2024.

The median days on the market rose from 10 to 16 days, she added.

“With the increase in inventory, buyers now have a little bit more options and they’re looking around a lot more,” Whitner said. “It’s putting pressure on sellers.”

Certain areas in Cobb saw higher demand, particularly those near schools and other amenities like restaurants.

“Near east Cobb schools and Hillgrove and Harrison high schools in west Cobb are prime areas,” Whitner said.

McCrory noted that the 30008 zip code in Mar-

ietta experienced an 11% increase in sales, while Austell’s 30106 zip code saw a 12.9% decline.

Whitner said south Cobb, “the last frontier of affordability,” was seeing an increase in new construction, including a mix of townhomes and single-family residences.

Whitner expressed optimism for 2025, noting that a combination of increased inventory and lower interest rates could invigorate the market.

If rates trend downward, “we may see a very, very strong spring and summer,” he said.

By the end of 2024, rates for 30-year mortgages had dipped below 6%, after hovering between 6.5% and 7% earlier in the year, Whitner said.

Decreases could fuel pent-up demand, with buyers poised to re-enter the market as rates fall.

In November 2024, Cobb had 779 new listings, up from 695 in November 2023.

Around November, the total sales volume in Cobb reached $269.9 million, compared to $251.1 million in the same month the previous year.

“And the number of units sold, median sales price and total sales volumes, they’re all increasing. So if we continue with the trend of all of

REAL ESTATE those factors going up, we’ll see a good, thriving market in 2025,” McCrory said.

Commercial real estate, however, has remained stagnant.

Bruce Logue, a HomeSmart real estate agent, pointed to high office vacancy rates and limited new business investments as lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and remote work trends.

“It’s been an advantage for the businesses that are looking for space, they had an opportunity to really negotiate and get great values,” Logue said. “But the property owners, they’re struggling.”

Despite these challenges, Logue said areas like the Cumberland Community Improvement District continue to attract growth, thanks to anchors such as Truist Park and The Battery as well as the headquarters of Fortune 500 companies such as RaceTrac and Truist Securities.

“The relocation traffic and the business traffic have been strong here in the fourth quarter, so I expect that to continue,” Whitner said.

Whitner said economic drivers such as Dobbins Air Force Base, Lockheed Martin and Georgia’s diversified industries have also contributed to Cobb’s resilience.

“Gov. Brian Kemp has done a phenomenal job diversifying our industry and making Georgia a place that’s attractive to employers,” Whitner said, adding that the strong state employment rate will continue to influence homeownership and business opportunities in Cobb.

Looking ahead, Whitner sees Cobb’s low tax base, strong schools and abundant recreational amenities as key to its continued growth.

“Cobb is a wonderful place to work, live and play,” he said. “...

Due to those factors, we’ll continue being a sought out place, versus some of the other areas in metro Atlanta.”

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2025 | FORECAST 39

REAL ESTATE

Cobb Co. population predicted to be 914K by 2050 Staff reports Cobb County could be home to more than 900,000 people by 2050, according to a forecast from the Atlanta Regional Commission.

More specifically, ARC is projecting Cobb’s population to reach 914,500 by that year, which would mean a population increase of nearly 150,000 from the 2020 Census baseline, based on population and employment forecasts shared by the regional agency.

Cobb is forecast to grow by 19% by 2050, compared to the regional average of 30%, and it is projected to remain the third-most populous county in the Atlanta region behind Fulton (1.3 million) and Gwinnett (1.2 million).

The region’s growth will be driven by the economy, ARC said, and the group forecasts Cobb will add 80,000 jobs through 2050 for a total of 495,000. Metro Atlanta will add

856,000 jobs by 2050 for a total of 4.6 million, the forecasts show.

ARC releases population and employment forecasts roughly every four years for the Metropolitan Transportation Plan, the region’s longrange blueprint that shapes transportation investments in metro Atlanta.

The ARC board adopted a major update to the plan, which allocates $168 billion through 2050 for transportation projects across the Atlanta region, including Cobb.

Highlights of the regional population and employment forecasts include: • Diversity will drive the region’s growth. Virtually all the net growth will come from racial and ethnic minority groups. For example, Hispanic and Latino residents are forecast to account for 21% of the region’s population in 2050, compared to 12% today.

• The region’s population of older adults will grow at a fast rate: In 2050,

nearly 12% of the region’s population, or more than 900,000 people, will be aged 75 or older. That compares to a share of less than 5% today.

• Growth will remain strong, but it will be slower than previously forecast. The new 2050 population forecast is about 700,000 below what was forecast in the previous series adopted in 2020. Driving the slower growth are declining fertility rates and a drop in “in-migration” — that is, people moving to metro Atlanta from other parts of the country or from abroad. Both of these trends accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Fastest growth to occur in outer counties. The fastest-growing counties in the 21-county region through 2050 are forecast to be Forsyth (79%), Barrow (71%), Paulding (60%), and Cherokee (53%).

• Strong growth in the region’s core, too: The region’s five core counties — Fulton, Gwinnett, Cobb, DeKalb

and Clayton — are forecast to add a total of 812,000 people by 2050, representing nearly half of the region’s total growth.

• Largest employment growth to occur in professional and business services. This category is forecast to add 130,000 jobs by 2050. The fastest-growing sectors by percentage are arts, entertainment, and recreation (68%); professional and business services (38%), accommodation & food service (36%) and manufacturing (35%).

“ARC’s latest population and employment forecasts show that our region’s great quality of life and vibrant economy will drive strong growth in the decades ahead,” said Anna Roach, ARC’s executive director & CEO. “But metro Atlanta’s continued prosperity is not a given. We must keep investing in our infrastructure and in our people to build a successful future. Our peer regions aren’t sitting still, and neither can we.”

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Copeland’s of New Orleans in Atlanta is proud to have been a part of the local community for the past 26 years. From the moment you enter, the ambiance resonates with the lively spirit of the New Orleans, setting the stage for an unforgettable dining experience. Indulge in fresh, perfectly cooked seafood, the savory notes of Jambalaya packed with hearty goodness, or the creamy delight of Crawfish Étouffée. Each dish is a testament to Copeland’s commitment to preserving the traditional flavors while adding a personal touch.

Copeland’s menu blends cherished classics and innovative creations, you can trust that quality, flavor, and an exceptional dining experience is at the heart of everything Copeland’s does.

But the experience doesn’t stop at the main course. Copeland’s takes pride in its decadent desserts, offering an assortment of sweet temptations that pay homage to classic New Orleans sweets. From the iconic Bananas Foster to the velvety richness of their bread pudding, every bite is a sweet finale to your culinary adventure.

Pair your meal with handcrafted cocktails or a selection from their curated wine list, elevating your dining experience to new heights.

The love for food at Copeland’s is as robust as their love for the community and guests they serve. To name a few organizations Copeland’s annually supports: Cure Childhood Cancer, Kennesaw Police Department, Local North Cobb county high school, North Star Church, Kennesaw State University and more.

They value and reciprocate the loyalty shown to them, understanding that their journey wouldn’t have been possible without the steadfast support of their patrons.

Creating delightful and memorable experiences for their guests is a cherished tradition that Copeland’s upholds, and it’s their privilege to share it witheveryone. As the brand embraces this remarkable 40-year milestone, Copeland’s invites all to join in celebrating and raising a toast to this timeless culinary tradition. Copeland’s of New Orleans in Atlanta isn’t just a restaurant; it’s an experience—an opportunity to immerse yourself in the lively culture and culinary legacy of Louisiana, right in the heart of Georgia.

Sunday 10am - 3pm Saturday 10am - 3pm • Sunday 9am - 3pm

SENIOR LIVING

Cobb Assistive Tools Studio Aims to Better Senior Living

Cobb Senior Services Cobb Senior Services Assistive Technology Case Manager Darlene Hettinger, right, shows a senior how to use a tool at the assistive tools studio.

By Jack Lindner

jlindner@mdjonline.com

MARIETTA — Inside the newly-renovated Marietta Senior Center on Powder Springs Street, Cobb Senior Services is looking to make their library of assistive tools more readily available to seniors across the county.

The department’s assistive tool studio, located at 1150 Powder Springs St., contains dozens of gadgets aimed at making difficult tasks for seniors easier. The goal is to provide and install these pieces of technology free of charge to seniors in low-income communities.

Senior Services Director Ioana Bovo-Nicolescu said one of the department’s biggest goals is to expand the studio’s reach to more seniors across the county.

Appliances in the studio can help seniors with a variety of issues including hygiene, cooking, eating and other daily tasks. Its inventory includes devices like weighted silverware for those with Parkinson’s Disease, dress shirts with magnetic buttons for those with arthritis and a mailbox alarm that alerts seniors when the mailman has arrived.

Assistive Technology Case Manager Darlene Hettinger said the studio also provides tools for those looking to combat a more universal issue: loneliness. The most popular item in the store, she said, is their companion dogs and cats, robotic versions of the animals for seniors unable to take care of pets, but still looking for companionship.

Hettinger was hired by Cobb Senior Services in

46 FORECAST | 2025

2023 to lead the studio and provide seniors insight into what each tool does to improve their lives.

Although the assistive tool studio predates Hettinger’s tenure, it experienced major setbacks during the pandemic, Hettinger said, due to Cobb Senior Services not having the ability to interact with patients one-on-one. This, in turn, caused the studio to restock their inventory since many devices had became obsolete and no longer usable.

With Hettinger now on the team, she has been tasked with getting the studio back up to speed.

When seniors visit the studio, Hettinger shows them each tool and explains how it works by giving demonstrations. But in the spring of 2024, she started a pilot program to test a new idea that would bring the studio into people’s homes.

Expanding and growing this new project, called the home safety program, will be Hettinger’s biggest focus in 2025, she said.

During the pilot program, she visited seniors at home to assess their living quarters and discuss daily tasks that are issues for them. From there, Hettinger would demonstrate a variety of tools for seniors in front of them to show how such items can solve their problems.

“My vision for what we’re going to do ... is to speak to people who are trying to age in place and people who may struggle with a disability ... and then have a discussion with them about ways they are struggling,” Hettinger said. “And then have a consultation where I can show them the products ... and troubleshoot with them.”

As a certified occupational therapist assistant,

Hettinger wanted to establish a program where she could visit seniors at home and address their needs directly. By getting a look at these homes first-hand, Hettinger said they can then alleviate risks seniors may be facing, with falls being the number one issue. “(Hettinger) has that eye when she gets into somebody’s house,” Bovo-Nicolescu said. “So she observes, and by being able to observe that, she has the professional capacity to be able to say exactly what items they may need.”

In the next year, Hettinger’s vision is to continue providing in-house assistance to seniors in order to draw more funding. By the end of next year, she hopes to establish an official home safety program where more professionals can provide assessments to more seniors across the county.

“I’d really like to get it established and accomplish a few dozen (home safety assessments) over the course of the next year to where it shows the value of that sort of a program,” she said.

As the leader of Cobb Senior Services, BovoNicolescu said Hettinger has her full support in this endeavor.

“This program would ... be able to make an impact and help more people with actual things they need in their house,” Bovo-Nicolescu said.

“I would love to see (the home assessment program) ramp up. We’re always looking for funding to make that happen.”

The assistive tools studio is located inside their headquarters at 1150 Powder Springs St. It is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Those interested in scheduling a free consultation with Hettinger can contact her at 770-528-5350 or email her at darlene.hettinger@cobbcounty.org.

Jack Lindner Anti-slip tape and a robotic companion dog are two of the most popular items inside the assistive tool studio of Cobb Senior Services.

SENIOR LIVING

Emotional support llama brings smiles to faces at Dogwood Forest Staff Reports MDJ

File Photo Pai the llama gets a treat from Shirley Kelly, both of whom appear to enjoy each other’s presence.

ACWORTH — Residents of the Dogwood Forest assisted living facility got up close and personal with an emotional support llama.

The llama, known as Pai — short for Paisan, is from the Wit’s End Llama consortium, which brings llamas to a variety of events such as birthday parties, bridal showers and pet therapy.

“They have a very calming temperament, and they are known for their relaxation and stress relief,” said Laurie Hutwagner, who owns llamas and works with Tracy Munroe, owner of Wit’s End. “You can see they are very well behaved. They’ve been known to walk right over to people. They have almost a sixth sense of when people need attention, and they’ll walk right over and stand right next to them.”

For residents of Dogwood Forest, the presence of Pai the llama was a happy moment, as the llama calmly made his way over to them, standing

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SENIOR LIVING next to the residents and staring out, seemingly into space, after residents handed him treats.

For others, petting the llama — not on the face, as that would have annoyed him — but rather on the soft wool on its neck, was more than enough to bring them joy.

Kim Hart, activity coordinator for Dogwood Forest, said bringing something like a llama out to Dogwood Forest was about seeing the smiles on the faces of residents, their families and volunteers.

“It’s something different. They live their life here. They play bingo. We have all kinds of different clubs like art, Bible classes, and this isn’t something they see every day. You see therapy dogs, but this is way, way different.”

Hart said it was the first time a llama had come by the facility, and has allowed some of their residents to come out of their shell.

“It’s cool for people who don’t come out of their rooms a lot, and would never touch an animal because they’re afraid, and they’re loving it,” Hart said.

“Things like this break the monotony,” said Herb Martin, a resident of Dogwood Forest. “It’d be pretty boring around here if they don’t do things like this. We’ve been here a couple of months, and we’re taking a little time to get used to this.

But things like this, this is what everyone needs.

They eat this up.”

Martin stood behind his wife, Jackie, in the activity room as Pai quietly made his way over to the two, as Jackie handed Pai some treats to enjoy.

Hutwagner said Pai is a certified therapy llama, which means he has gone through extensive training so he can be handled by people and won’t be alarmed by loud noises or people hugging them.

Hutwagner was unsure of how many emotional support llamas existed, but said that Pai is used commonly to train others.

“They tend to follow,” Hutwagner said. “They have a herd mentality, so they learn from the

other llamas.”

While there may be a belief that llamas spit at people, Hutwagner said that in the many years she owned llamas, she has seen them spit twice — and both were pregnant llamas spitting at male llamas warning them not to get too close. Instead, Pai calmly and patiently stood as a variety of people of all ages came up to him, feeding him treats and greeting him.

File Photo Pai the llama receives a treat from Dogwood Forest resident Jackie Martin.

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Redefining What it Means to Grow Older

By Deke Cateau

L

ast year marked a milestone for A.G. Rhodes and for Cobb county as A.G. Rhodes celebrated its 120th anniversary and the grand opening of our transformed nursing home community at A.G. Rhodes’ Cobb campus located in Marietta.

For several years we’ve embarked on this landmark capital effort to create a new nursing home model of care with many improvements including a new memory care building, major renovations to the existing building, private room accommodations for each resident, a state-of-the art therapy and rehabilitation gym, beautifully landscaped horticultural therapy gardens and water features, and more. But this effort wasn’t just about making physical improvements; it was about creating the safest possible environment for our elders to thrive and pioneering a better way of caring for our community’s most vulnerable residents. It’s a model that can be replicated throughout metro Atlanta, Georgia, and across the nation.

Over the years, especially after COVID-19, it has become increasingly apparent that critical infrastructure changes are needed in our nation’s nursing homes. But Medicaid— which most nursing home residents rely on—doesn’t cover the costs of those changes.

Thanks to our generous supporters and partners, A.G. Rhodes—which is one of only a few mission-driven, nonprofit nursing home providers in Georgia—raised the funds to ensure that underinsured and underserved elders in our community have a safe and comfortable place to live and age with dignity. This is something we all deserve, regardless of our financial or socioeconomic status.

Our transformed community is part of A.G. Rhodes’ yearslong endeavor to redefine what it means to grow older by using a person-directed approach to care. A persondirected philosophy emphasizes the individuality of every resident, tailoring our delivery of care to meet their unique needs and preferences. We consider each elder’s personality, history and interests, and we put decision-making in the hands of the elder, or in the hands of those closest to him or her. Routines are adjusted to accommodate the elder, rather than being based on rigid schedules or staff efficiency and productivity like the traditional, outdated model still found in many nursing homes and elder care settings.

Our society holds negative perceptions of aging and aging-related illnesses—particularly the stigma associated with dementia—but a person-directed approach encourages us to view aging and dementia through a much different and more humane lens. Through this type of care, we recognize that regardless of age or diagnosis, we are all capable of living purposeful and active lives, and we can all make meaningful contributions.

Our new community represents the kind of environment and care that we all want and deserve as we age, and all of us at A.G. Rhodes are incredibly proud—and grateful—to showcase it here in Cobb county.

Deke Cateau is the CEO of A.G. Rhodes, one of Atlanta’s oldest nonprofit organizations. A.G. Rhodes serves more than 1,300 seniors each year at its three metro Atlanta locations in Fulton, Cobb, and DeKalb counties. For more information or to support A.G. Rhodes, visit agrhodes.org.

Our transformed Cobb Community with all private rooms!

∗ All private bedrooms ∗ Living room with an inviting hearth ∗ Renovated rehab gym ∗ Dining room for family-style meals ∗ Centralized community kitchen ∗ Outdoor gardens and fountain ∗ Sunroom to connect with the outdoors

A.G. Rhodes Cobb 900 Wylie Rd. SE Marietta, GA 30067

www.agrhodes.org