On Tuesday we posted a photo of an unusual pro-Obama sticker on car parked at the Whole Foods in East Cobb.  Today, East Cobb Patch reader Susan Bowling sent in this photo of a car in the Red Oak subdivision off Powers Ferry Road.  Mitt Romney, peace signs and flower power? Who knew? If you see any bumper sticker or other head-turning sight in East Cobb -- political or otherwise -- send it our way, and we'll post it right away. 

East Cobb may be a bastion of Republican and conservative politics, but this bumper sticker on a car parked in front of Whole Foods at Merchant's Walk Tuesday afternoon defies conventional sympathies.  If you see any good messages -- on cars or otherwise -- you'd like to share with your East Cobb neighbors, send them our way and we'll post them.  Send an e-mail to East Cobb Patch editor Wendy Parker at wendy.parker@patch.com. Make sure the photos are at least 200kb in size -- we'd prefer even bigger than that, and please tell us who took the photo so we can give proper credit. 

A total of 67 children splashed, dog-paddled and cannonballed their way into the history books Thursday morning at the McCleskey-East Cobb YMCA.  They were part of a worldwide event, the "World's Largest Swimming Lesson," in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record. The children, who were guided by YMCA-certified swim instructors, learned safety rules and proper swim techniques in a 30-minute lesson, right at 11 a.m., just as other youths were doing at more than 500 locations in 24 nations. After their lesson was over, the children splashed at their instructors and received certificates …

Graduation day at East Cobb's Shreiner Academy isn't just for the sixth graders who will be moving on to middle school next year.  The private school, located on Terrell Mill Road near Powers Ferry Road, also had a graduation ceremony last month for its 4K students, and recognized student achievers at the elementary school level. 

Wheeler High School graduates earned their diplomas Friday night at the Kennesaw State University Convocation Center.  Cobb Board of Education member Scott Sweeney was the guest speaker, along with class Salutatorian, Lei Zhang and co-Valedictorians, Keagan Long and Daniel Wolfson.

Alan C. Pope High School held its 2012 graduation at Roswell Baptist Chruch in Marietta on Thursday. Cobb County Board of Education David Banks was on hand to deliver a valuable message to the graduates; with time everyone changes both mentally and physically. Diplomas were handed out to the graduates by Pope High School Principal Rick Beaulieu. 

Cobb School Superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa and Cobb Board of Education menber Scott Sweeney were among the dignitaries Thursday at the Walton High School commencement exercises at the KSU Convocation Center. The packed house also heard the valedictory address from Lisa Wang, who recently was named the Georgia Star Student for 2012 and who will be attended Harvard University. 

Big crowds packed the The Avenue East Cobb Saturday to sample the Taste of East Cobb.  We didn't get to sample all that we intended, but we can confirm that the mini crabcakes from Ted's Montana Grill were sensational! Something else for curiosity seekers was the Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding whipped up by the staff at Keegan's Irish Pub, which opened a couple of weeks ago in the Shallowford Corners Shopping Center.  It wasn't quite as sweet as it sounded, but it was rich, as were so many of the delicious samplings from a variety of East Cobb restaurants.  The tireless members of the Walton High…

East Cobb's on-again, off-again winter felt like spring on Thursday afternoon.  And while March is considered perfect kite weather, the sweeping winds attracted a mother-daughter duo to East Cobb Park for a little recreational break.  We were among the East Cobbers getting out in the sun. How are you spending this glorious weather? If you'd like to share your videos or photos, we'd be glad to post them anytime.  Just e-mail wendy.parker@patch.com. 

The East Cobb Civitans this week presented funds to a number of East Cobb and other Cobb organizations after its fundraising drive netted more than $20,000. Among the groups receiving gifts are the Friends for the East Cobb Park, MUST Ministries and Cobb Center for Family Resources. Thursday's Civitan holiday luncheon was held at the Atlanta Country Club in East Cobb.   The East Cobb Civitan Club meets the on the second and fourth Thursday each month at noon for lunch at The Olde Town Athletic Club, 4950 Olde Towne Parkway. 

"All Through The Houze" is an original play written by The Art Place staff based on the classic poem 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. During Saturday's performance, the audience helped the Houze family dad get his teens into the holiday spirit with song. A holiday mouse and four of the eight magical reindeer helped, too.

East Cobbers happily braved chilly dusk temperatures Sunday to welcome in the Christmas season with the Holiday Lights event at East Cobb Park.  The spirit of the season was ushered in with a community touch, as this video presentation illustrates, with an emphasis on the excitement of youngsters.  Santa Claus made his appearance and a 40-foot-high tree park was lighted, preceded by a variety of music, including selections from the Mt. Bethel Christian Academy Eagle Choir.

It was a thriller at Raider Valley as Walton advanced to the state football title game for the first time on Friday against East Cobb rival Lassiter.  The Raiders will play Grayson next Saturday night at 8 p.m. in the finals at the Georgia Dome. Both teams are 14-0 on the season. 

Work crews are gradually tearing down the main building at Wheeler High School.  Classrooms and the library area have already been knocked down as the first phase of the $17 million project has begun, and it's a laborious process, as you can see on this video clip shot Thursday.  The library has been temporarily moved to the auxiliary gym during the reconstruction, which is estimated for completion in 2014. It will be a time, as Wheeler principal David Chiprany has said, "that will test everyone's patience. But it will be worth it."

We've got video highlights from Friday's homecoming parade, football game and homecoming queen ceremonies at Walton High School. While the Raiders won 45-7 over Wheeler to stay undefeated on the season, a nearly full house at Raider Valley braved chilly temperatures to watch senior Sarah Hine crowned as the new homecoming queen.  Walton's got another big home game against Marietta next week that will decide the Region 5-AAAAA championship.  But for now, enjoy Friday's festivities, and have a happy weekend! 

By halftime, the Wheeler Wildcats were making a game of their homecoming contest with the Lassiter Trojans.  After Kahlem Looney slipped through the Trojans' defense for a 36-yard touchdown in the second quarter, Lassiter's fragile lead stood at 14-7. But the Trojans dampened Wheeler's homecoming celebrations in the second half, scoring two touchdowns early in the third quarter to pull away for a 35-7 victory in a Region 5-AAAAA game.   Lassiter quarterback Eddie Printz threw for 275 yards and three touchdowns, including two scores to Charlie Hegedus, who had 140 receiving yards.  A rough …

The rain wasn't the main factor threatening to spoil Pope High School's homecoming on Thursday.  The visiting Sprayberry Yellow Jackets took what appeared to be a commanding 21-6 fourth quarter lead over the Greyhounds in a critical game for both teams in Region 5-AAAA.  But Pope scored three touchdowns after that, including the game-winner with 18 seconds remaining, to finish off the festivities in rousing fashion with a 27-21 win.  The Greyhounds moved to 6-1 on the season and 3-1 in region play as they prepare for undefeated East Paulding next week. The loss drops Sprayberry to 3-4 and 2-2…

The East Cobb Civitan Club hosted a musical extravaganza spanning four decades by Big Daddy DJ Service in East Cobb Park over the weekend. Through this event they raised community awareness of the Oct. 19 Wine and Vine Auction Benefit at Indian Hills Country Club. This event is held every fall, and in the past through funds raised, has donated over $100,000 into the development of East Cobb Park. The East Cobb Civitans have joined together with other Civitan clubs locally to help raise small grants to be matched by the national organization, to help with youth and the elderly, and people with…

Wheeler was trying to do something it hasn't done at all this decade: Win three games in a row and produce a winning record.  But the Wildcats never got going Friday in a 29-6 loss as previously winless Marietta celebrated its Homecoming.  It was also the first Region 5AAAAA game for Wheeler, which falls to 2-3 on the reason.  We've got the photos. Here's more on the game from The Marietta Daily Journal. 

For more on this week's featured stories, please click the links below:  East Cobb Remembers 9/11 Candidates Find Little to Argue About East Cobb Borders Closes Its Doors Walton, Pope Top Cobb SAT Scores  East Cobb Students Reach Merit Semis Timber Ridge Named Blue Ribbon School