Email Intrigue, Budget Slicing, Great Eats

1. Weatherwise, Friday figures to be another cuckoo-hot day, much like the rest of the week, with temperatures in the mid-90s and humidity to match, and a slight threat of rain and thunderstorms. The heat index: 99 to 104.

Take it easy and be careful out there at the end of the work week, because Saturday's going to be even hotter, with a high near 97. The early part of next week calls for more mid-90s highs, and lows in the mid- to low-70s.

2. What's in the private emails sent between four Cobb school board members? Our  summarized complaints from a parents that the board majority (including East Cobb's Scott Sweeney) who voted for a return to a traditional school calendar were communicating outside of official channels. 

This has prompted a letter to the board from state attorney general and former Cobb commission chairman Sam Olens. Later this morning we'll have more on what was said about what was emailed, and what might happen next. 

3. The Cobb commission rate this week for the first time in nearly 20 years, following an emotional public hearing that East Cobb commissioner Bob Ott said "is what this country is all about."

For better and for worse, according to Ott, who voted against the tax increase, in a meeting on Wednesday with the East Cobb Civic Association. We've got a report coming this morning on Ott's attempts to slice more from county spending with the fiscal year 2012 budget due to be approved next month. 

Some of the possibilities he throws out for discussion are a lot more precise and gentle than the sandwich shop owner in the video. But Ott admits to hearing from citizens who think he wants to wield a rather haphazard axe.

4. With that as an appetizer, East Cobb Patch foodie Jan Katz visits the Cherokee Cattle Company in her latest installment of Bites Nearby, and she reports that serious grazers may have met their match. Smack your lips about that this morning and look for her review around lunchtime.

A little bit closer to the EC, the AJC's Food and More blog notes the opening of another establishment in the Brazilian foodie hotbed in the Powers Ferry Road corridor. The arrival of the Botekim Brazilian Bistro, located at 1410 Terrell Mill Road at the Powers Ferry intersection, is another encouraging sign of the revitalization of the area. 

5. And in a sneak preview of this weekend's postings on East Cobb Patch, we've still got this week's  on our brain. Those fruit tarts didn't last long, and neither did the chocolate chip cookies.

On Sunday, East Cobb POV columnist Tim Langley writes about how East Cobb's quality of life brought the upscale food retailer here. He explains that it's not the per capita income of the area but how East Cobb came to have the wealth it does, and why the Whole Foods opening is especially timely in light of the tax hike decision.

Stay tuned for that, and enjoy the best of your weekend!