18,000 Flags. One Voice. And a City Worth Fighting For.

Dear Stewards

Cobb County’s digital campfire is crackling, and you’re invited to pull up a chair.

This week’s stories aren’t just updates. They’re signals. That Smyrna’s on the map (officially).

That reverence still lives in our neighborhoods. That one voice still matters when a zoning case hits too close to home.

So whether you’re here for the job board, the heroics, or the what-the-heck-is-a-zoning-case part, know this:

you’re reading what it means to care where you live.

Let’s walk the week together.

— Your Voice for Local Prosperity

In Today's Edition

• 🏆 Local Legends: Smyrna gets national spotlight, see why it matters

• 🇺🇸 Difference Makers: One resident, 18,000 flags, and the ripple of remembrance

• 🏡 Stewards Watch: Why a 24/7 Whataburger has West Village saying “no thanks”

• 💼 Job Board: Part-time Smyrna gig + full-time remote assistant role

• 🎟️ Event Horizon: What’s popping in Smyrna this week

LOCAL LEGENDS
Smyrna Just Made the National List (And We're Not Surprised)

While the rest of America was figuring out where to live, U.S. News & World Report was paying attention to what we already knew.

Not bad for a city that started as a railroad stop.

The Numbers Don't Lie

Sometimes rankings feel arbitrary. This one feels earned.

💰 Money Talks: Median household income of $97,883 vs. national average of $79,466
💼 Jobs Matter: 3% unemployment vs. national 4.5%
🏡 Home Values: $412,167 median (above national $370,489) but still reasonable for the location
🚗 Real Commutes: 27.2 minutes average (yes, slightly above national, but you're living near Atlanta)

Translation: People here make good money, find work, and can actually afford to buy homes. In 2024, that's legendary.

The Smyrna Story in Context

57,063 people call this place home. That's big enough for choice, small enough for connection.

Young Energy: 21% of residents are 25-34 years old
Family Friendly: 22% under age 20
Professional Hub: Job market beats national averages
Weather Wins: 78° summers, 48° winters (actual seasons without extremes)

The secret sauce: Smyrna feels like a city that works without trying too hard to impress. Infrastructure that functions.

Businesses that serve locals first. Community events that bring people together instead of just filling calendars.

What #158 Really Means

Out of thousands of American cities, Smyrna cracked the top 200. That's not accident, that's stewardship.

Good schools. Reasonable commutes. Economic opportunity. Community involvement. The basics done well, consistently, over time.

The opportunity: Recognition that validates what residents already invest in. Proof that the stewardship approach works.

Why This Matters Now

National recognition brings pressure. Will Smyrna stay Smyrna, or become another suburban success story that loses its soul in the process?

The answer lies in continued engagement.

Neighbors who show up to zoning hearings. Residents who support local businesses. Community members who volunteer for Scout projects and arts councils.

Rankings don't make communities legendary. People do.
Congratulations, Smyrna. You made the list because you made the effort. Keep it up.

DIFFERENCE MAKERS
18,000 Names. 18,000 Stories. One Saturday Morning of Honor.

Most Memorial Day weekends, we sleep in, fire up the grill, and enjoy the long weekend.

Yashica Marshall spent hers on her knees at Marietta National Cemetery, reading names aloud as she along with the local Boy Scouts placed flags on 18,000 graves.

18,000.

Each flag. Each name. Each life that made our weekend possible.

When Service Becomes Sacred

Yashica wasn't required to read those names. The Boy Scouts she was helping probably just needed the flags placed. But something deeper called her to pause, to speak each name, to make sure 18,000 people weren't just statistics on a Saturday morning.

That's the difference between going through the motions and creating meaning.

Her grandfather, Felmon O'neal Jr., and father, Melvin Marshall, were among the honored. But she didn't stop there, she read names of strangers, too.

Families she'll never meet. Stories she'll never know. Lives that shaped the freedom she gets to live.

The Ripple Effect of Respect

Picture it: A Queen Mill resident, spending her Saturday morning in quiet service, turning a community volunteer project into a personal act of reverence.

Then watch what happened next.

• Vedette from Hicks Road thanked her grandfather and father for their service.

• Frank from West Village said "More of this needs to be done" and praised her for the reminder.

• Emily from Greenbrook Estates shared that her father-in-law and uncle rest in that same cemetery.

• Scott from Fair Oaks called it "the biggest sacrifice" and blessed all who serve.

Thirteen neighbors responded. Across neighborhoods—Queen Mill, West Village, Providence, Fair Oaks. All connected by one person's choice to read names aloud instead of just placing flags.

That's how one person's intentional action creates waves of dignity across an entire community.

Why This Matters Now

In a world of quick takes and surface-level engagement, Yashica chose depth. She could have placed flags efficiently and moved on. Instead, she turned service into ceremony.

She concluded, not from someone who just attended a barbecue, but from someone who spent her morning in conversation with history.

The question for the rest of us: When we volunteer, do we just complete the task, or do we find the sacred in the service?

Yashica showed us the difference. One name at a time.

Next time you pass Marietta National Cemetery, remember: 18,000 names were spoken with love this Memorial Day weekend, because our neighbors chose reverence over routine.

STEWARDS WATCH
When Your Neighborhood Needs a Voice, Some People Step Up

Most of us see a problem and hope someone else handles it.

Alette Stache saw a problem and became that someone else.

When a 24/7 Whataburger with a double drive-thru lane was proposed for the corner of South Atlanta Road and West Village Way, Alette didn't just complain on social media.

She studied the zoning case, analyzed the traffic patterns, and built a coalition.

The issue? More than just another fast-food restaurant.

🚗 1,700 cars daily funneling through residential streets
🚨 Emergency vehicle access potentially blocked during rush periods
🌙 All-night operations in a quiet neighborhood
📦 Delivery disruptions for USPS, Amazon, and local services

What Real Advocacy Looks Like

While others talked, Alette acted:

• ✅ Researched the zoning case (Z-9) and staff recommendations

• ✅ Organized public comment campaigns

• ✅ Prepared to represent the community at the June 3rd Planning Commission hearing

• ✅ Coordinated neighbor outreach and business support

The reality? She's fighting an uphill battle. Staff analysis already recommends approval. But that's exactly when communities need someone willing to show up and speak truth to power.

Your Voice Matters Too

Alette can't do this alone. If you believe neighborhoods should have a say in developments that affect daily life, here's how to help:

📝 Submit Public Comments (Deadline: May 30th)
Quick 5-minute form

• Zoning Case: Z-9

• Location: Corner of South Atlanta Rd and West Atlanta Rd, Land Lot 748

• District 2

🗣️ Attend the Hearing
Tuesday, June 3rd, 9 AM
David Hankerson Building, Second Floor
100 Cherokee Street, Marietta, GA

Why this matters beyond Whataburger: When residents organize thoughtfully around quality-of-life issues, it sets precedent.

It shows future developers that this community pays attention and expects their voice to be heard.

Whether you agree with Alette's position or not, you have to respect someone willing to do the homework, show up to the meetings, and represent her neighbors' concerns.

That's what difference makers do.

The hearing is June 3rd at 9 AM. Whatever your position, civic engagement starts with showing up.

EVENT HORIZON
🌟 Your Week in Smyrna: Comedy, Concerts & Community Vibes

From open-air laughter and live music to local markets and hidden forest trails, this week in Smyrna is your invitation to engage, explore, and enjoy.

Whether you're here for the food trucks, the comedy stage, or some Sunday soul-refreshing discovery, there's a little magic waiting in every corner:

• 🚚 Food Truck Tuesday: Savor gourmet bites, sweets, and music every Tuesday night. 📍 Taylor-Brawner Park | 🗓 Tuesday, May 27 | ⏰ 5–9 PM

• 🩺 Senior Health First: Attend a free seminar on tailored for advocating for your own care and making confident healthcare decisions in a complex healthcare system 📍 Sewell Mill Library, 2051 Lower Roswell Rd, Marietta 🗓 Wednesday, May 28 | ⏰ 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ➡️ Register here to save your seat (Led by a Board-Certified Patient Advocate)

• 🎶 Blanket Concert Series: Yes MA'AM Family Band: Kick back on the lawn with your blanket and enjoy free live music in the garden. 📍 Reed House Garden (3080 Atlanta Rd, Smyrna) | 🗓 Saturday, May 31 | ⏰ 6:30–8:30 PM (No registration required—just show up and vibe!)

• 🎤 KOS Comedy Writer’s Room Showcase: Catch rising local comedians from the KOS Writer’s Room Class, featuring special guest Holly Ballantine. 📍 1125 Concord Rd SE, Suite B, Smyrna, GA 30080 | 🗓 Saturday, May 31 | ⏰ 8 PM (Doors at 7:30 PM) (Presented by Cobb EMC Foundation. Hosted by Leah Marie.)

• 🛍️ Smyrna Market: Shop 60+ vendors with food, crafts, local goods, and fresh finds. 📍 City Hall, 2800 King Street | 🗓 Sunday, June 1 | ⏰ 10 AM–2 PM

• 🌲 Lecture: Hiking Atlanta’s Hidden Forests: Discover secret trails, urban art, and old-growth forests with author Zana Pouncey 📍 Smyrna Public Library, Meeting Room (100 Village Green Circle SE) | 🗓 Sunday, June 1 | ⏰ 3–4 PM (Light refreshments served. Sponsored by Friends of Smyrna Library.)

• 🎨 Make-it Mondays: Pick up a fun to-go craft kit for kids ages 3–7 that matches the weekly Storytime theme.
  📍 Smyrna Public Library, Youth Services Desk, 100 Village Green Circle SE | 🗓 Monday, June 2 | ⏰ 10 AM–7 PM (While supplies last. Glue and crayons not included.)

Your Move, Smyrna-Vinings Residents!

💌 Share the Love: Forward this to someone who loves discovering local gems and celebrating the heart of Smyrna.

🧭 Support our local businesses! Visit our directories for Smyrna & Vinings
📣 Got a local gem or listing? Send it our way
💬 Chat with your neighbors: CobbTalk Forum

📬 Stay in the loop: Sign up for Smyrna-Vinings news delivered right to your inbox every Tuesday @ 8 AM

Thank you for attending. We’ll see you next week!
— The Stewardship Group

💊 P.S. Stewardship Challenge of the Week: Write one thank-you note.
Not an email. Not a text. A handwritten note. Drop it off at your favorite small business. Give it to the neighbor who keeps their yard clean. Slide it to the library staff, your kid’s teacher, or the barista who remembers your name. Gratitude is contagious, so start the spread.