Infrastructure Meets Community: Your Monday Night Matters

Good morning Stewards,

Sometimes progress arrives in the most ordinary moments: a 6-0 city council vote, a fiber optic cable being laid underground, a child walking into a classroom for the first time.

Today brings the perfect intersection of community building and civic advancement.

As our neighbors prepare for National Night Out at West Village's Brookfield Park, students across Cobb County will soon be experiencing their first day back to school, and Google Fiber crews are preparing to expand high-speed internet access throughout our city.

The extreme heat warning affecting our region this week reminds us that infrastructure isn't just about convenience, it's about resilience.

From reliable internet that keeps us connected during emergencies to community events that strengthen the social bonds we depend on, the decisions made in council chambers and neighborhood gatherings shape how we weather every challenge.

Your voice remains essential as we navigate these intersections of progress and community.

— Your Voice for Local Prosperity

In Today's Edition

• 🌐 Infrastructure Update: Google Fiber expands to Smyrna

• 🌱 Difference Makers: National Night Out strengthens community bonds

• 🛡️ Stewards Watch: Fire investigation reveals safety considerations

• 📚 Back to School: New security measures at school board meetings

• 📅 Event Horizon: What's Going Down in Smyrna-Vinings this Week

• 🏛️ Public Pulse: Extreme heat safety measures in effect

INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATE
Google Fiber Comes to Smyrna

The Smyrna City Council approved a deal with Internet service provider Google Fiber this week, voting 6-0 to allow the company to install equipment throughout the city. Councilman Glenn Pickens was absent from the vote.

The agreement grants Google Fiber access to city rights-of-way—including streets, highways, sidewalks and medians—to construct and maintain high-speed internet infrastructure.

According to Norton, much of Google Fiber's equipment will be installed on the south side of the city.

Google Fiber's service provides significantly faster speeds than traditional providers.

Their Core plan provides upload and download speeds up to 1 gigabit per second, while their Edge plan provides speeds up to 8 gigabits per second.

By comparison, Xfinity's lowest plan provides speeds up to 300 megabits per second, while their largest provides up to 2,000 megabits per second.

Jennifer Bennett, community relations director for the city, said this deal is non-exclusive to Google Fiber, and that they will still have to file for the required permits before beginning any installation work.

Google will pay Smyrna a franchise fee equal to 2% of gross revenue for using the public right-of-way.

Why it matters locally: High-speed internet access has become essential infrastructure for remote work, education, and emergency communication.

This expansion provides residents with more options while generating revenue for the city through franchise fees.

DIFFERENCE MAKERS
National Night Out Builds Community Safety

On Monday from 6-8 PM, West Village residents join 17,000 communities nationwide for the 42nd Annual National Night Out at Brookfield Park, demonstrating how organized community engagement creates meaningful public safety partnerships.

National Night Out, observed annually in August, is dedicated to strengthening relationships between communities and law enforcement while promoting police-community partnerships.

This year's event features live music by Kitty and the Cats, visits from local fire and police departments, food trucks, and direct conversations with county commissioners about public safety priorities.

STEWARDS WATCH
Fire Investigation Highlights Home Safety

Smyrna Fire Department officials are investigating an early morning fire that seriously damaged a home on Debra Drive around 1 a.m. Thursday.

The incident highlights important safety considerations for residents with specialized hobbies.

"The ammonium perchlorate used for hobby rocket fuel is an accelerant and will help aid the fire burning, but our crews were able to take care of it very quickly and very safely," Lt. Evan McBrayer said. 

Officials say the situation was made more difficult because of the resident's rocket-building hobby, which helped fuel the flames.

While firefighters believe the blaze started in the home's basement, the cause and specific point of origin remain under investigation.

Why it matters locally: This incident demonstrates both the professionalism of our fire department and the importance of safety planning for residents with specialized hobbies involving flammable materials.

📚 BACK TO SCHOOL UPDATE

As Cobb County students returned to school Monday, August 4, 2025, for the start of the 2025-2026 school year, parents and community members face new procedures for attending school board meetings.

The Cobb County School Board is implementing the Evolv security screening system for all meeting attendees, with officials anticipating a 60-second screening process.

This change comes alongside the board's recent decision to discontinue livestreaming public comments during meetings.

The combination of new security screening and ended livestreaming creates additional barriers for working parents who want to stay engaged with school district decisions affecting their children's education.

PUBLIC PULSE
Extreme Heat Safety Measures

An extreme heat warning and heat advisory are in effect across Georgia, with the National Weather Service reporting heat indices up to 109 degrees expected in metro Atlanta and surrounding communities.

The advisory is set to expire at 8 p.m. Monday, but heat will persist through Wednesday, with Tuesday expected to be the most intense day.

Isolated thunderstorms are anticipated for the next several days in the metro Atlanta region, with the National Weather Service reporting frequent lightning and 40-mph wind gusts expected with Monday afternoon's storms.

In coming days, downburst winds could reach 50 mph among heavy rain and frequent lightning.

Heat safety reminders:

• Stay hydrated and seek air-conditioned spaces during peak heat hours

• Check on elderly neighbors and those without adequate cooling

• Limit outdoor activities between 2-8 PM

• Watch for heat exhaustion symptoms: dizziness, nausea, rapid heartbeat

EVENT HORIZON
Your Week in Smyrna-Vinings

• 🚚 Food Truck Tuesday: Savor gourmet bites, sweets, and music every Tuesday night. 📍 Taylor-Brawner Park | 🗓 Tuesday, July 29th | ⏰ 5–9 PM

• 🎒 Back-to-school: A Scavenger Hunt for Kids: Find all the pictures then turn in your checklist to a staff member to receive a special prize. 📍 Smyrna Public Library, Youth Services Department, 100 Village Green Circle SE, Smyrna, Georgia 30080 🗓 Monday, August 4th through Sunday, August 10th, 2025 ⏰ During Library Hours (Monday - Thursday: 10 AM - 8 PM, Friday & Saturday: 10 AM - 5 PM, Sunday: 1 PM - 5 PM) (📝 Ages 2-10 years old)

• 🛍️ Smyrna Market: Shop 40+ vendors with food, crafts, local goods, and fresh finds. 📍 City Hall, 2800 King Street | 🗓 Sunday, August 3rd | ⏰ 10 AM–2 PM

• 🏛️ Sunday Lecture: "The City That Never Was: Fact and Fallacy in the Early History of Smyrna, Georgia, 1872-1910": This series is sponsored by the Friends of Smyrna Library. 📍 Smyrna Public Library, Meeting Room, 100 Village Green Circle SE, Smyrna, Georgia 30080 🗓 Sunday, August 3rd, 2025 ⏰ 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

• 🏃 Monday Night Run Club - Run Smyrna: Meet fellow runners for a relaxed 3–5 mile run📍Smyrna Beer Market (by Stout Brothers, SW of the fountain). 🗓 Monday, August 4th | ⏰ Meet at 6:30 PM, run starts shortly after (Run at your own pace, and your own risk.)

👋 Until Next Tuesday

This week reminded us that progress happens through both infrastructure investments and community connections.

Whether it's high-speed fiber optic cables being laid underground or neighbors gathering in parks to strengthen public safety partnerships, our community grows stronger through both technological advancement and human relationships.

As students begin a new school year and families navigate extreme heat, remember that legendary communities are built through the intersection of smart planning and neighborly care.

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Thanks for continuing to show up for your community.
— The Stewardship Group

P.S. Stewardship Challenge of the Week: Beat the Heat, Build Community
The National Night Out at West Village represents exactly the kind of community engagement that builds stronger, safer neighborhoods.

Even if you're not in the West Village area, consider how you can strengthen police-community relationships and neighbor-to-neighbor connections in your own neighborhood.

Our community needs residents willing to show up and build the social infrastructure that keeps us all safe.