The Skills Gap Fix: A Big Bet on Labor in Smyrna (Issue #33)

Good morning Stewards,

Fall is officially in full swing here, with corn mazes open and even our parking decks making way for future growth.

So, grab your flannel, soak up this fantastic Georgia weather, and see everything happening around town before the holidays rush in.

In Today's Edition

• ☀️ This Week's Weather: Perfect Fall Days Through the Weekend

• 🎃 Hidden Gems: Smyrna Corn Maze is Your Fall Weekend Plan

• 🕷️ Backyard Adventures: The Curious Spider popping up all over Smyrna-Vinings

• 🏫 Business Beat: UTI Names Campus President for New 150,000 sq ft Smyrna Facility

• 🚧 City Updates: Cobb Galleria Demolition & Nellie Mae Rowe Exhibit Arrives

• 🎉 Community Events & 💼 Job Listings

THE WEATHER REPORT
☀️ Peak Fall Conditions Continue

This is the weather that makes everyone forget how brutal August was.

• ☀️ Today (Tue): Mostly sunny, 78°/47° - sweater mornings, shirt afternoons

• 🌤️ Wed: Sunny and crisp, 71°/43° - classic fall day

• ☀️ Thu-Fri: Sunshine continues, mid-70s - ideal corn maze weather

• ☁️/🌧️ Weekend: Mostly cloudy Saturday, showers likely Sunday

• 🌦️ Next Mon: Morning showers clearing, low 60s

Plan accordingly: If pumpkin picking or corn maze adventures are on your list, aim for Thursday-Saturday. Sunday's your indoor day.

DIFFERENCE MAKERS
🎃 Smyrna Corn Maze: Your Fall Tradition Awaits

There's something about a corn maze that brings out the kid in everyone—getting just lost enough to feel adventurous, then finding your way out feeling accomplished.

The Smyrna Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch at 1685 Spring Road (right across from Rev Coffee) is hosting families all season with the kind of low-key fall fun that doesn't require advance tickets or breaking the bank.

What's There:

• Huge corn maze (the main event)

• Massive pumpkin selection for your fall porch

• Corn pit, rubber duck races, bounce house

• Pumpkin bowling, corn hole, giant tic tac toe

• Caboose and "hay" ride (perfect photo backdrop)

Hours & Details:

• Monday-Friday: 4:00-7:00 PM

• Weekends: 10:00 AM-6:00 PM

• FREE admission—just grab some pumpkins

• Location: 1685 Spring Rd, Smyrna (across from Rev Coffee)

Why This Matters: In a world where every kids' activity seems to require online registration and a credit card, it's refreshing to find a place where you can just show up. No tickets, no time slots, no hassle. Grab some pumpkins, let the kids burn energy in the corn maze, and call it a Saturday well spent.

The fact that it's run by a local family (The Carters) right here in Smyrna makes it even better—your pumpkin money stays in the community instead of feeding some corporate farm operation.

If you've been meaning to do "fall stuff" with the family but keep putting it off, this week's your shot. Thursday through Saturday brings perfect weather, and the corn maze is ready.

BACKYARD ADVENTURES
🕷️ The Golden Webs: What To Know About the Joro Spider Invasion

If you’ve noticed an unusually large, bright yellow and black spider building massive, intricate webs across your yard, mailboxes, or between trees lately, you’ve met the Joro Spider (Trichonephila clavata).

These East Asian natives are firmly established across Smyrna and Vinings, and while they look alarming, experts advise managing webs, not panicking.

Key Takeaways for Neighbors:

• Big but Harmless: Females are large (up to 4-inch leg span) and brilliantly colored, but they are not aggressive and their bite is not considered medically significant to humans. They are mainly interested in insects.

• Effective Pest Control: Joro spiders are voracious eaters and are actively catching common pests like flies and stink bugs. They are essentially free, albeit striking, pest control for your yard.

• Web Placement is Key: They prefer sunny, open gaps to spin their distinctive, golden, sticky webs. If a web blocks a high-traffic entryway, use a long stick or rake to remove it. They typically rebuild nearby.

The Future Outlook & Local Action

The Joro’s presence is now a fixture in our local ecology. While they compete with native spiders, their immediate positive impact is pest reduction. Authorities are currently focused on monitoring their spread and educating the public on safe, non-chemical management practices.

What to do: For webs obstructing daily life, knock them down. Otherwise, observe their benefit in your garden. You can also join Joro Watch to report sightings, an organization devoted to collecting data about the Joro spider.

STEWARDS WATCH
🏫 UTI Names Tod Gibbs to Lead New Smyrna Campus

Universal Technical Institute (UTI) just named Tod Gibbs as Campus President for their massive new Atlanta campus opening in Smyrna next year—and this is the kind of workforce development our region desperately needs.

The Big Picture:

• Location: 7100 Highlands Parkway SE, Smyrna

• Size: 150,000 square feet

• Opening: 2026 (pending regulatory approvals)

• Significance: UTI's first Georgia campus, fourth in Southeast

Programs Offered:

• Automotive technology

• Diesel mechanics

• Welding

• HVACR (heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration)

• Aviation and Powerplant

• Electrical trades

Who's Leading: Tod Gibbs brings 25+ years in higher education and operations management, with a track record of successfully launching campuses and aligning education with workforce needs.

His focus: "Building a campus and team that reflects the strength of our institution and the needs of this growing region."

Why This Matters: Georgia's got plenty of four-year colleges, but we've got a massive shortage of skilled technicians—the people who keep cars running, buildings heated and cooled, and infrastructure functioning.

When Universal Technical Institute invests money in 150,000 square feet in Smyrna, they're betting on demand for these careers. And they're right. Every HVAC company, auto shop, and electrical contractor in metro Atlanta is desperate for trained workers.

This campus means local kids can pursue high-paying technical careers without leaving home for training. It means employers have a pipeline of skilled workers. And it means Smyrna becomes a hub for workforce development in the Southeast.

The best part? These aren't jobs getting outsourced or automated away. You can't fix a car remotely, and AI isn't replacing welders anytime soon.

CITY UPDATES
🚧 Building Tomorrow While Honoring Yesterday

Two infrastructure stories this week show how Smyrna balances progress with preservation.

Cobb Galleria Parking Deck Demolition:

The old Red parking deck is coming down at Cobb Galleria Centre—but it's happening sustainably.

• All concrete and rebar being recycled

• New Yellow parking deck will connect to expanded convention center

• Covered access into the new building

• Eco-friendly construction practices throughout

Don't worry about parking during construction—the new deck will provide plenty of space once complete. This is part of the larger venue transformation making Cobb Galleria more functional for events and conventions.

Nellie Mae Rowe Exhibit Panels Arrive:

The panels for the new outdoor exhibit honoring folk artist Nellie Mae Rowe arrived at Hotel Indigo in Vinings this week—a permanent installation celebrating her legacy on the site of her former home.

• High-quality, weather-resistant exhibit panels

• Partnership between Cobb Landmarks, KSU, and Vinings Village HOA

• Located at former site of Rowe's "playhouse"

• Funded by State Rep. Sheila Jones, Georgia Humanities, and family members

Rowe was a celebrated folk artist who used found materials to create paintings, drawings, sculptures, and outdoor decorations. We covered her in our early September Issue after the parks initial opening. Her home in Vinings became a canvas for her creative vision, and now that site will educate visitors about her significant contributions to American folk art.

Why This Matters: The Galleria demolition represents economic investment in convention infrastructure that brings events and revenue to Cobb County. The Nellie Mae Rowe exhibit represents cultural investment in preserving stories that make our community unique.

Both matter. Both make Smyrna-Vinings a better place to live.

🎉 Upcoming Events

Women's Business Forum | 8:30AM-2PM, Oct 22 (Register)

• Location: Hotel Indigo Vinings, 2857 Paces Ferry Road

• Description: Three speakers on leadership and business. Networking for local businesswomen. Check-in at 8:30 AM, program starts at 9 AM.

Smyrna-Vinings Silent Book Club | 6:30 PM–8:30 PM, Oct 22 (More Info)

• Location: Ruby's Sourdough Pizza, 1625 Roswell St SE Suite 200

• Description: Join this global community of readers! There is no assigned reading—bring whatever book you're currently reading. The format is one hour of silent reading followed by one hour of socializing/story swapping. All readers are welcome.

Crafts & Drafts Festival | 10 AM–6 PM, Oct 25 & Noon–5 PM, Oct 26 (More Info)

• Location: Near Market Village & Around City Hall, 2800 King Street (Free Parking available)

• Description: This free, two-day festival (formerly the Fall Jonquil Festival) features over 150 Arts & Crafts booths, food vendors (from BBQ to cotton candy), inflatables, sand art, and a children’s costume contest/trick-or-treating hosted by the Smyrna Police Dept. Enjoy the beer garden, big-screen College Football, and live music from Scott Thompson.

Eight O' Eight at Timbers Tavern | 8:00 PM–9:00 PM, Oct 25 (More Info)

• Location: Timbers Tavern, 730 Concord Road Southeast

• Description: Live music performance by the band Eight O' Eight.

Adult Workshop: Bat Walk | 6:00 PM–7:30 PM, Oct 27 (Register)

• Location: North Cooper Lake Park, 4201 Cooper Lake Road

• Description: Celebrate Bat Week! Workshop for ages 16+ featuring a presentation by Master Naturalists on bats, followed by a sunset walk to listen for bat calls with an ultrasonic detector. Space is limited; registration required.

Run Smyrna | 6:30-8:30PM, Oct 27 and Every Monday (More Info)

• Location: Stout Brothers, 1265 W Spring St

• Description: Meet fellow runners for a relaxed 3–5 mile run

Smyrna-Vinings Silent Book Club | 6:30 PM–8:30 PM, Oct 28 (More Info)

• Location: Sincerely Yours Bookstore, 2450 Atlanta Rd SE Suite 300

• Description: Located in the Oct 22 listing (scroll up)

Jazz Under the Gazebo | Nov 1 (Tickets)

• Location: The Vineyard Wine Market, Downtown Smyrna

• Description: The Bourbon Brothers channel Frank Sinatra with classics from The Great American Songbook. Smooth jazz, wine tastings, dinner, dancing, silent auction, and raffle. All proceeds benefit Smyrna Public Safety Foundation supporting local first responders.

👋 See You Next Tuesday

📬 Ready to dig deeper? : Sign up for the scoop on Smyrna-Vinings delivered right to your inbox every Tuesday @ 8 AM

— Ravi Patel

P.S. If you hit the Smyrna Corn Maze this week, tag them on social media. Local businesses thrive on word-of-mouth, and your photo might convince another family to make it their Saturday plan.