🌱 Burglars Targeting Local Grocery Stores + Middle School Funded

Good morning, Smyrna-Vinings! I'm here in your inbox today to tell you everything you need to know about what's going on in town.

But first, today's weather:

Cloudy. High: 55 Low: 42.

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Here are the top three stories today in and around Smyrna-Vinings:

1. Investigators said a burglary crew is targeting Hispanic grocery stores around Cobb County. Police said the same four-person crew had hit three locations over the past few weeks, including stores in Smyrna and Kennesaw. Police from the Kennesaw and Smyrna police departments and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office are working together on the case. (Fox 5 Atlanta)
2. The nearby City of Kennesaw held a groundbreaking ceremony to kick off phase eight of the Depot Park Master Plan. This phase of the park’s construction will build the park’s planned amphitheater and festival area. When finished, the amphitheater is planned to hold up to 2,000 people. (Cobb County Courier)
3. The Cobb County school board voted to approve $9 million in funding for the new Betty Gray Middle School in nearby Mableton. The plan is to convert the current Lindley 6th Grade Academy into the new middle school, named by the school board last year after a local educator. (Subscription: Marietta Daily Journal)

Today in Smyrna-Vinings:

• La Fete - Afro Dance And Meditation At The Healing Environment (12:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The first women’s self-defense class of the year by the Smyrna Police Department is coming up! The 12-hour free course will be hosted on four different dates: Wednesday, Jan. 25 and Thursday, Jan. 26, from 6:00-9:00 p.m. and on Monday, Jan. 30 and Tuesday, Jan. 31, from 6:00-9:00 p.m. (City of Smyrna, GA Government via Facebook)
• Fancy a new book to read? The Smyrna Library’s Winter Book Sale runs through Sunday at the Smyrna Library. Proceeds from the book sale will go to supporting programs at the public library. (Friends of Smyrna Library via Facebook)
• Mark your calendars for the opening day of the Vinings Farmers Market! The market will open for the new season on Thursday, Mar. 23 with new hours from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. (Vinings Farmers Market via Facebook)

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Events:

• Alexi Butirskiy 'Mystery & Belonging' (January 21)
• Taxes In Retirement Seminar at Windy Hill Community Center (January 24)
• Add your event

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Saturday. I'll see you around!

— Danielle Fallon-O'Leary

About me: Danielle Fallon-O’Leary is a content manager with content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and assists Patch.com with community newsletter curation. Danielle also holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and works part-time as a pediatric speech therapist.