🌱 Clothing Drive At Mall + Cobb County PD Mental Health Initiatives

Hey, friends! It's me, Danielle Fallon-O'Leary, your host of the Daily. Let's get this Thursday started off right, with a quick guide to the most important things happening in town.

But first, today's weather:

Showers early in the morning. High: 56 Low: 35.

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

1. Lenox Square recently announced a clothing drive to benefit The Shepherd Center. If you're headed to Buckhead between now and Dec. 31, you can stop by the mall to donate both your new and gently used shoes and clothing. The drive will benefit the patients at the Shepherd Center, a not-for-profit hospital specializing in medical treatment, research, and rehabilitation for people with neuromuscular conditions. (ReporterNewspapers.net)
2. Marietta and Cobb police departments are taking steps to improve mental health services for officers. Sally Riddle, co-founder of the Cobb Coalition for Public Safety, explains the old stigma associated with mental health, the need for better mental health services within law enforcement, and how Cobb County strives to serve its officers' mental health. (Cobb County Courier)
3. The Cobb elections board is seeking court judgment on the county's electoral map. This coming Monday, Dec. 19, the board will ask a Cobb County Superior Court judge to help decide if the Board of Commissioners has the power to adopt its own electoral map. This change comes under the home rule statute and would overturn the Legislature-approved map — which was an unprecedented move commissioners made earlier this year. (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Today and tomorrow in Smyrna-Vinings:

• Pictures With Santa At Acceptance Insurance (Dec. 15, 3:00 PM)
• Kids Eat Free! At Varners Restaurant & Tavern (Dec. 16, All Day)

From my notebook:

• The Smyrna Education Foundation congratulated Dr. Jeanne Walker on receiving the Smyrna Citizen of the Year award. Dr. Walker was Principal at Campbell High School for seven years before being named as Principal at Cobb Horizons this year. The Education Foundation commented on her success, calling her an "amazing leader." (Smyrna Education Foundation via Facebook)
• The Cobb County Police Department participated in "Shop With A Cop" yesterday. This event helps build a lasting positive relationship between children and law enforcement — and gives kids the opportunity to shop for Christmas presents for their loved ones. (Cobb County Police Department via Facebook)
• If you're browsing through the housing market in the area, you don't want to miss the latest open houses in Smyrna-Vinings. Take a drive this weekend to explore residences in the Smyrna area; one with 3 beds and 3 baths for $645,000, and another with 2 beds and 3 baths for $284,000. (Smyrna-Vinings Patch)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow morning with another update!

— Danielle Fallon-O'Leary

About me: Danielle Fallon-O’Leary is a senior writer 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.