Letter to the Editor: Support the Right to Grow Act

At a time when nearly one in five Georgia residents are on food stamps, House Bill 853, the Right to Grow Act, seeks to return those rights to the people.

The Georgia State Code lists the rights of citizens as the right of personal security, personal liberty, and the right of private property. The definition of 'personal security' is 'The legal and uninterrupted enjoyment by a man of his life, his body, his health and his reputation.' Author and professor Dr. Mark Cooray, who studies multiculturalism and human rights, says, "Personal liberty means not only freedom from unlawful physical restraint or harm, but also freedom from arbitrary interference with one's privacy and lawful belongings."   Local governments strip us of these rights when zoning ordinances ban us from the right to grow our own vegetables, fresh eggs, and honey. At a time when nearly one in five people in Georgia are on …

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County Plucks More Backyard Chickens

Another family in unincorporated Cobb County faces the same fight to keep backyard chickens as Northeast Cobb's Joseph Pond, who lost his battle last fall and was forced to give away 10 egg-laying hens.

Leigh Forrester-Savage, who resides in Powder Springs, got hens after surviving breast cancer to lead a healthy, organic diet with fresh eggs. "We've been trying to get back to earth with our food and nutrition. Organic milk, fresh veggies only, and of course, our daily tasty gifts from our girls," Forrester-Savage told Northeast Cobb Patch in a statement. She's named the family's 15 pet chickens. Eleven of them are miniature breeds. She owns Silkie Bantam, Polish Top Hats and Jersey Giants. They come when you call them, like a dog, she said. Her family has raised backyard chickens for nearly a year. There have been no issues with neighbors. On Friday, her homeowner's association and Cobb County officials notified her that the chickens …

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Backyard Chicken Plea Fowled Up

Cobb County Commissioners voted against placing the backyard chicken ordinance change on the list of proposed zoning amendments to be voted on in January.

A dozen supporters of the right to keep chickens in backyards smaller than two acres joined Joseph Pond at last Tuesday's Board of Commissioners meeting to ask that the chicken issue be placed on the list of proposed zoning amendments to be voted on in January. Pond showed Commissioners a picture of a 1918 U.S. Department of Agriculture flyer that encouraged citizens to keep chickens as food supply during World War I. His arguments, and those of three supporters who spoke, did not sway Commissioners who voted against adding the issue to the January list of proposed zoning amendments. Despite repeated attempts, and a dismissed lawsuit against the county, Pond has not been able to get a county variance change so that his family can keep …

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Backyard Chickens Alliance Ruffles Feathers

The Pond family requested a zoning variance to keep chickens in the back yard of their Northeast Cobb home. The Board of Zoning Appeals voted 5-0 against that variance on Sept. 14, but the Pond's fight continues.

One of the hottest topics on Northeast Cobb Patch has been the story of the Pond family’s fight to keep chickens in the back yard. The Ponds requested a zoning variance from a 1972 ordinance banning livestock on lots smaller than 2 acres. The Board of Zoning Appeals voted 5-0 against that variance on Sept 14. The Ponds' responded by forming The Backyard Chickens Alliance of Cobb County with the goal to change the zoning ordinance that essentially outlaws backyard chickens in Cobb County. By Joseph Pond The Backyard Chickens Alliance of Cobb County believe that it is the right of every citizen to be able to own backyard chickens whether or not they choose to exercise that right. Here are a few of the facts presented at the last Cobb County …

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Vicki Hammond

6:37 pm on Friday, November 4, 2011

Change needs to come to Cobb...from the right to keep backyard chickens to the wrong of being able to abandon your pets at animal control for any reason. Change begins with the Commissioners and filters downward. We the people, choose the County Commissioners let's make sure the ones that are voted in next time have the minds of the people and not the mindset of yesteryear. Shame on you …   more ›

Northeast Cobb High Five

House Special Election; Varsity Softball

Here's what you should know to start Sept. 20 in Northeast Cobb.

1. Rain is likely today, the National Weather Service says, with an 80 percent chance of showers, including thunderstorms after 2 p.m. The high will be about 74. More rain is likely tonight, when the low will be around 65. There’s a good chance of rain each day through Friday. 2. Although we can use the rain, this is an unfortunate day for it because it’s Election Day in part of East Cobb. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the special election to fill the 43rd District seat of state Rep. Bobby Franklin, who died in July. Northeast Cobb Patch will have reports during the day and results and reaction tonight. Let us know how you’re voting in the poll below. 3. Looking ahead to an election next year, the TSPLOST regional referendum in …

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