“By publishing the EAST COBBER, we hope to build a better sense of community in the East Cobb area. Your stories and ideas are vital in achieving this goal. The articles and stories in this newsletter will share information and ideas contributed from East Cobbers just like you. Let’s learn from each other. Let’s find out how we can help each other. Please write to the EAST COBBER and let us know what you think, let us know how we are doing, let us know how you are doing, and what you are doing.”

The above text was pulled from my first “Publisher’s Note” in the October 1993 issue. While the world has changed (and me, too!) that editorial mission has not changed over the past 23 years! At the ripe young age of 31, the other half of a DINK (Double-Income, No Kids) couple, having lived in East Cobb for just one year, I was searching for a source of information that would acquaint me with my new hometown. Dissatisfied with what I was reading, I believed I could start a paper that would focus on East Cobb exclusively. Using my skills as a marketing and public relations professional and some publishing experience I decided to create a publication that would focus on “ordinary” people, like me, that wanted to get involved in their community and spotlight East Cobb residents who were already involved in the often overlooked network of local clubs, civic groups and PTAs that makes our community so desirable. In fact, as I am writing this publisher’s note, MONEY magazine has named East Cobb the best place to live in Georgia (see page 18). What a proud moment for our community! This accolade is “icing” on EAST COBBER’s proverbial birthday cake.

260 monthly issues, 21 EAST COBBER Parades & Festivals (see pages 8-10 for photos of the latest parade and festival), one website, one Facebook account, one Twitter platform, one WordPress blog and three healthy children later, I am still devoted to promoting the good works of East Cobbers. It is this sense of purpose that has carried me through many crazy deadline days.

This 23rd business anniversary also allows me to acknowledge and give thanks to the community-minded businesses that have supported this publication by placing ads. And thanks to the 500+ local businesses that act as drop off points so our free magazine is easily available to East Cobb residents. Of course, many thanks to you, our readers, who continue to submit stories. Your letters, emails and phone calls make this community paper truly a grassroots group effort. I am honored to have shared information and inspiring stories about our wonderful East Cobb community with you, dear readers, for the past 23 years, and I look forward to many more!

Cynthia M. Rozzo

Founder l Publisher

cynthia@eastcobber.com