In this episode of Georgia Living, Chris and Céline dive into a mix of family stories, community updates, and local history. From Japanese school sports day to pest control tips, genealogy surprises, and a deep look at the city of Kennesaw, this episode connects life, learning, and community in the heart of Cobb County.

The pair share laughter over field day traditions, offer practical advice for keeping your home bug-free, and highlight the incredible work being done by the Center for Family Resources to combat homelessness in Cobb County. Plus, they take listeners through Kennesaw’s fascinating past—from its roots as “Big Shanty” to its growth as a thriving college town—and wrap up with upcoming local events like Cobb Diaper Day and Taste of Kennesaw.

Timestamps:
00:00 — Intro and Welcome
01:00 — Family Segment: Japanese School Sports Day (“Undokai”) traditions and cultural connections
06:00 — Pest Control Talk: Real-life experience and 5 tips to keep bugs out
12:00 — Home Projects: Art, framing, and family collaboration
13:00 — Genealogy Corner: Céline’s surprising connection to The Sound of Music actor Daniel Truhitte (Rolf)
17:00 — AI in Genealogy: How technology is uncovering forgotten stories
18:00 — Community Focus: Homelessness in Cobb County and the work of the Center for Family Resources
24:30 — Volunteer Opportunities: Point-in-Time count and housing partnerships
26:00 — DAR Fielding Lewis Chapter project: Building “Chad’s Bracket” wagons for children’s hospitals
27:00 — Community Events:
 • Cobb Diaper Day (Oct 28) – Donate via Amazon Wishlist
 • Movie Night on the Square – The Goonies (Oct 24)
 • Taste of Kennesaw – Downtown Kennesaw (Nov 1)
29:00 — City Spotlight: History and Growth of Kennesaw, Georgia
 • From “Big Shanty” to “Kennesaw”
 • The Great Locomotive Chase and Civil War roots
 • KSU’s explosive growth to Georgia’s 3rd largest university
 • Parks, gardens, and community hubs like Swift Cantrell and Smith-Gilbert Gardens
 • Depot Park Amphitheater and Big Shanty Festival
40:00 — Controversial Landmark: The Wildman’s Civil War Surplus store discussion
45:00 — Reflections on Kennesaw’s mix of history, progress, and community spirit
47:00 — Mall Memories and how retail spaces are changing
49:00 — Closing Thoughts: Kennesaw as a hub for families, education, and local life

Links Mentioned:

• Donate to the Cobb Diaper Day Drive → Amazon Wishlist

• Learn about the Center for Family Resources → thecfr.org

In this episode of the Georgia Living Podcast, Chris and Céline Evans welcome fall in Georgia with a mix of family updates, community news, and an in-depth look at the Cobb and Cherokee County real-estate markets.

They talk about mountain biking at Sope Creek and Blankets Creek, the latest zoning and school updates, and local community events including:

• Cobb Diaper Day Drive: Donate diapers to local families in need via the Amazon Wishlist here: 👉 Order Diapers for Cobb Diaper Day Drive

• We CARE Veterans Fair at the Cobb Civic Center

• Kennesaw Cemetery Tours: Preserving history and honoring those who built our community

Mortgage expert Rob Doerr (E Home Loan Advisors) joins to explain what the recent Fed rate drop actually means for buyers and sellers. Chris and Céline wrap with September housing stats, why Cherokee County prices remain strong, and how to leverage rate buy-downs and lease contingencies for smarter home-buying.

👉 Learn more about real-estate services at SimplyListAtlanta.com and SellectRealty.com

🎧 Follow and review to support local real estate, community, and family conversations from right here in Georgia.

🕓 Episode Chapters & Timeline:
00:00 – Listing update & roofing story
01:15 – Intro – Georgia fall weather returns
03:20 – Mountain biking with Sope Creek Composite Team
06:00 – Trails, training, and getting kids outside
09:00 – Youth sports culture & team support
12:00 – Family updates (DAR Today Podcast & Kiwanis service)
13:30 – Zoning & development news (Villa Rica Rd, Corner Rd, Vineyard Way)
17:00 – Cobb County SAT scores & graduation rates
21:20 – Community events (We CARE Veterans Fair, Kennesaw Cemetery Tours)
26:15 – Cobb Diaper Day Drive – How to help Amazon Wishlist Link
30:15 – Mortgage market update with Rob Doerr (E Home Loan Advisors)
35:00 – Creative financing & rate buy-down strategies
40:00 – Buyer vs. seller leverage today
50:00 – September housing stats (Cobb & Cherokee County)
57:30 – Traffic & urban growth discussion
1:04:00 – Market supply, pricing trends, and inventory
1:10:00 – Negotiation tips & pricing mindset
1:12:40 – Long-term real-estate wealth strategy
1:13:30 – From the Ground Up book discussion
1:15:00 – Céline’s genealogy story on property ownership
1:17:00 – Closing & community wrap-up

If you love Marietta, this episode is for you. In Episode 36 of Georgia Living Podcast, we’re celebrating everything that makes our hometown shine — from community leaders and local events to history and lifestyle.

We’ll take you inside the Strand Theatre’s 90th anniversary, revisit Marietta’s role in the Great Locomotive Chase, and share some practical October homeowner tips you can use right now. You’ll also hear what’s happening in the real estate market, plus fun fall break ideas — sunsets, Starlink satellites, and apple orchards in Ellijay.

This one’s packed with Marietta pride, a little history, and a lot of heart. Tune in and see why living here is something special.

👉 Follow Georgia Living Podcast for more stories, events, and real estate updates across Marietta, Cobb County, and beyond.

🎧 www.sellectrealty.com

📺 www.youtube.com/@eastcobbevans

This week on Georgia Living, we’re celebrating Constitution Week and the freedoms it represents. We take you to the heart of Marietta Square, where a reproduction Liberty Bell—cast by London’s legendary Whitechapel Bell Foundry, the same makers of the original Liberty Bell and Big Ben—has stood since the Bicentennial of 1976.

We’ll share the fascinating history of the foundry, the story of how the bell came to Marietta, and invite you to the Constitution Week bell-ringing ceremony happening this Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. in Glover Park.

Also in this episode:

• Flag display rules for homeowners — what the U.S. Flag Code says about proper care, display, and retirement.

• Georgia history spotlight: George Walton, one of Georgia’s signers of the Declaration of Independence, and his home, Meadow Garden, in Augusta.

• Cobb County headlines: Cherokee Street widening, Strand Theatre’s 90th anniversary, a new memorial pathway honoring Rev. Nelson Price, and more.

• Local school news: CCSD investigates educators’ social media posts after the tragic death of Charlie Kirk.

• Statewide outlook: Georgia sets a record $26.3 billion in new investments and 23,300 new jobs, keeping the state ranked #1 for business.

📍 Whether you’re reflecting on our founding ideals, stopping by the bell in the Square, or brushing up on local headlines, this episode connects history with what’s happening now in Cobb and across Georgia.

From weeping statues to an elevator that “opens” onto a Civil War ward—this Halloween episode takes you inside Cobb County’s most haunted corners with rich storytelling, real history, and can’t-miss October events. We count down the Top 10 Haunted Places in Cobb (Kennesaw House, St. James’ Mary Meinert, Concord Covered Bridge, Brawner Hall, the Old Mill, and more), then bring it home with a practical Real Estate Corner: The 5 Scariest Home Repairs—and how to prevent them (frozen pipes, pinhole leaks, water heaters, HVAC, furnaces). It’s equal parts goosebumps and good sense.

In this episode:

• Headlines: Cobb cold case ID (Veronica Jane Miller) + Cobb Veterans Memorial funding update

• What’s On (date-ordered): Fright Fest, Scarecrows on Main, Chalktoberfest, Life in the Cemetery tours, Nightmare on Main 5K, William Root House Flashlight Tours, Safe-O-Ween

• Feature: Storytelling countdown of Cobb’s most haunted sites—history first, hauntings second

• Real Estate Corner: Prevent expensive “house horror” before it strikes—smart, doable tips you can act on today

Chapters
00:00 Cold Open
02:00 Headlines
10:00 What’s On + Community (chronological)
16:00 The 10 Most Haunted in Cobb County — Storytelling Edition
38:00 Listener Shoutouts
42:00 Real Estate Corner: 5 Scariest Home Repairs (Prevention Guide)
52:00 Wrap & CTA

Friendly reminder: Explore with respect. Follow posted hours and stick to official tours and museum programs.

On this week’s Georgia Living, Celine and Chris cover Cobb County’s latest housing stats and why they matter in the bigger economy—from the lock-in effect to rising months’ supply—plus a full rundown of September events (East Cobber Parade, North Georgia State Fair, Cool Cars & Cops, and more). We also preview a coming-soon 4BR ranch in Bethlehem and demystify buydowns, HELOCs, cash-out refis, ARMs, lock-and-shop, and float-downs.

What we cover

• DA Sonya Allen’s Victim Advocates’ Academy (next session Sept 4; final Sept 8)

• Planning Commission holds RaceTrac proposal (Bells Ferry & Barrett) to Oct 7

• Title IX complaint filed re: Pope High School girls basketball

• Events: East Cobber Parade (Sept 13), Mother–Son Campout (Sept 13–14), Square Screenings (Sept 19), North Georgia State Fair (Sept 18–28), Cool Cars & Cops (Sept 13)

• Cobb County August housing stats: prices +2.1% YoY, inventory +22.4% YoY, pendings/closings down, MOS up

• How to think about buydowns and rate strategy in 2025

Work with us

• Website: https://www.sellectrealty.com/

• Contact: https://www.sellectrealty.com/contact/

• Office: 4180 Providence Rd, Suite 200, Marietta, GA 30062

• Call 770-509-0265 | Text 678-694-7937

This episode is for educational purposes and is not financial or legal advice. Market conditions and loan programs change; consult your lender and real estate professional.

Cobb County life—from courthouse corridors to cul-de-sacs. Chris and Céline Evans sit down with mortgage pro Rob Doerr (E Home Loan Advisors, Roswell) to unpack what today’s rates mean for buyers and homeowners, why escrows adjust when property taxes jump, and how families are still moving up even in a 6–7% rate world. Plus: a peek inside Cobb 101 (citizens government academy), electronic-sniffing K-9s, and Chris getting back on a mountain bike after 14 years.

What you’ll learn

• How rising property values affect your tax bill—and your escrow

• Why some buyers have more leverage now (concessions, repairs, closing costs)

• Smart “payment over rate” strategy and when to refi

• Who’s buying and selling in Metro Atlanta right now (and why)

• Inside Cobb 101: how local government actually operates

Guest
Rob Doerr, E Home Loan Advisors (Roswell): mortgage insights, escrow basics, and rate outlook.

Perfect for
Cobb, Cherokee, and North Fulton homeowners, buyers, and curious locals who want practical real-estate know-how with true community context.

Chris & Céline Evans bring you another week of Georgia Living Podcast, your go-to Cobb County local podcast for community stories, family updates, sports, and real estate insights.

This week we share our family update (including the best thing Céline cooked), preview Cobb County high school football games, and highlight some of the biggest upcoming events: the East Cobber Parade & Festival, North Georgia State Fair, Taste of Smyrna, and the Acworth Mimosa Festival.

We also dive into the Cobb 101 program and close with a homeowner’s checklist to prepare your property for hurricane season. Whether you’re in Marietta, East Cobb, or anywhere around North Atlanta, this podcast connects you to the people, places, and events shaping our community.

🎧 Subscribe for weekly updates on Cobb County living, events, and real estate.

Find the recipe and a hurricane prep checklist at:

https://www.sellectrealty.com/georgia-living-podcast/ep-31-parades-football-hurricane-prep-and-a-sweet-treat/