Cobb
Holiday lights come on in Marietta Thursday
Santa will light Marietta’s Christmas tree at 6 p.m. Thursday and visit with children until 8 p.m. at Glover Park on the Marietta Square. Children’s choruses will perform at the tree lighting. Santa’s Workshop will be open on the square until 3 p.m. Dec. 24. Information on Santa’s hours at www.mariettaga.gov. Tucker McQueen for the AJC
Gwinnett
Holiday music event Friday in Norcross
Gwinnett County will host a holiday musical celebration from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday at Pinckneyville Park Community Recreation Center, 4650 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Norcross. The event will feature dance, vocal and instrumental performances. The cost is $8. For more information, visit www.gwinnettparks.com. David Wickert
Northside
Reinhardt group hosting book and clothing drive
The Reinhardt Organization of Student Educators at Reinhardt University is conducting a book and clothing drive to benefit MUST Ministries in Canton. Drop-off locations are in the Lawson and Tarpley academic buildings or Paul Jones Hall at the Reinhardt campus in Waleska through today. Monetary donations can be sent to: Betty Miller, R.O.S.E. Book Drive, 7300 Reinhardt Circle, Waleska. Information: Aaron Avera at Avera94464@students. reinhardt.edu or 706-587-8709. Kenneth Musisi
Atlanta
City to celebrate renovated tennis courts
The city of Atlanta and the United States Tennis Association will co-host a special ceremony on Wednesday at Grove Park to recognize their public-private partnership and to acknowledge that Atlanta is the official site of the USTA’s 3,000th newly renovated tennis court for 2011. The USTA made a commitment earlier this year to the White House and first lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” initiative to install 3,000 youth-sized courts throughout the country to encourage children in diverse communities to become more active by playing youth tennis. Kenneth Musisi
DeKalb
Proposal would reduce school board’s size
State Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver, D-Decatur, pre-filed a House bill that would reduce the DeKalb County School board from nine to seven members, as required by Senate Bill 79, which was signed into law earlier this year. According to Oliver, if the General Assembly passes House Bill 671, it would eliminate DeKalb’s two at-large districts. The legislation would also establish a system for electing school board members from seven redrawn single-member districts. Ernie Suggs
Southside
East Point to explain utility bill hikes
To deal with controversy caused by water and electric bill hikes, East Point is launching a campaign called “What’s Up With My Utilities,” created by Kwarren Advertising and Public Relations. It starts with the city’s first virtual town hall meeting, accessible online from 7 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday. Another will be held at the same time Dec. 7. The campaign also includes booklets and video vignettes that will air on Comcast channel 22. Both meetings will have question-and-answer sessions, and virtual seats are limited. Reservations: www.eastpointcity.org.
Johnny Edwards
