Sunny Days, Native Plants, Road Trips

1. We should have a beautiful weekend, and today’s weather should serve as a nice lead-in. It will be mostly sunny with a high of about 78 and an overnight low of 55, the National Weather Service says. Saturday and Sunday will both be sunny with highs in the low-to-mid-80s.

2. We’ll need that weather to take full advantage of a , including the East Cobber parade and commemorations of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Remember that Johnson Ferry Road will be closed between Lower Roswell and Roswell roads from 9:45 to 11:15 a.m. Saturday for the parade. The weekend kicks off with road games for all three East Cobb public high schools; East Cobb Patch will preview all the action later today.

3. Chanda Bell, the co-founder of Cobb County publisher Creatively Classic Activities and Books and co-author of The Elf on the Shelf, is the speaker at this month’s Cobb Executive Women Luncheon today at the Georgian Club, 100 Galleria Pkwy. Networking starts at 11 a.m.; the program begins at 11:30. The cost is $35 at the door.

4. The Cobb County Master Gardeners became a major focus of the recent when people defended the program from the idea of cuts, although the 2012 budget doesn’t contain any. You can check out the program in action at noon today during the monthly lunch-and-learn event at the Cobb Water Lab, 662 S. Cobb Dr. The topic is “Native Plants in the Home Landscape,” presented by Becky Blades.

5. Congratulations to Shallowford Falls Elementary School clerk Hazel Perez, who was named the 2011 Elementary Support Professional of the Year at a ceremony last week. She received a crystal bowl and a cash prize.