RE/MAX Aids Toys for Tots

The East Cobb-based realtor had a successful toy collection drive during the holiday season.

East Cobb based RE/MAX Greater Atlanta has long practiced the holiday tradition of collecting toys for the U.S. Marine’s Toys for Tots program. This year, the company collected nearly 200 unwrapped toys and stuff animals to donate to needy families this holiday season. “I’m so proud of our agents, clients, past clients and local community for helping us to make Christmas a little brighter for so many local children,” explained Ben Christopher, co-broker/owner of RE/MAX Greater Atlanta.  One special story came during the donation period. The Marietta real estate office had closed for the evening, but co-broker/owner Denny Jones had gone back to the office for something. When he arrived, he found a mother and her two young children waiting …

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Was Christmas What You Had Hoped?

We're not just talking about gifts, but the meaning of the season -- how much did you enjoy the holiday?

The gifts have been opened, church services attended, meals (over)eaten and family and friend reunions completed. Now come the exchanges, munching on leftovers and travel back home. Another flurry of activity is set to resume before New Year's. But before that, we'd like to know: Was Christmas what you had hoped? For all the bounty of material goods and food, the satisfaction of enjoying the season can sometimes be elusive, and not just because of troublesome relatives or hassles at the airport.   We'll come back in another week and ask you how it was.

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Merry Christmas from East Cobb Patch

Wishing a joyous and peaceful holiday to all of our readers and to the community.

Thanks to all of the readers, Facebook friends, Twitter followers, newsletter subcsribers and advertisers of East Cobb Patch for helping to make our site and social channels a convenient, indispensable resource for community news, information, events and commerce. This is the third Christmas since our launch, and I'm proud of the strong mix of traditional breaking news, coverage of local government and schools, small business and real estate, public safety, features, sports, the arts and more that we strive to bring to you every day. I'd also like to thank the freelance contributors and bloggers who've done a great job informing you and stimulating conversation. East Cobb Patch's advertising manager, Allison Bentley, does a tireless job …

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Track Santa's Travels on Christmas Eve

A Douglas County Web site will track Santa's travels on Christmas Eve.

On Christmas Eve, kids of all ages will be able to track Santa's travels around the world as he gets closer and closer to Douglas County by logging on to the Douglas County web site at www.CelebrateDouglasCounty.com. During the holidays, the Douglas County web site has a special header at the top of the page where all can just click and be transported to the Santa tracking of NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command. NORAD is a joint organization of the Royal Canadian Air Force and the United States Air Force that provides aerospace warning, air sovereignty and defense over North America. It is headquartered at Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, Colo., and at the adjacent Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center. On Christmas Eve, NORAD…

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Christmas Fun Facts and Trivia

How much will we spend this year? And what's the best-selling Christmas song of all time? Find the answers below.

We know that there were three Wise Men, 12 days of Christmas and that Santa delivers all his presents around the world in one night. But did you know that ... $23,439.38  How much it would cost to buy your "true love" the gifts in the 12 Day of Christmas . 12.9 billion hours, $447 billion How many hours Americans were expected to spend shopping, wrapping and returning gifts last year. That was about 42 hours and $688.87 per person.  Get your postman/postwoman a gift According to Hallmark, Christmas is the largest card-sending occasion . Nearly 1.5 billion cards are sent to friends and family every Christmas Season. (That's actually down 400 million cards since 2004.) $983 million The value of U.S. imports of Christmas tree ornaments from…

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The Weekender: Santa's Workshop, Hot Chocolate and Candy Canes

It's the last weekend to tell Santa what you want for Christmas.

Live Nativity When: 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday Where: Saint Teresa's Episcopal Church, 5725 Fords Rd. NW, Acworth | Get directions Why Go: People who have attended in previous years have experienced “many really powerful ... moments,” according to organizer Paula Flippin. Price: Free Kennesaw State University Women's Basketball vs. Georgia Southern When: 7 p.m. Friday Where: KSU Convocation Center, 1000 Chastain Rd. NW, Kennesaw | Get directions   Why Go: The home team needs your support. Price: $6 | Buy tickets Santa's Workshop When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday Where: Marietta Square, 50 North Park Square NE, Marietta | Get directions Why Go: This is your last weekend to tell Santa what you want for Christmas. …

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Pope Swimmers Help Toys for Tots

Seniors took money raised from a paint can recycling event to buy toys and sort them for holiday distribution.

On Tuesday Pope High School seniors from the varsity swimming and diving team took money raised from a successful paint can recycling day and went to Wal-Mart with the coaching staff to make purchases for the Toys for Tots program. Nearly $2,000 of toys were purchased, and the items were dropped off at a Toys for Tots warehouse, where the seniors volunteered sorting toys.

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Holiday Fundraiser at Transfiguration Catholic

Mt. Bethel UMC and Johnson Ferry Baptist Church will help disburse funds from Tuesday's event for gifts for needy children.