From the Editor's Desk

A Prelude to the Holidays

Thanksgiving is still more than a week away, but plenty of events are on tap this week to get you in a festive mood -- without overdoing it.

If the cold temperatures weren't enough of a reminder that the holiday season will soon be upon us, there a number of activities and events in East Cobb and Marietta this week will do more than provide a hint.  On Sunday we posted several Thanskgiving-themed items, starting with the Temple Kol Emeth's 7th annual Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service on Thursday.  East Cobb Patch columnist Rob Maynard, a congregant at the East Cobb synagogue and a member of the service's coordinating committee, thinks it's the perfect way to properly regard the season, crossing across religious and cultural lines in an effort to gain a better understanding of our community.  I attended and wrote about last year's service and can vouch for the blending of faith …

• Photos (1)

Cobb Pet Adopt-A-Thon Underway

Cobb Animal Control among 50 organizations nationwide competing for $300,000 in grants from the ASPCA.

Vendors, animal rescue groups, volunteers and people looking to adopt filled the lawn of the Cobb County animal shelter on Saturday to kick off the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ Save More Lives $100K Challenge. Out of the 50 shelters competing in the challenge nationwide, the ones with gains of at least 300 adoptions from 2010 to 2011 will qualify for prize money from a pool of $300,000. The ASPCA compares adoptions from August to October from both years. The shelter with the biggest increase will receive $100,000, while second place gets $25,000. Grants of $20,000 each will be awarded to five regional winners. Originally, there were 95 shelters contending for the money, but only 50 got to move on after a round…

• Videos (1)