City, County Close Offices for Good Friday

1. In observance of Good Friday, most Cobb County and Marietta city offices will be closed today, although police and fire services will remain active.

The closures on Friday including the county courts and Marietta Power and Water. Yard waste, recycling and sanitation services will not be available today. The Cobb libraries will be open today and Saturday.

2. The world's largest shrine circus opens at 7:30 p.m. today as the 69th annual Yaarab Shrine Circus and Carnival starts its run at through May 1. Performers include Tarzan Zerbini Circus, Lion Dance, Magnificent Morris Elephants, high-wire acrobatics, the Chinese Aerial Pole, Zerbini Liberty Horses, contortion artists, Rolling Globes, sword dancers, bungee acrobatics and animal performances.

Circus tickets are available at the gate at $10 per adult and $7 per child.

3. For your Earth Day enjoyment, consider joining the Marietta Tree Keepers at 5:30 p.m. for its Sip n' Stroll. Folks who wish to attend should part in the Parking Lot at Winn Street and Maple Avenue.

For this free BYOB event, certfied arborists and landscape architects will lead a tour through the Marietta neighborhoods and discuss the diversity of trees in the city. These experts will provide practical advice on the proper care of trees, effective arbor planning and related issues.

Visitors may bring their own refreshments or can enjoy water and light snacks provided by Realtor Kirsten Conover of .

For information, call 770-424-4664 or send an email to mariettatreekeepers@comcast.net.

4. Georgia-based singer/songwriter Juliana Finch will be the featured performer at tonight's Brew with a View at the . Finch's folk stylings has earned her comparisons to Shawn Colvin, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Natalie Merchant.

Brew with a View runs from 6 to 9 p.m. and includes a cash bar, but only those 21 and over can enjoy the alcoholic beverages.

5. Everyone knows today is Good Friday and Earth Day, but it is also In God We Trust Day (in honor of the national motto) and National Jelly Bean Day.