Even More Parking near Marietta Square

1. People in Marietta talk about the weather and parking, and this week, it seems, a lot has been done about the latter. The city restriped parking spaces around Marietta Square, thus adding seven new spaces. And now the county cuts the ribbon on the Lawrence Street parking deck, thus adding a couple hundred more.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony starts at 10 a.m.

2. The has built its reputation upon its multi-weekly wine tasting benefits, and proceeds from tonight's event goes to Keep Marietta Beautiful.

This tasting, which runs from 5 to 7 p.m., features the Redhawk Vineyard & Winery from Salem, Ore. This winery produces Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Dolcetto, Riesling, Merlot and other varieties. Owner and winemaker John Pataccoli will present the wines and sign any bottles purchased.

The cost of the event is a donation to Keep Marietta Beautiful.

3. The Marietta City Council meets for a regular meeting at 7 p.m. tonight in the Council Chamber of . For other civic duty enjoyment, the Marietta Housing Authority meets at noon at its offices at 95 Cole St.

4. The Cobb Alcohol TaskForce members lobbied local and county leaders hard in March in an effort to get them to proclaim April as "Alcohol Awareness Month" in recognition of the National Alcohol Awareness Week sponsored by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence.

The Marietta City Council today becomes the ninth governing body to affirm the proclamation, following such groups as the Marietta City and Cobb County school boards and the Cobb Board of Commissioners.

5. Today is Thomas Jefferson Day in honor of the man who wanted to be known for writing the Declaration of Independence, the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom and for founding the University of Virginia. There was no room on his tombstone for his side job as the third U.S. president.