Remember to 'Brown Bag' Lunch at Glover Park

1. Don't forget to "brown bag" it to Glover Park at noon today. Joy Parkman performs as part of the Marietta Parks and Recreation Department's free lunchtime concert series.  And if you need dessert, the Marietta Welcome Center and Visitors Bureau is giving out free ice cream for “Ice Cream for Tourism” from noon to 1 p.m. during the performance.

2. Dowell Elementary School recently in the 2011 World Finals of Odyssey of the Mind, and the community has embarked on an effort to raise about $10,000 to send the team of students to the event at the University of Maryland in College Park, Md.

At 6 p.m. tonight, the school is holding a Creative Festival that will not only feature the performances of the Odyssey of the Mind students but a silent auction and a spaghetti dinner. For information, call the school at 678-594-8059.

3. Cobb County Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs recently announced its 7th Annual "Fun in the Park" Photo Contest. Basically anyone using county parks and activities is eligible to submit up to 10 of their best shots for display and awards. Both digital and print photos will be accepted. The deadline is in November, so you have plenty of time to shoot your best images.

For contest information, go here.

4. The Downtown Marietta Developent Authority holds its monthly meeting from 5:30 to 7 p.m. today in the fourth floor conference room at .

5. Today is Hug Your Cat Day. Purina Foods has a site that helps you find ways to show affection to your cat. For some true cat lovers, like Marietta Patch, it means allowing the cat to have his own Facebook page.