Taste of Marietta Vendor Deadline Nears

1. Taste of Marietta won't arrive at Marietta Square until May 1, but vendors need to plan ahead. In fact, they need to plan right now (if they haven't already) because the vendor deadline is Thursday. The application is available here, but if you have questions or need more information, food vendors should contact Shelby Bodiford of the Marietta Welcome Center & Visitors Bureau at 770.429.1115 or WelcomeM@bellsouth.net and non-food vendors should contact Maryclaire Andres at 404.388.6975 or maryclaire@dmm-adv.com.

2. As always 's Water Quality Lab offers a great volunteer opportunity. The latest involves the renovation of the lab's Rain Garden into an educational site focusing on native plants, pollinators and storm water. Starting this Wednesday and continuing for Wednesdays to come, the lab needs volunteers who can plant and prune and weed. The event runs from 9 to 11 a.m. For information, call 770-528-1482 or send an e-mail to water_RSVP@cobbcounty.org.

3. The holds another one of its charity wine tastings today with samplings from the East Bay winery R&B Cellars. As with all of its tastings, the Marietta Wine Market asks for a donation to participate. The store is also taking final reservations for its April 17 North Georgia Wine Tour, which is about to sell out. Call 770-919-1574 for details.

4. No doubt you have noticed a few design changes on Marietta Patch today from some font size changes, new placement of social media buttons and, most notably, the grassy background on the home page. Let us know what you think either in the comment section, the home page "Shout Box" or by sending an e-mail to phil.taylor@patch.com.

5. Just in case anyone still uses the wood-and-graphic writing implement, today is Pencil Day. Perhaps we all can explain to the youngsters how we use to take sticks and move them across paper to create letters and pictures in the days before the Internet and texting.