Politics, Softball, 'Rio,' Retirement

1. The calendar says it’s summer; the weather says it’s fall in Northeast Cobb. The high today will be only 65, and a breeze will gust up to 20 mph, the National Weather Service says. Overnight, the temperature will drop to about 55, and there’s a chance of drizzle after 2 a.m.

2. If you live in the state's , served by Rep. Bobby Franklin , today is your last chance to beat the rush and vote early for Tuesday’s special election to fill the seat. You can vote from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the , 4400 Lower Roswell Rd., and the Cobb Board of Elections and Registration, And keep an eye on Northeast Cobb Patch as we complete our series of question-and-answer articles with the five candidates.

3. The Foundation is holding an tonight at the school, 1599 Shallowford Rd. The fun starts at 7; the movie, Rio, starts at dusk. Just be sure to dress for the chilly weather.

4. Fall Fridays mean high school football in Northeast Cobb, and we’ll have a preview of the action today and a continually updated scoreboard tonight. But Saturday is a day for high school softball as continues to play in North Cobb High’s Warrior Classic. The Yellow Jackets lost their opener in the tournament Wednesday against the host school, 9-2. They return to the field Saturday morning at 9:30 against Early County to complete pool play. The championship round starts at 11:15 that morning.

5. Retirement may be the furthest thing from many minds as the nation teeters on the brink of a double-dip recession, but if you do have retirement in your near future, you don’t have to go far to find a great place for your golden years. According to Money Magazine, Marietta is one of the top 25 places to retire in the United States. The magazine praises Marietta Square, the housing and such attractions as Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park.