THURSDAY'S MARIETTA KIWANIS CLUB SPEECH by new Georgia Supreme Court Justice David Nahmias, his first in Cobb, drew an overflow crowd that included seemingly every judge and lawyer in town.

While that assessment is obviously a bit of an exaggeration, the crowd did include Cobb Superior Court Judges Bob Flournoy Jr., Adele Grubbs, Lark Ingram, Steven Schuster and Mary Staley and Cobb State Court Judge Toby Prodgers.

Motoring up from Atlanta for the event were Nahmias' fellow Supreme Court Justice Harris Hines of Marietta, state Court of Appeals Judges Alan Blackburn and Harris Adams, both of Marietta, and Sarah Doyle.

Others in attendance included former U.S. Rep. and U.S. Attorney for North Georgia Bob Barr, Cobb Commission Chairman and state attorney general hopeful Sam Olens, former Cobb D.A. and current Superior Court administrator Tom Charron, and former Cobb Commission Chairman Bill Byrne.

Nahmias fielded a long string of questions from the audience afterward, but shied away from two others. Former Cobb Commissioner Scott Chadwick asked his opinion on the state's voter ID law, and club member Chris Chatwood asked how, regarding proposed hate-crime legislation, one could tell whether the crime was "motivated by hate or just by intense dislike?"

Nahmias noted that laws regarding both topics might come before his court, and demurred from answering. Meanwhile, fellow Justice Hines, sitting at the table directly in front of Nahmias, subtly nodded his head in assent as Nahmias sidestepped the questions.

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COBB COMMISSION CHAIRMAN and state attorney general candidate Olens has been named the 2009 James L. Rhoden Jr. Visionary Philanthropist by the Board of The Community Foundation for Cobb County.

The award is voted on annually by the CCF Board of Directors to recognize and honor a Cobb business and community leader who makes significant contributions to the community through their gifts of time, talent and treasure.

According the CCF, the nominees should be broadly recognized in Cobb County for their commitment to improving the quality of life for Cobb residents and meeting critical needs of the community as demonstrated by their leadership and/or service work for one or more of Cobb's non-profit organizations, churches, temples, academic institutions, or community service organizations. Visionary leadership and influence in the business community is also a factor.

"Sam Olens exemplifies every aspect of this award. He works tirelessly for others and has been a major factor in all things positive in this community. We applaud him as a philanthropist and a friend," said Sue Wootton, executive director, Community Foundation for Cobb County.

Past recipients include: Rhoden, 2003; Bob Elsberry, 2004; Robert Moultrie, 2005; Larry Freeman, 2006; Earl Smith, 2007 and Jerry Nix, 2008.

The award was presented at the Cobb Chamber's First Monday Breakfast meeting in December.

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CONGRATULATIONS to Earl "Quentin" Ehrhart, 18, a senior at Dominion Christian High School in west Cobb, who has been accepted as a midshipman into the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis. Quentin is the son of state Rep. Earl Ehrhart (R-Powder Springs), chairman of the House Rules Committee. An infielder for the baseball team at Dominion High, Quentin hopes to continue playing for Navy's team.

The younger Ehrhart was nominated to the Academy by U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) and reports for "I-Day" (Induction Day) on July 1 as a plebe.

"He's wanted to do this since he was 6," his proud father said, speaking of how Quentin has dreamed of a career in the Navy, where he could fly jets off an aircraft carrier.

"I'm on Cloud 9," the elder Ehrhart said.

THE HISTORIC MARIETTA TROLLEY COMPANY is starting a "Rides for a Reason" program. During the first quarter of 2010, most weekend tours will be associated with a local non-profit organization. During Rides for a Reason weekends, $5 from every trolley tour ticket sold will be donated to that weekend's beneficiary non-profit. Each organization plays a key role in improving quality of life for those in Marietta, Cobb County and beyond.

"We are so excited to be working with some of the most important charities and cultural organizations in Cobb County," said Cassandra Buckalew, co-owner of the Historic Marietta Trolley Company. "We are committed to supporting the community; we developed this program so that, on Rides for a Reason weekends, The Historic Marietta Trolley Company and its riders actively contribute to the continued success of these essential non-profit groups."

Tour Dates & Organizations are:

- Jan. 9-10, The Strand Theatre

- Jan. 16-17 Camp Twin Lakes

- Jan. 23-24 Marietta Cobb Museum of Art

- Jan. 30-31, The Gone With the Wind Museum

- Feb. 6-7 - The Cobb Humane Society

- Feb. 13-14 - The Georgia Ballet

- Feb. 20-21 - The Kennesaw Mountain History Association

- Feb. 27-28 - Vision Walk

- March 6-7 - The YWCA of North Georgia

- March 13-14 - American Cancer Society

- March 20-21 - The Atlanta Opera

- March 27-28 - MUST Ministries

Rides for a Reason tours are Saturdays at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m., and Sundays at 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.

For more, visit www.mariettatrolley.com, stop by the Trolley Company at 131 Church St., or call (770) 425-1006.

Rides for a Reason is presented by Marietta Toyota and S.A. White Oil Company, Inc.

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POLITICAL PATTER: Former U.S. Sen. Mack Mattingly has joined the Ralph Hudgens campaign for Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner as co-chair. He was the first Republican to represent Georgia (1981-87) in the Senate. In 1980, future MDJ syndicated columnist Matt Towery managed Mattingly's upset victory over veteran Democratic Sen. Herman Talmadge, thus ending Talmadge's political career. President George H.W. Bush later appointed Mattingly ambassador to the Republic of the Seychelles after he was defeated for re-election by Wyche Fowler in 1986.

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EVENTS: "The Sanders Family Christmas" will continue through Jan. 3 on Theatre in the Square's main stage at 11 Whitlock Ave. in Marietta - a lively event that has become a family destination in the holiday season. The Sanders Family (of "Smoke on the Mountain" and "Mount Pleasant Homecoming") is dealing with the beginning of World War II and its effects on the gospel-singing clan. Performances are Tuesdays and Sundays with some matinees scheduled. Prices are $20 to $35. The show is for audiences 10 years old and up. For details, call (770) 422-8369 or visit www.theatreinthesquare.com.

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SAFEPATH hosted its holiday breakfast to recognize those who made gifts toward reducing child abuse and neglect in Cobb. County Manager David Hankerson was presented the Crystal Gavel Award for the establishment of the Cobb Safety Village. Penny Warren won the VIP Award. The Prevention Award went to the Cobb Department of Family & Children's Services.

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: Visiting from Chicago for their very first Christmas are Parker and Bennett Hill, the 9-month-old twin grandsons of longtime state Sen. Steve Thompson, (D-Austell).

Their mother, Thompson's daughter Amy Hill, is a graduate of South Cobb High School and the University of Georgia's journalism school.

She is married to UGA grad Bryant Hill, a special agent with the FBI in Chicago. The couple also has a daughter, Gracen "Gracie" Hill, age 6.

"Everybody came. We had to rent a big van," Thompson said.

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NOT HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: Syndicated MDJ columnist Dick Yarbrough of Vinings received the following e-mail over the weekend from Washington.

"It's Sunday, and there are 20 inches of snow on the ground, the temperature is 24, my wife and kids are home in Marietta getting ready for Christmas and I am on the floor of the Senate debating a health care bill that will mortgage my grandchildren's future beyond their resources. Just when I thought nothing was going right I read your Sunday column, and as you always do I feel uplifted and realize how grateful I am for God's greatest gift to all of us.

"Merry Christmas Dick and my best to you and Jane for 2010."

The sender? Sen. Johnny Isakson.

And now, with a final vote on the health care bill not slated until Christmas Eve, it's looking like another long weekend in Washington.

Merry Christmas, Senator!

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NOTE: The Around Town crew will be off this weekend, but will be back for the Dec. 29 edition.

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TO ALL WHO CELEBRATE the miracle of Bethlehem, remember that Christmas is about the Prince of Peace - not the queen of diamonds. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!