Beach Weather in the Lake City

1. Weather. It's time to bring the shorts and T-shirts out of the closet and maybe head down to Acworth Beach for a bit of sunbathing. We're in for a beautiful Friday with a high around 81 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. Tonight will be mostly clear with a low of 48. The only downside is that this was supposed to be a day off for Cobb County students; instead, they'll be in class to make up for the snow and ice of mid-January.

2. In case you missed it. Last night saw an emotional meeting of the Acworth Board of Aldermen. Several local heroes were honored, with stories that brought some to tears. An amendment to the fiscal 2011 budget to reflect the actual costs of work done so far met passed 4-1.

: Check out photos of the dinner scene at Main Street hotspot .

3. Happening now. Food Adventures: Need a new recipe for the cookbook? Why not have a crack at this Southern fried chicken with milk gravy?

4. Ahead on Acworth Patch. The city's population rose 52.2 percent from the 2000 census to the 2010 census, reaching 20,425 people last April. The Census Bureau released the details Thursday, and we'll share them today.

On Saturday, share Acworth Mom Cindy Butson's trauma at not being dressed for success, and get to know our latest Whiz Kid, 15-year-old classical pianist Gianna Romero.

5. On this date. On March 18, 1925, the Tri-State Tornado wrought a path of destruction through Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. The twister killed 695 people on its 216-mile journey.

Weekend bonus: The Jewish holiday of Purim (the story of how Esther saved the Jewish people in Persia) starts Saturday night. The celebration involves sweets, costumes and often drinking, like Halloween or Mardi Gras. You can get a taste of the holiday in Acworth at the Chabad Jewish Center on Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.