Fun Facts for New Year's: Resolutions, Red Underwear, Lock Your Car, Times Square

Check out these interesting fun facts and trivia about New Year's Eve.

Impress your family and friends with this New Year's trivia:

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Any Good Samaritans in Paulding?

Have you experienced or heard of the contribution of what some have referred to as “Secret Santas” or “layaway angels”? Share your stories with Patch.

A store in Providence, R.I., recently saw an anonymous individual pay off the layaway balances of eight strangers. During a week earlier this month in D'Iberville, Miss., 35 layaway bills were paid off at a Walmart. We’re wondering if there have been any such stories in Dallas or Hiram. Have you experienced or heard of the contribution of what some have referred to as “Secret Santas” or “layaway angels”—those who pay off the layaway balance belonging to someone they don’t know? Has a Good Samaritan helped you in some other way this holiday season? Share your stories in the comments or email them to Editor Jon Gargis at jon.gargis@patch.com and we may follow up with you in the coming days.

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The Weekender: Santa's Workshop, Hot Chocolate and Candy Canes

It's the last weekend to tell Santa what you want for Christmas.

Live Nativity When: 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday Where: Saint Teresa's Episcopal Church, 5725 Fords Rd. NW, Acworth | Get directions Why Go: People who have attended in previous years have experienced “many really powerful ... moments,” organizer Paula Flippin said. Price: Free Kennesaw State University Women's Basketball vs. Georgia Southern When: 7 p.m. Friday Where: KSU Convocation Center, 1000 Chastain Rd. NW, Kennesaw | Get directions   Why Go: The home team needs your support. Price: $6 | Buy tickets Santa's Workshop When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday Where: Marietta Square, 50 North Park Square NE, Marietta | Get directions Why Go: This is your last weekend to tell Santa what you want for Christmas. He …

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Give Animals 'A Home for the Holidays' Today

Help save the lives of shelter animals, meet Santa, and enjoy music and a car show today during an event in Dallas.

Weekend Spotlight: A Home for the Holidays

Help save the lives of shelter animals, meet Santa, and enjoy music and a car show at the Sunday event in Dallas.

This week's Paulding, Cobb and Douglas Weekend Spotlight features A Home for the Holidays in Dallas. This event helps save the lives of homeless animals at the Paulding County Animal Shelter. There will be a food drive to benefit shelter pets, Christmas goodies, crafts, a car show and face painting. The event takes place from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 16, at Tractor Supply, 115 Greystone Power Blvd., Dallas. Got a great event coming up in your community? Upload it onto your Patch, then email Editor Jon Gargis at jon.gargis@patch.com, and your event could be featured in the next Weekend Spotlight on Patch sites across Paulding, Cobb and Douglas counties.

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Is This Home the Best “Decked” House in the Country?

Here's Topher H.'s entry into the "Deck the House" contest. Share your photos of your house decked out for the holidays, and enter to win $100,000 for your local school district.

Patch 101

How Can Nonprofits Use Patch?

In our latest edition of “Patch 101,” we share how nonprofit officials and volunteers can post events, photos and calls for action to be seen by Dallas-Hiram Patch readers.

It’s December, which means many nonprofits are in the midst of community projects such as toy drives or feed the hungry events, while others are soliciting donations before the end of the 2012 tax year. If you represent or volunteer with a Paulding-based nonprofit or one that serves the Dallas-Hiram area, you have many ways with which you can utilize Dallas-Hiram Patch to get the word out: 1. Start a blog about your nonprofit or its campaign(s). Maybe you’re with a lesser-known nonprofit in the area, or perhaps you perform a service or hold an event that few people are aware of. Or maybe you want the public to know why they should donate to your cause before the end of the year. One way to educate the public is by posting a blog. Clicking …

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