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Democrats Announce Endorsements

LINK, MALCOLM, MYERS AND GALLAGHER MAKE THE CUT, AND MORE NEWS

By Blake Aued news@flagpole.com

The Athens-Clarke County Democratic Committee approved a slate of endorsed candidates in nonpartisan races last week that is more notable for whom committee members excluded than whom they approved.

Democrats did not give Commission District 6 candidate Stephanie Johnson their blessing at a contentious Apr. 25 meeting, despite Johnson and her supporters’ pleas to ignore a lengthy condemnation of Johnson from ACC Commissioner Jesse Houle.

Houle, who was out of town for a conference, sent post holders an email expressing “many deep concerns” about Johnson. The current District 6 commissioner is not running for re-election and is supporting Rashe Malcolm despite what Houle described as “numerous differences” with Malcolm on policy.

“It is imperative to understand and to share that Stephanie is being backed strongly by Republicans, including prominent individual MAGA folks as well as the GOP itself and its affiliate shell organizations,” Houle wrote in the email. “Her campaign is in alignment with the Republican Party’s agenda, as it aligns both with their issue stances and also their efforts to undermine the credibility of local Democratic leaders, and even the government itself, through misinformation and hyperbole.”

Houle showed that Athens GOP Chairman Gordon Rhoden promoted Johnson’s campaign kickoff event in his newsletter. In addition, she was a featured speaker at local Republicans’ Apr. 8 meeting alongside fellow commission candidates Sidney Waters and Jason Jacobs, and candidate for sheriff Tommy Dorsey, who is running against incumbent John Q. Williams in the May 21 Democratic primary. Johnson, Waters, Jacobs and independent candidate for district attorney Kalki Yalamanchili were also invited to participate in a forum organized by conservative group Athens Classic, while their opponents Malcolm, Commissioner Carol Myers, Commissioner Melissa Link and DA Deborah Gonzalez were not.

Houle went on to say that Johnson echoed Republican talking points on crime and the commission’s 2019 resolution embracing immigrants. A group called “Athens for All” that is tied to Republicans—but whose name echoes the now-defunct progressive group Athens for Everyone that Houle was a part of—sent a mailer to voters on Johnson’s behalf. The P.O. Box for Athens for All is shared with the UGA fraternity Alpha Gamma Rho’s building fund, which is headed by Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tyler Harper, a Republican. Houle noted that the mailer shares many stylistic similarities to Johnson’s campaign website.

“The things that are listed in that email are not accurate,” Johnson told the Democratic gathering. She explained her Republican support by saying, “What you call Republicans, I call family. What you call Republicans, I call classmates.”

When ballots were counted, Johnson received just seven of 31 votes. Malcolm received 28.

Under Democrats’ bylaws, an endorsement required a two-thirds vote of post holders, or 21 votes. Post holders could vote to endorse one candidate, multiple candidates or none at all. Myers received 29, Link received 26 and District 2 school board candidate Kirrena Gallagher received 25, while incumbent Claudia Butts fell just shy with 20. Jacobs, Waters and school board candidate Mary Bagby did not seek Democrats’ endorsement.

More Chaos at Town Hall Meeting

A man who is trying to oust Sheriff John Q. Williams and District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez from office was escorted out of a town hall meeting on public safety Apr. 24 after interrupting the speakers and going on a rant about child molesters, ICE and “Obama policies.”

About half an hour into the event— hosted by Gonzalez, Williams and Police Chief Jerry Saulters—James DePaola interjected that the meeting was sparsely attended because the public “has lost faith in [elected officials].”

The moderator told DePaola he would have an opportunity to speak later. Then an Athens-Clarke County Library security guard asked him to leave. Saulters approached and whispered to DePaola urging him to leave peacefully. He and other law enforcement officials told DePaola he was violating a law against criminal trespass because a library official told him to leave. Eventually, several sheriff’s deputies walked DePaola out.

After an undocumented immigrant from Venezuela was charged with the murder of Athens nursing student Laken Riley in February, DePaola was among a handful of people who heckled Mayor Kelly Girtz at a press conference, and called on him to resign, claiming falsely that Athens is a “sanctuary city.” He later started a petition to recall Girtz, Williams, Gonzalez and Commissioner Melissa Link, although Athens- Clarke County election officials ruled he couldn’t try to recall Link because he doesn’t live in her district.

Although the recall is unlikely to succeed because it would require gathering about 10,000 signatures to even put it on the ballot, Girtz recently filed a lawsuit seeking to halt the effort on the grounds that DePaola didn’t give any proper legal reasons for initiating the petition, and that local elections officials erred in approving it.

Under the name James Lee, DePaola appeared on Fox News, where he called Girtz a “left-wing nutjob” and threatened the mayor with a black eye, to the approval of primetime host Jesse Waters. Days later, he was back on Fox News standing with local pizzeria owner Sidney Waters as she announced her campaign for Commission District 8.

Wednesday’s events weren’t DePaola’s first brush with the law. In 2016 he was arrested after a dispute with his wife over how much cheese she put on his grilled cheese sandwich.

Threats and violence have been all too common at public meetings since Riley’s murder. Earlier this month Camden Pace, a local resident who claims to be a rabbi of a Jewish sect that believes Jesus is the messiah, was arrested for resisting a police officer’s attempt to remove him from the podium because he tore up an audience member’s pro-Palestine sign and continued to speak after his allotted time expired. Pace, who has served time for bank robbery, called Girtz a “Satan-worshipping, Communist, child-trafficking Democrat.”

Previously, the Clarke County Republican Party invited Pace to give an invocation, in which he prayed for a Donald Trump victory in November. Instead of condemning Pace for his comments and for resisting arrest, the Athens GOP reposted video of his prayer on social media after the incident at City Hall.

Another conservative activist, Joseph Wargo, a staffer for Charlie Kirk’s rightwing campus group Turning Point USA, was removed from a March commission meeting when he burst through the City Hall chamber’s doors shouting while the commission was conducting business.

In addition, a group of leftist young people has been attending meetings to demand, sometimes in belligerent language, that the commission approve a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Last month they marched on Girtz’s home, to the disapproval of more mainstream Democrats and even some who agree with their cause.

Chief: Police Are Fully Staffed

Although it was overshadowed by DePaola’s outburst, Saulters broke news that for the first time in recent memory, ACCPD has no vacancies among sworn officers. At this time last year, the department’s staffing was down by 45 or 50 officers among 260 funded positions, according to Saulters.

Contrary to some conservatives’ belief that ACC “defunded the police,” over the past several years, the county commission has approved significant pay raises for law enforcement officers, as well as signing bonuses, new equipment and perks like take-home cars, in an effort to boost

recruitment.

Saulters also said that deaths from fentanyl overdoses are down from 24 this time last year to six so far this year. The synthetic opioid killed more than 60 Athens residents in 2023, he said.

The police chief also addressed concerns about crime in the wake of a few high-profile murders, like Riley’s and the death of a 3-year-old in a gang-related drive-by shooting.

“They’re getting quite a lot of publicity, so people say Athens is not safe,” Saulters said. “Athens is a safe community. The challenge we have is a fear of crime.”

Shootings are down 1% so far in 2024, he said, after falling almost 7% in 2023.

Staffing shortages are still plaguing the sheriff’s department, said Williams, whose deputies make less money than police— something he has been vocal about trying to change.

Williams also discussed the challenges facing jail staff, such as mental health issues among inmates, which he said are a leading cause of violence and recidivism. “Unfortunately, society has moved away from people having a place they can go and get consistent treatment when they have mental health issues,” he said.

He noted that most of the people in the local jail are awaiting trial and haven’t been convicted, and those who have been convicted are generally serving sentences of less than two years, in contrast to state prisons where serious offenders serve time. “So we do have to have to treat everybody with dignity and respect,” he said.

Gonzalez stressed the importance of accountability courts for people dealing with addiction or mental health problems, and for veterans, who often suffer from both.

Some conservatives have stated that Athens should cut services because they draw such people to the city, which Gonzalez pushed back on, suggesting that surrounding counties pay their fair share instead.

“Because we have these options,” she said, referring to accountability courts, hospitals, recovery groups and other nonprofits, “Athens is seen as kind of a hub for 15 counties around us.” f

Don’t Blame Me

A LIFELONG DEMOCRAT EXPLAINS WHY

By Pete McCommons pete@flagpole.com

Don’t blame me. I’m a Democrat. I grew up in it, just like I grew up in the Methodist Church. Everybody was a Democrat. There weren’t any Republicans, except for Cousin Nita next door, who taught us history in high school, smoked cigarettes, wore her husband’s old shirts and trousers to go fishing in her pond and drove a Studebaker.

The Democratic primary decided elections. The general election was irrelevant. The county unit system gave political power to the least populated counties in the state—the same ones that are now solidly for Trump. Eugene Talmadge was our Trump. Starting back in the 1930s, Talmadge built a political machine based on the belief that he was for the little man: the farmers on ruined land; the underpaid, unorganized mill workers; the people whose chief claim to self-respect was that they were white.

rights, the Talmadge Democrats in Georgia, along with their counterparts throughout the South, became Republicans, giving birth to that party’s “Southern strategy,” which has continued to be the implicit assurance to white Southern Republicans that national government policies will support their control of their states and their way of life.

That assurance was already working pretty well when Trump came along and was able to elevate that political principle to an article of faith, echoing what my Uncle Lawton’s friend Tack Torbert told him years ago: ”Lawton, what used to be considered crooked is now considered good bidness.”

While championing the underclass, Talmadge took care of Georgia Power and the big Atlanta corporations and himself while continuously promising his adherents that Black people (not his words) would never be better than them.

While there were no Republicans except for a few liberals in the cities—Talmadge said he didn’t care if he never got a vote from any place where streetcars ran— there was an anti-Talmadge faction in the Democratic Party, people who were offended by Talmadge’s autocratic control of the state. They usually lost—big. The Talmadge dynasty was bequeathed to his son, Herman, and down through several lieutenants until the county unit system succumbed to the one man/one vote principle handed down by a pre-Trump Supreme Court.

Talmadge enjoyed the Trump-like reverence of his followers, expressed in the joke current at the time:

“Hey, I heard they gonna move Stone Mountain.”

“Sheeit. They cain’t move Stone Mountain.”

“Old Gene says they are.”

“Where they gonna put it?”

After Democratic President Lyndon Johnson pushed through the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which outlawed discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin and strengthened voting

It is astounding how pervasively Trump’s legitimization of undemocratic, bullying tactics has sifted down and become OK not only with national Republicans but also with state and local Republicans. Here in Athens we live with the perfect example of that undemocratic bullying. I have written about it often because what happened here reflects what happened on the state level, where Republicans blatantly tried to steal the 2020 presidential election. Here in Athens, “our” local Republican legislators, abetted by a couple of our ACC commissioners, overturned the will of our people as expressed in democratic elections and redrew our election districts, making three of our most progressive commissioners ineligible to run for re-election. You know the mantra well. Republican State Sens. Bill Cowsert and Frank Ginn, along with Republican State Reps. Houston Gaines and Marcus Wiedower, tossed out three democratically elected Athens-Clarke County commissioners because local Republicans disagreed with their politics.

One of those commissioners, Melissa Link, outsmarted them by winning an open seat in her new district when the opportunity arose, though now the Republicans are running another candidate against her and against Carol Myers and for the empty seat in District 6, where Rashe Malcom appears to be the better candidate.

“Our” Republican state senators and representatives have gerrymandered their districts so that although they “represent” Athens, they are elected by district majorities in the heavily Republican counties surrounding Athens, and Athens can go to hell for all they care.

Wherever we have the opportunity, we should vote for candidates opposing Cowsert, Ginn, Wiedower and Gaines on principle, even if there is little chance at present of removing them from their safe and cushy seats. We can’t vote against “our” legislators until November, but early voting has started for the May 21 nonpartisan election, in which we can vote for Melissa Link, Rashe Malcom and Carol Myers to slow the Republican takeover of our local government. Under the circumstances, that’s a strategy that would even have been approved by Cousin Nita. f

Family Leave

STATE AND SCHOOL EMPLOYEES GET SIX PAID WEEKS OFF

By Stanley Dunlap news@flagpole.com

Parents working in state government and public schools will be able to take up to six weeks of paid parental leave under a new Georgia law.

Beginning July 1, eligible government employees will have the opportunity to take up to 240 hours of paid parental leave within a year of the birth of their child, or within a year after adoption or taking in a minor through foster care. Republican Gov. Brian Kemp last week signed House Bill 1010, which doubles the length of paid leave from three to six weeks that is available to state government and public school employees.

Nonprofit organizations 9to5 Georgia and the GA Coalition for Paid Leave applauded Republican House Speaker Pro Tempore Jan Jones and Sen. Brian Strickland, a McDonough Republican, for championing legislation that expands a 2021 law that gave state employees up to three weeks off to care for their new child.

The nonprofit advocates for parental leave stressed that they remain committed to expanding paid private-sector family leave that is unavailable to 78% of Georgians. Under the Family and Medical Leave Act, two-thirds of Georgia residents are prevented from taking unpaid leave due to eligibility restrictions and financial constraints.

Feroza Freeland, senior policy manager at A Better Balance’s Southern Office, said Georgia became a regional leader by enacting paid parental leave for public sector employees in 2021.

during some of life’s most important and often difficult moments,” she said.

Jasmine Bowles, executive state director of 9to5 Georgia, said state leaders should continue prioritizing the well-being of families by passing policies that offer up to 12 weeks of parental leave, and allowing employees to take more sick days and family and medical leave without missing out on wages. 9to5 Georgia and the paid leave coalition also favor removing Georgia’s sunset provision on paid sick leave so that workers can use up to five sick days per year to care for a family member.

“We really understand that supporting the workforce is a priority for all of us, including our state leaders, and it’s a critical component of a healthy workforce,” Bowles said. “Paid leave for both parents has been shown to increase employee retention, decrease turnover and save employers money because they don’t have to rehire or retrain.”

State lawmakers passed similar policies in South Carolina, Tennessee, Louisiana, Florida and Texas since then, allowing for six to eight weeks of paid parental leave for people working in the public sector.

Families and the economy benefit from better access to paid leave by providing better financial security and peace of mind during difficult times, Freeland said.

The majority of workers in the South do not have access to paid family leave through their employers, while the federal Family and Medical Leave Act only provides unpaid leave and leaves more than 40% of U.S. workers uncovered, Freeland said.

Georgia now has the opportunity to take a more significant step soon by providing at least 12 weeks of paid leave to anyone in the workforce caring for an infant child or an ill family member. “When we’re talking about paid leave, what we’re really talking about is all Georgia families being able to have financial security and peace of mind

Daniel Campos, a community organizer for Poder Latinx, emphasized the importance of ensuring equitable access to paid leave for the Hispanic community, which has a high number of mothers who are forced to return to work shortly after giving birth as a result of financial hardship. Campos said that non-native English speakers need access to a variety of language resources related to workforce leave policies.

“We would like to applaud Speaker Pro Tem Jane Jones and Sen. Brian Strickland for being champions for the crucial policy that Georgians and Americans need,” he said. “But keep in mind we’re not done yet, and will continue to advocate for a comprehensive paid leave policy for all workers in Georgia.” f

This article originally appeared at georgiarecorder.com

Eugene Talmadge was our Trump.

Rep. Jan Jones (R-Milton) helped shepherd paid parental leave legislation through the General Assembly in 2024. Jones said the new policy will provide greater relief to mothers who often sacrifice vacation and sick time to take care of their children.

ROSS

Trial of the Century?

THERE ARE MULTIPLE CONTENDERS FOR THE OVERUSED TITLE

By Ed Tant news@flagpole.com

“Trial of the century”? Don’t believe the hype.

When former football great O.J. Simpson was tried and acquitted of double murder in a California courtroom nearly 30 years ago, the sensational legal drama was hyped as “the trial of the century” in media reports at the time. The “trial of the century” phrase was again bandied about when Simpson died last month.

With its mixture of race, sex, murder, police mistrust, West Coast celebrity and football fandom, Simpson’s trial was a months-long TV soap opera with a controversial conclusion, but to call it “the trial of the century” then or now ignores other historic courtroom dramas of the 20th century. Even famed attorney F. Lee Bailey of Simpson’s legal “dream team” seemed exasperated with the term when he told The Washington Post in 1999, “Every time I turn around, there’s a new ‘crime of the century.’”

Many 20th century trials in American history could be called trials of that century, including the ’60s-era Chicago show trial of antiwar activists, but an earlier trial in Massachusetts also brought politics into the courtroom. In 1920, two Italian immigrants and anarchists, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, were arrested on charges of murdering two factory employees during a payroll robbery. Prejudice against immigrants from Italy and a raging post-World War I “Red Scare” in America boiled over in the courtroom crucible of Judge Webster Thayer, who was overheard calling the defendants “those anarchist bastards.” In his charge to the jury, the judge called the two men “morally culpable” even though their guilt and the fairness of their trial were doubted by millions in America and abroad.

Lengthy trials and appeals put the Sacco and Vanzetti case in the headlines for years as the men fought their death sentences. Demonstrations ranging from peaceful vigils to full-scale riots took place all over the U.S. and around the world as the execution date for the two prisoners drew near. An international roster of writers, scientists, artists and intellectuals—including Dorothy Parker, John Dos Passos, H.G. Wells, George Bernard Shaw, Upton Sinclair, Edna St. Vincent Millay and Albert Einstein—rallied for justice for the condemned anarchists. It was not to be. Sacco and Vanzetti were executed in the electric chair in 1927. After their deaths, artist Ben Shahn created paintings and a mural immortalizing “The Passion of Sacco and Vanzetti.”

To this day, the guilt or innocence of Sacco and Vanzetti are debated. In 1991, historian Paul Avrich wrote that “the case against them remains [unproven]. Nor, on the other hand, can their innocence be established beyond any shadow of doubt.” The dubious case against the two anarchists captivated this country and put some of the roar into the decade called the Roaring Twenties. Vanzetti’s last speech to the court still packs poignancy and power nearly a century after his execution: “Never in our full life could we hope to do such work for tolerance, for justice, for man’s understanding of man, as now we do by accident.”

While the Sacco and Vanzetti trials were happening, another trial in rural Tennessee captured the attention of Americans.

John Scopes was a young teacher who was brought to court in 1925 for violating a state law barring the teaching of the scientific theory of evolution in his classroom. The trial was a media circus dubbed “the monkey trial” and called—of course—“the trial of the century.” Firebrand lawyer Clarence Darrow represented science during the trial, while perennial presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan battled for religious fundamentalism and against the theory of evolution. Bryan won in the courtroom, but Darrow won in the bar of history. In his 1997 book Summer of the Gods, former University of Georgia professor Edward Larson wrote that the term “trial of the century” has often been used “but only the Scopes trial fully lives up to its billing by continuing to echo through the century.”

Today’s legal battles by Donald Trump are being called the trial of the 21st century. They may not live up to that appellation, but they do show what Martin Luther King Jr. meant when he said, “Judicial decrees may not change the heart, but they can restrain the heartless.” f

UGA Tuition Hike

STUDENTS WILL PAY MORE TO ATTEND SCHOOL THIS FALL

By Xinge Lei news@flagpole.com

Students at the University of Georgia will pay more for tuition next school year.

On Apr. 16, the Board of Regents for the University System of Georgia approved higher tuition rates starting this fall. Twenty-six public colleges operating under the USG, including UGA, will see a 2.5% hike for in-state tuition and a 5% increase for out-of-state tuition. A new tier established for out-of-country students is set to be 2% higher than costs for out-of-state students. These changes apply to both undergraduate and graduate programs.

Currently, the flat rate of tuition at UGA for a full-time undergraduate student per semester is $4,895 in-state and $14,415 out-of-state. Housing, meal plans, course materials and other expenses can set students back another $17,000 a year, according to UGA estimates.

Besides tuition, the board has approved increases in other areas as well such as mandatory and elective fees, housing rates and food services. Mandatory fees were adjusted for 20 of the 26 USG institutions. These fees cover the costs of basic health care, transportation, activities and facility usage for individual students, and at UGA, they will be rising by a few dollars from $695 to $708 total. The point of the new structure is to address the growing number of students who take fully online courses. Those students will now be charged an online learning fee equivalent to their university’s technology fee and 50% of existing mandatory fees. In addition, housing rates are set to increase by $100–136 per semester for all UGA dorms, and the prices of meal plans will increase by $26–82 depending on the type.

advertising student Sandy Ha, 20, is concerned about how increasing costs will affect the student population as a whole. While she relies on financial aid to cover most school expenses, she worries that the rising tuition rates might impact her future award amounts and out-of-pocket costs.

“I think this increase will harm the student body more than anything,” Ha said. “Several of my friends already experience so much stress from finances, school and family relationships. This will just make it more difficult.”

Likewise, third-year psychology student Ella Mappin, 20, believes that tuition is expensive enough as it is. She stated that a lot of students are only able to afford college through federal aid, and that recent

“ Debt is just something a majority of students have to carry with them.

decisions could exacerbate the process. As an out-of-state student from California, Mappin relies on her parents for tuition costs while paying for living expenses herself.

Fall 2019 | Fall 2024

According to the board, “Escalating costs for goods and services, increased salary requirements coupled with competition from the private sector and overall inflation has created the need for tuition increases in FY 2025.”

In-state: $4,895 | $5,017

Out-of-state: $14,415 | $15,136

Out-of-country: $14,415 | $15,424

Since 2019, tuition has been kept flat at all USG institutions except for Middle Georgia State University. The board also emphasized that average USG tuition prices rank sixth lowest in the country compared to other public universities. Thus, the recommended strategies for FY 2025 are supposed to “balance affordability, sustainability and quality at all institutions.”

Students at UGA showed mixed reactions toward this development. Third-year

“My parents pay for both me and my sister to go out of state for college, so I feel tuition will affect the stress level of my family, as my dad is the only one who works,” Mappin said. Others, like fourth-year psychology student Alyssa Moreno, 22, are indifferent to the rise in tuition because it seems inevitable in today’s inflationary economy. Under her HOPE scholarship, Moreno is only responsible for half of her tuition, and her family had arranged a student loan to cover the remaining costs. This fall, Moreno will be attending graduate school at UGA for her certification in applied behavior analysis which will require her to take out more loans. Graduate students are generally not eligible for the HOPE or Zell Miller scholarship.

“With my loan, this [increase] is something I’ve been prepared to take with me for the years to come. Debt is just something a majority of students have to carry with them,” Moreno said. f

O.J. Simpson’s mugshot

Tuition at the University of Georgia will rise this fall for the first time in five years.

DOROTHY KOZLOWSKI

Former Auditor Settles Lawsuit

By Chris Dowd news@flagpole.com

Former Athens-Clarke County Internal Auditor

Stephanie Johnson has settled her lawsuit against the local government after fighting in federal court for over two years. In March, she released her legal claims against the county in exchange for $44,653, the exact amount of a severance package she was offered but declined in 2021.

This happened after Johnson acknowledged under oath that she had no concrete evidence for a key part of her lawsuit.

Johnson’s lawsuit stems from her time as ACC Internal Auditor, a position she held from 2015 to 2021 under her maiden name of Stephanie Maddox. As auditor, Johnson was criticized for creating a hostile work environment in her office, for often not being physically present and for being slow in doing her work. She was placed on a formal work improvement plan in 2019 and again in 2021.

The ACC Commission approved her contract renewal in 2021 on the condition that she would make steady progress on improving her performance. After a few months, commissioners believed that Johnson had failed to satisfy the requirements of her contract, which included completing audits in a satisfactory amount of time, hiring for open positions in her office and attending required check-in meetings. Johnson’s work improvement plan also required that she make progress on obtaining professional certification as an auditor, something she never accomplished during the time she was employed with the ACC government.

while having multiple applicants. She also acknowledged that she did not attend a check-in meeting with the commission that September as required.

Even so, throughout this time she has continued to claim that she was terminated, not for the reasons above, but instead because of retaliation against her for an open records request she filed in 2018.

Johnson sued the ACC Unified Government as a whole, in addition to Mayor Kelly Girtz and ACC Manager Blaine Williams as individuals. She alleged that she was fired improperly, and she called for protection under the First Amendment and the Georgia Whistleblower Act.

In her complaint, Johnson accused Williams of misusing public money by inappropriately handling a wage and compensation study of local government workers in 2018. Johnson said she heard “innuendos” from unnamed advocacy groups about a potential misuse of funds in the study, so she decided to take a look for herself.

In October 2018, she filed a formal open records request for virtually every document related to the salary study in the local government’s possession. Williams asked her to withdraw her request, saying that such a large task would be burdensome to ACC human resources staff. Four days later, she obliged, withdrawing her formal request. Even so, she still gained access to many of the documents she requested through normal internal channels. She received three different versions of the wage study, including a spreadsheet listing the recommended salary adjustments for all ACC employees.

from obtaining other documents as well. Furthermore, they denied her request for a salary reevaluation and placed her on a performance improvement plan in retaliation for the request, as Johnson saw it.

Johnson’s complaint also claimed that Williams inappropriately took SPLOST funds intended for an economically disadvantaged district and used them for projects in another district.

U.S. District Court Judge Ashley Royal dismissed Johnson’s case against Williams and Girtz because some of the charges happened too long ago and fell outside the statute of limitations. Johnson’s attorneys argued that the alleged behavior was part of a continuing pattern of intimidation and that the statute of limitations should not apply, but Royal disagreed.

The court found that the other charges also did not apply to Williams and Girtz individually. Public officials are protected by qualified immunity, meaning they cannot be held individually liable when acting in their official capacity in a reasonable manner. Those charges were dismissed. However, Royal did not dismiss the charges against the ACC government as a whole.

Johnson’s firing happened years after her open records request, making the two events somewhat difficult to connect. As a result, Johnson’s case hinged on her claims that Williams had misused public funds during the 2018 wage study. Patrick Lail, an attorney representing the ACC government, asked her directly about the allegations regarding the $4.8 million. “I don’t know any facts,” Johnson responded. “I wanted to know, but I don’t have any information.”

Further pressed by Lail, Johnson said, “I don’t know how else to tell you, or explain, that I have no factual information, because I did not receive the information that I asked for.”

Lail also asked Johnson under oath which SPLOST project funds she was alleging that Williams had handled inappropriately. She couldn’t provide the project name, nor could she name the economically disadvantaged district for which the project was originally intended. Johnson implied that her suspicions might have been verified had she gained access to all of the documents she requested.

Johnson was fired on Sept. 24, 2021 in a unanimous vote.

According to her recollections of these events during her deposition on Jan. 18, Johnson recognized that she had not completed three audits a year on average as the commission expected. She knew that she had not filled the open positions in her office, even after a period of a year or more

After reviewing these documents, Johnson allegedly discovered that Williams had mishandled $4.8 million in public funds, according to her complaint. In Johnson’s telling, Williams was opposed to her open records request because she might take the documents and go public, thereby exposing his wrongdoing. After the open records request incident, Johnson reported that Girtz and Williams began to obstruct her work as auditor, and started to hinder her

Johnson agreed to settle her lawsuit in exchange for $44,653, the same amount as the severance package she was offered before the lawsuit began on the condition that she not sue. She will cover her own attorney’s fees. She also agreed not to seek employment with the ACC government again, although this does not preclude her from running for elected office. Even if they have a strong case, governments often settle lawsuits at the request of insurers that don’t want to run the risk of an unpredictable jury verdict.

Johnson is running against Rashe Malcolm to be the next ACC commissioner from District 6. The election will be held on May 21, with early voting starting on Apr. 29. f

Death and Taxes

RACES FOR TAX COMMISSIONER, CORONER AND MORE ON THE MAY 21 BALLOT

By Blake Aued news@flagpole.com

While contentious races for Clarke County sheriff and three AthensClarke County Commission seats have gotten the most attention, further down the ballot are more races, including coroner and tax commissioner in Clarke County, commission chairman in Oconee County and a Republican state House primary straddling both.

Tax Commissioner

“I think a lot of people aren’t even aware it’s on the ballot,” said one candidate, JP LeMay. “It’s a crucial role to the unified government and the school district.”

The Democratic primary for tax commissioner will be decisive, as there is no Republican candidate. Insurance agent Brant Spratlin has a Republican voting record but described himself as an independent whose wife, Shannon, has influenced his political views in a more moderate direction. Like Spratlin, LeMay, a planner for the ACC Leisure Services Department, does not believe the position should be partisan, but he said he does identify as a Democrat.

he went to work as an IT specialist for the ACC government, where he was assigned to the tax assessor and tax commissioner’s offices and learned their inner workings.

Both Spratlin and LeMay—who has been endorsed by the current tax commissioner, Toni Meadow—say the office is currently very well run, with a collection rate of more than 99%. Improving what is already a high-functioning office, LeMay said, “requires the knowledge to do the job. Knowing the unified government structure is important to jump right in.”

LeMay said the next tax commissioner will be tasked with purchasing new software because the current system can’t process taxes in tax allocation districts (areas designated by the mayor and commission where taxes from new development are invested in infrastructure within the district).

Spratlin is running on his business experience. A native of Athens, he attended UGA, then earned his degree at Piedmont College, and moved to Dalton for a few years before returning to Athens and starting his insurance business.

The position is an administrative one— the tax commissioner’s office collects property taxes and issues car tags, but does not set the tax rate. That’s a combination of tax assessors who set property values and the mayor and commission, which sets the tax rate. As such, Spratlin said the most important aspect of the job is to provide good customer service and educate the public about various tax breaks like the homestead exemption.

“Every day I’m educating people about insurance matters, and I was a teacher for three years before I got into insurance,” he said. Some of his ideas include improving technology in the office and adding kiosks at places like grocery stores where people can pay their taxes.

in Winder. “My experience and my background have really equipped me for the position,” he said.

Gaulden has worked in the funeral business for 18 years—ever since the death of his father got him interested in the process of preparing a body. He works for Winfrey Mutual Funeral Home in Athens. Gaulden grew up near Flint, MI, but moved to Georgia, where his parents are from, after his father’s death. At 44, he is younger than Eberhart, and said he hopes to be able to build up the office over many years.

In the short term, Gaulden wants to turn the part-time position of coroner into a full-time one. Longer term, he would like to hire more staff, including hiring a pathologist to perform autopsies. “We send a lot of things we can do in-house out to Atlanta, so it’s a long turnaround,” he said.

Gaulden also wants to set up an outreach program to the homeless and to educate the public about the dangers of fentanyl, a drug that killed 60 people in Athens last year. “I want to be a coroner that saves lives, not just puts people in the ground,” he told Flagpole

In a quirk of Georgia law, the coroner is the only person who can arrest the sheriff. Gaulden said that after he qualified, Sheriff John Q. Williams joked with him, “I hope you don’t have to arrest me.”

colleague Rep. Houston Gaines (R-Athens) touted Republicans’ accomplishments during this year’s legislative session. Among them: tweaking a law that created an oversight committee for district attorneys, expanding the list of offenses where judges must require cash bail, and a law requiring law enforcement agencies to comply with federal immigration authorities.

“Our law enforcement agencies, they have been under attack for years,” Wiedower said. “Fortunately, the economic times we have in Georgia, we’ve been able for the last two fiscal years, we’ve been able to raise the base salary at every one of our state law enforcement agencies, DNR, GSP, across the board, $9,000.”

The pair also discussed state income tax cuts, raising the child tax credit, and two referendums that would lower property taxes for Oconee residents.

In addition to raises for law enforcement, teachers got a $2,500 raise in the state budget, which also includes $45,000 for each school in the state to implement security measures.

Funding for a new medical school at the University of Georgia was “obviously a big win,” Wiedower said. “With the growth we’ve had in the state of Georgia, we need more doctors.”

And that person will also be involved in decisions about space allocation when ACC builds a new SPLOST-funded courthouse and moves other city government offices into the existing one. When that happens, LeMay said he would like to see the Eastside tag office combined with the tax commissioner’s courthouse office, whether that’s in the new or old building.

Coroner

Two funeral home employees—William Gaulden and Mike Eberhart—are vying to succeed Sonny Wilson, who served as coroner for 16 years. The coroner investigates the cause of death when people die outside of a hospital and signs death certificates. As with tax commissioner, both candidates believe the position should be nonpartisan, but since it is a partisan race, they are running as Democrats.

“People hate paying taxes. It’s not fun,” Spratlin said, but it could be made easier.

LeMay was born in Maine and has lived in Boston, Florida and Atlanta. He moved to Athens 15 years ago when, while working as a paralegal, he helped a law firm open an office in Athens and decided to stay. Later

Both said they want to continue in Wilson’s footsteps while also expanding the office, which receives an average of about 360–400 calls a year.

“Sonny did a fantastic job,” Gaulden said. “The only thing to do is improve on what he did.”

Eberhart told WUGA that his goal is “to gain the trust of the families, and let them know that their loved ones will be well taken care of” and “to help the families with their grief, what they’re going through right then, and to help them understand what death really is.”

A native of Athens, Eberhart is touting his 40 years of experience as a funeral director for Eberhart and Son Mortuary

House District 121

State Rep. Marcus Wiedower (R-Watkinsville) is facing a primary challenge from John Michael Grigsby, an Oconee County native and family nurse practitioner who works as a regional director for Kroger health clinics.

“I’m new to politics,” he said at an Apr. 22 Oconee GOP meeting, “but I’m not new to being up at the statehouse. I’m trying to fight for some things that need to get changed up there.”

As reported by retired UGA journalism professor Lee Becker on his blog, Oconee County Observations, Grigsby has a threepoint platform:

“My first thing I want to get done on my platform is I want to increase health care to many medical deserts that are located all over the state,” he said. “A lot of people just don’t have access to health care.

“Nurse practitioners, physicians assistants all over Georgia can’t practice on their own because of a 1999 law that is in place,” he said. “So I want to get up to the Capitol and get that law changed so that we can unleash the army of health care providers so that they can do some good in Oconee, do good in all of the counties all across Georgia.

“The second thing I want to do is limit the terms for congressmen [meaning state legislators]. I think sometimes congressmen and women get up to the state Capitol [and] just become yes or no votes. They quit becoming public servants, and they just serve other special interests.

“My third thing is I want to put a task force together to try to go against these cyber criminals who are attacking not only our elderly but really everybody in Georgia,” he said. “They are really getting a lot of money from our elderly, taking advantage of them. And they are getting a foothold. We’ve got to do something now to fight these people.”

In response to an audience question, Grigsby said he is opposed to legalizing online gambling, which Wiedower supports. At the same meeting, Wiedower and his

Wiedower, the chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government, also said he was pleased that the Department of Driver Services and the Georgia State Patrol Office will move from Athens to McNutt Creek Road south of Highway 316 on land the county donated to the state for those facilities.

Other Races

In Oconee County, Commission Chair John Daniell is facing a primary challenge from Pamela Lohr Hendrix. There are also contested Republican races for Post 4 on the commission (incumbent Mark Saxon versus Victoria Cruz), Post 4 on the school board (Adam Hammond, Andy Pippin and Russell Toms) and Post 5 on the school board (Stephen L. Aleshire and Brock Toole). In addition, Oconee has a series of referendums to expand the homestead exemption and freeze tax assessments for seniors, all 10 of which must pass to succeed, according to Daniell.

Early Voting

Voting for partisan primaries and nonpartisan races began Monday and will run through Friday, May 18. Voters can cast ballots all three weeks at the ACC Board of Elections office (155 E. Washington St.) from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. on weekdays; from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. on Saturday, May 4 and 11; and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 5.

Starting Saturday, May 11, early voting will expand to four other sites: the ACC Library (2025 Baxter St.), the Miriam Moore Community Center (410 McKinley Drive), the ACC Cooperative Extension Office (275 Cleveland Road), the ACC Tennis Center (4460 Lexington Road) and the Winterville Cultural Center (371 N. Church St.). Hours are 9 a.m.–5 p.m., with the exception of Sunday, May 12, when those sites are closed, and Wednesday, May 15, when hours are extended to 7 p.m. f

Lee Becker of Oconee County Observations contributed to this report. For complete coverage of local races, visit flagpole.com.

Brant Spratlin

JP LeMay

Border Fears

TRUMP AND OTHER REPUBLICANS PUSH VOTING RESTRICTIONS IN STATES

By Zachary Roth news@flagpole.com

With polls showing unauthorized immigration as Republicans’ best issue for the fall, the GOP is looking to raise the alarm about voting by noncitizens and the undocumented.

The multi-pronged effort has been advanced in congressional legislation, public statements by top election officials and U.S. senators, plans produced by grassroots activists and posts on X by former President Donald Trump and others.

Concern over illegal immigration and border security was Trump’s central campaign issue when he won the presidency in 2016, and polls show it as the GOP’s most potent political weapon again in 2024. A Feb. 27 Gallup poll found 28% of respondents saw it as the country’s most important issue, well ahead of any other topic.

At an Apr. 2 rally in Michigan, Trump seized on the recent murder of a local woman, Ruby Garcia, who law enforcement has alleged was killed by her undocumented boyfriend. “We threw him out of the country and crooked Joe Biden let him back in and let him stay and he viciously killed Ruby,” said Trump.

But the party is also using the issue to bolster its ongoing push to stoke fear about voter fraud and press for more restrictive voting rules. And it has often trafficked in false and misleading claims about voting by undocumented immigrants.

Few Noncitizens Vote

Voting by noncitizens is extremely rare. That’s because, voting advocates say, noncitizens are especially careful not to do anything that might jeopardize their status in the country.

A voter fraud database run by the conservative Heritage Foundation, which covers several decades in which billions of votes have been cast across the country, contains 29 entries that mention noncitizens. In some of these, a noncitizen registered but did not vote. Still, Republican secretaries of state from Georgia, Mississippi and Alabama, and at least two U.S. Senate Republicans, were the latest to tout the issue. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger wrote in a Mar. 12 op-ed that “leftist-activist allies” of President Joe Biden “want to open the gate to non-citizen voting.”

At issue is a lawsuit challenging a Georgia measure requiring people registering to vote to show documentary proof of citizenship. The voting rights advocates behind the suit say the requirement isn’t needed, and can present a barrier to registration for some voters, especially naturalized citizens, who may not have easy access to citizenship documents.

In the op-ed, Raffensperger, who famously resisted Trump’s pressure to collude in subverting Georgia’s 2020 election results, sought to conflate the issue of illegal voting by the undocumented with burgeoning efforts by a few Democratic-led cities, including Washington, D.C., to allow

legal noncitizens to vote in local elections. He has pushed for a constitutional amendment in Georgia that would bar local governments in the state from enfranchising noncitizens.

“Leftist activists have already shown that they want to change the laws that require voters to be U.S. citizens,” Raffensperger wrote. “A constitutional amendment would eliminate any possibility for future efforts to change those laws.”

DOJ Program Targeted

Days earlier, Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson sent a letter to the U.S. Justice Department, warning that a federal program aimed at making voter registration easier for people in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service and the Bureau of Prison could lead to the registration not only of ineligible felons but also of the undocumented.

as well as Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL), also sought to raise concerns about noncitizen voting in an exchange at a Mar. 12 hearing of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. The two Alabama Republicans charged that the federal government has denied election officials the tools they need to verify citizenship.

“I think [verifying citizenship] is important, now more than ever, especially given what’s happening at the southern border,” said Allen, who was testifying before the panel.

At the same hearing, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, used his time to ask the witnesses if they agreed that only U.S. citizens should be able to vote in federal elections—something that’s already the law—and that people registering to vote should have to show proof of citizenship. Lee later sent out a clip of the exchange on X.

Calls for Proof of Citizenship

Also last month, the conservative voting activist Cleta Mitchell, who played a key role in Trump’s bid to overturn the 2020 election, circulated a memo on “the threat of non-citizen voting in 2024.” The memo, posted online by a conservative advocacy group, called for a federal law requiring people to show proof of citizenship when registering, among other steps.

Although it’s already illegal for noncitizens to vote in Georgia, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has called for a constitutional amendment banning it.

“Due to the Biden Administration’s border policies, millions of illegal aliens have not only been allowed into this country during the last three years, but they have also been allowed to stay. Many of these aliens have been in the custody of an agency of the Department of Justice including the Marshals,” Watson wrote in the letter, which his office provided to States Newsroom. “Providing ineligible non-citizens with information on how to register to vote undoubtedly encourages them to illegally register to vote.”

The Justice Department program is part of the Biden administration’s response to the president’s sweeping 2021 executive order aimed at using federal government agencies to expand access to voter registration. Republicans have condemned the order as an improper attempt to use public resources to advance partisan political goals. There is no evidence the order has led to ineligible voters being added to the rolls.

Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen,

noncitizens can vote in local elections by cutting their share of federal election funding. While Democrats control the Senate and White House, the bill has little chance of becoming law.

Separately, in the current session of Congress alone, the House Administration Committee has passed seven different bills addressing noncitizen voting. One Republican lawmaker introduced a resolution calling for a constitutional amendment to ban noncitizen voting.

Last year, the House voted to use Congress’ authority over the District of Columbia to overturn D.C.’s law enfranchising noncitizens—the first time the House had voted to overturn a District bill since 2015. The Senate didn’t take up the bill.

Legal noncitizen voting has a long history in the U.S. In the middle of the 19th century, at least 16 states passed measures enfranchising noncitizens, often to lure workers to underpopulated Western states. These laws were gradually repealed in the late 19th and early 20th century—a period when a more general anxiety about mass voting led to Jim Crow laws in the South and laws restricting voting by Catholic and Jewish immigrants in the North.

Some prominent figures have falsely suggested that Democrats are soft-pedaling border security so they can benefit from the votes of the undocumented. “That’s why they are allowing these people to come in— people that don’t speak our language—they are signing them up to vote,” Trump said at a January rally in Iowa. “And I believe that’s why you are having millions of people pour into our country and it could very well affect the next election. That’s why they are doing it.”

Elon Musk, the billionaire tech entrepreneur, has taken a similar view. “Dems won’t deport, because every illegal is a highly likely vote at some point,” Musk told his over 170 million followers in a Feb. 26 post on X, which he owns, commenting on news that an undocumented immigrant hadn’t been deported despite a string of arrests. “That simple incentive explains what seems to be insane behavior.”

U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, charged in a 2022 TV ad: “Joe Biden’s open border is killing Ohioans with more illegal drugs and more Democrat voters pouring into this country.”

Kansas Law Struck Down

“There are myriad left-wing advocacy groups who register illegals to vote,” Mitchell wrote, a charge for which she did not provide evidence.

But the party’s efforts to tie together voting and immigration have been underway for longer in this election cycle. Last March, as States Newsroom reported, a group of prominent conservative election activists came together to promote what they called a national campaign to “protect voting at all levels of government as the exclusive right of citizens.”

Months later, congressional Republicans unveiled a sweeping elections bill, which aimed to capture the GOP’s top priorities in its push to tighten voting rules, and which contained a full section on stopping noncitizen voting.

Among other steps, the measure would give states more access to federal data on citizenship and make it easier for them to remove people flagged as noncitizens from the rolls. It also would penalize states where

One figure who may have done more than any to promote the threat of voting by noncitizens is Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach. As the state’s secretary of state, Kobach pushed for a law requiring voter registrants to provide proof of citizenship. The law was ultimately struck down by a federal court, which found “no credible evidence” that a significant number of noncitizens had registered to vote before it was implemented. The law was responsible for keeping tens of thousands of voter registration applications in limbo during an election.

Kobach went on to chair a voter fraud commission created in 2017 by the Trump White House, which pushed for a federal law similar to the Kansas law. The panel disbanded the following year without providing evidence of widespread voter fraud. f

This article was originally published by States Newsroom at stateline.org.

Sharpening a Screw

THE ATHENAEUM PRESENTS ANNUAL MFA EXIT SHOW

By Jessica Smith arts@flagpole.com

A decades-long tradition of UGA’s Lamar Dodd School of Art, the annual Master of Fine Arts degree candidates exhibition offers a time capsule of new artworks that are reflective, thought-provoking and occasionally perplexing.

Through a partnership dating back to the 1950s, the exhibition was previously held at the Georgia Museum of Art every year—a celebratory occasion symbolizing the culmination of each candidate’s academy studies as they complete a terminal degree and transition into the professional art world. The exhibition has now been hosted at The Athenaeum, UGA’s new contemporary art gallery located downtown, since its founding in 2021.

This year’s exhibition title, “Sharpening a Screw,” references the compulsion that often drives a creative practice, a yearning not only for self-discovery, but an urgency to make meaning of the surrounding world. All of the nine graduating artists present distinct bodies of work that utilize unique materials as conduits for larger ideas.

The most prevalent theme appearing throughout the thesis show relates to mankind’s relationship to the natural environment and a recommitment to more sustainable practices. Accompanied by a short film and handmade artist book of gelatin prints, Dylan Lewis’ body of work, “Pearl,” consists of a sizable collection of handmade clothing. These painstakingly made garments are created in a dreary seaside color palette of mud, sand, storm clouds and night sky using natural dye processes. These muted colors offer a sense of anonymity and self-obliteration as the wearer dissolves into the landscapes that inspired them. Lewis’ practice contemplates fabric’s capacity to contain memory and how the physical process of garment-making can serve as an act of devotion.

Katherine Rutter’s wall-spanning installation, “Now if Not Before,” suggests a deep reverence for the natural world and tenderness towards the complexity of the human experience. Inspired by her time spent at the Ogeechee River, this delicate work depicts a fantastical illustration of creatures crossing tannin-rich dark waters, surrounded by a frenzy of biomorphic paper forms. Essentially working in collaboration with nature, she creates inks from goldenrod, walnut, oak gall, mica, corn husk, river water, turmeric, coffee, abaca, flax and all sorts of other plants and soils.

The photographic practice of Lindsey Kennedy centers around the human-nature relationship, primarily investigating the individual psychological experience of navigating climate change. Her thesis piece, “A Chaos of Hard Decay,” offers a collection of images selected from various explorations into wetlands, caves, topiary gardens, a burning forest and other unique ecosystems. Collectively, these images acknowledge how the planet contains multitudes.

Meredith Emery’s work, “the objective line of a wandering thought,” was inspired by the American burying beetle, an endangered insect that, true to its name, buries the carcasses of small vertebrates for its larvae. A black and reddish-orange table resembles the insect with its arched legs and slim oval design. On top of the table is a long, thin scroll of paper with a story inscribed; a crank and microscope are intended to help the viewer access a tale of natural history.

Artists Ashley Wingo and Katie Ford both repurpose objects for alchemical results. Wingo’s mixed media assemblage, “Xanadu’s Mountain,” is a hodgepodge of miniature objects exploring memory, nostalgia and obsolescence. Rings, necklaces and brooches incorporate discarded mate-

rials like carpet foam, balloons and found photos, while faded pastels juxtapose with more vibrant iridescent colors to blur the past and present.

Ford’s mixed-media sculptures use abstraction to explore intangible aspects of form and space. Materials such as a lawn chair, insulation foam, found plastics and pigment prints of silk are assembled together to create an interconnected object whose parts remain just as great as their sum. Ford’s sculptures challenge the perceived notion of containment and the ability of a body to be more than one thing.

The interdisciplinary works of Alejandro Ramirez are a refreshing burst of absurdity, repurposing thrifted relics into interactive, new technologies. “Archive Special Programming” uses Arduino Uno to display a stream of humorous one liners and nonsensical head-scratching phrases, offering a glimpse into the artist’s own personality. A very creative way to pitch an album, “The Best of Brother Chacho” consists of an Adafruit Sound Board embedded into a briefcase, with each push button activating a different recording.

Martin Chamberlain’s work, “Hubris,”

similarly undermines the intended purpose of an ordinary object to create an art object instead. Taking the pedestal as his focal point—a fundamental object within any gallery space that visually establishes what the art is—Chamberlain adds rounded bottoms that prevent the pedestals from performing their function. Built with internal robotics, the pedestals fall flat and shimmy right side up, just to wobble and fall again. Of the works presented in “Sharpening a Screw,” those of Yoon Hwang are perhaps the most rooted in tradition and grounded by a spiritual faith. In addition to several paintings, including “Cartoon Chau” on this week’s cover of Flagpole, Hwang fills an entire gallery room with his “Garden Spirits.” These earth-toned ceramic works range from large vessels to intricate pagoda-like structures accented with small animals sure to add harmony and intrigue within any landscape.

“Sharpening a Screw” will remain on view through Thursday, May 9. The Athenaeum is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 12–6 p.m., and free parking is available directly behind the building at 287 W. Broad St. f

"Now if Not Before" by Kit Rutter

arts & culture

MUSIC | WED, MAY 1

calendar picks

Stephen Marley

Georgia Theatre • 6 p.m. (doors), 7 p.m. (show) • $31 (adv.), $36

Old Soul, the newest record from eighttime Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and producer Stephen Marley, is a vibrant, genre-spanning continuation of the Jamaican musical tradition that his family is famous for. This acoustic album boasts a multitude of noteworthy features, including Bob Weir, Eric Clapton, Jack Johnson, Buju Banton, Slightly Stoopid and Stephen Marley’s brothers, Ziggy and Damian Marley. Most of the album was recorded live during nightly COVID-era jam sessions of covers and originals inside a garage on his remote family farm, lending it a naturalistic feeling that aids in its goal to take the listener on a spiritual journey. In an interview for the Grammy Award’s online publication, Marley relays his original sentiment going into recording the album: “Let’s give the people something to soothe them.” [Mary Beth Bryan]

MUSIC | THU, MAY 2

build connections and culture while also raising funds for the Community Blueberry Project. The event will also feature a community forum and panel discussion with Athens Land Trust, as well as the launch of Southern Brewing Co.’s new blueberry beer. King’s art will be on display through

mid-June, and the Forest Heights Blueberry Festival will be on June 1. [MB]

MUSIC | SAT, MAY 4

Athens Business Rocks

Art & Music in the Life of Steffen Thomas

The Steffen Thomas Museum of Art • 7:30 p.m. • $50

The 22nd annual Madison Chamber Music Festival is hosting a performance honoring the life of Steffen Thomas, a German-born artist and poet who relocated to Atlanta in 1930 and spent the rest of his life creating sculptures and Expressionist artworks. The program will include songs from Robert Schumann, whose compositions are heavily referenced in Thomas’ art, particularly “Eight Songs of Robert Schumann,” a poured bronze sculpture that will be on display during the performance. The rest of the program will feature songs from the soundtrack of Jesse Freeman’s Steffen Thomas: Rock & Chisel, a recent documentary made about Thomas’ life and work. The eight-song documentary soundtrack was composed by David Kirkland Garner using the specific Schumann pieces referenced in Thomas’ sculpture as a foundation and features a cellist, pianist and two vocalists. [MB]

ART | THU, MAY 2

Bart King Opening Reception

The Oglethorpe Garage • 6 p.m. • FREE!

The natural imagery that is the subject of Bart King’s photography is captured using a flatbed scanner and an impeccable eye. The images, often taken up close and with the flora meticulously arranged, are arresting in their vibrancy and detail. King, a multi-talented artist who is also known for his music and children’s books, is having his first ever solo show displaying 15 of these photographs alongside a kick-off fundraiser for his other project, the Forest Heights Blueberry Festival, which was created to

40 Watt Club • 6 p.m. (doors) • $20 Local nonprofit Nuçi’s Space is hosting its 11th annual Athens Business Rocks event as a fundraiser for suicide prevention and musician resources. This evening of music from unlikely folks around Athens will showcase employees of local businesses competing against one another in a battle of the bands, with the winner taking home the prized Championship Belt. The businesses will play for votes made by the audience and a panel of judges via donations, with awards going to the Best Fundraiser, Crowd Favorite and Judges’ Favorite. Not only does this event challenge the creative side of local business employees, but it also highlights their businesses and continues the life-saving work that Nuçi’s Space does. This year’s top six finalists who will perform include New West Boys, The Jomanimals, HVAC Outlaws, Static Pressure, Punchlist, and Higher and Hazier. [MB]

EVENT | MAY 4–5

Indie South’s Springtacular

Bishop Park • 10 a.m.–5 p.m. • FREE! Springtacular is an annual makers market that features over 100 artists and vintage curators. The event is hosted by Indie South, a local gift shop founded by champion of the modern DIY craft movement Serra Jaggar that specializes in the locally-made, eclectic and mystical. Vendors at the 2024 market encapsulate this energy, including favorites such as Franny’s Farmacy, Abigail West Studio, Little Light Co., Rockbelly, Georgia Pottery Collective, Moonchild Society and many more. There will be jewelry, candles, clothing, pottery, stained glass and plenty of other treasures. Food trucks and live music will also be on site to enjoy as you browse. Check out the full list of Springtacular vendors at theindiesouth.com. [MB] f

Stephen Marley

New Music from Iron Triangle

PLUS, MORE MUSIC NEWS AND GOSSIP

By Gordon Lamb threatsandpromises@flagpole.com

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT: You may know her from her band Helen Scott, or perhaps her solo performances, or even perhaps from her music instruction. But local musician Emileigh Ireland just wrapped up performing in an OffBroadway show named Mickey’s Uncut Hits: A Raunchy Cabaret. People, I’ve seen the song titles, and yes, it is. The performance took place at New York’s Triad Theatre. According to a press release the show features, “… parody versions of classic Disney hits, your favorite childhood melodies have been re-imagineered into an

calculated according to how much money a band raises from its audience. So, you know, whoever has the most money wins. Don’t get me started. Advance tickets for the show are $20 at 40watt.com, and for all other information, please see nuci.org.

AND IN UNDER 20 MINUTES!: A new EP from experimental noise/ambient project party dead is out and named born into. The first two tracks, “no one ever told me the future would hold so much” and “i normally wouldn’t say anything” are good examples of partydead’s ambient work, with the former sounding just like literal air and the latter being somewhat similar but more manipulated and howl-y. The final track, “friend hits,” is by far the most aggressive and ambitious of the three. It travels through a few movements and dials in on certain aspects at a time. Find this at ericthehat. bandcamp.com.

entire soundtrack of salacious xxx songs.” The show is available on demand until May 25. To watch the stream on demand, choose a ticket with an “On Demand” tag from the ticketing options. For more information, and ticket links, you can check out emileigh ireland.com/new-events.

MOVE YOUR FEET: Those boys in Heart Of Pine recently released a new single that’ll be featured on the band’s next full-length album, due in July. The song is named “Phetamine & Pearls,” and it’s true to Heart of Pine’s talent for being able to expertly explore nearly every Southern music genre. This time it’s the style of The Memphis Horns. The vocals are super reminiscent of a young Chris Robinson (Black Crowes) with plenty of “hurr hurr” vocalization happening. Find this on all major streaming services, catch up with the band’s back catalog at heartofpine.bandcamp.com, and for all other information, please see heartofpine band.com.

SHAKE YOUR MONEYMAKER: The 2024 Athens Business Rocks event promoted by Nuçi’s Space happens at the 40 Watt Saturday, May 4. Bands composed of employees of local businesses perform live—after having survived a few elimination rounds already— in a battle of the bands, and it’s all a benefit for Nuçi’s Space. At the actual competition, the night’s scores, aside from those of the judges, will be tallied by how many “votes” an act receives. And while I’m not exactly sure what the exchange rate is, “votes” are

Vic Chesnutt Awards Finalists BEHIND THE LOCAL

SONGWRITERS’ WORDS

By Sam Lipkin editorial@flagpole.com

Each year the board of the Vic Chesnutt Songwriter of the Year Awards, named for the internationally renowned and prolific Athens musician, works to amplify the diverse voices of the local music community. It shines a spotlight on songwriters who exemplify skillful and thoughtful storytelling in their music. On Thursday, May 2, the Classic City Rotary will present the eighth annual awards show at the 40 Watt Club with doors at 7 p.m.

primarily with acrylic on tarred board and watercolors.

Below, finalists share the inspiration behind their nominated track:

Ethan and Sam Caspary, ‘Magnolia’

NOTES FROM NELLIE B.: Old school Athens MC G. Da War Don (aka G. Mckensington Ward) just released a new album of tracks from Athens hip-hop duo Iron Triangle who were fairly active back in the early 2000s. The duo was composed of Ward and DJ Mr. Bigg (aka the late Julian “Jay” Sims, who died in 2017). They released an album, Slumjevity, in 2004 and these new tracks are dated as being from around the same time. The new album is named ForEver and features 17 tracks. This release is truly an archival treat, and features guest appearances from Duddy Ken (Lo Down & Duddy), Hooks, Dynamik Baz, It’s Lee Baby, Tony P. and Lhamea. Stylistically, it’s very of its time and enthusiastically creative along the same lines as Atlanta’s Organized Noise production team. Find this on Spotify or gthawardon.bandcamp.com.

YES, I AM TALKING TO YOU: I have no idea who The Next Mourning are. Online, they’re listed as simply Ricki, Jathan, Bailey, Paris and Micah, which helps in basically no way. That said, I have nothing but praise for them naming their newly released fivesong EP (Demo Sandwich). The first two songs, “Don’t Leave Me, Edith” and “Mr. No Show” display a pretty heavy Cap’N Jazz and, maybe, Hot Water Music influence but that’s where this stops. “Yeah Dude!” is a nice slice of old school hardcore that actually has a melody. “Big ’Ol Fat Cat” slips into full on indie-folk territory but with the self-same dual lead vocals. They close it all out with “String Killer” which starts with a very slight Stones-styled riff but quickly moves into deeply moody second-wave emo land before closing out with the same riff as its opening. This is all pretty rough, which wasn’t unexpected but also thoroughly cool to check out. Find it at thenextmourning. bandcamp.com. f

Over the years nominees have represented a variety of musical genres, styles and backgrounds. Past winners have included Trevor “Trvy” Wiggins (2023), Elijah Johnston (2022), Cassie Chantel and WesdaRuler featuring Louie Larceny (2021), Jim Willingham (2020), and Lydian Brambila (2019). Each year nominations are made by the community based on a recorded work released in the prior year. After reviewing the pool of nominations, a panel of judges determines the finalists. This year’s judges included musical artist and event curator Matt Arnett, member of the Dead End Hip Hop crew Myke C-Town, Cracker bassist Bryan Howard, Elephant 6 producer and musician Robert Schneider, and indie rock singer-songwriter Megan Slankard.

The 2024 finalists are Amandagrace Schiano (Clover County), Ethan and Sam Caspary (Little Mae), Garrett Boyd (Goodie), Gracie Huffman (lighthearted) and Spencer Paul (Mannequin Party). Building on themes of modern love, Schiano’s sound mixes witty lyrics and a soft vocal style with playful chord structures, played on her white Gretsch electric guitar she calls her “Cadillac.” The Casparys are a sibling indie music duo with a light, delicate style rich with emotion and careful arrangement. Lead singer of the local altrock band Hollowbody, Boyd blends genres on his solo album that blends satisfying melodies with hard-hitting lyrics. Huffman is deeply embedded within the local indie music scene, having collaborated with artists like Elijah Johnston and Cannon Rogers, and writes expressive music under lighthearted. Paul describes his music as a funky fingerstyle amalgamation of folk, indie rock, Americana and jazz with unusual chord progressions paired with hypnotic melodies.

Each finalist will receive $250, while the top winner earns $1,500 plus studio recording time from Amplify at Nuçi’s Space, a photo shoot from Jason Thrasher and a Team Clermont publicity and radio promotion package valued at $5,000.

Featured performances for the night include special guest Abe Partridge, 2023 winner Trvy and all five finalists. Partridge is an Alabama-based musician, singer-songwriter, visual artist and podcaster. Since his 2018 debut album Cotton Fields and Blood For Days, he’s completed several tours of the Netherlands and U.K. in addition to performing at national songwriter festivals. Beyond the music, Partridge is an acclaimed visual artist in the Southeast, working

“‘Magnolia’ is a pretty classic Little Mae arrangement: Sam plays chords on the bass and Ethan plays sparkles on the guitar. It’s also our first release and one of the first originals we played together. The song is a lyrical collage of some of Sam’s memories. She links the song to the melancholy feelings of her childhood passing.”

Garrett Boyd, ‘Floating Away’

“’Floating Away’ is a song that is so very special to me. It’s literally the first song on my first ever album, and it’s the song that sets the tone for everything I plan to create as an artist in the future. A lot of my music revolves around somewhat morbid topics. I’ve made songs about coping with abandonment, struggling with faith and managing grief after loss, but ‘Floating Away’ is the song that makes me feel like I can conquer all of those issues. I love the song because it’s happy and sad. It’s humble and arrogant. I don’t know, maybe it’s good and bad.”

Gracie Huffman, ‘riverside’

“The central message grapples with the desire to know someone deeply while recognizing how vulnerability can make them feel exposed or unworthy of love. The chorus line, ‘I’ll dirty the water so you don’t have to come clean,’ represents a posture of changing the environment. When I imagine ‘coming clean’ I see a body of pure, untouched water. When anyone steps into it, the grime is unmistakably theirs. If I have already shed the layers of my filth, that leaves space for someone else’s dirt to blend right in. True love means accepting the other person and wanting the best for them, no matter the cost.”

Spencer Paul, ‘Little Metal Lunch Box’

“One night while I awaited sleep, some part of my brain offered this quirky song about a lunch box as a substitute. I tried to refuse for a while, but it insisted, so I turned the lights on and this song poured out of me. Funny enough, I’ve never had a lunchbox of any significance, and yet, this song is really special to me. As for what exactly it means, I’ll let you decide that.” f

WHO: Vic Chesnutt Songwriter of the Year Awards

WHEN: Thursday, May 2, 7 p m

WHERE: 40 Watt Club HOW MUCH: $15

live music calendar

Tuesday 30

Ciné

8 p.m. FREE! www.athenscine.com

KARAOKE WITH THE KING Show off your pipes to the world. Every first, third and fifth Tuesday.

The Foundry

6 p.m. (doors), 7 p.m. (show). $17 (adv.), $20. www.facebook.com/ AubreyEntertainmentAthensGA

CEDRIC BURNSIDE Grammy

Award-winning musician whose blues music incorporates rock, R&B and hip-hop influences. Touring his newest album, Hill Country Love.

SCOTT LOW Singing songs in the American folk tradition.

Georgia Theatre

Rooftop

8:30 p.m. www.georgiatheatre.com

PERVERT Brilliantly wrecked, inner core-heavy rock.

THICK PAINT Omaha, NE-based indie-pop group led by Graham Ulicny (Reptar).

LOOLOWNINGEN & THE FAR

EAST IDIOTS Tokyo avant-punk trio.

Hendershot’s

No Phone Party. 7 p.m. www.hendershotsathens.com

KENOSHA KID Instrumental adventure-jazz group centered around the rollicking compositions of Dan Nettles and featuring Josh Allen, Seth Hendershot and various guests.

Normal Bar

7–10 p.m. www.facebook.com/ normal.bar.7

OPEN MIC Try out a new tune or sit back and relax. Every Tuesday.

Wednesday 1

Creature Comforts

Brewery

Athens Farmers Market. 5–8 p.m. FREE! www.athensfarmersmarket.

net

THE VINYL STRANGERS Melodic local folk-rock band. (6 p.m.)

Georgia Theatre

6 p.m. (doors), 7 p.m. (show). $31 (adv.), $36. www.georgiatheatre. com

STEPHEN MARLEY Eight-time Grammy Award-winning reggae soul singer, songwriter and producer touring his new album Old Soul.

Hendershot’s

7 p.m. www.hendershotsathens.com

HENDERSHOT’S OPEN MIC

NIGHT Discover new Athens musical talent. Hosted by Liz Farrell. Porterhouse Grill

6–8:30 p.m. www.porterhousegrill athens.com

JAZZ NIGHT Longest running jazz gig in Athens captained by drummer Mason Davis and featuring a rotating cast of familiar faces performing American songbook, bossa nova classics and crossover hits.

Thursday 2

40 Watt Club

7 p.m. (doors), 7:15 p.m. (show). $12 (students), $15. www.40watt.com

VIC CHESNUTT SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR AWARDS This year’s nominees include Amandagrace Schiano (Clover County), Garrett Boyd (Goodie), Gracie Huff-

man (lighthearted), Ethan and Sam Caspary (Little Mae), and Spencer Paul (Mannequin Party). Tonight’s show also features performances by 2023 winner Trvy and special guest Abe Partridge. Ciné

8 p.m. $10. www.athenscine.com

KIT Debut performance.

CANARY AFFAIR Indie rock band with an affinity for irregular time signatures and psychedelic grooves.

JULIA NYUNT Multi-talented violinist, pianist, guitarist and singer. Georgia Theatre 6:30 p.m. (doors), 7:30 p.m. (show). $25. www.georgiatheatre.com

PRISCILLA BLOCK Nashvillebased country singer-songwriter who found fame on TikTok in 2020.

RYAN LARKINS Traditional

Steffen Thomas Museum of Art Chamber Music Festival. 7:30 p.m. $50. www.mmcc-arts.org

ART & MUSIC IN THE LIFE OF

STEFFEN THOMAS This program includes songs by Schumann that Thomas references in his artwork as well as songs from the soundtrack of Steffen Thomas: Rock & Chisel, composed by David Kirkland Garner.

Friday 3

40 Watt Club

7 p.m. (doors). $10 (adv.), $15. www.40watt.com

THE OCHO A multi-genre band of UGA students who focus on classic rock, alternative, funk and country.

Midwest emo platitudes with dance punk attitudes.

The Cotton Press Athens Community Council on Aging’s retroProm. 8 p.m. bit.ly/ retroprom24

GUARDIANS OF THE JUKEBOX

Tribute to MTV’s pop, rock, new wave and new romantic era. Flicker Theatre & Bar Attaboy Tapes Presents. 8 p.m. $12. www.flickertheatreandbar.com

SALLY ANNE MORGAN Psychedelic Appalachian folk drone musician.

MAGIC TUBER STRING BAND

Experimental old-time duo of fiddler Courtney Werner and guitar/banjo player Evan Morgan.

MARIE MARIE ’60s pop-inspired group in the songwriting vein of The Beatles and Brian Wilson.

www.facebook.com/vfwpost2872

COUNTRY RIVER BAND Classic western and honky-tonk style country band. Line dancing during the band breaks.

Saturday 4

1818 Brewing Company

6–9 p.m. FREE! www.1818brewing.

com THE LUCKY JONES Old school rockin’ rhythm and blues out on the patio.

40 Watt Club

6 p.m. (doors). $20 (adv.), $26. www.40watt.com

ATHENS BUSINESS ROCKS A fundraising event for Nuçi’s Space that challenges local businesses to showcase the talents of their

country mixed with gospel, pop and R&B.

Hotel Indigo

Live After Five Series. 5:30 p.m. FREE! www.facebook.com/Aubrey

EntertainmentAthensGA

AVERY LEIGH DRAUT & GREG

HANKINS Live music out on the patio.

Hugh Hodgson Concert Hall

7:30 p.m. FREE! www.athenschoral society.com

ATHENS CHORAL SOCIETY

Performing Dan Forrest’s “The Breath of Life” and Gabriel Faure’s “Requiem.”

JOKERJOKER Gallery

LIVE In The Studio. 6:30 p.m. FREE! www.jokerjokertv.com/watch

NERVECLINIC JOKERJOKERtv presents a virtual performance. Monty Greene’s longstanding electronic project features crisp, powerful dance tracks.

Nowhere Bar 9:30 p.m. www.facebook.com/

NowhereBarAthens

FRANKENFURT CINNAMON JAM

Live freeform funk to dance to and a rotating crew of musicians. Feel free to bring an instrument.

Southern Brewing Co. 6–10 p.m. www.sobrewco.com

KARAOKE NIGHT Every Thursday evening.

RECESS PARTY Local indie-rock band with a self-described collage of rock, funk and alternative.

BEA PORGES Alternative singersongwriter who blends indie-pop, acoustic melodies and soft jazz.

Athentic Brewing Co.

3 p.m. (doors), 4 p.m. (show). FREE! www.athenticbrewing.com

FRIGIDAIRES Altanta-based surf and hot rod combo performing vocal and instrumental hits plus originals.

CREATURE PREACHERS Creepy surf rock from the darkest depths of the Georgia swamps.

THE SPECTRE OF SURF Instrumental surf rock band playing covers and originals.

Buvez

7–10 p.m. FREE! www.facebook.com/ darkentriesathens

DARK ENTRIES KARAOKE Sing your favorite song from a curated catalog of classic to modern goth, post-punk, punk, ’80s and J-Pop.

Ciné

8 p.m. (doors), 9 p.m. (show). $10. www.athenscine.com

SWEAR JAR Local ’90s-inspired rock band exploring new horizons in punk, indie and alternative.

HAMBEAR Five-piece grunge emo-rock band based in Athens.

PARKING GARAGE Local selfproclaimed “salt rock” band, mixing

Georgia Theatre

7 p.m. (doors), 8 p.m. (show). $32.75. www.georgiatheatre.com

ALVVAYS Layered and witty indie power pop group from Canada. HORSE JUMPER OF LOVE Indie-rock band from Boston, MA with elements of slowcore and altcountry.

Georgia Theatre

Rooftop

11 p.m. FREE! www.georgiatheatre. com

ATTICUS RONESS Member of power pop duo The Corduroy Blue. Hugh Hodgson School of Music

Edge Hall. 3 p.m. FREE! music.uga. edu

HODGSON STRING QUARTET

UGA’s premier student string quartet.

MaiKai Kava Lounge

Cortez Garza Songwriters Residency. 7 p.m. www.athenskava.com

MANNEQUIN PARTY Athens alternative musician playing a funky fingerstyle amalgamation of folk, indie rock and Americana.

Nowhere Bar

9:30 p.m. $10. www.facebook.com/ NowhereBarAthens

STEADY ROTATION Gumption soul band from Manchester, TN. VFW Post 2872

7 p.m. (doors), 8 p.m. (show). $10.

Georgia Theatre Mint Jubilee. 5 p.m. (doors), 6 p.m. (show). $20. www.georgiatheatre. com

CAYLEE HAMMACK Country singer based in Nashville who released her debut album in 2020. Low Star Farm

5 p.m. $30. www.cicadarhythm.com

CICADA RHYTHM Captivating Athens duo playing melodic, rootsinfluenced folk-rock. SHOAL CREEK STRANGLERS

Traditional country and folk duo. JIM WHITE Winterville-based singer-songwriter with a canny lyrical style and a Southern gothic flair. Nowhere Bar

7 p.m. (doors), 8 p.m. (show). $10. www.facebook.com/NowhereBar Athens

JOHN DENVER TRIBUTE SHOW Aaron Campbell hosts a tribute show featuring Robert O’Sullivan and Ben Banks. Spaceball Bazaar

7 p.m. Donations accepted. www.insta gram.com/spaceball.bazaar THE RAMONA QUIMBYS New local trio featuring Adria Stembridge of Tears for the Dying. Strange Duck Brewing

8 p.m. www.strangeduckbrewing.com

CLASSIC CITY JUKEBOX Local rock and roll cover band.

Sunday 5

El Barrio

8 p.m. www.elbarrioathens.com

CLASSIC CITY JUKEBOX Local rock and roll cover band. Hugh Hodgson Concert Hall

3 p.m. $10 (w/ UGA ID), $50–90. pac. uga.edu

employees by forming bands to compete against other local businesses.

ATHICA

7 p.m. (doors), 8 p.m. (show). www. athica.org

NERVECLINIC Monty Greene’s longstanding electronic project features crisp, powerful dance tracks. Flicker Theatre & Bar

8 p.m. $12. www.flickertheatreandbar. com

ENUMCLAW Indie-rock band from Tacoma, WA.

ASYMPTOMATICS Post-punky, rather funky indie band based in Athens.

BOG BOD Raucous indie rock from Athens.

GRAHAM HUNT Midwestern guitar pop artist inspired by Dust Brothers and Guided By Voices. The Foundry

6 p.m. (doors), 7 p.m. (show). $35 (adv.), $40. bit.ly/TheFoundryMay4

JOHN McCUTCHEON Legendary, deep-rooted folk singer-songwriter, storyteller and Georgia resident.

TOM PAXTON Folk singer-songwriter with a music career spanning more than 60 years.

MIKE GREEN Michigan-based singer-songwriter who has been an integral part of the folk community for over 30 years as a booking agent.

ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Joined by conductor Dmitry Matvienko and pianist Yeol Eum Son to deliver Benjamin Britten’s Piano Concerto and Rachmaninov’s Symphony No. 2. The Roadhouse 10:30 p.m. www.instagram.com/road houseathens

EVERYDAY DOGS Skateboarding, Capri-Sun drinking, surfer-punk rockers of Atlanta. Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Athens

3 p.m. Donations accepted. www. athensflutechoir.org

ATHENS FLUTE CHOIR The spring concert is a program to inspire listeners as they enter a season of rebirth.

Tuesday 7

Hugh Hodgson Concert Hall

7 pm. FREE! music.uga.edu

GEORGIA CHILDREN’S CHORUS Singers age 7-18 from the Athens area who are trained in-residence at Hugh Hodgson School of Music.

Wednesday 8

The World Famous 8 p.m. $10 suggested donation. www.facebook.com/theworld famousathens

DAVID DONDERO Singer-songwriter formerly of Sunbrain who is often compared to Woody Guthrie and Townes Van Zandt. f

Alvvays will play a sold-out show at the Georgia Theatre on Friday, May 3.

event calendar

Tuesday 30

CLASSES: Intro to Javascript (ACC Library) Learn how to draw and animate figures in the programming language Javascript. Registration required. 10 a.m. FREE! www.athens library.org

CLASSES: ESOL (Bogart Library) Learn or polish your English skills using Mango languages online and in-person basic conversation and vocabulary. 12:30 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/bogart

CLASSES: Creating a Personal Digital Archive (ACC Library) Learn how to best plan, organize and execute a personal digital archive plan using different software and methods. 5:30 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org

GAMES: Lunch and Learn New Games (Tyche’s Games) Come down with your lunch and try out some new games. 12 p.m. FREE! www.tychesgames.com

GAMES: Mahjong Club (Winterville Cultural Center) Learn to play the ancient Chinese game of Mahjong. Tuesdays & Fridays, 1–4 p.m. $1. www.wintervillecenter.com

GAMES: Tuesday Night Shenanigans (Southern Brewing Co.) Play board games and arcade games on site, bring your own games or even your D&D group. Tuesdays, 5–10 p.m. www.sobrewco.com

GAMES: Dirty South Trivia (White Tiger Deluxe) Test your trivia knowledge. Tuesdays, 6 p.m. www. facebook.com/DirtySouthTrivia

GAMES: Bad Dog Trivia (Amici Athens) Test your trivia knowledge with host TJ Wayt. Tuesdays, 7 p.m. www.facebook.com/baddogathens

GAMES: Classic City Trivia (Akademia Brewing Co.) Test your trivia knowledge with host Garrett Lennox. 7 p.m. FREE! www.facebook.com/ ClassicCityTriviaCo

GAMES: Singo! (Beef O’Brady’s) Win gift certificates and prizes at this music bingo night. Tuesdays, 7–9 p.m. www.beefobradys.com/athens

KIDSTUFF: Storytime (Oconee County Library) Join Ms. Jera for crafts, songs, movement and more. Ages 5 & under. Tuesdays, 11 a.m. & 12 p.m. FREE! www.athens library.org/oconee

KIDSTUFF: Crafternoon (Oconee County Library) Drop in for a craft or two. Supplies Provided. All ages. Tuesdays, 3:30–5:30 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/oconee

LECTURES & LIT: Open Book Club (Oglethorpe Co. Library) Discuss mainstream fiction, thrillers and mysteries with the group. Last Tuesdays, 1 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/oglethorpe

LECTURES & LIT: Sentimental Touring Club (Athentic Brewing Co.) During this graduate reading series, hear works of poetry and prose from graduating UGA PhD students Zack Anderson, Ben Rutherfurd, Sarah Shermyen and Hannah V Warren. 6–8 p.m. FREE! www. athenticbrewing.com

MEETINGS: Knot Just For Knitters (Oconee County Library) Bring your own crafting project to work on while chatting with fellow crafters. Tuesdays, 3–5 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/oconee

SPORTS: Classic City Pétanque Club (Lay Park) New players welcome. Scheduled days are

Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. info@petanque.org, www.athenspetanque.org

THEATER: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged (On Stage Playhouse) Four actors will weave their way through all of Shakespeare’s comedies, histories and tragedies in one fast-paced play. May 3–4, 8 p.m. Apr. 30, 7:30 p.m. May 5, 2 p.m. $20. www. onstagewalton.org

THEATER: Menopause The Musical 2 (The Classic Center) This musical sequel is a groundbreaking celebration of women who are on the brink of, in the middle of or have survived “The Change.” 7:30 p.m. $35–55. www.classiccenter.com

Wednesday 1

ART: Tour At Two (Georgia Museum of Art) These drop-in public tours feature highlights of the permanent collection. 2 p.m. FREE! www.georgiamuseum.org

CLASSES: Salsa Dancing (El Carretonero) Join SALSAthens for Cuban salsa lessons that meet a variety of dance abilities, including beginners. Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m. (advanced), 7:30 p.m. (beginner/ intermediate). $10. SALSAthens Dancing@gmail.com

COMEDY: Pete Davidson (40 Watt Club) New York City comedian and actor known for his role on “Saturday Night Live” returns to Athens on his Prehab Tour. 6 p.m. (doors). SOLD OUT! www.40watt.com

COMEDY: Gorgeous George’s Improv League (Buvez) Townie improv that invites you to bring suggestions to help create improv magic. Wednesdays, 7 p.m. $5 suggested donation. www.flying squidcomedy.com

COMEDY: Comedy Night (The Root) Tonight’s lineup features comedians Tamar Rubin, Zachary Wright and Shelley Gruenberg hosted by Lanny Farmer. 8–10 p.m. FREE! lannyfarmer33@gmail.com

GAMES: Shadowfist Power Lunch (Tyche’s Games) Come down with your lunch and play Shadowfist. New players welcome. 12 p.m. FREE! www.tychesgames.com

GAMES: Classic City Trivia (The Local 706) Test your trivia knowledge with host Garrett Lennox. 7 p.m. FREE! www.facebook.com/ ClassicCityTriviaCo

KIDSTUFF: Busy Bee Toddler Time (Bogart Library) Join Ms. Donna for rhymes, songs, puppets and a story. 10 a.m. & 11 a.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/bogart

KIDSTUFF: LEGO & Builder’s Club (Bogart Library) Drop in to use LEGOs and other building materials. All ages. 3:30–5:30 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/bogart

KIDSTUFF: Teen Prism Club (Oconee County Library) Hang out in the library to play games, do crafts and build friendships in an inclusive and welcoming space. Grades 6–12. 6–8 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/oconee

MEETINGS: Athens Homeless Coalition Board of Directors (Princeton United Methodist Church) Learn more about the coalition and how to get involved. 12 p.m. FREE! www. endathenshomelessness.com

MEETINGS: Avid Writers’ Collective (Avid Bookshop) Members

critique each others’ pre-submitted writing of all forms. First Wednesdays, 6:15 p.m. FREE! events@ avidbookshop.com

MEETINGS: Greater Athens Libertarian Party Meet and Greet (Akademia Brewing Co.) The local affiliate of the Libertarian Party of Georgia hosts a monthly gathering. First Wednesdays, 7 p.m. FREE! greaterathenslp@lpgeorgia.com

OUTDOORS: ‘Normal’ Run (Athentic Brewing Co.) Join the Athens Road Runners for a 1–3 mile run that starts and ends at Athentic Brewing. Every other Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. FREE! www.athenticbrewing.com

Thursday 2

ART: Opening Reception (Ciné) The exhibition “What Will He Do With It” features paintings and early ink drawings by Jason Matherly. 6–8 p.m. FREE! www.athica.org

CLASSES: Creative Aging Seated Yoga (Georgia Museum of Art) This class will include restorative stretching, deep breathing and mindfulness. All levels welcome. RSVP by email. 10:30 a.m. FREE! gmoa-tours@uga.edu

GAMES: Teen Dungeons & Dragons (Bogart Library) Join the volunteer led role-playing adventure where you can fight dragons, join an army, go on a quest in distant lands or find hidden treasure. 6 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org

GAMES: Thursday Trivia (Johnny’s New York Style Pizza) Test your trivia knowledge with host Jon Head. 6:30 p.m. www.johnnyspizza.com

GAMES: Bad Dog Trivia (The Foundry) Test your trivia knowledge with host TJ Wayt. Thursdays, 7 p.m. www.facebook.com/baddog athens

MEETINGS: Coffee Hour (Oconee County Library) Drop in to drink some coffee, while supplies last. Thursdays, 11 a.m.–12 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/oconee

MEETINGS: KnitLits Knitting Group (Bogart Library) Knitters of all levels are invited to have fun, share craft ideas and knit to their hearts’ content. Thursdays, 6 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/bogart

OUTDOORS: Roaming Readers (Oconee County Library) Enjoy a morning walk around Wire Park, and talk about books (or anything). First Thursdays, 10 a.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/oconee

Drop in and taste a range of tequila styles from small artisan producers. 5:30–7 p.m. $15 & up. www.pinta schoolofwine.com

COMEDY: small talk, BIG SHOW (work.shop) A late night talk show hosted by Matt House featuring comedian Lanny Farmer and the musical stylings of libbaloops. 8–9:15 p.m. $10. www.flyingsquid comedy.com

EVENTS: First Fridays (Southern Brewing Co.) Kick off the weekend with live music, an on-site food truck and a mini-market featuring local vendors. First Fridays, 5–10 p.m. FREE! www.sobrewco.com

EVENTS: retroProm (The Cotton Press) Travel back in time to any era and celebrate prom to the fullest in benefit of ACCA. 8 p.m.–12 a.m. $30–420. www.facebook.com/ ACCAging

GAMES: Mahjong Club (Winterville Cultural Center) Learn to play the ancient Chinese game of Mahjong. Tuesdays & Fridays, 1–4 p.m. $1. www.wintervillecenter.com

GAMES: Chess Club (Winterville Cultural Center) Join others for a weekly chess competition. Fridays, 6–10 p.m. FREE! www.winterville center.com

COMEDY: Flying Squid Improv & Lanny’s Comedy Show (Hendershot’s) Members of Flying Squid Comedy perform improvised scenes followed by standup performances by local comedians hosted by Lanny Farmer. First Thursdays, 8 p.m. $10. www.flyingsquidcomedy. com

EVENTS: Forest Heights Blueberry Festival Kick-off (Oglethorpe Garage) Southern Brewing Company will launch a blueberry beer in a commemorative pint glass with other festival merch available, plus an art exhibit opening by Bart King and history presentation with a panel. 6–8 p.m. FREE! www.regenerators.earth/festival FILM: Club Ned Anime Society (ACC Library) Join club members to watch and discuss episodes of “Future Boy Conan,” “Samurai Champloo” and more. 6:30–8:30 p.m. FREE! www.animefandom.org

SPORTS: Classic City Pétanque Club (Lay Park) New players welcome. Scheduled days are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. info@petanque.org, www.athenspetanque.org

THEATER: Blithe Spirit (Quinn Hall) Based on the classic Noel Coward comedy about a cantankerous novelist, a jealous ghost and a series of mishaps. May 2–4, 7:30 p.m. $15. www.accgov.com/act

Friday 3

ART: Curator Tour (UGA Special Collections Library) Explore Hargrett’s newest exhibit “Sunken Treasure: The Art & Science of Coral Reefs” with curator Dr. James Porter. First Fridays, 2 p.m. FREE! libs.uga.edu/hargrett CLASSES: Pinta Tequila Tasting (J’s Bottle Shop Tasting Room)

PERFORMANCE: Next Act Cabaret (Hendershot’s) UGA’s student-run musical theatre group will put on a performance. 7 p.m. www.hendershotsathens.com

THEATER: Blithe Spirit (Quinn Hall) Based on the classic Noel Coward comedy about a cantankerous novelist, a jealous ghost and a series of mishaps. May 2–4, 7:30 p.m. $15. www.accgov.com/act

THEATER: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged (On Stage Playhouse) Four actors will weave their way through all of Shakespeare’s comedies, histories and tragedies in one fast-paced play. May 3–4, 8 p.m. Apr. 30, 7:30 p.m. May 5, 2 p.m. $20. www. onstagewalton.org

Saturday 4

CLASSES: Hands-on Composting Workshop (Pittard Park) Learn the basics of composting and bring your kitchen scraps to start a new compost pile together. Registration required. 1 p.m. FREE! www. accgov.com/gardening

COMEDY: Jazz Hands (Hendershot’s) Science for Georgia hosts a stand-up comedy show where science and technology professionals tell jokes about their work and studies. 7:30 p.m. $12 (students), $15. bit.ly/4TH4GA?r=qr

EVENTS: Spring Harvest Festival (Farmview Market) The 8th annual festival kicks off the harvest season with live music, lawn games, a petting zoo and more. 9 a.m.–2 p.m. FREE! www.farmviewmarket.com

EVENTS: Georgia Native Plant Society Plant Sale (Sunrise Nursery) Shop from a wide selection of native perennials, grasses, ferns and more that are grown locally by Athens-East Piedmont Chapter members or by regional native plant nurseries. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. FREE! www.gnps.org

EVENTS: Family Fun Day (Oconee County Library) Enjoy a petting zoo, crafts, games, demonstrations by local business, a prize walk and more. 10 a.m.–1 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/oconee

GAMES: Friday Night Initiative (Online: Tyche’s Games) Learn how to play a RPG game with others on Discord. New players welcome. 7 p.m. FREE! www.tychesgames.com

KIDSTUFF: Meet & Play (Bogart Library) Drop in for facilitated open play with age-appropriate toys. Best for ages 6 & under. Every Friday, 10:30 a.m. FREE! www.athens library.org/bogart

KIDSTUFF: Fantastic Friday (Bishop Park) An instructor supervises while a parent/caregiver leads their little ones through obstacle courses. Ages 1–4 years. Register online. 10–11:30 a.m. $7.50 (ACC residents), $11.25 (non-ACC residents). www.accgovga.myrec.com

PERFORMANCE: Small Box Series (Woodruff Property) A performance of dance, music, poetry and more on a 4×4 box featuring a variety of artists and creators. 7 p.m. $15. www.small-box-series.ticketleap.com

EVENTS: Indie South’s Springtacular (Bishop Park) Shop this annual spring market featuring over 100 makers, artists and curators, food trucks, live music and more. May 4–5, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. www.theindie south.com

EVENTS: West Broad Farmers Market (Rock Springs Park Pavilion) Vendors will be on site with fresh produce, local fare, rare plants, artisan goods and more. Saturdays, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. FREE! www.athenslandtrust.org/wbfm

EVENTS: May the Fourth Star Wars Celebration (Oglethorpe Co. Library) Come to a library not so very far, far away and enjoy prizes, trivia, crafts and more. 11 a.m.–1 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/ oglethorpe

EVENTS: Historic Athens Heritage Walk (Chicopee-Dudley Neighborhood) Matt Pulver will guide an exploration of the history of Chicopee-Dudley and its iconic landmarks. Registration required. 2 p.m. $25. www.historicathens.com

EVENTS: Music & Movie Swap (Oconee County Library) Buy, sell or trade your DVDs, records, tapes

Indie South’s annual Springtacular market featuring over 100 vendors will take place May 4–5 at Bishop Park.

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and more while meeting local collectors and artists. 4–8 p.m. www. athenslibrary.org/oconee

EVENTS: Saturday Salsa (Oak House Distillery) Enjoy a cozy night of dancing salsa, bachata and merengue. All ages. 6:30–10 p.m. FREE! www.facebook.com/ OakHouseDistillery

GAMES: Learn to Play the Shadowrun RPG (Tyche’s Games) Face off against the mega-corporations in a dark future. 12 p.m. FREE! www.tychesgames.com

OUTDOORS: Miles for Moms Run/ Walk (Milledge Avenue Baptist Church) East Georgia Cancer Coalition is hosting its 10th annual 5K to raise awareness for all types of cancer. 8 a.m. $25. www.runsignup. com/milesformoms

OUTDOORS: 5K Guided Walk (10 Water Street) Southeast Striders Walking Club leads a round-trip walk starting and ending in historic downtown Watkinsville. All fitness levels welcome. 9 a.m. $4 (adults), FREE! (18 & under). www.southeast striderswalkingclub.org

THEATER: Blithe Spirit (Quinn Hall) Based on the classic Noel Coward comedy about a cantankerous novelist, a jealous ghost and a series of mishaps. May 2–4, 7:30 p.m. $15. www.accgov.com/act

THEATER: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged (On Stage Playhouse) Four actors will weave their way through all of Shakespeare’s comedies, histories and tragedies in one fast-paced play. May 3–4, 8 p.m. Apr. 30, 7:30 p.m. May 5, 2 p.m. $20. www. onstagewalton.org

Sunday 5

CLASSES: Athens YOGA Collective (Athentic Brewing Co.) Enjoy a yoga class on the patio. First and third Sundays, 12 p.m. FREE! www. athenticbrewing.com

EVENTS: Indie South’s Springtacular (Bishop Park) Shop this annual spring market featuring over 100 makers, artists and curators, food trucks, live music and more. May 4–5, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. www.theindie south.com

EVENTS: The Meaning of Memorial Day (Oconee County Library) Military historian and retired Colonel Lawrence Saul gives a presentation on the history and meaning of Memorial Day. 3 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/oconee

FILM: Mocktails & A Movie (Oconee County Library) Enjoy a mocktail and a Q&A on the movies of Bong Joon-ho with local film expert Professor Dr. Hyangsoon Yi. 6 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary. org/oconee

GAMES: Bad Dog Trivia (Southern Brewing Co.) Test your trivia knowledge with host TJ Wayt. Sundays, 4 p.m. www.facebook.com/baddog athens

KIDSTUFF: Teen Guinness World Record Challenge (Oconee County Library) Try to beat a world record challenge every month with this fun and adventurous program. Grades 6–12. 5 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/oconee

LECTURES & LIT: Stillpoint Literary Magazine Release Party (Buvez) Celebrate the newest edition of the UGA student-led magazine with a pop-up market followed by live music and arts and crafts. 3–9 p.m. FREE! www.stillpoint literary\magazine.com

SPORTS: Classic City Pétanque Club (Lay Park) New players welcome. Scheduled days are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. www.athenspetanque.org

THEATER: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged (On Stage Playhouse) Four actors will weave their way through all of Shakespeare’s comedies, histories and tragedies in one fast-paced play. May 3–4, 8 p.m. Apr. 30, 7:30 p.m. May 5, 2 p.m. $20. www. onstagewalton.org

Monday 6

CLASSES: Narnia Baking (Oconee County Library) Learn how to make Edmunds’ Turkish Delight and Mr. Tumnus’ sugar-topped cake. Ages 18 & up. 6 p.m. FREE! www.athens library.org/oconee

11:30 a.m. FREE! www.athentic brewing.com

Tuesday 7

CLASSES: ESOL (Bogart Library) Learn or polish your English skills using Mango languages online and in-person basic conversation and vocabulary. 12:30 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/bogart

EVENTS: ACC Commercial Composting Facility Tour (ACC Landfill & Composting Facility) See how the county composts all your food scraps, biosolids, leaf and limb debris. RSVP by email. 3 p.m. FREE! recycle@accgov.com

CLASSES: Microsoft Word: Basic Formatting (ACC Library) Learn how to create a word document and to format text, insert content and more. Registration is required. 6:30 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org

GAMES: General Trivia with Erin (Athentic Brewing Co.) Test your trivia knowledge with host Erin. Mondays, 7–9 p.m. FREE! www. athenticbrewing.com

GAMES: Classic City Trivia (Dooley’s Bar and Grill) Test your trivia knowledge with host Garrett Lennox. 7 p.m. FREE! www.facebook.com/ ClassicCityTriviaCo

GAMES: Bad Dog Trivia (LumberJaxe) Test your trivia knowledge with host TJ Wayt. Mondays, 7 p.m. www.facebook.com/baddogathens

GAMES: Team Trivia (Southern Brewing Co.) Test your trivia knowledge with host Team Trivia. Mondays, 7 p.m. www.sobrewco.com

KIDSTUFF: Monday Funday (Bogart Library) Join Ms. Donna for songs, fingerplays, storytelling and STEAM activities. Ages 3–7 years. Registration suggested. 10:30 a.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/bogart

KIDSTUFF: Garden Gnome Compost Program (State Botanical Garden of Georgia) This five- to 10minute drop-in activity encourages kids of all ages to engage in different ways with the garden galleries. May 6, 8 & 10, 2–4 p.m. May 11, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. FREE! botgarden. uga.edu

LECTURES & LIT: Author Talk & Book Signing (First Christian Church of Athens) Author Dana Trent will read from her book Between Two Trailers: A Memoir. 7 p.m. FREE! www.avidbookshop.com

MEETINGS: Classic City Rotary (Athentic Brewing Co.) The local chapter meets weekly. Mondays,

SPORTS: Classic City Pétanque Club (Lay Park) New players welcome. Scheduled days are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. info@petanque.org

THEATER: The Book of Mormon (The Classic Center) The awardwinning comedy musical follows two missionaries attempting to preach to the inhabitants of a remote Ugandan village. 7:30 p.m. SOLD OUT! www.classiccenter.com

Wednesday 8

ART: Artful Conversation: John F. Peto (Georgia Museum of Art) Mallory Lind, associate curator of education, will lead a discussion on John F. Peto’s “Old Time Letter Rack.” 2 p.m. FREE! www.georgia museum.org

CLASSES: Salsa Dancing (El Carretonero) Join SALSAthens for Cuban salsa lessons that meet a variety of dance abilities, including beginners. Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m. (advanced), 7:30 p.m. (beginner/ intermediate). $10. SALSAthens Dancing@gmail.com

COMEDY: Gorgeous George’s Improv League (Buvez) Townie improv that invites you to bring suggestions to help create improv magic. Wednesdays, 7 p.m. $5 suggested donation. www.flying squidcomedy.com

EVENTS: Drinking Water Treatment Plant Tour (J.G. Beacham Drinking Water Treatment Plant) In honor of National Beverage Day the plant will offer a free walking tour, a water taste test challenge and a variety of beverages from a water bar. Registration required. 6 p.m. FREE! www.accgov.com/activities

GAMES: Mahjong Club (Winterville Cultural Center) Learn to play the ancient Chinese game of Mahjong. Tuesdays & Fridays, 1–4 p.m. $1. www.wintervillecenter.com

GAMES: Tuesday Night Shenanigans (Southern Brewing Co.) Play board games and arcade games on site, bring your own games or even your D&D group. Tuesdays, 5–10 p.m. www.sobrewco.com

GAMES: Dirty South Trivia (White Tiger Deluxe) Test your trivia knowledge. Tuesdays, 6 p.m. www. facebook.com/DirtySouthTrivia

GAMES: Bad Dog Trivia (Amici Athens) Test your trivia knowledge with host TJ Wayt. Tuesdays, 7 p.m. www.facebook.com/baddogathens

GAMES: Classic City Trivia (Akademia Brewing Co.) Test your trivia knowledge with host Garrett Lennox. 7 p.m. FREE! www.facebook.com/ ClassicCityTriviaCo

GAMES: Singo! (Beef O’Brady’s) Win gift certificates and prizes at this music bingo night. Tuesdays, 7–9 p.m. www.beefobradys.com/athens

KIDSTUFF: Compost Storytime (ACC Library) Join to listen to a story about composting. 10:30 a.m. FREE! www.accgov.com

KIDSTUFF: Crafternoon (Oconee County Library) Drop in for a craft or two. Supplies Provided. All ages. Tuesdays, 3:30–5:30 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/oconee

LECTURES & LIT: Bogart Bookies (Bogart Library) Pick up a copy of The Postcard by Anne Berest and discuss it with the group. 1–2 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/bogart

MEETINGS: Knot Just For Knitters (Oconee County Library) Bring your own crafting project to work on while chatting with fellow crafters. Tuesdays, 3–5 p.m. FREE! www. athenslibrary.org/oconee

FILM: Blood Everywhere (Flicker Theatre & Bar) Screening of the 1972 horror film Seven Blood Stained Orchids. 7 p.m. FREE! www.flickertheatreandbar.com

GAMES: Shadowfist Power Lunch (Tyche’s Games) Come down with your lunch and play Shadowfist. New players welcome. 12 p.m. FREE! www.tychesgames.com

GAMES: Classic City Trivia (The Local 706) Test your trivia knowledge with host Garrett Lennox. 7 p.m. FREE! www.facebook.com/ ClassicCityTriviaCo

KIDSTUFF: Busy Bee Toddler Time (Bogart Library) Join Ms. Donna for rhymes, songs, puppets and a story. 10 a.m. & 11 a.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/bogart

KIDSTUFF: Garden Gnome Compost Program (State Botanical Garden of Georgia) This five- to 10minute drop-in activity encourages kids of all ages to engage in different ways with the garden galleries. May 6, 8 & 10, 2–4 p.m. May 11, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. FREE! botgarden. uga.edu

KIDSTUFF: LEGO & Builder’s Club (Bogart Library) Drop in to use LEGOs and other building materials. All ages. 3:30–5:30 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary.org/bogart

KIDSTUFF: Edible Compost Teen Activity (ACC Library) Join to take part in edible compost activities. 4 p.m. FREE! www.accgov.com

KIDSTUFF: Teen Anime Club (Oconee County Library) Join other fans of manga and anime to discover books, play games, snack and watch anime. Grades 6–12. 7 –8 p.m. FREE! www.athenslibrary. org/oconee

PERFORMANCE: Rak The Watt (40 Watt Club) Students of the Sangha Yoga Studio at the Healing Arts Centre and special guests will showcase belly dances of different styles. 7 p.m. (doors), 7:30 p.m. (show). $5. www.40watt.com f

For a chance to be featured in our May 22nd Pet Issue, send your best hi res pet photo (1000 pixels wide) to editorial@flagpole.com

FOR SUBMISSIONS: MAY 8TH

The Small Box Series, featuring a variety of artists and creators performing, returns on May 3 at the Woodruff Property.

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bulletin board

Deadline for getting listed in Bulletin Board is every THURSDAY at 5 p.m. for the print issue that comes out the following Wednesday. Online listings are updated daily. Email calendar@flagpole.com.

AAAC QUARTERLY GRANT (Athens, GA) The Athens Area Arts Council offers $500 grants to visual and performing artists in any medium to support specific projects that enrich the culture of Athens. Rolling deadlines are June 15, Sept. 15, Dec. 15 and Mar. 15. Apply online. www. athensarts.org/support

BIPOC ARTIST/CURATOR PROJECT OPEN CALL (Lyndon House Arts Center) Seeking BIPOC individuals residing in Georgia to develop an art exhibition to be on display for 6–8 weeks at the LHAC. A stipend of $1500 is provided. www.accgov. com/9799/ArtistCurator

CALL FOR ART (Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation) Seeking submissions for the annual Members Exhibition. Every member is invited to submit one recent work of art of any size or medium. New members welcome. Fill out the online form. Deadline May 21. Exhibition on view June 21–July 26. www.ocaf.com

CALL FOR ART (Steffen Thomas Museum of Art) Seeking submissions for the juried exhibition “Queer Perspectives.” Open to Georgia-based, LGBTQ+ identifying artists of all visual media, both emerging and professional. Deadline May 13. Exhibition runs August–December. bit.ly/QPCall ForArt

CALL FOR ARTISANS (Classic City Flowers and Nursery) The Hummingbird Festival is seeking local artisans to sell their wares on May 19, 9 am.–7 p.m. Email if interested. joe@classiccityflowers.com

CALL FOR COLLECTORS (Lyndon House Arts Center) The LHAC’s “Collections from our Community” series features unique collections of objects found in the closets, cabinets and shelves of Athenians. Email if interested in displaying your collection. shelby.little@acc gov.com

CALL FOR EXHIBITION PROPOSALS (Lyndon House Arts Center) Artists, artist groups and curators can submit original exhibition proposals for consideration in the arts center’s gallery schedule. Arts can also submit images of their work for consideration in larger group or themed shows. Deadline Sept. 20, 11:59 p.m. www.accgov.com/6657/ Exhibition-Proposal-Form EMERGING BLACK ARTIST SCHOLARSHIP (Athens, GA) The Athens Area Arts Council will award a $500 scholarship annually to one Black artist from a Clarke County high school who is attending, or has been accepted to, a college or university to study the arts. Deadline June 30. www.athensarts.org/ support

JOKERJOKERTV CALL FOR ARTISTS (Online) JOKERJOKERtv is actively accepting proposals for collaboration from visual, musical and video artists and curators living in Athens. Artists worldwide can also submit music videos, short films, skits and ideas to share with a weekly livestream audience. www. jokerjokertv.com/submit OPEN STUDIOS (Lyndon House Arts Center) Studio members have access to spaces for painting, printmaking, photography, ceramics, jewelry, fiber and woodworking.

art around town

ACE/FRANCISCO GALLERY (675 Pulaski St., Suite 1500) Jason Thrasher’s exhibition of photographs, “Kashi Washi,” documents his return to a specific street corner in Benares, India 25 years after his first visit in 1998. Through May by appointment.

ATHENAEUM (287 W. Broad St.) The MFA Exit Show “Sharpening a Screw” presents works by nine artists. Through May 9. ATHENS INSTITUTE FOR CONTEMPORARY ART: ATHICA (675 Pulaski St.) Curated by Jon Vogt and Christina Habibi, “Parameter” includes the works of Candace Hicks, Claude-Gerard Jean and Timothy McCool. Through May 19.

ATHICA@CINÉ GALLERY (234 W. Hancock Ave.) Jason Matherly presents “What Will He Do with It?,” an exhibition of early ink drawings and new paintings emphasizing the relationships between shape and color. Opening Reception May 2, 6–8 p.m. On view May 1–June 25. GEORGIA MUSEUM OF ART (90 Carlton St.) “Nancy Baker Cahill: Through Lines” is a mid-career survey demonstrating the artist’s progression from drawing into digital works of art in augmented reality. Through May 19. • “Richard Prince: Tell Me Everything” includes a suite of works based on the joke archives of comedian Milton Berle. Through June 16. • “Decade of Tradition: Highlights from the Larry D. and Brenda A. Thompson Collection.” Through July 3. • “Kei Ito: Staring at the Face of the Sun” uses photography to examine the intergenerational trauma of nuclear disaster and the possibilities of healing and reconciliation. Through July 14.

GLASSCUBE@INDIGO (500 College Ave.) Zane Cochran presents “Aurora,” a sculptural interpretation of the aurora borealis using 3D geometric figures and lights.

JUST PHO… AND MORE (1063 Baxter St.) Oil paintings by Joseph Leone. Through May.

LYNDON HOUSE ARTS CENTER (211 Hoyt St.) The 49th annual Juried Exhibition features 160 works by 111 local artists. Through May 4. •

Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. $65/month. www. accgov.com/7350/Open-StudioMembership

PUBLIC ART SELECTION PANELS

(Athens GA) The Athens Cultural Affairs Commission is seeking community members to participate in upcoming public art selection panels. Panels review, evaluate and select from submitted proposals for ACC-funded public art commissions. www.accgov.com/9656/ Public-Art-Selection-Panels

Auditions

THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG

(Elberton Arts Center) Seeking six adult men and two adult women for a comedic production. Be prepared to read excerpts from the script. Open reading held June 5, 5:45 p.m. Auditions held June 17–18, 6–8 p.m. Performances held Sept. 27–29 & Oct. 4–6. tking@cityof elberton.net

Classes

A COURSE OF LOVE (Unity Athens Church) Learn a positive path for spiritual living based on A Course in Miracles. Wednesdays, 10–11:30 a.m. FREE! www.unity athens.com

ART CLASSES (K.A. Artist Shop)

The shop offers a range of fine art classes and workshops for adults, private classes and parties, summer camps, and art clubs for youth. Topics include acrylic, aqua oil, bookmaking, calligraphy, gouache,

printmaking, and watercolor. Register online. www.kaartist.com

BLACKSMITHING CLASSES (Greenhow Handmade Ironworks, Washington) A variety of classes include “Forge a Railroad Spike Knife” (May 3, May 24 or July 26), “Forge a Tomahawk” (May 4 or July 25), “Forge a Firepoker with Decorative Handle” (May 11 or June 14), “Forge a Three Hook Rack” (May 25), “Forge Garden Tools” (June 8), “Forge a Spear” (May 31 or July 27), “Forge Grilling Tools” (June 1) and “Forge a Bottle Opener” (June 7). Classes run 10 a.m.–5 p.m. www.greenhowhandmade.com/ blacksmith-classes

CANOPY CLASSES & SCHOLARSHIPS (Canopy Studio) Canopy offers a variety of trapeze and aerial arts classes for children and adults. Scholarships and financial aid are available. outreach@canopystudio. org, www.canopystudio.org/ outreach/scholarships

COOKING CLASSES (Athens Cooks) “Sushi Basics” will be held May 2, 6–8 p.m. $103. “Miami Nights” will be held May 4, 6–8 p.m. $103. “Chinese Dumplings” will be held May 8, 6–8 p.m. $103. “Bao Bliss” will be held May 15, 6–8 p.m. $103. “Fundamentals of Wine & Food Pairings” with Pinta School of Wine will be held May 16, 6–8 p.m. “Not Your Momma’s Cookout” will be held May 22, 6–8 p.m. $103. “Making Brunch, Not so Basic” will be held May 25, 9–11 a.m. $75. “Giro Italiano” will be held May 30, 6–8 p.m. $105. Register online. www.athenscooks.com

PÉTANQUE CLUB OF ATHENS (5 Alumni Dr.) Learn to play Pétanque. RSVP for a free Wednesday introduction. athenspetanqueclub@ gmail.com, www.athenspetanque club.wixsite.com/play QPR SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING (Nuçi’s Space) Nuçi’s

“Linnentown Then and Now: Paintings by Caroline Coleman” is an exhibition of portraits telling the story of her family and other Linnentown community members. Through May 10. • The Window Works series presents a site-specific artwork by Atlanta artist Michael Reese that questions the perception of the Black Body against cyanotype photography popular with architectural blueprints. Through spring 2025. • Guest curated by Lizzie Zucker Saltz, “RESCUE: Waste and Redemption” presents 22 artists who transform industrial byproducts into artworks or craft objects. Through June 15. • “Inflections: Works by Kaitlin Thurlow, Maria Canzano & Morgan Auten Smith” brings together three painters who create intimate worlds to enter and reflect upon. Opening Reception May 9, 6–8 p.m. On view May 7-June 15. • Collections from our Community presents Nate Mitchell’s 45 record box collection. Through June 22.

MADISON-MORGAN CULTURAL CENTER (434 S. Main St., Madison)

“John Lewis Series: Painting by Benny Andrews” features 17 paintings by Andrews depicting the life of late U.S. Congressman John Lewis and the Civil Rights Movement. • Photographer Emily Jenkins Followill shares images that capture an appreciation for the beauty of the past and an eye for the present in “Enhancing History: The Beauty of Land & Spaces in the South.” Through May 10. • In celebration of National Women’s History Month, the gallery shares 13 photographs by Frances Benjamin Johnston (1864–1952) taken in Madison in 1939 of seven antebellum homes and one church as part of the Carnegie Survey of the Architecture of the South. Through May.

OCONEE CULTURAL ARTS FOUNDATION (34 School St., Watkinsville)

“Southeastern Pastel Society: All About Pastels” is a juried members exhibition featuring works from across the region. Through June 1.

• “Perspective: A Journey into Mental Health” is a solo exhibition by Bobbi Johnson. Through June 1.

OGLETHORPE GARAGE (1560 Oglethorpe Ave.) Bart King’s exhibition consists of images produced with a flatbed scanner and natural objects. Opening Reception and Forest Heights Blueberry Festival Kickoff & Community Forum May 2, 6 p.m. Through mid-June.

PORCELAIN AND DECORATIVE ARTS MUSEUM (2450 S. Milledge Ave.) Two new collections celebrating the connection between art and nature

hosts free monthly QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) suicide prevention sessions for anyone interested, not just mental health professionals. Nuçi’s also offers free training for businesses and organizations. qpr@nuci.org, www.nuci.org/qpr

TRADITIONAL MARTIAL ARTS

CLASSES (Live Oak Martial Arts) Traditional and modern-style Taekwondo, self-defense, grappling and weapons classes are offered for all ages. Classes in Jodo, the art of the Japanese staff and sword, are held Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7 p.m. Visit the website for a full schedule. liveoak martialarts@gmail.com, www.live oakmartialarts.com

WINE CLASSES (J’s Bottle Shop Tasting Room) “Pinta Tequila Tasting” will be held May 3, 5:30–7 p.m. “Orangeworld: An Intro to Orange Wines” will be held May 11, 6:30–8 p.m. $25. “Smell the Flowers! Wines for Spring” will be held at Foxglove Plant Bar on May 15, 6–7:30 p.m. $20. “Portuguese Wines: Beyond Port” will be held May 23 at 6:30–8 p.m. $25. www. pintaschoolofwine.com

YOGA AND MORE (Revolution Therapy and Yoga) Revolution is a multipurpose mind-body wellness studio offering yoga and therapy with an emphasis on traumainformed practices. Check website for upcoming classes and programs. www.revolutiontherapyand yoga.com

YOGA CLASSES (Let It Be Yoga Studio, Watkinsville) Classes are offered in Hatha, Vinyasa, Kundalini, beginner, gentle and other styles. Check online calendar for weekly offerings. www.letitbeyoga.org

Help Out

ADOPT-A-MOM (Athens, GA) The Ark’s 10th annual Adopt-a-Mom distributes flower bouquets and cards to nursing home patients and single mothers. Donate $25 to “adopt a mom” for Mother’s Day. Proceeds also benefit The Ark’s Single Working Mother’s Fund. Through May 31. www.athensark. org/adopt-a-mom

ADOPT AN ANIMAL (Bear Hollow Zoo) Different sponsorship levels are available to “adopt” a zoo resident. Donations are used for exhibits, food and wildlife education. 706-613-3580

SEEKING BOARD MEMBERS (Sandy Creek Nature Center) Sandy Creek Nature Center, Inc., is seeking new members for its board of directors. Brochures and applications are available online. scncinc@gmail.com, www.sandy creeknaturecenterinc.org/boardmembers

Kidstuff

ATHENS FOREST KINDERGARTEN (Sandy Creek Park) Now enrolling children ages 3–6. AFK is a cooperative preschool that aims to develop initiative, persistence, interdependence, and empathy. www.athensforestkindergarten.org

BLACKSMITH SUMMER CAMP (Greenhow Handmade Ironworks) Ages 13 and up can learn basic blacksmithing skills through different hands-on projects like making fire pokers, tomahawks, scrolls, hooks and more. Materials, fuel and tools are included. July 8–12, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. $525. www.greenhow handmade.com/blacksmith-classes BRELLA ACTIVITIES (’BRELLA STUDIO) After-school art lessons for ages 6–11 include drawing and mixed media activities and are held Monday and Tuesday afternoons. Family Playgroups are for ages 0–5 and their caregivers. Check website for descriptions and meeting times. www.brellastudio.com/events

CREATIVE OPPORTUNITIES (Treehouse Kid & Craft) Treehouse offers a variety of art-centric activities for children, such as “Crafty Maker Mondays,” “Storytime with Mr. Doodles,” “Digital Art Designer,” “Baby Artists,” “Toddler Process Art,” “Creative Playtime,” “Saturday Craft” and more. Check website for current schedule. www.treehouse kidandcraft.com

FARM CAMP (Sweet Olive Farm) This all-outdoor camp for ages 6–12 includes caring for and interacting with the animals, creek

include a complete Jasperware tea set from Wedgewood in England and a series of hand-carved coconut vessels.

THE ROOK & PAWN (294 W. Washington St.) “Serenade” features works by over 20 artists including Keith P. Rein, Sierra Kirsche, Kendall Rogers, Jesse Raven and Delaney Dusch. Through June.

STEFFEN THOMAS MUSEUM OF ART (4200 Bethany Rd., Buckhead) “Peace in Our Time: Steffen Thomas Meisterwerke from the Lowrance Collection” shares works collected by Marjorie and Richard Lowrance over the span of 60 years. Through July 23.

TIF SIGFRIDS (393 N. Finley St.) “Bedroom Furniture” includes artwork by Austin Eddy, Carol John, Albert Mertz, Jorge Pardo and Adrianne Rubenstein. Through May 17.

UGA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER LOBBY GALLERY (230 River Rd.) The new gallery debuts with large-scale paintings from Margaret Morrison’s “Paradigm Shift,” a series created after Morrison began questioning historical aspects of her closely held Mormon faith. Through July 26.

UGA SPECIAL COLLECTIONS LIBRARIES (300 S. Hull St.) “HBO at 50: The Rise of Prestige Television” highlights some of the groundbreaking programming created by and aired on HBO with items selected from the Peabody Awards Archive. Through May 2024. • “Legacy: Vince Dooley, 1932-2022” celebrates the life and career of the late UGA football head coach and athletic director through photographs and artifacts. Tours held before home games on Fridays at 3 p.m. Through spring 2024. • Developed by James W. Porter, Meigs Professor of Ecology emeritus at UGA, “Sunken Treasure: The Art and Science of Coral Reefs” explores the marine lives of coral through specimens and photographs. Through July 3.

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP OF ATHENS CLEMENTS GALLERY (780 Timothy Rd.) “The Three Graces” is a collaborative art exhibit by Elizabeth Bishop-Martin, Starr Ramsey Helms and Kim Kendall. Through June 23.

WINTERVILLE LIBRARY (115 Marigold Ln., Winterville) The 2024 Marigold Festival Art Show features this year’s winning festival artwork by Mary Ann Cox as well as other entries from the call for art. Through May.

Jason Matherly’s exhibition “What Will He Do With It?” is currently on view at ATHICA@Ciné Gallery through June 25. An opening reception will be held May 2 from 6–8 p.m.

time in the woods, outdoor crafts, games, music, art-making, writing and exploring the farm. Mondays–Fridays, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. during the summer. Register online. www. sweetolivefarm.org

GROUPS AT REBLOSSOM

(ReBlossom) A variety of classes, playgroups and support groups are offered for parents and young children. Topics include birth and breastfeeding, prenatal and parent-baby yoga, instrument play, maternal mental health and more. Check website for a schedule. www. reblossomathens.com

LEARN TO SWIM (Multiple Locations) The ACC Leisure Services Department offers swim lessons for children ages 3 and up at Heard Park, Lay Park, Memorial Park and Rocksprings Park including “Swim School” and “Parent/Tot Swim School.” $33 (residents), $50 (non-residents). The department’s Kinderswim program is offered to five-year-olds at no cost. www.acc gov.com/myrec

LIBRARY STORYTIMES (ACC Library) Storytime for preschool aged children and their caregivers is offered every Tuesday and Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. www.athens library.org

LUTHEROAD DAYCAMP (Holy Cross Lutheran Church) Camp for rising 1st–6th graders runs June 24–27, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. and June 28, 9 a.m.–12 p.m. www.holycrossathens.com/ lutheroad

NATURE AND FARM SUMMER CAMPS (Foxfire Woods and Farm) Offering three weeks of outdoor summer camp, including a half-day camp for preschoolers ages 3.5–6. Themes include survival skills, kinetics and simple machines, and outdoor exploration. www.foxfire woodsandfarm.com

SUMMER ART CAMPS (K.A. Artist Shop) Art Camps for Promising Young Artists are offered for half or full days Mondays–Fridays during the summer. Activities range from drawing, painting, collage, printmaking, illustration, calligraphy and character design. www.kaartist.com

SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION (Athens, GA) ACC Leisure Services Department offers camps highlighting art, nature education, sports

survivors of traumatic head injury, their families, friends and caregivers offers friendship, information about resources and opportunities for advocacy. Every third Monday, 4:30–6 p.m. Contact Floretta Johnson, 706-353-1892, floretta. johnson@stmarysathens.org

NAMI FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP (Oconee Presbyterian Church) Peer-led support group for any adult with a loved one who has experienced symptoms of a mental health condition. Second Monday of the month, 6:30–8 p.m. FREE! joannehnamihallga@gmail.com

NEW PARENTS AND INFANT FEEDING SUPPORT GROUP (BYL Family Resource Center) Come as you are for community, snacks and feeding advice from professionals. Babies and children of all ages are welcome. Second and fourth Wednesdays, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. FREE! www.byyourleave.org

OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS (24th Street Clubhouse) Learn to stop eating compulsively or curb other unwanted food-related behaviors. Tuesdays, 12 p.m. Text: 678-7363697

DIAMOND HILL FARM CSA (Athentic Brewing Co.) The Community Supported Agriculture program offers a variety of seasonal vegetables, fruits and/or flowers directly to consumers each week. Check website for weekly pickup locations, home delivery details and to register. $15 (flower share), $25–35 (farm box). www.diamondhillfarm athens.com

INTERNATIONAL COMPOST AWARENESS WEEK (Multiple Locations) Various compost workshops, giveaways, sales and games will be held in celebration of ICAW. Check website for schedule of events. May 5–11. www.accgov. com/6542/International-CompostAwareness-Week

MUSIC & MOVIE SWAP (Oconee Co. Library) Buy, sell and trade DVDs, Blu-rays, 4K movies, records, tapes and CDs. Reserve a table by email. Swap held May 4, 4–8 p.m. jmitchell@athenslibrary. org

and theater. Now registering. www. accgov.com/myrec

TREEHOUSE SUMMER CAMPS (Treehouse Kid & Craft) Camps are offered in a variety of themes including “Mini Museum,” “Wonderful Wizards,” “Craft Inc. Business,” “Mouse Palace Camp,” “Camp Swiftie” and more. Visit the website for details, dates and to register. www.treehousekidandcraft. com

UGA SUMMER ART CAMP (Lamar Dodd School of Art) High school students with a passion for the arts are invited to participate in a fourday camp featuring drawing, painting, printmaking and photography. June 24–27. summerartcamp@ uga.edu, art.uga.edu/programs/ community-programs/uga-summerart-camp

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL (Athens First United Methodist Church) Kids entering grades K-5 in the fall can participate in a summer camp exploring faith and the deep blue sea through various games, music, snacks and activities. June 3–6, 9 a.m.–12:25 p.m. www.athensfirst um.org/scuba

WILD EARTH CAMP (Piedmont Preserve) Wild Earth Camp offers summer camps and homeschool programs for ages 4–13. Participants explore the natural environment through games, storytelling, free play and teaching earth skills. Register online. www.wildearth camp.org

Support Groups

ACA ADULT CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLICS AND DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILIES (Holy Cross Lutheran Church) This support group meets weekly. Tuesdays, 6:30–7:30 p.m. annetteanelson@gmail.com

ATHENS COUNCIL OF THE BLIND (Athens, GA) Open to people of all ages with vision impairments, their families and friends. Topics include adaptive equipment, recreational and social opportunities, and advocacy. 706-424-2794, dlwahlers@ gmail.com

BRAIN INJURY SUPPORT GROUP

(St. Mary’s Hospital, 5th Floor Therapy Room) This support group for

PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP (First Baptist Church) This group is to encourage, support and share information with fellow sojourners who manage the challenges of Parkinson’s disease or other movement disorders. Second Friday of the month, 1 p.m. gpnoblet@ bellsouth.net

POLYAMORY SUPPORT GROUP

(Revolution Therapy and Yoga) This open support group for adults practicing or considering polyamory or nonmonogamy discusses navigating jealousy, polysaturation, relationships with metamours and polyamorous parenting. Thursdays, 6:30–7:30 p.m. $10 donation. www.revolutiontherapyandyoga.com

PROJECT SAFE (Family Protection Center) Project Safe hosts a support group for survivors of domestic violence. Mondays, 6:30–8 p.m. www. project-safe.org

RECREATE JOY (Sunny Days Therapeutics) Nuçi’s Space hosts a recreational therapy support group. Improve coping skills and self esteem while reducing depression and anxiety through adaptive yoga, games and leisure education. Sixweek sessions. Wednesdays, 5–6 p.m. tinyurl.com/rnvuhesa

RECOVERY DHARMA (Athens Addiction Recovery Center) This peer-led support group offers a Buddhist-inspired path to recovery from any addiction. Visit the website for details. Thursdays, 7 p.m. www.athensrecoverydharma.org

SURVIVORS OF SUICIDE (Nuçi’s Space) SOS is a support group for anyone who has lost a loved one to suicide. Meets the third Wednesday of every month, 5:30–7:30 p.m. www.nuci.org

Word on the Street

ANNUAL SHOAL LILY FLOAT

(Broad River Campground) The Broad River Watershed Association hosts a guided kayak trip to see the rare shoal lilies. Bring your own kayak or canoe. A walk to the lilies is also available. RSVP. $25/float, $5/parking. May 18, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. (float). 10 a.m. & 1 p.m. (walk). info@brwa.org

BIKE REPAIR STATIONS (Multiple Locations) Over 15 free bike repair stations are located across Athens with tools, an air pump and a QR code for quick guides on basic bike repairs. Visit the website for participating locations. www.accgov. com/10584/Bike-Repair-Stations

POP UP BOOK SALE (Oglethorpe County Library) The Friends of the Oglethorpe Country Library are hosting a sale of books, DVDs, CDs and more, with most items $1 or less. Sale runs during operating hours through May 4. www.oglethorpefol. org

RABBIT HOLE EVENTS (Rabbit Hole Studios) Weekly events include Open Mic (Tuesdays, 7–11 p.m.), Acoustic Song Circle (Thursdays, 7–11 p.m.) and Drumming and Song Circle (Sundays, 3–5 p.m.). Wednesday Yoga (5 p.m.) is followed by Meditation and Integration (6 p.m.). Events are free or donation based. www.rabbitholestudios.org/ calendar

SEEKING MUSIC (Athens, GA) Seeking music submissions for the third season of “View Finders,” a locally produced TV series that will air on national PBS. Music can vary from electronic, ambient, hip hop, folk, Americana, rock, country, blues, classical and beyond. Contact for submission form. chrisgreer photography@gmail.com, www. viewfindersontv.com

SEVENTH GENERATION (Multiple Locations) Seventh Generation Native American Church hosts gatherings on Sundays at 11 a.m. at Rabbit Hole Studios. Men’s Group meets Tuesdays at 6 p.m. at Healing Path Farm. www.seventhgenerationnativeamericanchurch.org

SILHOUETTES WITH TIM ARNOLD (Treehouse Kid & Craft) Silhouette artist Tim Arnold will offer cut portraits of children, adults and pets. Book an appointment online. May 8–9. www.treehousekidandcraft. com

SPLASH PADS (Multiple Locations) The Walker Park Splash Pad will be open weekends only May 11–May 19 and Aug. 3–Sept. 2, plus regular hours May 25–July 28. The Rocksprings Park Splash Pad opens for the season on May 25. www. accgov.com/splashpad

SPRING TIRE ROUND-UP (ACC Landfill and CHaRM) Bring unwanted tires to dispose of at no charge. Limited to six tires per person. May 20–25. www.accgov. com/178/Solid-Waste

VHS DIGITIZATION (Athens, GA)

Brad Staples (of the Athens GA Live Music crew) is seeking previously recorded concerts and events on VHS, VHSC or DVDs to digitize and archive on his YouTube channel, vhsordie (@vhsordie3030). Original recordings will be returned, and credits and dates will be included in the online video description. Digitization services are free. Contact for details and to coordinate shipping. bradley.staples88@gmail.com f

classifieds

REAL ESTATE APARTMENTS FOR RENT

2BR garage apartment for rent. Pulaski St. HVAC and W/D. $1100/mon incl. water. Avail. August 1st. Text or call: 706-588-5252.

HOUSES FOR RENT

House, 3BR/2BA in Normaltown. Central heat/air. Apartment, 2BR/1BA. Furnished. Washer/dryer. Wi-Fi. No smokers, pets. Calls only! 706-372-1505

HOUSES FOR SALE

Looking for a house or a home? Condo or land? Call Daniel Peiken. REALTOR 5Market Realty. Selling in and around Athens for over 20 years. 706-296-2941

FOR SALE

MISCELLANEOUS

Get Flagpole delivered to your mailbox! Only $55 for six months or $110 for one year. Call 706549-0301.

Business Water Solutions offers the cleanest drinking water available through innovative bottle-less water coolers and ice machines. Call 706-248-6761 or visit www.businesswatersolutions.com to set up a consultation.

MUSIC

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Nuci’s Space is always accepting and selling used gear and instruments. All profits go toward our mission of ending the epidemic of suicide. Visit nuci.org/ rewired.

INSTRUCTION

Athens School of Music. Now offering in-person and online instruction in guitar, bass, drums, piano, voice, brass, woodwinds, strings, banjo, mandolin and more. From beginner to expert, all styles. Visit www.athens schoolofmusic.com. 706543-5800

Sell your musical equipment in the Flagpole Classifieds. Call 706-549-0301 to place an ad.

MUSIC SERVICES

Instant cash is now being paid for good vinyl records & CDs in fine condition. Wuxtry Records at corner of Clayton & College Dwntn. 706-369-9428

SERVICES

CLEANING

Peachy Green Clean Cooperative, your local friendly green cleaners! Free estimates. Call or go online today: 706-248-4601, www. peachygreencleancoop. com.

HEALTH

Pain? Depression? Insomnia? Call us today to find out how we can help you using natrual plant medicine. 888-4203848 . Use coupon code “Athens24” for 15% off your first order.

HOME AND GARDEN

Need old issues of Flagpole for your garden? Call ahead and we’ll have a crate ready for you. 706-549-0301

Woman-Run Gardening Services: Prep for spring! We offer garden clean-up/ maintenance, invasive plant removal, raised beds, personalized native/edible gardens for home/business and more! Call/Text: 706395-5321.

JOBS

PART-TIME

Join a diverse, inclusive workplace and get paid to type! 16–40 hours, Mon–Fri. NEVER be called in for a shift you didn’t sign up for. Must type 65+ wpm. Make your own schedule and work independently with no customer interaction. Starts at $13 with automatic increases. www.ctscribes. com

UU Fellowship of Athens seeks Childcare Workers for Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. Learn more at www.uuathensga. org/employment.

Find employees by advertising in the Flagpole Classifieds. Call 706-549-0301 or email class@flagpole.com.

The Inter-Community Council, Inc. (ICC) is seeking an Administrative Coordinator. This position provides support for the ICC office, located at 156 Parkview Homes, Mon. & Wed. 9 a.m.–2 p.m., Tue. & Thurs. 1–6 p.m. Applicants must have excellent customer service skills, a teamwork attitude and a desire to work with a diverse population of people. Must be 18+, have a high school diploma (or GED equivalent), min. three years office administration experience (or equivalent training) and preferably be a current resident of the Athens Housing Authority. Drug test, background check and valid GA driver’s license required. Applications are available at the Athens Housing Authority (300 S. Rockspring St. Mon–Fri. 8 a.m.–5 p.m.) Deadline for applications: March 15, 2023. Phone calls not accepted! White Tiger is now hiring for all positions at the Athens and Watkinsville locations! No experience necessary. Email work history or resume to catering@white tigergourmet.com.

NOTICES

MESSAGES

Hummingbird Festival is looking for local artisans to sell their wares. Festival will be from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Classic City Flowers and Nursery on May 19th. Email joe@classiccityflowers.com for more information.

by Margie E. Burke

OPEN DAILY

Come walk amongst the annuals, perennials, and trees

Nursery • Events • Weddings • Birthday Parties • Classes

& join us for our Hummingbird Festival • May 18th 9am-7pm

Featuring live music, food truck, free drinks, and free 5 minute massages

Come pot your own plants at our potting stations, Enjoy Afternoon Tea at Glenda’s Tea Room and visit our honey bees

Looking for artisans to sell their wares- email joe@classiccityflowers.com 10325 Double Bridge Rd. Winterville, GA 470-714-1800 • www.classiccityflowers.com

SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM

good growing Classic City Flowers

NEW NURSERY (AND MORE) OPENS IN OGLETHORPE COUNTY

By Erin France news@flagpole.com

Joe Stevens is a man with a plan—a lot of plans, actually. The owner of the newly opened Classic City Flowers and Nursery on Double Bridges Road hosted an April grand opening, but if you missed it, don’t worry, he’s got a lot of other events in the pipeline.

The nursery is a 15-minute drive from downtown Athens and downtown Watkinsville, and well worth the drive to explore the property. Long-time Athens area gardeners will recognize the location as a new incarnation of Wolfskin Growers.

Besides greenhouses full of plants, Stevens also will host Tuesday night karaoke, outfit a rentable tea room, hold beekeeping demonstrations, present live music, offer an event space and generally provide a place for folks who like the outdoors to congregate. “This is not a place to buy plants; this is a destination,” Stevens said.

But if, like me, you’re there for the plants, there’s plenty to see. The property itself sports some lovely examples of good growing, including a huge peach tree, heavy with fruit, several robust fig trees and an impressive tulip magnolia. Stevens’ favorite is the Japanese maple beside a small manmade pond and stream.

and beautiful growth. Hanging petunia baskets come in a whole rainbow of colors and include full-size flowers as well as the delicate and cute mini petunias. If you’re in the market for a Mother’s Day gift, this might be a good bet.

If pre-made baskets aren’t your thing, the nursery sells pots, some made in the Northeast Georgia town of Gillsville, as well as soil and a dedicated potting station to rehome your preferred blooms. This is a great value for folks who have the space for a few porch plants, but not quite the area needed to make the mess that comes with potting up plants.

Stevens bought the property in November after designing self-contained mobile disaster units. Originally, he planned to sell the units to disaster relief workers, survivalists and preppers. “I needed a place to build [the units], and this place was not expensive,” he said. “I came out here and fell in love with the place.”

Stevens comes to his nursery business through circuitous circumstances which include working as a biochemical engineer, earning an MBA from Emory University, leading global marketing efforts for products like Heartguard and heading a development team for pharmaceutical giant Boehringer Ingelheim.

While Stevens has the business knowhow and a love of plants, horticulturist Glenda Duarte brings 28 years of experience in growing for the former Wolfskin Growers. Together with the rest of the small staff, they have offerings well worth checking out.

The bright, fire-cracker blooms of the flame azalea are available, as are the standards of boxwoods, begonias and marigolds. Butterfly bushes, salvias and many varieties of vinca also are for sale. There’s a selection of Proven Winners (trademarked plant varieties) known for their hardiness

Some of the best deals I saw were on citrus, including lemon and lime trees. If you’re considering trying to grow citrus, I highly recommend it. It’s possible in Georgia, with some finangling, to produce Meyer Lemons in December. I managed it after a few years of troubleshooting on my own and then reading Growing Citrus: The Essential Gardener’s Guide by Martin Page. Now, I’ve got a whole collection of citrus from Calamondin Orange, Eureka Lemon and some forgotten variety of lime.

The nursery’s plant selection comes from Duarte and customer interest, Stevens said. “I’m here to serve the community,” he said. He plans to increase native Georgia plant stock in the following months, especially since folks have asked about it. If you’re stumped in trying to find a particular plant locally, I’d ask Stevens if he might be able to find it. He stocks the nursery from on-site propagations and tries to find local options for most of his inventory, he said.

If you’d like to learn more about Classic City Flowers and Nursery, visit classiccityflowers.com. The nursery will host a Hummingbird Festival on Saturday, May 18 from 9 a.m.–7 p.m. and will include a food truck parked on site, live music and an artists market. f

Joe Stevens, owner of Classic City Flowers and Nursery, talks about the many petunia baskets for sale.