Blog Topic: In the Community

In the Loop: UGA Opening Late, Clarke Schools Closed Tuesday

By Blake Aued | February 17, 2015 9:07am

The University of Georgia closed at 7:40 p.m. and will reopen at 10 a.m. Tuesday morning, when classes will resume on their regular schedules, the university announced tonight. Previously designated staff should report under the emergency weather plan.

Read More...
In the Loop: Kids Are Over-Tested, Education Expert Anthony Cody Tells Athens Parents

By Evelyn Andrews | February 6, 2015 10:55am

Anthony Cody, a former Oakland, CA, teacher turned advocate for public education, told Clarke County public school parents Thursday that students are tested too much and don't get enough hands-on learning.

Cody toured local schools and spoke at a PTO meeting at Clarke Central High School, a day after giving a speech at the University of Georgia chapel.

He was impressed by the horticulture program at Clarke Central Middle School, saying it will give the students an understanding of science and math that cannot be gained in a traditional classroom setting. Throughout the speech, Cody spoke highly of project-based learning, such as the horticultural program, as opposed to only testing students on knowledge.

Read More...
In the Loop: Athens Police and Citizens Talk Race and Bias

By Blake Aued | January 19, 2015 10:49am

Photo Credit: Blake Aued

"Comply and complain" was the refrain police used over and over again during a town hall meeting with local law enforcement on Saturday.

A panel of community leaders briefly tackled a number of important issues—gentrification, low voter turnout, lack of minority representation in government—but in the wake of recent high-profile cases where police killed African Americans, the No.1 concern was the police department's relationship with minorities.

Read More...
Culture Briefs: What's Happening in Athens on MLK Day

By Laura James | January 16, 2015 11:57am

Schools and many workplaces will close on Monday for the federal holiday honoring civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., but there’s still plenty going on in town.

Read More...
Culture Briefs: Homeplace Will Close Later This Year

By Barbette Houser | January 15, 2015 10:20am

Photo Credit: Barbette Houser

Homeplace, an Athens tradition, will close later this year

Homeplace Gifts and Toys, the beloved purveyor of wooden train sets, English soaps, Christmas ornaments and linen dresses, will close its doors later this year. The Five Points shop has been open for over 45 years and has been a favorite source of gifts and homewares for many local families.

Read More...
In the Loop: Ground Broken on 'One-Stop Shop' for Homeless

By Blake Aued | December 16, 2014 5:23pm

Photo Credit: Blake Aued

Athens-Clarke County government and nonprofit officials broke ground today on a $6 million resource center for the homeless that's been almost 10 years in the making.

Read More...
Culture Briefs: Avid Bookshop Hosts The Local Stranger and Bloodkin

By Barbette Houser | November 24, 2014 2:50pm

Photo Credit: Barbette Houser

William Tonks and James Calemine at Avid.

Avid Bookshop’s main entrance next to Fire Hall No. 2 on Prince Avenue was blocked off with amps, guitars and music stands last Friday night. The backdoor, however, was wide open and beckoned visitors in with a warm glow, a table of food, smiling employees who appear to genuinely like their jobs, and the tentative sound of guitars in the background. A cozy, truly local experience was offered as one of the last remaining independent bookstores hosted a reading by writer James Calemine.

Read More...
Culture Briefs: 'BFA Exit 1' Entertains and Even Unsettles

By Barbette Houser | November 18, 2014 4:15pm

Photo Credit: Barbette Houser

Large oils by Jessica Schulman in BFA Exit 1.

While strolling through the halls of the Lamar Dodd School of Art on the evening of Friday, Nov. 14 during the well-attended opening reception for the "BFA Exit 1" show, it occurred to me that the perfect date for this type of event really would be my therapist.

Read More...
Culture Briefs: Landscape Painter Philip Juras Lends his Home for Fundraiser

By Barbette Houser | November 17, 2014 5:27pm

Photo Credit: Barbette Houser

Detail of a painting by Philip Juras of his boyhood home in Augusta

When asked by a visitor whether he was working to preserve, document or save the locations depicted in his landscapes, painter Philip Juras said he was “more concerned with depicting the experience of the place.” On Sunday, attendees of WUGA’s latest installment in the “Artists in Residence” series got to experience lots of these places, as well as the actual home of the artist.

Read More...
Culture Briefs: Three Painters Discuss Life as an Athens Artist at Ciné

By Barbette Houser | November 13, 2014 10:20am

Photo Credit: Barbette Houser

StipeMass, Cherewick and Biskin discuss "Surviving Outside of the Box"

Big questions concerning life as an artist were tackled on Tuesday, Nov. 11 by a panel of local painters at Ciné. Visual artists Jim StipeMaas, Andy Cherewick and Jill Biskin shared their experiences and opinions during the discussion “Surviving Outside the Box,” the latest event in UGA’s continuing Spotlight on the Arts Festival.

Read More...