In today’s Scoop:
🎓 Former Southern Company CEO is the sole finalist to lead UGA’s university system
📅 Sonny Perdue will remain chancellor through December 31
What's your go-to Athens coffee shop? |
Ravioli and braided breadsticks on the Eastside
DePalma’s Italian Cafe at 1965 Barnett Shoals Road opens at 11 a.m. every day. The Eastside dinner menu includes pan-fried mascarpone ravioli with grilled artichoke and sautéed spinach in a tomato, butter and thyme sauce for $21.
The braided breadsticks come filled with spinach and onion or meatball and onion, then baked with mozzarella. A half order costs $11, and the kitchen asks for at least 20 minutes to make them, so order those first if you want them with dinner.
Read more here.
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🎓 What Does a School “Built for the Whole Child” Actually Look Like?
Choosing a school is about more than academics. For many families, it’s about finding a place where children are challenged in the classroom while also having room to build confidence, curiosity, character, and meaningful relationships.
That’s at the heart of Athens Academy, where students from K3 through 12th grade learn on a 152-acre campus with opportunities across academics, arts, athletics, service, and leadership. The school’s approach is grounded in its mission of “excellence with honor,” with an emphasis on intellectual curiosity, resilience, strong relationships, and helping students discover their individual paths. It’s an education designed to develop more than what a student can put on a report card.
There’s also plenty happening academically. Over the past decade, more than 86% of Athens Academy students who took AP exams earned a 3 or higher, while 72% earned a 4 or higher. Recent graduates have gone on to schools including UGA, Yale, Princeton, Harvard, Georgia Tech, Stanford, and the U.S. Naval Academy.
And this year marks a new chapter under Jeff Miles, Athens Academy’s fifth Head of School. He officially began July 1 after serving as Head of School at Rabun Gap–Nacoochee School. His own daughters, Lia and Alison, are Athens Academy students, giving his family a personal connection to the community he's now leading.
If you're exploring independent school options for your child, sometimes the best way to understand a school is to experience it beyond the website. Come see the campus, meet the community, and get a feel for what an Athens Academy education could look like for your family.
You can also join Athens Academy for a casual Sunday afternoon campus tour on October 4, with tour times at 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. Reserve your spot here.
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🎓 Thomas Fanning is sole finalist to lead UGA’s university system
The Gist: The Board of Regents named Thomas Fanning the sole finalist for University System of Georgia chancellor on September 16. He led Southern Company for 13 years before retiring in 2023. Current chancellor Sonny Perdue will serve through December 31.
Why It Matters: If appointed, Fanning would oversee UGA as part of a system of 25 public colleges and universities with more than 50,000 faculty and staff.
What's Next: Regents must wait at least 14 days after naming the finalist before acting on the appointment, making September 30 the earliest possible date.
Read more here.
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🦋 36th Annual Insectival | State Botanical Garden of Georgia | Athens | Sunday, September 27, 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM | More | Meet insects and entomologists, watch a puppet show, and see butterflies released.
🎵 An Evening with Kelli O’Hara | Hodgson Concert Hall | Athens | Thursday, September 24, 7:30 PM | More | The Tony winner sings Broadway favorites and Great American Songbook classics.
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