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In today’s Scoop:
🏟️ A hotel, plaza and homes are proposed around Akins Ford Arena
🛍️ Athens is reconsidering a ban on plastic grocery bags and foam food containers
A few ways to enjoy Athens this week
☕️ A Local Coffee Stop in Normaltown
At Sips Espresso Cafe, you’ll find locally roasted coffee and espresso alongside a large tea selection and locally baked goodies. The Normaltown spot also puts its own spin on coffeehouse favorites with drinks like Cubanos, Cortaditos, and Mexican Mochas, plus a patio that's easy to settle into with a book, some work, or a friend.
Read more here.
⚓ What Happens When Your Business Insurance Doesn’t Cover What You Thought It Did?
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Most business owners don't think much about their insurance until something goes wrong. And by then, discovering a gap in your coverage can be a much more expensive surprise than paying a few extra minutes to review it now.
That’s the idea behind Anchor & Pine Insurance Advisors, a new independent agency on Alps Road founded by Kyle Gelsthorpe and his son, Reese.
Before opening the agency, Kyle spent 17 years at Assurant, one of the country's largest insurers, eventually serving as Senior Vice President overseeing flood and homeowners insurance lines.
Now, he’s bringing that experience back to Athens. As an independent agency, Anchor & Pine can shop more than 40 carriers rather than offering clients policies from just one company.
And if you're wondering whether switching insurance companies is the only way to find out if your coverage is working for you, it isn't. You can simply send them your current policies for a second opinion and find out where you may be exposed or paying for coverage you don't actually need.
Anchor & Pine works with local businesses and also offers personal home, auto, and umbrella coverage for business owners and their teams.
Want another set of eyes on your insurance before you actually need to use it?
Anchor & Pine Insurance Advisors, LLC | Georgia Insurance License No. 245466
Thank you to our local sponsors who help make this publication possible!
🏟️ Akins Ford Arena district plan includes a hotel, homes and a public plaza
The Gist: ACCGov is putting the county-owned Kelley Diversified tract on Willow Street up for sale. Proceeds would help cover Akins Ford Arena bond payments in fiscal years 2028 and 2029. The preliminary district plan includes a hotel, outdoor event plaza, parking deck, homes, rideshare area, Firefly Trail extension and covered escalator.
Why It Matters: The district would add housing and public space beside the arena, extend Firefly Trail across East Broad Street and replace the Classic Center pavilion with a parking deck.
What's Next: Commissioners expect a November work session and December vote on the district plan.
Read more here.
🛍️ Commissioners revisit plastic bag and foam container ban
The Gist: Commissioners are again considering a ban on plastic grocery bags and foam food containers. Athens uses an estimated 2 million disposable bags each year, and the two materials make up 19% of local litter. ACCGov and GDOT spend more than $1 million cleaning up litter in Athens.
Why It Matters: If adopted, the rules would change grocery checkout and takeout packaging, with exceptions for loose produce, meat, fish, bread, newspapers and dry cleaning. A one-year education period would come first.
What's Next: The Legislative Review Committee meets Oct. 1, with questions about a fee and enforcement still open.
Read more here.
🍂 Fall Festival is Coming to the Taylor-Grady House
The Taylor-Grady House is delighted to welcome you to its annual Fall Festival on November 7th, from 10am–4pm!
Come celebrate creativity, craftsmanship, and connection with our wonderful Athens community. Enjoy goods and demonstrations from local artisans & traditional craftworkers, culinary vendors, and the unveiling of our new heritage programs.
If you’re a maker, artisan, or craftsperson creating handmade, traditional, or heritage-inspired work, we invite you to share your skills, stories, and one-of-a-kind creations as a festival vendor by filling out this form before September 25th.
We cannot wait to see you and spend the day together. Welcome Home.
Thank you to our local sponsors who help make this publication possible!/
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♟️ Chess & Community | Athens-Clarke County Library | Athens | Monday, Sept. 14, 3:30-5:30 PM | More | Open play welcomes all skill levels and players ages 7 and up.
🎨 Family Day: Homegrown | Georgia Museum of Art | Athens | Saturday, Sept. 19, 10 AM-noon | More | Explore work by Georgia artists, then try hands-on activities for the whole family.
🏐 Georgia Volleyball vs. Georgia Tech | Stegeman Coliseum | Athens | Saturday, Sept. 19, 7-9 PM | More | Admission is free for this in-state rivalry match.
📰 Researching Athens Newspapers | Athens-Clarke County Library | Athens | Wednesday, Sept. 16, 6-8 PM | More | Compare local papers in digital, microfilm and print form with Heritage Room materials.
🧘 Yoga in the Galleries | Georgia Museum of Art | Athens | Thursday, Sept. 17, 6-7 PM | More | Free for beginners and experienced yogis, with mats provided and first-come lobby tickets.
🪕 Béla Fleck: My Bluegrass Heart | Performing Arts Center | Athens | Friday, Sept. 18 at 7:30 PM | More | Fiddle, mandolin, dobro, bass and guitar fill out his bluegrass band.
If you want to read any of our previous issues, check them out HERE on our website.
Thanks for reading Our Publication! We’ll have more updates for you next week!
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