☀️ What to know about July 4th Athens weather

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The Athens Scoop Dinner Club’s registration closes IN 48 HOURS! We’ve got a couple spots left!

How it works:

• Take a short personality quiz

• Get matched with 5 strangers who match your vibe

• We pick the restaurant, handle the details, and you leave with 5 new friends!

You just show up.

The date: June 9th at 7:00 PM
Registration closes: June 7th at 7:00 PM

If you’ve been craving conversations with substance (the kind that remind you why community matters) this is for you. Spots are limited.

“I would definitely go again and will highly recommend to my friends!” - Sydney Burd

“I’m looking forward to the next outing!! So fun!!” - Joy Hoyt

Any questions? Just reply. See you there.

🎓 5 College Savings Moves Most Georgia Families Miss

A lot of Athens families are doing the responsible things.

Saving. Investing. Keeping up with retirement accounts. Thinking about the kids, aging parents, healthcare, taxes, and what life might look like 10 or 20 years from now.

But even then, the real questions tend to show up quietly: It's summer in Athens, and between camps, college tours, and the first tuition bills landing in the fall, a lot of parents are quietly doing the math on what's coming.

Most families open a 529, set up auto-deposit, and figure they've handled it.

But there's a short list of moves most Georgia parents never hear about: how grandparents can chip in without denting financial aid, the Georgia-specific tax break a lot of families never claim, and what actually happens to leftover 529 money under the new federal rules.

Small decisions on these now can add up to real money by the time your kid actually enrolls.

Zach Ellington, CFP®, at Burney Wealth Management (Athens Scoop's recommended financial advisor) put together a free guide that walks through the exact strategies his team uses with their own clients.

Burney is a fee-only fiduciary firm that's been doing this since 1974, which means they're legally required to put your interests first, not sell you a product.

The guide is specific and a little technical, built for families who want to get this right, and if you'd rather talk through your own situation, you can book a free call with Zach right from the same page.

Thank you to our local sponsors who help make this publication possible 🙏

Presented by Team Bernstein:

🏫 Historic West Broad School Renovation

The Clarke County School District has unveiled plans to revitalize the historic West Broad School Complex into an expanded Athens Community Career Academy campus, featuring renovated classrooms, new career and workforce training spaces, and community gathering areas. Construction is expected to begin in early 2027, with the campus slated to reopen for the 2028–29 school year.

Why It Matters: The project will expand hands-on career training opportunities for local students while creating updated learning and community spaces.

Read more here.

☀️ Heat Advisories For Fourth Of July Weekend

Athens is in for a hot Fourth of July weekend, with temperatures expected to climb into the upper 90s and heat index values potentially reaching 100 degrees or higher. Officials say heat advisories are possible and recommend staying hydrated, limiting time outdoors during peak afternoon hours, and checking on one another.

Why It Matters: If you're heading to fireworks, cookouts or other outdoor celebrations, plan ahead and take precautions to stay safe in the extreme heat.

Read more here.

If you like finding the local places that still feel personal, Wildberry Health Foods in Madison is worth knowing about.

The store has been helping customers with vitamins, supplements, natural groceries, herbs, personal care products, gluten-free items, and wellness questions since 1999.

They also carry the kind of things you do not always find in one place: local eggs, local honey, sourdough bread, grass-fed beef, herbal tea blends, sea moss drinks, goat milk soaps, candles, preserves, gifts, and more.

What makes Wildberry different is that customers can walk in with questions and get actual guidance instead of staring at a wall of supplements alone.

Thank you to our local sponsors who help make this publication possible 🙏

🫐 U-Pick Blueberry Farms | Multiple Locations | Athens & Oconee County | Now Through July | More Spend a sweet summer day picking fresh blueberries at local farms while the season lasts.

🎸 4th of July Live Music | Wire Park | Watkinsville | July 4 | More
Celebrate Independence Day with a free live performance at Wire Park.

🎤 Krakin Jokes | Flying Squid Comedy | Athens | July 3 | More Celebrate the return of the legendary Athens comedy showcase

🎆 Slice of Americana 4th Fest | Athentic Brewing Company | Athens | July 4 | More
Celebrate the Fourth with live folk music, games, contests, local drinks and festive fun.

🇺🇸 July 4th at Oak House | Oak House Distillery | Athens | July 4 | More Raise a glass this Fourth of July with specialty cocktails, live music and a laid-back holiday celebration.

🎸 Tears for the Dying & Libbaloops | Ciné | Athens | July 4 | More Head to Ciné for a benefit concert supporting Nuçi's Space.

🌿 Dr. J's Birthday Month Herbalist Celebration | Wildberry Health Food Store | Madison | July 21 | More
Local herbalist Dr. J hosts a wellness tea education session, Q&A, and launches her own labeled loose tea products.

If you want to read any of our previous issues, check them out HERE on our website.