Tuesday reads
April 23 — Today is World Book Day, which is the perfect opportunity to support your local bookshop, check something out from the library, or load up a page-turner on your Kindle. Read on for details about the upcoming Decatur Children’s Book Festival.
🌞 Sunny and 74° today.
🎓 President Joe Biden will give the commencement address at Morehouse College on May 19, but some faculty have raised concerns about potential protests.
📍 Brookhaven is reviewing and updating the comprehensive plan that will shape the city’s future growth.
🎟️ The Atlanta Dream announced they have sold out their allotment of season tickets. Limited single-game tickets go on sale Thurs., April 25.
🏈 After signing a one-day contract with the team yesterday, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan announced his official retirement from the NFL. “So today, 16 years after being drafted, my childhood dream has officially come to an end. I’m honored to retire as a Falcon,” Ryan said.
✈️ Delta Air Lines is raising pay for nonunion employees as it gets ready for another attempt by a union to represent its flight attendants.
🛑 In other airport news, Hartsfield-Jackson is now limiting public access to terminals to address the growing unhoused population seeking shelter there.
🍷 On April 24, Wine Shoe is hosting an event called “But, Is There Wine?” – an evening of good vibes, great music, and delicious wine. Sip on tasty pours while DJ C. DeVone and Darerule spin some tunes.
ELSEWHERE
⚖️ Prosecutors in the New York hush-money trial of Donald Trump told jurors that the former President tried to illegally influence the 2016 election by preventing damaging stories about his personal life from becoming public.
🚨 Police arrested dozens of people at pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Yale, NYU, and other college campuses on Monday. Columbia University canceled in-person classes in response to protesters setting up tent encampments on its campus.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Peter Dale acquires Athens institution
• Decatur Children’s Book Festival
• Around the State: GPB
AND
• Volunteer Opportunities
Have a good day,
Collin & Sammie
🧑🏼🌾 The worker-owner farmers of Love is Love Cooperative Farm are grateful for the members of the Community Supported Agriculture (“CSA”) Group as it provides them joy and stable income. For CSA members, they enjoy eating high-quality, certified organic food; knowing their farmers; and helping to take care of the earth! Learn more here.
SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. Hugh Acheson sells Five and Ten to Athens restaurateur Peter Dale
🍗 Chef Hugh Acheson has sold his remaining Georgia restaurant, Five and Ten, to Athens chef and restaurateur Peter Dale.
Dale first met Acheson in 2002 while working in the kitchen at Five and Ten and would help the “Top Chef” judge open a second Athens restaurant, The National, in 2007. Dale also co-owns Condor Chocolates and Maepole in Athens and Atlanta and was a former owner of Seabear Oyster Bar in the Classic City.
He credits Acheson for launching his career as a chef and serving as his mentor both in the kitchen and as a restaurateur. The acquisition of Acheson’s flagship restaurant pays tribute to that mentorship, Dale told Rough Draft. He began mulling over buying Five and Ten late last year when Acheson mentioned he was considering selling the business.
Celebrate Spring at Town Brookhaven this Thursday
SPONSORED BY TOWN BROOKHAVEN
🌸 Join us this Thurs., April 25 from 6-8:30 p.m. for Spring Festival on the Town at Town Brookhaven!
A variety of family-friendly springtime activities will take place on the green space, including a petting zoo, two DIY craft activities to choose from, unique market vendors, face painting, lemonade, popsicles, a photo area, music, games, and more. You can also meet several of our merchants at the event too!
Stick around for the last hour because we will have a special musical performance!
2. Inaugural Decatur Children’s Book Festival set for May 3-5
📖 The inaugural Decatur Children’s Book Festival, presented by Little Shop of Stories, will be taking place May 3-5 in downtown Decatur.
“We are thrilled to host a festival that will encourage young readers to continue exploring the world of literature,” Diane Capriola, co-owner of Little Shop of Stories, said in a press release.“We feel fortunate to have such great voices joining us and hope this will foster a lifelong love of reading.”
A keynote event kicks off the festival on Friday, May 3 at First Baptist Church of Decatur. The Decatur Children’s Book Festival will continue May 4 and 5 at the Decatur Recreation Center and the Decatur Library.
🧒 Learn more about the event here.
3. Historical markers memorialize forgotten Black history. Why are they being destroyed?
📣 Roadside markers can be found throughout Georgia. They dot the landscape with stories of the past, often marking an event or notable person in the area. Some historical markers are considered more controversial than others.
Stan Deaton, senior historian at the Georgia Historical Society, said it’s not uncommon for the group to receive reports of markers damaged by car accidents, fallen trees, and construction. But Deaton has noticed that in recent history, at times when things are politically fraught, these markers can suffer more deliberate damage.
“In 2020, when we saw George Floyd, when we saw the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, there’s a visceral response to these markers,” Deaton said. That year, a marker to lynching victim Mary Turner and the 1918 lynching rampage was shot several times and vandals attempted to break the post, leaving large cracks in the marker’s base.
🛣️ Read the full story on GPB.
🍸JF&CS invites you to sip, savor, and support at The Tasting Experience. Guests can enjoy a silent auction, delicious tastings from some of Atlanta’s best restaurants and caterers, and spirits and wine from local distributors while supporting Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities Services of JF&CS. Click here to purchase.
SPONSOR MESSAGE
4. Volunteer Opportunities
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HANDS ON ATLANTA
🙌 Last week, Hands On Atlanta celebrated its 35th anniversary by recognizing volunteers for outstanding achievements in leadership and community engagement – including service award winners and their one-millionth volunteer. Mayor Andre Dickens and close to 200 community leaders were in attendance.
🥫Grady Health System is looking for volunteers for its Market Food Pharmacy at Jesse Hill Market in Atlanta on Wednesday morning. You will assist in the daily operations of sorting, packing, and distributing food directly to patients in the Food Pharmacy.
🟣 PurpleStride Atlanta needs Friday morning volunteers to help with pre-event preparation for Saturday’s Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s (PanCan) 2024 fundraiser. You will assist with unloading event supplies, erecting tents, hanging signage, building bases, setting up tables, and more.
🌱 Piedmont Park Conservancy (pictured) is looking for volunteers Sunday morning to help with park cleanup, including weed removal, trash pickup, assorted landscaping, and more.
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📧 Today’s newsletter was edited by Julie E. Bloemeke.
