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MARCH 25, 2020 · VOL. 34 · NO. 12 · FREE

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FLAGPOLE.COM | MARCH 25, 2020

this week’s issue

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This Modern World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 NEWS: City Dope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Athens Is Canceled

Public Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

NEWS: Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

The Struggle Is Real for Local Businesses MOVIES: Movie Dope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

What to Watch While You’re Sheltering in Place ARTS & CULTURE: Kiddie Dope . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

How to Survive Working at Home With Kids ADVERTISING DIRECTOR & PUBLISHER Alicia Nickles EDITOR & PUBLISHER Pete McCommons PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Larry Tenner ADVERTISING SALES Anita Aubrey, Jessica Pritchard Mangum CITY EDITOR Blake Aued ARTS & MUSIC EDITOR AND DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Jessica Smith ASSOCIATE EDITOR Noah Rawlings CLASSIFIEDS Jessica Smith AD DESIGNERS Chris McNeal, Cody Robinson CARTOONISTS Lee Gatlin, Missy Kulik, Jeremy Long, David Mack PHOTOGRAPHER Whitley Carpenter CONTRIBUTORS Bonita Applebum, Hillary Brown, Alden DiCamillo, Dan Jackson, Gordon Lamb, Jessica Luton, Rebecca McCarthy, Kristen Morales, Drew Wheeler CIRCULATION Charles Greenleaf, Ernie LoBue, Mike Merva, Taylor Ross OFFICE ASSISTANT Zaria Gholston EDITORIAL INTERNS Lily Guthrie, Reid Koski

Online Classes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Art Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Threats & Promises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Bulletin Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Art Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Adopt Me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Sudoku . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Hey Bonita . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Pub Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

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MARCH 25, 2020 | FLAGPOLE.COM

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city dope

Shelter in Place STAYING HOME IS THE NEW NORMAL IN ATHENS

By Blake Aued news@flagpole.com The Athens-Clarke County Commission 20 seconds, using hand sanitizer and freapproved an emergency measure last week quently cleaning high-touch surfaces. requiring residents to stay in their homes Despite all the exceptions, commissionwith some exceptions, hoping to reduce the ers acknowledged that the ordinance will spread of COVID-19 in the county. cost many people their jobs. And 7% of local They also voted to spend at least $3 residents already feared imminent eviction million to somewhat alleviate the economic before the pandemic, according to a recent impact of closing many businesses to the community wellness survey. “The ecopublic, which will throw an untold number nomic impact is going to be devastating,” of residents out of work at least until Apr. Commissioner Melissa Link said.

7, when the “shelter in place” policy will Commissioner Tim Denson added an expire unless commissioners renew it—a amendment that will devote the remaining likely possibility, given that experts believe $3 million from the county’s “prosperity the threat won’t pass package,” passed for at least another six as part of the 2020 If we don’t decisively weeks or so. budget, to financial But the public halt the spread of this assistance for laid-off health threat of coroworkers, small busivirus, our hospitals will be navirus was deemed so nesses and nonprofits. overwhelmed, and doctors serious that it justified Commissioners also harsher measures to will have to decide who gets said they would look ensure that people for additional funds in a ventilator and who doesn’t. the current budget and practice social distancing whenever possible. the upcoming fiscal “We’ve seen a dramatic increase in the 2021 budget, as well as state and federal number of cases this week, and we expect relief. “It’s not going to go very far, unforthat to increase exponentially,” Lewis tunately, but we’re doing what we can,” Earnest, an emergency room doctor at St. Commissioner Jerry NeSmith said.

Mary’s Hospital, told commissioners.

ACC has taken other steps to alleviate Athens has a high population of people the financial strain, such as making Athens who are vulnerable to COVID-19, according Transit temporarily fare-free, mandating to Grace Bagwell Adams, a professor at the that no one’s water be cut off for nonpayUGA College of Public Health. Almost a ment, waiving April water fees and waiving fifth lack health insurance, and over 60% of business and alcohol license taxes for the Athens households have at least one person coming year. Manager Blaine Williams will who has a chronic medical condition, is make more recommendations to ease the over age 65 or both. Additionally, Athens burden on small businesses and workers by has a shortage of health care professionals.

Friday, Mar. 27.

All this points to a health care system that Other changes included tweaks to could easily be overwhelmed. broaden the definition of who residents are “We have an astounding percentage of allowed to visit to include non-family memAthens-Clarke County residents who only bers, proposed by Link, and clarifications to have access to health care through the enforcement, proposed by Commissioner emergency room,” Adams said.

Mariah Parker.

Athens residents will still be able to do No one will be cited or arrested for most everything they need to do, such as go violating the ordinance, said Mayor Kelly to work, get food, groceries, medicine and Girtz. Instead, police will educate citizens other supplies, go to the doctor, walk dogs, and urge them to disperse if they gather take a jog or care for vulnerable friends and in groups larger than 10, as recommended relatives. Parks were expected to reopen by the Centers for Disease Control and this week, according to ACC Manager Blaine Prevention.

Williams, although police will tell groups Several commissioners had reservato disperse if more than 10 people are tions, but ultimately all of them voted gathered. for the mandate. “I’d rather be accused Hospitals, health clinics, doctors’ and of overreacting than not doing enough,” dentists’ offices, pharmacies, veterinarians Commissioner Mike Hamby said. and other health care-related facilities can Additionally, public health officials remain open. So can grocery stories, convebriefed commissioners on the progress of nience stores, produce stands, farmers mar- testing and educational efforts. Posters on kets, banks, hardware stores, auto supply hygiene and social distancing will be given and repair shops, gas stations, social serto area businesses within the next few days, vices, shelters, electricians, plumbers, exter- and pamphlets and school lunches will be minators, delivery services, laundromats, distributed by police. “We are concerned dry cleaners, child care facilities, lawyers, there are people who are not as aware as all real estate agents, accountants, manufactur- of us here are,” Northeast Health District ers and media outlets. Restaurants can conAdministrator Emily Eisenman said. tinue to serve food for takeout and delivery.

Athens was one of the first communiWhen leaving the house, residents are ties in Georgia to pass a shelter-in-place required to practice social distancing, which ordinance, and surrounding counties means staying at least six feet away from have not followed suit. Local hospitals non-household members, covering coughs serve a 17-county area with a population and sneezes with elbows, washing hands of 627,000, raising the possibility that frequently with soap and hot water for they could be overwhelmed despite ACC’s

“

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FLAGPOLE.COM | MARCH 25, 2020

when those plans are known. These deciefforts. “Any coordination that’s possible sions are not made lightly, but with the best among cities and counties is going to be interests of our campus community and our advantageous as we face this pandemic students’ families and loved ones in mind.” together,” Adams said.

The few students who remain in resiThe shelter-in-place policy came just dence halls because they have nowhere to three days after the commission voted go can stay and can get food to go from Mar. 16 to ban all gatherings of 10 or Bolton Hall. Other students who live on more, based on the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. campus and meal plan subscribers will be given refunds on a pro-rated basis. All stuThat vote essentially shut down all bars, dents will also receive where UGA students— refunds on what amounts to The economic impact is pro-rated on fees. Advising for an extended spring going to be devastating. the fall semester will break—continued to happen remotely. The flout the CDC’s advice. deadline to withdraw has been extended Originally, Girtz proposed a curfew as well, until Apr. 17. but the curfew morphed into a request for All non-essential employees will conresidents to voluntarily shelter in place tinue working from home. All events this 24/7. However, Commissioner Russell semester are canceled, including athletEdwards and numerous local doctors said the voluntary policy wasn’t enough, and the ics, performances, student activities and Honors Week. Students will be able to gradcommission regrouped Mar. 19 to make it uate, though. mandatory.

In addition, interim superintendent “We have 40 ICU beds. If we don’t deciXernona Thomas announced over the weeksively halt the spread of this virus, our end that CCSD schools will remain closed hospitals will be overwhelmed, and doctors through Mar. 7. See the In the Loop blog at will have to decide who gets a ventilator and who doesn’t,” Edwards said, pointing to flagpole.com for the latest. the rapidly deteriorating situation in Italy, where thousands have died and the country is on virtual lockdown.

Downtown’s largest springtime event, the Twilight Criterium bike race, has been moved to the fall. Originally scheduled As the commission was meeting Mar. 16, for Apr. 25, it will now be held on Sept.

Gov. Brian Kemp made the announcement 19, when the Georgia Bulldogs are in that all public K-12 schools, colleges and Tuscaloosa, AL, to play the Crimson Tide. universities would remain closed through The CDC recommendation for eight the end of March. weeks of social distancing, USA Cycling’s The next day, the University of Georgia decision not to permit events through May went further, announcing that it will shift 3 and ACC’s social distancing policy all conto online classes starting Mar. 30 for the tributed to the decision, according to event rest of the spring semester and reduce organizer Ashley Travieso. on-campus activities to a minimum, which “We felt we had no path forward to includes canceling the May commencement continue with an April date,” Travieso ceremony. said. “We had hoped to continue with a “We realize that the cancellation of spring date, knowing how important this many of these activities is extremely disapevent is to both the local community and pointing—particularly the cancellation of to the national and international cycling spring commencement on Friday, May 8, community. We were optimistically hoping 2020,” UGA President Jere Morehead said. circumstances might change prior to our “Therefore, we are exploring other ways to target announcement date of Apr. 6, but it honor our graduates and will communicate is evident this will not happen.” f

“

Twilight Criterium Postponed

UGA, CCSD Remain Closed

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Coronavirus Week 2

Life in the Time of Coronavirus

LOCAL EXPERTS ADVOCATE FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING AND TESTING

HOW ATHENS BUSINESSES ARE COPING (OR NOT)

By Jessica Luton news@flagpole.com

By Dan Jackson news@flagpole.com

I

t’s hard to believe just how quickly life in Athens has changed in two weeks thanks to the coronavirus. Beginning with UGA’s Mar. 12 decision to suspend classes and the cancellation of all SEC sports events, things escalated quickly when the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Athens-Clarke County on Mar. 15.

As of this writing, there have been 14 confirmed cases in Athens. However, it’s likely that there are many unconfirmed cases in our community. As highlighted by a letter from a large list of local doctors and healthcare professionals read at the ACC Commission’s Mar. 19 special called session, there are “likely at least 100 unconfirmed cases in Athens” that merely haven’t been diagnosed because of a shortage of tests. A hundred unconfirmed cases, the letter noted, could easily climb to 600 cases in

ing and covering coughs—is ultimately one of the best ways to curb the risk of increased cases overwhelming Athens’ health care system, said José F. Cordero, a professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at UGA’s College of Public Health and a contributor to the letter from local doctors.

In the public health realm, experts cite the need to “flatten the curve,” a term that refers to decreasing the sharply spiking arc of projected cases over time as expressed in a chart.

“There are several models published, and all suggest that social distancing has the best potential of flattening the curve,” Cordero said. “Testing will offer more specific data on the local transmission of COVID-19, and it would help determine what areas in Athens may need more attention to curb its transmission.”

IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF LONDON

Do nothing Closing schools and universities Case isolation Case isolation and household quarantine

Surge critical care bed capacity

Case isolation, household quarantine and social distancing of those aged over 70

Mitigation strategy scenarios for Great Britain showing critical care (ICU) bed requirements. The shaded area shows the 3-month period in which these interventions are assumed to remain in place.

two weeks without social distancing practices and other measures to help curb exposure. The doctors’ letter, alongside a video from St. Mary’s emergency room physician Lewis Earnest, calls on the ACC to take swift action to help curb local exposure.

As of press time, there were 772 confirmed cases in the state, with 25 deaths so far. That’s up from 121 cases and one death just a week prior. Both state and local confirmed case numbers are anticipated to increase as more tests become available.

While there has been a shortage of tests, Northeast Health District Administrator Emily Eisenman said at Thursday’s ACC Commission meeting that the number of test kits and supplies available locally have increased significantly since the beginning of the week, and they could currently test 20–25 people a day. It takes about three days, on average, to get results back from labs after they are submitted for processing.

That should take less time in the future, as private labs are increasingly collaborating on test processing with public health labs.

“We are in a much better place than we were earlier this week,” Eisenman said. “We wish we had more tests, but we’re doing what we can with what we have.”

Social distancing-—keeping six feet from others not in your immediate household, along with practicing frequent hand-wash-

As a result of a slow increase in obtaining testing supplies, there is now more access to testing, such as the newly opened Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center’s drive-through testing location at the Oconee Health Campus (1305 Jennings Mill Road, Watkinsville).

For now, testing is prioritized and limited to vulnerable, at-risk people as defined by guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: people with symptoms that require hospitalization, people who are elderly, and/or those who have a chronic medical condition. Moreover, anyone who suspects they have COVID-19 must be pre-screened by calling 1-866-4601119 to see if they meet the requirements for an appointment. Others should contact their primary care physician, according to public health officials.

“Increasing the capacity to test for COVID-19 is good news. It is needed because it is the best way to track the progress of the epidemic here in Georgia,” said Cordero. “Having said that, increasing testing will increase the number of confirmed cases and will give us a better picture of how widespread the infections are. That is very important data to know where to concentrate prevention efforts and to better forecast the demand for health care services to treat those with serious complications.” f

J

ust two weeks ago, Athens was a thrivering the cost of meals for food service ing college town. Then the coronavirus employees. hit, and everything changed.

Home.made is providing curbside service At the start of reporting this article, the and has also started a GoFundMe site to story concerned the ways individuals were raise funds to help its employees weather coping with the crisis. On Saturday, Mar. the crisis. After only two days, the site has 14, this reporter observed an unexpectedly raised nearly $12,000. active bar and restaurant scene downtown Cooks who want locally grown ingrediand in Five Points. Days later, as the crisis ents should note that the popular Athens deepened, most institutions were closing Farmers Market has postponed its Mar. and thousands of events, concerts, plays 21 opening for two weeks. Instead, Athens and parties were being canceled. Social locavores can get their favorite produce, distancing was the new normal, and busimeats and other products at the Daily nesses where employees found themselves Groceries Co-op or through Collective in relatively close proximity to their cusHarvest’s CSA. tomers began to change their operations. These businesses are frantically trying to find a balance between serving the community, mitigating damage to their bottom lines and keeping valued employees working. For some companies, this last goal was the most important.

A quick survey found that, while supermarkets and other chains remained open, many locally owned businesses announced they would close for at least two weeks, and once-lively commercial centers fell Chris Sharpley delivers a pizza curbside to an Eastside DePalma’s customer. quiet. In Normaltown, Seth Hendershot manned the counter at his eponymous Other types of businesses and nonprofits coffee shop alone, urging customers to are altering their operations. For example, tip their favorite barista via Venmo. Avid the Athens Area Humane Society is operatBookshop in Five Points closed its sales ing with a small staff on shorter hours, but floor while still accepting orders online. is still getting many calls from animal lovers Notable exceptions included supermarkets who want to adopt or foster dogs and cats. and a sprinkling of cafés and gyms. Most Shelter director Jed Kaylor said that he has restaurants have adopted curbside service a small crew handling some animals coming as their safe response to the crisis. in from the agency’s partners, such as the Restaurants were required to close their ACC Animal Services Department, and that dining rooms, though they can still serve these animals are quickly being adopted by food for take-out or delivery. The Grub families.

Notes blog at flagpole.com has a more comGreen Season Inc., an Atlanta-based prehensive list, but here are a few examples: landscaping company with strong ties to DePalma’s, among many other restauthe Athens area, is operating as usual, but rants, is offering curbside service. Partner is accommodating its staff by allowing them John Dufur said that while business is off, to bring children to the office while schools he is able to keep a small crew working. He are closed. Classic Groundcover, a large added that the restaurant began building plant nursery serving wholesale customers financial reserves starting with the 2008 around the world, was operating at 50% of financial crisis and now will be able to offer normal levels, but is keeping its entire staff loans to its employees to help them pay on. “We have to keep plants watered, prune bills. plants for their spring growth and remain Heirloom Cafe owner Jessica Rothacker in operation,” said associate manager Amy was providing curbside service and limited Milton. delivery to residents within 10 minutes of As Athenians now wait to receive a paythe restaurant and serving a family meal to roll tax reduction in their paychecks—if all of her employees, including those on fur- they’re still getting one—and a check from lough. She closed the restaurant Monday to the federal government to make ends meet, re-evaluate, but then reopened for take out. many are imagining ways to spend lots Taqueria del Sol is providing curbside of time indoors with family. Let us know service as well and is delivering to dochow you’re spending your time and which tors’ offices, which typically have lunches Netflix movies do the best job of taking provided by pharmaceutical sales reps. your mind off the crisis. Maybe even crack a Manager Brent Plagenhoef is even covclassic like Proust or Thomas Hardy. f

MARCH 25, 2020 | FLAGPOLE.COM

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DAN JACKSON

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Where to Get Help ATHENS RESOURCES FOR COPING WITH CORONAVIRUS

By Noah Rawlings news@flagpole.com

A

General Resources • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the best source for information on symptoms of COVID-19 and preventative measures: cdc.gov/corona virus/2019-nCoV/index.html.

• The New York Times is tracking every coronavirus case in the U.S. and offering its coverage for free: nytimes.com/ interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-uscases.html.

• The Global COVID-19 Tracker is a website with live updates on the number of confirmed cases around the world: nCoV2019.live.

• United Way offers a 24/7 service that connects people to various financial, health and educational resources. Dial 211.

• The National Disaster Distress Helpline offers crisis counseling for people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters: Call 1-800-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746.

Georgia & Athens Resources • The Georgia Department of Public Health updates confirmed cases of

6

COVID-19 daily at noon: tinyurl.com/ s4ja4zb.

• The Public Health Athens Hotline is 1-866-PUB-HLTH (1-866-782-4584). Dial the number, press 3 for the COVID-19 extension, then press 1 for information and answers to common questions. Or, visit: publichealthathens.com/wp/ • UGA has a page with updates on its response to the virus: uga.edu/corona virus/info.php.

• The Athens Clarke-County Unified Government has a similar page, in English and Spanish: tinyurl.com/tb4jdnr.

Subscribe to updates by email or text at accgov.com/list.aspx?ListID=650.

• Call the Georgia Crisis and Access Line 1-800-715-4225 for free, confidential BETH MOORE

thens, like many parts of the country, is beginning to look like a ghost town. As disconcerting as this may sound, it’s an encouraging sign: It shows that people are taking seriously the global effort to stop the transmission of COVID19 through self-quarantining and social distancing. Such measures are necessary, and they facilitate the physical safety of many Athens residents. However, they also come with a host of economic, logistical and psychological concerns.

Athens is animated by small businesses and the workers who keep them running.

But many workers—particularly those in the service industry, whose livelihood depends on a regular flow of tips—are facing severe financial strain because of the epidemic, which continues to restrict the operations of innumerable Athens restaurants, cafés, and bars. Compounding these financial problems are another set of issues, issues that even employees who are receiving paid leave, have a savings cushion, or are able to work remotely may grapple with: cabin fever, social isolation and feelings of impotence or aimlessness.

Such problems are not yet soluble, but they can be mitigated. Flagpole thus presents a list of financial, medical and other resources for staying healthy, sane and moralized in the midst of these chaotic times.

These resources range from monetary aid for struggling restaurant workers to locally produced yoga podcasts to health care information. Moreover, for those with the time and resources to spare, we also present a number of local volunteer and donation opportunities.

• The U.S. Bartenders Guild has an emergency assistance program for bartenders: tinyurl.com/svn6l4d.

• Athens Ark offers emergency financial aid to individuals and families who have had a loss of income: tinyurl.com/t27fzqt.

• COVID-19 Resources for Freelance Artists in ACC has financial, logistical, health and educational resources for local freelance artists: tinyurl.com/wp62ah2.

• The Athens Virtual Tip Jar (facebook. com/AthensVirtualTipJar) has a list of local service industry workers’ Venmo and Paypal accounts, should you wish to support your favorite servers, baristas and bartenders.

• The U.S. Small Business Association is offering emergency loans for businesses affected by coronavirus to help them stay afloat: disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.

Food Access • The Athens Area Emergency Food Bank (640 Barber St.; aaefb.blogspot. com) and Food Bank of Northeast Georgia (861 Newton Bridge Road;

• To volunteer or donate food and cleaning supplies to the Athens Area Homeless Shelter, visit helpathenshomeless.org.

Utility & Internet Access • Georgia Power is not turning off power due to late fees for 30 days, as of Mar. 14.

• Athens Clarke-County Public Utilities will not terminate water service for customers with past due bills for the next 60 days. As of Mar. 14, residents who have been disconnected for late fees or non-payment should have had service restored: • AT&T, Charter, CenturyLink, Comcast, Cox, Sonic, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon pledge to waive late fees incurred by the virus, to open access to public Wi-Fi hotspots, and to postpone service termination for residential and small business customers.

• Charter Spectrum is setting up wifi hotspots across the country and giving 60 days free broadband without installation fees: Call 1-844-488-8395 or visit tinyurl. com/t4fegnp.

Educational Resources • Corona Tutors are local high school students offering free, online tutoring to Athens students. Email coronatutors georgia@gmail.com or register at asianpanda15.wixsite.com/ mysite.

• A list of companies offering free subscriptions to educational opportunities is at tinyurl.com/ staad6u. Teachers can get unlimited Zoom video calls by visiting tinyurl.com/qrua5sx.

• Students can find reliable resources for research projects at galileo.usg.edu. The database password is “malt.”

• The Athens Regional Library has e-books, audiobooks and magazines for all ages at athens Volunteers and staff are preparing nearly 5,000 meals a day for Clarke County School District students while school buildga.rbdigital.com. Library card ings are closed. required. Visit the App Store for an Apple/Android app called foodbanknega.org) are open to all. The 24/7 help providing mental health crisis “axis360” with e-books and audiobooks Food Bank of Northeast Georgia also runs assistance and access to mental health for children up to 4th grade. All late fees the Food2Kids Program, which provides resources in Georgia. Or text GA to are waived while libraries are closed. meals to children. Donations and volun741741 to communicate with a trained teers are needed. crisis counselor. Children and teens are • The Clarke County School District welcome. provides free breakfast and lunch for • Gymnasia Athens is streaming live students while CCSD classes are online. fitness activities for kids every day from Pickup is from 8–10 a.m. at Hilsman 10:30–11:15 a.m. at tinyurl.com/t6gj7d4.

Middle and Oglethorpe Elementary • The Georgia Department of Labor has • Brownstone Yoga is a free yoga podcast schools. CCSD is also delivering meals temporarily suspended in-person meetrun by Meg Brownstone, a yoga instructor to certain neighborhoods: tinyurl.com/ ing requirements for people applying for at Rubber Soul in Athens: athenspublic. u8porwc. The district is seeking volununemployment, as well as a requirement com/brownstoneyoga. teers to help deliver meals. to seek work while on unemployment: • The Metropolitan Opera has free • The Athens Community Council on dol.georgia.gov. streaming at metopera.org/user-informaAging’s Meals on Wheels program pro• The Giving Kitchen offers financial suption/network-news/live-stream. One pervides meals and other resources to older port for service industry workers who are formance is streamed per week. See the adults and those with disabilities. Contact experiencing hardship, and is accepting schedule at tinyurl.com/uo6tu7w.

Paige Powell at 706-549-4850 or visit donations: thegivingkitchen.org/help. accaging.org/services. It needs volunteers • For Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra • Musicians’ resource center Nuçi’s streaming, log on to the digitalconand donations, especially hand sanitizer.

Space has set up the Garrie Vereen certhall.com ticket page with the code • Our Daily Bread has suspended breakMemorial Emergency Relief Fund to BERLINPHIL. The Digital Concert Hall is fast distribution but will provide a bagged assist musicians, artists, crew, venue free of charge for 30 days. lunch every day at noon at First Baptist and bar employees, and “everyone who • The Junior Ranger Program has over Church of Athens (355 Pulaski St.) It’s makes our world-renowned enter300 books about U.S. national parks availalso seeking donations and volunteers to tainment industry thrive”: nuci.org/ able for free in PDF format: tinyurl.com/ prepare lunches off-site. Visit downtown garrie-vereen-emergency-relief-fund. s2az72r. f ministries.org/our-daily-bread.

Online Activities

Financial Resources

FLAGPOLE.COM | MARCH 25, 2020

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Going Online UGA AND CCSD ADAPT TO SOCIAL DISTANCING

By Rebecca McCarthy news@flagpole.com

B

oth the University of Georgia and the ple places on the CCSD website: CCSD Clarke County School District have Speech-Language Home Suggestions. shifted to remote instruction for the fore• Behavior specialists are continuing to seeable future. support students they have been working UGA, which closed Mar. 12 for the rest with. Contact is being made with all famof the month, announced last week that ilies to provide virtual in-home behavior classes would resume online Mar. 30. Public support. In addition, behavior specialists K-12 schools in Georgia are also closed, and are in the process of creating mini-videos students are continuing coursework online to provide parents with tips and strateor, for younger kids, with packets of workgies to support children’s emotional needs sheets emailed to parents to print out. while they are learning from home. These “We are simply asked to create a 90-minvideos will be posted on individual school ute day for the kids and push it out to websites in the next few days. parents through various portals,” said one • A meeting was held with all special educasecond-grade teacher. “Some teachers are tion team leaders on Mar. 17. A checklist doing more than others, but not in a one-up for all special education case managers kind of way. It just depends on if they have was provided along with a log to docutheir own kids to take care of on top of ment instructional materials, as well as checking in with parents. They asked us to contact with families. The expectation is call and see if there was something they that every case manager will connect with needed. students on their caseload on a daily basis “Most parents complain about trying to in some fashion to support their distance do their job and parent and teach. Not all learning. These supports are being moniof the families are salaried and still have tored by special education coordinators. to find a way to make money, and the ones • Special education teachers are partnerwho work for themselves can’t find work ing with regular education teachers to right now. provide appropriate “Most kids and accommodations I plan to adjust my parents miss seeing and support to help course requirements their friends most of prevent regression all. Lots of FaceTime occurring during to make it doable under less from and web calls. I did see this time of distance than ideal circumstances. one fifth-grade teacher learning. from J.J. Harris doing • Any student served daily two-hour hangouts with her class with in the adapted program received an indistudents who needed consistent check-ins. vidualized set of materials appropriate to Lots of people are sharing resources, but it meet their academic needs. all depends on the parent having enough • Any student served in the Interrelated time and internet access to facilitate the program received the grade-level packet activities.” of materials and access to Google activParents of special education students ities that other students in their grade face challenges that at times have seemed level received. Special education teachers insurmountable. are supporting them to ensure they are “I’m struggling with my youngest,” said able to access this information. When one mother. “We have received resources necessary, technology tools are being to work with him, but he is in a special shared with families or special education needs preschool, and all resources seemed teachers are working with students on the well above his level. I definitely feel they phone to help check for understanding are not following his IEP by not providing and answer questions. resources targeted to his needs and level of • CCSD is continuing to monitor and procognition.” vide resources daily to families as they Said another parent, “Even just being become available. able to access digital schooling isn’t enough • Special education staff will continue to to keep my kid learning what she needs, work with instructional leaders and teachand I mainly hope that the school will be ers to continue to develop instructional very generous with how they grade. I’d hate materials in upcoming professional learnfor my kid or any kid to get held back a year ing opportunities. because of this pandemic. Only the most privileged and easy to educate kids, and UGA gave faculty two weeks to transition with at least one parent who is able to take their courses to online and it created tutothe time be their home teacher, are going to rials about various online tools available to do well academically.” them. Students will be able to have virtual According to CCSD’s Brannon Gaskins, sessions with their academic advisors and chief academic officer, the district has taken to engage tutors as well if they need them. the following steps to provide special educa- Faculty can ask for help from the Center for tion instructional support: Teaching and Learning.

• All speech language pathologists are conPsychology professor Janet Frick said tacting students and families regarding she sent a survey to her students to find out SLP services and documenting contacts what their needs are and make sure they and activities. Customized materials are have internet access where they are. “I plan being provided to address IEP goals and to adjust my course requirements to make it objectives. In addition, the following doable under less than ideal circumstances,” list of resources has been posted multishe said. f

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art notes

ALL PHOTOS BY JESSICA SMITH

arts & culture

Krysia Ara Goes With the Flow CURB YOUR PANDEMIC BLUES WITH A RAINBOW OF CERAMICS

By Jessica Smith arts@flagpole.com If you’re jonesing for an outdoor spot to socialize from the safety of a six-foot distance, look no further than the Cobbham Triangle Park, the greenspace and public art destination nestled on the pie slice of land at the intersections of Prince Avenue and Cobb and Harris streets. While soaking up the sun and temporarily placing your anxiety on hold, be sure to take a closer look at local artist Krysia Ara’s newly completed 80-foot mosaic, “Flow,” running along a pair of low seat walls. The first installment of “Flow” was completed for the park’s grand opening back in November, and depicts a gentle, meandering waterway dotted with glittering pieces of aqua glass and the names of 47 Georgia rivers. This new second half draws attention to Ara’s eye-catching and meticulous technique of sculpting each unique piece from clay, then using wide brushstrokes in gently overlapping colors for added dimension and a rainbow effect when viewed from a distance. Dedicated in memory of Eve Marie Carson, an Athens native who was murdered while at college in North Carolina in 2008, the mosaic shares her sage observation: “What joy it is to search for lessons and goodness and enthusiasm in others.” f

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music

threats & promises

movies

movie dope

Blunt Bangs Finish New Album Home Alone Not PLUS, MORE MUSIC NEWS AND GOSSIP

WHAT TO WATCH ON THE SMALL SCREEN THIS WEEK

By Gordon Lamb threatsandpromises@flagpole.com

By Drew Wheeler movies@flagpole.com

Needless to say, these are unprecedented times. Our Athens music scene and all related industries (food, bar, etc.) are struggling mightily right now on two fronts: wanting to do the most good for the most people by encouraging isolation, and needing to keep staff paid and the lights on. This bizarre moral quandary is not normal, and should not become the new normal. Huge swaths of shows and record release events are cancelled or “postponed.” A lot of these won’t ever actually occur. As trying as it might be at times, let’s remember that—by and large—the reason many of us came to Athens was the music and arts scene. Now, more than ever, is the time to support it when we can and as we can, either through directly helping a friend in need, buying

Russell Gendron of Bill Jr. Jr.

some merchandise or records, or maybe ordering food from a local place that is doing its best to accommodate both staff and patrons. None of this is easy, but a little here and a little there goes a long way. Bless all y’all, and take good care of each other.

ONE DAY AT A TIME: As temporary closings and shortened operating hours have wrapped around Athens, some establishments have set up processes by which you can still support the staff of a favorite venue or restaurant by continuing to tip and contribute, albeit online. So far, GoFundMe campaigns have been set up for Flicker, 40 Watt Club, Little Kings, World Famous, Hendershot’s, Classic Center, Church Bar and the Globe. I will continue to publish fundraising efforts of this sort for any Athens restaurant, bar, club, service organization, etc. until we’re out of the weeds. So please send any and all information to me.

Thank you.

PAC: The UGA Performing Arts Center has

canceled the Chamber Music Society of

Lincoln Center’s performance scheduled for Mar. 28. The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, originally scheduled for Mar. 29, is rescheduled for fall 2020, date TBD. All tickets for the original date will be honored for the rescheduled date. The Performing Arts Center is actively contacting all existing ticket holders to alert them of this situation, but if you have any questions please call 706-542-4400 or visit them online at pac.uga.edu.

NORTH BY NORTHWEST: Vancouver, BC project Bill Jr. Jr.—helmed by Russell Gendron— will release its new album Homebody on Apr. 2. I know what you’re thinking.

Where’s Vancouver, right? Well, it’s up and over aways, but this record is packed with Athens stars. We even premiered the first single, “Renaissance Man,” last November.

But that was during Thanksgiving week, and you most likely never saw it. At any rate, to get you back up to speed, this record has Dan Nettles (Kenosha Kid), Seth Hendershot, Jojo Glidewell, Claire Campbell, Ansley Stewart, Serena Scibelli and Luca Lombardi, as well as producer Daniel McNamara. Oh yeah, it’s pretty danged well-arranged midtempo NPR-ish kinda pop that might be exactly the thing you need this spring. But, I mean, how am I gonna know what you need?

Decide for yourself over at billjrjr.bandcamp.com. If you like the preview tracks, then lay your money down.

IT’S IN THE CAN, MAN: It’s been a hell of a long

time since I actually promoted “gossip” in this column, even though that’s part of its title. But now I will! Powerful indie rockers Blunt Bangs have finished their album and are currently in the shopping-it-around process. While I can’t share any tracks or point to where they’re hidden online, I can tell you this: This thing smokes! Oh, it’s also titled Proper Smoker, too. The songwriting is totally inspired by the permanent power-pop sweet spot ’79-’89. I mean, these are the songs you’ve heard them play live for years, so you’ll agree. There’s also a very deft cover of Teenage Fanclub’s “Everything Flows,” which is a song so special to the pop canon that most bands who try this fail. The Blunt Bangs version is laid back and reflective to an extent that the original isn’t. It’s a fine interpretation that’s both original and respectful. Anyway, wish I could tell you more but, for now, just know this exists. f

With no new releases opening wide until working in a gated Long Island community. at least Apr. 10 and theaters shut down for Unfortunately, Shannan is a sex worker, a the foreseeable future, communal movie subsection of victims often ignored by the watching is on a bit of a hold. As a result, police, sensationalized by the media and studios have “generously” released The shamed by the public. Thanks to Mari’s Invisible Man, The Way Back, Emma, refusal to give up on the search for her Birds of Prey, Onward, The Hunt and missing daughter, the Gilgo Beach burial Bloodshot ahead of schedule. You can read ground of the Long Island Serial Killer is previous Movie Dopes for reviews, though, uncovered. Unfortunately, few other leads for your convenience, I did rank them based can be found, and Shannan is still missing. on preference. Of course, we have all been The film from Oscar-nominated documenstreaming movies for years now, though tarian Liz Garbus (The Farm: Angola, USA the copious options can be overwhelmand What Happened, Miss Simone?) recounts ing, and there are often more misses than a mysterious, sad, true story anchored by hits. Between Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, Ryan’s strength—she makes one tough, Disney+, Shudder, DC Universe and more, working class mom—and Thomasin we should have content to get us through McKenzie’s quiet fortitude. Still, this true this self-quarantine, so long as we do not story could have been told more powerfully crash the internet. I am here to assist you in as non-fiction than as made-for-TV style your scrolling (or clicking), no matter what dramatization. Just a little independent streaming service or two (or three) you preresearch uncovers several unfollowed leads fer. I am sticking to movies and leaving you and confounding, concurrent events that to your own devices (get it?) for your epiwould generate propulsive surprises in a sodic binge-watching. Feel free to add your documentary and overly complicate a feaown suggestions in the comments. Next ture’s straightforward narrative. week, I will return with fresh (if not new) SUGGESTED RENTAL: AFTER MIDNIGHT (R) suggestions. Happy streaming!

Directors (and editors) Jeremy Gardner, a Let’s start with Netflix; where else? If you are like me, your queue is probably pop- triple threat who also wrote the film and plays the lead, and Christian Stella, who ulated with 10-year-old movies you never pulls double duty as cinematographer, got around to watching; why not start with some of those flicks?

Next up, check out After Midnight a Netflix Original to better fake the moviegoing experience. You cannot go wrong with high profile releases like The Irishman, Marriage Story, Dolemite Is My Name or The Two Popes. You have watched Bird Box, right? (A Quiet Place was better.) No shortage of big name stars or directors can be found when strolling the aisles of this digital video store. You I’m beginning to regret shooting the television. might still have Will knock it out of the park with their third Smith’s Bright or Triple Frontier, one of film. After Midnight balances multiple two Netflix originals starring Ben Affleck (the other being The Last Thing He Wanted genres without dropping any. Gardner and Brea Grant star as Hank and Abby, an with Anne Hathaway), in your queue. I waded further through the Netflix Originals unmarried couple living in a huge house in and was reminded I had yet to watch Steven Florida. One day, Abby mysteriously leaves Hank; soon after, a monster begins prowlSoderbergh’s The Laundromat. The Oscar ing around his front door after midnight. winner for Best Documentary Feature, Gardner combines the magnetic aspects American Factory, is a Netflix original you of multiple movie stars (George Clooney can stream right now. Maybe you want to springs to mind) into an accessible, inderisk your time on the Michael Bay-Ryan pendent lead who easily carries the load of Reynolds collaboration, 6 Underground, a movie, despite having played fewer than before some other, newer, shiny bauble— 10 credited roles. His own, well-crafted diaooh, Spenser Confidential with Mark logue veers with ease from solidly humorWahlberg—catches your eye. For me, the lure of true crime was too strong, so I ended ous to deeply thoughtful. Grant’s grasp slips a little in the characterization of Abby, but up choosing Lost Girls. Should you? the rest of the film’s parts step up to comLOST GIRLS (R) A relatively taut, if surprispensate. Stella shoots a hell of a gorgeous ingly uneventful, true crime thriller, Lost film, and the duo continue to collaborate so Girls stars Amy Ryan as Mari Gilbert, whose fruitfully they make independent filmmakdaughter Shannan goes missing while ing look easy. f

MARCH 25, 2020 | FLAGPOLE.COM

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bulletin board Deadline for getting listed in Bulletin Board is every THURSDAY at 5 p.m. for the print issue that comes out the following Wednesday. Online listings are updated daily. Email calendar@flagpole.com.

Art AAAC GRANTS (Athens, GA) The Athens Area Arts Council is seeking applicants for its quarterly $500 grants. All local artists, arts organizations or arts-based projects are welcome to apply. The next deadline is June 15. www.athensarts.org ARTIST-IN-ATHICA RESIDENCIES (Athens Institute for Contemporary Art: ATHICA) Residencies take place throughout the year, provide administrative support, exhibition and performance facilities, and a small stipend. Artists may work in any or multiple disciplines and traditions, including but not limited to visual, curatorial, musical, performing, written, experimental, cinematic, digital and theatrical arts. Residents can work independently or collaborate with others. Visit website for quarterly deadlines. www.athica.org/ call-for-entries

CALL FOR INTERNS (Athens Institute for Contemporary Art: ATHICA) ATHICA is seeking interns interested in development, social media, music, poetry, photography and gallery operation. Minimum five hours a week. College credit is available in coordination with department of study. Rolling deadline. athica. org/updates/internships GEORGIA SQUARE ART WALK (Georgia Square Mall) Seeking submissions from artists for an experiential art walk exhibition. Painting and drawing, sculpture, photography, multimedia, digital, installation artists and curators welcome. Email gasqartwalk@gmail.com INDIE SOUTH 15TH ANNUAL SPRINGTACULAR (Lyndon House Arts Center) Indie South is now accepting artist vendors for the annual Springtacular Handmade Market on May 9–10 at the Lyndon House Arts Center. Apply online. www.theindiesouth.com

art around town AMICI (233 E. Clayton St.) Jennifer Wallens Terry shares unique works influenced by her background in environmental sciences, worldwide travel and work as a spiritual psychic medium and animal communicator. Through March.

ANTIQUES & JEWELS ART GALLERY (290 N. Milledge Ave.) New paintings by Mary Porter, Greg Benson, Chatham Murray, Candle Brumby, Lana Mitchell and more.

ART ON THE SIDE GALLERY AND GIFTS (17 N. Main St., Watkinsville) A gallery featuring works by various artists in media including ceramics, paintings and fused glass.

BENDZUNAS GLASS (89 W. South Ave., Comer) The family-run studio has been creating fine art glass for almost 40 years.

CINÉ (234 W. Hancock Ave.) “Robot Soup” presents artwork by Jacob Wenzka from a book co-created with Bart King. Currently on view. Party Apr. 18.

CIRCLE GALLERY (UGA College of Environment and Design, 285 S. Jackson St.) “The Art of Conservation: Paintings by Philip Juras” explores ecologically intact environments like grass prairie, the Colombian Andes, Little St. Simons Island and the Southeast. Through April.

CITY OF WATKINSVILLE (Downtown Watkinsville) “Public Art Watkinsville: A Pop-up Sculpture Exhibit” consists of sculptures placed in prominent locations around downtown. Artists include Benjamin Lock, William Massey, Stan Mullins, Robert Clements, Harold Rittenberry and Joni YounkinsHerzog. • “Artscape Oconee: The Monuments of Artland” features a total of 20 paintings on panels installed around town. Artists include Claire Clements, Peter Loose, Andy Cherewick, Lisa Freeman, Manda McKay and others.

CLASSIC CENTER (300 N. Thomas St.) “Good Vibrations” features photographs of cruise life by Brittainy Lauback, drawings of beaches by Warren Slater that are influenced by Aboriginal mark-making, and vivid abstractions

by Hannah Betzel. Through mid-April. • “Building Facades” is a solo exhibition by Mike Landers that features sophisticated, symmetrical and minimally composed photographs from downtown Athens in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Through mid-April.

GALLERY AT INDIGO (500 College Ave.) “Tiny Universe #3” is an exhibit of small works by over 70 artists from Athens and Atlanta. Through May 30.

GEORGIA MUSEUM OF ART (90 Carlton St.) “Reflecting on Rembrandt: 500 Years of Etching” celebrates the 350th anniversary of the artist’s death.

Through Apr. 19. • “Kevin Cole: Soul Ties” includes multimedia works exploring the right of African Americans to vote, the improvisational nature of jazz and more. Through Apr. 19. • “Louis Comfort Tiffany: Treasures from the Driehaus Collection” features over 60 objects spanning over 30 years of the famous stained glass artist’s career. Through May 10. • “Drama and Devotion in Baroque Rome” celebrates Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio’s influence. Through May 31.

OPEN STUDIO MEMBERSHIP (Lyndon House Arts Center) Local artists can access studio facilities through an open studio monthly membership program. Studios include ceramics, jewelry, painting, fiber, printmaking, photography and woodshop/sculpture studios. Up to 32 hours per week. $65/month or $175/three months. 706-613-3623, www.athensclarkecounty.com/leisure

Auditions ’TIL BETH DO US PART (Elberton Arts Center, 17 W. Church St., Elberton) Encore Productions presents auditions for the second show of the season. Looking for a midsized group of adults. Be prepared to read from the script. Auditions on Mar. 30–31. Rehearsals run midApril through May. Performances June 5–7 and 12–14 at the Elbert Theatre. 706-283-1049

K.A. Artist Shop’s annual “Love Show” has been extended through April. While the brick-and-mortar location is closed through March, the exhibition can be viewed by appointment or virtually at kaartist.com. Pictured above is “Hang Up and Hang Out” by Alan Barrett.

Classes ACTING FOR CAMERA AND STAGE WITH JAYSON WARNER SMITH (Moonlight Theater) This

GLASSCUBE@INDIGO (500 College Ave.) “Supple Moments, Dark Corners” is a site-specific installation by Eli Saragoussi that is accompanied by a soundscape by Max Boyd called “Jungle Drone.” Through April.

HEIRLOOM CAFE & FRESH MARKET (815 N. Chase St.) Jess Dunlap creates whimsical wood-burned designs on birth plywood. Through Apr. 27.

JITTERY JOE’S ALPS (1480 Baxter St.) Lisa Fortner creates acrylic abstract paintings. Through March.

JUST PHO…AND MORE (1063 Baxter St.) Susan Pelham’s collages are influenced by Magic Realism, Surrealism and fairytales. Through March.

K.A. ARTIST SHOP (127 N. Jackson St.) “Love Show 2020” celebrates love in all its many forms through works by dozens of artists. While the brickand-mortar shop is temporarily closed, the exhibition can be experienced by appointment or virtually at the shop’s website. Through April.

LYNDON HOUSE ARTS CENTER (293 Hoyt St.) In the Glass Case, a colorful installation inspired by dioramas is full of whimsical creatures by Elinor Saragoussi. Through April. • The “45th Juried Exhibition” presents 199 works by 144 local artists. Through May 2. • Collections from our Community presents “Michael Lachowski’s Trail Trash,” a display of bags of litter picked up by the artist during hiking and backpacking trips dating back to 1995. Artist talk Apr. 23. Currently on view through May. 2. • On view in the Lounge Gallery, Lee Coffey presents a solo show of oil paintings celebrating the mundane, drawing inspiration from flea markets, thrift stores, internet holes, advertisements, art history and everyday objects. Artist Talk May 21. Currently on view through May. MADISON-MORGAN CULTURAL CENTER (434 S. Main St., Madison) “The Chair Show: A Juried Arts Exhibition” includes works of art in all media that celebrate and explore the ubiquitous chair. Through June.

NORMAL BOOKS (1238A Prince Ave.) A variety of art on display, including paintings by Mary Eaton, GCH Pet Portraits, metal art by Julia Vereen, ceramics by Shannon Dominy, sculpture by Doug Makemson and handwoven rugs by Bonnie Montgomery.

RICHARD B. RUSSELL BUILDING SPECIAL COLLECTIONS LIBRARIES (300 S. Hull St.) “The Strategies for Suffrage: Mobilizing a Nation for Women’s Rights” explores the nearly century-long story through newspapers, magazines, books and pamphlets. Through July 2. • “Paving the Road to Progress: Georgia Interstate Highways” traverses the rocky path of the interstate system’s development. Through Aug. 21.

THE ROOK & PAWN (294 W. Washington St.) Local artists Sara Machen Fogle and Darya Kalantari present “Nine Lives,” a collection of collaborative works offering modern interpretations of religious and mythical icons as cats. Through March.

THE SURGERY CENTER (2142 W. Broad St.) Paintings by Melody Croft.

Through May 8.

TIF SIGFRIDS (119 N. Jackson St.) Artwork by Jasmine Little. Through Apr. 25.

WHITE TIGER GOURMET (217 Hiawassee Ave.) See photographs by Charlie Mustard alongside pieces from his personal art collection. Through March.

THE WORLD FAMOUS (351 N. Hull St.) Permanent artists include RA Miller, Chris Hubbard, Travis Craig, Dan Smith, Greg Stone and more.

Many of the following businesses are temporarily closed or have reduced hours of operation.

Call or visit the location’s website ahead of time before visiting.

10

FLAGPOLE.COM | MARCH 25, 2020

ongoing acting class teaches the fundamentals to act via the Strasberg method and others. Join at any time. Saturdays, 1–4 p.m. $400/12 classes. classinquiryJWS@gmail. com, www.jaysonsmith.com/teacher BROWNSTONE YOGA (Athens, GA) Enjoy a free live streaming yoga class led by Meg Brownstone, a local instructor at Rubber Soul Yoga.

Visit website for updates. www.athenspublic.com/brownstoneyoga INTRODUCTORY BEEKEEPING COURSE (1151 Clairemont Place, Watkinsville) The Oglethorpe County Bee Club and Eastern Piedmont Beekeepers Association present an introductory beekeeping program.

Attend as many classes as you like.

Saturdays through July, 1–4 p.m.

FREE! RSVP: danielreidlong@gmail. com or flyingpigshoney@gmail.com TRADITIONAL SAMURAI SWORD AND STAFF (Live Oak Martial Arts, Bogart) Sign up for classes in Jodo, the traditional Japanese art of the staff and sword. Visit website for full class schedule. $95/month. www. liveoakmartialarts.com YOGA CLASSES AT 5 POINTS (5 Points Yoga) Using Props Beyond the Basics on Apr. 15.

Classes include Slow Flow, Iyengar, Restorative, Yin, Power, Hot Yoga and beginners classes. www.athens fivepointsyoga.com

Help Out ATHENS AREA HOMELESS SHELTER (Athens, GA) Volunteer or donate food and cleaning supplies. www.helpathenshomeless.org CASA SUMMER 2020 TRAINING (YMCA) Athens Oconee Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) offers training May 29–July 10.

Fridays, 10 a.m.–1:30 p.m. and 5:30–9 p.m. arden@athensoconee casa.org, www.athensoconeecasa.org

Kidstuff ACC SUMMER CAMPS (Multiple Locations) Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services offers camps in science, dance, sports, art and more.

Visit website for dates and details.

706-613-3800, accgov.com/leisure EXPLORING THE EARTH SUMMER CAMP (Little Rose Nature Adventures, Watkinsville)

This camp is a nature-based, visual and performing arts, STEAM program for kids ages 5–12. Runs June and July, 8:30 a.m.–2 p.m. $200/ week. www.exploringtheearth.org LIVE FITNESS FOR KIDS (Athens, GA) Children can participate in virtual fitness activities daily from 10:30–11:15 a.m. www.athens. macaronikid.com SUMMER CAMPS (Treehouse Kid and Craft) Camps begin in May. Themes range from slime and science, Dungeons and Dragons, apothecaries, terrariums, creative beasts, food trucks, dinosaurs and more. Visit website for descriptions, dates and registration. www.tree housekidandcraft.com

Support Groups ALS SUPPORT GROUP (Oconee Veterans Park, Watkinsville) Provides awareness and education to individuals living with ALS. Meets fourth Wednesday of every month, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. 706-207-5800 AL-ANON 12 STEP (Multiple Locations) Recovery for people affected by someone else’s drinking.

Meetings are held daily at various times and locations. 888-425-2666, www.ga-al-anon.org ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS (Athens, GA) If you think you have a problem with alcohol, call the AA hotline or visit the website for a schedule of meetings in Barrow, Clarke, Jackson and Oconee Counties. 706-389-4164, www. athensaa.org

BY YOUR LEAVE BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT GROUP (reBlossom Mama Baby Shop) Learn everything you need to know when you’re expecting. Wednesdays from 4–8 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Home visists are also available. byyourleaveinc@ gmail.com CRISIS TEXT LINE (Athens, GA) Anyone experiencing an emotional crisis can text GA to 741741 to speak with a trained crisis counselor.

Children and teens welcome. This service is free, confidential and available 24/7. www.crisistextline. org/textline FEMPOWERMENT THERAPY GROUP (Oasis Counseling Center) This women’s empowerment group meets weekly to cover a variety of

topics designed to help women live more balanced, boundaried and fulfilling lives. $18/week or $120/all.

706-543-3522, katy@oasis counselingcenter.com HERO’SUPPORT GROUP (Nuçi’s Space) Help, Empower, Overcome, Recover. This is a peer group for anyone living with depression and/ or anxiety. Wednesdays, 6–8 p.m. through Mar. 25. lesley@nuci.org MALE SURVIVOR SUPPORT GROUP (The Cottage) This group is a safe space for male survivors of sexual violence and childhood sexual abuse to connect with and receive support from other survivors.

The group meets on Thursdays for eight weeks beginning Apr. 30. 706546-1133, ext. 226 MEN’S GROUP IN ATHENS (Athens) Men are invited to a supportive peer group aimed to examine behaviors, feelings and beliefs. This is a safe space for men to take inventory of their life and “do their work.” The group is not affiliated with a religious practice and aims to be inclusive and affirming of all backgrounds. athens menscircle.com/contact NAMI (Multiple Locations) “NAMI Connections” is a support group for adults living in recovery with mental illness. “NAMI Family Support” is for family members, friends and

Athens Downtown SAA offers a message of hope to anyone who suffers from a compulsive sexual behavior.

Write an email through athensdown townsaa.com for help beginning your recovery process

On The Street MEALS ON WHEELS (Athens, GA) The Athens Community Council on Aging provides meals and other resources to older adults and those living with disabilities. Volunteers and donations are also accepted.

706-549-4850, www.accaging.org MEDITATION IN ATHENS (Multiple Locations) Meditations are offered in various forms across town.

Athens Zen Group offers a newcomers orientation on the second and fourth Sundays of each month at 11 a.m. athenszen.org. Mindful Breath Sangha offers mindfulness meditation in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. Sundays, 6:30–8 p.m. beckylockman@gmail.com.

Dedicated Mindfulness Practitioners meets at the Griffin-Dubose Healing Lodge every Saturday, 8:30 a.m. jaseyjones@gmail.com. Mindful Living Center offers intro mindfulness classes every second Friday of the month, 5:30–7 p.m. at the

2440 W Broad St. (706 www.alaferasalon.com

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WUGA IS A BROADCAST SERVICE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA. Artwork by Laura Bell is included in “Tiny Universe #3,” a group exhibition currently on view at the Gallery@Hotel Indigo through May. caregivers of individuals with mental illnesses. Both groups meet every fourth Tuesday, 6:30–8 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Athens. 770225-0804. NAMI Family Support Groups are also available the second Monday at 6:30 p.m. at Oconee Presbyterian Church in Watkinsville; and every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Ridgeview Institute in Monroe. namihallga@gmail.com, www. namihall.org NICOTINE ANONYMOUS MEETINGS (ACC Library) A 12-step recovery program of mutual support for those who want to live free of nicotine in any form. Join at any time. Tuesdays, 7 p.m. nicotineanonymous.org RECOVERY DHARMA (Recovery Dharma, 8801 Macon Hwy., Suite 1) This peer-led support group offers a Buddhist-inspired path to recovery from any addiction. Thursdays, 7–8 p.m. FREE! Find “Recovery Dharma Athens GA” on Facebook RESTLESS LEGS SYNDROME SUPPORT GROUP (Athens, GA) Forming a support group for people who have Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS sufferers). Call Carol, 706612-6934 SEX ADDICTS ANONYMOUS (Athens, GA) (Email for Location)

Healing Lodge, Piedmont Athens Regional. www.mindfuliving.org.

Satchidananda Mission offers yoga meditation every Sunday, 6:30–7:30 p.m. and Kirtan every third Sunday, 4–6 p.m. revmanjula@bellsouth. net. Let It Be Yoga hosts the Athens Singing Circle every second Monday, 7–9 p.m. 5 Points Yoga hosts meditations Thursdays at 8–9 a.m. Nuci’s Space hosts meditations for focus every Friday, 11 a.m. www. nuci.org Healing Arts Centre hosts Insight Meditation every Monday, 7 p.m. 706-340-7288. www.athens fivepointsyoga.com SUMMER STAFF (Athens, GA) ACC Leisure Services in now hiring approximately 100 positions ranging from camp counselors, lifeguards and pool staff. www.accgov.com/ jobs TABLE TENNIS (East Athens Community Center) Table tennis games are held three times a week.

All skill levels welcome. tabletennis athensga@gmail.com, ttathensga. com THE GIVING KITCHEN (Athens, GA) Service industry workers in need can receive financial assistance, tips and additional resources. Donations are also being accepted. www.thegiving kitchen.org f

@WUGAFM | WUGA.ORG

OPEN AND TAKING APPOINTMENTS! Safety-Certified Salon

Voted Athens’ Favorite Groomer

We Groom Dogs & Cats!

barkdogspa.com 1850 Epps Bridge Pkwy · 706-353-1065

Talk About It If you have a friend you think may be in an abusive relationship, talk with her or him about it. Don’t ignore the problem; it will not go away. You can make a difference by starting a conversation with your friend or coworker. You don’t have to be an expert to talk about abuse, you just need to be a friend. Listen to and believe what your friend is telling you.

Our hotline advocates are here to help if you have questions about how to start the conversation.

706-543-3331

Hotline, 24 hours/day

Linea de crisis, las 24 horas del dia MARCH 25, 2020 | FLAGPOLE.COM

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cla cl assifi fie eds Buy It, Sell It, Rent It, Use It! Place an ad anytime, email class@flagpole.com

 Indicates images available at classifieds.flagpole.com

REAL ESTATE APARTMENTS FOR RENT 5 Points. Remodeled 1BR/1BA (1 block to UGA). $825-890/mo. Avail. Aug. 1. Clean, QUIET, washer/ dryer, perfect for graduate student, faculty. No pets/ smokers. 706-296-2966.

Owner/agent. www.Ath BestRentals.com.

SUB-LEASE Stuck in a lease you’re trying to end? Sublease your house or apartment with Flagpole Classifieds!

Call 706-549-0301.

FOR SALE MISCELLANEOUS Better than eBay! Sell your goods locally without shipping fees. Awesome run–til–sold rate! 12 weeks for the price of 4. Call 706549-0301.

Do you want old newspapers for your garden?

Paper mache? Your new puppy? Toilet paper substitute? They’re free at the Flagpole office! Call ahead, then come grab an armful. Please leave current issues on stands. 706549-0301.

MUSIC EQUIPMENT Nuçi’s Space needs your old instruments & music gear, especially drum equipment! All donations are tax-deductible. 706227-1515 or come by Nuçi’s Space, 396 Oconee St.

INSTRUCTION Athens School of Music.

Instruction in guitar, bass, drums, piano, voice, brass, woodwinds, strings, banjo, mandolin, fiddle & more.

From beginner to expert.

Visit www.athensschoolof music.com, 706-543-5800.

flagpole classifieds Reach Over 30,000 Readers Every Week!

Business Services Real Estate Music For Sale

Employment Vehicles Messages Personals

BASIC RATES* Individual $10 per week Real Estate $14 per week Business $16 per week (RTS) Run-‘Til-Sold** $40 per 12 weeks Online Only*** $5 per week *Ad enhancement prices are viewable at flagpole.com **Run-‘Til-Sold rates are for MERCHANDISE ONLY ***Available for individual rate categories only

PLACE AN AD • Call our Classifieds Dept. (706) 549-0301 • Email us at class@flagpole.com

• Deadline to place ads is 11:00 a.m. every Monday for the following Wednesday issue • All ads must be prepaid

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MUSIC SERVICES Instant cash is now being paid for good vinyl records & CDs in fine condition. Wuxtry Records, at corner of Clayton & College Dwntn. 706-3699428.

SERVICES HEALTH James Hilton H y p n o s i s . Harvard trained, nationally certified. 678-895-4278, jim hilton911@yahoo.com, www.hiltonhypnosis.webs. com.

HOME AND GARDEN Is your pool trashed?

Clean Pool Care LLC will bring it back to magnificence. Call or text Kevin at 706-247-2226.

Plumber Pro Service & Drain. Upfront Pricing. Free Estimates. $30 Flagpole Discount. Call 706-7697761. Same Day Service Available. www.plumber proservice.com.

Flagpole ♥ our advertising customers and our readers.

MISC. SERVICES

OPPORTUNITIES

AJ Wofford LLC. A Plus 1 for hire. You want my company! Athens, Georgia. 912-678-4670, austinwofford21@gmail. com.

Searching for the perfect employee? Let us help get the word out through Flagpole Classifieds. Call 706-549-0301 or email class@flagpole.com.

JOBS

Please consider donating to Flagpole to help us out during this crisis. Go to flagpole.com/home/ donations.



FULL-TIME James Greenhouses in Colbert, GA is seeking a Class A CDL driver. Fulltime position; salary commensurate with experience. Flexible schedule & fantastic company culture.

Flagpole ♥ those of you who have donated money to help us during this time.

Taste of India is now hiring FT/PT bussers, hostess and servers. Flexible hours and competitive pay. Apply in person. For further questions contact: indiaathens@gmail.com.

INTERNSHIPS Keller Williams is seeking Summer interns at our Downtown Athens office.

We will pay for your real estate license course.

Email robertmabry@ kw.com if interested.

PART-TIME Looking for experienced caregiver for elderly person with dementia.

Flexible hours available.

Please call 706-424-9016 for more information.

Little City Diner is now accepting applications for experienced line cooks and dishwashers.

Availability on weekends is required. Please apply in person.

Seeking excellent typists (65+ WPM) for weekday work. Employee choice for morning, afternoon, or evening shifts. 16 hours per week minimum. Relaxed environment, safe space.

Pay after training $9 or higher wit h aut om at ic increases. www.ctscribes. com.

ADOPT ME! ACC Animal Control 125 Buddy Christian Way, Athens 706-613-3540 Call for appointments.

Available animals can be seen online at Athenspets.net

DON A FOS TE! TER !

ADO THA PT! NKS !

VEHICLES AUTOS 1993 Acura Integra. White, automatic, light cosmetic damage, needs new a/c.

132,200 miles. Asking as-is for $1700 or OBO. 404-547-0127.

2012 Subaru Forester X Premium clean @91K. Camellia Red. All-Weather Package. Oil Changed Ever y 4k by me. New Yokohama Tires, StopTech Brakes, Battery & Springs.

Many quality-of-life improvements made.

Meticulously owner maintained. Asking 12k OBO. Call James, 706-614-8060.

NOTICES LOST AND FOUND Lost and found pets can be advertised in Flagpole classifieds for free. Call 706-549-0301 or email class@flagpole.com to return them home.

MESSAGES Flagpole subscriptions delivered straight to the mailbox! Perfect present for your buddy who moved out of town! $40 for 6 mos. or $70 for 1 yr. Call 706549-0301.

HOUSEKEEPING House cleaning at its best.

20 Years Experience

Dependable & Personable

CALL SHARON: 706-202-8944

Athens Area Humane Society 1781 Mars Hill Rd., Watkinsville 706-769-9155 Due to reduced business hours, call if you are interested in adopting.

Available animals can be seen online at AthensHumaneSociety.com

FLAGPOLE.COM | MARCH 25, 2020

flagpole your other best friend

SUDOKU

Edited by Margie E. Burke

Difficulty: Medium

9

1 5 3

arts & culture

kiddie dope

The Plague of Child Care

5

6 5 7 3 8 4 8 4 7 3 8 7 2 9 4 1 7 6 9

HOW DO I WATCH MY KID AND STILL GET ANY WORK DONE?

By Kristen Morales news@flagpole.com My 3-year-old sat in on a work meeting the other day.

I’ll admit, I was a little bored. But he found it fascinating—there were little people in squares, including one with the same name as his favorite superhero. So, of course it was awesome.

But will he still feel that way in a week? In, heaven forbid, a month?

As of this writing, we’ve only practiced this new norm of “social distancing” for a few days, but it’s opened up a new dimension of child-care issues. How do you keep kids entertained and engaged all day without resorting to TV? Is it even possible for them to learn something when they’re

I’ve spent the last few days scouring the internet for ideas. Lesson plans are nice in theory, but they really don’t help me when I’m trying to juggle a phone call. Working from home is not homeschooling. It doesn’t help that—as interested as my 3-year-old is in my online meetings—my 12-year-old is moping around the house, complaining about the sheer possibility of online school. So now I’m not only juggling different academic levels, but also motivation levels.

I’m not a teacher, and I’m not going to pretend to be one. But desperate times call for desperate measures, which is why I have a few ideas about where to start.

KRISTEN MORALES

Copyright 2020 by The Puzzle Syndicate

HOW TO SOLVE:

Each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9; each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9; and each set of 3 by 3 boxes must contain Week of 3/23/20 - 3/29/20 the numbers 1 to 9.

The Weekly Crossword 1

2

3

4

5

6

14 18

20

21 23

3 31 1 36 5 40 6 2 8 46 4 50 9 57 7

60 63

8

9

10

15

17

26

7

by Margie E. Burke

61

12

13

33

34

35

54

55

56

16 19 22

24

Solution to Sudoku: 27 28 9 4 2 7 1 8 5 32 8 7 6 5 3 4 2 2 6 4 9 8 3 371 1 5 9 341 2 427 8 7 3 844 6 4 1 9 4 948 7 1 5 2 6 47 6 1 3 8 9 5 517 3 8 5 2 7 586 4 5 2 1 4 6 9 3

11

25 29

6 9 7 4 5 3 2 52 1 8

30

38

39

43 45 49 53

Three-year-old Alex plays in his “boat”—the now-empty parking lot across the street from his house.

59 62

64

65

Copyright 2020 by The Puzzle Syndicate

ACROSS 1 Kind of wave 53 Just for men 6 Atomizer output 57 Rant and ____ 10 Celestial body 58 In single file 14 Come up 60 Hand-fist 15 Reedy instrument connector 16 Legal prefix 61 Tumbled 17 It may be 62 Dissolve, as ties spontaneous 63 Top of the line 19 Pop the cork 64 Dimwit 20 Dummy's perch 65 Sniper position 21 Hyphenated word in TV DOWN credits 1 Bulletin board 23 Capone tradeitem mark 2 Caddie's offering 25 Double-cross 3 Kind of store 26 Artist's medium 4 Old home danger 29 Spread out, as 5 Romanian money fingers 6 Lawnmower 31 Escorts part 33 Tank filler 7 Long-legged 36 Reduce, ___, wader recycle 8 Chimney residue 37 Figured out 9 Easily defended 38 Fountain order 10 Like many two40 Teaching degree doors 41 What meditation 11 Rhino relative can be 12 Field of play 44 Desist's partner 13 Long-limbed 45 Upward slope 18 Hawk over46 Hypothesis priced tickets 49 Data holder 22 Take another 50 Burdened look at

24 Horror movie staple 26 Peel, as an apple 27 Scored 100 on 28 Gulf war missile 29 Sleep soundly?

30 Bread for a gyro 32 Countless years 33 Boarding place 34 Comparable (to) 35 Split-off group 39 Shoddy goods seller 42 Barn area 43 Emulate van Eyck 44 Like many CIA ops 46 Beat rapidly 47 Throw with effort 48 Roof overhang 49 Passed out in Vegas?

51 From the top 52 Supermarket section 54 Pioneering DVR brand 55 Congregation's cry 56 "American Gigolo" star 59 Nile biter

Puzzle answers are available at www.flagpole.com/puzzles

not in a school environment? And, if you have to work from home, how are you supposed to teach them anything while you line up your Zoom meetings?

For starters, let’s talk about child care. Lots of daycares have closed, but not all—in fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have guidelines for child-care centers that include the caveat that they are not mandated to close. Now, granted, the guidelines also state that kids should be limited to six in a room and that they should stay apart from each other (good luck with that), but still, it’s up to individual operators to close.

So, that said, lots of centers in the Athens area have opted to close—there may be even more, if not all, by the time this column runs. Those that are staying open have seen a dramatic decrease in the number of children coming in—at centers I spoke with, about half the regular number of children were coming. All centers are increasing the hand washing of kids and staff; they are also increasing the amount of times the rooms are disinfected. As of this writing, the Piedmont Athens Regional Child Development Center is only open to the children of hospital employees.

Of course, if you lose child care, the next option is to turn to a relative or family friend for help. But inviting a grandparent into the fray—especially if you’re a parent who still has to head to work—isn’t the best option. As someone with no family in town, I can empathize with this dilemma.

From what I’ve heard, it has led many people to rely on friends and to widen the core group that they’re coming into contact with. This is not ideal, but our options are limited—we just find what works and try to stick with it.

But then there’s also a vast group of parents who are working from home, faced with the tricky balancing act of providing an income while also providing their kids with stuff to do all day. Not easy.

Have a schedule: While my 12-year-old is currently freaking out about this concept, my 3-year-old is excited by it. If nothing else, it will give you a list of ideas that you can do in a day, even if you don’t do them in that order. (You can find a great template from Scribd at bit.ly/ScribdForm; for a less intense plan, visit bit.ly/ToddlerForm.)

Set up stations: I’ve been gathering all our art supplies and putting them in one place for easy access. That way, when it’s time to do art, my youngest won’t resort to the one marker he’s been hoarding (I have no idea why). Even putting a blanket down in the middle of a room can go a long way in delineating different activities, like board games, art and music.

Go old school: If you’re lucky enough to have two kids, maybe they can get competitive with a board game (unless your kids are 3 and 12—then forget it). Drop a blanket elsewhere and make it a picnic. Heck, pull the cushions off the couch and make a fort!

Go easy on yourself: I know I’m most likely to scream when I’m trying to compose an email as my 3-year-old taps my arm saying, “Mommymommymommy.” Just take a breath, slow down, and recognize that everything is going to take longer. You’ll get some work done, but it won’t be as much work as you wanted. And that’s fine.

Have other resources? Comment on this story online; maybe we can get some good lists going. If my Facebook feed of ads proves anything, it’s that we’re all freaking out about how to keep our kids entertained, engaged and learning while also staying a good distance away from other people. Surely, this is one gigantic teachable moment. f

MARCH 25, 2020 | FLAGPOLE.COM

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advice

hey, bonita…

comics

Community in Quarantine ADVICE FOR ATHENIANS IN AN EPIDEMIC ERA

By Bonita Applebum advice@flagpole.com Well, damn!

Y’all, I’ve been feeling really good lately.

Between new meds and feeling truly settled into (what I hope will be my last) rental home, I’m really looking forward to the summer. I want to be an ethical ho and drink well crafted cocktails while I crash pools with my besties. I wanna make out, goddamnit. I deserve it! With the recent warm weather and sunshine, I felt a very ho-ish summer coming on for most of us in Athens, single or not. (Yes, you can be a ho in a monogamous relationship. It’s a mood, not a set of behaviors.) Midriffs were out and dance party season was kicking off right when the first cases of COVID-19 started popping up in the U.S. And now look at us.

“

It’s about us, all of us, and that ‘us’ includes you, too.

As of this writing, we have been under a local state of emergency for two days. I have full confidence that this will still be in effect when this is published; if not, the national state of emergency will certainly still be in effect. These words will still be relevant months from now, since the CDC is recommending a full eight weeks of social distancing to slow the spread of this virus. Some locals thumbed their noses at this idea and partied HARD last weekend. I don’t blame any of you who decided that a rager was the best way to start a quarantine. I was visiting my parents a couple of states over, but I freely admit that I would have been right in the thick of it if I’d been in town.

I think it’s normal to crave a last shout before becoming a quarantined shut-in, but I want to urge you all to take this as seriously as you can. Maybe you’re a twentysomething in great health, but you could potentially carry the virus to someone whose immune system isn’t nearly as poppin’ as yours. Sure, quarantining and social distancing are personal inconveniences, but this isn’t just about you. It’s about us, all of us, and that “us” includes you, too.

It’s easy to wave off this news as panic or even a conspiracy, but the death tolls

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in China and Italy should be enough to convince you otherwise. Do you think this is a man-made globalist scheme to exert control over the public? OK, fine, whatever—exchange all your money for gold and go live in the woods with your unregistered guns and sister-wife. I literally don’t care.

But when you come back into town, please wash your hands, cover your cough, and don’t touch my parents. I only have one dad, and I don’t want his health destroyed by some dipshit “infowarrior.”

On Mar. 16, the Athens-Clarke County Commission voted to ban gatherings of over 10 people in all bars, restaurants, entertainment venues and public property. It went even further

Mar. 19, telling everyone to stay home unless doing something essential, like going to work or getting food. While I think this will achieve our goal of “flattening the curve” and reducing new cases popping up locally, I am definitely concerned about the effect this will have on the service industry in town.

I know bartenders who have purchased homes with the fruits of their labor, and they need those tips to keep paying that mortgage. The service industry is a big job sector in our college town, and we need to do what we can to keep it as robust as possible during these hard times. Please check out Hillary Brown’s Grub Notes blog to find out which local spots are offering curbside pickup and delivery options, and please tip well. Flip back to p. 6 for a list of educational, health and financial resources, as well as volunteer opportunities. Your favorite server or bartender might also have a Venmo or Paypal account set up.

Hey dude, we only have each other, and there are many small ways that you can step up and help your fellow Athenians. I don’t know what else to tell you. These are weird, uncertain times. Write to me so we can freak out together. f

FLAGPOLE.COM | MARCH 25, 2020

locally grown

news

pub notes

#

1 In Se & S e lection rvice!

Things Fall Apart WE ALL STRUGGLE TO FIND A WAY FORWARD

By Pete McCommons pete@flagpole.com Flagpole, like all local businesses, is scrambling to stay alive. This struggle is a harsh reminder of how interdependent we all are.

We drink, eat, shop and hang out in the places owned and staffed by our friends.

They depend on Flagpole for information, and they advertise in Flagpole. We all have all along faced the difficulties of keeping small businesses going. And now this.

It’s a perfect storm. Most of the things we advertise—events, concerts, restaurants, bars, clubs—are canceled or curtailed, with many of the local businesses we depend on scrambling to survive just

to remain viable and have shut down—in many cases because they were bought and sucked dry by venture capitalists who have no interest in journalism.

In Athens, Flagpole has been lucky to have a community where people still like to get hold of the paper, no matter how much they may also read it online. And advertisers know they can reach our readers. Now, most of those advertisers have no money.

Therefore, Flagpole has no money.

What can we do to survive? There are not many options, but we are carefully considering those we have. Our challenge is

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like we are, making it difficult for them to advertise at the very time they need to let customers know they’re still serving—by pick-up, drive-through and in some cases delivery. If they don’t advertise, Flagpole cannot continue—at least not in the same old familiar ways.

We are all trying to find a way forward, a way to hang on until the horror ends, whenever that may be. And of course the horror has barely begun. Once it starts rolling, we’ll all need information more than ever, and a community newspaper becomes a lifeline. Our problem is how to keep that line attached.

Many of you have already been supporting Flagpole with your contributions.

Others have stepped up just recently to contribute to Flagpole in this new crisis. Your support helps us meet expenses, and it also encourages us to figure out a way to make it through this unprecedented crisis and not lose Athens’ locally owned, independent news source.

The onslaught of the virus, like a war or a natural disaster, accelerates change.

Overnight, things are not what they were before and probably never will be again. For the last decade, at least, newspapers have been trying to adjust to changes that have profoundly affected the traditional role of delivering information and advertising. All over the country, newspapers have failed

really the same it has always been: Increase income and cut expenses that have already been cut pretty much to the bone. (The owners are not drawing salaries.) One thing is clear: The core Flagpole staff makes us Flagpole. They are experts; they are deeply embedded in our community, they are dedicated to our newspaper. That will remain true in whatever form it is published. We may have to lay off part-time, freelance writers; we may have to stop printing and go totally online, but as long as we’ve got our core staff, you’ve got your Flagpole.

It is sort of a weird situation, really. We know people want to read Flagpole, which has always been a free paper and free online, too. But we also know, at least for now, that a lot of the businesses that we depend on for advertising are scrambling to survive, too. We will keep you informed as we try to reconfigure our operation so that it can continue. Meanwhile, we appreciate, more than even we wordsmiths can express, the loyalty of our readers (and our advertisers to the extent that they are able). You have told us how much you love Flagpole. You know how much we love Athens. Together, we can get through this crisis and come out of it with a publication better able to cope with new circumstances. While we try to figure out the best way to proceed, your support will help us keep going. Just go to flagpole.com/ home/donations. Thanks! f

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MARCH 25, 2020 | FLAGPOLE.COM

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