Good morning, Athens.

Blue Origin engineer Marie Peel and her daughter London continued a cherished Paddle Georgia trip on the Oostanaula and Coosa rivers that raised nearly $100,000 for river protection—she began the canoe trips while teaching at Clarke Middle School here.

New grants are advancing the 39-mile Firefly Trail project, with funding set to extend more than 4 miles to Maxeys and for engineering of the Crawford section scheduled between 2027 and 2031.

BattlBox, a Georgia-based outdoor company, will host BattlGames on Sept.

19-20 at the Georgia Bushcraft property off Carruth Road in Watkinsville. Ten contestants from across the country will compete in survival challenges (fire-building, shelter construction and obstacle tests) for a $25,000 prize as the event is streamed on YouTube.

Athens hosts several events this weekend.

CatVideoFest runs today at Athens Ciné with cat videos benefiting animal groups, Market Day with a drink contest is Saturday at the Historic Athens Welcome Center, and Bike Nite, High Stakes + an unscripted sitcom night are set for the weekend.

7 Brew Coffee held its ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, Aug.

6 on Atlanta Highway in Athens as the new coffee shop opened & welcomed local coffee lovers.

Georgia health officials have confirmed between 50 and 199 cases of cyclosporiasis linked to recalled lettuce from Taylor Fresh Foods & the FDA has recalled affected products.

Investigations continue as the outbreak spreads across 47 states & agencies work to limit exposure.

Fresko launched its AutoMax V8 vacuum sealer that detects bags automatically and adjusts settings for different foods, with an extra 20% off using the code (JULY-V8-20).

Shoppers in Athens can receive free shipping and returns as it ships in 2-5 business days.

Athens families can shop smart for back-to-school lunches using meal-prep containers, bento boxes, and bulk snack deals from local warehouse clubs.

The guide offers tips on discounted memberships and online grocery pickup to simplify busy mornings.

Georgia basketball finalized its 2026-2027 schedule with a season opener on Nov.

2 vs. NC Central, home games on Nov. 6 and Nov. 16, and a marquee matchup with Duke at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 8 — the first meeting since 1932 —.