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Community Corner

🌱 Atlanta Chef Feeds Ukrainian Refugees + Perdue Next Chancellor

The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Atlanta.

Kathy Cioffi, Community Contributor
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(Patch)

Happy Thursday, people of Atlanta! Let's get this day started. Here's everything going on today in Atlanta.

First, today's weather:

Warm with plenty of sunshine. High: 76 Low: 50.

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Here are the top five stories today in Atlanta:

  1. Just two months after Atlanta chef Hugh Acheson was overseeing the debut of his latest restaurant, Mount Royal in Buckhead, he's in Romania, helping to feed refugees fleeing from the Russian invasion in neighboring Ukraine. Acheson is coordinating food distribution efforts for World Central Kitchen, a trip he began planning within hours of the invasion. WCK, a nonprofit food relief organization run by chef Jose Andres, had already mobilized volunteers who were on the way to Poland, Romania, Moldova, Slovakia and Hungary to provide hot meals at pedestrian border crossings to people fleeing the violence in Ukraine. Acheson said he and chef Sam Herndon, the head of his culinary team, will be leading food operations at the refugee encampments along the border crossings in Romania through March 11. (Eater Atlanta)
  2. Sonny Perdue, former two-term Georgia governor, was named chancellor of the state's public university system Tuesday. The Georgia Board of Regents voted without opposition, appointing Perdue after a contentious yearlong search during which the chief criticism was Perdue lacks administrative experience in higher education. Supporters said his stewardship of state government, along with his four years as U.S. Agriculture Department secretary, made him well-qualified for the job. Perdue is scheduled to start on April 1. (Atlanta Patch)
  3. Recess could soon be mandatory in Georgia's elementary schools. House Bill 1283, also known as "the recess bill," would require schools to schedule recess daily for students in kindergarten and grades one through five. The nonpartisan bill, which would prohibit schools from withholding recess for disciplinary or academic reasons, does include exceptions. Recess would not be required if reasonable circumstances prevented it, such as inclement weather, emergencies, disasters, etc. The bill goes before the Georgia House Education Committee Thursday. If it ultimately becomes law, it would go into effect for the 2022-2023 school year. Gov. Brian Kemp vetoed a similar bill in 2019, saying it would "strip long-held authority from school boards." (Atlanta Patch)
  4. As Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, an Atlanta couple is desperately trying to bring their newborn twins home. The boys were born prematurely by a surrogate in Ukraine on Feb. 25 — just one day after Russia invaded. Alex Spektor and his partner Irma Nunez found a surrogate from his home country to deliver their twins, Moishe and Lenny. "We fled from the Soviet Union as Jewish refugees, so coming back to Kyiv was really symbolic that my children would be born in the city where I was born," Spektor said. Doctors told the couple the newborns should be strong enough to travel in two weeks, when Spektor and Nunez will make their way to Poland first. The couple's goal will be to bring the babies back to Atlanta along with their surrogate, a single mom, and her 6-year-old son. (11Alive.com WXIA)
  5. Thomas "Tom" Arnold, 60, who was found shot to death near the Beltline Saturday, is being remembered by friends and family as a kind, caring and selfless man who volunteered his time to making the city a better place. In a written statement released to Channel 2 Action News, Arnold's family described their loved one as "an avid outdoorsman, mountain biker and an active volunteer for Trees Atlanta." Calling his death a "profound loss," they are asking for the public's help in the police investigation. Tipsters can remain anonymous, and be eligible for rewards of up to $2,000, by contacting Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477, texting information to 274637 or visiting the Crime Stoppers website. (Free: WSB Atlanta; Subscription: The Atlanta Journal Constitution)

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Today in Atlanta:

  • Join Police Chief Keith Meadows and Fire Chief Chad Jones for the upcoming Coffee with a Cop: Public Safety Edition, in the city of South Fulton. This is your opportunity to get to know the public safety officers in your city. (9:00 AM)
  • Blood Drive (In Cafe) at Little Five Points Center for Arts and Community. (10:00 AM)
  • Join us at the Vinings Jubilee Farmers Market, free to attend every Thursday from 2:30-6 p.m. and located in the heart of historic Vinings at Vinings Jubilee. Stoll and shop seasonal produce, ready-to-eat items, honey, bakery finds, and so much more from more than 30 new and returning vendors. To stay up to date on the latest farmers market news and list of vendors, visit Vinings Farmers Market on Facebook or follow @ViningsFarmersMarket on Instagram.(2:30 PM)
  • The Blake is excited for the monthly sip and shop featuring Swells of Splendor, luxury women's fashion brand. Come visit us and experience Swells of Splendor and see the latest designs, just in time for the warmer months ahead. (4:00 PM)
  • Join Vino Venue for a wine tasting and hors d'oeuvres at the Wine and Cyber Event hosted by CMIT Solutions and ConnectWise. Try a selection of wines while you listen to two cybersecurity industry experts discuss how to protect your business from online threats with a brief discussion on the latest cybersecurity technologies. (5:30 PM)

From my notebook:

  • Thanks to an Atlanta E A R L Y B I R D, here are some incredible morning snaps via @smilinmarkwsb! Might need to get up sooner! #atlantasnaps" (Instagram)
  • The Atlanta Humane Society wants you to see Flex's face when he saw this week's weather report. Flex LOVES being outside. Seriously. Walks, hikes, yard zoomies, play dates with other pups, you name it! If you're looking for a supportive exercise partner, look no further than Flex. Head to our website to learn how you can add Flex to your family! (Facebook)
  • We know you love Earth Goddess best in full bloom, but the folks at the Atlanta Botanical Garden like to think she's beautiful in every season. She should start blooming in early- to mid-May, but don't let that stop you from getting that spring photo moment. 💚 (Facebook)
  • Atlanta Downtown Neighborhood Association asks, "Will we see you on Friday?" The event is ADNA March Happy Hour at Aamars. Registration is not required, but available on Facebook or Eventbrite. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2... (Facebook)
  • Public Information Officer Shannon Wiggins, City of East Point: "COMING 🔜. Save the Date for the 4th year of The Healthy Point: 90-Day Health Initiative, championed by Mayor Deana Holiday Ingraham. The 90-day initiative will run from March 26- June 23 with a variety of FREE fitness classes for healthy point participants and prizes! Interested participants can register online at https://tinyurl.com/thehealthypoint2022. On-site registration will also be available on March 26th at the kick-off at John D. Milner Park." (Nextdoor)

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Events:

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  • Feeling Overwhelmed? Anxieties? Re-center yourself with Holistic Fitness for all levels! (March 10)
  • JOIN PICKLEBALL FLEX LEAGUES - Spring Registration Deadline (March 16)
  • Black Wounds: A Dialogue, Reading and Book Signing (March 17)
  • PRIDE Kickball Atlanta Spring Leagues (March 21)
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That's it for today. I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow with a new update!

— Kathy Cioffi

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

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