Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026
Good morning!
Love is in the air. We hope you can join us on Saturday at the Ghost Pirates game. Don’t meet us there. Beat us there. Aside from that, we have the deets on the Carnegie Library reopening and where to hear some Mardi Gras chats in Camden.
Let us know how we’re doing or send a suggestion to staff@thecurrentga.org
CHATHAM COUNTY
Carnegie Library Heritage Center Ribbon Cutting: At 10:30 a.m. Feb. 20 at the Carnegie Library on East Henry Street in Savannah, the renovated facility will be unveiled.
Lazaretto Project Talk: At 1 p.m. on Feb. 18 at the Tybee Library, Julia Pearce, cofounder of the Tybee MLK Human Rights Organization, will lead a discussion on the significance and lasting impact of the Tybee Lazaretto and share her efforts to establish a Lazaretto Healing Memorial on Tybee Island.
Community meeting tonight: Community members are invited tonight at 6 p.m. to Jenkins High School, 1800 E. Derenne Ave. in Savannah, for a Strategic Plan Forum to share ideas that will guide priorities, programs, and investments through 2031 for the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System.
CAMDEN COUNTY
Cast your vote for Mardi Gras decorations: Vote for your favorite and second favorite Mardi Gras-themed window or porch display throughout St. Marys from Feb. 1 to 17. The contest is open to homes and businesses. You can cast your vote here.
Mardi Gras Jubilee: The St. Marys Mardi Gras Jubilee will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15, at St. Marys Waterfront Park. There will be games, food trucks, and music to get peeps in the Mardi Gras spirit.
BRYAN COUNTY
Board of Elections asks for volunteers: The Bryan County Board of Elections announced that it needs poll workers in Richmond Hill and Pembroke for the May 19 election. Training will begin the last week of March. If you have any questions, you can call 912-653-3859.
Valentines at the fort: A romantic evening of dancing to period music in the historic setting of Fort McAllister State Park. Dance lessons, food and treats, beer & wine. Guests can also take a break from the dance floor to relax fireside in the historic barracks with their valentine. Open to guests 21 and older. Beer and wine available for purchase. Pre-registration is required, and space is limited. From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14. Tickets $45 a couple to $80. Child care mini camp will be available 5:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. for ages 4-12 for $45 per child. Please visit www.GaStateParks.org/FortMcAllister or call the fort at 912-727-2339 for additional information.
GLYNN COUNTY
Special Olympics calling for volunteers: The Special Olympics of Coastal Georgia seeks volunteers for a variety of roles, including game station operators, hydration station staff, registration staff, gate attendants, and general event assistance. The event will be held on Feb. 26 and will feature students from both the Glynn and McIntosh school systems. You must be 18 or older and pass a background check to volunteer. For more information, contact Rhonda Diggs at sogacoastal@gmail.com or 912-602-8077.
Sea Island donates to Jamaica hurricane recovery: The Sea Island Legacy Fund announced that it has contributed over $200,000 to support recovery efforts in Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa’s impact. Following landfall, members of the Sea Island HR department coordinated the delivery of essential items, including food, toiletries, batteries, paper products, clothing, flashlights, bedding, and linens, with shipping costs totaling nearly $10,000.
LIBERTY COUNTY
Taco Thursday: Keep Liberty Beautiful encourages Mexican food lovers to visit El Mezcal, 135 W. Hendry St., Hinesville, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. tonight. 10% of all sales will benefit KLB’s community education and volunteer action program. Learn more at keeplibertybeautiful.org.
African art, coastal cuisine: “For the Love of Land and Sea: Exploring the Connection between West Africa and Coastal Georgia through Food and Textiles” opens at 5:30 p.m. tonight at the Hinesville Area Arts Council, 102 Commerce St., Hinesville. West African and Coastal Georgia are woven together by textiles and nourished by cuisine – enjoy both this Black History Month. Free admission.
Love Your Health: Give yourself a Valentine this Saturday, Feb. 14, at 8:30 a.m. — join your neighbors at the monthly Liberty Proud & Healthy 5K Walk/Run. Meet at the gazebo at James Brown Park, 800 Tupelo Trail, Hinesville, then race or stroll through the woods on a paved path. All ages and abilities welcome.
MCINTOSH COUNTY
Georgia Overdose Prevention Partnership: McIntosh County has been selected to participate in the Georgia Overdose Prevention Partnership (GOPP), a statewide program that expands overdose prevention tools, improves access to treatment, supports first responders, and strengthens prevention education initiatives for rural communities.
Youth mental health first aid: From 8:30 to 3:30 on Tuesday, Feb 24, at the McIntosh Board of Education, a free regional training will be held to equip adults to recognize signs of mental health challenges, offer initial support, and connect youth to appropriate help. Teachers, administrators, coaches, library personnel, after-school program staff, tutors, church and faith-based youth leaders, mentors, and anyone who works with or supports youth are encouraged to attend. There are only 30 slots, so sign up while you can here.
EFFINGHAM COUNTY
Effingham County welcomes new planning manager: The Effingham County Board of Commissioners announced that the county has hired Akela Wright as the new planning manager. Wright, 29, is a Florida native with a master’s degree from Savannah State University and extensive expertise in planning and zoning.
49th Annual Jacan Brown Honor Run: The Jacan Brown Honor Run will start at 8 a.m. on Feb. 28 at the Effingham County Board of Education Office at 405 N. Ash St. The event, named as a memorial tribute to an Effingham County Sports and Recreation Services employee, will start and end at the board of education office. There will be two races – a 5K at 8 a.m. and a 1-mile walk 15 minutes later. The registration cost is $35 and $15, respectively. Participants will receive a medal and a t-shirt.
ALONG THE COAST
Coastal Community Health reaffirms its commitment to the community: As many lack affordable healthcare following historic cuts, Coastal Community Health (CCH) remains here to fill the void and support those who need quality, accessible care on the coast. CCH is a Federally Qualified Health Center, ensuring access to healthcare regardless of a person’s ability to pay. CCH also offers access to medications through its 340B pharmacy program, helping reduce prescription costs. Its care delivery focuses on prevention, continuity, and community health, as well as in-person and telehealth services. You can visit their offices listed at this link
Cast Net features nuggets from Coastal Georgia that we hope you’ll find interesting, fun or useful. All that said, we’ll need to hear from you to make sure we’re on the right track.
We’re always working to make sure our newsletters are as useful as they can be, and we’ll be experimenting over the next few months in this Thursday space.
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Volunteers fan out across Savannah for annual homelessness count
By Justin Taylor
Nearly 90 volunteers braved the cold to conduct the annual Point-in-Time count of Savannah’s unhoused citizens, collecting data to inform federal, state, and local organizations on how to allocate resources.
Photo essay: Reenactors gather to mark 161 years since Fort McAllister’s fall
By Justin Taylor
On the 161st anniversary of the fall of Fort McAllister, reenactors gathered to reenact the battle in which 250 Confederate troops defended the Fort against 4,000 Union soldiers, resulting in the capture of the fort and opening the Ogeechee River to reconnect Sherman’s army with the Union fleet.
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Bryan County development authority ends negotiations with Westwin
By Margaret Coker
Amid widespread community opposition to the project, the Development Authority of Bryan County voted to end negotiations with Westwin Elements about their plans to build a nickel refinery in Richmond Hill.
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