Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025
Good morning!
Repeat after me: We Coastal Georgia residents hereby pledge to make the most of this Halloween weekend, whether that means dancing the morning or night away, casting votes for our favorite candidates (and best themed bra), or savoring oysters before chucking them into brand-new designated recycling containers. Let’s get together and show our communities some love this weekend.
Let us know how we’re doing or send a suggestion to staff@thecurrentga.org
CHATHAM COUNTY
Día de los Muertos: The Mexican custom of celebrating loved ones who have died comes alive from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3, at the Tanger Outlets, 200 Tanger Outlet Blvd., Pooler. Enjoy altars adorned with images of the departed, sugar skulls, and flowers; traditional Mexican music, performances, and food; contests for catrinas (well-dressed skeleton women) and for other costumes; hands-on crafts; and face-painting, mechanical bull and dinosaur.
Sorry Charlie’s monthlong fundraiser: 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, will be the last day 5% of your Bull River oyster order from Sorry Charlie’s will be donated to UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s Shellfish Research Lab on Skidaway Island. Make sure to eat on the bottom floor.
Dance and Drum Circle: From 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, in the center of Lake Mayer Park. Everyone is welcome to join and bring drums, tambourines, shakers, etc. Those who aren’t making music can dance. Open to the public and suitable for all ages. It’s drop-in friendly or opt to register via the link. A $5 donation is suggested for the drum instructor.
CAMDEN COUNTY
Be sure to vote…on fundraiser bras: It’s the last two days to vote for your favorite themed bra created by community members for the breast cancer fundraiser, ArtRageous. The proceeds will benefit the Southeast Georgia Health System cancer care program. $1 per vote, so go online or visit SGHS Brunswick or Camden locations. Live auction will be at 6 p.m. Nov. 7, at the Historic Ritz Theatre in Brunswick.
Halloween on Riverwalk: The GFWC-GA Woodbine Woman’s Club will host a trunk or treat event for families from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, in Woodbine. Free hot dogs and fun. For more info text 863-558-1091 or email RBird423@aol.com
Justin’s Viewfinder
Some photos don’t always make it to the story. In this weekly newsletter, The Current GA will highlight photos from staff photojournalist Justin Taylor as a behind-the-lens look at the work put into visuals at our publication. Justin’s Viewfinder will also be featured on our Instagram alongside other news and notes from the coast.
BRYAN COUNTY
Mobile Mammography Bus: From 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. today, Oct. 30, at SJC Heartwood Campus, 3700 US-17. Schedule your annual mammogram by calling (912)-819-6140.
Friends of the Library Used Book Sale: From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, at the Richmond Hill Library, 9607 Ford Ave. Gently used books will be sold. All proceeds help the library purchase additional materials and equipment.
GLYNN COUNTY
Guide for healthy fish dishes: Healthy Coastal Neighborhoods has launched a new set of resources for consuming seafood in the Golden Isles. The new guides include a mobile-friendly website, a print-friendly pamphlet, and a local cookbook. Cooks can quickly check consumption guidelines based on where seafood was caught. All recommendations are based on data from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, which regularly tests fish for contaminants in Glynn County waters and across the state.
District 5 Town Hall: Glynn County District 5 Commissioner Allen Booker will host a public town hall at 6 p.m. today, Oct. 30, at 1 Community Action Drive. The meeting will be focused on access to healthcare and wellness. It will feature a panel of speakers, including Christy Jordan, President & CEO of Southeast Georgia Health System; Kavanaugh Chandler, CEO of Coastal Community Health; and Dr. Bonzo Reddick, District Health Director for the Coastal Health District.
LIBERTY COUNTY
Write a story: Young writers ages 8-12 and 13-18 can learn the building blocks of writing a story. Classes are from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. every Thursday, at The Robin’s Nest, 102 S. Commerce St., Hinesville, next to the Susie King Taylor Museum. Register by Tuesday, Nov. 4. Schedule includes Intro to Plot on Nov. 7, Intro to Characters on Nov. 14, Plot Development on Dec. 5, and Character Development on Dec. 12. Sponsored by Hinesville Area Arts Council.
Rock out, save horses: The 3rd Annual Battle of the Bands throws down from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, at Bradwell Park, 110 S. Commerce St, Hinesville. Raffle for one night at Old Savannah B&B, plus vendors, food, and fun. Event benefits Second Chances Equine Rescue, Inc., a Hinesville nonprofit that rescues horses, donkeys, ponies, burros, and other equines.
Walthourville Trunk-or-Treat: From 6 p.m to 8 p.m. tonight, Oct. 30, get your little goblins to Walthourville City Hall’s parking lot, 222 Busbee Rd. for the Spook-Tac-Ular Trunk or Treat celebration. Candy donations for the kids are still welcome before the event starts.
Spooky storytime: Put on your costume for Spooky Storytime from 2 p.m to 3 p.m. today, Thursday, Oct. 30, at the Live Oak Public Libraries’ Hinesville Branch Children’s Storytime Room, 236 W. Memorial Drive. After storytime, strut your stuff in a mini-costume parade and practice trick-or-treating with library staff. Call 912-368-4003 for more information.
Halloween Glow Party: From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Oct. 31, it’s back to the Hinesville Branch library, 236 W. Memorial Dr. for a Halloween Glow Party. Make a neon bookmark, play games, and go trick-or-treating in your family-friendly costume.
MCINTOSH COUNTY
Celebrate fall fun: Classic car show, vendors and Doggy Day Parade at the Lions Darien Fall Festival 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, in downtown Darien and Historic Vernon Square. Click here for more info.
Free mammograms: The McIntosh County Health Department will offer free breast cancer screenings from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today, Oct. 30, at the mobile mammography unit at the Piggly Wiggly in Eulonia. Call 912-832-5473 for details.
LONG COUNTY
Christmas Parade: If you’re feeling like floating it out this November, register for the Long County annual Christmas parade through this link. The theme is “candy land” and the route will go from the Long County High School to the Board of Education parking lot at 75 W. Academy Street.
EFFINGHAM COUNTY
Early voting: The Effingham County Board of Elections and Registration Office will be open one last day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31 for early voting for the Nov. 4 election. The office is at 284 GA-119 South, Springfield.
Fraudulent notices warning: Effingham County citizens have reported receiving unauthorized bills for payment. These notices are not official bills issued by Effingham County and should be ignored. If in doubt about the validity of an invoice or document, report the concern at 912-754-8080.
ALONG THE COAST
DNR expands Oyster Shell Recycling Program: Two new drop-off centers have opened at the North River Boat Ramp in Camden County and the South Port River Boat Ramp in McIntosh County. The new drop-off location are available to the public seven days a week. A recycling station on East Montgomery Cross Road in Savannah has been upgraded through a partnership between DNR and the Coastal Conservation Association. To learn more about shell recycling locations and how to participate and how these shells help Coastal Georgia, visit WeRecycleShell.com or CoastalGaDNR.org/HERU.
New Disabled South food assistance: New Disabled South is a disability rights and justice organization operating in 14 Southern states, including Georgia. Due to the government shutdown, SNAP benefits will run out for November. New Disabled South will help fill that gap by providing one-time payments to those affected by the loss of SNAP. Funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis. The organization will distribute $100 to eligible individuals and $250 to households with two or more people at the same address. The application link is provided here. The donation link is also available here.
Free breast cancer screenings: Several health departments in the Coastal Health District are hosting free breast cancer screening events in October. Breast cancer screenings are provided year-round through the Breast and Cervical Cancer Program at no cost to women aged 40 and older without health insurance. For more information, click here.
Flu shots available: Health departments in Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, and McIntosh counties now offer updated 2025-2026 flu vaccine. Supplies are limited in some locations as vaccine shipments continue to arrive. Call your local health department to confirm availability and schedule an appointment. A yearly flu vaccine is the best way to prevent serious flu-related illness for everyone age 6 months and older. Costs are typically covered by insurance, and health departments accept many health insurance plans, and low-cost options for those without health insurance coverage. Information at coastalhealthdistrict.org/flu.
COVID shots available:The health departments in Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, and McIntosh Counties are now offering the Pfizer brand of COVID vaccine without a prescription, the Coastal Health District announced Tuesday. COVD vaccines are also available without a prescription at pharmacies, Healthbeat Atlanta reports.
Grants for teachers: Georgia DNR is again offering a $1,000 grant to a kindergarten through fifth-grade public or private school teacher in the state who demonstrates exceptional energy and innovation in teaching life sciences. Teachers who apply must use Georgia’s native animals, plants and habitats as the context for covering Georgia Standards of Excellence. Although the grant emphasizes life science, cross-curricular teaching is highly encouraged. The deadline to apply is Nov. 3. For more, visit georgiawildlife.com/TeachingConservationGrant or contact DNR’s Linda May (email or 706-319-0211) or Anna Yellin (email or 678-459-8393).
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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