School Daze, Books, Owls,

Thursday, June 30, 2026

Good morning!

🌴This is Gracie Nelson here to bring you resources to prepare for the upcoming school year as well as fun events happening along the coast. Ready, set? Go! 🐢

Let us know how we’re doing or send a suggestion to staff@thecurrentga.org

CHATHAM COUNTY

A Chatham Area Transit bus stops to pick up a passenger in Savannah, Student school passes are now available for $25 a month. Credit: Justin Taylor/The Current GA

CAT student pass changes: Chatham Area Transit Authority (CAT) has announced that it will no longer be offering zero-fare student passes for the 2026-2027 school year. Students who ride CAT to and from school will be required to purchase CAT’s discounted student fare at a reduced rate of 75 cents per ride or $25 per month. Buy student passes online at CAT’s website.

Back to School Bash: Get ready to kick off the school year at the Back to School Bash hosted by The Savannah Police Department Community Engagement Division and the Savannah Impact Program. This event is free to attend and will provide over over 600 free book bags and other school supplies. It will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1, at two locations: the Savannah Impact Program building, at 2005 Waters Ave., and SPD Central Precinct, at 1710 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Marsh Protection Paddle: One Hundred Miles leads a group paddle to raise awareness around changes that the Georgia Department of Natural Resources has proposed for private recreational docks. Meet at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, Turner Creek, Savannah. Learn more about the issue, what you can do to help, and enjoy the marshes. This is BYOB (bring your own boat) event. Every participant must have their own boat, life vest, and paddle.

📚Teacher Book Giveaway: Goodwill Southeast Georgia will host its 7th annual Teacher Book Giveaway from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, at all participating Goodwill Southeast Georgia retail store locations (not including Bit of Blue, Goodwill Outlets, or The Vault boutiques). Local educators with a valid school or homeschool ID will have the opportunity to obtain 10 free books as well as 10% off purchases during the giveaway. Pre-register here.

🌿Let justice grow: Georgia Interfaith Power & Light (GIPL) invites Green Teams, faith leaders, and environmental activists to their Coastal Green Team Summit from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Aug. 15 at White Bluff Presbyterian Church, located at 10710 White Bluff Road, Savannah. This summit will explore climate solutions and community-supporting policies through workshops and will feature keynote speaker, Janisse Ray. General admission is $25; students, $10. Tickets will not be available at the door so be sure to pre-register.

CAMDEN COUNTY

“Come From Away”: Saltwater Performing Arts Center will be showcasing the Broadway musical, “Come From Away” at 7 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. on Aug. 14-16 and 21-23 at at Saltwater Performing Arts’ new home, located in Kings Bay Village Shopping Center, 117 City Smitty Drive, St. Marys. Tickets are available at saltwaterpac.org.

🦉Owl Prowl: celebrate International Owl Awareness Day with the Camden County Audubon Society at 8p.m. on Aug. 4 at Crooked River State Park, located at 6222 Charlie Smith Sr. Hwy, Saint Marys. Owl spotters will meet at the Nature Center and are encouraged to bring bug spray and comfortable shoes for walking.

BRYAN COUNTY

State of the Community: The State of the Community Address, will inform chamber members and residents on the future developments of the local county and city governments. The presentation will be 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Aug.14 at Richmond Hill City Center, located at 520 Cedar St., Richmond Hill. Registration can be found here.

Hurricane registry: Residents who have medical needs, physical disabilities and other transportation limitations and who need assistance have two options to register for help for hurricane evacuation. Residents of Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long and Mcintosh counties may call 833-243-7344 or visit the Coastal Health District website at coastalhealthdistrict.org/registry to download an application.

GLYNN COUNTY

🎨Multi-sensory art exhibition: experience an exhibition of paintings, sculptures and performance art by local artist, Randy Siegel. The public is invited to the open reception with Siegel from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 30, at the Portman Gallery at GVA, located at 106 Island Dr., St. Simons Island.

Georgia’s Amazing Tides: learn how to read tide tables and navigate local waters at the Georgia’s Amazing Tides Educational Program, presented by America’s Boating Club Golden Isles. “Georgia’s Amazing Tides: Why Our Coast Works the Way It Does” will take place from 7 p.m. Aug. 13 at the University of Georgia Marine Extension, located at 715 Bay St., Brunswick. Admission is $20 for members, and $40 for non-members. Advance registration is encouraged.

LIBERTY COUNTY

View from Susie King Taylor Freedom Park at Jones Creek looking towards I-95, Midway, April 13, 2026. Taylor and relatives escaped slavery on April 13, 1862 by rowing from this spot to St. Catherine’s Island, about 22 miles away. Credit: Robin Kemp/The Current GA

Susie King Taylor 178th birthday: Celebrate Liberty County’s hometown hero Susie King Taylor’s birthday from 10 a.m. on Aug. 8 at at the new Susie King Taylor Freedom Park on Isle of Wight.

Literacy meeting: State Rep. Al Williams will host a literacy meeting at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1, at the Liberty County Performing Arts Center, located at 2140 E. Oglethorpe Hwy., Hinesville. Guests include the author of HB 1193, the Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026, and a longtime teacher. Williams says 60 percent of Liberty County 3rd graders do not read at grade level. All interested parties are urged to attend.

MCINTOSH COUNTY

🌊Tides & Tales Film Fest: the Darien-McIntosh County Chamber, Georgia Conservancy and Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve present a night of short films that capture the history and ecological significance of our local marshes and coastline. The festival will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Aug. 13 at The Fish Dock Bar & Grill, 1398 Sapelo Ave., Townsend. Registration can be found here.

ALONG THE COAST

Protect yourself: All branches of the Coastal Health District are offering free testing for sexually transmitted infections this month. One in five people in the U.S. are infected yet often don’t realize it until long-term serious damage develops. Protect yourself and the ones you love—get checked. See the schedule by county for an STI testing event near you.

Flu shots available: Health departments in Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, and McIntosh counties now offer updated 2025-2026 flu vaccine. Supplies limited in some locations. 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. Insurance usually covers costs. Low-cost options available if you’re uninsured.

COVID shots available: The health departments in Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, and McIntosh Counties are offering the Pfizer brand of COVID vaccine without a prescription, the Coastal Health District announced.

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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