Head-to-head
Tuesday, Oct. 6 — Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms and Republican Rick Jackson face undecided voters tonight at 8 p.m. in a televised event that organizers at Atlanta News First are calling a “modified town hall.” It’s the only confirmed meeting of the two gubernatorial candidates before the Nov. 3 election, which is four weeks from today.
☀️ Sunny with a high of 76° today.
🔐 Hackers accessed Georgia Power’s customer portal last week, exposing contact details and the last four digits of Social Security numbers for about 300,000 customers. Bank and card data were not affected.
🧑🏫 DeKalb’s school board named Norman C. Sauce superintendent yesterday, the same day the former superintendent pleaded guilty in a kickback scheme from his previous Illinois district.
🗓️ The Atlanta City Council voted yesterday to delay a decision on selling the city jail to Fulton County by two weeks.
🏢 Buckhead senior living community Corso Atlanta is adding an 11-story residential tower with 110 private residences that is expected to open in 2028.
⚽ Hundreds of fans showed up to celebrate Atlanta’s new professional women’s soccer team, Atlanta City FC, at a launch event over the weekend.
🥫 Jon West, the Atlanta Community Food Bank’s vice president of partner relations, will take over as interim chief executive officer on Nov. 2.
🎭 Professional Shakespeare performances at the Avondale Estates Town Green are partnering with a new theatre group, Georgia Classic Theater, and are rebranding as the “Shakespeare at Sunset Series.”
⚾ The Braves host the Dodgers tonight at 6 p.m. in Game 3 of the NLDS, with the series tied 1-1 (680 AM/93.7 FM; Fox Sports).
🏈 The Falcons tied a franchise record with five rushing touchdowns in a 45-24 win over the Saints last night in New Orleans.
ELSEWHERE
📺 Skydance, the company absorbing Warner Bros. Discovery today, will keep Mark Thompson atop CNN and Bari Weiss at CBS News, signaling the two newsrooms will stay separate for now.
🎵 Taylor Swift’s “Patient Zero” debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100, ending Ella Langley’s record 24-week run at No. 1 and tying Drake for the most chart-topping debuts with 10.
🎗️ Televangelist Jim Bakker, whose PTL Club ministry collapsed amid a sex scandal and his 1989 fraud conviction, died yesterday at 86.
🎗️ Dennis Hastert, the longest-serving GOP House speaker, died Saturday at 84. He was later imprisoned in a hush-money case involving sexual abuse of wrestlers he coached.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Monks Meadery updates
• Halloween safety
• Cumberland Island development • Upcoming Events
AND
• Volunteer Opportunities
🏘️ Priced at $599,000, this three-bedroom Upper Westside townhome features a top-level double terrace with space to dine, lounge, and entertain. Listed with Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty, the home offers hardwood floors and quartz countertops, and each bedroom has an en suite bathroom. The Works and Westside Park are nearby. SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. Monks Meadery planning big events in Poncey-Highland, second location in Stone Mountain
🎲 On an early August evening, two men in crisp polo shirts accidentally encounter a performance by Land Loch’d, a Celtic, pirate, and sea shanty cover band, playing on the back patio of Monks Meadery in Poncey-Highland.
A member of the band cracks a joke about the gentlemen’s confusion before inviting them to stay, order some mead (honey and water fermented with yeast), and partake in the merriment. They do, for hours.
🍺 Sarra Sedghi has more on Monks Meadery’s lineup of events here.
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2. Halloween safety tips: trick-or-treat smart without killing the fun
TOGETHER WITH TRUSTDALE
🎃 Most Halloween mishaps come down to a handful of things you can sort out in about 10 minutes: where you’ll walk, how visible your kids are, and whether your own front steps are welcoming and safe.
Nail those now, and you get to spend Halloween night eating Kit Kats instead of worrying. But if you need a little extra help, this guide from TrustDALE has you covered.
🍬 Check out the full guide to Halloween safety here.
🏈 College football is coming to Chamblee! The City of Chamblee is excited to announce that it has been designated an official University of Georgia Alumni Association watch party location, giving Bulldogs fans a place to gather, cheer, and experience game day together. See the full schedule here. SPONSOR MESSAGE
3. Mansions meet marshes on Cumberland Island, where the shoreline is retreating
🐚 The sun sets over the marsh side of Cumberland Island. Lucky guests at the Greyfield Inn might see the amber rays through their windows, beaming down on rivers snaking through grass. Campers, too, can catch the last light over the Cumberland Sound, if they can find their way back to their tents through dark forest trails.
It’s an incredible view – and it’s a view private landowners may soon take advantage of.
In a rather unprecedented turn of events for Cumberland Island, since Congress established it as a national seashore in 1972 (one of 10 in the country), the National Park Service is publicly and officially greenlighting private development on public land. In its first round of land exchanges, the NPS is allowing construction on a strip along the marsh, just feet away from the sound.
🏗️ Read more in this story from GPB.
4. Upcoming Events
SPONSORED BY ATLANTA BELTLINE
🍂 With cooler weather, there’s no better time to explore Atlanta’s neighborhoods and experience some of the city’s favorite fall festivals along the Beltline. Get ideas here!
🎙️ Finn Wolfhard; tonight at 8 p.m. at Variety Playhouse.
🏀 Atlanta Dream vs. New York Liberty; tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. at State Farm Arena.
🎷 Jazz on the Green; Thurs., Oct. 8 at 6:30 p.m. at Emory University.
🎭 Like Father; Oct. 8-Nov. 15 at the Alliance Theatre.
🏳️🌈 Atlanta Pride Festival; Oct. 10-11 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Piedmont Park.
📧 Find out how you can get your event featured in Rough Draft.
🗓️ For more events, visit RoughDraftAtlanta.com/events.
🎸 Gather friends and family for Wire & Wood, a FREE festival Oct. 9 and 10, with over 30 performances across 7+ stages throughout downtown Alpharetta, with everything from Americana and Indie to Southern Rock, Pop, Country, and more! SPONSOR MESSAGE
5. Volunteer Opportunities
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HANDS ON ATLANTA
🛒 The Grocery Spot is looking for volunteers on Wednesday morning in Atlanta. Expect to sort and organize donations, stock shelves, and unload deliveries.
🌳 Wylde Center needs help at Sugar Creek Garden on Thursday morning in Decatur. Be ready to help with weeding, watering, mulching, composting, and sowing.
🌿 West Atlanta Watershed Alliance (pictured) needs volunteers on Saturday morning on the Westside. Come and help restore the habitat, remove invasive plants, and do other maintenance tasks.
🔤 Play News Word Atlanta, our daily word game.
💡 Help support independent local media by becoming a Rough Draft member today. Pick up some cool swag, including our new, limited-edition LOCAL hoodie.
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