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Meanwhile at the
Lyndon House Arts Center

The Art of Jeremy Ayers is on display in the Lukasiewicz Gallery at the Lyndon House Arts Center through January 12, 2021.

Ayers, an inspirational artist, lyricist, activist and a most beloved member of our community, passed away in 2016. This exhibit features his photography, painting and drawing on loan from a number of local collections.

Jeremy Ayers was an inspirational participant in the Athens art community for over four decades, connecting the vibrant art and music scene of a Southern college town to New York City. As one of Andy Warhol’s Superstars under the pseudonym of Silva Thin, Jeremy (then known as Jerry) was active in the Warhol Factory scene in the 1970s. After returning to his native town of Athens where Ayers’ band Limbo District introduced an eccentric sound and vision, he traveled frequently between Athens and New York, particularly during the height of the OCCUPY movement which he documented with photography. Throughout his life, Ayers enveloped himself in art, embodying his artistic philosophy with words of kindness and encouragement.

Please note gallery hours and numbers of visitors at one time are subject to change and CDC guidelines will be followed. Currently, the Lyndon House Arts Center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. All exhibits are open to the public and free of charge. Children must be accompanied by an adult. The center is closed on Saturdays when there is a UGA home football game.

Coinciding with this exhibit, the Georgia Museum of Art at the University of Georgia will place two photographs from its collection by Ayers on view in its permanent collection galleries.

For more information, please call 706-613-3623.

Fun Gorelore!

The Leisure Services Department will host a selection of Halloween events throughout the community at various parks and facilities.

A new event this year is “Drive Thru Boo” where attendees will drive through a specially designed Halloween area, pick up a sanitized goody bag (while supplies last) at the end of the drive, and have a frighteningly good time! This event is scheduled for Thursday, October 22 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. and will take place at East Athens Educational Dance Center, Lay Park, and Memorial Park.

Other Department Halloween activities include:

• Creepy Crafts on Fridays in October at Lay Park
• Mystery Ghost Hunt through November 6 at Dudley Park
• Scary Movie Cinema on October 23 at Rocksprings Park
• Franken-tastic on October 28 at Rocksprings Park
• Four Eyes Band performance on October 28 at Lay Park
• Monster Mash Dance Class on October 29 at Rocksprings Park
• Spooktacular Day off School Program on October 30 at Rocksprings Park
• Spooky Science Camp on October 30 at East Athens Community Center

Complete information, including descriptions, fees and times, is available at www.accgov.com/halloween.

Masks are required, along with social distancing. Events are designed to adhere to CDC guidance and local ordinances.

For more information, call 706-613-3800 or visit www.accgov.com/halloween .

Firefly Trail!

The Leisure Services Department hosted a dedication ceremony and opened the newly completed
Athens-Clarke County portion of the Firefly Trail on Friday, October 16.

This newly completed portion is approximately 1.5 miles long and located in the City of Winterville’s historic Main Street.

This project includes the establishment of an improved surface trail for non-motorized vehicles along the historic Georgia Railroad corridor between Athens Road and the Athens-Clarke/Oglethorpe County line. The trail will allow for pedestrians and bicyclists alike to safely participate in biking, jogging, and walking activities. Athens-Clarke County is continuing to expand pedestrian and bicycle facilities along the Clarke County portion of the Firefly Trail network between downtown Athens and the City of Winterville.

The expanded vision of Firefly Trail is a planned 39-mile rail-trail from Athens to Union Point in Northeast Georgia, connecting Athens-Clarke, Oglethorpe, and Greene Counties. The historic rail line, known as the Athens Branch of the Georgia Railroad, branched off the still-active Augusta-to-Atlanta line in Union Point and passed through the towns of Woodville, Maxeys, Stephens, Crawford, Arnoldsville, and Winterville on its way to Athens.

For more information on the Firefly Trail, please call 706-613-3801.

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Park and Facility Update

All Department parks and facilities continue to operate under restricted use and limited public access.

The following restrictions are in effect for the immediate future:

• Athletic fields and gymnasiums are open. Athletic leagues can participate in internal scrimmages (no out of county teams can participate).

• Basketball, pickleball and tennis courts as well as playgrounds are open. Dog park access is limited.

• Bear Hollow Zoo and Morton Theatre remains closed as well as volleyball courts.

Face covers must be worn at all parks and facilities. People are reminded to continue to limit close contact, practice physical distancing measures, wash or sanitize hands frequently, and follow group gathering and other guidelines per the governor's statewide executive orders.

For more information, please call 706-613-3800.

Virtual Leisure Services

Life may look different these days, but the Leisure Services Department staff is dedicated to serving the Athens community by bringing engaging and educational programming to the public.

Now that schools are back in session, add to the school day by incorporating a Virtual Leisure Services program.

Art, dance, music, nature, sports, theatre, trails, zoo animals and much more are just a couple of clicks away!

There are a variety of free programs presented by staff from across the department! Stay active and engaged at home.