Georgia Magazine - September 2024 - 9

Georgia glimpses
T
Rock
Lobsters
on ice
he Athens Rock Lobsters hockey team,
the newest member of the Federal
Prospects Hockey League (FPHL), is
preparing to make its debut on Oct. 26 at the
Classic Center Arena.
More than 8,000 participants voted on the team's name, which pays tribute
to the song by the Athens-based band, The B-52s. The rival name, the Classic
City Panic, also honored another iconic Athens band, Widespread Panic. In the
end, the Rock Lobsters triumphed by a narrow margin of just 565 votes.
" From the start, we knew we wanted a name that encapsulates the unique
energy and spirit of Athens, " said Britton Briley, director of marketing for the
Rock Lobsters. " The response from the community was incredible. The name
'Rock Lobsters' struck a chord with our fans, blending music, creativity and a
touch of humor. It's the perfect identity for our hockey team. "
The B-52s expressed their excitement in a statement: " Athens, Ga., is our
birthplace and where we started our journey 'down the Atlanta Highway' to
spread our homegrown groove out to the universe. 'Rock Lobster' was one of
our very first songs, and we can testify that millions in the galaxy have gone
wild to this deep-sea surf anthem. We are truly honored to have our hometown
hockey team named the Rock Lobsters. As the song declares, 'Let's rock!' "
In preparation for their first season, the Rock Lobsters announced Steve
Martinson as the head coach in June. Martinson's 14-year playing career
includes 49 NHL games and two championships. He has spent 26 years as a
head coach in AA hockey and secured 10 championships.
Scott Hull, executive vice president of the Rock Lobsters, emphasized the
team's commitment to community engagement.
" Athens is a city with a rich cultural heritage, and the Rock Lobsters will
be an extension of that, " he said. " We're not just building a hockey team; we're
building a community. The support from local artists, musicians and fans has
been overwhelming, and we can't wait to hit the ice in October. "
For more information about the Rock Lobster hockey team or to purchase
tickets, visit rocklobsterhockey.com.
Postal Service honors baseball great
The Atlanta Braves and the U.S. Postal Service
(USPS) introduced a special " forever " stamp to honor
the late Henry Louis " Hank " Aaron in July.
The stamp design features a portrait of Aaron
as an Atlanta Braves player, inspired by a 1968
photograph. The stamp and pane were designed
by USPS art director Greg Breeding, with original
artwork by Chuck Styles and typography by Kevin
Cantrell.
* Making Macon VisitAble. Visit Macon
has completed the VisitAble Advocate
certification, which underscores the city's
dedication to ensuring accessibility for all
people. The visitor center will collaborate
with local stores and restaurants in
downtown Macon to ensure they have
facilities and services that are universally
accessible and accommodating.
* Much-needed shade. Funded by a
$1 million grant from the Georgia
Forestry Commission, the Savannah Tree
Foundation aims to plant 1,600 trees in
the next four years in marginalized
communities around Savannah to help
fight canopy loss and prevent tree
thinning.
* Making history. More than $120,000 was
awarded to eight local governments in
Georgia to help support historic
preservation activities. These grants are a
product of the 2024 Historic Preservation
Fund, a federal program managed by the
U.S. Department of the Interior's National
Park Service. The recipients include Walker
County and the cities of Cartersville,
Dallas, Douglas, Monroe, Rome,
Thomaston and Tybee Island.
* Missing your license or ID? Replace a
lost license or ID by using DDS Online
Services at dds.georgia.gov.
www.georgiamagazine.org
9
* Master 4-H'er. Savannah Bryant of
Marietta is the Georgia 4-H 2024 State
Photography and Videography Contest
winner. She was recognized as a Master
4-H'er for her video project. Here, she is
pictured with Jim Jess, associate editor of
Georgia Magazine, which sponsors the
contest.
USPS
GEORGIA 4-H
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https://www.rocklobstershockey.com/ http://dds.georgia.gov http://www.georgiamagazine.org
Georgia Magazine - September 2024

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