Good morning, Savannah.

Savannah hosts free events this week: Davenport House Museum offers a docent open house Wednesday and Historic Savannah Foundation holds a lecture Thursday at Preservation Center; Startup Savannah runs a tech session with tacos at Clyde Venue and Foxy Loxy holds trivia Thursday; Flannery O’Connor Book Club meets Sunday.

America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia got a $100,000 grant from the Georgia Farm to Food Bank Program to help fight food insecurity and support local farmers.

The award is part of an $825,000 fund helping over 430,000 Georgians get food.

The Living Vine will host the Savannah Pickleball Festival at Lake Mayer Community Park on Aug.

29—30. The two-day event features pickleball competitions and community activities with proceeds benefiting programs for mothers and babies in need.

5 Spot restaurants awarded $5,000 in scholarships to three employees through GLGSAV’s Service Success Scholarship Program, which collects $1 from each fried pickle appetizer sold & supports team members’ educational goals.

Award winners from Richmond Hill and Midtown will use the funds to cover tuition and related expenses.

Dr. Alyssia Coates, bringing 24+ years of leadership experience, was elected as the new director of the Consortium of Doctors at its virtual 35th annual conference in July; the group will hold its 36th meeting in Savannah in July 2027.

Organizers announced the 45th Savannah Jazz Festival will take place at Forsyth Park Sept.

18-20 with 15 free performances dedicated to Bob Faircloth on his 90th birthday. Featured acts include EG Kight, Huntertones, and more, and seating is available for purchase in the Patron’s Tent.

Treylor Park Double Wide Diner on Bay Street is hosting a week-long tribute to Dolly Parton with half-off drinks from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through the rest of the week, and customers can also watch her classic film 9 to 5 at the location.

First Bryan Mass Choir will hold a fashion show on Sept.

5 at 5:00 p.m. at Sessoms Hall on West Bryan Street; the public is invited and refreshments will be served after the event.

Archival photos from Savannah Morning News show how local squares evolved from the 60s to the 80s, revealing shifts in design & community use that capture the city’s rich history.

Local teachers will attend a two-day professional development session on Sept.

3–4 at Front Porch Improv to kick off the Savannah Music Festival’s Musical Explorers season. The training will introduce music curriculum and classroom activities and involve featured musicians and a Carnegie Hall representative.

Georgia regulators cleared a key step for OpenAI’s planned $20 billion data center in Effingham County on Wednesday, Aug.

26 when PSC staff declined to object to Georgia Power’s electricity contract + the agreement includes protections that help keep household bills lower and will move forward under the large-load review process.

SCCPSS staff have raised health alarms over mold exposure at Jenkins High School due to ongoing AC outages — the district said cooling is restored in most classrooms but will run environmental tests by the end of the week.

Providers met Wednesday in Savannah to share digital health solutions aimed at bridging care gaps in counties lacking hospitals.

The forum highlighted a text messaging platform for 24/7 patient support and a take-home blood pressure program for new mothers.

On August 12, 2026, Coastal Empire Habitat for Humanity broke ground on two affordable homes on Walton St. in Liberty City for partner families—Ladorne Johnson and Yolanda Jeff—after retired real estate professional Dottie Little donated the land; the event marked the final phase of an 18-month Homeownership Program.

The Savannah Bananas are nearing the end of their U.S. tour with limited tickets available for upcoming games, including local matches at Historic Grayson Stadium (Sept.

11 to Sept. 13) and playoffs starting on Oct. 1.