🌱 Could your downtown Athens business qualify for up to $20,000?

Good day Athens! We're here again with what you need to know today. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Could your downtown Athens business qualify for up to $20,000?
• Which Athens band director is headed to the 2026 Rose Parade?
• How Trimble seized control of a frigid Athens County rivalry game

Also on today's calendar: Athens Art Guild Art Market and 5 more events.

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Athens? Post it to Athens photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Mostly cloudy and not as cold, with a high of 40 and low of 34 degrees.
• Wednesday: Clouds giving way to some sun, temps: high: 45, low: 27.
• Thursday: Cloudy; p.m. rain, breezy, with a high of 56 and low of 30 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• City of Athens and Athens Main Street offering grants for downtown business improvements (256today.com) — Downtown Athens businesses can now apply for city-funded grants of up to $20,000 to make permanent improvements like façade upgrades, accessibility fixes, and energy-efficiency projects. Athens Main Street is administering the program, with applications due Feb. 9, 2026 and funding awarded on a first-come basis after Athens City Council approval.
   

• Two local music educators to march in 2026 Rose Parade (woub.org) — An Athens City School District band director will help represent Southeast Ohio in the 2026 Rose Parade, marching with a national ensemble of more than 350 music educators. Alongside a Nelsonville-York colleague, he’ll spotlight local school colors and the impact of band programs on students’ lives.
   

• Trimble takes down Nelsonville-York in 64-44 rivalry victory (athensmessenger.com) — A heated girls’ basketball rivalry in Glouster saw Trimble pull away from Nelsonville-York 64–44, in a matchup that had Athens County fans packing William White Gymnasium despite the snow. With Athens on Nelsonville-York’s upcoming league schedule, this win sets the tone for more intense Tri-Valley Conference action around the county this week.
   

📸 Around Athens

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Athens

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday December 20

• Athens Art Guild Art Market
  Athens Community Center, 701 E State St, Athens
  9:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Wednesday December 17

• Hatha Yoga Intermediate
  Athens, OH Calendar , 701 East State Street , Athens
  8:30 am

Thursday December 18

• Bootcamp
  Athens, OH Calendar , 701 East State Street , Athens
  6:30 am

Friday December 19

• Silver Sneakers Boom Move
  Athens, OH Calendar , 701 East State Street , Athens
  9:30 am
• Yoga 50+
  Athens, OH Calendar , 701 East State Street , Athens
  10:30 am
• Wee Wigglers
  Athens Community Center Gym B , 701 East State Street , Athens
  11:00 am

Sunday December 21

• Scottish Folk Dance Intermediate
  Athens, OH Calendar , 701 East State Street , Athens
  2:00 pm

Saturday December 27

• Athens Art Guild Art Market
  Athens Community Center , 701 E State St , Athens
  9:00 am

📣 Athens Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Tuesday December 16

• Pins & Needles Craft Time
  Wells (Albany) Public Library , 5200 Washington Rd , Albany
  1:00 pm
• Dungeons and Dragons
  The Plains Public Library , 14 S Plains Rd , The Plains
  4:00 pm
• Library Jam Session
  Wells (Albany) Public Library , 5200 Washington Rd , Albany
  6:00 pm

Wednesday December 17

• Baby and Toddler Playtime
  Wells (Albany) Public Library , 5200 Washington Rd , Albany
  11:00 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Taco Bell posted a job opening for Food Prep / Inventory Stock in Athens. Apply here.
• Career Connections posted a job opening for Payroll Assistant in Athens. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Athens here.

🗞 Nearby News

Logan

• Mary J. Arnold (loganhockingtimes.org)
• WL-S falls in thriller to Emmanuel Christian Academy; more boys basketball scores (peakofohio.com)
• James L. Shumaker - Logan-Hocking Times (loganhockingtimes.org)

Vincent

• Logan takes first place in 2025 Hickory Grove Invitational (wtap.com)

Ok Athens! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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