🦅👁️ Classrooms, Comeback, and Community

Good morning, Henry County!

We're starting the week with a full house.

Jayden Williams sat down with Eagle Eye Digest for a different kind of conversation about life after the title, what he believes he got wrong, and what comes next.

Henry County Schools just named its Teacher of the Year, and her story is one worth reading twice.

Applications are now open for the county's new STEM high school.

Women in business have a strong reason to show up Thursday morning.

And a national heritage area that includes part of Henry County is celebrating 20 years.

Let’s get into it.

Heritage Park turns into the tastiest stop in Henry County this Saturday. The International Food Fest brings diverse food and local vendors out for a free afternoon of browsing, eating, and people-watching, while next door the PCA-sanctioned Pizza Cook-Off has home cooks and pros going head-to-head for cash prizes and a shot at nationals. Come hungry, stay for the show.

📅 Saturday, October 3
🕐 Food Fest 10AM–3PM · Cook-Off 9AM–3:30PM
📍 Heritage Park, 101 Lake Dow Rd, McDonough
🎟️ Free to attend · $150 entry to compete in the cook-off

HENRY COUNTY- When Desire Gosa took over her fourth-grade class at Luella Elementary, only 46% of her students were reading at grade level. By the end of the year, that number had climbed to 97%. According to the Henry Herald, Gosa was named Henry County Schools' Teacher of the Year for 2025-2026, recognized for results that speak for themselves.

Why it matters: In a district working to close persistent achievement gaps, a teacher who moves the needle by 51 points in a single year is doing something the whole county should know about. Henry County Schools

HENRY COUNTY- Henry County Schools is accepting applications for its new STEM-focused high school, set to open in August 2027. The school will offer specialized coursework in science, technology, engineering and math for students across the county. Applications open tomorrow, Tuesday, September 29.

Why it matters: This is the kind of school families have been asking for. If your student is interested, the window opens this week. Learn more and apply here

The Women's Leadership Council is hosting its next EmPOWER Her Coffee Hour on Thursday, October 1, at the Henry County Chamber in McDonough. The topic is building partnerships that move you forward, with conversation leaders from Central Georgia EMC, VyStar Credit Union, BAAB Writing and Marketing Services, and leadership readiness expert Elaine Robinson Beattie. The series is sponsored by Kaiser Permanente.

Why it matters: One of the better professional development opportunities in Henry County for women in business, and it's right here. Thursday, October 1, 8:00 to 9:00 AM, Hudgins Room, 1709 Hwy 20 W, McDonough. Register Here

By Shasa Rogers

STOCKBRIDGE - We had planned to talk about who Jayden Williams was as mayor. By the time we spoke, the question had changed.

This wasn't the interview originally planned.

Jayden Williams and I were scheduled to talk as part of Leaders in Focus, a series of conversations with Henry County officials about the people behind the titles. That interview never happened.

When Williams and I eventually spoke by phone, the goal wasn't to go back over everything that had already been discussed publicly. The question had shifted.

Who is Jayden Williams when the title is gone? What does he believe he got wrong? And what comes next?

Williams' answer began with something that hadn't changed.

"I am still a country boy whose hometown is Stockbridge," he said.

Williams said the experience revealed something about his own "tenacity" and "courage."

That confidence exists alongside an acknowledgment that he could have been better prepared for the job.

Williams said he entered office expecting onboarding on the city's financial, administrative, and legal procedures. He said he did not receive the level of onboarding he expected. At the same time, he acknowledged that he could have taken more initiative himself.

"I take full accountability that I could have asked for training," Williams said. "I could have asked more questions."

Later in the conversation, Williams returned to what he could take from his mistakes.

"Nobody's perfect, and we all make mistakes," he said. "Sometimes it takes a point to where you have to just ask yourself, 'Hey, you messed up. You need to learn from that.'"

But Williams was equally clear that he had no intention of disappearing from the community.

"I have no reason to disappear," he said.

Williams acknowledged that the experience had been "heavy" and that he needed time to "take a moment and just kind of relax and get myself together." But he said there was never a point when he intended to stop showing up in his community.

He described the ordinary life that was still there outside City Hall: sitting on his porch, talking to his neighbor while she cuts the grass, laughing over "some iced tea or something."

"I was not going to give up because people try to embarrass me in the public," Williams said. "That's not what my grandfather taught me, my grandmother, or even my parents."

Asked how he was doing emotionally, Williams was direct.

"I'm okay."

He said his family is "close-knit" and that they had been leaning on one another. Williams said he had been leaning "more on my faith more than anything," drawing strength from the biblical story of Daniel.

Williams has not decided what his next step involving Stockbridge will be. He said he is taking things "one day at a time" and talking with his family and legal team.

On the subject of service, Williams was clear.

"I don't see it as politics," he said. "I see it as service."

Williams said he has been involved in community service since he was 13, long before becoming mayor.

"I don't have to do it with a title."

By Jeff Dingler

Arabia Mountain might be 400 million years old, but the organization that helps steward and tell the mountain's story just turned 20!

Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area was designated by congress in 2006 and is now one of three National Heritage Areas (NHAs) in Georgia. Under the National Park Service, there are more than 60 NHAs across the nation now, each one serving as a kind of museum without walls that tells the unique story of a whole region, not just one park or preserve.

In the case of Arabia Mountain NHA, this heritage area stretches 40,000 acres. It includes parts of three Metro Atlanta counties (DeKalb, Rockdale, and Henry) from the Monastery of the Holy Spirit and Panola Mountain State Park in the south to historic Lithonia and Flat Rock farther north, and the Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve at its center.

To mark 20 years of nonprofit work, preservation, conservation, and community engagement, the Arabia Alliance, which manages the Heritage Area, is throwing a big 20th Anniversary Celebration on Sunday, October 11 from 2-6pm. The celebration will take place at Vaughters' Barn and Meadow at 3366 Klondike Road in Stonecrest. Expect live blues and bluegrass music, free ice cream, local food vendors (including BBQ), and popup exhibits from our partners, including one about the history of Arabia Mountain NHA inside historic Vaughters' Barn itself!

"Our National Heritage Area started because a small group of individuals saw the value of protecting public lands for the sole enjoyment of others," said Revonda Cosby, Executive Director of the Arabia Alliance. "Flash forward 20 years, we're still proud to be protecting these places that tell America's story, and we're looking forward to building economic vitality and driving tourism that never loses its sense of community."

The Arabia Alliance will also be hosting an NHA 20th Anniversary Founders Coffee on Friday, October 30 at Panola Mountain State Park's Event Room. Enjoy coffee, tea, a light breakfast, and a chance to meet and greet the co-founders of Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area: Becky Kelley and Kelly Jordan, as well as others who helped lift this NHA off the ground.

Both events are FREE to attend. More info at arabiaalliance.org.

THINGS TO DO

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

Monday Night Cruise · 📍 Summit Racing, McDonough · 🕐 6:00–8:00 PM · Free · Classic car cruise-in to kick off the week.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29

Toddler Storytime · 📍 McDonough Public Library, Storytime Room · 🕐 10:30–11:00 AM · Free · Weekly storytime for toddlers.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

Preschool Storytime · 📍 McDonough Public Library, Storytime Room · 🕐 11:00 AM–12:00 PM · Free · Weekly storytime for preschoolers. (This exact date not explicitly confirmed on the library's calendar — verify before print.)

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1

EmPOWER Her Coffee Hour · 📍 Henry County Chamber, Hudgins Room, 1709 Hwy 20 W, McDonough · 🕐 8:00–9:00 AM · Free · Women's Leadership Council conversation on building partnerships that move you forward.

Bike Night at Sweet Auburn BBQ · 📍 Sweet Auburn BBQ, McDonough · 🕐 5:00–9:00 PM · Free · Community motorcycle showcase with raffles, music, and food.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2

Golden Olympics · 📍 Henry County · 🕐 All day · Details TBD.

Fall Georgia State Fair · 📍 Henry County · 🕐 Oct. 2 – Oct. 11 · Multi-day county fair.

FoodeesFest · 📍 Henry County · 🕐 Oct. 2 – Oct. 4 · Multi-day food festival.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3

Pet Soirée · 📍 North Mt. Carmel Dog Park, 307 N. Mt. Carmel Rd, Hampton · 🕐 Noon–3:00 PM · Free · Community pet event hosted by Henry County Parks & Rec and Animal Care.

International Food Fest · 📍 Heritage Park, 101 Lake Dow Rd, McDonough · 🕐 10:00 AM–3:00 PM · Free · Diverse food and local vendors, alongside the day's Pizza Cook-Off Competition.

Pizza Cook-Off Competition · 📍 Heritage Park, 101 Lake Dow Rd, McDonough · 🕐 9:00 AM–3:30 PM · $150 entry to compete, free to watch · PCA-sanctioned cook-off with cash prizes, same day/venue as International Food Fest.

Pickleball Palooza · 📍 Eagle's Landing Country Club Racquet Club, 100 Eagle's Landing Way, Stockbridge · 🕐 10:00 AM · Free, open to the public · All skill levels welcome, loaner equipment and refreshments provided. No working link found — source is a flyer only, so this one has no URL over the title; verify via the club at (770) 389-2000.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4

Southern Soul · 📍 VyStar Amphitheater at the Bridge, Stockbridge · 🕐 7:00 PM · Ticketed · Sir Charles Jones, Calvin Richardson, and West Love (J-Worn, Noble "Tiger" Travis, and MC Lightfoot per your flyer, unconfirmed by the venue).

Still holding the housing market networking event pending confirmation on date and public access.

That’s a wrap, Henry County!

From the classroom to City Hall and the places in between, there’s always more to the story here at home.

Have a story we should know about or an event coming up? Reach us at [email protected].

Until next time,

Stay sharp. Stay local. 🦅👁️