ATLANTA – The Atlanta Habitat for Humanity ReStore is honoring former President Jimmy Carter with a memorial door, giving the public a unique way to leave tributes, share memories, and celebrate his legacy. The door, a symbolic representation of a home’s threshold, will be available for signing at the Atlanta ReStore located at 271 Chester Ave. from Tuesday through Jan. 9. It will then be moved to the South Fulton ReStore, located at 5626 Old National Highway in College Park, from Jan. 10 through Jan. 16. Afterward, the door will return to Atlanta Habitat’s headquarters, where it will be permanently displayed.

“We’re very excited to be one of many Habitat affiliates across the nation celebrating Jimmy Carter,” said Megan McCabe, director of the Atlanta Habitat for Humanity ReStore. “We figured this was a fun and easy way for folks to leave tributes and celebrate his legacy.”

Carter, who passed away on Dec 29, was deeply involved with Habitat for Humanity. Although not its founder, he and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter became celebrated volunteers for the organization, beginning in the 1980s. Their efforts included the 1988 Carter Work Project in Atlanta, where 21 homes were built in a single week, leaving a lasting legacy in the city.

“Most people think that Jimmy Carter founded us, but he’s actually been a very celebrated volunteer since the ’80s,” McCabe said. “The Carter Work Project around the Olympics was a huge success and remains a significant part of Atlanta’s history.”

The memorial door aims to capture the public’s admiration for Carter’s life and work. McCabe emphasized the symbolic importance of a door in Habitat for Humanity’s mission, calling it “the threshold for somebody’s home” and a fitting tribute to Carter’s dedication to affordable housing.

Visitors are encouraged to stop by during store hours, Tuesday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., between [specific start date] and [specific end date], to leave messages on the door. According to McCabe, many families have already left heartfelt tributes. “We hope it will be full of color and comments by the time it’s ready for its permanent home,” she said.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Ahead of the first day back, Aiken County cut the ribbon on the new Wagener-Salley High School.

On Monday, students and parents toured the new Wagener-Salley High School.

It is one of the older schools in the county and its makeover costs about $45 million.

The school was built in 1939 and was paid for by the state department and federal dollars.

School board members say a new demographic study will help offer better insight to even more schools as the population in Aiken County grows.

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It was a sad, sad day for Washingtonians everywhere when the National Zoo’s three beloved pandas—Tian Tian, Mei Xiang and Xiao Qi Ji—returned home to China in November 2023. Thankfully, two new pandas, Bao Li and Qing Bao, were brought back in October 2024 and are set to make their official debut in a newly renovated habitat later this month. National Zoo members can get a sneak peak from January 10–19, 2025, while the Asia Trail exhibit will open to the public on January 24, 2025. To celebrate their return, several popular hotels are offering specially themed packages, with little extras to mark this momentous occasion. Here’s what you need to know to take advantage of these Washington, D.C. hotel deals.

The Watergate Hotel

Located near The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, The Watergate Hotel’s Welcome Home, Pandas package includes perks like complimentary round-trip transportation to and from the National Zoo (arranged by the concierge), a children’s pair of panda pajamas by Bellabubear, a commemorative panda stuffed animal and other specially themed goodies. Book your stay online with promo code PANDA at least seven days ahead and plan to arrive by March 16, 2025. History buffs will love The Watergate Hotel’s display, located just off the lobby, with photos and news clippings highlighting the infamous 1972 scandal.

Omni Shoreham Hotel

Just a 10-minute walk from the National Zoo’s Connecticut Avenue entrance, Omni Shoreham’s Zoocation package gives you deluxe overnight accommodations, a special zoo-themed welcome amenity to remember your trip by, valet parking for one vehicle and a $25 credit toward daily breakfast during your stay. Use promo code PKGZOO when booking online. Omni Shoreham’s location near the Woodley Park–Zoo/Adams Morgan Metro stop also makes it ideal for exploring the rest of the District of Columbia.

The Melrose Georgetown Hotel and The Churchill Hotel Near Embassy Row

When you book a stay by March 2, 2025, at either The Melrose Georgetown Hotel or The Churchill Hotel Near Embassy Row, use promo code Panda to receive themed perks like welcome cocktails for two, a reusable panda bag and two panda bucket hats to commemorate their return. For every stay booked with the promotional package, a $10 donation will be made to benefit the Smithsonian Giant Panda Conservation Program. Both hotels are located in lively parts of town that are known for their shopping, dining and nightlife scenes; The Churchill is a few blocks from Dupont Circle, while The Melrose sits within walking distance of Georgetown and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Other Ways to Save Money in Washington, D.C.

One of the best parts about visiting our nation’s capital is how affordable it can be if you stick to free (or nearly free) attractions. Washington, D.C. is home to 20 Smithsonian Institution sites, including museums, galleries, gardens and the National Zoo—21 if you count the Air and Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center nearby in Chantilly, Virginia—and all are free to enter.

As for accommodations, there are a plethora of points hotels throughout the DMV (that’s D.C., Maryland and Virginia to the uninitiated). If you’re a member of Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards, or World of Hyatt, among other loyalty programs—or carry certain travel rewards credit cards—that could mean cashing in your rewards points for a few free nights.

Otherwise, your best bet besides keeping an eye out for Washington, D.C. hotel deals is to opt for public transportation over pricier taxi or Uber/Lyft rides. The Metro system (WMATA), with its many rail and bus routes, is pretty intuitive and provides a safe and affordable way to get from point A to point B. If you’re staying downtown and the weather cooperates, don’t miss a chance to explore the city by foot. Strolling the National Mall or along Washington’s grand boulevards is a favorite pastime of visitors and locals alike, including this one.