COMMUNITY HEADLINES – APRIL 11, 2022

NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS, APRIL 14

(SAVANNAH, GA) After one year of virtual staging and a COVID pause year the Lowcountry Down Syndrome’s Night of Champions returns April 14, 2022, as an in-person event at The Savannah Convention Center on Hutchinson Island. The multifaceted event includes recognition of some of the area’s outstanding differently abled employees and their employers.

FEED A TRUCKER CONTINUES APRIL 11

(SAVANNAH, GA) Truckers will be treated to free lunches once again at Veteran Carriers and Enmarket’s Feed a Trucker campaign event on Monday, April 11 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Enmarket on Pine Barren Road and Highway 80.

SEIMITSU PRESENTS CYBER SECURITY WORKSHOP FOR SCORE

(SAVANNAH, GA) SCORE will present a virtual workshop to teach businesses how to protect themselves from cyber-attacks. The workshop, part of SCORE’s business security series, will be presented Wednesday, April 20, from noon to 1 p.m. Leading the session will be retired Lt. Col. Scott Scheidt, chief security officer for Seimitsu. Registration is required for each workshop. Each workshop is presented virtually via Zoom from noon-1 p.m. For more information and to register, visit: https://savannah.score.org/content/take-workshop-272

7 REASONS TIKTOK IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS

(SOCIAL MEDIA EXAMINER) In this video, TikTok expert Giselle Ugarte breaks down why your business needs to be on TikTok and how to do it well (and make money). You’ll learn 7 important facts about the platform that could make it an important part of your marketing strategy. You’ll also discover 5 easy ways to show up on TikTok without dancing or copying trends, including the #1 best tactic for becoming a trusted brand on the platform.

SOUTHERN SPOTLIGHT: NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS

(G100) Southern Spotlight, Mia Mance interviews Joe Marcheses with the Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society talking about the Night of Champions on April 14, 2022.

STORY UNDER THE STARS

(HOSPICE SAVANNAH) The entire community is invited to gather in Forsyth Park for “Story Under The Stars” on Sunday, April 24th at 6:00pm to enjoy the power of story combined with original music performed by the Savannah Philharmonic Woodwind Quartet. Utilizing the healing power of story, individuals will share their stories of grief, resilience, survival, discovery, and hope from their lives during the pandemic, in short 3-5 minute TEDTalk-style presentations. Each story will be accompanied by a specially commissioned original piece of music performed by the Savannah Philharmonic. Together, these compositions will become the soundtrack of our community’s resilience. This event is free and open to all, so come bring a blanket and enjoy! https://savannahphilharmonic.org/event/story-under-the-stars/

ENMARKET CHARITY CLASSIC RAISES $180,000 FOR CHARITY

(SAVANNAH, Ga.) The Enmarket Charity Classic returned March 31, raising a total of $180,000 to be split evenly between the 200 Club of the Coastal Empire and Make-a-Wish Georgia. This was the third presentation of the annual Enmarket Charity Classic, which is part of the company’s sponsorship of the Club Car Championship at The Landings Club. More than 250 golfers took part in the charity tournament this year.

JUNE NEEDS A HOME

(COASTAL PET RESCUE) Look up “Happy Dog” in the dictionary, and you are going to see a picture of June. This sweet, happy-go-lucky pup came to rescue from animal control. We don’t exactly know her breed, but her long, lanky frame and wire hair look like an Irish wolfhound mix. June just want to be with her peoples – she’ll climb any fence to make that happen, so a tall, preferably not chain link fence will be a plus for her new owner.

ROTARY CLUB OF SAVANNAH

(SAVANNAH, GA) The public is invited to a PARTY WITH A PURPOSE on Tue. April 12, 2022 at the Jepson Center. Guests will get a tour of the exhibit: The Art of William O. Golding. The suggested donation is $25. All proceeds will be donated to Gray’s Reef. This event is hosted by The Rotary Club of Savannah. RSVP to rogermossjr@gmail.com.

FREE COURSE: BECOMING A FILM-FRIENDLY VENDOR

(UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER) Learn how your small business can become a vendor for Film and Television productions. Every production needs a wide variety of goods and services, and here’s the good news, they prefer to source locally!

Register here:

TELFAIR MUSEUM DAYS

(SAVANNAH, GA) The Jepson Center and Telfair Academy now offer FREE admission on the weekends starting April 2nd to August 28. Now open to residents of Chatham, Bryan, Effingham, and Liberty counties inGeorgia, and Beaufort and Jasper in South Carolina. The Jepson Center and the Telfair Academy are open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

CHATHAM COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT SCHEDULES TEEN MENINGITIS VACCINATION EVENT

(CHATHAM COUNTY) The Chatham County Health Department will hold a teen meningitis vaccination clinic from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 28 at Jenkins High School in the cafeteria. No appointments necessary. Parents who are unsure if their teen needs this immunization are encouraged to call the health department at 912-356-2441.

FREE BUSINESS CLASS: FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR BUSINESS

(SAVANNAHGA.GOV) Join this Lunch and Learn on Wednesday, April 13 at 12 p.m. to find out how your business can find financing for start-up and growth as well as how to prepare yourself for what lenders will require. Registration is required: https://savannahga.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAode6trzsvHdWjFna-QpAO4mwlEGhzG9Yt

SAVANNAH CORNER STORE INITIATIVE BRINGS PRODUCE TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES

(WTGS) Healthy Savannah and the YMCA of Coastal Georgia received a city grant to continue providing healthy food to underserved communities through the three-year-old Corner Store Initiative. In 2019, the pair received a joint $3.4 million Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) grant to pursue the program. Now, six local corner stores are participating.

SAVANNAH TREE FOUNDATION TO CELEBRATE 40 YEARS OF IMPACT WITH GREEN GALA APRIL 23

(SAVANNAH, GA) Savannah Tree Foundation (STF) is thrilled to announce its upcoming celebration The Green Gala: 40 Years of Growth. To mark the urban forestry organization’s milestone anniversary, Savannah Tree Foundation invites the community to gather on April 23rd at Tiedeman Park and the Atlantic Mall. The evening event will celebrate the three trailblazing women who founded the foundation and the many supporters who have contributed to its 40 years of impact. The event is in support of STF’s mission to protect and grow Chatham County’s urban forest through tree planting, community engagement, and advocacy. For more information on sponsorship opportunities and tickets for The Green Gala, visit https://savannahtree.org/support/greengala/.

HEALTH DEPARTMENTS OFFER FREE STD SCREENINGS IN APRIL

(COASTAL GEORGIA) Health departments around the Coastal Health District will offer free, confidential screenings for sexually transmitted diseases (STD) in April in observance of STD Awareness Month. About 1 in 5 people have an STD and half of all new STD cases are in young people between the ages of 15 and 24. All STDs can be treated and many cured. Left untreated, STDs can cause an increased risk of getting or giving HIV, long-term abdominal pain, infertility, and other serious health issues. The Chatham County Health Department at 1395 Eisenhower Drive is offering screenings Monday – Thursday, April 11-14 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 912-356-2441 to schedule an appointment. Screenings are also available by appointment in Bryan County (912-653-4331 or 912-756-2611) and at the Camden County Health Department.

FASTPITCH

(SAVANNAH, GA) The Creative Coast’s FastPitch event is back. The event allows contestants to each make a 5-MINUTE PITCH of their ventures in front of a live audience, including investors. FastPitch 2022 will take place live and in person on Wednesday, May 4, 2022 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm at Service Brewing, which is located at 574 Indian Street. Tickets can be purchased by visiting https://thecreativecoast.org/programs/fastpitch/.

GENE EDITING PROGRAM

(SAVANNAH, GA) On Thursday, April 21, 2022, from 1:30 – 2:30 pm at Alfred Ely Beach High School, twenty-five Medical Explorer Post students will participate in CRISPR Classroom’s Meet a Scientist program. In so doing, the Explorers will gain (1) an improved awareness of biotechnology careers, (2) a better understanding of the current possibilities and the problems in the industry, (3) a deeper appreciation for the real power of the scientific method. CRISPR is a genetic biotechnology that allows scientists to rewrite DNA; CRISPR offers hope for a new wave of strategies to cure diseases, solve food-shortage crises, and even help mitigate climate change.

TOBACCO-FREE LIVING

#ThisIsQuitting has your back. Text VAPEFREEGA to 88709 to begin your quitting journey.

BRETT GIESICK NAMED CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF SAVANNAH-BASED COLONIAL GROUP INC.

(SAVANNAH, GA) Colonial Group Inc. has announced that Brett Giesick has been named chief operating officer for the Savannah-based group of companies. Giesick has served as president of Colonial Group’s retail division, Enmarket, since 2017. He is the first person to serve in the role of COO for Colonial.

WOMAN OF THE YEAR

(SAVANNAH, GA) – United Way of the Coastal Empire is proud to announce the annual Women Who Rule event will be held Tuesday, April 19, 2022, at the Hyatt Regency Savannah. This year’s event is sponsored by Step One Automotive Group and will honor Ellen Bolch, President and CEO of THA Group, as the 2022 “Woman of the Year.” Table sponsorships and tickets are currently available for purchase. For more information, visit www.uwce.org/womenwhorule.

FDA IS A STEP CLOSER TO SHUTTING DOWN LOOPHOLE THAT’S FUELING TEEN VAPING

(HEALTHY SAVANNAH) A provision in the congressional spending bill would give the Food and Drug Administration greater authority to regulate synthetic nicotine — an ingredient e-cigarette manufacturers have used to get around regulations. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the new regulation would be part of the effort to stop the dangerous resurgence in teen vaping. Healthy Savannah and the Coastal Health District are encouraging young people who want to quit smoking or vaping to know that help is just a phone call or text away. Call the Georgia Tobacco Quit Line at (877) 270-STOP and get confidential, 24/7 support through #ThisIsQuitting by texting VAPEFREEGA to 88709.

TWILIGHT EGG HUNT – APRIL 15

(CHATHAM COUNTY) Chatham County Parks and Recreation will present the Twilight Egg Hunt on Friday, April 15th from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Jennifer Ross Soccer Complex, 7221 Sallie Mood Drive for ages: 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12. The Easter Bunny will be present for photos at this FREE event.

COASTAL HEALTH DISTRICT TO HOST WALK TO BRING AWARENESS TO HIV

(CHATHAM COUNTY, GA) The Coastal Health District will host “Walk to Stop the Spread” at Forsyth Park on Saturday, April 16. The health fair and park walk are being held to raise awareness around HIV. The event is free and open to the public and participants who register will receive a free swag bag and t-shirt. There is no cost to register. To register, go to coastalhealthdistrict.org/hiv or to eventbrite.com. You can also register in person at the Chatham County Health Department located at 1602 Drayton Street during regular operational hours.

FAITH AND HEALTH COALITION

(HEALTHY SAVANNAH) Are you a faith-based organization in Savannah/Chatham County interested in encouraging a culture of health among your members and the broader community?

Please join the Faith and Health Coalition at our next virtual meeting to discuss the importance of health within our community. Please email FaithAndHealth@healthysavannah.org for the meeting link. For more information visit the Faith and Health Coalition page on the Healthy Savannah website.

Meeting Dates:

March 30th @ 12pm

May 25th @ 12pm

July 27th @ 12pm

September 28th @ 12pm

November 30th @ 12pm