COMMUNITY HEADLINES – APRIL 18, 2022

CYBER-ATTACKS

(SAVANNAH, GA) Seimitsu shares 3 ways to mitigate cyber-attacks.

SAVANNAH-BASED ENMARKET ANNOUNCES NEW PRESIDENT, MATT CLEMENTS

(SAVANNAH, GA) Enmarket, Savannah’s largest convenience store chain, has announced that Matt Clements has been appointed as its new president. Clements will take over for Brett Giesick, who had served in the position since 2017 and was recently named chief operating officer for Colonial Group, Inc., the Savannah-based group of companies that includes Enmarket.

CHAMPIONS

(WJCL) The Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society honored five employees with different abilities for exemplary performance at the Night of Champions. A President’s Award was also given to a woman who has made it her life’s work to assist special needs individuals and their families.

HOW TO ANALYZE YOUR TIKTOK INFLUENCER CAMPAIGNS

(SOCIAL MEDIA EXAMINER) Working with an influencer to promote your business on TikTok? Not sure how to realistically set and measure campaign expectations? Learn how to create a successful influencer partnership and how to tell whether it’s working. Discover six key steps to creating and measuring your influencer campaign, including how to set clear objectives with the creator and which KPIs to watch. Plus, you’ll get a clear understanding of what to ask for in your contract and some red flags to avoid.

HEALTHY SAVANNAH CELEBRATES NATIONAL PARK WEEK

(HEALTHY SAVANNAH) Join Healthy Savannah in celebrating National Park Week from April 16 to 24. Parks across the country will host a variety of special programs, events, and digital experiences. Did you know there are more than 400 national parks? They come in different shapes, sizes, and naming designations and your opportunity to explore the great outdoors may be a lot closer to home than you think. Fort Pulaski, for example, offers an abundance of outdoor activities. Visit https://www.nps.gov/fopu/index.htm to learn more. Join a Healthy Savannah walk or find a trail near you: https://healthysavannah.org/healthy-walks-2021/ and learn more about Healthy Savannah’s “Activity-Friendly Routes to Everyday Destinations Neighborhood Plans” that are helping identify how we can create safer places for walking and biking AND develop a plan of action! https://healthysavannah.org/healthy-activities/safety-audit/

WE REMEMBER MAMA LUNCHEON – MAY 6

(HOSPICE SAVANNAH) Tickets are now available for Hospice Savannah’s annual We Remember Mama luncheon on Friday, May 6th at 12:00 p.m. at the Palmetto Club. Proceeds from this elegant and wonderfully moving luncheon support Hospice Savannah’s Story Keeping program, one of our Healing Arts. Story Keeping gathers memories and life stories from our patients for their loved ones to cherish for generations to come. No other hospice in this area offers such a meaningful way to honor and remember the significant moments in someone’s life. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/we-remember-mama-luncheon-tickets-313747977647

FREE CLASS: INCREASE YOUR CREDIT SCORE

(SAVANNAHGA.GOV) Do you want to improve your credit score? Sign up for this Lunch and Learn on April 20 at 12 p.m. The credit experts from Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) will provide unbiased tips on improving your score, disputing errors on your report, and monitoring your credit. Registration is required: https://savannahga.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYpfuCtrTMsHNe8Fyuqw_6SxcCi3icqlIWb

CASPER NEEDS A HOME

(COASTAL PET RESCUE) Casper is looking for her forever home and is available for adoption. Casper came in to rescue with Fidget and both are blind/visually impaired. That doesn’t stop her from being a playful bundle of joy. Casper prefers a more quiet life, and fits in well with other animals. Casper will bring joy to whoever is lucky enough to adopt her. Or adopt both Fidget and Casper together?

READY SET GO BACK TO SCHOOL SPONSORSHIPS

(SAVANNAH, GA) Ready Set Go Back to School, Inc. in partnership with Savannah Chatham Board of Education, is gearing up to host its 14th Annual Drive Thru Back to School Giveaway. Last year hundreds of families in our area were provided various back-to-school essentials to help their children jump-start to a productive school year. This year’s event will be on Saturday, August 6, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Sponsorship opportunities are now available: https://form.jotform.com/RSGBTS/ready-set-go-back-to-school-sponsor

APRIL IS NATIONAL MINORITY HEALTH MONTH

(HEALTHY SAVANNAH) This annual campaign from the US Department of Health and Human Services raises awareness of the health disparities that impact racial and ethnic minority populations. The theme for the 2022 campaign is “Give Your Community a Boost.” The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected communities of color. The vaccine and booster shots are the best tools to prevent the transmission and spread of the disease. Give Your Community a Boost not only asks participants to share information about the importance of the vaccine and booster, but to stop the spread of COVID-19 and vaccine misinformation. Learn about Healthy Savannah’s community health advocate program: https://healthysavannah.org/community-advocate-program/

VOTE 2022 RALLY PROVIDES REGISTRATION & EDUCATION

(SAVANNAH TRIBUNE) Save The Date – April 21, 2022, 6:30 P.M. Get Ready to Vote for the May 24th Primary! The Savannah Tribune will host the first of a 3-part series of Zoom- FaceBook Live Voter Motivation and Empowerment sessions. Non-Partisan Organizations and Election Officials will Partner with The Savannah Tribune for Each Session. Discussions will take place about the impacts of the New Georgia voting laws on fair and easy access to the ballot box. Please check The Savannah Tribune’s social media & website for the Zoom link to share with all your persons of interest.

GETTING STARTED WITH TIKTOK ADS

(SOCIAL MEDIA EXAMINER) Looking to diversify your social advertising? Wondering if TikTok might do the trick but you’re not sure how to get started? Discover everything you need to know including the key elements of TikTok ads and a simple process for crafting ad creative that works.

EARTH DAY COLORING CONTEST

(HEALTHY SAVANNAH) There are endless opportunities to celebrate Earth Day on April 22 this year. Enjoy a walk on a trail, have a picnic at a park, fly a kite, plant a tree, pick up litter, or recycle. These are just a few simple but meaningful ways to help keep your community’s green spaces healthy and enjoyable for yourself and others. The Frank G Murray community center is conducting a coloring contest for all age groups, beginning April 1 and ending on Earth Day, April 22. Winners will be notified on April 25. To participate, go to the Frank G. Murray Community Center’s Facebook event for more information and to print the full coloring sheet: https://fb.me/e/4n2E1cGUa

TOBACCO-FREE LIVING

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

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

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/

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.

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.

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.

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