COMMUNITY HEADLINES – MARCH 6, 2023

(SAVANNAH, GA) Your SavPhil is BACK in Chippewa Square for the FREE Phil the Squares concert series on Saturday, March 11 at 3 PM. Come enjoy music and beautiful downtown Savannah!

https://savannahphilharmonic.org/event/phil-the-squares/

(SAVANNAH, GA) Joe Marchese, president of Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society presented the book, “We’ll paint the Octopus Red” by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen, to Roger Moss, the new Savannah-Chatham Co School Board President. Joe also gave Mr. Moss a pair of mismatched socks from his daughter, Ella, to wear on March 21st, World Down Syndrome Day. Ella chose a Mexican-themed sock and a sushi sock because those are two of her “most favorite foods.”

https://www.worlddownsyndromeday.org

(SAVANNAH, GA) The Ashford Tea Company on 406 E. Oglethorpe Ave, hosts Wellness Tea Conversations every Tuesday and Thursday from 6 p.m.-7 p.m. The conversations center on different dimensions of wellness such as physical, emotional, and environmental among others with the presence of Wellbeing Coach Rosa Maria Olortegui and accompanied by a great and healthy cup of tea. Click the link to learn more: https://ashfordtea.co/product/wellness-tea-conversations/

(SAVANNAH, GA) Whether you’re a St. Patrick’s pro or a newbie, you’ll want to be prepared for the celebration on March 17th. TACKL Health Mobile IV Lounge can be found at Savannah-area events, hotels, Airbnb’s and businesses for St. Patrick’s Day. Guests can expect a clean, plush and fun environment with up to eight drip stations and two certified nurses. IVs help with hangovers call 912-777-6002 or go to www.PrecisionByTACKL.com.

(SAVANNAH, GA) Have a graduating high school senior in your life? Applications for the Center Parc Youth Member Development Scholarship are now open. The deadline is March 6th so download the packet and get started!

https://www.centerparc.org/product-pages/youth-accounts/scholarship/

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(SAVANNAH, GA) The Savannah Philharmonic and the Savannah Music Festival are in support of the City’s plan to renovate the Johnny Mercer Theatre. The proposed plan includes the largest restoration of the Oglethorpe Plan in Savannah’s history, returning six of the 10 blocks that were lost in Elbert and Orleans wards when the Civic Center was built in 1972. The Johnny Mercer Theatre is part of an important portfolio of entertainment venues, including the Enmarket Arena, the Lucas Theatre for the Arts.

https://carriagetradepr.com/savannah-philharmonic-and-savannah-music-festival-in-support-of-the-citys-plan-to-renovate-the-johnny-mercer-theatre/

(PREVENTEPIDEMICS.ORG) Isaiah Smith, a 26-year-old U.S. Air Force veteran, part-time student and essential worker, became infected with COVID-19 in October 2020 and now experiences debilitating nausea, chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness upon standing, heart palpitations and challenges with word comprehension.

https://preventepidemics.org/covid19/us-response/campaigns/voices-of-long-covid/

(SAVANNAHGA.GOV) Friday, March 10, 2023. To learn the basics of starting a business please join the Savannah Entrepreneurial Center Friday mornings. On site class at 801 E. Gwinnett St. Please arrive on time, class starts at 9:30 am. Registration required for online attendance.

https://www.savannahga.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=5685&month=3&year=2023&day=10&calType=0

(SAVANNAH, GA) Union Mission will host its 8th Annual Raising Hope on Tuesday, June 6 at the Savannah Convention Center. Presented by Oliver Maner LLP and Nine Line Apparel, the event will be emceed by Rabbi Robert Haas, leader of Congregation Mickve Israel and Tina Tyus-Shaw, lead anchor for WSAV News 3 as a special guest emcee. The evening will begin with a cocktail reception at 5:30 p.m. featuring Jeremy Davis & the Equinox Jazz Trio and domestic & international travel silent auction items by AmFund, followed by dinner & program at 7:00 p.m. The program will feature keynote speaker David Ambroz. He is a national poverty and child welfare expert and advocate, Emmy nominated, and best-selling author of A Place Called Home. Tickets, tables and sponsorship opportunities for Raising Hope are available at www.unionmission.org. For more information, contact Mark Toth, Union Mission’s director of Major Gifts & Organizational Strategy at (248) 770-3933 or mtoth@unionmission.org.

(SAVANNAH, GA) On Monday, Feb 20, 2023, students, teachers, and parents of St. James Catholic School in Savannah Georgia, received a heartbreaking email from their principal. Ms. Barbara Golden, their beloved 6th grade teacher, had unexpectedly passed away. Ms. Golden spent 48 years mentoring and teaching students in the Catholic Diocese of Savannah. She spent 46 years (1977 – 2023) teaching the 6th grade at St. James Catholic School.

https://carriagetradepr.com/savannah-student-honors-teachers-48-years-of-teaching-through-art/

(COASTAL PET RESCUE) It has taken several weeks to get Cupid to warm up to people, but he and his friends are making daily progress. He is still timid around people and sometimes avoids meeting new folks. We have not yet started leash training with Cupid, but we will be working on that until his adoption. He is very good about using the doggy door to go outside. Potential adopters need to be aware of his background and be willing to continue to work with him on his social behaviors.

https://coastalpetrescue.org/adopt/view/2023-d-039-cupid/

(SAVANNAH YACHT CENTER) The sight of a 92m superyacht entering the graving dock at Savannah Yacht Center is truly an awe-inspiring experience. From a bird’s-eye view, watch as this massive vessel glides into the dock, ready to be serviced and repaired by our team of highly skilled engineers and technicians.

https://www.facebook.com/SavannahYC1/videos/539189068313273

(SAVANNAH, GA) The popular Hoops for Horizons “three vs three” charity basketball tournament will be making a comeback with new twists on Friday, March 24 and Saturday, March 25 at Savannah Country Day School. For youth teams, 5th-8th graders, registration is $100. It’s $150 for teams with members in 9th grade-adult. Visit www.horizonssavannah.org/hoops or call 912-961-8854 for more info.

(SAVANNAH, GA) Join the Savannah Tree Foundation at the Chatham County Native Plant Sale and Tree Giveaway on March 11 to pick out three free trees for your yard. Did you know over 80% of property in Chatham County is privately owned? In order to grow a resilient urban canopy across Savannah, homeowners are being encouraged to plant more trees on their property. A big thanks to FedEx, Arbor Day Foundation, and Georgia Tree Council for making this highly requested event possible. With their support, there are 500 more trees to distribute to the community at no cost to recipients. Learn more on the Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/2150882745299648

(SAVANNAH, GA) Precision Wellness has been nominated for the Best Weight Loss Center in the Connect Savannah Best Of Savannah annual competition. Readers are encouraged to vote daily.

https://www.connectsavannah.com/savannah/BestofSavannah2023/Page#/gallery?group=437702

(SAVANNAH, GA) Live Oak Public Libraries and Coastal Heritage Society announce a new partnership offering free family passes to the community. Live Oak Public Libraries library card holders in Chatham, Effingham, and Liberty Counties can check out a Coastal Heritage Society Family Pass, usable for up to eight people per visit, for free admission to Savannah History Museum, Savannah Children’s Museum, Georgia State Railroad Museum, Old Fort Jackson, and Pin Point Heritage Museum. Each library location will have one pass available, and passes are valid for seven days. Learn more at liveoakpl.org/passes.

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(SAVANNAH, GA) Seimitsu offers a free Dark Web Scan for businesses. Don’t be blindsided by your organization’s dark web data. With more and more data breaches happening every day, it’s likely your organization and employees’ information is being sold on the Dark Web. If your business has compromised information on the Dark Web it can increase your risk of receiving a phishing email and other security problems. Seimitsu will search the Dark Web for compromised credentials associated with your business domain, then offer vCISO solutions to protect your business from cyber-attacks.

www.seimitsu.com/cybersecurity

(SAVANNAH, GA) Center Parc Credit Union has a free Community Room available to all members and nonprofits in its Flagship Branch, located at 5698-A Ogeechee Road. The room can accommodate 35 people and has AV, a refrigerator and free parking. Hours: Monday – Friday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 9:30 a.m. to noon. To reserve your space, please call Regina Pointer at 404-684-8049, rpointer@centerparc.org.

(SAVANNAH, GA) The Savannah Jewish Federation (SJF) is hosting the second annual Savannah Jewish Cultural Arts Festival from March 1-31. Visit SJF’s website www.savj.org/sjcaf for a full calendar of events.

(HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC) The Lowcountry Gullah Foundation announces its Annual Fundraiser on Friday, May 12 at the USCB Hilton Head Campus. Join the Foundation for an intimate evening of Gullah culture and grace through storytelling, dinner, and a silent auction. Nationally known Master Gullah Storyteller, Sista Patt will speak and share incredible stories about the culture, its foodways and music. Sponsorships for Sankofa Nights are still available, please contact gullahland@gmail.com or 843.715.3506 for more information. Tickets are available here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sankofa-nights-tickets-520421343247?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=escb

(SAVANNAH, GA) The Coastal Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (CORE MPO) is updating the Regional Freight Transportation Plan for the Savannah region (Chatham, Bryan, and Effingham Counties). The plan will provide a series of recommendations to address freight movement in the coastal region, including recommendations for infrastructure improvements and land use. On March 6, the project team will host a virtual community meeting to share information about freight transportation to the community and gather feedback on early recommendations. The meeting will be held from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. via GoToMeeting. Register Here: https://bit.ly/3y1hL8N. Take the online survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/COREMPO_Freight. Identify location-specific comments via the online map: https://arcg.is/1mbT0b1. The study is scheduled for completion by July 2023. More information is available online at https://www.thempc.org/Core/Fp.

(SAVANNAH, GA) Young children need fruits and vegetables daily to support healthy growth and brain development but a new study has found 1 in 2 Georgia children don’t eat a vegetable daily and 1 in 3 don’t eat a fruit daily. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released the results of a 2021 study, “Fruit, Vegetable, and Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Intake Among Young Children, by State.” [https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7207a1.htm?s_cid=mm7207a1_w] The data indicates the importance of and need for interventions at both the national and state levels that improve young children’s nutrition to support their optimal growth and brain development.

https://carriagetradepr.com/national-study-recommends-georgia-children-need-to-eat-more-fruits-and-vegetables/

(HILTON HEAD, SC) Libraries For Kids, International, will host a World Book Day Celebrity Gala dinner & dance from 5-9 p.m. on April 22 at Martin Family Park in downtown Bluffton, SC. The fundraiser to benefit children who live in places with no internet, electricity, or libraries in their schools will feature music by the 2020 Readers’ Choice best local band, The Chiggers. Each event ticket buys a seat at a table with a local, national, or international celebrity. Sponsorship packages are available. Click HERE https://www.libraries4kids.org/events for tickets or to sponsor.

(SAVANNAH, GA) The Creative Coast has announced Winter/Spring 2023 sessions for Girls Code, a youth coding program for girls in 5th to 8th grade attending Savannah Chatham County Public Schools. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn how to code video games using MIT Scratch during the upcoming season’s Girls Code Games. Sessions will run independently of one another and take place from 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at a different Live Oak Public Library branch each week on the following Saturdays: March 11, April 1, and April 8. Registration is required for attendance. Seats are limited so The Creative Coast encourages early sign-ups to reserve a spot. For more information and to register, please visit https://www.thecreativecoast.org/girlscode.

(SAVANNAH, GA) Soup It Up for Loop It Up, will be held on March 11, 2023. Individual tickets and business sponsorships are available and all purchases help support the 2023 Annual Campaign for Loop It Up. To RSVP: https://www.loopitupsavannah.com/soup-it-up.html

(SAVANNAH, GA) Do you know a business that deserves recognition for hiring workers with different abilities? If so, here is your chance to recognize them. The Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society (LDSS) is seeking nominations for its 14th annual Night of Champions on Friday, May 12, 2023, from 6-11 p.m. at The Savannah Convention Trade Center on Hutchinson Island. The multifaceted event includes recognition of some of the area’s outstanding employers of differently-abled people, and the public is invited to nominate businesses for this recognition. Employee nominations may be completed online at https://ldssga.org/night-of-champions and will remain open until March 22.

https://carriagetradepr.com/lowcountry-down-syndrome-society-issues-call-for-nominations-for-2023-night-of-champions/

(CDC.GOV) Ideally, everyone should be vaccinated by the end of October. However, if you were not able to get vaccinated yet, vaccination is still recommended because flu most commonly peaks in February and significant activity can continue into May. Find a flu vaccine near you at https://www.vaccines.gov/find-vaccines/

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/season/faq-flu-season-2022-2023.htm

(SAVANNAH, GA) The University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (SBDC), a Public Service and Outreach unit of the University of Georgia, invites small business owners of young companies and entrepreneurs who are in the planning stages of their business to participate in their upcoming SBDC StartSMART™ Program. Seating is limited. Application Required. Only one business per industry accepted. For more information, please contact Liz Overstreet at (912) 651-3200 or go to https://ugasbdc.training/sav/SMART2023 for a complete brochure and to apply online.

(SAVANNAH, GA) On Thursday, March 23, from 6 to 9 p.m., Pin Point Heritage Museum will host its annual “Art & Oysters,” a coastal-themed fundraising event featuring a silent auction of original artwork presented by local artists. Guests are invited to meet and greet with the participating artists and enjoy an evening on the Moon River marsh. Proceeds from the auction will support educational programs and operations at Pin Point Heritage Museum. Tickets for “Art & Oysters” are $60 for Coastal Heritage Society Members and $75 for nonmembers and may be purchased by contacting Dan McCall at 912-944-7457 or registering at: bit.ly/AandO2023.

(SAVANNAH, GA) SavPhil musicians are looking for housing hosts for the 2023-24 concert season. To learn more about hosting a SavPhil musician, please contact Executive Director Amy Williams at amy@savannahphilharmonic.org or 912-232-6002.

(SAVANNAH, GA) The Fresh Express no-cost fresh food distribution program is seeking volunteers for its three sites.

• 1st Friday: The intersection of Waters and 40th St.
• 3rd Friday: Curtis V. Cooper Family Health at 106 E. Broad St.
• 3rd Friday: Moses Jackson Center at 1410 Richards St.

All begin at 9:30 a.m. on the day of distribution. To sign up: https://forms.office.com/r/i7eDcdi5em. For more information: Laura Schmarkey at Laura.Schmarkey@ymcaofcoastalga.org.

(SAVANNAH, GA)  Savannah Toastmasters Preparing Speakers Club would like to offer an opportunity for aspiring speakers, leaders, or person(s) 18 and up to join its members on Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. via Zoom.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82179965484?pwd=MFE4cmZCWnB3Znc4QWZXeGRRbWhuUT09

(STEPUPSAVANNAH.ORG) The Savannah Ghost Pirates have partnered with Step Up Savannah for the FIRST TIME EVER for a fundraiser. 25% of each ticket price for the game on Sun, Mar. 12 at 3:00 PM will be donated to Step Up Savannah as long as the ticket is purchased using the link below. Make it an event to remember as you cheer on the Ghost Pirates as they battle the Swamp Rabbits while donating to a great cause. https://offer.fevo.com/ghost-pirates-vs-swamp-rabbits-sy93rxu-adaea2a?fevoUri=ghost-pirates-vs-swamp-rabbits-sy93rxu-adaea2a%2F

(STEPUPSAVANNAH.ORG) Step Up Savannah is accepting applications for the 2023 Chatham Apprentice Program (CAP) training sessions. This is a cornerstone workforce development program targeting those who are unemployed and underemployed in Chatham, Effingham, Liberty, and Bryan counties with services and training aimed at helping them become stabilized in employment. The program includes hard and soft skills training coupled with wrap-around services. Upcoming 2023 training sessions are April 10-May 4 and May 22- June 14. Sign up online:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3lxUE38bCPfnIYyszFowmke0iP-SZ9MjrLsKv7WAPLmM58Q/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1

(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.

https://healthysavannah.org/the-faith-and-health-coalition/