| FRIEDMAN’S FRAMING
(SAVANNAH, GA) Friedman’s Framing Named the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce’s
2026 Small Business of the Year. https://carriagetradepr.com/friedmans-framing-named-the-savannah-area-chamber-of-commerces-2026-small-business-of-the-year/
COASTAL STATES BANK
(SAVANNAH BUSINESS JOURNAL) Coastal States Bank Adds Treasury Services Relationship Banker, Charlie Labassi to Support Local Businesses. https://www.savannahbusinessjournal.com/news/banking_finance/charlie-labassi-joins-coastal-states-bank-as-treasury-services-relationship-banker/article_1064e20e-b817-425d-8ee3-50fed0b0a2a8.html
MARCH 5
(SAVANNAH, GA) Chefs + Farmers on March 5, 2026. Benefitting Forsyth Farmers’ Market Inc. Event will be held at the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum. https://www.forsythfarmersmarket.com
CHECK THE FACTS
(THE CURRENT GA) Sites to help clear rumors, misinformation.
List of resources to help you sort what’s real from mis- or disinformation in English, Spanish. https://thecurrentga.org/2024/10/24/check-the-facts-sites-to-help-you-sort-out-what-you-hear/
SESOLINC GROUP
(STATESBORO, GA) Sesolinc Group Inc. has been named a Manufacturing Partner of World Trade Center (WTC) Savannah, joining a network of global and regional industry leaders.
The partnership highlights Sesolinc’s expanding role in international trade, advanced manufacturing and economic development across Georgia’s Coastal Empire. info@sesolinc.com
HOPE HAVEN
(WJCL) Hope Haven received a $15,000 donation from the Critz Family
Foundation Inc., marking a significant milestone for the organization’s mission to support
families living with cognitive changes, such as early to mid-stage dementia.
“Savannah thrives when we invest in organizations that strengthen families and improve quality of life. Hope Haven is doing meaningful work, and we’re proud to help it grow,” said Dale Critz Jr., president of the Critz Family Foundation. WJCL
ARCHITECT NAMED GEORGIA TITAN 100
(ATLANTA/SAVANNAH, GA) Melissa Cantrell, president and CEO of CDH Partners Inc., has been named one of the 2026 Georgia Titan 100, recognizing her among the state’s top CEOs and C-suite executives for exceptional leadership, vision and industry impact. The Titan 100 program honors Georgia’s most accomplished business leaders across public and private sectors. Collectively, the 2026 honorees and their companies generate more than $91.7 billion in annual revenue and employ more than 534,000 people worldwide. Cantrell leads CDH Partners, one of the Southeast’s prominent architecture firms and a female-led organization known for its innovative work in education, research and institutional design. Since becoming president and CEO, she has guided the firm’s strategic growth, strengthened its reputation for design excellence, and advanced mentorship and leadership development within the architecture profession.
SESOLINC INC.
(WTOC) SESOLINC Group, Inc. was recently featured on WTOC-TV in a report examining how a recent tariff ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States could affect regional businesses. Matt Bush, director of operations at Sesolin, discussed how rising import costs have influenced the company’s operations and long-term planning. The WTOC report highlighted the broader economic implications for local manufacturers and distributors. The full story is available at https://zurl.co/iYirm.
BARBARA TREADWELL
(SAVANNAH, GA / NEW YORK) “Love and Money with Barbara Treadwell”: New Podcast Explores the Connection Between Our Money and the People we Love, hosted by Financial Advisor Barbara Treadwell CFP®. https://carriagetradepr.com/love-and-money-with-barbara-treadwell-new-podcast-explores-the-connection-between-our-money-and-the-people-we-love-hosted-by-financial-advisor-barbara-treadwell-cfp/
GROCERY PRICES ARE UP
(THE CURRENT GA) Despite President Donald Trump declaring victory over inflation, grocery prices in Coastal Georgia continue to rise. A review of prices at local stores shows that more than a year into Trump’s second term, many staple food items cost more than they did a year ago. While shoppers are paying more at the checkout line for groceries, gas prices have declined during the same period. The findings highlight the mixed economic picture facing consumers in the region. https://thecurrentga.org/2026/02/21/coastal-georgia-food-prices-keep-rising-despite-trumps-victory-declaration-we-checked/
MARCH 19 LECTURE
(SAVANNAH, GA) The Savannah Council on World Affairs will host a program titled “The Importance and Potential for U.S. Relations with the States of Africa” on Thursday, March 19, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Coastal Georgia Center. The program will explore Africa’s economic potential, driven by a young and growing population, improved health outcomes, and expanded access to education and technology, while also addressing ongoing conflicts and poverty across the continent. As U.S. policymakers work to define national interests and develop strategies toward individual African nations, recent and sometimes dramatic changes will be central to the discussion. The featured speaker is Laird Treiber. The Coastal Georgia Center is located at 305 Fahm St.
TONYA REED
(SAVANNAH, GA) Tonya Reed, CFO of Henry Plumbing Co., Inc., has received the Citation of Excellence from AIA Savannah in recognition of her contributions and support of NAWIC Coastal Georgia #380. Reed was honored for her leadership and commitment to advancing women in construction and strengthening industry partnerships throughout Coastal Georgia. Henry Plumbing Co., Inc. praised Reed’s dedication and impact within the professional community.
LDSS
(SAVANNAH, GA) The Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society (LDSS) will participate in this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade aboard a trolley. Participants will wear light green Lucky 3-21 Club shirts; those needing a shirt are asked to text Candy Bogardus at 912-663-8573 with their size by March 10. Families planning to walk with LDSS in the parade are also asked to notify Bogardus so organizers can plan for snacks and drinks on the trolley. The trolley will be decorated on the day of the parade. Additional details will be shared by email and on LDSS social media channels. https://ldssga.org
CSB
(SAVANNAH CEO) Steve Stone on What Coastal States Bank’s IPO Means for Georgia Businesses. https://savannahceo.com/video/2026/02/steve-stone-what-coastal-states-banks-ipo-means-georgia-businesses/
ART & OYSTERS
(SAVANNAH, Ga.) The Coastal Heritage Society will host its annual Art & Oysters fundraiser Thursday, March 26, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Pin Point Heritage Museum. The event brings together regional artists while highlighting the history and culture of the Gullah-Geechee community. Guests will enjoy a silent art auction and authentic local cuisine. Proceeds will benefit the Coastal Heritage Society’s six museums and its nonprofit mission of education and preservation. Admission is $125 for nonmembers and $100 for members, with tickets available at chsgeorgia.org/artoysters26.
HOLD THE DATE
(SAVANNAH, Ga.) Healthy Savannah’s Faith and Health Coalition will host its fourth annual Faith Walk on Sunday, May 3, from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Lake Mayer Community Park, 1850 E. Montgomery Cross Road. The community event will include a walk around the lake and additional activities promoting health and wellness. Partners include Tide to Town, Forsyth Farmers’ Market and GirlTREK. For more information, visit healthysavannah.org.
LOWCOUNTRY DOWN SYNDROME SOCIETY ISSUES CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR 2026 NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS
(SAVANNAH CEO) The Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society (LDSS) is accepting nominations for its 17th Annual Night of Champions, recognizing businesses that provide meaningful employment opportunities to differently-abled adults, including individuals with Down syndrome. Despite progress nationwide, people with disabilities continue to face significant barriers to employment. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 22.7 percent of people with different abilities were employed in 2024, compared with more than 60 percent of people without disabilities. The 2026 Night of Champions & Hiring Expo will be held Thursday, April 30, 2026, from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at the Savannah Marriott Riverfront Hotel. Nominations must be submitted by March 10, 2026, at ldssga.org/night-of-champions/nomination/.https://savannahceo.com/features/2026/02/lowcountry-down-syndrome-society-issues-call-nominations-2026-night-champions/
HEALTHY WALKS
(SAVANNAH, GA) Join the Healthy Savannah team every Tuesday morning for a #healthy walk or head out to explore a local trail on your own. The team is also offering a Saturday walk series. https://healthysavannah.org/our-programs/physical-activity/healthy-walks-story-map/ https://healthysavannah.org/events/
Upcoming walks:
Healthy Walk — Thunderbolt
March 3 @ 7:30 am – 9:00 am
Thunderbolt 2909 River Dr, Thunderbolt
Healthy Walk — River Street MLK Memorial
March 10 @ 7:30 am – 9:00 am
River St MLK Monument 500 W River St, Savannah
Healthy Walk — Chief of Love Trail
March 17 @ 7:30 am – 9:00 am
Chief of Love Trail 6811 Chief of Love Rd, Savannah
Healthy Walk — Daffin Park
March 21 @ 8:00 am – 9:30 am
Daffin Park 1301 East Victory Drive, Savannah
Healthy Walk Anniversary — Scarborough Sport Complex
March 24 @ 7:30 am – 9:00 am
Scarborough Sports Complex Skidaway Rd at Bona Bella Ave, Savannah
INKY BRITTANY
(SAVANNAH, GA) Brittany Curry, founder of InkyBrittany, has received the 2026 Alumni Achievement Award from the Georgia College & State University College of Arts & Sciences. She specializes in graphic recording and graphic facilitation, transforming discussions into visual maps, murals and sketches, and has worked with organizations including Microsoft, Johnson & Johnson and Visit Savannah. She celebratde 10 years in business in May 2025. More information: https://inkybrittany.com
Ai and PR
(CARRIAGETRADEPR.COM) 10 New Rules for making your PR content show up in Ai searches. https://carriagetradepr.com/10-new-rules-for-making-your-pr-content-come-up-in-ai-searches/
MIDWAY GA WATER RATE TO RISE
(THE CURRENT GA) Homes and businesses that get their water from the City of Midway can expect a rate increase of approximately 44%, likely by March. That’s according to Bill Powell, a consultant from the Georgia Rural Water Association, which helps cities set water and sewer rates. https://thecurrentga.org/2026/02/20/midway-water-sewer-rates-to-increase-more-than-40-by-spring/
MOBILE MAMMOGRAPHY AT CHATHAM COUNTY HEALTH DEPT MARCH 31
(COASTAL HEALTH DISTRICT) Eligible women can receive no-cost mammograms when the St. Joseph’s/Candler mobile mammography unit visits the Chatham County Health Department from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31. The screenings will be held in the parking lot of the health department clinic at 1395 Eisenhower Drive in Savannah. All screenings are by appointment only and are open to women aged 40 and older without health insurance coverage. Space is limited – appointments can be scheduled by calling the Chatham County Health Department’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Program at 912-356-2946.
https://coastalhealthdistrict.org/mobile-mammography-unit-available-at-chatham-county-health-department-march-31/
AUTHOR AND SCREENWRITER
(BLUFFTON, SC) Libraries for Kids International will host author Millie West for its monthly author series on Monday, March 16, 2026, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at The Roasting Room, 1297 May River Rd., Bluffton, South Carolina, located on the second floor above Corner Perk. Following the presentation, attendees are invited to join the author for a Dutch Treat lunch. https://carriagetradepr.com/libraries-for-kids-international-presents-author-screenwriter-millie-west/
3.21
(SAVANNAH, GA) Join with the Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society (LDSS) in celebrating the 10th year of the National Down Syndrome Society’s Racing for 3.21 on March 21, 2026, in honor of World Down Syndrome Day. You can run, walk, bike, hike, swim, or come up with your own idea at any time or place – anything goes. Participants can also enjoy fun swag, commemorative items for purchase, and prizes. Registrations are available for everyone at every level. https://charity.pledgeit.org/2026Racingfor321?vcrmeid=DfznwEmnAEq1E5LR7NAxCg&vcrmiid=nSfkBGyHdU6LKq1gNeZZIA
COASTAL STATES BANK
(ATLANTA / SAVANNAH / Hilton Head Island, SC) Coastal States Bank
(“CSB”), a local community bank, donated $136,000 to Georgia and South Carolina-based charities and nonprofits in 2025. The contributions were made through CSB’s Community Commitment, an employee-funded, bank- matched initiative designed to address the diverse needs of the communities the bank serves.Through its Community Commitment, CSB provides grants to local nonprofit organizations focused on strengthening communities across its footprint in Metro Atlanta, North Georgia, Savannah and South
Carolina’s Lowcountry region. Last year, CSB’s Community Commitment supported more than 45 charities and nonprofits, with a focus on financial literacy, childhood education, veteran support, health and wellness, senior citizen care and more. These grants were supported by more than 575 volunteer hours by the bank’s employees. https://www.coastalstatesbank.com/newsroom/news/2026/february/coastal-states-bank-donates-136-000-to-charities-in-community-commitment-initiative
POWER OF PLAY
(HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC) Ken Weisner, author and experiential learning facilitator, has released The Power of Play, a nonfiction book examining how play can strengthen connection, creativity and well-being in both work and life. In The Power of Play, Weisner draws on research, personal experience and facilitated group activities to demonstrate how intentional play can improve communication, deepen relationships, and foster engagement across teams, families, and communities. www.beachplaycompany.com or contact Ken @ kweisner@live.com https://carriagetradepr.com/ken-weisner-releases-the-power-of-play-exploring-connection-creativity-and-leadership-through-play/
KEYNOTE
(MYRTLE BEACH, SC) Marjorie Young, founder of Carriage Trade PR and author of “Reputation Matrix,” delivered the keynote address at the annual conference of America’s Boating Club, also known as the U.S. Power Squadrons, in Myrtle Beach. The organization, which has more than 22,000 members and more than 300 chapters nationwide, is dedicated to promoting boating safety. Young shared strategies for engaging local media to raise awareness about the club’s boating safety courses designed to help prevent accidents. Young was also named an honorary member of the organization during the conference.www.carriagetradepr.com
SAVE THE DATE
(THUNDERBOLT, GA) 2026 Thunderbolt Blessing of the Fleet Festival taking place on Saturday, April 25, from 12 to 6 PM.
ENGINEERING EXPLORER
(SAVANNAH, GA) Ambria Berksteiner, a 2012-2013 member of the Engineering Explorer Post had a ‘full-circle’ moment when she was recently hired as Project Coordinator at Thomas & Hutton, the engineering firm that sponsored her Explorer Post when she was in high school. She explains, “Mentorship changes lives! The Engineering Explorer Post Program was vital in inspiring my journey into engineering and shaping my career path!” Coastal Georgia Council Boy Scouts of America, Inc. at (912)-927-7272.
APRIL 23
(SAVANNAH, GA) Innovative MATH Solutions Inc., a locally owned and operated company, is proud to announce its partnership with the Educational Media Foundation to facilitate community support from Sponsors and Donors in efforts to enhance math education through a locally gamified contest. The contest finals will be held at St. Peter the Apostle School on April 23, 2025, at 6:00 PM. If you want to be a part of the solution, please support this worthy cause at
https://figurd.com/contribute/
GREEN GALA APRIL 18
(SAVANNAH, GA) The Savannah Tree Foundation presents the Green Gala from 5:30 PM – 10:00 PM on Saturday, April 18, at 700 Wilmington Island, formerly the Wilmington River Plantation. The springtime event brings together supporters of Savannah’s trees for an evening of local catering by Steven Williams with Coastal Kitchen, an open bar, live music from The Emerald Empire Band, and a silent auction. Proceeds from the gala support the foundation’s mission of protecting and planting trees across Chatham County. The foundation is seeking sponsors, gifts-in-kind, and auction items to help make the 2026 gala its biggest and most impactful yet. https://savannahtree.org/event/green-gala-2026/
SOUP IT UP FOR LOOP IT UP
(SAVANNAH, GA) Step inside and feel the magic of the “House that Loop It Up Built” at this year’s Soup It Up for Loop It Up, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 7 at Kehoe Iron Works Building at Trustees’ Garden, 660 E. Broughton St. in Savannah. Individual tickets are $125 or $200 for two, and each ticket includes a free drink from the cash bar. Your ticket or sponsorship purchase funds Loop It Up’s 2026 Annual Campaign, which supports all of the organization’s creative education programs and helps ensure the house that Loop It Up built remains a strong and steady presence in the year ahead for the more than 11,000 local children we serve each year. https://www.loopitupsavannah.com/soupitup.html
HOLD THE DATE – 2026 NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS & HIRING EXPO
(SAVANNAH, GA) The Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society will host its 17th Annual Night of Champions & Hiring Expo on Thursday, April 30, 2026, from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at the Savannah Marriott Riverfront. The event recognizes businesses that support inclusive employment for individuals with different abilities and features an awards program and Hiring Expo. visit http://www.ldssga.org/
BE A CHAMPION FOR INCLUSION – SEEKING SPONSORS
(SAVANNAH, GA) The Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society is seeking sponsors for the 17th Annual Night of Champions & Hiring Expo on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at the Savannah Marriott Riverfront. This event honors businesses creating meaningful employment for individuals with different abilities and connects employers with future talent. Your sponsorship helps support LDSS programs, including Camp Buddy, Buddy Walk, and family support initiatives. Learn more and become a sponsor: https://ldssga.org/night-of-champions/
SUBSCRIBE
(THE GEORGIA COAST) The Current GA provides in-depth, nonpartisan watchdog journalism for Savannah and Coastal Georgia.
https://www.facebook.com/TheCurrentGA
APRIL 25
(BLUFFTON, SC) The Libraries for Kids Team invites the public to an immersive African journey titled “Dreams Under the Serengeti” at 5 p.m. on April 25, 2026. The event will be held at the Port Royal Sound Foundation, 310 Okatie Highway in South Carolina. The experience is crafted through artistry, sound and visuals.
NOVEMBER 7
(WASHINGTON, DC) Reception for illustrator, Carol Stuart Watson. in Georgetown. More details to follow. https://carriagetradepr.com/georgetown-illustrators-legacy-preserved-estate-of-carol-stuart-watson-donates-body-of-work-to-dc-public-library/ |
