Connect Savannah July 15, 2020

JUL 15-21, 2020 NEWS, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY CONNECTSAVANNAH.COM

Local maker talks about her creative process and how she balances it all

Sunset THURSDAYS

Party

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JULY 15 - 21, 2020

Live dj | thursdays 6-9 pm | draft & Herradura Specials | Mimosa towers

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Friday, Saturday and Sunday $3 Glaes of Rosé

125 West River Street On top of the cotton sail hotel

SUNDAY THRU THURSDAY NOON TO 10 PM* FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NOON TO MIDNIGHT*

www.topdeckbar.com *CLOSING HOURS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

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National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force Tue.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. noon-5 p.m.

Pin Point Heritage Museum Thu.-Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

American Prohibition Museum Daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m., last entry 4:15 p.m.

Savannah History Museum Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Telfair Museums 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursdays-Mondays.

During initial reopening phase, they closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Admission to all sites $20 inclusive.

Live Concerts: DRAUCKER

Markets:

Site Reopenings:

Forsyth Farmers Market Enhanced social distancing between vendors.

9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays facebook.com/forsythfarmersmarket

Davenport House Museum Daily tours begin 10 a.m., last tour 4 p.m. except Sundays when hours are 1-4 p.m.

Islands Farmers Market Enhanced social distancing between vendors.

Saturdays 9 a.m.- 1 p.m. , 401 Quarterman Dr. facebook.com/islandsfarmersmarket/ Tybee Island Farmers Market Mondays, 4-7 p.m.

30 Meddin Dr. facebook.com/tybeeislandfarmersmarket Free Food Box & Produce Distribution Drive (Drive-Thru) Sunday July 19, noon-2 p.m.

The Embassy Church, Pooler 122 Pipemaker’s Circle

Georgia State Railroad Museum Wed.-Sun. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Harper-Fowlkes House Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.. Guided tours will be offered every half hour, with the first tour starting at 10 am and the last tour starting at 3:30 pm.

Old Fort Jackson Wed.-Sun 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Mars Theatre Friday/Saturday night movies at 7 p.m.

Mercer-Williams House Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 11:30 a.m.-4:45 p.m., closed Tuesday and Wednesday

Brady and the Bazookas at Coach’s Corner Live performance by local band in a courtyard setting.

Fri. July 17, 7 p.m. facebook.com/coachscorner/ Toxic Oscar at Coach’s Corner Live performance in a courtyard setting.

Sat. July 18, 7 p.m. facebook.com/coachscorner/ Dueling Pianos at Coach’s Corner Live performance in a courtyard setting.

Sun. July 19, 6 p.m. facebook.com/coachscorner/ DRAUCKER at Coach’s Corner Live performance in a courtyard setting.

Fri. July 24, 7 p.m. facebook.com/coachscorner/ Voodoo Soup at Coach’s Corner Live performance in a courtyard setting.

Sat. July 25, 7 p.m. facebook.com/coachscorner/

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Livestreams: Front Porch Improv: Top Secret Comedy Live improv comedy sessions.

July 17 8 p.m. facebook.com/frontporchimprov/ Front Porch Improv: Hot Takes Live improv “talk show.”

July 24 9 p.m. facebook.com/frontporchimprov/ Front Porch Improv: Live and Awesome Improv Live improv comedy session. The theme this week is “Bad Roommate.”

July 18 9 p.m. facebook.com/frontporchimprov/ Friday Night Live with Mayor Van Johnson Savannah Mayor Van Johnson’s “fireside chat” about the state of the city.

Fridays, 8 p.m. facebook.com/MayorJohnsonSAV/ Psychotronic Film Society Viewing Parties To receive the secret link to these hidden streaming playlists, people MUST join the PFS of SAV’s Private Facebook Group, at the link below. Each week, anyone who chooses to donate at least $5 via PayPal or Venmo receives a free high quality digital download of a movie from the archive, and is entered into a drawing to win a limited edition T-shirt.

Wednesdays, Sundays, 8 p.m. facebook.com/ groups/2519522234807695/ Quarantine Concert: Amar Live show streamed from the Tybee Post Theatre.

Fri. July 24, 8:30 p.m. facebook.com/quarantineconcerts/ Seldom Sober Savannah’s only Irish music ensemble, Seldom Sober (Michael Corbett and Colleen Settle) perform a set spanning Trad Irish to American folk.

Tuesdays, 8 p.m. facebook.com/seldomsober/

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JULY 15 - 21, 2020

WEEK AT A

COMPILED BY RACHAEL FLORA TO HAVE AN EVENT LISTED EMAIL WAG@CONNECTSAVANNAH.COM. INCLUDE DATES, TIME, LOCATIONS WITH ADDRESSES, COST AND A CONTACT NUMBER. DEADLINE FOR INCLUSION IS 5PM FRIDAY, TO APPEAR IN NEXT WEDNESDAY’S EDITION.

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NEWS & OPINION EDITOR’S NOTE Proud Sponsor

Connect Savannah is published every Wednesday by Morris Multimedia, Inc 611 East Bay Street Savannah, GA, 31401 Phone: 912.231.0250 Fax: 912.238.2041 www.connectsavannah.com twitter: @ConnectSavannah Facebook.com/connectsav ADMINISTRATIVE Chris Griffin, General Manager chris@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4378 EDITORIAL Jim Morekis, Editor-in-Chief jim@connectsavannah.com Rachael Flora, Community/Events Editor rachael@connectsavannah.com Sean Kelly, A&E Editor sean@connectsavannah.com Josephine Beisel, Editorial Intern CONTRIBUTORS John Bennett, Matt Brunson, Brittany Curry, Kristy Edenfield, Geoff L. Johnson, Lindy Moody, Orlando Montoya, Jim Reed ADVERTISING Information: (912) 721-4378 sales@connectsavannah.com Bucky Bryant, Senior Account Executive bucky@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4381 DESIGN & PRODUCTION Brandon Blatcher, Art Director artdirector@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4379

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Bringing out Savannah’s Superstar

BY JIM MOREKIS

jim@connectsavannah.com

I’M NOT SURE which is the most fitting analogy for the dilemma Savannah faces right now: The massive new SCAD dorms on Victory Drive that will be totally empty this coming semester due to SCAD going to all online learning during the pandemic; Or the news that a new Hyatt is set to be built at the Eastern Wharf development — yet another hotel in a downtown already full of hotels, all now facing varying degrees of occupancy problems.

Both developments, of course, were planned long ago and not really a surprise to anyone.

The local tourism and hospitality industry already has its current inventory in shock due to the effect of the pandemic.

What the return-on-investment projections are for new construction in the hotel/ hospitality business – such as Eastern Wharf or the planned expansion of the Savannah Convention Center – I shudder to think.

There is one thing working in our favor, however. And it involves what we don’t have rather than what we do have.

Since gaining that nickname in a 2006 study, America’s so-called “Superstar Cities” have been identified as the places where the vast bulk of job growth happened nationally over the last 10-15 years.

The main Superstar Cities are usually considered to be New York, L.A., San Francisco, D.C., and Boston, with Seattle and Atlanta often added to the list.

As part of an exodus driven by pandemic-related economic change, they might seek smaller, simpler locales which are easier to navigate and more affordable overall.

Places like Savannah.

Not just to visit, but to start a new life in.

Like the Superstar Cities, Savannah also has great wealth inequity and a shortage of affordable housing.

But we have so far been blessed with an ability to manage crisis, and a continued sense of livability in a world increasingly more insane by the day.

Could Savannah’s future be less as a tourist mecca than as a place for people to come live their best life?

As part of an exodus driven by pandemic-related economic change, people might seek smaller, simpler locales which are easier to navigate, more stable, and more affordable overall.

Places like Savannah.

The pandemic hit the world fast and hard, and made a lot of other plans obsolete, too.

But the massive paradigm shift in shared priorities is the other shoe that hasn’t dropped. Savannah’s learning curve to deal with the ramifications will be steep.

We are all making lifestyle changes in the wake of COVID-19. For the very immuno-compromised, these lifestyle changes can be profound, involving basically total isolation.

For others, the lifestyle changes have more to do with going back-to-basics with regular functions. Gardening, baking bread, riding bikes, getting takeout instead of dining in.

The people and places best able to adapt to this new reality, however long it lasts, will be best positioned for peace and prosperity.

The others, not so much.

In Savannah’s case, a heavy reliance – some would say a marked overreliance – on tourism and on the presence of SCAD students, all in a comparatively densely packed area of town, may come back to haunt us.

If you’ve been following the news, you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out what most of those cities have in common: They are now vulnerable locations both for the pandemic and for widespread civil unrest.

How quickly the script has flipped on the Superstar Cities.

Economists will tell you that most Superstar Cities also have in common great wealth disparity due to the limited inventory of housing in their dense and highly desired city centers.

The Superstar Cities also have large service industry sectors specifically to serve the relatively small number of highincome earners who can afford to live in the most desirable areas.

All these traits once considered reliable economic drivers – density, a large service industry, high rents derived from limited housing – become liabilities in an era of pandemic-related economic shutdown and increased social and political unrest.

It’s entirely possible that as Americans go back to basics, they no longer will be drawn like magnets to these increasingly challenging metro areas.

IN OTHER NEWS, Savannah mourns the passing of one of its most influential and iconic citizens.

Emma Morel Adler passed away this past Sunday, age 90.

There are a handful of people about whom you can truly and literally say Savannah wouldn’t be what it is today without them. Emma Adler was one of those people.

Without her, there is no Historic Savannah Foundation as we know it. No Georgia Day celebration. No Georgia Heritage Week. No Massie Heritage Center.

The Lucas Theatre restoration bears her imprint, among many other iconic locations.

She was by turns a journalist, a school board member, a fundraiser, an organizer, an influencer. She lived a long and influential life at the confluence of history and education. She will be missed but her legacy lives on every day, all around us.

If you moved to Savannah because of the history, the charm, the architecture – you moved here literally because of Emma Adler and her life’s work.

Emma follows her late husband Leo, who passed away in 2012, into their next great adventure. CS

School reopening plan: Not perfect, but workable – and safer

BY DR. ANN LEVETT UNPRECEDENTED. That seems to be THE word for 2020.

We are in uncharted waters in many areas, and education is no different.

Reopening schools will be one step in defining the “new normal” for our community.

Rest assured…there is no “one size fits all” plan for reopening. We must be prepared to pivot for any situation and stay abreast of what is happening across the nation and world. Several countries have begun reopening schools and we’re watching their progress with optimism.

Our plans reflect what we know currently about COVID-19 and its effect on adults and children, while honoring our own expertise and understanding of the benefits of in person education for children’s mental, emotional, and physical health. Along with the American Academy of Pediatrics, our goal is for students to be physically present for school.

Yet COVID-19 remains an active public health threat that influences our decisions about when and how to reopen safely. The ability to deliver instructional and other services effectively, while maintaining health and safety standards, is critical for our school families and our community.

To help understand the needs of our community – students, staff and their families, as well as the community at large – we listened through our School Reopening Task Force. Over 110 community members discussed how reopening should look in this new world.

The group – a diverse assembly from all walks of Savannah leadership in business, government, health care, military, and nonprofits, as well as parents and educators – met three times and their recommendations helped shape the plan that will be presented to the Board of Education at the regular meeting July 16.

The reopening plan has been crafted to provide the best solution for as many students as possible. It won’t be a perfect solution for everyone, but it will be for a workable solution for most.

In preparing for the new school year, several instructional models have been considered: Traditional in-person learning, Hybrid (in-person learning with an online component) and Virtual.

The final recommendation to be presented at the July board meeting includes a delayed start of school to allow appropriate preparation for the year and planning for virtual instruction. Given the recent spike in COVID-19 cases, it is simply is not safe to open school for in-person learning at this time. Thus, we propose to start the school year with virtual learning and hope to switch to in-person learning when the number of cases subside.

Your Board of Education approved the purchase of 14,000 Chromebooks at their June meeting. We are reviewing proposals for SmartBus© technology to address internet connectivity in specific areas and are procuring portable personal wireless devices.

The launch of a learning management system the Board approved has been successful. We are better prepared for effective virtual education.

When it is confirmed that the spread of the virus is in decline, we will return to inperson learning with appropriate safety precautions. Our facilities and buses have been studied for capacity with physical distancing requirements.

Some spaces may be modified to achieve appropriate distancing and manage reduced classroom sizes; meal delivery will shift to classrooms to further prevent exposure. Other classroom and movement practices may change when we use this model to keep the environment safe.

There may be time shifts and a change in the way we view the school calendar. We have defined protocols for staff and student safety should there be an outbreak, and we are able to shift to distance learning, as necessary in such instances.

All of this must be accomplished within the current budget guidelines. In addition to technology expenses, we must consider investments in transportation, staffing, PPE, building modifications and more.

We promise to provide frequent, regular communication. We aim to be clear and concise, and to utilize all channels available to keep you informed about changes to schedules and processes, and anything else that may arise due to the pandemic.

We want to stay connected. We need your informed support if we are to succeed.

We WILL face this virus and win, but it will take all of us to achieve our goal. CS Dr. Ann Levett is Superintendent of SavannahChatham County Public Schools.

Savannah families free weekend!

July 17–19 Explore Juneteenth connections at the Jepson Center Free admission for Chatham County residents

Find museum hours and safety guidelines

at telfair.org Investment provided by:

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JULY 15 - 21, 2020

NEWS & OPINION EDUCATION

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NEWS & OPINION VOICES ON THE PATH

Voices on the Path: Coco Papy

BY KRISTY EDENFIELD COCO PAPY is a community organizer, policy nerd, and born-and-bred Savannahian who came home to do the work.

As Deep’s Director of Development and Communications, she works to shine the spotlight on the young people who are leading the way to a more just and equitable Savannah and push forward grassroots-created policy, advocacy, and legislation. She has a long history with Deep, starting out as an educator in the Young Author Project.

Papy is involved in numerous groups that work across Georgia, serving as a board member of the Planned Parenthood Southeast C4 policy team, co-founder of the Political Rascals PAC, a Highlander Education Center Greensboro Justice Fellow, and a PEN Prison Writing Fellow.

She is an acting member of the Georgia Win List, a political action committee dedicated to changing the face of power in Georgia by recruiting, training, and electing women. She was recently recruited by the People for the American Way’s Front Line Leaders Academy, which gives progressive leaders the tools to ensure elected officials reflect the needs of their communities.

Papy is trained in Kingian non-violence and de-escalation practice and recently became certified as a legal observer for the National Lawyer’s Guild as part of their mass defense support.

When she is not busy changing the world, Coco Papy makes amazing jam, marmalade, preserves, and raises Silkie chickens at her Twickenham home.

Why does it matter that white people educate themselves?

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JULY 15 - 21, 2020

At this point, there really is no excuse not to. The only reason you would be is that you are intentionally choosing not to. And if we are frank, that is a choice that has been easily supported given the way white supremacy functions.

When I say white supremacy, I don’t mean angry racists storming the streets with tiki torches, though that is very much a function of it. I mean that we are a country, a society, a culture, with our institutions, and the very heart of what we value and decide as normal on is centered on being white and male.

It’s something as small as “flesh tone” 6 bandaids that are white and it’s as massive

as the fact that black people are incarcerated at more than 5 times the rate of white people because Jim Crow and slavery were caste systems that were the template of our current system of mass incarceration.

It’s saying protestors dilute their message by not being “civil” and having more sympathy for property rather than black folks dying at the hands of white folks.

It’s calling the police because a black man is walking through Ardsley park and then boasting about it on Nextdoor. It’s not speaking up in our church pews and board meetings and in our PTA meetings because we are comfortable.

We — and I want to be clear, when I say “we” in this, I mean white people who I’m specifically addressing - we have to understand what it is that has kept and keeps racism in place — institutional policies like redlining, banking policies, mortgage policies, Jim Crow “black codes”, the criminal justice system, especially with the misdemeanor system, etc.; restrictive laws that were and are designed to limit the freedom of Black people intentionally or simply by unintentional bias of who created them, which is still intentional.

Then there is interpersonal behavior.

I find in having conversations on whiteness, white privilege, I have more difficulty talking with people who identify as liberal. If they voted for Stacey Abrams, they couldn’t possibly be racist, that good people can’t be racist, as opposed to how we function in a racist society that rewards that behavior. We tell ourselves that racism is only about moral values, when it is very much about the survival strategy of systemic power.

We have and live within it whether we want to or not, period. Our job is to understand and counteract on that. Not speak for the impacted. Not assume or generalize. But to address ourselves and each other. I think by owning that we have racist behaviors, that we perpetuate them, that we are rewarded for that, we can begin to do the long work on undoing it.

Why should white people not ask black people to help them learn how to not be racist?

Reni Eddo-Lodge wrote a book called “Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People about Race.” It talks about the struggle of trying to convince a white man that what he was saying was perpetuating a white racist standard.

All the while he stared obliviously, completely confused by this pain, trivializing

That is what all lives matter is. It is not being able to look past your own inherent myopia and shrinking world so you don’t have to understand there is suffering beyond your limited perception.

What are some of your favorite resources that white folks can use to become better people?

Coco Papy

it, ridiculing it. It was exhausting.

Ask yourself this: Do you want to go through the experience of sharing with someone the worst pain you experience only to be told you are making it all up, that it doesn’t exist, that if you did X, Y, Z, it wouldn’t be like that? Because they haven’t done the learning needed to understand how your humanity is under assail?

No. And yet we white folks do that all the time. It’s not the job of marginalized groups to educate non-marginalized people on history or their experiences. We have got to do the labor. There are endless resources. There are support circles for white people wanting to do anti-racist work.

Because many white people have never been forced to think about our whiteness, to think about the way our race identity carries power into the world, we tend to be incredibly fragile in talking about race.

The center of the harm and damage of racism should always focus on the center of those impacted. But racism, like any -ism, is a double-edged sword that dehumanizes because of participating in oppressive behavior as well.

How am I to believe that my full humanity can be intact if it is based on putting my foot on someone else to keep them down so that I may stay up? That’s not humanity.

We have to reject that. I reject that.

Support and amplify the work of black / people of color creators, authors, writers, thinkers. Ibram X. Kendi, Nikole Hannah-Jones, Layla F. Saad, Morgan Jerkins, Patrisse Khan-Cullors, Christopher Emdin, Rachel Elizabeth Cargle, Adrienne Marie Brown, Ijeoma Oluo — google “antiracist reading list” and you will access a treasure trove.

Locally, learn about Savannah’s history from the folks here—Trelanie Michelle, Amir Toure, Dr. Otis Johnson, Dr. Vaughnette Goode-Walker, Johnny Brown.

Learn about Troy Davis, Henry Moore, Robbie Roberson, W.W. Law — who they were in this community.

What is the most important thing that white folks can do at this time?

There is no “sorry about racism” care package. There is only the commitment to antiracist work, showing up imperfectly and being humble enough to mess up and keep going. No one is born spitting bell hooks quotes off their backhand.

BUT — we must, must confront our inevitable and often unaware racist patterns and assumptions. And we have to be willing to do that work with other white people, not just stay silent when someone says something or drag them on Facebook and call that the work for the day.

We have to accept that we will come to the work flawed, accepting of feedback and criticism, with humility, and with a commitment to doing it for the long haul. And we have to bring other white people along with us.

Get rid of the idea of there being a formula - this idea that if we can just figure out a way to be a “good ally”, to be non racist, to say the right thing, all of this is a byproduct of white privilege. It’s thinking there is a formula that if we figure it out, all black people will be cool with us. Black folks aren’t a monolith. Do you see what I mean?

What do you say to “all lives matter” I carry this sentence from Adrienne folks?

Marie Brown: “It’s a devastating weight to carry, to work to be fully myself, humble, The person you love most in the world dies. and brilliant and messy and great, against Your child, your spouse, whoever. At the a delusion of white supremacy so pervasive funeral, you go to give the eulogy to talk and invasive that it can grow within each about what this person meant to you, about of us without invitation. But just because the hurt and pain you are experiencing, something alive violates us does not mean how much they mattered. A random perwe asked for it, does not mean we partner son grabs the mic and says “well actually, with it, believe it, or let it live.” CS all children/spouses matter.”

NEWS & OPINION THE NEWS CYCLE

Bikes in Demand: Meeting Savannah’s increasing need

FRIENDS and family members frequently ask me for advice on purchasing bicycles.

Some are getting on bikes for the first time.

Others, for the first time in a long time.

What type of bike is best for exercise?

For commuting? For simply riding around the neighborhood with the kids?

Are bicycles from bike shops really better than those available at big box stores?

(The answer to this question is yes).

Lately I’m hearing a totally different inquiry: Where in the world can I even find a bike for sale?

Dozens of national news stories in recent weeks have featured some variation on a “Bikes are the New Toilet Paper”

emergency services providers, and City employees.

Bikes have been donated from all over Chatham County, including a sizable contribution from 100 Black Men of Savannah, Inc. “The 100 Black Men of Savannah, Inc. values our ability to partner with organizations that are genuinely making a difference in the Savannah community,” Harold Oglesby of 100 Black Men said. “It was, therefore, a pleasure to team with Bike Walk Savannah to get bikes into the hands of Savannahians who needed them.”

Brown said, “Many requests are coming from East Savannah and Westside, along with quite a few requests from the Port Wentworth area. Many of them are hoping to ride the bike to the nearest bus stop.”

She said she needs donations of bikes in good working condition to continue providing them to frontline workers. To arrange a bike donation, email info@

bikewalksavannah.org and include a photo and details about the bike’s condition so its suitability for refurbishment can be assessed. Brown pleaded with people not to leave unsolicited donations at Bike Walk Savannah’s office.

If the bikes are not good candidates for immediate reconditioning, staff and volunteers must devote time and effort to storing or recycling them, thus diverting them away from their primary objective.

In addition to dependable bikes, the New Standard Cycles program also provides helmets, lights, locks — and a more recent addition to the accessory line-up, reusable cloth masks — to all recipients free of charge. Those who wish to make a tax-deductible financial contribution to support the program can do so at https://

bikewalksavannah.org/donate/

The other part of the bicycle demand CONTINUES ON P. 8

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JULY 15 - 21, 2020

BY JOHN BENNETT

john@georgiabike.org

headline to convey the scarcity of bikes at stores.

What’s behind the increased demand for bicycles?

Caila Brown, executive director of Bike Walk Savannah, explained what she’s seen firsthand through the New Standard Cycles program, which provides refurbished bikes to people in need.

“Many of our requests have come from people who usually took the bus, but due to the pandemic and reduced schedules were no longer able to. One woman, Frances, could take the bus to get to her shift at a restaurant, but was unable to take it home.

Her coworker actually requested a bike on her behalf, helping her regain some freedom and mobility,” she said.

Brown said she has received 176 requests for reconditioned bikes so far during the COVID-19 pandemic and has completed 61 that are now being used by grocery store workers, senior care providers, nurses,

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THE NEWS CYCLE

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A new pedestrian crossing is being installed on Victory Drive at Cedar Street. Once operational, it will be safer and easier for residents of neighborhoods on the north side of Victory to reach Daffin Park.

story is being driven by recreational riders. The shelter in place order from earlier this year coincided with a spate of remarkably mild springtime weather and a growing desire for healthy, spatially-distanced exercise.

A colleague in Glynn County described used bikes being purchased immediately after they are listed for sale on Craigslist or Facebook.

Here in Savannah bike shops are seeing large numbers of bikes, which had been collecting dust in garages and sheds, roll in for service.

Yet it’s important to recognize what we are seeing is not just about bikes. It’s about increased demand for safe places for people to get exercise and safe ways to get where they need to go.

While some may have started their daily fitness routines in the early days of the pandemic, even after the arrival of Savannah’s brutal summer heat and humidity, they seem to be sticking with it.

Current guidance does not mandate mask wearing when exercising outside alone or with household members. However, on a recent morning I observed people wisely wearing masks on the Robert Espinoza Running Trail in Daffin Park.

There simply wasn’t room, even outdoors, to safely distance with so many folks using the trail.

A new pedestrian crossing, now being installed at East Victory Drive and Cedar Street, will make it easier and safer for residents of Live Oak and other neighborhoods north of Victory Drive to cross the street and reach the park. We need more of these direct and convenient connections to parks, stores, and other everyday destinations.

It’s also imperative to talk with people about how they use these spaces and seek their ideas about making them safe and accessible — during the pandemic and beyond. CS

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NEWS & OPINION EDUCATION

BY RACHAEL FLORA

rachael@connectsavannah.com

IN GEORGIA, the plan to get students back to school has been fraught at best.

The uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects have made planning for the fall semester difficult. As it stands, all schools in the University System of Georgia are planning to resume in-person classes this fall.

Last week, inspired by similar actions taken by Georgia Tech, faculty at Georgia Southern University released a letter asking the USG to reconsider their protocol.

“We assert that the reopening process has not prioritized science-based evidence, creating significant health risks to the Georgia Southern community and surrounding areas,” reads the statement, which as of press time was signed by over 180 faculty members. “The University has not lived up to its values by neglecting to make faculty, staff, students, and the wider community a central part of the decision making process. Furthermore, we do not feel secure that the education we will be offering to students in 2020 will be free from significant and foreseeable disruption.”

The letter, which is addressed to the Board of Regents and the USG as well as GSU President Kyle Marrero, asks to enact six protocols. One of the most crucial

points of the letter is to encourage the USG to localize decision-making to each university.

“Local universities don’t have any control over this process, so our president, who has tried to be as transparent as he can about what’s happening, can’t really make any decisions,” says Heidi Altman, Associate Professor of Anthropology in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences.

“The decisions he makes have to be made in concert with all the other 27 universities in the system, because it has to go through the Board of Regents.”

For Georgia Southern alone, its three campuses—Savannah, Statesboro, and Liberty—are in very different stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bulloch County, where Statesboro is the county seat, recorded 623 confirmed cases as of July 12. Chatham County has recorded 2,554 cases, and Liberty County has recorded 251 cases, both as of July 13.

Just by these three data points alone, it should be clear that not every campus requires the same reopening plan. But the reopening plan applies for each campus of each school in the University System of Georgia, which counts schools across the state.

What’s more, the counties in metro Atlanta, where the USG’s office is located, count the most cases of COVID-19. A plan for those counties should be different from a plan in other areas that have not been hit

as hard. This, however, is similar to what we’ve seen happen in Georgia’s COVID-19 response as a whole, with decisions being made in Atlanta that don’t quite transfer to other areas of the state.

In the letter, the Georgia Southern faculty asks the USG to consider allocating the decision to the university presidents themselves instead of making widespread mandates.

Another major issue the faculty finds is that student input was not solicited, much less considered, for this decision.

“What I get from the Board of Regents and the University System is that they are assuming our students are children who are unable to think for themselves.

They are full-blown adults who can make choices,” says one signer of the letter who chose to remain anonymous here. “I talked to my undergrad research assistants and they are unsure. They’re not getting any communication from anyone about what’s happening. I don’t know if we’re allowing students to voice what they want.”

“Students weren’t involved at all in the opening plan,” echoes Diana Botnaru, Professor in the Health Professions. “If students or parents were asked about their preferences, I really have not seen any data on that.”

The lack of opportunities for meaningful student feedback is not a surprise for anyone who remembers the ArmstrongGeorgia Southern merger of a few years

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JULY 15 - 21, 2020

Georgia Southern faculty ask University System of Georgia to reconsider COVID-19 protocol for fall

ago. But now, as always, it’s important to consider that college students are paying money for an education, so ostensibly they should have some say in the situation.

But, some faculty allege, the USG is more concerned with money than they are with safety.

“The university is very afraid of losing students who want this university experience, what college life is like, so I suspect they feel that if they go fully online, we’re going to lose students,” says the anonymous faculty member. “What I mean by losing students, in their own coded language, is that they’re losing money. Ultimately, this is about money.”

The anonymous faculty member suggests that the summer period could have been best spent training faculty on how to teach online courses, since many students were not pleased with the online mode of instruction for the spring.

Of course, online learning doesn’t come close to the typical college experience that students seek.

“I understand the concern of parents, and I can sympathize because yes, we do want our kids to go to campus, and we want them to have the college experience,” says Botnaru. “But at the same time, how many dead students and how many dead professors is it going to take for them to understand that this is serious?”

Botnaru says that faculty were asked to have syllabi ready and uploaded by Aug. 1, which at this point is just over two weeks away. That, she says, is an abnormal move.

“It’s even more abnormal because as of right now, I don’t know the format of my class, whether it’s going to be face-to-face, high flex, hybrid—I don’t know,” she says.

“Making plans and making a syllabus for fall semester when you don’t even know the format of your class is very unusual.”

“We’re being asked to plan for every possibility,” adds Altman. “It’s not easy.”

Botnaru explains that some introductory-level classes at Georgia Southern’s Statesboro campus can be up to 250 students, which of course is not possible under current CDC guidelines. Even a classroom size of 35 now seats only 13.

So far, the USG has reversed its mask policy, now requiring face masks to be worn on campus. But as for what else can be accomplished by the letter, the faculty is not sure.

“It’s hard to make any dramatic changes in 20 days,” says Altman. “I want to express how I feel about this in the moment so historically, when people look back, they will say, ‘They tried.’ I don’t know how much can be done in the next 21 days.”

“We as professors are going to do the very best we can to make sure our students get the best quality education we can deliver in the best circumstances,” says Botnaru. CS 9

NEWS & OPINION EDUCATION

A conversation with Georgia Southern’s TaJuan Wilson Associate VP for Inclusive Excellence gives an update into diversity efforts at college

BY RACHAEL FLORA

rachael@connectsavannah.com

IT’S BEEN A year of work for Georgia Southern University.

Last spring, the school hired Dr. Damon Williams to conduct a campus climate survey in response to a string of racist incidents. The report’s outlook was fairly bleak: only 46% of all respondents to the survey felt like they belonged on campus. Across all three campuses—Savannah, Statesboro, and Liberty— those numbers were dismal.

But Georgia Southern was

here that we feel like we had enough information to forge ahead. That plan took me about three months to develop. It’s not public yet, but it’s soon to be public.

[The plan] is centered around four highlevel goals. Goal one is to create an equitable and inclusive environment for all here at Georgia Southern.

Goal two is to increase the representation of diverse students, faculty, staff and community partners at all levels of the institution.

Goal three, we really start thinking about how we facilitate access to achievement, success and recognition for underrepresented students, fac-

What kind of feedback have you received on these efforts so far?

It’s not completely solidified yet, but I will tell you it’s been very positive. People are excited about some of the things they’re reading in the plan. Again, as somebody new here, they’re helping me consider some previous attempts to do some of this work. “Before, we tried something a little different. Yours seems to be super clear and more defined; we’re excited about trying this again.” Most of what’s in the plan has never been attempted before, though.

How much did you lean on Damon Williams’ report on diversity, released last August?

Damon was hired as a consultant for the institution; we brought him to essentially take a pulse of campus. We want to double back and do a campus climate survey, which will actually happen this November, so we can take a deeper dive and have more specific data. I would like to be able to, for example, go to the division of student affairs and say, “Here’s your specific data; here’s what’s happening in your unit so you can enhance the experience of your students, faculty and staff.”

My job is really to shepherd the change at a high level and then making sure there’s accountability as well. I think in the past we’ve done a good job of introducing that this is something that’s important—we embedded it as pillar three of our university’s strategic plan—and then a natural next step was to bring in a senior leader who could help them create some accountability. That’s our next step.

Some of the things we’re really talking about in the plan are around recruitment, retention and advancement of our students, faculty and staff. How do we engage with the local community and our alumni base? How do we see some success in this functional area?

We call for things like a revamp of some of our HR procedures and protocol around the recruitment process, so we’re going to be embedding our required inclusive excellence statement at the time of application.

We’re also taking a hard look at how we recruit. Have we built the appropriate pipeline so we can attract and retain a diverse faculty and staff? Our student body is incredibly diverse. 26% of our students are African-American. About 7-8% of our students are Hispanic or Latino. There’s goodwill in a way that a lot of institutions don’t have at that level of diversity. Now

Some of the things we’re really talking about in the plan are around recruitment, retention and advancement of our students, faculty and staff. motivated to keep doing the work, and part of that work included hiring Dr. TaJuan Wilson, the Associate Vice President for Inclusive Excellence.

Wilson, who assumed his role March 1, brings with him a wealth of expertise in the area of equity and inclusivity on college campuses. Currently, he is working on an inclusive excellence plan that seeks to help make Georgia Southern a more equitable school, from top to bottom.

We caught up with Wilson last week.

What’s your new role?

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JULY 15 - 21, 2020

I’m the associate VP for inclusive excellence and the chief diversity officer. This is an inaugural role at Georgia Southern. My role here is really to develop comprehensive strategy to move the institution forward with respect to all things diversity, equity and inclusion.

I conducted a pulse survey when I came into the institution that would guide me in the development of our very first Inclusive Excellence Action Plan. That has been my complete focus: really understanding the culture and being engaged in a process of moving us forward. That plan typically would take a year to be drafted by an insti10 tution, but we feel such a sense of urgency

ulty, staff, and alumni. And our final goal really centers around this notion of how we implement strong, genuine and consistently communicated, culturally inclusive practices that we enforce not only in our university’s strategic plan but this inclusive excellence plan that we’re drafting.

The plan has been presented to the rest of the president’s cabinet for their feedback, as well as our extended leadership team. At the point of getting all that feedback, we’ll move forward and work with marketing and communications on a real plan to communicate this.

In addition to the plan, I’ve spent some time redeveloping the President’s Diversity Advisory Council, which is made up of faculty and staff representation. I recognized that committee was missing some key leaders that could actually enact change for us as an institution, so we’ve completely revamped that group. The same is true with our President Student Advisory Committee. We’re beginning the early stages of introducing employee resource groups on campus that didn’t exist before, so we’ve identified some initial groups we want to start with and we’ve given our community the opportunity to tell us other groups they’d like to see as well.

Right now, we don’t have data that we can give to help people to that end. There’s very high-level general data that’s super helpful—Damon does incredible work—but we want to facilitate a deeper campus climate survey. That was actually one of his recommendations of his report, so we’re following that recommendation. He also said we should develop a comprehensive plan, so we’re doing that as well.

These are national best practices that would have happened no matter what, but they’re part of his plan for sure.

How will this plan be enforced?

We’ve never had a plan before. I think that having a plan is a key step in creating accountability. I have this university-wide plan, but the next step is to require that every college and central unit develops their own plan utilizing the centralized template that I’m also creating, so we’re all speaking the same language and working towards the same goals. In that plan, we’re going to be asking them to indicate what resources they need in order to accomplish this work, who are the key or lead personnel on this project, how will they measure success, and what will accountability look like for them at their own individual levels.

it’s about how we support these students and ensure that they’re successful while they’re at the institution.

We’re going to be enhancing some of our retention programs and services, we’re allocating resources for support, we’re creating and fostering new programs and partnerships. We’re also talking about training and education, which is super important. We’ll require that search committees go through implicit bias training so we can make sure we’re removing any barriers that may exist for candidates who are interested in coming to Georgia Southern. It’s a really holistic approach and I think that’s the most important thing to remember.

It’s an exciting time to recognize that there are challenges at Georgia Southern, but we’re really committed to enhancing the experience of our students. It really starts with this comprehensive strategy. I always tell people this thing is a marathon, not a sprint. Real, tangible, sustainable change takes some time, but I’ve only been here since March 1. We’re going to forge ahead and get it done. I feel very confident in my ability to say that for sure. CS Contact Wilson at tajuanwilson@georgiasouthern.edu.

11

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JULY 15 - 21, 2020

NEWS & OPINION BLOTTER 2020 Sav/Chatham County Crime Stats through Sunday July 12

HOMICIDES

18

Chatham County Police investigate after body found

The Chatham County Police Department is investigating after a body was found in a wooded area the morning of July 13.

The body was discovered around 8:30 a.m. by a landscaping crew in a wooded area behind two businesses in the 5900 block of Ogeechee Road. Detectives say the body appears to have been there for some time. The preliminary investigation indicates that the deceased is a white male, and it has not been determined whether foul play is involved. An autopsy will be conducted to gather more information.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call Chatham County Police at 912-652-6920.

Chatham County Marine Patrol announces future Boater Safety Course session dates

Chatham County, GA (July 10, 2020) – The Georgia Department of Natural

Resources (DNR) and the Chatham County Marine Patrol will be conducting three more Boating Safety Course sessions through September.

This is a Georgia DNR-approved class that is required for anyone that was born after January 1, 1998 who wishes to operate any power vessel or personnel watercraft on Georgia waterways. The course is free and open to the public.

Future sessions are scheduled for: Saturday, July 18, 2020 Saturday, August 15, 2020 Saturday, September 19, 2020 The class size is limited, and registration is required. To register, please visit www. gooutdoorsgeorgia.com or call the Georgia DNR at 912-264-7237. Participants must be at least 12-years-old.

Class participants will be issued a Boater Education Card if they pass the exam given at the end of the class. You must have a copy of your Social Security card or know your Social Security number in order to receive the Boater Education Card.

The class begins at 9 a.m. and runs until 3 p.m., with a break for lunch. If participants would like to wear a mask during instruction as a precaution against COVID-19, they are encouraged to do so.

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NEWS & OPINION NEWS OF THE WEIRD The Cheyenne (Nebraska) County Commissioners vented their frustration on July 6 over an alarming threat posed by a native species in the state’s panhandle. The Scottsbluff Star-Herald reported that commissioner Philip Sanders told the gathering that prairie dogs had caused almost $3 million in damage to 2,600 acres in the county, and pleaded with representatives of the U.S. Department of Agriculture: “We have a group here from Lodgepole. Their whole town is being surrounded by prairie dogs, and we heed your help.” The county has contracted with the USDA to handle its animal control problems, but Sanders said the lone wildlife specialist charged with the task has been overwhelmed. “I feel like we’ve let Lodgepole down,” Sanders said. “I don’t want to eradicate (prairie dogs). ... I get it, but they’re out of control.”

out snacks and drinks, and kicking off his shoes to put on slippers as he settled in to watch cartoons. Kaval’s rig landed safely, and he didn’t miss any of his shows.

• While Americans celebrated the Fourth of July by blowing stuff up, people in Seoul, South Korea, were surprised by an unannounced high-tech aerial display of encouragement and gratitude for medical personnel treating victims of COVID19. AFP reported that 300 unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, lit up the sky for 10 minutes over the Han River on July 4 with messages about wearing masks, washing hands and socially distancing, then shifted focus to thank frontline health care workers. It ended with a silhouette of the Korean peninsula and the message, “Cheer up, Republic of Korea.”

The event was not advertised in advance in accordance with social distancing rules.

Sign of the Times

Do It Yourself

A statue of Christopher Columbus stands in Cleveland’s Little Italy neighborhood, but if signers of a petition get their way, it will soon be replaced by a statue of Chef Boyardee. The petition, signed by hundreds, suggests Ettore (Hector) Boiardi, known for his “food and iconic mustache,” would be a much better recipient of Cleveland’s love, Cleveland.com reported. “Boiardi and his brothers built a canned food empire from the ground up,” the petition argues, and “during World War II, this company produced canned food for American soldiers 24/7,” earning Chef Boyardee a Gold Star in 1946.

Surprise!

Wynn Hall of Exeter, Nebraska, might have expected to find a few beer cans or old tires at the bottom of his farm pond when he drained it for maintenance on July 3, but he discovered something entirely different: an empty, broken ATM. “I thought, who would throw a refrigerator or a stove and put it in the pond?” Hall told KOLN. “I took a picture and zoomed in on it and thought, that looks like an ATM.” When authorities arrived, they had a good idea of the source of the machine, since one had been stolen recently, but the numbers didn’t match up. Hall said he didn’t drain the pond last year, but didn’t think the ATM had been there too long. “This is by far the strangest and I was really shocked to see it,” Hall said.

Don Peters, 44, was arrested without incident on July 4, according to Akron, Ohio, police, after forcing his way around the counter at a Subway sandwich shop and making his own sandwich. According to police, Peters was intoxicated when he entered the store demanding a meal and became belligerent, damaging some plexiglass before charging behind the counter. Cleveland.com reported officers said they found a bottle of vodka and a block of Subway cheese in Peters’ pockets; he was charged with disorderly conduct, criminal damaging and open container.

Lucky

Nathalia Bruno, 24, of Newark, New Jersey, survived a harrowing mile-long ride through the storm sewer system under Passaic on July 6 after she drove into high water during a flash flood, NorthJersey. com reported. Bruno, a driver for DoorDash, escaped her car as it filled with water, but the current pulled both her and her car into the waterway that runs under the city, Passaic Fire Chief Patrick Trentacost said. Bruno rode the wave until it

reached its outlet above the Passaic River, where she was “shot out” and swam to a backyard on the other side. A homeowner called 911, and Bruno was taken to a hospital where she appeared not to be seriously injured. Her Toyota Prius was later found under a street the next day.

Need for Speed

Kevin Nicks, 55, of Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England, was up to the challenge when he was invited to a racing event for unconventional vehicles at Elvington Airfield in North Yorks on July 4.

Using parts lying around his house, Nicks mounted a Honda moped engine to the back of a wheelbarrow that recorded top speeds of 36 mph. “No wheelbarrow has flown down at the speeds I was going,” Nicks boasted to the Daily Star. “It’s thrilling and absolutely bonkers to drive it.”

This isn’t the first time Nicks has motorized gardening equipment. He’s also the owner of the world’s fastest shed, which can reach speeds of 100 mph. “I like being creative and thinking out of the box,” he said.

The Passing Parade

Pennsylvania State Police received multiple calls on June 21 about a Mercedes-Benz driving in reverse on the Pennsylvania Turnpike during rush hour.

Troopers arriving on the scene said they found Symara Cole, 27, of Silver Spring, Maryland, passed out in the car with all the doors locked, WTAJ reported. A semi driver had stopped his rig behind her to prevent others from being harmed. First responders found that Cole was under the influence of drugs; pending charges include DUI and drug possession.’

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MUSIC INTERVIEW Oh yeah—we got a call one day and thought about it, and realized we missed it. We have a rehearsal space that we play at, so we all went up there and started practicing again.

PHOTO BY DAVID STEINHAISER

So it’s been full steam ahead since then?

We’ve made some records and have done four or five shows a year. We actually built a house that we use for recording and practicing, and our instruments live there. We go every Monday and practice.

Does it feel like, at this point, like it’s part of your life now?

Oh, yeah! It’s the best part of the week for me, you can bet.

What were some of the bands y’all were drawing from in the earliest days?

I can tell you what we were listening to and what we’re still listening to. Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and now stuff like the Foo Fighters, Dream Theater—not really stuff that’s mainstream, let’s put it that way.

I imagine you’re still playing some songs pretty much the same way after all of these years?

41 YEARS OF TOXIC OSCAR Long-running local band plays Coach’s Corner

BY SEAN KELLY

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JULY 15 - 21, 2020

sean@connectsavannah.com

14

TOXIC OSCAR has been together since 1979. That’s a staggering thought, considering that most bands never last such a long period of time. The local rockers have released albums and made a name for themselves as a live act during that time, and continue playing to devoted fans to this day.

Will Griffiths, the band’s keyboardist, says they had planned to play one of their five shows a year at Coach’s Corner this past May, but had to postpone due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s back on the books, though, for Sat., July 18, and they’re ready to go.

Ahead of the show, we caught up with Griffiths to learn more about their incredible history.

What’s the story with y’all and your history?

We’ve been together since 1979!

Wow! Yeah! And then we took a break for a couple of years and got back together, and we’ve been together ever since. A couple of us are going on 41 years together.

That’s really amazing. How long was the initial stretch?

It was 1979 to, I think, 1989. It was a long time. We started out with a different name, but then we changed members and changed the name to Toxic Oscar. And it remained Toxic Oscar ever since.

What was the music scene like at that time?

It was great! There was tons of music, and a lot of people playing music. But the only problem was, there weren’t a lot of places to play.

What were the venues around in those days?

Well, you had Night Flight Cafe down on the river, and then you had Congress Street Station. There was Malone’s, over at City Market. Texas South was a big place, and then there were places in Statesboro. We used to go to Statesboro and play all the time.

What year did you start up again?

I’d say five or six years later, something like that!

Was it just a matter of realizing that you missed playing together?

We change things up and pick things up along the way. But with certain songs, like with Rush songs, we try and make them sound like Rush songs, you know? With others, we’ll change things up.

The great thing is that it sounds like there’s not a lot of pressure. It seems like you’re at a point where you’re doing this because you love it, whenever you want to do it.

Yes, and it’s always exciting. I’ll book a show, and then we’ll work on stuff before the gig. When we get ready for the show, we put the show together and play what we want to play. Everybody gets to play the way they want to; there’s no yelling, no screaming. It’s like a family thing, where everyone just really fucking likes playing.

All the people that’ve left the band are still like family—most of them will be at the show! It’s kind of like a cult thing, if you really want to get down to it [laughs]. CS Toxic Oscar @Coach’s Corner Sat., July 18, 7 P.M., $10 3016 E Victory Dr

MUSIC PODCASTS Joe Pug’s “The Working Songwriter”

Who: Austin-based “songwriter’s songwriter” whose repertoire of originals includes “I Do My Father’s Drugs” “Lock the Door Christina,” and “Bury Me Far (From My Uniform)” What: As host of “The Working Songwriter” podcast, Americana musician Joe Pug has spent the past four years talking shop with a who’s-who of top-flight songwriters. Given Pug’s penchant for folk and country music, it’s no surprise that his guests have included Steve Earle, Tift Merritt, Joe Ely, Lee Ann Womack and Gregory Alan Isakov. But he’s no less adept at interviewing more unexpected artists like The Killers, Amanda Palmer, The Milk Carton Kids, and Minor Threat/Fugazi frontman Ian Mackaye.

Why: Because it’s safer to write your own songs than steal them from others.

Big Boy Bloater’s “The Blues Podcast”

Top 5 Music Podcasts!

BY BILL FORMAN DID YOU KNOW that 47,124,947 households who buy juice are fans of music podcasts? Or that 59,181,265 households who buy milk are fans of music podcasts? Or that 57,274,911 households who buy cereal are fans of music podcasts?

Most likely not. And I wouldn’t have either, had I not pored through Nielsen Media Research’s “A Marketer’s Guide to Podcasting.”

But while the report is a vast treasure trove of useful information, it’s scant on details when it comes to exactly which music podcasts these households are listening to as they tuck into their motelstyle continental breakfasts.

Fortunately, we know which music podcasts they should be listening to. And here are five of them, all hosted by actual musicians, that are guaranteed to keep your household happy all quarantine long.

Questlove Supreme

Who: Roots drummer, “Tonight

Show” bandleader, NYU professor, and 2010 Super Bowl deejay What: As Michelle Obama said after Questlove gave her a 1,200-song playlist to take on her “Becoming” book tour, “Life’s a little better when we live it to Questlove’s beat.” The former First Lady subsequently returned the favor by appearing on the “Questlove Supreme” podcast, adding to a wildly diverse roster of guests that includes A Tribe Called Quest’s Q-Tip, yacht rockers Michael McDonald and Huey Lewis, and film directors Katherine Bigelow and Spike Lee. He’s also talked to Jack White about dumpster diving, and to the Gap Band’s Charlie Wilson about his claim to have taught Michael Jackson how to do the moonwalk. And don’t forget Questlove’s 179-minute interview with Chris Rock, which is nothing short of priceless.

Why: Because a “nerdy black NPR” is better than a white CNN

Dream Wife’s “So When You Gonna….”

Who: London-based art-punk trio whose 2018 debut album drew

comparisons to Le Tigre, Garbage and, wait for it, The Spice Girls What: Dream Wife’s So When You Gonna podcast features lead singer Rakel Mjöll, guitarist Alice Go, and bassist Bella Podpadec each taking turns as they conduct one-on-one deep-dive conversations with women and non-binary musicians.

While exploring the cultural and political intricacies of the contemporary music and arts world, the three musicians also aim to motivate their listeners to explore a broad range of interests. Episodes of the podcast, which made its debut on April 22, have included So When You Gonna… Get Into Music Production,” “So When You Gonna… Get Into Coding,” “So When You Gonna… Get Into Songwriting,” and “So When You Gonna… Get Into Magic.’ Not coincidentally, Dream Wife’s forthcoming sophomore album will be titled “So When You Gonna...”

Why: Because this is the only place you’ll find interviews with feminist rapper Girli, Italian producer Marta Salogni, and non-binary witch/musician/artist Ayesha Tan Jones.

Henry Rollins’ “The Cool Quarantine”

Who: Former Black Flag and Rollins Band vocalist, spoken-word artist, survivor of Penelope Spheeris’ “The Decline of Western Civilization” What: Anyone who’s seen one of Henry Rollins’ spoken-word tours knows that the iconic punk singer can talk. A lot. So it only makes sense that Rollins was quick to take advantage of the burgeoning music podcast medium. Back in 2015, he joined forces with his manager Heidi May to co-host “Henry & Heidi,” in which they talked about themselves, each other, and other areas of interest. Now, Rollins has embarked on his more socially-distanced “The Cool Quarantine Show,” in which he talks about his favorite records and plays them, too. The show is four-hours long.

Why: Because this is the closest you’ll come to spending the rest of eternity in quarantine with Henry Rollins. CS 15

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JULY 15 - 21, 2020

Joe Pug COURTESY JOE PUG

Who: Guitarist for Imelda May and Paloma Faith, frontman of Big Boy Bloater & The LiMiTs, and, in the words of Jools Holland, “one of the great bluesmen of our time” What: A British blues-rock bandleader who took his name from a SoCal hamburger chain, Big Boy Bloater is too young to have interviewed childhood heroes Jimi Hendrix and Elmore James. So he’s doing the next best thing by talking all things blues with musicians like Walter Trout, who has played guitar with the likes of John Lee Hooker, Big Mama Thornton, and Joe Tex. “The Blues Podcast” is just a few months old, but landing guests like Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Beth Hart and Robin Trower suggest he’s off to a good start.

Why: Because we get to hear guitarist Bernie Marsden talk about writing and recording Whitesnake’s “Here I Go Again”

MUSIC ALBUM REVIEW

Baroness, Gold & Grey

BY SEAN KELLY

sean@connectsavannah.com

Baroness - Gold & Grey (2019)

In reviewing Baroness’ latest album, 2019’s Gold & Grey, I found myself—for the first time in a long time—not knowing where to begin. The band got a reboot of

sorts with the addition of guitarist Gina Gleason, and Gold is the first to feature the newest lineup. On first listen, it’s got everything we all love about these guys, but there are some stylistic and production shifts that make this perhaps their most compelling work to date.

Alongside the brilliant Dave Fridmann, known for his production work with The

Flaming Lips, the band has created something that I have no doubt will stand the test of time. It’s an album that expands on the band’s cemented sound and their signature blend of progressive metal, alternative rock, and stoner rock sensibilities.

John Baizley is in his finest form on this record, hands down. As a songwriter, he’s shattered expectations and brushed off whatever potential pressure there might have been to make a certain type of record.

One particularly intriguing aspect of this record that makes it stand out is the focus on harmonies—particularly threepart harmonies—throughout. What this accomplishes is making the songs that much more melodic and vocally weighty, though you never lose the brilliant compositional aspects as well.

“Throw Me An Anchor” is a personal favorite, because it seems to be the best example of what the record accomplishes on all fronts. Sebastian Thomson’s drums are front and center here, as the fills are magnificent and tasteful—something that might be hard for another drummer to do on such a riff-heavy song that might normally dictate something flashy.

Tasteful is a key word when describing this song, and the record as a whole. Others in the world of heavy rock and metal might rely on the riffs and the bombast to turn

heads, but Baroness shows on Gold & Grey specifically that you can do more than that and make an impact. The songs are there, the sonics are there, and the riffs and compositional aspects are as engaging as ever.

There’s a fair amount of dimension on Gold & Grey from a sonic standpoint as well, with Fridmann and the band utilizing console distortion and a generally healthy amount of saturation to push the envelope and make the songs sound less clean. This is a really, really good thing for a record of rock and roll earworms, because it allows the songs to stand alone without being stifled by a more polished production approach.

The record ends with the groove-heavy and ambient “Pale Sun,” which is another example of why this is such a standout in their catalog. It’s no wonder this record has earned the band some of the best reviews of their career, and even found them charting at number one in the U.K. If only a more mainstream audience here in the U.S. would embrace such a brilliant, thoughtful, daring, and beautifully jarring record.

Gold & Grey is available now. For more on Baroness, visit yourbaroness.com

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CONNECT SAVANNAH | JULY 15 - 21, 2020

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16

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DRAUCKER @COACH’S CORNER

The great DRAUCKER comes to Coach’s Corner and brings an impressive catalog of songs. The sibling-centric band put out an excellent EP last year that is well worth diving into, and they’ve become known here in Savannah and beyond for their high caliber live shows. There’s something special about family bands, and these guys are no different. Witness the familial chemistry in all its glory, plus just some great songs, at this very special show.

FRI., JULY 24, 7 P.M., $5+

AMAR @QUARANTINE CONCERTS

BRADY AND THE BAZOOKAS @COACH’S CORNER

Rockabilly kings Brady and the Bazookas take the Coach’s stage for a night of socially distant rock and roll. The band takes cues from the greats like Brian Setzer and Reverend Horton Heat, and they do it with their own unique style that makes them an incredibly engaging band to watch. Don’t miss these guys in the Coach’s sound garden.

FRI., JULY 17, 7 P.M., $10+

VOODOO SOUP @COACH’S CORNER

Rounding out a great weekend at Coach’s is Voodoo Soup, the local soul, funk, and rock band featuring legendary bassist Eric Moore. You may not find a more talented band of musicians around, so this is one to leave the house for. Mask up and get over to Coach’s for what’s sure to be a great night.

SAT., JULY 25, 7 P.M., $5+

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JULY 15 - 21, 2020

Local group AMAR plays rock, funk, and jazz with a passion. The band centers around their namesake keyboardist and vocalist, but this trio of top notch musicians shines as a unit. This is your chance to see a great band on one of the best platforms we’ve had for live music in a long time—and you can do it right from your couch. This is one you’ll want to tune in for.

FRI., JULY 24, 8:30 P.M., QUARANTINECONCERTS.ORG FOR TICKETS AND STREAMING INFO

17

CULTURE THE ART•BEAT OF SAVANNAH

Sulfur Studios holds members-only exhibition when it’s most needed Portrait of the Artist by Jordan Fitch Mooney

BY RACHAEL FLORA

rachael@connectsavannah.com

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JULY 15 - 21, 2020

I FEEL AS though I’ve written some variation of the words “the pandemic changed everything” at least a hundred times since March.

Forgive me for beleaguering the point, but the COVID-19 pandemic has changed everything.

From restaurants and school to air travel and toilet paper supply, the pandemic has left its indelible mark on many facets of life. Savannah’s art scene is just one of many.

In last week’s issue, we featured two culturally significant business closures: the Jinx and the Studio School.

The Jinx has been a bastion of culture on Congress Street since the 1990s. While we wait eagerly for it to reopen in its new location, we’re down an important midsize music venue that could pull anyone from a small local band to an international touring act, and anyone in between.

The Studio School, run in this iteration by my friend Tatiana von Tauber, was more than just an art school. For five years, it was a community of art lovers that learned from and supported each other.

Of course, these are not the first establishments to close as a result of coronavirus, and they sadly won’t be the last. But these two provided very unique offerings to our city and to our cultural landscape, and without them, there’s a little less good happening.

I say all that to say this: if you’re sad about these closures, make a concerted effort to support what’s still here.

18 Between the pandemic and the already

Lifeline by Bridget Conn

Miner Problem by Melanie Mills

tenuous nature of the art business, our art scene could look a whole lot different by this time next year. It already looks a lot different in the nine years I’ve been here.

Change is inevitable, but accelerated in moments like this.

Now is the time to support galleries and artists that you love, and Sulfur Studios could certainly use that support.

For years, Sulfur has been a powerhouse in our artistic community. The Starland location offers both a gallery and artist studios, and Sulfur also places art in other local businesses through Sulfur Art Services.

All of those efforts have been severely stifled after the pandemic.

“Things are definitely shaky, and we’re just going month by month,” says Jennifer

Orange by Ken Klehm

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

DISCOVER SAVANNAH TROLLEY TOUR

Battleship by Rob Hessler

Moss, Sulfur’s studio and exhibition coordinator. “We’ve gotten a lot of support, which has been amazing, from people purchasing art and donating which has really helped us get through the past couple months, for sure. But as time goes on, a lot of our artists are struggling. A lot of people’s work has dried up or they’re just unsure, and so we have lost studio renters.”

Moss explains that the studios are largely what help pay for everything else, so those spaces sitting empty are definitely the weakest link.

So, Sulfur has gotten creative to help strengthen the other links. They’ve begun a postcard project, a monthly set of five postcards featuring different Savannah artists.

“It’s the idea that you can support us, support a local artist, keep in touch with friends, support the post office—all of that,” says Moss.

They also have a general fund that replaces the studio rent they’re losing, so direct donations are always accepted. But right now, the best way to support Sulfur Studios is a way that might be familiar: going to a show.

“Spectrum,” Sulfur’s annual member exhibition, is one of the first exhibitions with art available to see in person since mid-March. Up to 10 people can enter the gallery to view the work at a time. Moss notes that outside of receptions, they’ve rarely, if ever, had ten people in the gallery at a time.

Speaking of the reception, that will fall by the wayside this time. Instead, Sulfur will host a Q&A on Instagram Live on July 18, the last day of the exhibition.

For “Spectrum,” members were invited to submit monochromatic works that used any of the seven colors on the spectrum.

They were encouraged to consider deeper connotations of the color, like the cultural or philosophical meaning, in their work.

In the gallery, the work will be displayed

in the order of the spectrum, from red to violet.

The idea to incorporate the color element came from “Chroma,” their fiveyear anniversary show that happened in February.

“We were all kind of sitting around and someone said the idea of, ‘What if it was monochromatic in spectrum order?’” remembers Moss. “The idea just came to us, so that’s what we ended up doing.”

“Spectrum” was not a juried show, but the Sulfur team worked with artists to balance the colors so they didn’t end up with a mismatched rainbow. Artists were able to choose the colors they wanted, and they were also able to either create new work or submit work they already had.

The exhibition is a nice return to some semblance of normal, even if it’s not quite all the way normal yet.

“It was good to put up a show,” says Moss. “I’ve been [at Sulfur] working in my own personal space off and on through the whole time. It was nice to be able to stretch those curatorial muscles and play the layout and put up the show.”

The resumption of in-person exhibitions feels like a welcome step in the right direction. More importantly, it’s a way to continue supporting Sulfur Studios and its talented artists.

Even if you’re unable to buy art, coming out to see the work in the gallery is a way to show encouragement and support for people who need it quite a lot right now. CS “Spectrum” is on view through July 18 at Sulfur Studios at 2301 Bull St. Private viewings are available by emailing info@sulfurstudios.org, and the curator’s talk will take place on Instagram Live, @sulfurstudios, at 2 p.m. on July 18. Artwork is always available for viewing or purchase at their website, sulfurstudios.org.

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CONNECT SAVANNAH | JULY 15 - 21, 2020

THE ART•BEAT

19

CULTURE VISUAL ARTS

Kayla Williams wearing her own design. PHOTO COURTESY OF FLAIRE HANDMADE.

QUESTIONS

WITH

Kayla Williams IT’S HARD to tell just by looking at Kayla Williams’ jewelry that she’s been making it for less than two years.

Under her business, Flaire Handmade, Williams creates polymer clay jewelry with bright colors and fun shapes. She’s been creative for years but began playing around with clay a few years ago. She was urged to sell her work by someone who, literally, bought the earrings off her ear.

Born in Ila, Ga., Williams marks her five-year Savannah-versary this August after moving here with her husband to start a family.

Now, Williams is the mother of two girls and works as the Communications and Development Coordinator for Savannah/ Chatham CASA, as well as creating her unique jewelry.

We talked with Williams last week.

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JULY 15 - 21, 2020

1. Have you always been a creative

person?

I would say I’ve always been a creative person. I really think it’s part of my DNA, because my father was an iron worker, jeweler and knifemaker. As long as I can remember, he was making something out of nothing.

I’ve always been creating different things; I’ve always had a stockpile of crafted items, just ready to make something. The first thing I can think of is having an easel and pads. I’d play around 20 with pencils, and my mother would buy

me charcoal. Whatever I wanted to do, she would just buy it.

With Flaire, I was making these earrings for myself because I enjoy them.

Honestly, I was really stressed out, so it was therapeutic. And then I realized other people liked them, and I was like, “Wait a minute—I enjoy this, and this could be something to add to my family.” It was a win-win.

2. What’s your creative process?

A part of my creative process is I just wait for something to come to me. I don’t go and sit down for days and ponder on art. Something I’ve done, which is intentional on my part, is I don’t follow any other polymer clay artists. Not to be shady with who I follow; it’s just that I don’t want to see theirs and try to replicate it, because you can do that subconsciously and not even realize it.

I’m really new in the marker world, and I really want to be true to my ideas and to their ideas. I want to make with true integrity to what I feel and what I’m inspired by.

It’s also hard to say what’s mine and what’s yours in that maker world, because they may have gotten inspiration from someone else.

Now, when it comes to molding the clay, it comes out differently every time. I’ll see it as a jigsaw puzzle and it’ll come out looking like marble, but I think that’s just a part of the process. As you’re transforming it, it’s making something of its own.

I get a lot of inspiration from my family because I think everyone has a high personality—there is not a dull moment. My grandmother, who has dyed her hair every type of red, I was going to name that collection Firecracker because I name them based on the inspiration I get when I put the colors together.

3.

How long has Flaire Handmade been a business?

Sixteen months now since I’ve been making and selling them. There were about three months before when I was playing around with polymer clay and some other things.

It was around April [2019] when I was in Durham, North Carolina, for a conference and I was wearing a pair. I had started posting a couple, but I didn’t make the effort to market them. So this lady came up to me and was like, “Do you have more of those earrings? I’ve noticed you’ve been wearing them the lat couple days of the conference.” I told her I haven’t, but I can sell them, and she said, “You should really think about it.” She purchased a couple pair, and that was just confirmation that other people like these just as much as I do.

I have a couple friends who are makers in Savannah, and I was asking them about business: what’s the market like? How does everyone respond? And she said it’s great, like an open playing field as far as entrepreneurship and makers.

4. What has it been like for you to get into the market scene?

I got into a couple; I did the Sulfur Studios market a couple times, the Desoto Street Market, and the Melanin Makers’ Market in Brunswick. I guess because I’m so new I can name them all!

There were many others I applied to, and I guess you never really know why you don’t get in them. I think that might just be a point for Savannah to reevaluate being welcoming and opening to all businesses, whether they’ve been established for years or are new.

I can’t pin down what it is except that it’s

too exclusive at times. Everyone deserves the opportunity of visibility. I feel like everyone deserves at least a shot to have their work shown.

But on the flip side of that, I also am a complete advocate for, if there’s not a seat the table, build your own. I want to get to this table, but why do I? It’s something that should be addressed at every market. If we always limit those that can be included, we’re stunting the growth of that market, or that organization, or that company.

5.

How do you balance your work and family life with your creative life?

Recently, I learned that I wasn’t giving Flaire as much attention as it needed. I was in a new role at CASA, and I’m still learning the ropes. As soon as I thought I had a swing, then came COVID and I had my babies here full time.

What I’ve been doing that works great is I sit down around 8 o’clock to check my emails and start out the day. I try to get as close to eight hours of solid work as possible, with interruptions because there’s lunch, snacks, all that. Then it seems like there’s no time for Flaire, right? So I get in bed around 8 or 9 o’clock at night, and then wake up at 1 a.m. to do Flaire.

I have a studio outside my home, which is basically a souped-out storage unit that we put my shelves and ovens in. I’ll do two or three hours in the morning, get some slabs ready, drill holes or sand or do whatever I need to do for that, and then I come back in the house to take a quick power nap to get started again. It’s good because it’s silent—I don’t have to worry about little fingers poking around at clay.

I think this is the best system I’ve created since COVID. It takes a lot of discipline to balance it all; I could beat myself up about it. I want to do it all well. I’m just trying to find the balance of being the best mom, the best wife, the best maker, the best coordinator that you can be, but there are 24 hours in the day. It’s not always balanced, but you can try again tomorrow. CS Visit Kayla’s website at flairehandmade.com, or her Instagram at @flairehandmade.

Happenings COMPILED BY RACHAEL FLORA happenings@connectsavannah.com

JONESIN’ CROSSWORD

BY MATT JONES ©2020 Answers on page 23

“SUGAR FREE” --LET’S DO AWAY WITH THAT SUGARY SUFFIX.

HAPPENINGS IS CONNECT SAVANNAH’S LISTING OF COMMUNITY EVENTS, CLASSES AND GROUPS. VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT CONNECTSAVANNAH.COM TO SUBMIT A LISTING. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO EDIT OR CUT LISTINGS DUE TO SPACE LIMITATIONS.

CHATHAM COUNTY COMMISSION MEETINGS — The Board of Commissioners usually meets twice a month (except for January) on Fridays at 9:30 a.m.The meetings are held in the Commission Chambers of the Old Courthouse, 124 Bull Street, Second Floor, and are open to the public. All Chatham County Commission Meeting Agendas, Minutes and Videos have moved to a new system that provides live streaming of video of the current meeting. chathamcountyga.iqm2. com/Citizens/Default.aspx. Green Room, Old County Courthouse, 124 Bull Street.

CHATHAM COUNTY DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE — The purpose of the Chatham County Democratic Committee (CCDC) is to foster local Democratic activities and affiliated organizations; seek out and assist democratic candidates for public office; provide voter education; and work with democratic officials at all levels while ensuring they stay true to our guiding principles. 912-401-8913. ccdcgeorgia.com.

POOLER CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS — Pooler City Council meets the first and third Monday of each month at 6 p.m. at Pooler City Hall, 100 SW US HW 80. Variances, Conditional Uses, Zoning Map Amendments and Text Amendments need to be submitted to the Zoning Administrator at least 30 days prior to the scheduled Planning and Zoning Meeting. For more information, visit poolerga.gov.

RICHMOND HILL CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS — Richmond Hill holds its city council meetings on the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at 40 Richard Davis Drive. The public is always welcome at these meetings. You may register to speak at the end of a council meeting when you sign in at the meeting or you may contact Dawnne Greene, City Clerk, at (912) 756-2749 or dgreene@richmondhillga.gov in advance to be placed on the council agenda. For more, visit richmondhillga.gov.

SAVANNAH AREA YOUNG REPUBLICANS — Get involved. Meetings are the last Tuesday of every month (except for December) at 7:00pm. Contact number: (912) 657-9623 chairman@sayr.org. sayr.org.

SAVANNAH CITIZENS CLIMATE LOBBY REGULAR MEETING — Join a nonpartisan group that has genuine concern about how climate change is affecting Savannah (and the world) and is researching how

the people of Savannah can help mitigate or even reverse some of the worst consequences of climate change. fourth Monday of every month, 7-8 p.m. facebook.com/ events/174811263853917/. Two Tides Brewing Company, 12 West 41st St. SAVANNAH CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS — All regularly scheduled meetings are held every other Thursday. The first meeting of the month is at 2 p.m., and the second meeting of the month is at 6:30 p.m. Savannah Government Television (Channel 8) broadcasts Council Meetings live at 2 p.m. on the day of the meeting. You can view a livestream of the meetings at www.savannahga.gov/ livestream. savannahga.gov/458/CouncilMeeting-Schedule. Savannah City Hall, 2 East Bay Street.

THOMAS SQUARE/METROPOLITAN HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION — The Thomas Square Neighborhood Association meets monthly via Zoom. Visit thomassquare.org for more information. ongoing.

TYBEE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS — Mayor and Council will hold City Council Meetings the second and fourth Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m.at the Burke Day Public Safety Building, 78 Van Horn. For more information on the Tybee City Council, visit cityoftybee.org.

LGBTQ

SUNDAY SERVICE WITH EPIPHANY — Epiphany is a church without walls because we know that love knows no barriers. As we pray, worship and proclaim the Good News together, we also seek out co-conspirators with whom we may promote justice, peace and love. A “different kind of church,” Epihpany livestreams their Sunday morning service. Sundays, 11 a.m. facebook.com/ EpiphanySavannah.

FIRST CITY NETWORK — Georgia’s oldest LGBT organization (founded in 1985) is a local non-profit community service organization whose mission is to share resources of health care, counseling, education, advocacy and mutual support in the Coastal Empire.

Members and guests enjoy many special events throughout the year, including First Saturday Socials held the first Saturday of each month at 7pm. Mondays. 912-236-CITY. firstcitynetwork.org.

ACROSS

1 Movie in a case, e.g.

4 $, at a currency exchange 7 Web traffic goal 13 Sign up for 15 “Insecure” star Issa 16 Wear 17 Boss of all mischievous sprites?

19 Singer Grande 20 Jazz singer Laine 21 How a typesetter turns a president into a resident?

23 “What’s this now?”

24 Nebraska’s largest city 26 Cross-country hauler 27 Reduce in rank 29 “Miracle Workers” network 32 Racket 33 Fanged movie creature, for short 34 Largest country bordering the Mediterranean 38 Expensive version of an East Asian board game?

41 Narrowest possible election margin 42 Neighbor of Tex. 45 NHL division 48 Numerical prefix 49 The last world capital, alphabetically 51 Dove sounds 53 Roster listing 56 YouTube interrupters 57 Removing the word before “and behold”?

60 Voting rights org.

62 Certain book page size 63 Good publicity for characters like Grimace, Amethyst, and Twilight Sparkle?

66 Late WWE wrestler Dusty 67 Charlemagne’s domain, briefly 68 “It must have been something ___” 69 “___ Rides Again” (classic western) 70 “Then what?”

71 Vulpine critter

DOWN

1 Turntablists, familiarly 2 Receipt 3 One with a mission 4 Geller who claims to be telepathic 5 “The Metamorphosis” character Gregor 6 Profundity 7 Coffeehouse order 8 Innocent fun 9 Harvard and Princeton, e.g.

10 Came to a close 11 Video game company with a famous cheat code 12 Fasten securely, perhaps 14 “Born,” in some announcements 18 Ginseng or ginger, e.g.

22 Like video games for the 13-19 set

23 Like almost all primes 25 Sparse 28 Dos times dos times dos 30 Piece of cake 31 Papal topic 35 Devoted 36 Day-___ 37 Stunned 39 Doc for head colds 40 Vegetable part that can be served in a salad (as opposed to a gumbo) 43 Paved the way for 44 Sit-up targets 45 International agreement 46 “Well said” 47 State gambling games 50 High-priority notation 52 City, in Germany 54 A as in “Aristotle” 55 Lament 58 Bon ___ (“Holocene” band) 59 Prone to butting in 61 151, in Roman numerals 64 Color meaning “stop” internationally 65 Dinosaur in the “Toy Story” movies

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JULY 15 - 21, 2020

ACTIVISM & POLITICS

21

CUISINE

Mrs. Wilkes’ garners top Yelp ranking for fried chicken ICONIC local restaurant Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room received top accolades from Yelp recently, with their legendary fried chicken being recognized as the best fried chicken in Georgia.

The honor came as the website Insider collated rankings of fried chicken in every

state in the union.

“This is one of the best restaurants or food experiences that I’ve been to and most definitely the place to go in Savannah. It’s all about the Southern food and hospitality. The family-style meal is worth the wait. The fried chicken is about the

best that I’ve had. The side dishes are delicious as well and the biscuits,” wrote one Yelp user about Mrs. Wilkes’.

Mrs. Wilkes’ is famous for its familystyle communal seating, which could have you meeting new friends from around the globe to enjoy their wide-range of Southern-style comfort food.

Started in 1943 by Sema Wilkes, the famous spot on Jones Street has been a tourist attraction for decades. Sema’s granddaughter Marcia Thompson now runs the restaurant.

To find the best fried chicken for takeout, Yelp identified businesses in the

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY ARIES (March 21-April 19)

“If the time is not ripe, we have to ripen the time,” wrote Aries educator and activist Dorothy Height. This approach worked well during her 98 years on the planet.

Her pioneering advocacy for African American women generated a number of practical improvements in their employment opportunities and civil rights. In accordance with the current astrological omens, Aries, I highly recommend her guiding principle for your use. You now have the power to ripen the time, even if no one else believes the time is ripe.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

“Whatever inspiration is, it’s born from a continuous ‘I don’t know.’” A wise and talented woman said that: Nobel Prizewinning poet Wisława Szymborska.

According to my analysis of the astrological omens, it’s excellent advice for you to embrace during the coming weeks. You’re close to finding and accessing a mother lode of inspiration, and one of the best ways to ensure that happens in an optimal way is to make “I don’t know” your mantra. In other words, be cheerfully devoted to shedding your certainties. Lose your attachment to the beliefs and theories you tend to overly rely on. Make yourself as empty and clear and spacious as you possibly can.

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JULY 15 - 21, 2020

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

22

Gemini-born author Djuna Barnes (1892–1982) was a world traveler who wrote in several different genres, ranging from lesbian fiction to essays on boxing to plays that used poetic language. She was experimental and empirical and experiential. On one occasion, she voluntarily submitted to the force-feeding endured by hunger-striking suffragists so she could write about what it was like to be tortured. Another fun fact about Djuna: Every morning, she did up her hair and put her make-up on, then climbed into bed and wrote for many hours. In the coming weeks, Gemini, I recommend you draw inspiration from every aspect of her life—except the torture part, of course.

The coming weeks will be a fine time to

be versatile, exploratory, and committed to expressing yourself purely in whatever ways make you comfortably excited.

CANCER (June 21-July 22)

As a Cancerian, you have a natural propensity to study and understand what author Margaret Atwood describes as “echoes and emptiness and shadow.” I believe this aspect of your repertoire will be especially active and available to you in the coming weeks. For best results, regard your attunement to these echoes and emptiness and shadow as an asset, even a precious talent. Use it to discern what’s missing or lost but could be recovered.

Invoke it to help you navigate your way through murky or confusing situations.

Call on it to help you see important things that are invisible to others.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

“Time can turn a scab into a beauty mark,” said actor and screenwriter Nia Vardalos.

That’s a rousingly poetic speculation—and more metaphorically true than literally.

But I suspect that if it ever might have a useful and meaningful application to an actual human struggle, it will be yours in the coming months. In my view, you are in fact capable of harnessing the magic necessary to transform a wound into a lovely asset. Be bold and imaginative as you carry out this seemingly improbable feat—which is actually not improbable.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Would you like to boost your mental and physical health in the coming weeks? Try this: Immerse yourself in the understanding that you’re interconnected with everything in the world. Tell yourself stories about how the atoms that compose your body have previously been part of many other things. This isn’t just a poetic metaphor; it’s scientific fact. Now study this passage by science writer Ella Frances Sanders: “The carbon inside you could have existed in any number of creatures or natural disasters before finding you.

That particular atom residing somewhere above your left eyebrow? It could well have been a smooth riverbed pebble

restaurants and food categories with a large concentration of reviews mentioning “fried chicken,” then ranked those spots using a number of factors including the total volume and ratings of reviews mentioning “fried chicken.” When available, all businesses on this list also had to have a passing health score or a score greater than a B/80 as of July 1, 2020.

BY ROB BREZSNY

beautyandtruth@freewillastrology.com

before deciding to call you home. You are rock and wave and the peeling bark of trees, you are ladybirds and the smell of a garden after the rain.”

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

It’s a favorable time to celebrate the fantastic privilege of being alive. Are you willing to believe that? Will you cooperate with my intention to nudge you in the direction of elation and exaltation? Are you open to the possibility that miracles and epiphanies may be at hand for you personally? To help get yourself in the proper mood, read this passage by Libran author Diane Ackerman: “The great affair, the love affair with life, is to live as variously as possible, to groom one’s curiosity like a high-spirited thoroughbred, climb aboard, and gallop over the thick, sunstruck hills every day.”

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

‘”Deciding to remember, and what to remember, is how we decide who we are,” writes poet Robert Pinsky. That’s useful counsel for you right now, Scorpio. You’re entering a phase when you can substantially reframe your life story so that it serves you better. And one of the smartest ways to do that is to take an inventory of the memories you want to emphasize versus the memories you’d like to minimize. Another good trick is to reinterpret challenging past events so that you can focus on how they strengthened you and mobilized your determination to be true to yourself.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

“A person must dream a long time in order to act with grandeur,” wrote Sagittarian author and activist Jean Genet. “And dreaming is nursed in darkness.” According to my analysis of your astrological omens, this is an apt description of what has been unfolding for you, Sagittarius— and will continue to play out for you in the next two weeks. If you’re aligned with cosmic rhythms, you have been nursing your dreams in darkness—exploring and cultivating and learning from the raw creative energy that is simmering and

ripening in your inner depths. Keep doing this important work, even if there are not yet any productive results. Eventually, it will enable you to “act with grandeur,” as Genet said.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Poet and filmmaker Jean Cocteau said, “There are truths that one can only say after having won the right to say them.”

In my estimation, you have recently earned the right to express a fresh batch of scintillating and useful truths. Please do us all a favor and unveil them—preferably with both candor and tact. In behalf of everyone who will benefit from your insights, I’m sending you congratulations for the work you’ve had to do on yourself so as to win them.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

“After you make a fool of yourself a few hundred times, you learn what works,” testifies musician and singer Gwen Stefani. In my own life, I’ve had to make a fool of myself more than a few hundred times to learn what works. My number is closer to a thousand—and I’m still adding new examples on a regular basis. In the coming weeks, Aquarius, I highly recommend that you try what has served me and Gwen Stefani so well. You’re entering a phase when your foolishness will generate especially useful lessons. Being innocent and wildly open-minded will also be very useful.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

“It is better to err on the side of daring than the side of caution,” wrote author and futurist Alvin Toffler. While I hesitate to declare that idea to be absolutely and always true, I do recommend it to you in the coming weeks. Given the fact that you have recently been expanding possibilities and cultivating breakthroughs, I’d love to see you keep on pushing forward until you climax your momentum. To boost your courage, try to think of a crazy cry of exhilaration you might exclaim as you make your leaps, like “YAHOO!” or ‘HELL YES!” or HERE I COME!”

EXCHANGE

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