Connect Savannah July 22, 2020

JUL 22-28, 2020 NEWS, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY CONNECTSAVANNAH.COM

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WEEK AT A Glance P

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Forsyth Farmers Market Enhanced social distancing between vendors.

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

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

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

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

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Markets:

TO HAVE AN EVENT LISTED EMAIL WAG@CONNECTSAVANNAH.COM. INCLUDE DATES, TIME, LOCATIONS WITH ADDRESSES, COST AND A CONTACT NUMBER.

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.

Events: Savannah Bananas vs. Lexington College summer league ball in a historic ballpark.

Thu. July 23, 7 p.m., Grayson Stadium thesavannahbananas.com Savannah Bananas vs. Catawba College summer league ball in a historic ballpark.

Fri. July 24, 7 p.m., Grayson Stadium thesavannahbananas.com 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 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 Bananas vs. Macon College summer league ball in a historic ballpark.

Sat.. July 25, 7 p.m., Grayson Stadium thesavannahbananas.com

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

July 24 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 25 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 Downtown Savannah Community join the PFS of SAV’s Private Facebook Blood Drive Group, at the link below. Each week, To schedule an appointment, please anyone who chooses to donate at least visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter $5 via PayPal or Venmo receives a sponsor code: SAV. Donors will be free high quality digital download of a tested for COVID antibodies with results available through the ARC App movie from the archive, and is entered into a drawing to win a limited edition in 7-10 days.

Charles H. Morris Center at Trustees’ T-shirt.

Wednesdays, Sundays, 8 p.m.

Garden, 10 E. Broad St. facebook.com/ Wed., July 29, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. groups/2519522234807695/

Live Concerts:

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/

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 22 - 28, 2020

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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

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JULY 22 - 28, 2020

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DISTRIBUTION Wayne Franklin, Distribution Manager (912) 721-4376 CLASSIFIEDS Call (912) 231-0250

John Lewis: A life of service and leadership

BY JIM MOREKIS

jim@connectsavannah.com

I HAPPENED to be in the Atlanta area this past weekend when news broke of the death of Congressman and Civil Rights mainstay John Lewis, who represented most of that city’s citizens in the Fifth Congressional District since the late ‘80s.

Lewis’s passing came literally on the same day as the death of Atlanta Civil Rights leader C. T. Vivian, a man also vital to the movement, but about whom I was less aware and subsequently educated myself.

With their passing comes the end of an era. Lewis himself was the last surviving member of the so-called “Big Six” Civil Rights leaders from back in the day, along with Martin Luther King Jr., A. Philip Randolph, James Farmer, Roy Wilkins, and

Whitney Young.

All weekend, the tributes from high-profile political and cultural figures came fast and furious. But the most striking tributes were the ones I saw and heard from everyday Atlantans, for whom Lewis was no abstraction but a vital, present part of the community up until his last breath.

From impromptu, extended conversations in supermarkets where people ran into Lewis going about his shopping… or his yearly walks in the quirky and unique Inman Park Parade, a neighborhood gathering he easily could have skipped without political penalty if he wanted… to one man’s story about accidentally squirting mustard on Lewis’s sleeve at a dinner, being horrified, and Lewis calmly comforting him by saying, “Young man, I’ve been through a lot worse”…. what struck me about all these memories was how human and accessible they were.

This giant of a leader was one of the last true men of the people in American

politics, and his constituents’ memories all reflected this, without exception.

Most touching of all was the massive and spontaneous outpouring of deeply personal remembrance and tribute at the enormous mural of John Lewis on Auburn Avenue in downtown Atlanta.

All weekend, people visited the site leaving heartfelt, handcrafted memorials, a constant stream of cars and pedestrians gathering, mostly in somber silence, to honor and reflect.

I’m not a mind-reader, but the subtext of the scene seemed to be something like, We’ll not see his like again.

It’s likely that a figure like Lewis — simultaneously Olympian and thoroughly working class, a proud liberal yet able and willing to work across the aisle — was truly the last of his kind.

The country is poorer without him, but his memory lives on in the continuing work of others. CS

NEWS & OPINION SPECIAL REPORT

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo met with Mayor Van Johnson on Monday to announce their partnership. Johnson presented Cuomo with the key to the city and a portrait by local artist Panhandle Slim.

PHOTOS BY RACHAEL FLORA

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Savannah Mayor Van Johnson announce partnership in COVID-19 relief

BY RACHAEL FLORA

rachael@connectsavannah.com

NEW YORK Governor Andrew Cuomo met with Mayor Van Johnson and other Savannah city leaders on Monday to announce a partnership between the cities to fight COVID-19.

To assist Savannah in its COVID19 fight, Cuomo and his team brought 124,000 face masks, 7,500 test kits, 7,500 gowns, 7,500 N-95 masks, 7,500 face shields, and 1,200 gallons of hand sanitizer.

Cuomo will also help set up two additional test sites, at Temple of Glory Community Church and Kingdom Life Christian Fellowship, which would serve as models for other testing sites. Cuomo will also help train the Savannah health community on contact tracing procedures.

These efforts are assisted by SOMOS Community Care, a network of more than 2,500 providers in New York. Cuomo

stressed the importance of testing in lowincome communities.

The partnership was initiated by Cuomo, who said he’d been watching Johnson—a New York native—and was impressed by his leadership, specifically by his action to cancel the Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade in March.

Cuomo spoke passionately about the need for communities to come together in a similar fashion.

“The virus has a community spread component. How do you defeat the community spread? The community has to come together to defeat the spread. We all have to come together,” Cuomo said. “Our American body politic is more divided than it has ever been. We have political differences on COVID! How can you have political differences about a virus?”

Cuomo spoke pointedly against the federal government’s inaction to help curb the spread of COVID-19, citing a model that estimated 40,000 more people will die due to the lack of a nationwide mask policy. He

sided with Johnson in his stance on listening to science.

“Somehow, the mask became a political statement,” Cuomo said. “The mask isn’t a political statement. It says, ‘I understand science and medicine, and I listen to doctors and professionals.’ That’s all the mask says. And it saves lives.”

Cuomo spoke more to how New York handled its COVID-19 surge in March, saying that they were “ambushed” and that they had to set everything up in just a few weeks. Five months in, he calls the inaction from the federal government “incompetence.”

“How do you explain that other countries have handled COVID better and faster than us?” Cuomo asked. “I thought America was the best country on the globe. I thought America was smart, I thought America was strong. If somebody cared about the economy, you know what they would have done? Resolved COVID quickly.”

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JULY 22 - 28, 2020

‘We all have to come together’

Cuomo also spoke to New York’s mask policy, which requires everyone to wear a face covering when outside their home if unable to maintain at least six feet of distance. He said that in New York, police don’t need to enforce the mask policy.

“The greatest enforcement comes from other people. People don’t want you jeopardizing their health.”

Cuomo’s visit comes after a week of struggle between Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms over Atlanta’s mask policy. Kemp has since filed a lawsuit against Bottoms and the City of Atlanta for enforcing a mask policy, similar to Savannah’s.

When asked specifically about how Georgia’s Governor Brian Kemp was handling the pandemic, Cuomo sidestepped it. “The governor comes up with their best plan,” he said. “I’ll be judged by the results of what happened in New York. Every governor will go through that.”

However, he empathized slightly with Kemp by saying, “It’s hard to govern now.

Whatever you say, you annoy people.”

Johnson also spoke to Savannah’s tourism industry, which has for the most part kept going through the pandemic.

“Tourism for us never really stopped,” he said. “You look at our streets, and they’re here. The goal for us is to be able to [reopen the economy] in a safe way. We have to slow the numbers down. Right now, we’re running behind COVID-19. We want to manage tourism. I think we’ve done a relatively good job, but we have to keep our foot on the gas with the masks and the distancing.”

In true Savannah style, Johnson gifted Cuomo his very own Panhandle Slim painting, which featured a portrait of Cuomo and his quote, “A governor can be a very good friend to the people. A governor can be a formidable force.” CS 5

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NEWS & OPINION COMMUNITY

Stolen independence: The elderly and immunocompromised cope with COVID-19

BY KRISTY EDENFIELD BETTY DUNN is one of the smartest people I know. And at 90 years-old, she has decades worth of wisdom.

Since the pandemic started, she has been isolated in her home with her cat Rascal. They live in the same river home that Dunn purchased in 1982. She is the matriarch of her neighborhood, and of her family.

“A mask is unattractive, but so is death,” says Dunn.

“I was not afraid of polio, this I am afraid of because it is spreading so rapidly,” explains Dunn. “During the polio epidemic people went by the rules, right now we are not going by the rules.”

“I would love to get my hair done more often,” laments Dunn.

Before the pandemic, visiting her hair stylist was a weekly occurrence.

Betty Dunn is one of the 16% of Chatham County residents over the age of 65. They have been forced to shelter in place since March 14 by order of Governor Kemp. Betty Dunn Dunn concludes, “I am a people person, I love being with people. It is like a punishment for me to be sheltered in place, being with people keeps your mind going.”

Others included in the shelter in place order are people who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility; people with chronic lung disease, moderate to severe asthma, severe heart disease, people who are immunocompromised, class III or severe obesity, and people with diabetes, liver disease, or those with chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis.

Due to heart and kidney disease, Joy Kerkoff has also been sheltering in place for over four months by order of the governor.

“Because I don’t leave the house, I feel very isolated, and at times lonely,” says Kerkoff.

Before the global pandemic started, Joy and her husband Paul, would go to dinner once a week with their closest friends.

“I have always been very social, and not being able to enjoy dinner in a restaurant with friends, or go to a movie is difficult.

I fill my time watching too much TV and working, I teach governmental procurement courses online. I was fortunate to work on a team developing a new course at the beginning of the pandemic, which filled a lot of my time.”

“I get very angry when I hear about people not willing to wear a mask, or those who take unnecessary risks by socializing at bars or large gatherings, because it puts me at a higher risk,” asserts Kerkoff.

“My fear of Covid-19 is anxiety producing.

The more this disease spreads, the closer it gets to me.”

“I have experienced being on a ventilator, heavily sedated, and I can tell you it’s debilitating and something I wouldn’t want anyone to experience. I gradually came out of the sedation while the ventilator was still in and you have to focus on letting the machine work.

“The people who choose to not wear masks and comply with proper social distancing are ignorant and gullible because they believe all of the disinformation out there.”

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CONNECT SAVANNAH | JULY 22 - 28, 2020

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COMMUNITY

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JULY 22 - 28, 2020

The Kerkoff family goes on an annual camping trip to the Smoky Mountains with friends - this year it is a no-go due to coronavirus.

Joy orders the groceries online, and her husband, Paul, goes to Kroger where they put them in his vehicle. Going inside stores can be risky. Her daughters have visited a couple of times, but remain vigilant and careful. A close friend visited in April, but only stayed for a few minutes, and they were careful to remain 6 feet apart.

Many who are sheltered in place felt hopeful when Mayor Van Johnson issued an executive order requiring people to wear face coverings. It was disappointing to many of those same folks when Governor Kemp took action against Savannah and other cities requiring face masks to be worn in public.

“Governor Kemp is too concerned with following the political path versus the health and well-being of his state’s citizens,” Kerkoff angrily says.

“Governor Cuomo is more willing to help Atlanta than Kemp, and so it goes.

Living in the County, I was happy to see that Chatham County Chair and Commission we’re going to consider enacting a mask mandate. But now that will never happen since our idiot governor has ordered no local government can require

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mask wearing. We are doomed! And I will never be able to leave my house.”

There are over 46,000 people in Chatham County over 65, and thousands more who are ordered to shelter in place due to chronic medical conditions.

Anne Rinalducci and her husband moved to Buckingham South seven months ago.

In March he passed away, and Anne Rinalducci Anne has been alone with her cat, Max (short for Maximilian) since.

“My cat has given me a lot of comfort, I am lucky, he sits and waits for me,” says Rinalducci.

“I miss my everyday life, my family, and going to the store”, regrets Rinalducci. “I miss getting out and walking around the stores. I’m a shopper and I like to shop; I don’t always buy something, but I like to look.”

Her meals are served in her room instead of the community dining room, and there are limited activities versus the robust schedule that they had before the pandemic started.

Anne has taught some of the other residents to play mahjong, bridge, and double solitaire.

“I have to have people around me, I am a game player, I play double solitaire twice a day with another

first date was to the movies.

“I Listen to CNN and it is very depressing. I want to know what is going on,” says Rinalducci. “I do not like our President, and I don’t like what he is doing.”

“This is more confining than anything I have ever done before”, she concludes.

“I know that I have to do these things for everyone’s health.”

When you age or have chronic illness, independence and being able to do things for yourself is something that you fiercely protect. Not only has coronavirus forced isolation, but it has also stolen independence.

Just getting basic needs for you and your pets becomes more difficult, and you have to rely on the kindness of other people.

My own mother-in-law, Peggy Edenfield, is isolated at Rivers Edge. I asked resident.” her what she would want to do if she could, “The hardest part is the containment, I “I would go to Walgreens and just look have never been a person who likes being around.” Over four months in solitude, alone,” says Rinalducci. “It is confining. If and she just wants to go to a drug store. you leave, they won’t let you back in. The My husband, Steve, and I are also shelbiggest thing I miss is my family.” tered in place. Steve for severe heart “I don’t like quiet, I am so used to havdisease, and me for autoimmune disease. ing someone with me,” mourns Rinalducci. Like many other Americans, gardening She was married to her husband, Ed, for 58 and baking bread have become new hobyears - the couple met in college, and their bies as we wait on a vaccine. CS

NEWS & OPINION FREE SPEECH

SINCE 2001  BREWING COFFEE & COMMUNITY

Unraveling QBE IMAGINE you were offered complete funding to educate yourself, and you asked how the benefactor was going to do it. They present to you a formula so complicated, even your benevolent donor couldn’t explain it to you.

Furthermore, a year into your arrangement as you are looking back on the records, you realize many months went by where you were underfunded. The only response you get as to why this happened is more gibberish about other expenses in other areas.

Such is the case with the Quality Basic Education Act crafted in 1985 by Governor Harris after a two year study to equally fund GA schools.

QBE is confusing, outdated and fails to fund the schools it serves.

Politicians walk by it like the litter box nobody wants to empty.

Since 1951, there were other attempts to address the dismal education system in Georgia.

The Minimum Foundation Program tried to diminish the racial inequalities in the school system, and Governor Jimmy Carter’s Adequate Program for Education in Georgia (APEG) made steps forward.

Unfortunately, each property tax funded program failed to elevate the status of educational excellence, so Governor Harris took his turn to equalize the funding of schools across Georgia believing that redistributing money would solve the issues at hand.

Quality Basic Education (QBE) as originally written asked for four changes: 1. Administration and Teacher competency tests and evaluations 2. Readiness tests for children entering first grade 3. Weighted formula for the distribution of state tax dollars based on educational needs 4. Equal access across the state to educational resources The weighted formula is not easily explained. At a recent candidate forum (Zoom) in which I participated, the questions about QBE drew blank stares from many of the candidates, and it should concern every taxpaying citizen in Chatham

replacing it with a sales tax. This of course would require a great deal of political wrestling at the capital and locally as new ideas in Savannah are treated with great disdain and suspicion. It would not be easy.

In the case of San Antonio School District vs Rodriguez in 1973, the question before the Supreme Court of the United States was whether or not an equalized educational funding system was a “right” under the US Constitution. They ruled it was not, but it seems silly to consider education anything less than a necessity.

This was clearly a case of where institutional racism reared its ugly head against Americans of Mexican descent, and that bias against Mexican-Americans is alive and well today.

Justice Thurgood Marshall could see through the inherent injustice when he wrote in his dissent, “The majority’s holding can only be seen as a retreat from our historic commitment to equality of educational opportunity. … In my judgment, the right of every American to an equal start in life, so far as the provision of a state service as important as education is concerned, is far too vital to permit state discrimination…”

In the weeks ahead, we will dissect the issue between those who believe the system can be tweaked, revised or reformed, and those who search for a whole new paradigm to bring about excellence in education across the state.

We will also bring the tough questions to future zoom meetings and live forums to engage with political leaders to see exactly where they stand on this very important issue.

Complicated conundrums can be unraveled by careful study, patient minds and a reasoned approach. Perhaps GA politicians should look to the successful states that accomplish more with less and highly value education more than personal political gain.

Surely our children and our future are worthy of that. CS

“The questions about QBE drew blank stares from many of the candidates, and it should concern every taxpaying citizen in Chatham County because over one half of every local property tax dollar out of your pockets goes to funding education.”

There is a history of legal institutions advocating for a move away from property taxes as a means of funding public schools.

One such court case was McDaniels vs Thomas (GA) in 1981 which was clearly asking the question as to whether or not the method of funding our schools was constitutional or not.

The case was most likely the first punch at Jimmy Carter’s APEG law as it saw an inherent unfairness in the use of Ad Valorem taxation to fund schools.

It went further to say, “it should be abandoned at the local level in favor of the more equitable sales, income, and use taxes.”

Burke Day was an advocate of phasing out QBE over a four or five year period and

Jeff Rayno was most recently a candidate for GA House 164 which still makes him a recovering politician. He still believes in the power of ideas coupled with passion.

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County because over one half of every local property tax dollar out of your pockets goes to funding education.

Those state leaders who themselves don’t understand the formula will be voting on expenditures that will affect not only the lives of our children, but it will have a profound effect on our ability to draw new industries here as they seek an educated work force.

The real solution is to take the antiquated QBE and toss it out – not tweak it.

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NEWS & OPINION CITY NOTEBOOK

TOP: Harold Oglesby with bikes donated from 100 Black Men of Savannah LEFT: Frances, a bike recipient, received a bike, helmet and safety materials to help her get to her job.

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JULY 22 - 28, 2020

Bike Walk Savannah distributes bikes to people in need AS AN expansion of their New Standard Cycles Bicycle Recycling Program, Bike Walk Savannah has been able to provide 61 bikes so far for those in need of essential transportation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The organization received more than 175 requests from people all over the Greater Savannah area over the past two months, and continues to work on fixing bikes to provide for individuals.

Throughout the year volunteers with 10 the New Standard Cycles program collect

donated bikes from the community, and work with area non-profits and service agencies to assist their clients in finding transportation. This decision to work directly with individuals was made to support a greater number of community members, as well as provide relief for our overtasked community agencies.

“Bicycles are essential transportation for many who need to get around,” said Caila Brown, executive director. “And while we traditionally work with service agencies directly, it was important to

give them some relief in this overwhelming period of time. Many of our community associations have been focused on employment, housing, and food insecurity concerns — and rightfully so — so it was important for us to be able to provide this service and allow for members of our community to apply directly for transportation assistance.”

Bikes have been donated from all over Chatham County, including a sizable contribution from 100 Black Men of Savannah, Inc. Harold Oglesby helped facilitate the donation of more than 25 bikes to Bike Walk Savannah to support their COVID-19 bike request program.

“The 100 Black Men of Savannah, Inc. values our ability to partner with organizations that are genuinely making a difference in the Savannah community,” said Harold Oglesby. “It was, therefore, a pleasure to team with Bike Walk Savannah to get bikes in the hands of Savannahians who needed them.”

“The support of 100 Black Men of Savannah, Inc. has been essential to our program’s success,” said Brown. “We typically distribute 40-60 adult bikes each year, so we quickly ran out of completed bikes for individuals. Their contribution included

many bikes that just needed a quick tuneup, and parts that could be repurposed on other bikes. This was especially helpful due to shipping and manufacturing delays that bike shops are seeing all around the country. We thank them for their support.”

Members of the community who have a bike that is in ready to ride condition that they would like to contribute to the program can email a photo of the bike and details to caila@bikewalksavannah.org.

Programs like New Standard Cycles are only possible thanks to generous financial support from the community. Donations can be made at bikewalksavannah.org/ donate. CS Bike Walk Savannah is a non-profit membership organization working to promote an equitable environment for biking and walking in Savannah. Bike Walk Savannah seeks to redefine our city as a place for people, no matter their mode of transportation. Their vision is a connected community that is inclusive and vibrant with welcoming places to bike and walk. For more information visit bikewalksavannah.org.

NEWS & OPINION CITY NOTEBOOK

The Southeast Georgia Chapter, in partnership with The Morris Center, will be hosting a Downtown Savannah Community Blood Drive on Wednesday, July 29 from 9 a.m.–3 p.m. at The Morris Center, 10 East Broad St. Blood donors will be tested for COVID antibodies with results available through the ARC App in 7-10 days.

According to Maria Center, Executive Director for the Southeast Georgia Chapter of Red Cross, “We are very grateful to the Morris Center for allowing us to conduct this drive in their beautiful venue.

It’s a great location with parking and easy access for the downtown business community. The goal for the Morris Center drive is 60 units of blood, enough to save up to 180 lives.”

“The Morris Center is happy to open our space to Red Cross. There is an urgent need for blood and we want to help,” said The Morris Center’s Kathy Kurazawa.

Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arrival and are required to wear a face covering or mask while at the drive, in alignment with Centers for Disease Control public guidance.

To schedule an appointment, visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter sponsor code: SAV.

CAT reducing customer service evening hours this week

Chatham Area Transit is reducing the nightly operating hours for customer service assistance this week.

As a result, customer service will operate from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mon.-Fri., rather than shutting down at 8 p.m. At this time, the weekend schedule will remain 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Customer service can be reached during operating hours by calling (912) 233-5767.

The ticket window also will be open for customer service at the JMR Intermodal Transit Center, 610 W. Oglethorpe Avenue, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mon.-Fri. The ticket window is closed on weekends.

On Monday, July 20, CAT also implemented a reduced nightly fixed-route and CAT Mobility service schedule in response to low ridership in the evenings, as a result of most businesses and other destinations closing early during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The reduction means that all fixedroute buses and CAT Mobility paratransit vehicles will cease operations by 10 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays. Sunday services will continue operating under the regular schedule.

In addition, CAT’s administrative offices at 900 East Gwinnett St. will be closed

this week for a deep cleaning after learning Friday that a vendor who worked at the location on July 7 recently tested positive for COVID-19.

Safe Shelter seeks fundraising goal of $300,000 SAFE Shelter Center for Domestic Violence Services is seeking the commu-

nity’s help to raise $300,000 to continue serving a growing number of victims of domestic violence in the metro Savannah area during the COVID pandemic.

The organization is currently facing a 35 percent reduction of funding from acrossthe-board cuts in state aid and the cancellation of all fundraising events.

“Last year we helped more than 1,300 victims, including about 500 children, receive services,” said Cheryl Branch, executive director. “This year, domestic violence calls have risen nearly 20 percent since March in Chatham County due to the COVID virus. If history repeats itself, SAFE Shelter will experience another sharp uptick in the victim population as the summer heat progresses.”

Since 1979, SAFE Shelter has offered lifesaving and life-changing services and programs to victims of domestic violence and their children free of charge. On average, it costs about $150 a week to feed a mother and three children, and that does not include the cost of additional victim assistance like mental, legal and social services.

“For victims of domestic violence, quarantine means there’s nowhere to go.”

Branch said. “In up to 60 percent of situations in which there is intimate partner violence, the perpetrator also abuses children in the household.”

SAFE Shelter’s annual giving gala was scheduled for November 21 but has been postponed indefinitely due to the COVID pandemic. The event typically raises more than $200,000 through corporate sponsorships, live and silent auctions and individual donations.

Savannah Food & Wine Fest pushed to 2021

The Savannah Food & Wine Festival is opting out of a 2020 edition, with plans made for the next installment to be Nov. 8-14 of 2021.

“The festival has successfully provided patrons and participants with a stellar guest experience of the last 8 years,” a spokesperson says. “With so many future unknowns for the rest of the year, the festival has chosen to err on the side of caution and focus efforts on producing another world-renowned event in 2021.”

Purchased tickets will be refunded on request or guests can credit tickets to 2021.

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CONNECT SAVANNAH | JULY 22 - 28, 2020

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NEWS & OPINION BLOTTER 2020 Sav/Chatham County Crime Stats through Sunday July 19

HOMICIDES

speed when he entered a curve and went off the right side of the road. The vehicle crossed into the southbound lane. Woodbury then overcorrected and lost control of the vehicle. This resulted in the vehicle sliding across the shoulder and crashing into a utility pole on the driver’s side door.

Woodbury died as a result of the crash.

Due to damages to the utility pole and required repairs, the roadway remained closed to traffic until around 3 a.m. today.

The crash remains under investigation.

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TIU Investigates Crash Involving Moped on Drayton Street

Savannah Police’s Traffic Investigation Unit is investigating a crash that resulted in serious injuries for a Savannah moped driver.

Around 2:30 p.m. officers responded to a crash at Drayton and Gaston streets and discovered Robert Hodges, 57, suffering from serious injuries. He was transported to a hospital for treatment.

Officers determined Hodges’ moped collided with a 2012 Lexus RX350, which was driven by Charles Coker, 60, of Bluffton.

Traffic investigators continue to investigate the circumstances that led to the crash.

TIU Investigates Fatal SingleVehicle Crash on Coffee Bluff Road

Savannah Police’s Traffic Investigation Unit is a single-vehicle crash that resulted in the death of a 24-year-old Savannah man.

Around 7 p.m. July 13 officers responded

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to Coffee Bluff Road at Old Coffee Bluff Road and discovered a Toyota Camry crashed into a utility pole.

According to a preliminary investigation, Delaion Woodbury was traveling north on Coffee Bluff Road at a high rate of

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NEWS & OPINION NEWS OF THE WEIRD Justin Couch, 25, of Spring Hill, Florida, who sports a tattoo of a machete under his left eye, was arrested June 13, according to the Hernando (Florida) County Sheriff’s Office, for allegedly attacking a man with a machete. The unnamed adult male victim told officers Crouch forced him out of the home where he’d been living and began arguing with him “for no reason,” reported Fox13 News. As the man attempted to gather his belongings from the home, deputies said, Couch allegedly hit the victim with the flat side of the machete’s blade, “then swung the machete at the victim’s face,” striking his arm with the blade as the man tried to ward off the blow. “The victim is currently unable to use or move his left hand due to the severity of the injury he sustained,” investigators said. Couch was arrested for aggravated battery.

have lodged a complaint with the city. “For the past 15 weeks or so he has screamed relentlessly, every day,” Jesse T. wrote on the Nextdoor app. “It literally feels like he is inside my house.” The peacock is believed by Animal Control to be feral. But Dennis Fett of the Peacock Information Center in Minden, Iowa, thinks Bruce/ Paco/Peter is providing a service. “They’re like a watchdog,” Fett said. “They have keen hearing. (The neighbors) should count their blessings.”

Chutzpah!

Amber Gilles made news in San Diego, California, in June when she posted a photo of Starbucks barista Lenin Gutierrez, complaining that he “refused to serve me cause I’m not wearing a mask.

Next time I will wait for cops and bring a medical exemption.” In response, KGTV reported, Matt Cowan of Irvine started Sign of the Times a GoFundMe page to collect tips for the A perfect storm may be brewing to strike barista who “faced ... a Karen in the wild,” down the long-maligned one-cent coin, the and soon raised more than $100,000, penny. Earlier this year, the U.S. Mint cut which Gilles now claims she should get back on coin production to keep its workhalf of. “I’ve been discriminated against,” ers safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Gilles said, noting that hiring a lawyer to reported NPR’s Planet Money. At the same help her get her half was too expensive, so time, people stopped spending, especially she has started her own GoFundMe page with cash, and word of a coin shortage to raise money. Gutierrez said he plans to spread, prompting some stores, such as use the money to further his education and Kroger, to start rounding their prices to follow his dream of being a dancer. avoid making coin change. Last year, the Latest Religious Message mint made more than 7 billion pennies, Maintenance workers pruning trees almost 60% of its total coin production, in Itaquirai, Brazil, on July 9 discovered and each one-cent coin cost TWO cents a compelling image in a fresh cut from a to produce, putting the loss at more than willow tree. Some of them were convinced $72 million. Still, the mint has no plans to that Jesus Christ was depicted in the eliminate the coin. It’s been up and running at full capacity since mid-June, and wood grain of the branch. Oddity Central according to spokesman Michael White, reports Odimar Souza, who was overseeabout 40% of the coins it has produced ing the work, posted the image online since then have been pennies. and explained that just before the image was discovered, the chain on the worker’s Angry Animals chainsaw broke and had to be replaced.

• At Lassen Volcanic National Park in Back at work, “we cut this same trunk in Northern California, five acres around two pieces and that was when this perfecManzanita Lake were shut down after tion appeared,” Souza wrote. a man was attacked by an otter on June 25. Park Superintendent Jim Richardson told the Redding Record Searchlight the unnamed man was swimming in the river and came too close to the otter’s offspring, known as kittens. “It is significant anytime an animal attacks a human,” Richardson said. He did not believe the man was seriously injured, and he said the otter would not be relocated. “It’s the protective momma (doing her job), and the attack came as a surprise,” he said.

• Neighbors on Occidental Street in a North Oakland, California, are at odds over the presence of Bruce, aka Paco, aka Peter, aka Pierre, aka Abraham ... a peacock. While some residents are happy to welcome him, SFGate.com reported on July 15, others want him to move on and

Inexplicable

An unnamed 37-year-old man driving along a Lincoln, Nebraska, street on July 14 came upon Dominic Kinser, 20, beating a car with a shovel, KOLN reported. After the man pulled over and got out of his car, Kinser turned his anger on him, according to police, yelling at the man and then going into his garage, where he grabbed a rifle, which he pointed at the passerby. Kinser, who police determined owned the car, was charged with making terroristic threats and possession of a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony.

Animal Lovers in Maine

• At the Inn Town Motel in Norway, Maine, manager Andrew Coombs was not happy when he entered the room rented

by Sean Schoomaker and his girlfriend July 11, hoping to collect payment, and discovered more than 50 large spiders, most of them tarantulas, in plastic boxes.

“I booted him,” Coombs told the Sun Journal. “He must have snuck them all in at night. We never would have allowed that in our motel.” The Maine Warden Service confiscated the arachnids, taking them to a facility for exotic animals in Lewiston.

Schoomaker was cited for possession of three tarantulas illegal in the state.

• Officers from the Somerset County Sheriff’s Department and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency searched the apartment of Jessica Hutchins, 36, looking for drugs on July 13, which they found, according to Sheriff Dale Lancaster. “We also got an alligator out of her home,” he told the Morning Sentinel. The 2-footlong gator was kept in Rubbermaid tubs, but, Lancaster said, having an alligator in Maine is illegal without permits. Officers seized $12,000 worth of drugs along with the alligator, and Hutchins and several accomplices were charged with a number of drug-related crimes. The gator was removed by the Maine Warden Service. CS

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MUSIC SPOTLIGHT

VICTORY NORTH LOOKS AHEAD TO THE FUTURE WITH ‘NIGHTS’ EVENT Executive Technical Director Stuart Breed talks August 6 event

BY SEAN KELLY

sean@connectsavannah.com

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JULY 22 - 28, 2020

WITH A brand new, state-of-the-art Meyer sound system in tow, Victory North is reopening its doors on August 6, for a unique event aimed at bringing the community together through music.

“We want people to come along on August 6th and enjoy the ambiance, sounds and hospitality that is Victory North. Dr Mohamed Eldibany, the owner, has put together a playlist of some of his personal favorites to get the evening started but it’s our intention to make everyone feel involved, so we will be taking request which will be played via HD playback throughout the evening,” Stuart Breed, a veteran sound engineer who is currently the venue’s Executive Technical Director, tells Connect of the ‘Nights at Victory North’ event.

The venue, like every other in the city, was forced to cancel shows and effectively shut down at the onset of the COVID14 19 pandemic. Now, with things opening

cautiously and gradually, they’ve prepared to welcome audiences safely and smartly.

“We have extensive details regarding our approach to COVID-19 on our website,” Breed says. “Not only will patrons be able to see a list of our house rules there, but also details of our GPS air purification system and our cleaning services.”

Victory North is Savannah’s newest venue, which opened with great promise last year as a mid-sized venue that has hosted popular touring bands as well as a great and creative lineup of local shows and unique performances. Though the future of the touring and performance world is uncertain throughout the country at the moment, venues like Victory North play an important role in the future of live music and its ability to survive and thrive.

Breed is no stranger to the ups and downs of the music industry, having been a professional for several decades—starting in his native London, England and taking him across the world. He spent a long time in Woodstock, New York, before coming to Savannah, and was for many years the front-of-house engineer and tour manager

for the legendary Art Garfunkel.

“Being from the UK and having worked for so long in this industry I’ve seen more than my fair share of rough times including recessions, crippling strikes and oil crisis, invariably entertainment is the first sector that gets to feel the effects of an economic down turn but somehow it seems to survive. Yes, there are unfortunate casualties along the way but at the end of the day, people need to be entertained, they need places to escape, places where they feel welcomed,” he says.

“People work very hard for their income and I think the key to success now more than ever is realizing that those people have a choice where they take their patronage.”

Breed recalls a time in his youth that taught him about the value in being welcoming and inviting to the community as a business—which is what Victory North is aiming for with the upcoming event.

“As a kid my mum would send me shopping for groceries daily during school breaks and I was given specific instructions about which shops I had to buy items

from, any deviation from those instructions and my mum would NOT be happy!

I never understood until later in life why I couldn’t buy meat from the butchers opposite our front door but had to walk nearly a mile instead to another butcher. The reason in a nutshell was my mum liked that butchers, whether it be because their meat was better quality, had affordable prices or my mum felt welcomed when she went there. The end result was that they got our business,” he says.

“I’m relating this story because I see a return to old values as being key to coming out of all this alive and kicking, we no longer live in a society where one size fits all and comes with a 2 year contract, now is the time to offer people the best service possible and earn their business. This is what we fully intend to do at Victory North and we all look forward to proving it to you on August 6th.” CS

NIGHTS AT VICTORY NORTH @VICTORY NORTH Thurs., Aug 6, 7 P.M. doors, $8 victorynorthsavannah.com

MUSIC FEATURE

Was there a moment or a particular time in your life when you really started getting into guitars and gear?

For the longest time I had my acoustic/ electric and then later down the line I got an electric…and I really just thought about guitars in those terms and to me that covered all the bases! In general I’m pretty slow to learn stuff but at a point I had to concede that my electric guitar with humbucker pickups didn’t sound like the Beatles records or even the Nirvana records I would attempt to play along with. My best bud growing up had a Fender electric that sounded far more in line with what I liked so somewhere along the line noticing that must’ve awakened my ears a bit.

Really it’s a total can of worms cause then it was like, “Okay so what guitar or amp or effect box makes Satisfaction by the Stones? How does Chuck Berry get that woody chunky sound? Nirvana distortion sounds so different from Smashing Pumpkins distortion...why?” And then at a point I’m asking myself why people either don’t or can’t make records like they used to in the 1960s…and a decade or two later I’m still learning the answers!

Gear Geek: Rev Bro Diddley and the Hips’ Ty Thompson

I’m definitely into a lot of different kinds of music but guitar-based rock and roll is my favorite. I love the range of feelings guitars can so effectively evoke! I don’t really think of it as a collection so much because if one is not getting used then it gets sold or traded. As for the ones I keep THEY ALL DO DIFFERENT THINGS! Guitar is my main instrument, or certainly the one on which I’m the most comfortable. But my Best known for his long tenure with main focus in recent years is recording The Hypnotics, the brilliant guitarist and songs, and different guitars bring SO much songwriter currently fronts Rev Bro Didso the table. They are imperfect instrudley and the Hips, as is by all accounts the ments, and no two (even from the same most gear-obsessed person this writer has company made in the same year or even ever known. His guitar collection is full of same day) will play or behave or sound sought-after Rickenbacker and Vox modexactly the same. They are this wonderful els, rare oddball pieces, and some classy blend of identity and conformity, in that classics like Gretsches and Fenders. any guitar will conform at least somewhat With all of that said, and our geek disto the person playing it. Even my fiancé, claimer activated, we present to you: Gear who hasn’t been playing guitar very long, Geek. can pick up two vastly different guitars and still sound like herself on either.

Do you remember what age you got Even still, there is also this beautiful your first instrument? What was it? identity that each guitar also brings to the table. It sounds contradictory…maybe it’s Yup! I was in eighth grade so I guess I was just the sorta thing you have to experience 13. I’d been geeking over electric guitars for to understand. I can’t sound like Jhovana a while so my parents finally relented and even playing through the same guitar

Local guitarist and rock powerhouse dives into his collection

BY SEAN KELLY

sean@connectsavannah.com

WE SHOULD lead this new series off with a bit of a warning: what you’re about to read is very geeky, and may not be especially pertinent to the average reader. That said, if you have any interest or fascination with instruments and music gear whatsoever, this is for you!

Gear Geek is our chance to shine a light on local musicians and talk about something musicians love perhaps more than anything: their gear. When figuring out where to start with this, it was clear right away that Ty Thompson was the only logical person to kick it off.

What is it about guitars. especially Rickenbackers, that you love so much?

and amp that she uses. I also can’t make a Gretsch sound like a Strat. So there’s this irreplaceable human element involved in the chain, and there’s also an irreplaceable characteristic that different instruments bring to the table. All that said, yeah Rickenbacker seems to nail guitar sound the way I most commonly want to hear it. So yeah, I particularly dig the Rickys!

Tell me a bit about what you’ve got in your collection right now.

I’m mostly a nut for the 1950s and 1960s musical sounds but I also love a few different eras of punk music. So I keep around a couple Gretsch guitars and a couple of Fenders and then as many Rickenbacker and Vox instruments as I can afford. There are also a few total randos by Harmony and Danelectro that I’ll load with flat wound strings or tune super weird just to make them sound almost like different instruments altogether. The Gretsch instruments are a 1962 Country Gentleman and a newer Chet Atkins (maybe a 2014 or so).

The Fenders are a Japanese Strat from the 1980s and a ’62 reissue Jaguar of which Jhovana has claimed ownership! The Vox stuff is maybe the most interesting. They really aren’t known for their guitars but you’ve seen their amplifiers if you’ve ever watched a Beatles performance. But Vox made these quirky, rickety guitars that ooze with character, no small part due to the fact that many of them had fuzz boxes and tremolo effects built into them! For the Rickenbackers I’ve got a 12 string and a few 6 strings that are all vastly different models which sound completely different.

As for amps I’ve got a vintage Fender Deluxe Reverb (also taken over by Jo) and then a ’64 Vox AC30 that I use a lot when I’m recording. Other amps I’m not getting rid of anytime soon are a ’62 fender Bassman head and cab and then I’ve got two of those little Squier amps that are just a 6” speaker and cost like 15 bucks on marketplace or Craigslist. Another super quirky amp I’ve got is a clone of a Vox UL715, which is a hybrid tube/solid state design with onboard fuzz and tremolo and reverb and just sounds like 1966 British garage rock. I’ve got a buddy over in England who makes them faithfully and I was stoked to get my hands on one. It’s the Sgt Pepper amp and the Revolver amp and it’s maybe the best piece of evidence AGAINST the idea that “guitar tone is all in the hands of the player.” You play through that amp and it’s just like, “there it is….that’s clearly the Sgt Pepper amp!” CS For more on Rev Bro Diddley and the Hips, visit facebook.com/revbrodid

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JULY 22 - 28, 2020

bought me a Takamine acoustic/electric.

They figured if they bought me a full on electric instrument then I’d probably just go nuts on fuzz boxes and never learn how to really play. I don’t if that’s true or not but I learned how to play on that.

15

MUSIC REVIEWS

ALBUM REVIEWS: GARDEN GIANT, DUSTIN PRICE The riff is just weird enough to think of Pavement or Sonic Youth, but hooky enough to be accessible.

“I Hear You Calling” is a compelling and energetic indie rock masterpiece that sounds close to a band like Arcade Fire but is also unique to the sound that the band has cultivated over the last several years. “Shadows and Caves” is quickly becoming my new favorite on the record, with its rhythmic acoustic chug and very 60s-sounding drums. It’s a very sunny slice of 60s psychedelia, not unlike a modern retro band like Temples.

This is an album you shouldn’t sleep on, if you’re a fan of indie rock and indie pop music. These guys should keep making records and creating, for as long as they can.

There’s a chemistry on the recordings that can’t be denied.

BY SEAN KELLY

sean@connectsavannah.com

Garden Giant - Kitty Kats & Rattlesnakes I raved about this album several months ago when I interviewed Garden Giant’s Devin Smith around the release. This is an indie rock record that comes from a band that sounds like they’ve been together for years and years.

In reality, it hasn’t been that long—and the band, as Smith told me in our interview, initially bonded as friends and not as musicians.

That makes Kitty Kats & Rattlesnakes, the band’s second release, all the better. The production is masterfully tame, but it doesn’t feel like it’s coming from three people with not much else around it.

That’s a testament to the mix and the way

Smith and his bandmates arrange and write. Songs like “People in the Corner” show how this band is capable of carrying the torch for angular, textural guitar rock.

For more on Garden Giant, visit gardengiant. bandcamp.com

Dustin Price - Dichotomy Local singer/songwriter and brilliant lyricist Dustin Price emerges with his first full-length album Dichotomy, produced alongside his frequent collaborator Blake Tallent. I was first introduced to both Price and Tallent through their band God Bless Relative, and was quick to recognize the chemistry between them. Truly, there is a chemistry there that makes them an

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incredibly great musical partnership.

Dichotomy finds Price making a real statement as both a lyrical document and a musical one. It’s bold in every sense of the word, with the production leaning heavily on organic-sounding guitars, roomy drums, and vocal-centric mixes. Jalen Reyes shines here on drums (among other instruments), adding a real pulse and energy to the songs in a way that is actually not always the easiest thing to do in a studio setting.

Maybe the best example of all three musicians firing on all cylinders is the heavy-handed and pulsating “Slow My Mind,” which is a song that everyone can relate to lyrically in some way or another.

It’s just a beautiful, honest confessional of a song. “Hard Time Coming Down” is a lyrical high point for Price, and a vocal one as well. It might be my favorite local song of 2020 so far.

The album ends with “Not Coming Back,” which is loose, open and adventurous musically. The guitars really shine on the song, as they do in plenty of other places on the record. The production is staggering for its minimalism and focus, which is important when you’re doing anything that centers around the voice and the story. It’s indie rock, it’s Americana, it’s even a little Britpop. It’s authentically Dustin Price, and it deserves it’s day as a heralded piece of honest and emotional art.

For more on Dustin Price, visit dustinprice. bandcamp.com

CULTURE ART BEAT OF SAVANNAH

circulating around your silhouette. It’ll erode and make that tube disappear in the background.”

BY RACHAEL FLORA “Loopwave: Tomorrow 2.0” puts the rachael@connectsavannah.com viewer in a position that shows the spread of coronavirus, as well as a tangible effect LAST MONTH, Telfair Museums reopened of what happens when that spread occurs. their three sites to visitors after an extenIt’s a very artistic metaphor for our current sive shutdown due to the COVID-19 state of affairs. pandemic.

To continue the metaphor, much like the In a touch of irony, when you enter pandemic, “Loopwave: Tomorrow 2.0” will the Jepson Center, you’ll be met by be around for an indeterminate amount of coronavirus. time.

At least, that’s the premise behind “It’s kind of an indefinite thing,” says “Loopwave: Tomorrow 2.0,” the installaFinger. tion currently on view at the TechSpace It’s exciting for an artist’s work to stay Gallery on the second floor. on display until further notice, but Finger The project is the second edition of a finds it rewarding to witness people intercollaboration between artists Greg Finger acting with his work. So far, that hasn’t and Zhou Fan, who met in an artist collec- really happened, as visitors to the museum tive in China years ago. have been more of a trickle than a stream.

Zhou, a talented painter, wanted to bring “I love on opening day, or within the first his paintings to the next level, and Finger week, being around my piece and seeing was able to help him. how people interact with it, because it’s so “He had a bunch of ideas that were anihard to account for that when you’re just mated, essentially, so I helped him with developing it in your home,” says Finger. that process,” says Finger.

“Seeing how they approach it, perhaps they They exhibited “Loopwave: Tomordon’t really get it and they try to figure it row” in China in 2018, and the pandemic out. It’s always a process of increasing the prompted an update. intuitive side of it.”

“The coronavirus was the major update Children, he says, are usually more willto it,” shares Finger. “It follows the person, ing to stand in front of the work and play and the longer you stay in one position, with it. Adults seem more bashful in their it erodes the tubes behind it. Each of the approach to the work. tubes has their own textures and shapes How does he feel about not having that on it. Each one can, in a sense, represent feedback now? “I hate it,” he confides. a culture, a community, a civilization, the A musician for years, Finger broke away world. The longer you stand in front of from sound recording to get more of the human element. one of them, there’s going to be viruses

“If you’re doing sound recording, you’re sitting in a studio for hours on end,” he explains. “It’s nice working with bands because there’s a human element to it. You can actually talk to them, whereas working solo in front of a computer can be kind of a drag.”

Finger originally ended up in China to work in a studio, but after a few years, he realized that it wasn’t worth for him to continue on that path. Thus, he ended up in Savannah in 2020.

That’s right: Finger has been here for about half a year, and he already has his first museum showing.

“That is crazy to me,” he says. “I had plans in my head, and they kind of came to fruition, even though the pandemic was the reason I got this.”

Harry DeLorme, Telfair’s senior curator of education, approached Finger about showing the work in the TechSpace Gallery.

“We’re proud to present one of the first touchless interactive art installations that addresses the current pandemic,” DeLorme said in a statement. “The fact that this is an international collaboration between an artist in Savannah and an artist in China I think makes it even more relevant.

Visually beautiful and poetic, the work reminds us of the ongoing threat that may be either magnified or reduced by our individual actions.”

Now, with a museum exhibition under his belt, Finger is ready to take on the art scene here. The Massachusetts native

wanted to trade in New England winters for Lowcountry life. His artist name, PLGRM, is a play on Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts, and he’s ready to start it up again here.

“If people want to collaborate, hit me up,” he urges. “I’m new in town; this is home now for me. I really work well with collaboration. Zhou Fan is a content creator, and I was able to take that content and help him bring it to another medium, like a digital projection or whatever it is.

I’m able to really collaborate with artists and help them elevate it to another tier or something.”

For proof of how well Finger works with others, just head to the Jepson Center and experience “Loopwave: Tomorrow 2.0.”

“When people approach it, it is a serious topic—if you take a step back, it is coronavirus. Can this be gamified?” he asks. “It’s kind of morbid as well, but I figure if people approach it, it’s going to be a playful experience. The longer they interact with it, maybe they can get a deeper meaning out of it.” CS “Loopwave: Tomorrow 2.0” is on view at the Jepson Center at 207 W. York St. For more information on admissions and safety procedures, visit Telfair.org/hours-admission. Follow Finger on Instagram at @plg.rm.

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JULY 22 - 28, 2020

‘Loopwave: Tomorrow 2.0’ is collaboration between American and Chinese artist

17

CULTURE VISUAL ARTS

4. What’s your artistic process?

I’ll go on Pinterest and go through a bunch of references. I’ll have an idea in mind and I’ll try to find references that would help me fulfill that idea. Then, if it’s a piece I’m more intensely focused on, I’ll try to find symbols I can use to tell a story within it.

I’ll try to find some kind of second layer to the image so there’s some kind of narrative there in addition to the visual. I love telling stories even in a single image, if I can. Sometimes that step comes after I draw most of it, and I’m like, “Oh, I just drew a bunch of owls, I’d better figure out what owls mean.”

Then I’ll do thumbnails to quickly sketch out the composition of the piece— that helps get ideas out quickly. It’s like a rough draft to an essay. Then I’ll do the pencils on the actual size. I use pens and sometimes brushes, and then once all that’s done, I’ll scan it in and color it digitally on Photoshop.

If I do commission pieces for people and they tell me exactly what they want, I can knock something out like that pretty fast. If it’s something more conceptual, I have to spend more time researching. I’ve been trying to research in more ways than just the Internet. For a piece with queens and their flowers, I went around to a few local flower shops and asked about flowers, because I don’t know about gardening.

QUESTIONS

WITH

Kevin Betou

BY RACHAEL FLORA

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JULY 22 - 28, 2020

rachael@connectsavannah.com

COMIC BOOK artist Kevin Betou is making a name for himself here.

Originally from France, Betou lived in Oakland before coming to Savannah about four years ago. He’s always been interested in drawing and creating comics, and he’s honed his talent even more while here.

Currently, Betou is working on a comic merging hip hop and fantasy, as well as illustrating a poetry book for a friend. He likes to incorporate symbolism into each square, letting a singular image tell a story.

We talked to Betou last week.

1. How did you come to Savannah?

I came to Savannah a little over four years 18 ago. I came from Oakland, California, for

college at SCAD. Then I dropped out two years ago and I’ve been in Savannah since.

I used to work at this comic book shop in high school, and we had professionals do signings. I’d ask them where they attended school and a lot of them went to SCAD.

2. Have you always been creative?

I’m not actually from America, I was born in France. We had a guy—I don’t remember him too clearly—but he was staying with me and my mom. He did a lot of art and introduced me to visual arts. When I came to America, my stepmom put me into this charter school called Oakland School for the Arts. It’s academics in the morning, art things in the afternoon.

I attended that school from middle school all the way through high school. I was into artwork, but I wasn’t super into drawing comic books until closer to the

ninth grade, I want to say. I just like telling stories, and I think comic books are a great way to tell stories and bridge the gap between me drawing and telling stories.

5. What’s next for you?

A lot of stuff is up in the air because of the virus and everything. Ideally, I think I’d plan to stay [in Savannah] another year or two and then move up to Atlanta.

What stories do you tell through Right now, I’m working on this poetry your comics? book with one of my good friends. He approached me and asked if I wanted to do I predominantly tell stories about Black visuals for his poetry book. Before, I found and brown characters because growing up, myself avoiding collaborating too heavily I didn’t see a lot of characters I could relate with people, but I wanted to open myself to. I wanted to give my audience something up to that a little more, so I agreed to it. that I was missing [by] growing up with I definitely by the end of this year want these characters. Just to see themselves to finish the second book and get that out represented and that they’re seen. to people. It’s definitely the best comic My first story was Black Man, and it was book I’ve made so far. about this African American superhero in In the larger scope of things, it’s hard a fictional city. He’s the first Black superbecause with comic books, you can either hero in the city. I did that for a while, and go down the path of submitting your work now I’m working on an Afro fantasy book to a larger publisher and working semiwhere people can physically manifest freelance, almost like a contract for a music. I’m trying to bridge the gap between series. Or you can do your own thing, build hip hop and fantasy. an audience and make your own books.

In my mind, having heroes represented It’s hard figuring out which side I should in media shows that anyone can attain that go down, but I really love writing my own level of success or achievement. If you don’t stories and making my own worlds, so I see yourself represented in those kinds of kind of want to do my own thing. positions when you’re younger, I think it I actually did reapply to SCAD this year, could create some confidence issues. “Oh, so I might go back to school. We’ll see how maybe I’m not able to get into that position everything goes, I guess. CS because I’ve never seen characters that look like me in that position.”

Follow Kevin on Instagram at @kb2draws

3.

What’s For Dinner?

CULTURE THEATRE

LIVE MUSIC IN THE SOUNDGARDEN WED, JUL 22 7:30PM

Georgia Southern theatre professor appointed regional chair of Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival students are already leading the way in how to utilize different mediums to tell stories and celebrate their work.”

Abbott coordinates travel logistics for 200-300 regional shows each year, manages organizational finances, coordinates the regional festival and represents the region on the national leadership committee, among other roles.

“Through innovative storytelling, she looks to uphold the equity, diversity and inclusion standards of KCACTF,” a university spokesperson says.

“We are here to support, to listen, to raise up our students, faculty and artists of color,” Abbott said. “We will continue to follow these practices, hopefully with a renewed and greater commitment.”

Abbott has been active with KCACTF for 12 years and served as the vice chair for the past three years. She is now chair until April 2023. She teaches courses such as directing, acting, playwriting, and theater management within the Department of Communication Arts and directs student productions. CS

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GEORGIA Southern University theatre professor Lisa Abbott has stepped into a new role as the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) “region 4 chair.”

The regional festival, held each year in February, provides a forum where students and professionals have the opportunity to take part in auditions, performances, portfolio reviews and workshops.

As chair of region 4, Abbott works with a leadership team that puts together the regional KCACTF festival for Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all inperson KCACTF fall 2020 activities such as peer reviews of productions will be conducted remotely, and the 2021 region 4 festival will now be held virtually.

“Things will be different, but we will reemerge with new stories and new ways of sharing the live theater experience,” Abbott said.

“We have made a commitment to celebrating innovation in this time. Our

FRI, JUL 24 7PM

19

FOOD & DRINK EPICUROPEDIA

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JULY 22 - 28, 2020

BY LINDY MOODY MINT TO BE Mojito Bar And Bites marks the first of its kind for Savannah’s Historic District.

The newly renovated space is quaint and full of color; it sits in the heart of downtown in what once served as a wine shop.

The colorfully painted walls and neon lights that adorn the State Street bar and restaurant make you feel as though you have been transported to South America.

The design was created by a Peruvian designer to make patrons feel as if they 20 are on a vacation — from their Savannah

vacation.

This very first local mojito joint is the child of Mary Githens, who also owns Latin Chicks Restaurant. The previous business owner that occupied the bar’s building was a longtime customer of Latin Chicks, and with lots of persistence persuaded Githens to start this new venture.

Beyond authentic and meticulously crafted drinks, guests will receive expertly crafted Latin fare.

“I own Latin Chicks so a lot of this came from Latin Chicks,” Githens says of their partnership. “He had the space, and he started with retail, then wine imported from Georgia, and then jewelry. The story was he was a customer at Latin Chicks.”

Considering the current state of affairs, Mint to Be is the ideal downtown spot to

drop in and get a to-go mojito, or a refreshing traditional Latin cocktail.

The glasses are biodegradable, adding a green element to an already green drink.

You can take them to go and not feel bad about the use of plastic.

For me, The Original Latin Chicks Mojito is the bedrock of the menu.

It is painstakingly muddled by hand with enough mint to fill a garden. Each sip is slightly sweet due to a dash of simple syrup and pleasantly tart from fresh squeezed lime.

A surprise treat for each mojito is an adornment of fresh chunked sugarcane.

It can be chewed on throughout or after consumption of the cocktail.

There are slight variations available to any mojito: Strawberry, Pineapple, Passion Fruit, and Coconut. The Coconut Mojito was an instant hit because the coconut adds a creamy touch to the puckering drink.

Drinkers can even request their fresh muddled mojito to be made with top shelf rum. Occasionally the team runs mojito specials and features flavors like fresh summer watermelon, whole cherries, or vibrant blueberries.

The Sangria is made fresh in house, as to be expected, but I do not know the secret combination that makes it so great.

The more classic side of the drink offerings include the Caipirinha, the Pisco Sour, a Cuba Libre, and the Chicano de Pisco.

The Pisco Sour is the national cocktail of Peru. It is made with hand squeezed lemon, egg white, simple syrup, and Pisco.

For those who have never tasted it, Pisco is an amber colored brandy produced in Chile or Peru.

The flavor combinations within the Pisco Sour result in warm herbal notes and a backing of a bitter kick. Your tongue is coated with the creaminess of the frothy egg white, which acts to balance the forward flavored drink.

A similar variation is the Chilcano de Pisco, another traditional Peruvian cocktail. This version features ginger beer, pisco, and fresh lime juice. Refreshing and punchy ginger balance the layered flavors of the featured liquor: pisco.

My favorite drink of all the traditional options must be mentioned. The Caipirinha is a libation that comes from Brazil

and is said to be its national cocktail.

Creating it is simple: good Brazilian rum, sugar, and lime. The resulting flavors are not simple, however, and this drink will quickly rise to the top of your short list of favorites after sampling one.

Drinks are not the only thing offered to regular patrons or curious passersbys.

An edible treat I feel should be placed front and center is Mint To Be’s Alfores—a South American confection that is created with shortbread.

The delicate cookies encase a sticky sweet dulce de leche.

The buttery cookie melts away on your tongue leaving a mouth full of caramel creme.

The empanadas have received rave reviews and for good reason. The flaky folded pastry is served Argententian style with chicken, beef, or spinach and feta.

They are each homemade and are never frozen or bought premade.

“We also have arepas. Arepas are Venesuelan. They are new here. We don’t have them at Latin Chicks. They are Venesuelan tortillas but stuffed and they are made out of corn flour that is stuffed. We have chicken with avocado or pork or cheese,” explains Githens.

El Cuban Sandwich is the showstopper and offers hungry guests more than just a bite of food. Layers of succulent pork, briny pickles, and sharp mustard fill the sandwich that is pressed into submission resulting in a crispy shell. It comes with a side of sweet plantain chips.

Githens talks more about the menu.

“We have vegetarian options and vegan options. So the tamales, we have vegan tamales. We have vegetarian empanadas with cheese and spinach, as well as arepas.

We are bringing on another dish from Peru that is also vegan. It is a potato with Peruvian pepper sauce and vegan mayonnaise.”

To comply with current orders and aid in customer safety, Mint To Be is maintaining social distancing and encouraging to-go orders. Please support a new local business, but be sure to wear a mask. CS Mint To Be Mojito Bar & Bites is at 12 W. State St.

Happenings COMPILED BY RACHAEL FLORA happenings@connectsavannah.com

JONESIN’ CROSSWORD

BY MATT JONES ©2019 Answers on page 23

“DOUBLE NEGATIVES” IT’S ONE WAY TO DOUBLE UP.

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.

CONTINUES ON P. 22

ACROSS

1 Maker of Musk cologne and perfume 6 1990 World Series MVP Jose 10 Ruler of Iran, once 14 “Legend of a Cowgirl” singer Coppola 15 No longer a fan of 16 Sagacious 17 Subject of library censorship 19 Like many vaccines 20 Before, to Byron 21 ___ terrier (Toto’s breed) 22 Fantasy sports option 23 Bandleader known as “The King of Swing” 25 Orchard measures 28 Basis of the game Ticket to Ride, for short 29 “Dawn” author Wiesel 30 Awards show hosts 34 Twaddle 37 In fine order 40 Multi-vol. reference set 41 Lets pass 42 Fridge problem 43 Life story 44 Basil and pine nut topping 45 Cheap bowlful, maybe 52 “Magpie and the Dandelion” band The ___ Brothers 53 Prepare for baking, as challah dough 54 “The Racer’s Edge” 57 Coin-shaped Hanukkah candy 58 Pet owner’s alternative

to kibble 60 Kathryn of “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” 61 One way to run 62 Actress Dreyfuss of “Dear Evan Hansen” 63 Yelp rating unit 64 Past the due date 65 Canadian ballplayers, once

DOWN

1 Agree (with) 2 Epps of “House M.D.” 3 Barn attachment 4 “Barbara ___” (Beach Boys hit) 5 Family tree members 6 Batman’s sidekick 7 Soap that floats, per old slogans 8 “The Masked Singer” panelist Ken 9 1978-82 sitcom planet 10 Suit in a tarot deck 11 U.S. Grant’s original first name 12 Carne ___ fries 13 “Hobbs & Shaw” actress Mirren 18 Rather prominent on the internet these days 22 Many a museum marble 23 Served as 24 108-year-old cookies that thankfully have a bunch of varieties to keep things fresh 25 Prefix with plane or

dynamics 26 You’re reading it 27 What a tangelo is tangled up in?

30 ___ a high note 31 “2001” studio 32 CBS show with many spinoffs 33 911 responder 34 High degrees 35 Enormously 36 One who believes that one hand makes light work?

38 “___ Mad At Cha” (Tupac Shakur song) 39 Little piggies, perhaps 43 Recovering 44 Hawk 45 Goes ballistic 46 Deflect 47 Peach ___ (Escoffier creation) 48 Appointer of Justice Kagan 49 “Ready ___, here I come!”

50 Thanks, to Jürgen 51 “Where’s the ___?”

54 Stock option?

55 Lawnmower brand that means “bull” in Spanish 56 BlackBerries and Palm Pilots, e.g.

58 Schenkel who designed many Zappa album covers 59 Not-entirely-secure method of sending documents

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JULY 22 - 28, 2020

ACTIVISM & POLITICS

21

HAPPENINGS

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

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

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY ARIES (March 21-April 19)

“The creation of the world did not take place once and for all time, but takes place every day.” Aries playwright Samuel Beckett made that observation, and now I’m passing it on to you as you glide into an extra-creative phase of your astrological cycle. I hope you will regard Beckett’s idea as an open-ended encouragement to improvise and experiment. May it rouse you to brainstorm about novel possibilities. May it inspire you to explore fresh trends you could launch. May it mobilize you to imagine the new worlds you might *Big Bang* into existence.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

Author Diane Ackerman tells us, “So often loneliness comes from being out of touch with parts of oneself.” That’s the kind of loneliness I worry you may be susceptible to right now, Taurus. You’re a bit out of touch with aspects of your psyche that are crucial for you to include in your total sense of self. You’ve been neglecting to nurture certain soulful qualities that keep you healthy and wise. Please note: It won’t be useful to try to find those parts of you in other people; you will have to locate them in your own depths. Here’s the good news: The coming weeks will be an excellent time to do just that.

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JULY 22 - 28, 2020

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

22

“Someone ought to do it, but why should I?” Author and activist Annie Besant identified that sentence as the motto of people who are moral cowards: those who know about an injustice but do nothing to address it. Very few of us have completely avoided that behavior. Most of us, including me, have now and then chosen to serve our need for comfort instead of standing up against corruption or unfairness. But I think it’s more important than usual that you Geminis don’t engage in such moral cowardice now. More depends on your integrity and bravery than you realize.

CANCER (June 21-July 22)

Born in 1936, Cancerian author and activist June Jordan was a black feminist bisexual born to Jamaican immigrant parents. When she was growing up, her father beat her and her mother committed suicide. Later, she raised her child alone as a single mother. Despite the challenges she faced, she published 28 books, won numerous awards, and wielded significant influence. How did she do it? She was a

highly evolved Cancerian in the sense that she put a priority on treating herself well. “I must undertake to love myself and to respect myself as though my very life depends upon self-love and self-respect,” she testified. I’d like to make that your keynote for the rest of 2020. Your task is to achieve June Jordan-levels of self-care.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

“How can I communicate to wild bunnies that I am their ally?” asked a Twitter blogger named Ghost Girl. That question is a good place to start my oracle for you. In the coming weeks, I think you’ll be wise to meditate on how to enhance your relationship with all kinds of wild things: animals, people, weather, landscapes, and your own exotic thoughts and fantasies.

In my opinion, you will upgrade your intelligence and well-being by increasing your access to influences that don’t necessarily play by conventional rules and that draw their energy from primal sources.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

It’s never too late to have a rebellious adolescence—hopefully bigger and better and smarter than any you’ve had before.

And according to my analysis, now would be a favorable time to get started. Is there any stuffy authority you’d be wise to flout? Any dumb and oppressive conventions you would benefit from breaking?

Any stale old traditions you’re primed to ignore so you can create some lively new traditions? In my estimation, you will generate good fortune for yourself if you try some benevolent mischief and creative experiments.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Your word of power for the coming weeks is *ubuntu*, a Zulu term meaning “I am because we are” or “the belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity.” Nobel Prize-winning theologian Archbishop Desmond Tutu writes, “A

Saturday Socials held the first Saturday of each month at 7pm. Mondays. 912-236-CITY. firstcitynetwork.org.

BY ROB BREZSNY

beautyandtruth@freewillastrology.com

person with *ubuntu* is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, for he or she has a proper selfassurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished.” I hope that between now and August 25, Libra, you will put *ubuntu* at the center of everything you do. Make it an intensely practical practice.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

“The size of your dreams must always exceed your current capacity to achieve them,” says Scorpio-born Liberian politician Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. “If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.”

I trust you’ve arrived at this realization on your own in the past few weeks.

And I hope you have audaciously expanded and supercharged your dreams so that they do indeed surpass your current ability to accomplish them. If you have not yet done this daring work, please attend to it now. If you have done it, move on to the next step: making definite plans to acquire the power and resources necessary to achieve your new, improved dreams.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

“The soul should always stand ajar,” wrote Sagittarian poet Emily Dickinson, “That if the heaven inquire, / He will not be obliged to wait, / Or shy of troubling her.”

I’m confident that this will be a fertile meditation for you in the coming weeks.

So what does it mean? By “heaven,” I assume Dickinson meant marvelous interventions, sacred revelations, and lucky accidents—and maybe also soulful invitations, out-of-the-blue opportunities, and supernatural breakthroughs. What do you think, Sagittarius? What can you do to make your soul ajar for phenomena like those?

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

“Everything is complicated,” wrote poet

Wallace Stevens. “If that were not so, life and poetry and everything else would be a bore.” I agree! And therefore, I conclude, you should shed any resentment you might feel for the fact that our world is a crazy tangle of mystifying and interesting stories. Drop any wish that life will stop being so fascinatingly messy and confusingly intriguing. Instead, why not celebrate the deep riddles? And revel in the intriguing complexity? And give holy thanks for the paradoxical beauty? Everything I just said should prepare you well for the next four weeks.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

You’ll be extra sensitive to stimuli in the coming weeks. Every little event will touch you more intensely than usual.

Every perception will flow into you with an unusually strong potential to move you and influence you. That’s why I think you should be vigilantly self-protective. Erect a psychic shield around yourself. Make sure your boundaries are firm and clear.

Affirm your unshakable commitment to deflecting vibes that aren’t of use to you and welcoming vibes that will enhance your well-being.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

Actress Gwyneth Paltrow founded Goop, a company that markets exotic, expensive health treatments. She claims that far-infrared gemstone therapy and crystal-based sound-healing baths will dissolve your negativity. Allowing bees to sting your scars will supposedly cause the scars to fade. Drinking “sex juice,” a blend of watermelon and alkaline water, will enhance your libido. The “collagen martini,” which is a mix of vodka, vermouth, olive juice, and collagen peptides, will smooth your skin’s wrinkles. I’m favorably disposed to you taking strong actions to improve your well-being in the coming weeks, Pisces, but I recommend that you try cheaper, more reliable modalities than those Paltrow recommends. Like what?

Ample sleep and good food, for starters, along with fun exercise, time in nature, enjoyable meditation sessions, and tender expressions of love.

EXCHANGE Tossie Buys BUY. SELL. CONNECT. ADS RECEIVED BY 5PM FRIDAY WILL APPEAR IN THE WEDNESDAY ISSUE OF THE NEXT WEEK.

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