Connect Savannah, December 9, 2020

DEC 9-15, 2020 NEWS, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY CONNECTSAVANNAH.COM

Great Scott! The future depends on us!

A guide to early voting in Georgia’s Jan. 5, 2021 runoff election

E IN TH

NOFF !

ALSO INSIDE:

COVID-19 VACCINE

COMING SOONISH TO SAVANNAH

JA

RU

Great Scott! The future depends on us! CHANUKAH A guide to early voting in Georgia's Jan. 5, 2021 runoff election

N . 5 , 2 0 21

HAPPENINGS

MITLA TORTILLAS

MADE LOCALLY WITH GUSTO

2

CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 9-15, 2020

CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 9-15, 2020

WEEK AT A I

G

H

L

I

G

H

T

E

D

P

I

WEDNESDAY 12. 9

C

K

S

SUNDAY 12.13

Brian Regan Live

Let There be Peace on Earth

Savannah Christmas Market Plant Riverside District

Savannah VOICE Festival’s Home for the Holidays Virtual Concert

Comedian Brian Regan returns to Savannah for two shows. Don’t miss this chance to see one of the most respected comedians in the country, and why Vanity Fair magazine calls Brian “the funniest stand-up alive.”

6 & 8:30 p.m.

Savannah Theatre, 222 Bull Street. savannahtheatre.com

The Savannah Christmas Market Plant Riverside District market promises European and Southern holiday traditions in the popular entertainment district November 27 through January 3, 2021. A wide range of holiday-themed events, live performances and family-friendly activities. All events are free and open to the public.

Nov. 27-Jan. 3, noon-11 p.m.

Plant Riverside District, 500 W. River St. Free and open to the public. savannahchristmasmarket.com

THURSDAY 12.10

Blind Tiger

Front Porch Improv Theatre presents Blind Tiger, a free, live improv comedy show where fresh-faced improvisers make up scenes on the spot based on audience suggestions.

8 p.m.

Front Porch Improv, 210 W. Victory Drive. frontporchimprov.com

Holiday Walk 2020

Rebecca Flaherty and pianist Michael Braz perform live in a virtual Christmas concert at Unitarian Universalist Church of Savannah. Featuring a few old favorites and a lot of lesser-known treasures, the concert was curated to reflect light, hope, peace, and joy.

3-4 p.m. $20

Wormsloe Christmas Hike SAT., DEC 12

Hear the stories and traditions of holiday seasons past while journeying through the Wormsloe forest in search of the Yule log to burn for good luck in the coming new year. Make sure to bring water and wear closed-toed shoes.

Reservations are required, space is limited. Call (912) 353-3023 to make your reservation. Choose from four hikes held during the day, starting at 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3 p.m.

9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

Wormsloe State Historic Site, 7601 Skidaway Rd. $4 - $12 gastateparks.org/Wormsloe black artists, community partnerships, and a related publication from the University of Georgia Press. Books are available for checkout from Live Oak Public Libraries, liveoakpl.org, and for purchase through The Book Lady Bookstore, 6 E. Liberty St. 6 p.m.

Free and open to the public telfair.org/los

FRIDAY 12.11

Collective present HORRORMAS 2020.

Complete with ‘Bed of Nails’, ‘Fire Breathing’, ‘Block Head’, ‘Glass Eating/ Walking’, ‘Human Pincushion’, and more sideshow classics. Festivities start at 3pm with the sideshow beginning at 8pm.

Masks required & costumes encouraged.

3 p.m.

Graveface Museum, 410 E Lower, Factors Walk. gravefacemuseum.com

The Downtown Design District Holiday Walk is on for creative shopping. Wear your most festive protective mask and join the fun as participating Liberty Street merchants open their doors for special holiday sales and activities.

5:30 p.m.

Downtown Savannah.

Love Actually

Tybee Post Theater’s holiday film series continues with Love Actually, a roundelay of lump-in-your-throat love set in London during the holiday season, starring Hugh Grant. Showings at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Tybee Post Theater, 10 Van Horne.

Tickets $9, children 12 and under $7 tybeeposttheater.com

Islands Farmers Market

Virtual Lecture: Educational Reconstruction: African American Schools in the Urban South, 18651890

SATURDAY 12.12

Adoption meet and greet featuring a walk through a lighted wonderland, festival of trees, and a chance to meet adoptable pets. Entry is limited to 25 people per hour, so advance registration is recommended.

Additional activities include hot cocoa, cabana bake sale, marshmallow roasting, and letters to Santa.

4-7 p.m.

Coastal Pet Rescue’s Camp Pawsawhile Retreat, 7430 Thomas Avenue. coastalpetrescue.org

Forsyth Farmers Market

Local and regional produce, honey, meat, dairy, pasta, baked goods and other delights. Rain or shine.

9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Forsyth Park, Drayton St. & East Park Ave. Free to attend. Items for sale.

912-484-0279. forsythfarmersmarket.com

Telfair Museums presents a virtual lecture

by Hilary Green on her book, Educational Reconstruction: African American Schools in the Urban South, 1865-1890. The series is part of the museum’s multiyear “Legacy of Slavery in Savannah” initiative, which also will include a symposium in late 2021, Horrormas 2020 exhibitions of contemporary works by Graveface Museum and Dead City

Weekly farmers market on Talahi Island highlighting local growers and makers, healthy foods and a positive environment.

9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Islands Farmers Market, 401 Quarterman Dr. facebook.com/islandsfarmersmarket

Twinkle Bark Stroll

Savannah VOICE Festival presents its spectacular VOICE Holiday Concert special − “Home for the Holidays” − featuring two virtual performances at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Celebrate the holidays with music from all around the world, as artists bring you into their homes for an evening of beautiful holiday traditions. Sponsored

by Critz Auto Group, audiences are invited to celebrate the Holidays with SVF artists.

5-6 p.m.

Free

MONDAY 12.14

Tybee Island Farmers Market

Weekly market featuring a variety of produce, baked goods, honey, eggs, BBQ, sauces and dressings, popsicles, dog treats and natural body products. Artisans are also featured each week. The market is non-smoking and pet friendly. Located at 30 Meddin Drive. We are right behind the Historic Tybee Lighthouse. Visit the website for more info.

4 p.m.

30 Meddin Drive, 30 Meddin Drive. tybeeislandfarmersmarket.com

TUESDAY 12.15

Building a Restorative Community: The Impact of Wealth-Based Detention in Chatham County

Deep Center, in partnership with Southern Center for Human Rights and Vera Institute for Justice, present The Impact of Wealth-Based Detention in Chatham County, an online open community workshop exploring the way wealth-based detention functions in the Chatham County criminal legal system. Participants will learn about fines and fees, justice work, and local and state policy solutions for elected officials, policy makers, and grassroots advocates.

5:30 p.m. tinyurl.com/yynnrcek

CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 9-15, 2020

H

Glance

TO HAVE AN EVENT LISTED IN WEEK AT A GLANCE 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.

3

NEWS EDITOR’S NOTE

OUR VALUES

At its core, Connect Savannah is focused on the happenings in our community, highlighting local news, arts, and entertainment. Our professional journalists write about community issues and the people who live here.

The public has a right to know about issues affecting them, and Connect Savannah is dedicated to keeping readers informed and aware of all that goes on in the community.

The pursuit of truth is a fundamental principle of journalism. But the truth is not always apparent or known immediately.

A professional journalist’s role is to impartially report the news based on verifiable facts so readers can, based on their own knowledge and experience, determine the truth behind varied issues and developments. This is often an ongoing pursuit as journalists work to uncover stories and follow those

stories wherever they lead, regardless of preconceived ideas.

The news that they report is separate from opinions shared in our labeled commentary, special columns, reviews and submitted letters to the editor.

The presentation of both news and opinion is designed to educate, entertain, and foster conversation.

We appreciate and encourage readers to share news tips with us, and to share any criticism and questions.

We are your comprehensive local source for current news, arts, entertainment, music, and community events. We are here to serve you.

We are blessed to be part of the greatest country in the world and the freedom it bestows on its citizens and its press.

Find us on the platforms below or reach out to our newsroom at news@ connectsavannah.com or (912) 721-4378.

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 /connectsav

@ConnectSavannah

/connectsavannah

Proud Sponsor

ADMINISTRATIVE

ADVERTISING

Erica Baskin, Publisher erica@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4378 Wendy Wickham, Business Manager wendy@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4373

Information: (912) 721-4378 sales@connectsavannah.com Chris Griffin, Senior Account Executive chris@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4388 Bucky Bryant, Senior Account Executive bucky@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4381 Lauren Wolverton, Account Executive lauren@connectsavannah.com Mandy Younce, Regional Digital Sales Manager mandy@connectsavannah.com (912) 503-0874

CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 9-15, 2020

EDITORIAL

4

Nick Robertson, Editor-in-Chief nick@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4360 Taylor Clayton, News Editor taylor@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4356 Brandy Simpkins, Community/Events Journalist brandy@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4358 EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Bunny Ware, Alex Neumann, Chris Sweat, Adriana Iris Boatwright, Brittany Curry, Jessica Farthing, Brittany Herren, Geoff L. Johnson, Lindy Moody, Jonathan Vasata, Leila Scott

DESIGN & PRODUCTION Brandon Blatcher, Art Director artdirector@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4379 DISTRIBUTION Wayne Franklin, Distribution Manager (912) 721-4376 CLASSIFIEDS Call (912) 231-0250

Let’s look up and appreciate Savannah in its natural light

BY NICK ROBERTSON

nick@connectsavannah.com

AMID THIS muddled era of stark divisions, when differences of opinion instantly cast others into enemy camps, there is one thought agreed upon by all, from hoboes to billionaires, from far-right nutjobs to freaks of the leftward fringe: these are certainly extraordinary times.

A pandemic. An election. Injustice.

Inequity. In this mess we desperately cast about on an all-consuming quest for affirmation of our preconceived notions, disregarding those with differing views as simpleminded pawns of a system out to cheat every one of us in some way or another. Distrust pervades each side of every argument, and claiming tribal affiliation with any group means swearing allegiance to its all-or-nothing dogma, empirical truths be damned.

How did we get to this dire point? By the numbers − considering the planet’s overpopulation while all-out global conflicts are relatively few − humanity currently enjoys its most peaceful and prosperous time in history. Why are we all freaking out?

Perhaps we’re not really programmed to deal with the nonstop barrage of media that we’re now expected to keep up with every waking minute. Just over two decades ago, cell phones were expensive novelties while e-mail and the internet were mere diversions for dorks. Writing letters was still a thing.

Then dawned the Information Age. Channels and platforms boomed, news became omnipresent, and handheld devices began pinging at us and tracking our locations and customizing our ads.

We’re expected to respond immediately to every message and special offer and ransomware demand. The unrelenting fusillade of attention-grabbing electronic goblins is surely wreaking some as-yetunknowable havoc on our primate minds.

We react as though entering a new dark age while holding a modern-day Library of Alexandria in the palm of every hand.

Many now actively refuse to accept knowledge-based reality − or simply seem uninterested in learning about it at all.

Yet maybe our enervating dread is caused not by a growing numbness to the chill of encroaching darkness, but is instead a reaction to too much light. With so many screens constantly emitting everything from timeless wisdom to outright obfuscation, we’re blinded by the countless perceptions flashing at us, and so we frantically focus on whatever makes sense at the moment.

But over time it becomes difficult to look away from a shared brainwashing beam, even with knowledge that more edifying options must be out there. Admitting we do not know all is seen as declaring defeat, and nobody wants to be sent adrift back into the shimmering sea of overwhelming options blasting our brains with 5G technology.

Enough, I daresay. We can still look up, see past all the shiny onscreen objects, and appreciate the reality that we surely do share, especially in a setting with the splendor of Savannah and the other characteristic locales of Chatham County.

Here at Connect Savannah, we aim only to reflect the warm glow of the communities we serve, and highlight important local issues that often go unseen. We won’t try to dazzle our audience in an increasingly craven campaign for clicks. We won’t frenetically cover each minute’s hottest trend. We won’t prioritize search-engine optimization over optimizing our role in society as a useful and illuminating source for local news, opinions, happenings, and much more.

Let’s take our time to look at Savannah in its natural light, and converse with cordial candor while sharing all that this area has to offer. We can meet in peace every week and bask in the slow sunrise of new enlightenment together. We’re all very fortunate to be here for it.

You’re Invited

PRIME FINE LIQUOR AND CIGARS December 14th 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Ronald McDonald House Charities®

Fundraiser • Music • Hors D’oeuvres and More!

Twelve Oaks Shopping Center 5500 Abercorn St. | 912.335.1879

CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 9-15, 2020

of the Coastal Empire

5

SINCE 2001 – BREWING COFFEE & COMMUNITY

NEWS SAVANNAH

No More Mr. Nice Mayor

Savannah police instructed to crack down on people ignoring COVID-19 face-mask orders

THE SENTIENT BEAN

Award-Winning Organic Vegetarian Food + Fair-Trade Coffees & Teas

MON - SUN OPEN 7AM–5PM COUNTER SERVICE AND TAKEOUT

13 E. Park Ave •232.4447

full listings @ sentientbean.com

GIVE THANKS FOR BLESSINGS AND SEEK WAYS TO MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR THOSE AROUND US. PLEASE CONSIDER SUPPORTING SOME OF THE GREAT LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS WE LOVE: FORSYTH FARMERS’ MARKET DEEP CHATHAM SAVANNAH CITIZEN ADVOCACY LOOP IT UP CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 9-15, 2020

THE FRONT PORCH

6

BIKE WALK SAVANNAH PERFORMANCE INITIATIVES MOUNTAIN FILM ON TOUR THE RAPE CRISIS CENTER AND MANY MORE...

ORDER ONLINE! SENTIENTBEAN.COM

are required for guests and associates in all public indoor areas, rigorous cleaning protocols have been increased, sanitizer stations have been added, and signage has been posted to remind the public of social distancing protocols,” said the statement.

“We have been and will remain diligent to put safety first.”

However, this was not the only incident that piqued Johnson’s frustration. The mayor said that some leaders in local tourism are not accepting responsibility for keeping Savannah safe during the ongoing pandemic.

“I specifically reject the position of some tourism officials that I’ve heard recently say that they have no role to play in this,

“I’ll begin asking publicly, and will ask today in writing, for Governor Kemp to do the right thing, do the smart thing, do

BY BRANDY SIMPKINS the thing that is recommended across the brandy@connectsavannah.com world by healthcare professionals, and mandate masks for all Georgians in public SAVANNAH MAYOR Van Johnson is fed and private places,” said Johnson. up with people ignoring his emergency In a sarcasm-laced comment aimed at orders mandating the use of face masks to those who are skeptical that face masks prevent the spread of COVID-19. can help prevent the spread of COVID-19, The mayor expressed his dismay for Johnson compared the use of a mask to the businesses and individuals that are not use of a parachute. taking the pandemic seriously. Johnson is “Do you need a study to tell you that taking action to crack down on offenders using a parachute will save your life? by ordering the Savannah Police DepartNumerous observations will lead most ment to start issuing citations to anyone to conclude that one had a better chance flouting his coronavirus-safety protocols. of survival should one find oneself free“I was discouraged, falling from an airplane if frustrated, and honestly one is wearing and properly appalled by the lack of deploys a parachute, versus social distancing I saw in those who do not have a paramy city. The blatant dischute,” Johnson quipped. regard for the health and “Certainly, it would not be safety of others was on 100% effective, and certainly full display at several big one should receive proper events, especially downtraining, but the odds of surtown. There were giant vival and/or experiencing crowds and relatively few reduced injury is certainly people wearing masks,” improved with the use of a Johnson said during a Dec. parachute.”

1 press conference.

Johnson has requested Johnson decided to take Savannah Police Chief action after visiting the Roy Minter and Savanopening-weekend events nah City Manager Michael of the Plant Riverside Brown to step up disciplinChristmas Market in late ary action for anyone who November. does not comply with the “I personally was downcity’s COVID-19 ordinances. town and witnessed this Brown expressed his agreeSavannah visitors on River Street ignore Mayor Johnson’s emergency order to ment with Johnson’s more behavior at Plant Riverwear face masks in public spaces. PHOTO BY NICK ROBERTSON side, where there were forceful stance, and says he hundreds, if not thousands, does not want compliance to of people at an event that was publicly some foreign, crazy assertion the tourism depend solely on law enforcement. advertised, with no real social distanccommunity can casually engage in this “The police are not heavy-handed. ing,” Johnson said, noting that while his when they want to,” said the mayor.

That’s not our role,” Brown said. “We have face-mask mandate does not technically “We are in this together. If Savannah a lot of resources, but there are not enough apply to the interior of private businesses, is going to get through this with minimal resources to control everybody’s behavior as soon as patrons step outside they must damage, it’s going to take the help of every- in all of our public spaces, so we commit abide by Savannah’s rules. “The city owns one − every hotel, every restaurant, every ourselves to enforce, but we also ask for the right of ways and the park, and we will bar, every club, every tour, every business cooperation.” more aggressively regulate the activities in − and we want people to stop complaining Following up on Brown’s comments, those areas.” and encourage people and encourage busi- Minter said that most people in Savannah In response to Johnson’s comments on nesses to do better,” Johnson said. are not actively rebelling against Johnson’s the Christmas Market event, a Plant RivAccording to the Georgia Department face-mask mandate. erside spokesperson provided a statement of Public Health, the number of Chatham “Generally, when we’re out there, we’re asserting that COVID-19 precautions are County’s confirmed COVID-19 cases has getting 100% compliance from folks,” in place at the facility. risen in recent weeks. This increase led to Minter said. “If we see them without a “The health and wellness of guests and Johnson requesting that Georgia Governor mask, we’re asking them, ‘Hey, you need associates is our top priority and we are Brian Kemp issue a statewide face-mask to have a mask on.’ A lot of times the mask following CDC guidelines. Face coverings mandate. mysteriously appears out of their pocket.”

2021 VIRTUAL SEASON

NEWS POLITICS

Vice President Pence visits Savannah to support GOP Senate candidates

Wednesday, Dec. 16

‘Defend the Majority’ rally marred by fatal accident in Pooler

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author

7PM

SBF Booksellers:

For details on registering and purchasing books, go to: www.savannahbookfestival.org PRESENTING SPONSOR

SIGNATURE MEDIA SPONSOR

??‘caption.bold” style. Keep separate from main test by a single line of space. PHOTO BY ???

CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 9-15, 2020

Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s plans to “change America” and the potential “lack of compromise” from Democratic House

BY TAYLOR CLAYTON leaders. taylor@connectsavannah.com During Pence’s speech, he proclaimed accomplishments of the Trump adminisVICE PRESIDENT Mike Pence vistration while encouraging supporters to ited Savannah to speak at a Republican help Republicans hold the Senate majority.

“Defend the Majority” rally on Dec. 4, “We will never stop fighting to make voicing support for Georgia’s U.S. Senators America great again,” said Pence. “That’s David Perdue why President and Kelly LoefTrump and I need fler in their Jan. David Perdue and 5, 2021 runoff Kelly Loeffler back races. in the Republican The nationmajority in the ally prominent United States Senrunoffs will ate. For all we’ve determine done. For all we which party have yet to do. We takes control need the Peach of the U.S. SenState to defend the ate. To bolster majority because his fellow GOP the road to the leaders, Pence Senate Republiflew aboard Air can majority runs Force 2 to the right through the Savannah/Hilstate of Georgia.” ton Head InterMany of the national Airport event’s attendees rally site before did not wear face speaking to a masks to prefew hundred vent the spread supporters. of COVID-19, and Both senators Pence took off his were expected mask immediately to speak at the upon exiting Air rally, but LoefForce 2. On Dec. 1, fler chose to Savannah Mayor leave abruptly Van Johnson said for Atlanta after that the airport learning of a falls under the fatal multi-car city’s jurisdiction accident on – and thus SavanInterstate 16 in nah’s ongoing facePooler on Friday mask mandate morning that Vice President Mike Pence visits Savannah on Dec. – and urged Pence claimed the life 4 for a GOP rally. PHOTOS BY TAYLOR CLAYTON to wear one during of 20-year-old the rally.

Harrison Deal, a “Certainly the member of Loeffler’s campaign team.

Vice President knows that from the superSenator Perdue spoke briefly before spreader events that he has attended, that introducing Pence, echoing phrases he masks are the way to go,” Johnson said. “I employs in his campaign ads. He warned would hope that he would model correct behavior while within our gates.”

Georgia voters about Democratic Senate

MICHAEL CONNELLY

7

NEWS HEALTH

COMING SOONISH: The COVID-19 vaccine to Savannah Officials concerned that many Chatham County residents will refuse vaccine

LIMITED SEATING INSIDE www.connectsavannah.com

500 Staley Ave. Savannah, GA 31405 912.663.2701

Need extra money?

SELL US YOUR CAR!

CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 9-15, 2020

Right now, Cash-N-Carry is paying top dollar for cars, trucks, and vans. Wrecked, broken, burned, or even just plain ugly, we want to pay cash for your car.

8

912.663.2701 | CASHNCARRYPARTS.COM

Dr. Lawton Davis, the Coastal Health District health director, addresses the Chatham County Commission during their Dec. 4 meeting. PHOTO BY NICK ROBERTSON

BY NICK ROBERTSON

nick@connectsavannah.com

CHATHAM COUNTY MIGHT be just weeks away from receiving COVID-19 vaccine shipments, but for now there’s no clear time frame for locals to start rolling up their sleeves to take the lifesaving shots − and officials are concerned that many area residents will refuse the vaccine altogether.

Dr. Lawton Davis gave an admittedly optimistic estimate that Chatham’s first coronavirus-vaccine doses could arrive before New Year’s Day. “We anticipate that it’ll be here late December, early January, and we’ll be vaccinating people,” said Davis, the Coastal Health District health director, during a pandemic-response update for the Dec. 4 Chatham County Commission meeting.

“Hopefully, if everything goes according to plan, maybe somewhere between Christmas and New Year’s we can begin administering this locally. And again, that’s hopefully.”

Davis emphasized that many unknowns remain about the initial quantities of vaccine doses and which local residents will

first receive them.

“We do not know the exact timing. We do not know the exact quantity. We anticipate that we’ll get several hundred thousand doses initially in Georgia,” Davis said.

“We anticipate that in phase 1A this vaccine will be targeted for healthcare providers and residents and workers in long-term care facilities.”

Because of the vaccine’s initially limited availability, Davis said that Chatham’s general population will have to continue practicing basic COVID-19 precautions for several months to come.

“It’s not like everybody’s going to be vaccinated at one time. We’re still going to have to practice our good, boring publichealth hygiene measures such as wearing a mask, watching our distance, washing our hands, avoiding large gatherings,” Davis said, after noting that Chatham County’s coronavirus-infection rates have increased markedly since mid-November.

During the County Commission’s Nov. 20 meeting, Davis projected that the general public will likely not have access to the vaccine until mid-2021.

“It’s going to be at least late spring and into the summer before the vaccine is

CONTINUED ON PAGE 21

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

“It’s not like everybody’s going to be vaccinated at one time. We’re still going to have to practice our good, boring public-health hygiene measures such as wearing a mask, watching our distance, washing our hands, avoiding large gatherings.” available for widespread administration to the general public,” Davis said, noting that vaccinations would be prioritized for the elderly and those with preexisting medical conditions.

After the community’s most vulnerable populations are immunized, then the vaccine will be made available through mass-administration protocols similar to how COVID-19 testing has been offered at the Savannah Civic Center, according to Davis.

“We will be able to administer that vaccine, when and if it’s available, in a drive-through setting … probably at the Civic Center,” Davis said, adding that the Chatham County Health Department has already obtained a specialized “ultra-low temperature freezer” required for storing coronavirus-vaccine doses.

These freezers have also been acquired

by Savannah’s Memorial Health and St. Joseph’s/Candler hospitals, which both will be able to administer the coronavirus vaccine when it becomes available locally, according to spokespeople for the healthcare providers.

During the Dec. 4 meeting, County Commissioner Dean Kicklighter asked Davis about the possibility that many Chatham residents may decline to take the vaccine.

“At this point I’m kind of concerned that a huge majority of the population is not going to actually take it,” Kicklighter said, adding that he’d created an informal social-media poll asking constituents if they would take the COVID-19 vaccine when it became available, and that out of 831 responses, “about 95% or more, they’re actually saying no at this point.”

Kicklighter, one of the County Commission’s most conservative members, pledged that he would take the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it was available to him, and would be willing to participate in a local public-awareness campaign encouraging area residents to get immunized.

“I don’t know what it’s going to take to change the people’s opinions on that, but I definitely will take it,” Kicklighter said.

Davis said that he shares Kicklighter’s concern, and stressed that the two initial

vaccines being developed by Pfizer and Moderna do not contain the actual coronavirus, and instead utilize messenger RNA to program the immune system to block COVID-19 from attacking cells.

“People sometimes are concerned about taking new vaccines, and rightfully so.

That’s why we hope they are thoroughly vetted and we know that they’re safe,” Davis said at the Nov. 20 meeting. “Some vaccines actually have viral particles in them, and people fear that by taking the virus particle in some shape, form, or fashion, that it will give the disease to you. Neither of these two vaccines have the virus particle in them.”

While awaiting the first vaccine shipments, Davis said he expects an increased demand in COVID-19 testing during the last half of December and early January, when the virus could be rapidly spread through holiday celebrations.

“Before Christmas people want tests so they’ll know they’re − well, they’ll think they’re safe, then after Christmas they’ll want a test to see whether anything had happened while they were off gathering,” Davis said.

The consequences of ignoring COVID19 precautions and attending multigenerational holiday gatherings can be fatal, Davis said.

“It’s no surprise that the majority of our cases are in the younger population, and the majority of our deaths, as expected, are in the older generation,” Davis said during the Dec. 4 meeting.

This most recent County Commission meeting also included an emotional moment when Davis honored the late District 2 Commissioner James Holmes, who died in August from COVID-19 at age 82, for his contributions as a longtime Chatham County Board of Health member.

“He rarely if ever missed a meeting, and always asked insightful questions of our public-health team. He believed in public service and public health, and his passing leaves a great void for all of us,” Davis said, before also honoring Yvonne Holmes − the widow of James Holmes, who is filling out his term through year’s end − for her service.

JONESIN’ CROSSWORD

BY MATT JONES ©2020

“HYPHEN IT UP” ”–BUT A BIT LONGER.

ACROSS

1 “Cinderella Man” antagonist Max 5 Stacks of cash 9 First name in Fighting Irish history 12 Sansa’s sister on “Game of Thrones” 13 ‘80s-’90s TV legal drama with a license plate in the title screen 14 “Star Trek” captain 16 Show excessive stubble, perhaps 18 High point?

19 As originally located 20 Old-timey hangout with a counter 22 Step unit 23 Repair tears 24 ___ the cows come home 25 Huge success 26 ___ Nublar (“Jurassic Park” setting) 30 Party invitation blank 32 Dark times?

35 Firing figure 36 Tourists’ warm-weather wear 39 2011 NBA champs, for short 40 Exciting way to take the world 41 “Middlemarch” novelist 43 Tangerine cover 44 Leading 47 ___ Aviv, Israel 48 Peachy keen

51 “File not found,” for example 53 Was still in the running 56 Phony 57 “Moral ___” (Adult Swim show) 58 Lizzo song of 2016 60 Rotary phone part 61 Starts the betting 62 To ___ (precisely) 63 Music collection 64 Marcel Duchamp’s art style 65 Overseer

DOWN

1 Send packing 2 “___ just the cutest?”

3 Made ___ (flirted, in a way) 4 Circle measurements 5 Cartoon baby’s cry 6 “Sad to say” 7 Swiss host city for the World Economic Forum 8 Any ABBA XZC 9 Aliases, for short 10 Basic file format that allows for bold and underlining 11 Ornate cupboards 13 “Geaux Tigers” sch.

15 Laws of planetary motion discoverer 17 Chest chamber 21 “That’s sooo cute!”

27 Checkbook record 28 Godiva’s title 29 Audibly in shock

31 Damage 32 “___ I’m told” 33 East, in Spain 34 Louboutin item 36 Islands off Spain 37 Movie that brought on “Army of Darkness” 38 “25 Words ___” (game show) 39 Way of doing things 42 Prof’s helpers 44 Faithful about 45 Plenty 46 “1984” working class 49 1977 George Burns film 50 Shell source in the Mario Kart series 52 Clean-up clinic 54 “___ Well That Ends Well” 55 Two-___ sloth 56 ___ de deux (two-person dance) 59 Genetic info carrier

CROSSWORD ANSWERS

CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 9-15, 2020

HEALTH

21

NEWS POLITICS

Chatham County residents wait in line to vote early at the Board of Registrars office in the Nov. 3 general election.

PHOTO BY NICK ROBERTSON

Back to the Polls

A guide to early voting and absentee ballots for Georgia’s Jan. 5, 2021 runoff races in Chatham County

GEORGIA WILL MAKE history on Jan. 5, 2021, when the Peach State’s two U.S. Senate seats are set to be decided – along with the balance of power between Democrats and Republicans in Washington, D.C. for the next two years.

The entire nation is watching Georgia with bated breath as the Jan. 5 senate-race runoffs draw near. After no candidates in either contest garnered more than 50% of Georgia’s general-election vote totals, Democrat Jon Ossoff is carrying on his quest to unseat Republican David Perdue, while Republican Kelly Loeffler defends her appointed post from Democratic challenger (and Savannah native) Raphael Warnock.

If both Ossoff and Warnock win, Democrats will control Congress and the White House by the end of next month. But if either Loeffler or Perdue prevails, the Senate will remain in Republican hands.

Either way, the space-time continuum will be altered forever – and so, registered

voters of Chatham County must go back to the polls on Jan. 5 for the fourth time in less than eight months as a final hangover from 2020’s stupefying election cycle.

But Chatham residents can also help change the future this month by voting early or submitting an absentee ballot, as explained in this guide.

•

•

Early Voting

The Chatham County Board of Registrars is providing five locations for early inperson voting during Dec. 14-31. All of the county’s registered voters can cast their ballot at any of these early-voting sites, but a valid ID is required.

• Board of Registrars office: 1117 Eisenhower Dr., Suite E, Savannah.

Hours: Dec. 14-18, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Dec. 19, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Dec. 21-22, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Dec. 23, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Dec. 28-30, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Dec. 31, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Savannah Civic Center: 301 W. Oglethorpe Ave., Savannah. Hours: Dec. 14-18, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Dec. 21-23, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Dec. 28-31, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

•

Chatham County Mosquito Control office: 65 Billy B. Hair Dr., by the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. Hours: Dec. 14-18, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Dec. 21-23, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Dec. 28-31, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Islands Library: 50 Johnny Mercer Blvd., on Whitemarsh Island.

Hours: Dec. 14-18, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Dec. 21-23, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Dec. 28-31, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Southwest Library: 14097 Abercorn St., Southside Savannah. Hours: Dec. 14-18, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Dec. 21-23, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Dec. 28-31, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Absentee Voting

All registered Georgia voters can request an absentee ballot for any reason by visiting ballotrequest.sos.ga.gov. After receiving absentee ballot requests for the Jan. 5 runoff, the Chatham County Board of Registrars is mailing them out until Dec. 31, but voters are advised to request and submit them as early as possible.

While absentee ballots can be mailed back, they can also be submitted at any of

Chatham County’s nine drop-box locations until voting closes at 7 p.m. on Jan. 5: • Chatham County Board of Elections Office: 1117 Eisenhower Dr., Suite E, Savannah.

• Carver Heights Community Center: 905 Collat Ave., Savannah.

• Savannah Civic Center: 301 W. Oglethorpe Ave., Savannah.

• Liberty City Community Center: 1401 Mills B. Lane Blvd, Savannah.

• Southwest Library: 14097 Abercorn St., Southside Savannah.

• UGA Extension: 17 Minus Ave., Garden City.

• W.W. Law Center: 900 E. Bolton St., Savannah.

• Whitemarsh Island Chatham Police Precinct: 54 Johnny Mercer Blvd., Whitemarsh Island.

• Pooler City Hall: 100 SW US Highway 80, Pooler.

All information in this guide was provided by the Chatham County Board of Registrars; visit voter.chathamcountyga. gov for more details, and visit Georgia’s mvp.sos.ga.gov website to check your voter-registration status.

9

CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 9-15, 2020

BY NICK ROBERTSON

nick@connectsavannah.com

NEWS COMMUNITY

Enjoy Chanukah 2020 in Savannah with a light spirit

BY TAYLOR CLAYTON

to socially distance throughout the celebration. Visit mickveisrael.org for more information.

THE HOLIDAY SEASON will be different this year − as with everything else in 2020 − and Chanukah in Savannah is no exception. But that won’t stop the city from celebrating the Jewish Festival of Lights in a safe manner, either in-person with social distancing or from the comfort of home, with the following events.

Community Chanukah CARnival

taylor@connectsavannah.com

Menorah lighting in Ellis Square

Continuing a locally beloved tradition, Chabad of Savannah will mark the first night of Chanukah with a menorahlighting ceremony in Ellis Square at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 10. Local TV networks WTOC and WJCL will broadcast the celebration live, as locals are encouraged to view the joyous spectacle from home. The menorah lighting will also be streamed on the Facebook pages for the City of Savannah and the Savannah Jewish Federation.

Savannah Mayor Van Johnson will be on hand to help spread the spirit of shalom, while elementary and middle-school

Experience all the delights of eight crazy nights in one fun-filled evening without leaving your car, as the Jewish Educational Alliance hosts the free Chanukah CARnival on Sunday, Dec. 13 during 4-5:30 p.m. at the JEA center at 5111 Abercorn St. in Savannah.

Savannah Mayor Van Johnson (right) participates in the 2017 menorah-lighting ceremony in Pull up to the JEA parking lot to Ellis Square during Chanukah 2017. PHOTO COURTESY OF CHABAD OF SAVANNAH discover eight unique booths − each representing a different community orgastudents read essays about the meaning at their awe-inspiring synagogue on nization − filled with Chanukah treats like of Chanukah. According to Rabbi Zalman Monterey Square, the congregation will latkes and doughnuts. All participants Refson, organizing the Ellis Square celelight their menorah for all to see on Friwill remain in their vehicles while visiting bration amid an ongoing pandemic was not day, Dec. 11 at 6 p.m., with the event being each booth and playing a trivia game, while easy, but persevering through hard times livestreamed on the Mickve Israel SavanChanukah tunes move the fun forward is part of what Chanukah is all about. Visit nah YouTube channel. through each stop. jewishsav.org for more information.

Congregation Mickve Israel will also Participants are encouraged to donate to close out Chanukah with a glowing occaToys For Tots at one of the booths. At the Congregation Mickve Israel events sion, lighting the menorah’s eighth candle end of your joyful journey, participants can Founded in 1733, Congregation Mickve in Monterey Square at 6 p.m. on Thursday, hop out of their car for a family portrait Israel has a long history of celebratDec. 17. Anyone who wants to join the event at the photo booth to commemorate your ing Chanukah, and they are not letting in person will receive sufganiyots (doughChanukah excursion. Visit savannahjea.

COVID-19 spoil the fun this year. Based nuts stuffed with jelly), but are encouraged org for more information.

Savannah Downtown Design District Annual Holiday Walk CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 9-15, 2020

Thursday, December 10th from 5:30-8:30 pm

10

Art by NoNo Flores.

NEWS COMMUNITY

LEFT: The palm trees lining Tybrisa Street are bedecked with brilliant bulbs. ABOVE: The beachside Christmas tree by Tybee’s pier.

TYBEE GETS MERRY

BY NICK ROBERTSON

nick@connectsavannah.com

THE ICONICALLY quirky spirit of Tybee Island carries on through the holidays, when locals tool around this laid-back beach town in Christmas-themed golf carts to hit their favorite hangouts beneath towering palm trees glowing with starry bulbs.

To warmly welcome visitors to share in Tybee Island’s daze of holiday joy, this year the municipal government expanded its gift of citywide free parking to span from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day. In 2019, free parking was provided for the two weeks around Christmas and New Year’s to boost local business, and the initiative’s success inspired this year’s extended parking-fee holiday, according to Tybee Island City Manager Shawn Gillen.

Beyond offering a beachy breath of fresh salt air far removed from pervading sensations of holiday-season stress, Tybee Island has many shops open with distinctive sandy curios and warmweather reminders that make good gifts or distinctively kitschy stocking stuffers.

Meanwhile, the isle’s bars and restaurants are especially inviting while devoid of summer crowds.

Of course, this being 2020, COVID-19 precautions are in effect at Tybee’s public attractions, while the use of face masks is urged islandwide. The pandemic also precluded a beloved island tradition from occurring as usual − the occasionally wild Christmas Parade.

Nonetheless, Tybee locals displayed their penchant for mischievous perseverance by instead holding a semi-sanctioned Christmas Caravan on Dec. 4, which saw high-spirited Santas and red-nosed reindeers taking to the island’s streets in a haphazard procession of variegated vehicles bedecked with flashing bulbs.

The Tybee Post Theater (10 Van Horne Ave.) is showing this same spirit of funloving persistence by hosting a series of Christmas-movie presentations on the big screen, made possible by only admitting 35% of the venue’s capacity to allow social distancing and by disinfecting the seats between screenings, among other coronavirus precautions.

Audiences can watch Love Actually on Dec. 11, White Christmas on Dec. 12, Gremlins on Dec. 13, Scrooged on Dec. 18,

Tybee Island’s semi-sanctioned Christmas Caravan on Dec. 4 inspired locals to festoon their golf carts with strings of lights and other jolly decorations. PHOTOS BY NICK ROBERTSON

A Christmas Carol on Dec. 19, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas on Dec. 20, with showtimes of 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. for each film; see tybeeposttheater.org for more details.

However, Tybee’s all-enveloping holiday spirit is apparent even with just a drive out to the island for a walk on the shore. The pleasantly incongruous sight of Christmas lights glistening around surf shops

CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 9-15, 2020

Beach town expands free parking islandwide for the holidays

and open-air bars provides a welcome reminder that this region is a tropical paradise compared to many snowbound cities up north, inspiring seasonal appreciation amid the isle’s merrily mellow mood.

“Please consider Tybee your beach and make it part of your holiday plans,” said Tybee Island Mayor Shirley Sessions.

“Slow down, mask up, and enjoy the spirit of the season.”

11

SPA BLEU

GIFT CARD Give the Gift of Relaxation this Holiday Season with a Spa Bleu Gift Card!

On Sale all month: Buy 3 get 10% Off. Buy 4 get 15% Off. Buy 5 get ONE FREE! Offer valid in store only.

Stop by or call to purchase.

Spa Bleu 101 Bull Street (912) 236-1490

spableu-sav.com

BONAVENTURE BLUES Shop with Bonaventure Blues this holiday season for all your gift and creative needs!

We specialize in coastal-themed home and gift items. We also stock Annie Sloan Chalk Paint®, creative products, and offer regular workshops. #GoCoastal

A Carefully Curated Collection of Clever and Unique Gift Ideas from Coastal Empire Shops and Businesses.

Check back each week for more!

Giving the perfect holiday gift to a loved one can add unnecessary stress and pressure, but you don’t have to drive far and wide to find presents your friends and family members will love. Some of the best gifts are right here under our noses at locally-run, small businesses.

Each week of the Holiday Season, Connect Savannah will be featuring gift ideas from local shops and merchants in our MERRY WISHLIST! We think we’ve found the most interesting local gifts that showcase Savannah and the Coastal Empire in the best way.

Whether you are looking for Mom, Dad, Grandpa, Grandma, the kids or anyone else, this guide will surely give you a gift idea (or three or four)!

Bonaventure Blues 3114 E Victory Drive

bonaventureblues.com

Want to feature your Local Business or Gift Item Here on Our MERRY WISHLIST? CONTACT US AT:

912.721.4378 OR

GHOST COAST DISTILLERY LOCAL HOLIDAY GIF TS F R O M T H E S A LT TA B L E Countless gift options that say “Savannah” made by Georgia Grown food artisans.

Shop in our Savannah, Pooler and Jekyll Island shops Or, buy online and ship anywhere in the US. Purchases over $49 ship free. Many options come with Elves!

LOCAL SPIRITS GIFT SETS Give the gift of limited-edition spirits this season. The Agave Family is available for $175.99 when you buy all three ($34 savings!) This will make the perfect gift for that special spirit. *Includes limited-edition shot glasses + stickers. *Gift box available for additional fee

SALES@ CONNECTSAVANNAH.COM

MAMIE RUTH

M.LIZ JEWELRY Mamie Ruth & M.Liz jewelry are the perfect duo. Combining timeless jewels with every day outfits - This clothing is bound to help you stand out in a crowd.

Stop by and find your next festival look, or new everyday favorite.

The Salt Table • 912-447-0200 Savannah • Pooler • Jekyll Island

Ghost Coast Distillery 641 Indian Street (912) 298-0071

Mamie Ruth 102 E. Liberty Street (912) 289-7937

SaltTable.com

ghostcoastdistillery.com

mamieruth.com

NEWS COMMUNITY

Seaport Cuisine opens to fuel Savannah’s longshoremen

BY BRANDY SIMPKINS

brandy@connectsavannah.com

SAVANNAHIANS AND visitors alike drop their jaws in amazement as monstrous ships pass by on the Savannah River carrying thousands of tons of cargo.

Though the sizes of the ships are larger than life, the true astonishment is the relentless labor of local longshoremen that make the transfer of international goods possible.

With the Port of Savannah serving as the largest single-terminal container facility in the United States, the work of the longshoremen isn’t to be taken lightly − and neither is their appetite.

To fuel these hardy workers, a new soulfood and seafood restaurant, Seaport Cuisine (11 Bird St., Savannah), will be hosting a family-friendly grand opening on Dec. 12 at 2 p.m. to introduce their services to the longshoremen yard and the surrounding community. Wrapped in hand-painted ships by a late local artist, the little red building sits right next to the yard, and the longshoremen love the easy access to

Tonya Makinye (left) and Shericha Spence at Seaport Cuisine. PHOTO BY BRANDY SIMPKINS

breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The grand opening will feature a bouncey house for children, music,

vendors, a raffle drawing, popcorn and cotton candy, and a tasting of menu items.

“We chose to open up a restaurant in

this location to support the longshoremen, so we can cook them some great homecooked food,” said LaDonna January, one of the eatery’s three owners.

January said that she and her partners, Tonya Makinye and Jamar Pryor, were conflicted about opening a restaurant amidst a global pandemic, but they put the longshoremen first, being essential workers who have not stopped working since the COVID-19 crisis started.

“When you have people working without nourishment, how healthy can they be to get the job done?” said January.

Makinye says that though they have not had an official grand opening, she already has regular customers who enjoy the food − especially the burgers − and the prices.

Accommodating the long hours of a longshoreman’s shift, the restaurant will be open from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily except Sundays. And while port workers are the primary customers, anyone who would like to enjoy a home-style meal is also welcome.

“The longshoremen are already very supportive of us. We’re ready to be known by the rest of the community now, too,” said January.

CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 9-15, 2020

OYSTER BAR. ROOFTOP. TIKI BAR. EVENT SPACE.

14

HAPPY HOUR 4-6: DOWNSTAIRS: $1 OYSTERS $3 SAVANNAH DRAFTS $5 BUBBLES ROOFTOP: $5 CHAMPAGNE COCKTAILS AND $2 RED STRIPE

116 W. CONGRESS ST SAVANNAH, GEORGIA 31401

WWW.SORRYCHARLIES.COM

WWW.BAMBOOROOMTIKIBAR.COM

FOOD & DRINK EPICUROPEDIA

Cliff Newland as he flours every ball of dough and places each on the line.

Warm flour tortillas as they come down the line.

Mitla Tortillas are locally made with gusto

BY LINDY MOODY IT IS NO secret that most Americans prefer flour tortillas over corn. But anyone who has traveled to Mexico has likely tasted corn tortillas as they were intended, and can attest to the major difference in

these traditionally made tortillas versus the packaged taco-shell versions widely available in the States.

After a trip to Mexico, Mitla Tortilla Company owners Grace and Cliff Newland immediately fell in love with the authentic corn counterpart. As the story goes, it was the very first corn tortilla that Grace ever ate and liked.

Being located in the Southeast, it was difficult for the couple to recreate or find the experience they had in Mexico; as the

Owners Grace and Cliff Newland on a break from production.

next best thing, they started making their own tortillas. With Grace’s background in public relations and Cliff’s culinary career, the natural progression was to start selling their authentic tortillas where they were located at the time: Charleston, South Carolina.

Grace tells their tale. “We founded Mitla Tortilla Company in 2015. We started out just as a farmers market business, and we had so much demand from restaurants that we decided to take it to the next level.

We found a shop in Charleston and began wholesaling, mostly to restaurants but also to mom-and-pop stores.” Mitla’s following

grew quickly and eventually expanded into Savannah through the Forsyth Farmers Market.

As Mitla’s new home base, the transition to Savannah was a natural progression because the duo wanted to expand their production facility for more space.

Fast forward to 2020 − Mitla is a growing small business in Savannah that plans on expanding to more of the Southeast.

“Immediately the community embarrassed us, and we kind of built a name for ourselves at the Farmers Market here,” Grace said.

CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 9-15, 2020

How a couple’s trip to Mexico enlivened Savannah’s dining scene

CONTINUES ON P. 16 15

EPICUROPEDIA

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

Savannah’s Oldest

URBAN FARM & PET

SUPPLY STORE

Specializing in

ORGANICS

- WE CARRY -

ALL TYPES OF FEED & SEED

HAY • FENCING • TRAPS • PEST CONTROL POTTERY & STATUARY • ANIMAL BEDDING PROPANE REFILL & EXCHANGE • LAWN & GARDEN • SEASONAL VEGETABLE PLANTS PET SUPPLIES • FARM SUPPLIES & MORE

CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 9-15, 2020

Located downtown at

16

DINE IN

Limited seating from 11-4 each day.

Hours will expand as demand increases.

307 Carolan St BRING THIS AD GET 912.233.9862 & 10% OFF Just west of Bay St. Viaduct

Call or order online for take out

We Deliver!

FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED SINCE 1938

5320 Water's Ave.

barnesrestaurant.com

912.354.8745

savannahbarfood.com 4523 Habersham St. | 912.355.5956

Fresh-made flour tortilla dough waiting to be pressed into form.

Maybe you have never tried authentic traditional corn tortillas during a trip to Mexico, but I bet you have tasted Mitla’s authentic version at any number of restaurants around Savannah. My first Mitla was at none other than Bull Street Taco, which is one of the reasons why I noticed their tacos are so delicious. Other Savannah restaurants that feature Mitla include Hop Atomica, Sentient Bean, Ordinary Pub, The Common, and Fat Radish. If you find a blue corn tortilla at any of those restaurants, they are Mitla’s as well.

If you want to recreate an authentic recipe yourself using some painstakingly made tortillas, you can buy the Newlands’ tortillas at Brighter Day, Vertu Farms, Local Farmbag, and the Forsyth Farmers Market.

The most ingenious part about the Mitla shells is that they are partially cooked.

Reheating them is simple, and by only cooking them halfway it preserves the deliciousness of the product and keeps it from drying out. A simple toss into a dry, hot pan, and the tortillas puff up just like they would if they were made fresh the same day. Storing them in the freezer is an option if you do not plan on eating them quickly.

In the beginning, every single tortilla was handmade in very small batches. To make their signature corn tortillas, first fresh corn has to be broken down. According to Grace, “Our corn tortillas are made the traditional way they have been made for thousands of years. We start with organic yellow and white whole-kernel corn.”

The corn is cooked in lime to break down its hard exterior shell. After a quick wash to remove any lime and outer shell, the corn is ground down into masa. The masa is what creates the tortilla dough

through kneading, shaping, and pressing.

“What you end up with is a tortilla with a lot stronger corn flavor, and it is more pliable,” says Grace. Each tortilla is lightly cooked, then sealed into its packaging. The result is a traditional gluten-free tortilla.

Their flour tortillas are made from only five ingredients. Limited ingredients does not mean limited flavor. By using highquality ingredients in a bona fide way, the product’s flavor is always superior. The end process for making the flour shells is the same, and now all manufacturing has been streamlined, a tiny bit more, through their production facility. It means more tortillas for the masses.

“We have two separate production facilities for each type, because we do not want to cross-contaminate wheat, and a lot of our corn-tortilla customers are gluten free. We are actually planning on going after gluten-free certification,” explained Grace. There are no preservatives in any of the tortillas, which really doesn’t matter because they tend to be eaten rather quickly. All of Mitla’s products are vegan and certified organic.

Prior to 2020’s drastic halt in business growth, Savannah was becoming quite the foodie destination. With another James Beard Award and new restaurants opening constantly, we were putting ourselves on the map. Luckily for Savannah, two gutsy pioneers decided to push through the muck of this year, and pave the way to show the entire region how to do tortillas the right way.

Grace says it best: “A lot of times people overlook the tortilla, and think of it kinda as kind of like a side note, when really it should be a main ingredient. I think we are changing the perception of what a tortilla can be, and also opening the door to people even considering eating a corn tortilla.”

MUSIC THE BAND PAGE

Mikki Sodergren

LILAKK @THE WORMHOLE

Grunge lives on in Savannah through the alternative sound of LILAKK, comprised of married couple Kirk and Calli Joiner on guitars and vocals, Johnny Covington playing bass, and drummer Zach Young. With influences like Stone Temple Pilots and Pearl Jam mixed with punk-rock flair, hear songs from their recently released EP at this eagerly anticipated show.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12 | 9 PM

SIP, SAVOR & TIS THE SEASON @VICTORY NORTH

HAYDEN COFFMAN @BARRELHOUSE SOUTH

22-year old singer/songwriter/guitar player Hayden Coffman may be young, be he’s already proven himself to be a master of down-home country pop hooks and growling rock & roll guitar.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11 | 9 PM

ERIC CULBERSON BAND @COACH’S CORNER

Savannah’s own Eric Culberson shows off his guitar chops while getting down with his good-time gang of blues aficionados to kick off the weekend out on Coach’s open-air sound garden stage.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11 | 7 PM

CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 9-15, 2020

International Irish star Chloe Agnew from Celtic Women, American Traditions Gold Medalist and Grammy nominee Mikki Sodergren, and Savannah’s Roger Moss will fill Victory North with holiday spirit in song.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10 | 7 PM

17

MUSIC FEATURE

LIVE MUSIC IN THE SOUNDGARDEN FRI, DEC 11

ERIC CULBERSON BAND

Derek Lynch (Kola Hak) BY SUZANNE NELSON

SAT, DEC 12 GEORGIA VS MISSOURI 12PM

VS.

NOW SERVING BREAKFAST

CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 9-15, 2020

6-10:30AM MON-FRI

18

TICKETS ON EVENTBRITE

3016 E. VICTORY DR.

912.352.2933 • COACHS.NET

DOWNLOAD OUR APP!

Joe Hill (Dormir.) at The Jinx BY GX RETTIG

Savannah locals Dormir. and Kola Hak release new split EP

BY BRITTANY HERREN THE NEW self-titled, six-song split just dropped by Savannah locals Dormir. (Joe Hill) and Kola Hak (Derek Lynch) is the perfect soundtrack to round out 2020.

With gripping, sonic tones likened to Portishead and Massive Attack, the downtempo instrumentals take the listener on a journey of circuitous melodies and ambient energy.

“It’s more about an atmosphere and a feeling,” explained Lynch. “It’s very cold sounding, a chill vibe.”

Fans may recognize Lynch from his stint on guitar with the popular punk band, A Girl A Gun A Ghost. His previous band is actually how Hill knew Lynch.

“I’m a huge fan of A Girl A Gun A Ghost, and when I just got off the plane in Savannah from Indianapolis, my friend was picking up some rent money and was like, oh hey, this is Derek,” Hill said.

An admitted “fan girl” moment, it was

actually another moment led by that same friend, well-known Savannah musician Gx Rettig of Bands w/Melody and more, that sparked Hill and Lynch’s collaboration.

“Gx told me about these new beats that Derek was making and that they were in the wheelhouse of my new stuff, so I hit him up on Instagram and asked if he wanted to work together,” said Hill.

Shortly afterwards, the six-track EP emerged. What appears to be a long stray from Hill and Lynch’s post rock/punk roots, Lynch contends fans can still hear the influence in his tracks, 2 (NEONSUNK), 4 (PANAMA), and 6 (XEV).

“I still think I take a lot of influence from these hardcore rock bands,” said Lynch.

Hill, who has fronted several punk and hard-rock bands and quite memorably fronted the Outkast tribute band for Jinx-O-Ween in 2017 at former hotspot, The Jinx, also feels the influence is in the undercurrent of his tracks, 1 (Longing for Resolve), 3 (Nostalgia), and 5 (The Abyss).

While the two don’t share any tracks, according to Hill, the collaboration helps to broaden the spectrum of who will hear it.

“Hopefully, it brings more ears to both

of us,” said Hill.

The pair may have a lot of common in terms of contextual sound, but their processes are fairly polar. Lynch plays 99% of his music organically and does not tend to sample beats.

“It doesn’t feel pure to me,” explained Lynch.

While Hill’s music may not naturally come from the strum of a physical guitar, the beats are composed by him completely, and he tends to come up with his melodies first with a pad element or lead line. Lynch, almost the antipode of his counterpart, lays out his bass lines first with melodies succeeding, almost in the foreground.

Despite these differences, the palette of flowing synths, segueing between fundamentalist and electronic tracks, creates an EP that is dynamically engaging. It’s like hip-hop gone sonic-raw with a pulse and rhythm that instead of feeling naked without lyrics, feels free and open. It’s worth a listen and if you are ready for it, a download.

Dormir./Kola Hak is available on Spotify and all streaming platforms.

Soundboard MUSIC

SOUNDBOARD IS A FREE SERVICE - TO BE INCLUDED, PLEASE SEND YOUR LIVE MUSIC INFORMATION WEEKLY TO SOUNDBOARD@CONNECTSAVANNAH.COM. DEADLINE IS NOON MONDAY, TO APPEAR IN WEDNESDAY’S EDITION. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO EDIT OR CUT LISTINGS DUE TO SPACE LIMITATIONS.

LIVE MUSIC

Driftaway Cafe Chuck Courtenay, 6 p.m.

Nickie’s 1971 Ray Tomasino, 7 p.m.

Plant Riverside District Eric Britt, 7-9 p.m.

Starland Yard Free Spirits, 6-9 p.m.

The Wormhole Open Jam, 9 p.m.

TRIVIA & GAMES

Service Brewing Company Trivia Night with Daniel, 6:30 p.m.

KARAOKE

Club One Karaoke, 10 p.m.

Wet Willie’s Karaoke, 9 p.m.

COMEDY

Savannah Theatre Brian Regan in Concert, 6 & 8:30 p.m.

Totally Awesome Bar Savannah Comedy Underground, 9 p.m.

BAR & CLUB EVENTS

Two Tides Brewing Company Bring Your Own Vinyl Night, second Wednesday of every month, 7 p.m.

THURSDAY 12.10 LIVE MUSIC

Cohen’s Retreat Munchies & Music, 5-9 p.m.

Mansion on Forsyth Park Voodoo Soup, 8 p.m.

The Perch at Local 11 ten Cory Chambers, 5:30 p.m.

Plant Riverside District Holiday Brass Quartet, 6-8 p.m.

Victory North Sip, Savor, and Tis the Season, 7 p.m.

TRIVIA & GAMES

McDonough’s Family Feud, 7 p.m.

KARAOKE

Club One Karaoke, 10 p.m.

McDonough’s Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Nickie’s 1971 Karaoke Night The Wormhole Karaoke, 9 p.m.

COMEDY

Totally Awesome Bar Open Mic Comedy, 8:30 p.m.

DJ

Club 51 Degrees DJ B-Rad, 9 p.m.

Top Deck Sunset Deck Party, 6 p.m.

FRIDAY 12.11 LIVE MUSIC

201TAPAS LOUNGE All Black Affair Reggae Night at 201 Tapas Lounge, 10 p.m.

Barrelhouse South Hayden Coffman, 9 p.m.

Churchill’s Pub Anders Thompson, 6-9 p.m., Xulu Prophet, 10 p.m.-1 a.m.

Coach’s Corner The Eric Culberson Band, 7 p.m.

Flashback J D Music Group, 8 p.m.

Jazz’d Tapas Bar Jon Murphy Duo, 7:30 p.m.

Mansion on Forsyth Park Danielle

Hicks, 8 p.m.

Molly McGuire’s Tell Scarlet, 6 p.m.

Plant Riverside District Kenny Munshaw, 5-9 p.m., Eric and The Hologram, 7-10 p.m.

Rancho Alegre Cuban Restaurant JodyJazz Trio, 6:30-9:30 p.m.

River House Josephine Johnson, 6-9 p.m.

Service Brewing Company Bluegrass By The Pint w/ Swamptooth, 6 p.m.

The Shrimp Factory Erik Clark, 6-9 p.m.

Sting Ray’s Robert Willis, 6 p.m.

The Warehouse Phantom Wingo, 8 p.m.-midnight Wild Wing Cafe Bucky & Barry, 7 p.m.

TRIVIA & GAMES

PS Tavern Beer Pong Tournament, 10 p.m.

KARAOKE

Bay Street Blues Karaoke Blueberry Hill Karaoke, 9 p.m.-3 a.m.

Club One Karaoke, 10 p.m.

McDonough’s Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Nickie’s 1971 Karaoke Night, 9 p.m.

Totally Awesome Bar Karaoke, 10 p.m.

DJ

Club 51 Degrees DJ Fer, DJ Emalo, DJ Lil G, DJ BRad, 9 p.m.

VICE Lounge + Mojito Bar DJ Primal, 9 p.m.

Good Comedy Show, 8 p.m.

DJ

Congress Street Social Club DJ Kut Daily, 7-11 p.m.

SUNDAY 12.13 LIVE MUSIC

Collins Quarter at Forsyth Live Music, 3 p.m.

Congress Street Social Club Voodoo Soup, 10 p.m.

Nickie’s 1971 Roy Swindell, 7 p.m.

The Perch at Local 11 ten Josephine Johnson, 5:30 p.m.

Plant Riverside District Laiken Love & Fellowship of Love, 1-4 p.m., Kenny Munshaw, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Fabulous Equinox Krewe, 12-3 p.m.

Starland Yard JD Music Group, 6-9 p.m.

Sting Ray’s Robert Willis, 6 p.m.

Tubby’s Tank House (Thunderbolt) Bucky & Barry, 1-4 p.m.

Wild Wing Cafe Jason Courtenay, 1 p.m.

TRIVIA & GAMES

Moon River Brewing Co. Trivia, 6 p.m.

KARAOKE

Club One Karaoke, 10 p.m.

McDonough’s Karaoke, 9 p.m.

BAR & CLUB EVENTS

MONDAY 12.14

SATURDAY 12.12

Nickie’s 1971 Ray Tomasino, 7 p.m.

Plant Riverside District Chuck Courtenay, 6-9 p.m.

Blueberry Hill Bar And Grill 73rd Birthday Celebration, 8:30 p.m.

LIVE MUSIC

The 5 Spot Eric Culberson, 6-9 p.m.

Churchill’s Pub John Lee, 10 p.m.1 a.m., Tommy Bahama, 6-9 p.m.

Jazz’d Tapas Bar Jawan & Nico, 7:30 p.m.

Mansion on Forsyth Park Voodoo Soup, 8 p.m.

Plant Riverside District Eric Britt, 1-4 p.m., Howard Paul, 7-10 p.m.

Rancho Alegre Cuban Restaurant JodyJazz Trio, 6:30-9:30 p.m.

River House Stan Ray, 6-9 p.m.

The Shrimp Factory Thomas Claxton, 6-9 p.m.

Sting Ray’s Robert Willis, 6 p.m.

The Warehouse Kyle Yardley, 8 p.m.midnight Wild Wing Cafe Hunter Price, 1 p.m., Bill Hodgson, 7 p.m.

The Wormhole LILAKK & Friends, 10 p.m.

KARAOKE

Bay Street Blues Karaoke Club One Karaoke, 10 p.m.

McDonough’s Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Totally Awesome Bar Karaoke, 10 p.m.

COMEDY

The Wormhole Neighborhood Pub & Music Venue WOW: A Really

LIVE MUSIC

TRIVIA & GAMES

Club One Super Gay Bingo, 5:30 p.m.

KARAOKE

Club One Karaoke, 10 p.m.

Wet Willie’s Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Are you looking to hire a digital marketing rep?

WE CAN

HELP!

Optimal Digital Media specializes in connecting your brand with the digital world.

BAR & CLUB EVENTS

Fia Rua Irish Pub Family Movie Night, 8 p.m.

TUESDAY 12.15 LIVE MUSIC

Nickie’s 1971 Roy Swindell, 7 p.m.

Plant Riverside District Eric Britt, 7-9 p.m.

TRIVIA & GAMES

Basil’s Pizza and Deli Trivia, 7 p.m.

Fia Rua Irish Pub Trivia, 7:30 p.m.

McDonough’s Trivia Tuesday, 7 p.m.

Oak 36 Bar + Kitchen Trivia Tuesday, 9 p.m.

Savannah Taphouse Trivia, 7 p.m.

KARAOKE

Blueberry Hill Karaoke, 9 p.m.3 a.m.

Club One Karaoke, 10 p.m.

Wet Willie’s Karaoke, 9 p.m.

For more information email mandy@morrismultimedia.com or call (912) 721-4369

CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 9-15, 2020

WEDNESDAY 12. 9

19

CULTURE HOLIDAYS

History for the Holidays 5 landmark locales around Savannah hosting Christmastime happenings

BY NICK ROBERTSON

nick@connectsavannah.com

THE ONGOING pandemic is causing the cancellation of many merry events that ordinarily fill historic sites around Savannah during Christmastime, but a few landmark locales are carrying on their time-honored Yuletide traditions, complete with COVID-19 precautions.

Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens

CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 9-15, 2020

Discover the works of art that first introduced Savannah to Impressionism in the early 20th century.

20

SAVANNAH’S HISTORIC DISTRICT VISIT TELFAIR.ORG FOR MUSEUM HOURS & GUIDELINES

Kehoe Ironworks to enjoy the “Brilliant Brass for the Holidays” concert. Happening within Trustees’ Garden – originally a colonial horticultural site before it housed forts and later a metalworking plant – this high-spirited Savannah Philharmonic performance takes place in the compound’s Metal Building, and will feature lively brass arrangements of Christmas carols and festive favorites. In order to comply with COVID-19 precautions, the audience will be limited to 100 guests, so don’t delay if you want to buy tickets. Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m.; $50. 10 E. Broad St., Savannah. More details: savannahphilharmonic.org

Better known locally as the Historic Bamboo Farm, this 101-year-old horticultural haven is hosting its annual “DecemCathedral of St. John the Baptist ber Nights and Holiday Lights” this year The reason for the season will envelop as a drive-through attraction. See over a music lovers during this year’s “Christmillion colorful bulbs creatively strung mas at the Cathedral” amid the plethora of concert being held plant life filling this within Savannah’s 50-acre botanical most historic Cathogarden, originally lic church. Here the established in 1919 Cathedral Choir and as an experimental Chamber Orchestra will bamboo grove overenlighten listeners with seen by renowned their annual program American botanist of music to celebrate David Fairchild. Now Christmas and Advent, these gardens serve Davenport House Museum guests can all amid an inspiras an education and enjoy historic holiday delights. PHOTO ing setting of graceful research center for COURTESY OF DAVENPORT HOUSE MUSEUM arches, towering colthe University of umns, and century-old Georgia, while doustained-glass windows bling as a verdant winter wonderland this month. Dec. 10-24, crafted by the masterful Innsbruck glassmakers of Austria’s Tyrol region. Only 6-9 p.m. nightly; $25 per carload. 2 Cane200 audience members will be admitted brake Rd., Savannah. More details: coastto allow for social distancing. Dec. 20, 5 albg.uga.edu p.m.; $15-$25. 222 E. Harris St., SavanWormsloe State Historic Site nah. More details: savannahcathedral.org/ Forget about the Ghost of Christmas friends-of-cathedral-music-concert-series Past – you’ll see living historical reenactors getting into the seasonal spirit during Davenport House Museum During the eagerly awaited final days of this weekend’s Wormsloe Christmas Hike.

2020, step back in time to discover what Held amid the hauntingly beautiful colothe holiday season was like some 200 years nial ruins of an estate built in the 1700s by one of Savannah’s first English settlers, ago. This painstakingly preserved and authentically furnished home museum on this journey through the Wormsloe forest Savannah’s Columbia Square provides regwill feature storytellers in period dress who bring the past to life. Help these time- ular performances by historical interprettraveling troupers find the perfect Yule log ers, including during the “Holiday Evening Tours by Candlelight” experience offered to burn for good luck in the coming new year. Dec. 12, 9 a.m-4:45 p.m.; $4-$12 – call between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Savor light refreshments and charming 912-353-3023 in advance to make required reservations. 7601 Skidaway Rd., Savannah. live music while exploring the immersive museum and meeting merrymakers from a More details: gastateparks.org/Wormsloe long-gone era. Dec. 26-30, 6-8:30 p.m.; $12Trustees’ Garden $15 per adult and $6-$8 for children. 324 E. Take a socially distant seat within a State St., Savannah. More details: davenbeautifully restored annex of Savannah’s porthousemuseum.org

COMMUNITY PHOTOS

PHOTOS BY BUNNY WARE

Oglethorpe Driving Club Cars Toy Drive

H

CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 9-15, 2020

ot rods and hot cups of caffeine drew auto enthusiasts to Savannah’s Habersham Village shopping center on Dec. 5 for the “Cars and Coffee meets Toys for Tots” event. With assistance by the Critz Auto Group, the local gearheads of the Oglethorpe Driving Club helped kids in need by gathering with their favorite wheels and bringing new unwrapped toys for underprivileged area children to receive during this holiday season. The donated playthings were piled high in the back of a classic pickup truck to be shipped straight to the North Pole for use in Santa’s own redistribution center.

See more photos at connectsavannah.com/connected.

22

COMMUNITY PHOTOS

PHOTOS BY BUNNY WARE

2020 Coastal Georgia Council Annual Holiday Auction

T

CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 9-15, 2020

he Landings Club hosted the annual holiday auction of the Coastal Georgia Council, Boy Scouts of America organization on Nov. 30. The group auctioned off over 50 gift baskets, vacations, gift certificates, and other valuable items during a fun-filled evening complete with holiday decorations and live musical performances.

The money raised will go to the Scout Reach program, bringing the benefits of Scouting to youths from low-income and single-parent homes. While this year’s event required special precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, participants appeared happy to mask up for the festivities, aside from while they enjoyed the fine food and holiday spirits served throughout the evening.

See more photos at connectsavannah.com/connected.

23

BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY EVENT

at our Private rooftop venue contact us today

wednesday

Half off Bottles of Wine

Friday, Saturday and Sunday

$3 Glasses 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