Connect Savannah, January 20, 2021 by Connect Savannah

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PAULINA OLOWSKA See works by the leading Polish artist at the SCAD Museum of Art

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VIRTUAL OPENING ARTIST LECTURE BY DAVID GUMBS

January 27, 6pm | via Zoom

VIRTUAL TECH TALK FOR STUDENTS WITH DAVID GUMBS

January 28, 11am | via Zoom

VIRTUAL CURATOR’S TOUR

January 29, 2pm | via Zoom

PULSE SCHEDULE

JANUARY 27–31

VIRTUAL ARTISTS TECH TALKS FOR STUDENTS WITH GREG FINGER AND GUANZHI KOU January 29, 11am | via Zoom

FREE FAMILY WEEKEND

January 29–31, 10am–5pm | Jepson Center

VIRTUAL STEM CHAT WITH DIANA ENG AND NATALIE DRIEU January 28, 6pm | via Zoom

VISIT TELFAIR.ORG/PULSE2021

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER FOR VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS AND LECTURES INVESTMENT PROVIDED BY

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HIGHLIGHTED PICKS FROM HOSTESS CITY HAPPENINGS THIS WEEK TO HAVE YOUR EVENT CONSIDERED FOR INCLUSION IN WEEK AT A GLANCE, PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO WAG@CONNECTSAVANNAH.COM. INCLUDE THE EVENT NAME, DATE, TIME, LOCATION WITH ADDRESS, COST, WEBSITE ADDRESS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, AND A CONTACT NUMBER. THE SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS 5PM EACH FRIDAY BEFORE THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY’S EDITION.

WEDNESDAY 1.20

Mountainﬁlm on Tour – Savannah Film Festival

The City of Savannah wants to help local entrepreneurs learn how to get an enterprise certified as a small or disadvantaged business and compete for municipal contracts. Two online workshops welcome the public, but pre-registration is required by entering meeting number 943 7423 2269 at Zoom.com. Noon & 5 p.m. savannahga.gov/calendar

THURSDAY 1.21 ‘Beast in Show’ Haas Brothers exhibition premiere

Through careful craftsmanship using varied materials, twin brothers Nikolai and Simon Haas create playful structures that probe themes like nature, fantasy, and sexuality. Their anthropomorphic works defy characterization, most often occupying the space between fine arts and functional objects. The brothers’ Beast in Show exhibit debuts at the SCAD Museum of Art on Thursday, and will remain on view through July 3. SCAD Museum of Art, 601 Turner Blvd. scad.edu/calendar/exhibitions

Start & Grow Your Business online course

Become your own boss by building a business from scratch with help from the City of Savannah Entrepreneurial Center. Topics covered include business planning, permitting, accounting, and more. Advance registration is required by entering meeting number 966 9354 8549 at Zoom.com. 6-8 p.m. 912-652-3582

22 AN EVENING IN PARIS

FR1/

Harpists Vonda Darr (left) and Carolyn Munford team up to present an evening of French classical music, such as works by Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel.

7:30 p.m. Skidaway Island United Methodist Church, 54 Diamond Causeway. $50 912 232 6002; savannahphilharmonic.org

‘Guests and Gusto’ with actor Tony Shalhoub Perhaps best known for playing the titular germophobe detective in Monk, actor Tony Shalhoub has earned a Golden Globe, a Tony, and an Emmy for his work onstage and in front of the camera. Learn about how he rose to fame by registering online for this free online seminar open to the public. 5 p.m. scad.edu/calendar/events

Savannah Book Festival

The Savannah Book Festival presents a virtual conversation between Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Jane Smiley, author of Perestroika in Paris, and the co-owners of Savannah’s independent E. Shaver Bookseller. Register online. 7:30 p.m. savannahbookfestival.org

FRIDAY 1.22 Bluegrass By The Pint with Swamptooth

Join Service Brewing for an evening of live bluegrass from the downhome local band Swamptooth. 6 p.m. Service Brewing Company, 574 Indian Street.

Legends Live On Stage

Experience stunning cinematic peaks with Mountainfilm on Tour – Savannah, a virtual event featuring a selection of culturally rich, adventure-packed, and incredibly inspiring documentary films. All of the movies will be available on-demand Friday, Jan. 22 at noon through Monday, Jan. 25 at noon. See page 22 for more details. Public Trust & Adventure Shorts: individual, $20; family, $35 Family Program: individual, $10; family, $15 mountainﬁlmsav.org

SATURDAY 1.23 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. forsythfarmersmarket.com

Islands Farmers Market

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

The international vocal group LEGACY and the Savannah Theatre band take audiences on a journey Mindful Flow New Yoga through decades of timeless music All-levels flow yoga overlooking the from The Beatles to Bruno Mars and Savannah River. Class is held on the The Four Seasons to Earth, Wind & Riverwalk in Montgomery Park. Fire. Seating limited to 35% capacity 9-10 a.m. for pandemic-safe distancing. Plant Riverside District, 400 W. 8 p.m. River St. Savannah Theatre, 222 Bull Street. $15 $39, $19.50 16 and under 912-777-5615. newyoganow.com savannahtheatre.com EVENTS CONTINUE ON PG. 6

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JAN 20 - 26, 2021

Small and disadvantaged business certiﬁcation online workshop

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SAVANNAH’S PULSE NEWS | ARTS | ENTERTAINMENT

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OUR VALUES

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JAN 20 - 26, 2021

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

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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.

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Polish artist Paulina Olowska at her new ‘Mainly for Women’ exhibit. Photo courtesy of SCAD. CONNECT SAVANNAH

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PAULINA OLOWSKA See works by the leading Polish artist at the SCAD Museum of Art

CONNECT SAVANNAH IS PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY

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connectsavannah.com JANUARY 20 – 26, 2021

Enjoy delicious coffee, the cutest dogs, and perusing handmade gifts from a selection of local artisans on display at this free adoption event and makers market. 12-4 p.m. The Clyde Venue, 223 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Free

SUNDAY 1.24 Libertea High Tea

Indulge in invigorating teas and refined delights perfect for nibbling on while catching up with friends during a relaxed winter weekend. Savannah Coffee Roasters proffers the quintessentially British experience of high tea served from delicate porcelain and featuring exquisite sweets like fruit tartlets, mille-feuille, cream puffs, chocolate eclairs, and more. Reservations for any of the four high-tea sessions offered on Jan. 24 must be made by 5 p.m. on Jan. 22. 11 a.m., 12, 1 & 2 p.m. Savannah Coffee Roasters, 215 West Liberty Street. $27.50 savannahcoffee.com

Sunday Brunch Cruise

Partake in a midday feast and feast your eyes on moving panoramas of the local riverfront while gently plying the waters aboard the Georgia Queen or the Savannah River Queen. Dishes include Southern-fried chicken, honeyglazed spiral ham, shrimp and grits, and a variety of breakfast items, salads and desserts. 1-2:30 p.m. Savannah Riverboat Cruises, 9 E. River St. $58.95 for adults, $38.95 for youths savannahriverboat.com.com

Sunday Brunch with the Fabulous Equinox Jazz Trio

Get swinging on this winter Sunday afternoon with this deluxe brunch event at the stylish Myrtle & Rose

rooftop lounge, during which every bite will be scored by the lively performances of the Fabulous Equinox Jazz Trio. Noon-3 p.m. Plant Riverside District, 400 W. River St. plantriverside.com

MONDAY 1.25 Sunrise Hike at Fort McAllister State Park Start the week with a fresh-air hike happening bright and early on the grounds of Richmond Hill’s historic Fort McAllister. A naturalist leads this three-mile excursion circling the park’s magnolia trail and offering panoramic marshland views. 7:15 a.m. Fort McAllister Historic Park, 3894 Fort McAllister Rd., Richmond Hill explore.gastateparks.org/events

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, and is located right behind the Historic Tybee Lighthouse. Visit the website for more info. 4 p.m. Tybee Island, 30 Meddin Drive. tybeeislandfarmersmarket.com

TUESDAY 1.26 Toddler Tuesday at Oatland Island Wildlife Center

Explore the wonders of nature with all kinds of wild fun for your wee ones. Each Toddler Tuesday features singing, a story, and a close encounter with one of the center’s many adorable animals. This week’s theme is “Cabin Porch Picking Jam!” Pre-registration required. 10 a.m.-noon Oatland Island Wildlife Center, 711 Sandtown Rd. sccpss.com/schools/oatland

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BRIEFS

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Chatham County Police Department Chief Jeff Hadley. PHOTO BY NICK ROBERTSON

are not prepared.” Hadley said that Minter’s Jan. 15 meeting would help all of Chatham’s police leaders be ready for a prompt and coordinated response if unrest were to occur locally during the inauguration week. “We can respond quickly and mobilize and keep Chatham County safe,” Hadley said. On Jan. 12, Savannah Mayor Van Johnson announced that he was canceling his plans to attend Biden’s inauguration in

Washington, D.C., and would instead be spending Jan. 20 in Savannah. “Locally, we have our own challenges, and so we’re also going to keep our eyes on what’s happening here in Savannah,” Johnson said, while expressing confidence in the city’s ability to keep the peace. “We plan for these things before these things happen. We have some well-documented plans for how to deal with a variety of issues related to public unrest.” − Nick Robertson

Project 10Million was launched prior to the pandemic to address issues of digital inequality, according to T-Mobile representatives. In an effort to bridge the digital divide, T-Mobile has been working to provide discounted internet services to schools that, in turn, provide the tools needed for success in online classes. “This new partnership will open new opportunities for my students in need,” said SCCPSS Chief of Data and Accountability David Feliciano. According to Feliciano, to support students and teachers the school district has already distributed over 25,000 devices, purchased online instructional software, and rolled out WiFi on Wheels in

Savannah and Chatham County for online learning. “We are grateful to T-Mobile for their generous support of our students,” said Dr. Ann Levett, SCCPSS Superintendent. “Internet connectivity is as necessary as electricity to our students. These devices mean our students can access digital learning in a timely and appropriate manner.” Households are eligible for the devices if they have at least one child receiving free and/or reduced school lunches. All hotspots and other devices will be provided to eligible households by their school. − Brandy Simpkins

Savannah-Chatham online learning boosted with $4 million donation

THE SAVANNAH-CHATHAM County Public School System is receiving a donation of over $4 million from T-Mobile’s Project 10Million to support students with free resources for online learning, according to SCCPSS administrators. During a Jan. 12 press conference, representatives from the SCCPSS and T-Mobile announced that T-Mobile’s Project 10Million initiative would be donating funds to deliver free wireless hotspots and highspeed data to Savannah Chatham-County students. Each device and line of service is worth a minimum value of $500 per year. The SCCPSS will receive an initial allotment of 5,685 devices, with an additional 4,000 devices to be added in July.

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CONNECT SAVANNAH | JAN 20 - 26, 2021

SAVANNAH POLICE Chief Roy Minter and other area law-enforcement leaders have prepared for the potential of local threats related to expected unrest surrounding the Jan. 20 presidential inauguration in Washington, D.C., in an effort to coordinate response strategies. According to a Savannah Police Department spokesperson, on Jan. 15 Minter hosted a meeting for local law-enforcement department leaders as part of a continuing series of discussions about safety and security measures associated with the inauguration. Nationwide, law-enforcement agencies are gearing up to address threats of potentially violent protesters wreaking havoc in Washington, D.C. and in all 50 states as President-elect Joe Biden takes office. The threats follow a failed insurrection on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, when supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the seat of Congress and caused widespread destruction resulting in the deaths of five, including U.S. Capitol Officer Brian Sicknick. During the Jan. 15 Chatham County Commission meeting, Chatham County Police Chief Jeff Hadley mentioned that he would be attending Minter’s meeting after already participating in several conference calls with varied law-enforcement agencies. Hadley said that as of that morning, there were no known threats of violent unrest in Chatham’s varied communities. “There are no specific threats to Savannah,” Hadley said. “That doesn’t mean we

NEWS

BRIEFS

Chatham public-health system overloaded by calls from seekers of COVID-19 vaccine WITH THE SHIFT of Georgia’s COVIDthe Jan. 15 meeting, while noting that the 19 vaccination plan going into Phase 1a expansion to Phase 1a Plus meant that an Plus on Jan. 11 − meaning that anyone estimated 50,000 Chatham residents are aged 65 and up is now eligible for coronanow eligible for vaccinations, resulting in virus inoculation, along with far more demand than can be senior-citizen caretakers and accommodated immediately. first responders − the Chatham “There is no way that our local County Health Department health department has the has been inundated with calls capability.” by those eager to take the lifeWhile requesting patience saving shots, causing schedulfrom people who are repeating delays. edly calling Chatham’s publicDuring a biweekly COVIDhealth system for vaccination 19 response update at the Jan. Dr. Lawton Davis appointments, Davis also 15 Chatham County Comencouraged locals to seek out mission meeting, Coastal Health District private healthcare providers who are offerHealth Director Dr. Lawton Davis said that ing inoculations to senior citizens. local public-health officials were working However, these providers are also through a backlog of some 1,200 county restricted by limited vaccine supplies. Offiresidents who had called in since vaccicials at St. Joseph’s/Candler have started nation scheduling began on Jan. 7. Many offering inoculations to those now elimore people had called but were not able gible under Phase 1a Plus, but because of a to get through, Davis said, forcing a tempo- smaller-than-anticipated number of doses rary pause in scheduling new inoculation on hand, these vaccinations are initially appointments. only being made available to the provider’s “We were getting so many calls that we established patients aged 80 and over, literally couldn’t get a phone to call out according to a hospital spokesperson. to schedule appointments,” Davis said at Nonetheless, while coronavirus

infection rates are rising in Chatham County – likely due to unsafe holiday-season gatherings – Davis said that the local healthcare system remains well-equipped to handle an expected increase of hospitalizations in the coming weeks. During the week of Jan. 11-17, 778 new COVID-19 cases and 22 coronavirus-related deaths were reported in Chatham County, according to CHD statistics. “Even though we have a lot of COVID in Chatham County, the healthcare system is in good shape,” Davis said. To help handle the flood of calls from county residents eager to schedule vaccinations, the Chatham Emergency Management Agency opened their call center on Jan. 14 to help with the overflow, according to Chatham County Commission Chairman Chester Ellis. “We’re trying to work out the kinks,” Ellis said. “In the meantime, wear your mask, stay your distance, and wash your hands frequently. That’s how we can help each other.” Visit covid19.gachd.org for more details about the CHD vaccination plan. − Nick Robertson

Hundreds of homebound senior citizens around Savannah receive food donations

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JAN 20 - 26, 2021

A “COVID-19 Day of Service” event brought together local volunteers from diverse area organizations and resulted in hundreds of Savannah-area senior citizens receiving donations of food boxes on Friday, Jan. 15. The Toyota/Lexus Minority Owners Dealership Association partnered with Chatham Parkway Toyota and The Salvation Army of Savannah to distribute boxes of non-perishable grocery items to Senior Citizens, Inc., Isle of Hope Methodist Church, and Rendant Apartments for senior residents. “We had over 270 boxes of food that we were blessed with to help the seniors in the community who may have difficulty going out to get it themselves,” said Salvation Army Major Paul Egan. “During these uncertain times people live paycheck-topaycheck and month-to-month, and it helps when we can cover an expense, like food, and they can allocate their money to other sources like keeping the lights on.” The organizations took the initiative to 8 provide food for senior citizens who are

Volunteers load food boxes for the elderly. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SALVATION ARMY

without transportation and to help them to avoid going out to purchase food for themselves at this time, since people over the age of 65 are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19, according to a press announcement from event organizers. Items for the boxes were packed and assembled by Salvation Army volunteers in accordance with safety guidelines from local, state, and federal health officials. Chatham Parkway Toyota also surprised

the Salvation Army of Savannah with a $5,000 check to support their services and programs. “It is interesting that something as terrible as a global pandemic can bring about such a beautiful thing as reminding us to take the time to notice how vulnerable some of our neighbors are, and that our simple acts of kindness could make a dramatic difference for them,” Egan said. − Brandy Simpkins

Sandy West, guardian of Ossabaw Island, dies at 108 ELEANOR “Sandy” Torrey West, the longtime guardian and resident of undeveloped Ossabaw Island on the southernmost coast of Chatham County, passed away on her birthday at her Garden City home on Jan. 17, according to a statement by the Ossabaw Island Foundation. West was 108 years old. Largely thanks to her decades-long devotion to preserving Ossabaw − the third-largest of Georgia’s barrier islands − the entire 26,000-acre isle is a protected State Heritage Preserve of tidal wetlands and high ground, providing an ideal habitat for a wide variety of birds as well as free-range donkeys, feral pigs, and sea turtles. Owned by the Torrey-West family since 1924, Ossabaw Island was passed on to Sandy West when her mother died in 1959. Two years later, West established the Ossabaw Foundation and the Ossabaw Island Project, opening up the largely pristine isle to notable artists, writers, scientists, and other visionaries to conduct research and gain inspiration from this coastal haven. By the 1970s, West led her family’s effort to preserve Ossabaw Island permanently by selling the land to the state if the entire isle would be declared as Georgia’s first State Heritage Preserve. Under this agreement, in 1978 the family sold Ossabaw to Georgia for half its appraised value, ensuring its preservation. West remained the guardian of Ossabaw Island for decades after securing its unspoiled status, welcoming innumerable visitors and regularly exploring its natural wonders while living there as the isle’s only full-time resident from 1987 until 2016. “Ossabaw Island, as we know it, exists because of Mrs. West, and Georgia is a better place because of her life’s work,” said Elizabeth DuBose, the Ossabaw Island Foundation’s executive director. − Nick Robertson

NEWS

COMMUNITY

New lamps highlight need for safer street crossings

Savannah leader aims to develop ‘Complete Streets’ ordinance in 2021 showing the Atlantic Avenue promenade’s original lamps, helping guide the purchase nick@connectsavannah.com of historically appropriate globe lights and the shoring up of the lamps’ foundations. A FRESHLY INSTALLED set of clas“We restored the concrete pillars so that sic lampposts lining a promenade that it’ll last for another 110 years.” traverses ever-busy Victory Drive is highWhile the lamps will help illuminate lighting a need for safer street crossings this crossing during darker times of day, and improved right-of-way access across Palumbo said that it remains a dangerous Savannah. intersection for walkers and bikers. Just before Christmas, Midtown Savan“They still have no protection. They’re nah residents received a gift that shines just gunning it across the street,” Palumbo brighter than any string of bulbs: a set of said. historically styled new globe lampposts However, work at this intersection is illuminating the intersection of Victory not done, Palumbo said − the Georgia and Atlantic Avenue, the historic juncture Department of Transportation will install of the Ardsley Park/Chatham Crescent and pedestrian-activated traffic signals at Baldwin Park neighborthis crossing later in hoods built in 1910. 2021, and future plans Funded with Special include adding ramps to Purpose Local Option access the promenade. Sales Tax revenues, Palumbo hopes to the new lamps were build on the momentum installed after years of of the Atlantic Avenue effort by local neighcrossing improvements borhood associations, by drawing attention the Historic Savanto the barriers experinah Foundation, comenced by Savannah resmunity leaders, and idents who do not drive activists like Bike Walk or experience limited Savannah members and mobility. He aims to local lighting advocate introduce a “Complete Ardis Wood. Streets” ordinance later Savannah City Counthis year highlighting cil Aldermen Detric the need for additional Leggett of District 2 crosswalk improveSavannah Aldermen Detric Leggett ments and better access and Nick Palumbo of (left) and Nick Palumbo view a new to pathways for pedesDistrict 4 spoke during the lampposts’ Dec. lamp. PHOTO BY NICK ROBERTSON trians and bicyclists. 23 lighting ceremony “The most underabout how the new streetlights make the appreciated freedom that we have is the surrounding neighborhoods safer, espefreedom of mobility,” Palumbo said, noting cially for students of the nearby Savannah that Savannah was famously founded as an Arts Academy. eminently walkable community, but is now “This has really been the gateway of two predisposed to car traffic to the detriment communities,” Leggett said of the Atlanof those who don’t drive, resulting in many tic Ave. crossing, which is an intersection pedestrian-vehicle accidents. “Only a where Districts 2 and 4 meet. “We invested quarter of the city has a sidewalk on either in our community. We invested in our side of the street.” neighborhoods.” Although the Complete Streets ordiThe process of seeing the lamps rebuilt nance is only in planning stages, Palumbo from urban ruin was a collaborative said that its goals would include analyzing endeavor among diverse neighborhood right-of-way access citywide and building groups, according to Palumbo. on safe-mobility initiatives like Savannah’s “There was a lot of deliberation over the Tide to Town urban-trail system. lights,” Palumbo said. During the project’s “There’s a long way to go with it,” planning, he located an antique postcard Palumbo said. cs

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JAN 20 - 26, 2021

BY NICK ROBERTSON

NEWS

MILITARY Deployments in 2020

The Marne community deployed two brigades – about 3,500 soldiers per brigade – and received two back during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Logan said. Logan said throughout the year testing was done, social distancing was practiced, and figuring out how to continue operations safely was a main priority. “We’re our nation’s first responders,” Logan said. “We can’t afford to stop: you can’t telework a tank crew; you can’t telework an infantry squad. They have to continue to train and continue to prepare and deploy to fight and win our nation’s wars.”

‘Embracing technology, moving forward’

Colonel Bryan Logan, Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield garrison commander. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE U.S. ARMY

Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield commander looks ahead Col. Bryan Logan discusses relationships, technological advancement, readiness during 2020

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JAN 20 - 26, 2021

BY NOELLE WIEHE

THE PAST YEAR brought on challenges, changed normal practices, and hindered forward movement for people throughout the world, but Col. Bryan Logan, Fort StewartHunter Army Airfield garrison commander, said the soldiers and Army community stayed ready in 2020. “This did not put us down,” Logan said. “Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield are still plugging along.” According to Logan, soldiers on post – starting with first responders and medical-team soldiers – are currently receiving the Moderna coronavirus vaccine to aid in a more healthy and ready Army in 2021.

COVID-19 response

The pandemic forced reduced manning in offices, introduced teleworking to several organizations within the Army, and encouraged new practices from what had become standard across the force. However, throughout the year soldiers of Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield adapted to overcome the challenges, Logan said. “One of the things I want to make sure the public understands is the Army has not slowed down,” Logan said. “We have not stopped. We continue to train, we continue to prepare, and we are ready to deploy should our 10 nation call us to do so, and we have.”

Several practices learned in 2020 are still being implemented and are helping the Army maintain readiness in the future.

Intergovernmental service agreements

Logan said while training and daily duties are performed inside the gates of the installations, it is the relationships extending outside the gates that set Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield apart from other military facilities. “We cannot be a community of excellence without the enduring relationships we have with our seven surrounding counties,” Logan said. There are currently five service agreements on Fort Stewart, said Randall Dutkiewicz, lead management analyst at Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield garrison. Those include an animal-control services agreement with Chatham County and the grounds-maintenance support agreement with Long County, both implemented in 2020. Dutkiewicz added there are more in progress. “We’re always looking for more partners,” Logan said. “What we’ve done is taken away administrative restrictions on contracting. If it makes sense, if it benefits the civilian community as well as the military, if it is a reciprocal service that the city already pays for that we pay for, why not get together on this?”

One way the garrison team ensured that readiness was maintained was by embracing technology, Logan said. Meetings typically held in a boardroom were conducted remotely via Microsoft Teams meetings. “We had to bring these programs up, we had to educate ourselves, and we had to implement that pretty rapidly,” Logan said. Ceremonies were livestreamed during this past year, which was a change from norms. Annual celebrations and holiday festivities were observed using alternate approaches to allow optimal health and safety. “Now, that’s a tool that we have,” Logan said. “Had COVID not forced us to do things remotely like that, I don’t know that we would have come up with ideas like that.” Applications such as Digital Garrison came to fruition during the past year as a means of communicating with service members and the community. Users can access everything through this app from current weather conditions to upcoming Morale, Welfare and Recreation events through the app, Logan said. Additionally, Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield have transitioned their new soldier welcome brief to a digital message soldiers and their families can access anytime online, set to launch in January, Logan said. “I think that is going to fit very well in the future and how we go forward with not just newcomers and our young single soldiers and family members, but also our workforce and how we operate on a daily basis,” Logan said.

Welcoming the public on post

Recreational attractions such as skeet and archery ranges are still accessible to the public on post, Logan said. He encouraged the community to take advantage of the installation’s competitive prices on golf, outdoor recreation activities, and bowling. He said for those activities inside the gates, community members must obtain a visitor’s pass, but for activities accessible from Georgia Highway 144, no pass is needed. “This is your Army,” Logan said. “Come see us, come learn about us, ask questions and reap the benefits of us being right here.” Logan said he continues to be in awe of how well the local community embraces the military. “It’s the daily interaction, the daily support, the understanding, care, and love that we get from those outside the gate that have not put on a uniform, but they are most definitely connected with us in every way,” Logan said. “I am extremely appreciative of that.” Logan said the Army has not slowed down for COVID19 or any other reason, and that they continue to stay prepared when our nation needs them. “I hope that 2021 is better for all of us,” Logan said. cs

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JAN 20 - 26, 2021

SAVANNAH

CULTURE

Clinton Edminister (left) and José Ray hang murals in Starland Village.

Nae’Keisha Jones works on her mural at her home studio.

The Fence Art Project mural by Dana Richardson. PHOTOS BY NICK ROBERTSON

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JAN 20 - 26, 2021

LOCAL

COLOR

Fence Art Project enlivens construction sites with creative murals by Savannah artists BY NICK ROBERTSON

nick@connectsavannah.com

WHEN A BUILDING is under construction or renovation, this usually means that neighborhood residents are forced to look at drab fencing surrounding the site for months on end. However, when Savannah community booster Clinton Edminster recently looked 12 at construction-site fences around his

beloved Starland District, he saw something else entirely – an opportunity to simultaneously beautify the neighborhood and showcase local artists. Thus was born The Fence Art Project, an initiative to drape construction barriers with hand-painted canvas murals created by a variety of Savannah-area visionaries, including local children. Now 11 oversized paintings grace multiple building sites around the district in a project organized

by Edminster’s Starlandia Foundation, which also produced the popular Starland Mural Project in 2019. “I was definitely inspired by the amount of construction going on in the neighborhood, and wanted to draw attention to it in a positive way,” Edminster said while hanging up murals in Starland Village on Jan. 6. “As the world gets a little darker this winter, we hope to bring some color and hope to the neighborhood.”

The Fence Art Project was conceived as a pandemic-safe way to create something of an alfresco gallery show for local artists Amiri Farris, John Grund, Xavier Hutchins, Nae’Keisha Jones, Brian MacGregor, Tyriq Maxwell, José Ray, Dana Richardson, and Jon Witzky, all of whom produced murals separately at their studios on six-by-nine-foot canvases. Once completed, Edminister collected the murals and weatherproofed them with clear sealant before installing them on construction fences surrounding The Matadora apartments being built at 1512 Bull Street, the “Starland Village” at the corner of Bull and 38th Street, and at the new Savannah Economic Development Authority offices under development at the intersection of Drayton Street and E. Bolton Street. After hanging the murals in early January, Edminster said that feedback from area residents on The Fence Art Project has been overwhelmingly supportive. “It’s been really very positive, and how could it not? We’re adding a lot of color and introducing the community to a lot of artists,” Edminster said, adding that this was the first time that some of the contributors were commissioned to paint a mural. “Giving them the opportunity to do that can make them more confident in what they’re doing.” One of the first-time mural painters was Nae’Keisha Jones, who created a playful image of three kids enjoying their imagination to the fullest by reigning over their

VISUAL ARTS

own fanciful storyland based on features of the Savannah community, building on her previous work of writing and illustrating children’s books. “I wanted them to be in a place where they could build and be part of a community,” Jones said of her mural’s youthful stars, adding that it was intriguing for her to paint an artwork without knowing specifically where it would be displayed. “It’ll be a good piece regardless of the location. Even if it was in a random alley or something, it’ll bring light.” Children were also direct contributors to The Fence Art Project, as two murals were completed as collaborative efforts by kids participating in Loop It Up Savannah, a nonprofit community program providing art classes and activities for local youths and adults. Investment for The Fence Art Project was provided by the City of Savannah’s Weave-A-Dream program, while sponsors included the Foram Group, The Matadora developed by My Nice Apartments, and the Savannah Economic Development Authority, as well as Starland Yard and Edminster’s Starlandia Supply store. The murals are expected to remain on display at their various Starland locations until at least March, and afterwards Edminster would like to offer them for permanent display on blank walls of Savannah-area public-service institutions that could use a little brightening up. He is also interested in organizing another round of The Fence Art Project for future construction sites that will inevitably pop up again soon in Savannah. “I’d like to keep this going with different artists on different construction projects,” Edminister said. cs

A Fence Art Project mural painted by kids with Loop It Up Savannah.

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JAN 20 - 26, 2021

The Fence Art Project mural by Brian MacGregor.

The Fence Art Project mural by Tyriq Maxwell. PHOTOS BY NICK ROBERTSON

CULTURE

SISTER SPIRITS The new ‘Mainly for Women’ show features works by Paulina Olowska and other Polish artists at the SCAD Museum of Art

A copy of ‘Mainly for Women’ encased in a pud

BY NICK ROBERTSON

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JAN 20 - 26, 2021

GROWING UP alternating between two worlds at opposite ends of the Cold War – her native Poland and the U.S.A. – Paulina Olowska was immersed in the artificial aesthetic constructs of both societies, and they equally influence her oft-irreverent artworks that intentionally subvert patriarchal conventions to assert the autonomy of womanhood. In the new Mainly for Women exhibition now on view at the SCAD Museum of Art through July 11, several of Olowska’s most striking paintings are on display alongside works by a younger generation of Polish women who primarily only experienced traces of the Soviet influence that once dominated every aspect of life in their country, especially regarding creative expression. By organizing this exhibit, Olowska aimed to provide an international showcase for these women while carrying on discourse in her longtime quest toward achieving gender parity in art and society. “I love a sense of a dialogue in art,” 14 Olowska said while visiting Savannah in

A painting by Paulina Olowska subverting a Versace ad. PHOTO COURTESY OF SCAD

early January, just before the exhibit’s premiere. “You can say that I’m a painter, but within my paintings I negotiate or collaborate with other artists.” Born in Gdańsk on Poland’s Baltic coast

to a family of artists in 1976, Olowska spent her earliest years in a nation firmly under Kremlin control and awash in communist propaganda. At this time, photorealism was the prevailing genre in painting across

the Eastern Bloc, partly because the Soviet authorities were hard-pressed to interpret subversive messages in artworks that meticulously mirrored real-life scenery. During her early childhood, Olowska’s father joined Poland’s Solidarity movement founded in 1980 at the Lenin Shipyard in Gdańsk, using civil resistance against the Soviet system to advance workers’ rights and social change. This led to his fleeing to the U.S.A. as a political refugee with his young daughter in the mid-’80s, and here she experienced a complete contrast of aesthetic surroundings shaped largely by pop art and corporate advertisements. Olowska went on to study at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Fine Arts Academy in Gdańsk, and Amsterdam’s Rijksakademie, cementing her unique blend of international influences. Her works have been exhibited at the Venice Biennale, New York’s Museum of Modern Art, and London’s Tate Modern, establishing her as a leading Polish artist who strives to use her platform to advance women’s rights with works that evoke an enigmatically nostalgic atmosphere of cross-cultural aesthetics. Some of Olowska’s paintings on view in Mainly for Women playfully combine

VISUAL ARTS

ddle of dark goo on the floor. PHOTO COURTESY OF SCAD

making” by Robert Chartham, which provides a biological play-by-play for how women should approach intercourse with a primary concern of avoiding the infliction of harm to their male partners’ sexual self-respect. “Now we can laugh at it, but it was reality,” Olowska said of the book, a copy of which is included in the exhibit amid a melted puddle of dark goo on one corner of the floor. In the service of highlighting gender iniquities, the varied works in the Mainly for Women exhibit sometimes touch on the grotesque to portray multiple representations of women’s perspectives on society, enhanced by the artists that Olowska invited to exhibit alongside her

Works by Paulina Olowska add an air of mystery to the new ‘Mainly for Women” exhibit. PHOTOS COURTESY OF SCAD

coven’s display of powerful autonomy. “The house Olowska is building in her work is not a place of imaginary returns, but a site for gathering sister spirits,” wrote author Jan Verwoert of Olowska’s lifework. In Mainly for Women, Olowska is warmly welcoming her fellow female Polish artists and Savannah art lovers into this revealing house. “I wanted to touch on the idea of narration and sharing a story,” Olowska said. “I’m very proud to see this younger generation of artists.” cs – Karolina Jabłonska, Dominika Olszowy, Agata Słowak, and Natalia Załuska. The group show features pagan motifs and takes on a séance-like quality not unlike a

Mainly for Women is on view at the SCAD Museum of Art (601 Turner Blvd., Savannah) through July 11; visit scad.edu/calendar/exhibitions for more details.

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JAN 20 - 26, 2021

visions of East meeting West, exploring female archetypes through a lens of appropriation and homage. In her work labeled “MONOLOGUE” a young woman stands with a voguish pose reminiscent of a Versace magazine advertisement, but her visage bears a stark expression of determination commonly seen in Soviet-era photorealism propaganda, while her farmland setting and held pail of water reflect anything but the glamorous life associated with high-fashion imagery. For Olowska, this painting is a quintessential product of her varied perspectives coming together to skew popular culture bestowed upon different societies by patriarchal forces, causing the viewer to question the subjugation of womanhood in all nations and political systems. “How do you negotiate modernism? How do you negotiate socialist art?” Olowska asks when explaining her creative perspective and the process of finding its role in all worlds. “You learn how to work with material, but how do you work as an artist with the idea of life?” The exhibition’s title is also a play on male control over even the most intimate aspects of womanhood. Mainly for Women was the title of a 1960s “guide to love

FOOD & DRINK

LEFT: The cheesy Totchos. ABOVE: The Veggie Burger. BELOW: The Chopped Thai Salad. PHOTOS BY LINDY MOODY

Go gourmet on game day at the classy Bar Food Sports Savannah’s newest sports bar has a heavy hitter in the kitchen

BY LINDY MOODY

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JAN 20 - 26, 2021

AMERICANS LOVE sports bars with generic fried food, pool tables, a thousand televisions, and lukewarm beer − they’re a dime a dozen around any drinking town. For the longest time, the sports bars of Savannah have been limited to a few local watering holes that have character but are not overwhelmingly different from the million other sports bars found from coast to coast. Bar Food Sports is flipping that normalcy on its head by offering central Savannah its only gastro-centric tavern with all of the aspects of a classy sports bar, but with an elephant-sized culinary elevation. The new endeavor of the Bar Food family allows patrons to enjoy a frosty brew while sitting behind a beehive of 16 screens but while savoring a much higher

level of culinary genius. General Manager Samantha Igoe explained, “Since I have been working with Bar Food, Paula and Johnny have always talked about wanting a sports bar in Habersham Village. Next door opened up, so it felt like the perfect opportunity.” If you recall, it was only last year that Bar Food sat next to a popular pizza spot, but with the pandemic forcing the pizzeria to close its doors, Bar Food was allowed to grow. The new Bar Food Sports not only sits next door to Bar Food, but shares an entryway making either side easily accessible to guests. Bar Food Sports meets a niche for bar patrons that want fervent fans, a plethora of big-screen televisions, and food to eat with your hands. Bar Food has always been known as the cool and happening location for a large selection of wines, craft cocktails, and

craft food. Coffee Deli, Bar Food’s sister eatery, hits the craft coffee and deli-sandwich demand. Bar Food

Sports is the newest sibling of the restaurant group, and will work to provide something new to the family’s repertoire. “Bar Food Sports will share the same menu, however, it will provide a totally different atmosphere. With 15 TVs, a pool table, two dartboards, and several beers on tap, we plan to be THE sports bar in the area,” says Igoe. The hot new venue is filling a large gap in the Habersham market, and is now the standout place to go for sports and ice-cold beverages for anyone in Lamara Heights and surrounding neighborhoods. The menu is what will make the posh pub a star. Chef Davis allows patrons to transcend the usual

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sports-bar fare from boring plain cheeseburgers and stale nachos to daring epicurean delights. You can still get classic game-day favorites like hot dogs, but do not expect to receive a flavorless boiled weenie in a stale bun. His version, the Smoked Sausage Dog, is a truly swank frank. According to Igoe, “The new menu offers familiar sports-bar items, but with extensive authenticity and unique recipes. Chef Davis has taken normal things that you may see on a typical sports-bar menu and really made them his own. You can see this from our house burger grind on homemade brioche bun, to our homemade tater tots. We have also included several homemade vegetarian options.” I am not a vegetarian, but the Veggie Burger sounded too good to resist. Like almost everything on the menu, Chef Davis hand shapes fresh vegetables into a hearty patty. The seared meatless burger is served with pickles, lettuce, tomato, and a sweet brioche bun. The ending embellishment is a special house sauce that I ended up ordering extra to accompany my side. Although the airy hand-breaded onion rings do not need anything to help the flavor, an occasional dunk in the creamy aioli doesn’t hurt. Any good sports bar hails hot wings to eat as an accompaniment to an ice-cold beer. The wings at Bar Food Sports are no exception, except that they have ramped up the quality of available sauces for drowning the crispy chicken. Sweet and umami-filled Honey Miso, deep and dark Bourbon Caramel, and punchy Garlic Parmesan are several of the succulent sauces mixed up in the kitchen. The handmade tater tots were a standout. Golden brown and extra crispy on

the outside, and pillow soft in the middle. Order them as the side for a meal or as Totchos smothered in cheese, chili, bacon, onions, and jalapeños. Most unique is the Steak and Tots, Bar Food’s play on steak frites. A tender hand-cut steak is served aside the homemade tots and a side salad for a little greenery. The menu is well-rounded and takes eaters around a world of gastropub hits. For a healthy-ish yet flavorful meal, go for the Chopped Thai Salad, which is nearly too pretty to eat. Expect vibrant crisp vegetables like bell peppers, carrots, and cabbage. Your palate gets a kick from the fresh mint and cilantro, and is coated with a nutty finish from the made-from-scratch peanut vinaigrette. Keeping in the same Eastern vein, the menu has Dumplings and Tempura Fried Veggies as well. In mid-January, Bar Food Sports held its grand-opening party with live music and door prizes. But even before they officially opened the doors, Bar Food Sports packed the house for multiple weekends. The specialty events did not end with the grand opening, as Igoe explained. “Happy Hour is Monday through Friday from 4-7. $5 wells, $5 house wine, $3 domestics, $12 pitchers of Miller Lite and XX. As we get past the initial grandopening stage, we will create daily drinks specials,” Igoe said. What’s more, Thursdays are for trivia between 8-10pm, while Sundays feature brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m with Mimosa Towers, Bloody Marys, and biscuits. cs Bar Food Sports: 4521 Habersham Street, Savannah. Visit savannahbarfood.com for details, and check out epicuropedia.com for more by Lindy Moody.

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THE BAND PAGE

THE BAND BE EASY @ PLANT RIVERSIDE

Start your weekend with a free alfresco show at the Riverside Pavilion Tent by Savannah’s spacious Riverwalk. This Friday’s concert features the smooth rhythms of The Band Be Easy, a prolific ensemble playing upbeat funk, soul, and pop tunes that are often infused with a distinct reggae sound. FRIDAY, JANUARY 22 | 7 PM

DANIELLE HICKS AND THE RESISTANCE @ STARLAND YARD

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JAN 20 - 26, 2021

Local favorite soul-shaking siren Danielle Hicks plays with her band The Resistance in a show guaranteed to be amazing, like all others put on by the talented songwriter, vocalist and bandleader. The Tifton native released her first album, Honey, in 2017, which only added to her adoring fan base. The group plays rock ’n’ roll, blues, soul, and Americana. SUNDAY, JANUARY 24 | 6 PM

MATT HILL @ WILD WING CAFE

If you’re looking to dance in City Market to familiar tunes, don’t miss Matt Hill on Friday night outside Wild Wing Cafe. The Savannah native is known for his energetic shows that pull out popular hits and old-time classics to provide easy listening or, if you are looking to party, a fun soundtrack that will be sure to get you on your feet. FRIDAY, JANUARY 22 | 7 PM

TODD TILGHMAN @ CREATIVE CHURCH

The Voice’s Todd Tilghman visits the Savannah region for a night of spirited joy and melodic soul glow. Tilghman was crowned the season 18 winner of The Voice via livestream in 2020 as he stood among his wife and eight children. You can catch him at the Creative Church in Hardeeville; visit eventbrite.com/o/creativechurch-31514468807 for more info. SATURDAY, JANUARY 23 | 6:30 PM

MUSIC

FEATURE

Heavy metal meets the future for AURA Fest

ancillaries did everything imaginable to maintain an immersive experience. MultiBY BRITTANY HERREN ple cameras show different vantage points, while live audio, a moving first-personIF YOU HAVE ever enjoyed a heavy-metal view type of camera, live photography, and show in Savannah, you likely have Tim even real-time stage management were Walls to thank for it. The promoter and deployed so that the shows felt anything now producer can easily be credited for but static. creating the local heavy-metal scene, in no “It wasn’t easy,” recalls Stuard. “It was small part due to his popular AURA Fest intense because you have one chance to that rose from the embers of grunge and get this thing captured, because we filmed heavy rock in 2000. Since everything live in one take.” then, he has held more One thing that Stuard than ten festivals in three and others found that can’t cities. be replaced is the energy Now in 2021, with a that a crowd brings to a live global pandemic to spar show. with and most of Savan“The band stops playnah locked away in their ing and there is just no houses instead of attendapplause, that was the ing concerts and live most jarring thing for me,” shows, Walls has taken explained Stuard. the re-envisioned festival Nevertheless, the crew to the web, where on Sat- Rhythm of Fear, one of seven persisted and rolled with urday, Jan. 23, AURA Fest: acts in the 2021 AURA Fest. the punches for more Home Invasion will safely PHOTO COURTESY OF AURA FEST than ten hours, creating a bring seven of the best COVID-proof experience metal and hardcore bands in the Southfor fans and a rare platform for local musieast right to your preferred streaming cians who remain unsure of their futures device. It’s the true definition of a captive in the scene. audience. After Stuard completes the production’s “I was close to not doing anything, but editing, AURA fest will look a little differas live music stopped, I really wanted to do ent, but will offer the usual assortment of something positive,” explained Walls. “I up-and-coming heavy-metal rock bands. wanted to give local bands a platform.” The full lineup includes Rhythm of Fear, Walls contends that it’s difficult to emu- Second Death, Depressor, Down Under, late the live festival experience via a series Circle Back, Hellcast, and The Holy Ghost of pre-filmed concerts, but he and his Tabernacle Choir. production crew − video director/editor Tickets to the 2021 AURA Fest: Home Jeremiah Stuard, Hidden Audio Studios Invasion are on sale now through the recording engineer Chris “Scary” Adams, event’s official website. General admission sound producer John Edwards, behindis $5, while VIP tickets cost $15 and include the-scenes videographer Jim Reed, and a full download of the festival video, an photographer Valentin Sivyakov − pulled it exclusive audio sampler of live tracks from off near-flawlessly. the show, and a care package mailed with “Doing festivals is crazy because there a limited-edition AURA Fest pin (first 25 is a lot of coordinating and logistical plantickets only), band stickers, and drink recining, so you have to have a good team that pes for your home bar. you trust, and I had that,” said Walls. Once Walls decided to adapt rather than The 2021 AURA Fest: Home Invasion surrender, he designed a streamed experi- festival premieres on Jan. 23 at 5 p.m. The ence that accounted for necessary safety video will be available for three days after measures and protocols, social distancing the premiere for anyone who buys a generaland controlled capacities for the bands and admission ticket. Visit aurafestsavannah. crew at Southbound Brewing Company. com or facebook.com/aurafestsavannah for All filmed in just one day, Walls and his more information.

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CONNECT SAVANNAH | JAN 20 - 26, 2021

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MUSIC

FEATURE

The Orange Constant offers Savannah juicy slices of ref reshing new music Hear songs from their 2020 album ‘Peel’ live at Barrelhouse South The Orange Constant. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ORANGE CONSTANT

BY BRITTANY HERREN

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JAN 20 - 26, 2021

WITH STAGES remaining silent due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, catching any sort of live music is like kneeling at the altar of mutual enthusiasm for normality. However, to classify The Orange Constant as “any sort of live music” is an injustice to this regional group that has become one of the best live-performance bands in the Southeast. Read that again: the best. So, when they return to Savannah and plug in at Barrelhouse South on Saturday, Jan. 23, it would absolutely be a missed opportunity to sit out this show. “Savannah is one of the few places we can actually play right now, and the band has been playing at Barrelhouse for longer than I’ve been in it,” said keys player Chris Freiberg, who joined the band in 2016. The five-piece ensemble, which began in Statesboro and later relocated to Athens, started in 2012 with guitarists Andrew Brantley and Nickalous Benson. Over time 20 they were joined by Freiberg, bassist Tyler

Walker, and drummer Sam Groveman. Together they play an intriguing combination of Southern rock, funk, and prog that inspires ambient qualities of vintage and experimental sounds. The atmosphere of their live shows can often feel like a late-night jam session, depending on the receptivity of such auditory revelations by the audience, which Frieberg contends is very deliberate. While improvised fills have allowed the band to don the jam-band crown, their most recent time in the studio was spent playing technically precise and artfully designed instrumentals that are now the signature of what has evolved into The Orange Constant sound. The troupe released their third studio album, Peel, this past May, returning to the producer of their first album, Time to Go, Grammy-nominated legend John Keane. Keane, who has worked with globally successful bands such as R.E.M. and Widespread Panic, played a big role in the influence of the album’s mechanics of full-bodied, repetitive riffs and fine-spun

harmonies. “Our last album [Point of Reference], we worked with producer Drew Vandenberg, and he had a lot of influence in our sound,” recalled Freiberg. “He had this indie, experimental style and played a lot with tone. With Keane, it was more from a polished and technical approach. It was less about the natural take and more about precision.” There’s a natural evolution from Time to Go to Peel, but considerable differences in tone and texture can be heard between the band’s second and third album, which has three years between them. “You can hear the difference projected in both albums,” Freiberg adds. While the new album has received commentary that described the band’s nine new tunes as being contextually darker and heavier, many will contend that the music remains upbeat and lighthearted in nature. This alone posed some challenges amid a COVID-stricken release that could feel tangibly disconnected. “That was part of the problem when the

pandemic hit,” explained Freiberg. “But we didn’t have the vision to put out a politically current album.” Peel was pushed back a few times from being released, but when it finally took flight, it landed just right. Synth sounds of the ’90s, a familiar and codependent sound of psychedelic-tones-meet-funkrock rhythms, and, surprisingly, tinges of contemporary blues all take listeners on a blissful journey that is more than welcome during an uncertain and dreary time. A time, in fact, that the band is weathering rather well, considering. “We know other bands in our scene who might not come back from this,” said Freiberg. Thankfully though for music lovers, it looks like The Orange Constant will remain a constant fix for quite some time to come. cs The Orange Constant concert: Saturday, Jan. 23, doors open at 9 p.m.; Barrelhouse South, 125 W. Congress St., Savannah – visit theorangeconstant.com to learn more.

CONNECT SAVANNAH MUSIC

20-26

SOUNDBOARD

WHO IS PLAYING WHERE THIS WEEK

SOUNDBOARD IS A FREE SERVICE. TO BE INCLUDED, PLEASE SEND YOUR LIVE MUSIC INFORMATION WEEKLY TO SOUNDBOARD@CONNECTSAVANNAH.COM. DEADLINE IS 10 A.M. 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 Aaron Lehrian, 11 a.m.; Eric Britt, 7 p.m. The Wormhole Open Jam, 9 p.m.

TRIVIA & GAMES

El-Rocko Lounge Trivia with Jules and Chris Grimmett, 9-11:30 p.m. 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

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

THURSDAY 1.21 LIVE MUSIC

Cohen’s Retreat Munchies & Music, 5-9 p.m. The Perch at Local 11 ten Levi Moore

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.

Club 51 Degrees DJ B-Rad, 9 p.m. Top Deck Sunset Deck Party, 6 p.m.

FRIDAY 1.22 LIVE MUSIC

Driftaway Cafe Bucky & Barry, 6:30 p.m.

Plant Riverside District The Band Be Easy, 7 p.m. Rancho Alegre Cuban Restaurant JodyJazz Trio, 6:30 p.m. Sting Ray’s Robert Willis, 6 p.m. Wild Wing Cafe Matt Hill, 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.

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

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SATURDAY 1.23 LIVE MUSIC

The 5 Spot Eric Daubert, 7-9 p.m. Barrelhouse South The Orange Constant, 9 p.m. Doc’s Bar Chester Love Band, 8 p.m.-midnight JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District Eric Brack, 7:30 p.m. The Perch at Local 11 ten Markus Kuhlman Plant Riverside District Aaron Lehrian, 11 a.m., TGLive, 7 p.m. Wild Wing Cafe Andrew Gill, 1 p.m., Tyler Roe, 7 p.m.

KARAOKE

Bay Street Blues Karaoke Club One Karaoke, 10 p.m. McDonough’s Karaoke, 9 p.m.

SUNDAY 1.24 LIVE MUSIC

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

Congress Street Social Club VooDoo Soup, 10 p.m. Flashback Moss City Groove, 8 p.m. Nickie’s 1971 Roy Swindell, 7 p.m. Starland Yard Danielle Hicks & The Resistance, 6 p.m. Tubby’s Tank House Bucky & Barry, 1 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.

MONDAY 1.25 LIVE MUSIC

Nickie’s 1971 Ray Tomasino, 7 p.m. Plant Riverside District Aaron Lehrian, 11 a.m., Jason Salzer, 7 p.m.

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.

TUESDAY 1.26 LIVE MUSIC

Nickie’s 1971 Roy Swindell, 7 p.m. Plant Riverside District Chuck Courtenay, 7 p.m.

TRIVIA & GAMES

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.

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JAN 20 - 26, 2021

WEDNESDAY 1.20

CULTURE Virtual version of Mountainfilm on Tour comes to Savannah with local features BY LAUREN WOLVERTON

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JAN 20 - 26, 2021

lauren@connectsavannah.com

Winter sports fill the filmography of Mountainfilm. PHOTO COURTESY OF MOUNTAINFILM

OVER THE LAST 12 years, Mountainfilm has steadily ascended to become one of Savannah’s most popular film festivals, showcasing stories about adventure and outdoors, environmental protection, culture and diversity, and social-justice issues. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Colorado-based touring film festival is happening entirely virtually this year. This means that the annual local Mountainfilm on Tour − Savannah event will also be virtual. However, organizers say they’ve striven to make Savannah’s 2021 event a high point of the film-festival series. This year’s attractions include a virtual screening of the feature Public Trust, multiple documentary shorts, a special family program, a Q&A with Savannah leaders, and more. The events begin on Friday, Jan. 22 at noon and continue through noon on Monday, Jan. 25. “We welcome everyone to enjoy a curated selection of incredible films that inspire all of us to create a better world,” said Leslie Carey, director of Mountainfilm on Tour − Savannah. “The 2021 Mountainfilm on Tour − Savannah virtual playlist offers exactly what we need to get through this challenging time: hope, inspiration, purpose, laughter, and a sense of community.” This year’s main feature documentary is Public Trust, directed by David Garrett Byars and produced by Jeremy Hunter Rubingh. The film explores public lands in the United States, breaking down the complex topic with a long history into something compelling, easy to understand, and visually stunning. Public Trust explains that U.S. public lands are an idiosyncratic American experiment that welcome all to its 640 million acres. However, U.S. public lands are under threat, with bills written every year to sell the lands off. “We’ve chosen to preserve and protect these lands, and other places don’t do that,” Carey said. “We’re at this critical

FILM Mountainﬁlm on Tour − Savannah 2021 lineup Public Trust

U.S. public lands are a uniquely American experiment that welcome everyone − hikers, campers, hunters, sightseers, anglers, and ranchers − to its 640 million acres. But these national treasures and traditional homes of native people are under threat.

Bear Whisperer

Originally hired by the police department to exterminate bears that had overpopulated California’s Mammoth Lakes, Steve Searles instead decided to teach the bears to coexist with the town’s residents.

Adaptation: Kentucky

Chinese-American entrepreneur Angie Yu exports wild-caught Asian carp, an invasive species in the Mississippi River ecosystem, to 11 nations where carp is much appreciated. Scientist and filmmaker Alizé Carrère celebrates the transformation of an aquatic invader into an economic and culinary treasure.

Unfenced

The Red Desert in Wyoming is the largest unfenced area in the continental U.S. Its sagebrush steppe is home to sage grouse and pronghorn antelope, as well as several Wilderness Study Areas, which are being threatened by oil and gas development. Ultrarunner Clare Gallagher hopes to bring awareness to these environmental issues and share her love of the Red Desert through an immersive trail-running experience.

Unnur

Icelandic photographer Elli Thor lives with his daughter Unnur in a cabin near the beach. Fifteen years after surviving a neardeath experience while kayaking, it is surfing and living a simple life with Unnur that gives Thor’s life meaning.

Welcome Strangers

“Love our neighbors the way we love ourselves” is the mantra of Sarah Jackson, founder of Casa de Paz, a volunteer-run shelter for immigrants who have just been released from detention. Jackson’s Casa de Paz provides a care and encouragement to weary detainees. TOP: A scene from the ‘Slack Sisters’ documentary. ABOVE: A scene from the ‘Unfenced’ trail run. PHOTOS COURTESY

OF MOUNTAINFILM

documentaries at Savannah’s Trustees Theater. Carey says that this year, “Movies that Matter” is also going virtual. Carey says an estimated 8,000 local students will participate, breaking an all-time record. She says she’s hopeful that with the virtual format, more people than ever will be reached by Mountainfilm on Tour − Savannah. “Thanks to Mountainfilm’s vision and leadership, our 2021 lineup covers a broad range of topics, from polar exploration, ultra-running and slacklining to black bears, honeybees and chess,” said Carey. “We can’t wait to share this thoughtful selection of films with audiences across the Savannah area and beyond.” cs Mountainﬁlm on Tour − Savannah is happening virtually during Jan. 22-25. Tickets for the Public Trust and Adventure Shorts program are $20 per person and $35 per family. Tickets for the Family Program are $10 per person and $15 per family. Visit mountainﬁlmsav.org for more details.

Raw Run: The Cliffs of France

There’s no need to edit a shot when it keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time. Following Josh Neuman longboarding down a narrow highway in France, we get an entirely new perspective on speed.

A Walk Through the Land of a Thousand Hills

Director Chema Domenech’s wildlife cinematography and park ranger Claver Ntoyinkima share the value of biodiversity and the importance of making ecotourism beneficial to local populations of Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda.

Charge

In this film, we find out what happens when a bevy of rock-star skiers get together with a world-champion drone pilot in the snowy wilds of the Canadian Rockies.

Rewilding Honeybees

Progressive conservationist Michael Thiele is “rewilding” honeybees − introducing swarms to habitats that are more conducive to the instinctive preferences that allow them to thrive.

Myrtle Simpson: A Life on Ice

To Scottish mountain climber and polar explorer Myrtle Simpson, it’s not an adventure unless you’re living off your wits. Simpson has scaled Andean peaks, dragged a sledge across glaciers and sea ice, and attempted to reach the North Pole. As she approaches 90 years old, Simpson vividly recounts her adventures.

Slack Sisters

Slacklining has long been a male-dominated realm − but the sport is a natural fit for women, requiring grace, stillness and a fine measure of control and relinquishment. For the athletes in this film, the benefits go far beyond the physical.

Wingsuiter Flies Through Narrow Hole

GoPro Million Dollar Challenge winner Ben “Dicko” Dixon takes proximitywingsuit-flying to a new level as he threads himself like a needle through a narrow hole constructed over a canyon in the Utah desert.

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JAN 20 - 26, 2021

point now where we really have to fight to save them from politicians and oil and gas interests. We have these same issues all around the country.” The film follows acclaimed outdoors journalist Hal Herring, who has covered the issue for 20 years and says public lands are truly special. “It’s one of the last things that we share in common amongst all of us,” Herring said. Herring says Public Trust encourages people to get outdoors and leaves viewers with “a new kind of patriotism.” He says the public-lands system is something to be proud of. “I hope that we can start appreciating the visions of our forefathers, you know? And understanding what it is that we have and enjoying it more,” Herring said, while encouraging Savannah residents to visit the regional wildlife refuges that are nearest to them. “If you live in Georgia, go to the Okefenokee.” Overall, Herring says Public Trust is a must-see that leaves the audience feeling ready to explore and take pride in the pristine lands in our own backyards. “I just think the movie kind of brings home what we have, and the fact that if you’re not willing to stand up and speak for it and fight for it, you probably won’t be able to keep something this valuable,” Herring said. A Q&A session with Savannah-area environmental experts follows the feature film screening. The discussion will include issues impacting Georgia’s beaches, barrier islands, and swamps, with speakers including Tybee Island Marine Science Foundation President Cathy Sakas, Ogeechee Riverkeeper Executive Director Damon Mullis, and Director of the Georgia Office of the Southern Environmental Law Center Gil Rogers. There will also be an online auction benefiting Mountainfilm on Tour − Savannah’s “Movies that Matter” education program. Each year, students from local schools get to screen selected Mountainfilm

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CONNECT SAVANNAH | JAN 20 - 26, 2021

ACROSS

1 Make like a cricket’s legs 4 Talk like Cindy Brady 8 Georgia senator-elect Jon 14 H in Greek 15 Peruvian ancestor 16 Flat, geometrically 17 Canadian equivalent of “American Bandstand” hosted by Alex Trebek in 1963-64 19 ___-weensie 20 Biblical boats 21 1976 trivia show (not the Nickelodeon kids’ show) hosted by Trebek 23 Bent down 25 Place to order a round 26 Kilmer of “MacGruber” 27 Aromatic compounds 29 Reykjavik’s country 33 Aloe vera yield 34 Had some haggis 35 Some Spanish titles, for short 36 Dallas cager, informally 39 1981 game show (not the classic Atari game) hosted by Trebek 42 Armani competitor, briefly 43 “’Tis a shame” 45 Part of TGIF 46 Meme response 48 Harden, in a way 50 “Battleship Potemkin”

locale 54 “Star Wars” character Solo 55 Honey Graham ___ (cereal brand) 58 Go in 59 Canadian series hosted by Trebek from 1976-1980, featuring professional skaters alongside B-list celebs 63 “Aw, heck!” 64 Roll in mud 65 Emmy-winning game show hosted by Trebek starting in 1984 67 Genetic variant 68 Tennis player Kournikova 69 Abbr. on remotes 70 Prepped for serving 71 “It’s for the ___” 72 Ethyl or methyl ending

DOWN

1 New version of an old film 2 Reversals on the road 3 Vessel for thematic gifts 4 Permit to drive (abbr.) 5 How most TV is broadcast these days 6 2020 CGI movie that featured the origin story of a cartoon canine 7 ___ New Guinea 8 German car name

9 Something a vest lacks 10 Casual footwear 11 Not paid by the hour 12 Not rainy 13 Duty-___ shop 18 “Survivor” locales 22 Water filter brand 24 Golfing hazard 28 Smarten (up) 30 String quartet instrument 31 “Cherry Wine” rapper 32 High-speed internet initials 34 “Sing the Sorrow” band 36 ___ and cheese 37 Start for carte or king 38 Wagnerian opera setting 40 Test the fit of 41 Major vein 44 Blood-red 47 ___ hand (give help) 49 Shoe padding 51 “Feed a cold, ___ a fever” 52 Forward, as mail 53 Sock pattern 56 Burqini headpiece 57 Segment of a play 59 Trade 60 Like some tales 61 Due 62 Seemingly forever 66 Butter square

tree-fifty tuesdays all beers, titos, jameson: $3.50

Friday, Saturday and Sunday

$3 Glaes of Rosé still or sparkling.

wednesday Half off Boles of Wine

thursdays & Sunday Live dj | 6-9 pm Drink specials

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

by Bunny Ware

PHOTOS FROM LOCAL EVENTS View more photos online at connectsavannah.com/connected

FIRST RESPONDERS’ FREE LUNCH

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JAN 20 - 26, 2021

The management of Richmond Hill’s Himalayan Curry Kitchen offered a warm welcome to the city’s ﬁrst responders by inviting them to enjoy a free buffet lunch of varied Indian and Nepalese specialties on Monday, Jan. 11, in partnership with the Richmond Hill Downtown Development Authority.

by Bunny Ware

PHOTOS FROM LOCAL EVENTS View more photos online at connectsavannah.com/connected

DRIVE-IN LASER LIGHT SHOW

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JAN 20 - 26, 2021

Families from across Chatham County and beyond gathered in a ďŹ eld to see the night light up with beautiful beams during the Cabin Fever Laser Show held every evening during Jan. 14-17. Viewers could either enjoy the musically scored optical spectacular from inside their car or sit out in the open air watching bright colors crisscross the sky.