Chatham Isles Living January February 2016

Whitemarsh, Oatland, Talahi, Wilmington

and Tybee

Ann Carroll Beach Yogi January/February 2015-16

1800 E.Victory Dr. Across From Whole Foods 912-349-7560 www.SeasonsOfJapan.com

OTHER LOCATIONS:

Savannah, GA-Abercorn • Savannah, GA-Berwick Pooler • Statesboro, GA • Brunswick, GA North Charleston, SC • Summerville, SC • Jacksonville, FL Irvine, CA • Berkeley, CA • Vernon Hills, IL

NOW OPEN 1800 E. VICTORY DRIVE Seasons Cafe is bringing fast casual Japanese cuisine to downtown Savannah!

Our new concept and style will give you the freedom to choose what you crave.

Thousands of different combinations await with freshly cooked ingredients so you can “make your own plate” and try a new combination each time you visit.

Now you can enjoy Seasons of Japan like never before!

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Open House Daily 12-5pm

Upgrade Incentives of $5000 to $10,000 (limited for 60 days)

Visit us!

Tour our Models!

Villa Time

Phase 3 –Final Release!

Location, Design, Amenities, Value and lifestyle draw residents to this Townhome community !

Epcon, a National leader in single story living for Active Adults is releasing its remaining homesites at the Fairways at Savannah Quarters. Visit now to choose from a limited supply of the BEST remaining, lagoon or wooded VIEWS. Now is the time to build your new home in this community. Avoid the continuing maintenance on your EXISTING home. Let us do this work for you!

DO NOT MISS OUT ON THIS OPPORTUNITY! Act now for your chance for the opportunity to live in this Savannah gem! This one of a kind community for Active Adults in Savannah Quarters has all amenities to satisfy your desire for golf, tennis, pool, fitness center, Club and Community activities to enjoy a lifestyle with family and friends.

The Fairways at Savannah Quarters has been recognized by the Pooler Chamber of Commerce as the 2014 Business of the Year at their annual banquet.

Additionally, this community has been awarded at the Epcon National Conference in February 2015: • For Best Overall Landscaping • For HECM “Peace of Mind”Award • Outstanding Landscaping of a Courtyard, and • Outstanding Model Home This MAINTENANCE-FREE community is located in one of only two gated golf communities in Savannah, at Savannah Quarters, in Pooler, GA. Pooler, Savannah’s west side suburb, is one of the fastest growing regions in the state of Georgia.

Pooler is a mecca for convenience!! Located at I-16 and I-95 there is immediate access to

other parts of the Coastal region! Restaurants, Shopping, Groceries, Banking, Entertainment, Medical facilities, Downtown and the Airport are all within minutes of the community. The Tanger Savannah Outlet Mall, in Pooler has opened and is the largest in the area with many famous retail stores and restaurants.

The Fairways Villas start in the $200’s. These 2 to 3 bedroom Villas, the Classic Courtyard Collection, include the newest innovation of private garden courtyards and are being developed on hole number 3 of the Greg Norman Signature Golf course.

Our new homeowners have found a place to call home but without the chores of mowing the lawn, trimming the shrubs and maintaining the exteriors of their home. Our Home Owners Association does the work you do the living!

After perfecting the concept of “Single Story Maintenance-Free Living” in 30 states and over 100 communities, Frank Curran, a Principal, indicated these latest villas are especially designed for the Southern lifestyle.

The master plan for the community incorporates beautiful and abundant landscaping with tree lined streets, lagoons, lighted fountains and golf course and wooded views.

A resident has commented they enjoy a peace of mind when travelling as they know their home is being taken care of and is secure in the Lock ‘N Leave living this gated community provides.

Residents experience in these new Villa collections their own private garden courtyards all day every day.

They can enjoy the peaceful sound of a water fountain

or the warmth of a fire pit surrounded by lush landscaping and a flowering arbor while entertaining with friends over a glass of wine or beverage. It is a place to live with friends and make new friends. It is a place for lasting times and memories. A place to live well!

A founder of Epcon, Phil Fankhauser, designed the homes to provide natural light and sunshine to bathe the interior rooms by placement of abundant windows overlooking the courtyard. Phil suggests, “Light enhances our mood! Light makes us feel better!” Coastal Georgia’s climate provides a perfect setting for these homes.

In answer to the question --Why did you decide to purchase one of our new Courtyard Villas? A recent buyer indicated “Great floor plan that’s the right size for us, plus its maintenance-free and free standing.

We also value the courtyard, trey ceilings and arched doorways. Compared to other planned communities, this townhome is a real value”.

The community amenities are completed and include gathering spaces in the Clubhouse, Pool, Lanai and Fitness center. The Clubhouse provides the convenience to extend your Great Room for holiday and other social functions with either family or neighbors.

Gary Turnbull, COO and Builder, encourages you to visit the community and find out from our residents why there is no need to compromise as the award winning design, carefree living, natural beauty and value blend to make the community a popular spot in the fastest growing area of West Savannah.

To reach The Fairways at Savannah Quarters take I-16 west to exit 155 at Pooler Parkway, turn left at Pooler Parkway and then turn right to enter Savannah Quarters. Go past the Sales Center and take Blue Moon Crossing back to the GATE for entrance to the FairCall AnnIsles or Kendra at 912-450-9876 for GATE CODE.Visit us at www.fairways-sq.com 04 January/February 2016 | ways. www.C hatham Living.com

Will You Outlive Your Money?

(Let us show you how to buy a home, keep your cash and have no mortgage payments)

By Frank Curran: Principal and resident at The Fairways at Savannah Quarters, west Savannah’s finest Active Adult community. We can be reached at 450-9876 or at www.fairways-sq.com

As an Active Adult entering my senior years I can empathize with what some surveys have suggested is this number one fear--- to assure I have the cash to live my golden years at a standard of living that I have earned and desire. Our recent economic times and the bust in housing have not helped any of us in alleviating this concern.

However, would you like to purchase your dream home, for $300,000 with as little as 44% down and NO mortgage payments? Keep your hard earned cash for your golden years to enjoy a peace of mind, to travel, invest or just spoil your grandkids further.

If this sounds too good to be true please read on!

Buy a Home Without Mortgage Payments

In January 2009 the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) created the HECM for Purchase Loan Program.

If at least one of you are 62 years or older, the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) for Purchase Loan can enable you to buy your next home without any monthly mortgage payments.

Regardless of how long you live in the home or what happens to your home’s value, you only make one, initial investment (down payment) towards the purchase.

Your benefits include: • Eliminating monthly mortgage payments • Increasing your purchase power • Preserving your cash Why Consider A HECM for Purchase Loan No matter what your needs may be a HECM for Purchase Loan can help increase purchasing power and flexibility when buying a principal residence. Many home buyers use the HECM for Purchase Loan to: • Right-size to a smaller, lower maintenance home • Buy a home closer to family or friends

• Lower their cost of living during retirement • Enjoy carefree living in an Active Adult housing community Best of all, since monthly mortgage payments are not required, a HECM for Purchase Loan may help preserve your hard-earned savings and improve your cash flow. You will continue to own and maintain the title of your home for as long as the property remains your principal residence. Property taxes, insurance and/or condo dues and general upkeep must be maintained by the homeowner.

Eligibility Requirements • At least one titleholders must be 62 years or older • Purchased home must be a principal residence occupied within 60 days of loan closing • Property must be a single family home, 2-4 unit dwelling or an FHA approved condo • The difference between the purchase price of the new home and the HECM loan proceeds must be paid in cash from qualifying sources such as the sale of prior residence, home buyer’s other assets or

savings (the down payment monies cannot be debt; however a gift is permitted) The amount of money you may receive from a HECM for Purchase Loan depends on the age of the youngest titleholder, current interest rates and fees, and the lesser of the appraised value or the purchase price or the FHA lending limit.

Safeguards for Borrowers • Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP) ensures the amount owed on the loan can never be more than the value of the home at time of sale.

• Independent HUD counseling is required prior to loan application • Lender may only look to the value of the home for repayment; no other assets may be attached if the loan balance grows beyond the mortgaged home value – you are never responsible for any balance due on the mortgage!

Purchasing A Home With A HECM For Purchase Loan Example Don and Shirley, both 68 years old, want to buy a lower maintenance home. They work with a real estate agent to sell their current residence

and also look for a new home that fits their needs.

The new home’s purchase price is $300,000. The real estate agent introduces Don and Shirley to a HECM for Purchase Specialist.

The advisor shows the buyers how the HECM for Purchase Loan, as an alternative financing vehicle, may provide the funds they need for their new home. Don and Shirley could obtain HECM for Purchase Loan proceeds of approximately $153,331 and then use cash from the sale of their previous home of approximately $146,686 to purchase a new $300,000 home with no future monthly mortgage payments. However, the down payment can come from any other assets such as investments or CD’s.

Don and Shirley’s future obligations are only to pay property costs such as homeowner’s insurance, real estate taxes and maintenance of the home for the term of the loan.

Many Active Adults are now becoming aware and considering this NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY FOR SENIORS. Don’t miss out on this opportunity.

www.ChathamIslesLiving.com | September/October 2015

05

CONTRIBUTORS

Cindy Burbage is a native of Richmond Hill. She began writing in college and took a hiatus to raise her four beautiful children. Cindy enjoys traveling and is always ready for a road trip. She believes that faith is greater than fear.

Katrice Williams She is a married mother of two. She graduated from Georgia Southern University in 1998 with a Bachelor of Business Administration. She moved to the Atlanta Metropolitan Area to pursue business career endeavors. A few years later, her husband, Tony, received a job offer in our local area, and the family eventually moved to Pooler. After spending a fulfilling amount of time as an at-home mom, she decided to pursue an area of personal attraction—writing. In her spare time, Katrice enjoys the 3F’s: family, food, and fun!! She’s also fond of occasionally writing a bit of good poetry.

Luke Smith is a full time photographer and single father based out of

Rincon, GA, Having grown up in Cajun country in Louisiana, Luke feels right at home on the Georgia coast and has for the last 10 years. When he’s not doing freelance photography for commercial clients, Luke is spending time with his son.

Miranda Osborn is an Australian-born professional whose career started somewhere between journalism and fetching coffee before taking a happy turn to photography, graphic design and all things visually creative in-between. From newspaper photos to magazine shots, from product shoots to weddings, her CameraKoala.com photography has appeared in numerous nationwide catalogs, publications and has had the privilege to grace several magazine covers in Liberty County, GA.

STAFF

Jeff Whitten

Lane Leopard

06 January/February 2016 | www.ChathamIslesLiving.com

Lea Allen

Marsha Stewart

DiAnna Jenkins

VISIT US HERE

www.ChathamIsleLiving.com

, W ilm in gt on at la nd , Ta la hi W hi te m ar sh , O

an d Ty be e

Read Current Articles See Past Issues

Ann Carrolli Beach Yog January/Februa

ry 2015-16

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07

CONTENTS January/February 2015-2016

features

10 Sharing Ann Carroll Her Gift Of Yoga On The Beach

16 Myria Shipman One Of A Kind Program, One Of A Kind Teacher

22 Making Mark Simons A Difference With The Islands YMCA

10

26 Answering Betty T. Dixon The Call In

Public Health Services

32 New Year’s Eve In The Fifties

Captain Judy Helmey

departments

09

Publisher’s Letter

34

Fishing Report

16

22

08 January/February 2016 | www.ChathamIslesLiving.com

26

PUBLISHER’S Thoughts

Julie Hales owner/publisher julie@idpmagazines.com Jeff Whitten editor jeff@idpmagazines.com Lane Leopard graphic designer lane@idpmagazines.com Lea Allen administrative assistant/circulation lea@idpmagazines.com DiAnna Jenkins account executive dianna@idpmagazines.com Marsha Stewart account executive marsha@idpmagazines.com

Chatham Isles Living is proudly produced by:

108 International Drive, P.O. Box 1742 Rincon, GA 3126 (912) 826-2760

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Write to us and tell us what you think. Chatham Isles Living welcomes all letters to the publisher.

Please send all letters via email to Jeff Whitten at jeff@idpmagazines.com, or mail letters to P.O. Box 1742, Rincon, GA 31326. Letters to the editor must have a phone number and name of contact.

Phone numbers will not be published.

The end of our first year...

As I sit here writing my publisher’s letter, I realize this issue is the last one of our first year of Chatham Isles Living.

It’s hard to believe. It feels like yesterday when we launched our premier issue at North Beach Grill on Tybee in March of last year. Our launch party was a huge success, despite the bad weather that night.

We had plenty of great food supplied by our friends at North Beach Grill, plenty of drinks and some great entertainment provided by Wassaw Sound band. Those guys were amazing….they did not, for one second, let the rain slow them down.

I reflect back on this first year and many good memories come to mind. One of the first people I met was Debbie McIncrow with the Wilmington Island Farmer’s Market. We have thoroughly enjoyed working with them and look forward to what Julie Hales, PUBLISHER they have in store for 2016.

We also met the ladies at Friendship Coffee, Gay and Libby. What a great story they had to tell. We feel honored to have been allowed the opportunity to include them in our magazine. And, we can’t wait to see their new retail outlet opening next month.

Then there’s Captain Judy! What an amazing woman….a true icon on the islands. Her quick wit and friendly personality was evident the moment I met her. And, we appreciate her being a part of our magazine in each issue with her fishing report.

The list goes on and on…we have certainly made some great new friends along our journey of bringing you Chatham Isles Living.

Our next issue will serve as our One Year Anniversary issue. We are looking forward to bringing you more of the best our islands have to offer into the new year, and many years to come.

So, sit back and enjoy this ride with us. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Whitemarsh, Oatland, Talahi, Wilmington

and Tybee

ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS Chatham Isles Living welcomes story ideas from our readers. If you have a story idea, or photo essay you would like to share, please submit ideas and material by emailing Jeff Whitten at jeff@idpmagazines.com.

Stories or story ideas must be submitted via email.

Only feature stories and photo essays about people, places or things on Whitemarsh, Oatland, Talahi, Wilmington and Tybee Islandsvwill be considered.

CIRCULATION: Chatham Isles Living is publlished bi-monthly (six issues a year), printing 10,000 copies and distributed to over 180 locations.

Reproduction in whole or in part in any manner without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited.

ABOUT THE COVER

Ann Carroll Beach Yogi January/February 2015-16

Meet Tybee’s Ann Carroll. With years in the corporate world under her belt, this Tybee resident knows the impact stress can play on your health. Join her on the beach for yoga on Wednesdays and Saturdays. It will make a difference in your life.

Ann “Aikya” Carroll

Sharing Her Gift Of Yoga On The Beach

P

story by cindy burbage photos by luke smith

eace can be defined as freedom from agitation or bewilderment, the balance between one’s inner and outer selves.

Yoga can deliver the peace that most seek. The sole purpose of yoga is health and relaxation, and those two go hand in hand. Unwinding in this stressful world is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, and one of the most important factors in this process is that old real estate mantra of “location, location, location.”

And what better place to relax than the beach! Deep meditation accompanied with salt air, sandy flooring and the breathtaking sound of crashing waves of ocean water. Sound like a fantasy? For Tybee Island yoga instructor Ann Carroll this is reality.

In 1989, this Knoxville, Tennessee native left the majestic foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains for what she believed would be a short stay in Georgia. Skipping Savannah, she headed directly to the sleepy beach town of Tybee Island. “When I first moved to Tybee, there were only 300 year round residents, now there are more than 3,000,” Ann recalls. “We always vacationed at the beach, so when I moved here, it was like I was on vacation....”

After moving to the coast, her Georgia career began in banking, followed by marketing at an accounting firm, but yoga was her passion. She attended four weeks of teacher training in Virginia in 2000, and began her yoga lifework on a part time basis. And it was then that Ann’s instructor presented her with her yoga spiritual name, Aikya, a Sanskrit word that means unity or oneness.

Yet Ann continued to work in the corporate world after becoming a certified yoga instructor, teaching classes in the evenings and customizing classes to suit clients. It wasn’t until a couple of years ago that she became a full time instructor and developed Aikya Yoga, and completely left the strictness of the business community behind.

During the winter months, Ann Carroll teaches various yoga classes at Savannah Yoga Center. They include pregnancy yoga, a couple’s toolbox class and a baby yoga class. But when the weather becomes consistently nice, usually by April or May, she teaches yoga beach side through October.

This class meets every Wednesday and Saturday mornings for at least an hour.

The group size ranges from a handful to

www.ChathamIslesLiving.com | January/February 2016

11

up to 20 participants. “I have the most beautiful studio. Being right on the beach, you never know what will happen out there.

More times than not we have dolphins playing in the water, but sometimes we may have trucks working on the beach. You just never know,” Ann said. Yet the distractions do not break their meditation.

Yoga is an ancient Eastern discipline dating back centuries, but modern Yoga is based on five basic principles - proper relaxation, proper exercise, proper breathing, proper diet and positive thinking and meditation, according to www.yogaprema.com. Those princples become the foundation for a healthy life.

“Yoga is just so good for everybody. It is really good for your body, but also for your mental status, such as stress management, including insomnia. Insomnia is not being able to turn off your brain to sleep,” Ann said. “Yoga helps you concentrate on one thing at a time, and block out all the mental chatter. For instance, focus on your breathing and only your breathing, letting everything else go. I have had people tell me that this has cured their insomnia.”

The practice of yoga can also help those suffering from physical ailments. If done on a regular basis, the benefits can be tremendous. People who suffer from diseases such as cancer, arthritis and autoimmune disorders, just to name a few, may see a lessening of their pain symptoms.

Weight management is another area where yoga is beneficial and people do not have to practice the most dynamic forms of yoga in order to lose weight. And the art of stretching and focusing can aid the cardiovascular system by lowering the heart rate and increasing oxygen uptake during exercise.

Babies also react to yoga; stretching and moving the baby can assist with digestion, thus making a happier baby.

That’s another wonderful thing about this discipline, Ann said, because anyone can do it. It doesn’t depend on your physical

12 January/February 2016 | www.ChathamIslesLiving.com

condition, there are positions and dynamics for all walks of life; it is an accommodating activity.

After you have practiced the yoga technique and acquired it as a daily routine, “You will actually build up a stress hardiness, a sense of peace that you take with you into the world,” Ann said.

Many companies now offer private lessons for yoga in the workplace. It removes the stress and allows employees to focus and relax; this can equal an increase in production.

Teaching others the art of postures, breathing and meditation is not the only métier for Ann Carroll. Before becoming a teacher of the spiritual practice, she started as a birthing doula. This is someone who assists a mom-to-be prepare for the birth of their baby through continuous emotional and physical support before, during and immediately after the birthing process. Ann brings a little extra to the table because of her history with relaxation. She teaches the expectant mothers breathing and how to relax during this process.

“These are first time moms, and sometimes they are having their second and third child, and I get to be a part of that,” Ann said, humbly. She has assisted with at least 70 births over the last 10 years. With the diverse classes she offers, Ann is able to build relationships with women as they are pregnant, during child birth and with baby and Mom after the birth.

With her radiant smile and sense of calmness, the lady from Tennessee has always had that zeal for a healthy, fit lifestyle. Routine yoga is important to get the full goodie, “I’m a Yogi and start every morning with it”, she said, and looking out onto the offing of the ocean, seeing her pals passing by on paddleboards when she is in full yoga mode, is pure Zen. After arming herself with the relaxation techniques of this Hindu spiritual practice, she faces the world, stress free.

“Yoga helps you concentrate on one thing at a time, and block out all the mental chatter. For instance, focus on your breathing and only your breathing, letting everything else go.�

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O T

Myria Shipman ne Of A Kind Program, One Of A Kind Teacher story by jeff whitten

here is a set of classrooms at Islands High School where dogs wag tails and cats purr and a chinchilla named Mrs. Bubbles peeks out bright-eyed at the world. It’s a happy place of learning, where ferrets and feathered friends coexist with sugar gliders and snakes while helping some of Chatham County’s best and brightest teens begin possible journeys towards careers in the veterinary sciences.

Much of what happens in those classrooms takes place under the tutelage of Myria Shipman, who teaches animal science, veterinary science and small animal care and management as part of what is said to be the state’s only Veterinary Science Specialty Program in Georgia. And like many teachers, Shipman, also the Future Farmers of America advisor at Islands, is young and bright and delights in her students, who appear to be devoted to her as well.

Hannah Moore, a senior, calls Shipman one of the best teachers she’s ever had, while Evan Mulherin said he has a ball in her classrooms. “I love it. I look forward to coming to this class every day,” he said.

Small wonder, given the subject matter. Shipman’s classes are more than just learning to fill prescriptions, take vitals, or put on a sterile gown and gloves -- though both are on the curriculum. It’s really about getting up close and personal with small animals, most of which are donated and stay at the school. It’s also just as much about getting out in the real world and doing good while learning skills that could translate into a career later on. Shipman’s students have worked as interns at Chatham Animal Hospital, Savannah Animal Care, Islands Veterinary Clinic and more, and like any good teacher, Shipman wants them to be ready for the world they’ll inherit.

“I want to do more than teach my students the material,” Shipman said. “I want to prepare them for life after high school. We spend a lot of time talking about colleges and majors. Through the FFA, students learn many career and leadership skills. My students volunteer at community events, vaccine clinics, the Humane Society, veterinary offices, Oatland Island and open houses.

They visit elementary and middle schools to teach agriculture awareness to those students. We have a great partnership with TailsSpin Pet Food Store. Students not only get real-life experience in animal settings, but they learn great public speaking

photos by luke smith

and communication skills by interacting with the public in many different settings.”

The Veterinary Science Speciality Program, which falls under the Career Technical Agricultural Education (CTAE for short) Department, is one of 23 such programs offered by the Savannah-Chathamn Public School System. It draws students from every district and, despite some fairly rigourous entry criteria, there is a waiting list. About 150 students are currently enrolled.

Half of them live on the Islands, and Islands High School is their “home school” The other half come from all over the district, and attend Islands for the Vet Specialty Program. In late January, her students will host the Islands High School Veterinary Science Invitational Career Development Event at Oatland Island Wildlife Center. Teams from all over Georgia will compete.

There is another aspect to the program, one which also helps sets Islands Veterinary Sciences Speciality Program and its FFA apart. Guide and therapy dogs provided by Florida-based Southeastern Guide Dogs begin their studies at the school, matched with student handlers who take care of the dogs and train them for roughly a year before they’re sent back to Southeastern.

“It’s definitely a huge component of our program,” Shipman said.

One such dog, Kyle, a black lab with the breed’s laid-back and friendly disposition, goes everywhere with his handler, Christel-Ann Ramus, and will walk the stage with her when she graduates this spring. In August, Kyle will be returned to Southeastern to go through “puppy university,” as Ramus called it. Kyle is the second lab she’s taken responsibility for and the eighth since the program started at Islands in 2013.

“The teacher here before me, Mrs. Zador, went to a conference and met someone from Southeastern and we were the first school they approached about students raising puppies for them. We became a pilot school to see if it would work in a school system.”

So far, two of the dogs who began classes at Islands have been matched with humans as guide dogs. Two more have become therapy dogs for veterans. It is a labor of love for the students and for the teachers who grow attached to the dogs but know they’re destined for a greater purpose.

“It’s an emotional week the last week the dogs are here,” Shipman said, whose own dog, an attached dachshund named Ellie, is never far away. www.ChathamIslesLiving.com | January/February 2016

17

“My biggest goal is to make Islands High School the premiere veterinary science program in the state, and I feel we are accomplishing that,” Shipman said.

“I’ve very fortunate to have an administration that is enthusiastic about the program and supports it wholeheartedly. I also have great community involvement and the best students ever.”

The veterinary science program at Islands High might exist without Shipman, but it’s almost as if she was born to be where she is and doing what she does. A Savannah native, Shipman grew up on Wilmington Island, surrounded by pets and on horseback. She first attended school at Nativity, which became St. Peters, and then St. Vincent’s Academy. Shipman then went to the University of Georgia, where she earned both a bachelor’s in Animal Science and a master’s in Agricultural Education.

Along the way, Shipman stayed in the saddle. She rode “hunt seat” for the UGA equestrian team -- and was varsity her last two years -- helping the team win back-to-back national and SEC titles. Shipman also was a member of the UGA Horse Judging Team and the UGA Block and Bridle Club, and she won SEC academic honors, was on the dean’s list and was as member of Sigma Alpha sorority.

Shipman is married now, and her husband Aaron grew up on Tybee. They have two kids, Aiden and Charlotte, a dog Ellie and a cat named Mr. Cattie. Much of their life centers around doing things with their children and being close to the water, perhaps following shrimp boats to see the dolphins, while much of what Shipman does as a teacher is just an extension of who she’s always been.

“I’ve always loved animals and wanted to do something with them,” Shipman said. “I also thought I might like teaching. I liked kids. I enjoyed babysitting and being a camp counselor. When I got to college, I learned about agricultural education. I remember thinking, ‘wow, I can teach kids all about animals. That’s the perfect combination.’ And I still think it’s perfect. I have the best job there is. I love to see the excitement in these students when they come into my classroom. I love opening their minds to all areas of agriculture.”

After graduation, Shipman, who also is certified to teach math, got her first job teaching at South Effingham High School. She spent nine good years there as an agricultural science teacher, but it required either moving or commuting back and forth from her home on Wilmington Island. She wasn’t about to move off the island.

“It’s quite a drive,” Shipman said. “But once you get to that first bridge and you see the water and the marsh, that made the drive worth it.”

Then, two years ago, she learned of the opening at Islands High. “I knew I had to get it. It was perfect for me,” Shipman said, and so it seems to be, for both the teacher and her students. Those she has now, and those to come. Because Shipman doesn’t seem to be the type to stand still. She has plans for the program.

“My biggest goal is to make Islands High School the premiere veterinary science program in the state, and I feel we are accomplishing that,” Shipman said. “I’ve very fortunate to have an administration that is enthusiastic about the program and supports it wholeheartedly. I also have great community involvement and the best students ever.”

There’s this, too, from the teacher as students expertly handle everything from an ice-cream colored bearded dragon to a well-fed tomcat. Birds sit on shoulders, eggs incubate in an incubator, and a pair of tiny sugar gliders hardly bigger than a tangerine eat the fruit while the the aforementioned Mrs. Bubbles, the chinchilla donated when its former owner went off to college, tries to decide whether it wants to be photographed.

“We try to get some cool critters in here,” Shipman said.

“It’s always fun.”

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22 January/February 2016 | www.ChathamIslesLiving.com

Mark Simons

M

Making A Difference With The Islands YMCA story by katrice williams

ark Simons knows he is blessed. Mark, a Savannah native, is presently the district vice-president of the YMCA of Coastal Georgia and the branch director of the Islands Family YMCA on Whitemarsh Island. He feels privileged to be a part of the YMCA family and considers it to be an undeniable blessing. Mark and his wife Phyllis moved to Wilmington Island several years ago along with their daughter Ashley and son Caleb, who are now both successful young adult professionals.

Being active is definitely no foreign concept to Mark, a Savannah High School graduate who earned his degree from Armstrong State University and was a four year letterman in baseball. After graduating from college, Mark was a health and physical education teacher in Savannah for a couple of years. However, he soon became acclimated with what would prove to be a significant part of his destiny. Mark was offered the opportunity to have a career with the YMCA of Coastal Georgia. He is now beginning his 27th year with the organization. Mark started his journey in 1989 at the Habersham YMCA in Savannah where he filled the roles of youth sports director, program director and camp director. He was later promoted to the position of branch director of the West Chatham YMCA in Pooler, where he worked about five years and then embraced an opportunity at the Southside YMCA, serving as branch director for over seven years prior to filling his present position.

Mark expresses a ton of gratitude for all the wonderful opportunities afforded him over the years at the YMCA. “I believe it was truly divinely directed, and I think God directed my steps in making that decision. When I started with the Y, I found out really what the YMCA was all about, which is the Young Men’s Christian Association. I’m glad I made the decision to make it my career,” he said.

Mark takes a great deal of pride in working for an organization that upholds exemplary values, principles and standards.

“We are truly a Christian organization, and our mission is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all,” Mark states.

What’s more, Mark knows that the YMCA is ultimately about serving people. He understands that without the people who come through the doors each day, there would be no YMCA. Mark says, “I think back to what our newly retired CEO Randy Bugos said a few years back. I remember him saying something, and it has always stuck with me… ‘What do we do at the Y?’ He asked that at a staff retreat. We help people; that’s what we do.

We’re so much more.”

Mark and the Islands YMCA team has been able to establish a much grounded organization at their branch which definitely coincides with all that the overall YMCA organization prioritizes concerning public health and wellness. The branch plans to diligently strive “to make an impact on more lives in 2016.”

photos by miranda osborn In fact, the Islands Family YMCA offers a variety of beneficial programs to their members. Some of them include pre-school and childcare, summer camp, senior adult fitness class, gymnastics and year-round water aerobics. There are 10 personal trainers on staff, while there is also a trained masseuse available.

A 32-piece equipment fitness center for members and guests is also readily accessible. With about 85 exercise classes held per week, there are a variety of sessions to participate in, including zumba, pilates and yoga classes. All class costs are included in the membership fee. In February, the branch is adding LIVESTRONG at the YMCA, a free 12-week program designed to support cancer survivors while helping them regain strength and quality of life, whether in remission, undergoing treatment or even those newly diagnosed.

The YMCA recognizes how critical the awareness and support of the entire cause is and refuses to take it lightly. Additionally, a new Blood Pressure Monitoring Program is being introduced for a nominal fee. It is a self-monitoring program to help individuals with blood pressure concerns, treatment and ultimately awareness and prevention. Furthermore, a one-year long Diabetes Prevention Program is already available to help individuals make valuable, life-long health changes. And, of course, a variety of youth sports are offered to help keep kids healthy and active.

An “Activate Coach” is available for all new members. Each coach is trained to work with individuals one-on-one with their fitness and health endeavors. Whether helping with workout goals, healthy lifestyle changes or even educating them on fitness machine use, the coach is there to help with a numerous amount of concerns and monitor the individual’s progress over a six week period. Upon staying active for six weeks, the participant gets a nice, little surprise.

Mark insists, “We try to get those people plugged into what the Y is all about, because it’s not just about the fitness equipment that we have or the pool. We’re not just a gym and a swim. It’s about the whole person. It’s about the relationships that are built with the other members and our staff. I think that’s definitely the difference between us and other folks. I think we have the atmosphere…not only the Christian atmosphere, but it’s the family atmosphere here we have at the Y; that’s what we’re about.”

The family at the Islands Y wants to afford everyone the opportunity to be as healthy as possible.

“We don’t turn anybody away for financial reasons. If somebody can’t afford to participate as a member, we offer financial assistance for those that need our help. At this branch alone, we invest over $200,000 in community benefit offerings and direct financial assistance each year in all of our programs,” Mark said.

He does not hesitate at all to give credit where it is due—to all the volunteers who selflessly give of themselves to make the organization a success. There is a group of volunteers at each branch.

The Islands Branch itself has about 200 volunteers each year, www.ChathamIslesLiving.com | January/February 2016

23

while about 30 are on the Board of Managers.

Mark states, “One of the most important things about the YMCA is that we are a volunteer-driven organization. We have a great group of volunteers that help us in all our programs. The Y is about our volunteers and serving people.”

The Islands Family YMCA employs nine full-time staff members and about 100 part-time staff members throughout the year to help the branch run successfully on a daily basis. Mark is privileged to have two pastors who they are “very blessed to have serve on the board.” The branch takes great seriousness in recruiting the right individuals for the various roles.

Mark mentions, “You want to get the right people on the bus that has a great attitude and a heart to help people and a heart to want to serve—a servant’s heart. All of our staff is that way.”

Mark is incredibly grateful for the help given by his program directors, including Marissa Tartall, membership director; Leah Boyd, fitness & aquatics director; Carol Tanrath, gymnastics director; Amanda Divelbiss and Adrian Sims, gymnastics coordinating assistants; Jimmy Stettler, sports director; Michael Whitten, childcare & day camp director and Jason Raub, facility manager.

He feels that having a good chemistry is important in working together to have a “winning team.” He knows that incorporating very important, non-negotiable principles are crucial to success.

“It goes back to the golden rule of treating others as you’d like to be treated. I want our staff to try to run the best programs that we can possibly run and make good decisions,” Mark says.

Moreover, the members are the foundation of the organization, so the Islands YMCA family works hard to be sure not to compromise the service they provide to their members.

24 January/February 2016 | www.ChathamIslesLiving.com

“We have a great group of members here too; we have a great member base that loves our YMCA. If you ask most folks, we’re probably one of the hubs of the island, and we’re glad of that. Our staff really tries hard to make sure we take care of our members, because without our members, we don’t have a Y,” Mark declares.

The organization still has other future health and wellness campaign goals. Some include a focus in obesity education. There is also a plan underway to explore teen self-help initiatives.

Mark speaks fondly of a couple of individuals that he sees as mentors. He appreciates Randy Bugos, “the first person who gave him an opportunity 27 years ago to work for the Y.” He also mentions Danny McConnell, CEO of the Augusta Family YMCA. Concerning Danny, Mark says, “He’s been like a mentor but also a brother, and he’s one of my golf buddies.”

As much as Mark enjoys what he does at the YMCA, he appreciates and enjoys the other precious parts of life. He has a big heart for his family and treasures the moments that they spend together.

“I love spending time with my family,” he states.

Mark also likes sports. There are two sports that he has been really fond of for a long time now—fishing and golf.

He says with a smile, “I love playing golf and fishing. I love my golf buddies.”

Mark Simons, along with the team at the Islands Family YMCA, is determined to do a lot of good in the lives of others.

Mark has had a long and successful journey with the YMCA, and the future for he and the organization looks very bright. In his own words, “I’m thankful to the Lord for giving me the opportunity to work for such a great organization.”

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25

Betty

26 January/February 2016 | www.ChathamIslesLiving.com

T. Dixon:

Answering The Call in Public Health Services story by katrice williams photos by miranda osborn

B

etty T. Dixon, who is one of seven children, knew that she wanted to be a nurse at an early age. Her dad Robert W. Tonning, Jr. was a lieutenant colonel in the Army. During WWII, he handled various aspects of the military’s transportation services, including retrofitting passenger cars to serve as ambulances for wounded soldiers who were being transported home. Moreover, Betty’s mom Anne Tonning devoted herself to raising their seven children and had a rewarding career as a registered nurse.

World-Renowned English Cleric and Author Charles Caleb Cotton (1780-1832) once said that “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” Well, Betty knows that all too well. In fact, her professional career was immensely inspired by her mom.

Betty asserts, “With seven children, someone’s always got a cut or a scrape, and my mom could always take care of us, and I thought…that’s what I want to be when I grow up. She was the main influence, because she could do anything.”

Betty remembers some of the little silly childhood stunts that she tried to pull on her mom, but never got away with. She mentions a couple of instances that she attempted to get out of going to school, especially since she knew that a long-dreaded test was awaiting her once she made it there. She soon found that the friction produced while intensely rubbing an old, mercury thermometer between her bed covers could help her cause.

However, her mom was well aware of that trick.

Betty smiles and says, “With a temperature reading of 107 degrees, she kind of clued in on that one pretty quickly.”

Betty’s mom took a great deal of pride in the health and wellness of her family and taught her children the value of maintaining healthy lifestyles.

“All seven of us were very healthy. We only went to the doctor if we had a broken bone or needed vaccines,” she says.

With such a healthy upbringing, Betty didn’t see others experience a lot of different health issues until she had gotten older. Consequently, she knew that she wanted to make a difference in their lives.

Betty, a Waycross, Georgia native moved to Wilmington Island about 20 years ago along with her husband Donnie, son Harry and daughter Kelly. Betty received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Valdosta State University, a Masters in Health Administration from Armstrong State University and a Doctor of Public Health from Georgia Southern University. She is currently director of Nursing and Clinical Services for eight counties in Georgia, including Chatham, Effingham, Bryan, Liberty, McIntosh, Glynn, Camden and Long. There are about 80 nurses that work for the public health sector within these counties. She knows that the primary responsibility of public health is to invoke awareness and focus on www.ChathamIslesLiving.com | January/February 2016

27

“I have been very fortunate that I have been able to work with several excellent nurses and physicians…been able to pull from them. Savannah is very fortunate to have good healthcare systems that have a good medical staff. We really all do learn from each other.” preventative services including vaccinations.

“The role of public health is to promote, to educate, to protect and to prevent,” she reveals.

Betty started her career in pediatrics, where “she saw sick children and parents who were very concerned but really didn’t know how to care for them.”

Betty understands that some children rarely see examples of good health and nutrition practices. She knows that without providing children and their parents with the proper education on nutrition and overall healthy behaviors that it can be difficult to make healthy lifestyle choices.

Betty comments, “We all struggle with nutrition. You would not have a thoroughbred horse and feed it french fries and soda, so why would you do that with your body and with your children’s bodies? Slow down and think…What am I doing, and why am I doing it, and is this helpful? You want to be able to enjoy the life that you live.”

Betty knows that healthy children equates to healthy and productive adults. She feels that it’s necessary for society to understand and embrace that reality.

“It’s easier to train a young child and to train parents, because they want the best for their children. It is a captive audience…to teach them why they’re doing it--for their children. With children, it’s easier to instill good habits than to break bad habits. This is our work force in 20 years; I think we’ll all invest in that. On an individual basis, it is hard for people because it’s habits, it’s convenience and it’s a cost. Eating healthy can be more expensive, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be more expensive…spend time to research what’s best,” says Betty.

28 January/February 2016 | www.ChathamIslesLiving.com

Moreover, Betty, along with other public health professionals, feels that “a major component in public health clinics is immunizations (vaccinations)”. Betty diligently strives to make sure that as many people as possible understand the importance of vaccinations.

She confirms, “Every child that goes to school has to be immunized, because we don’t want that child to infect the other children. The Board of Education feels we all need good schools and good teachers. But just as important, that child needs to be in school learning. The number of days a child spends in school correlates directly with later success in life. They’ve got to be there to learn. The key is vaccines. We strongly advocate vaccines— staying up-to-date and current with vaccinations. That is the best prevention.”

The public health arena offers families that may be in need of assistance with a multitude of programs, especially children’s special service programs. This includes children’s medical service programs that help medically fragile children—some who may have difficulty walking or just independently functioning from day to day. A case manager becomes part of the medical team of physicians to offer assistance. There is also a Babies Can’t Wait Program that is offered to parents with children up to three years of age. It’s a readiness program for kids who may need a little help to insure that they’re ready to start school. Such children may have a speech impediment or some other concerning issue. Therapists go into the home to help bring the child to their highest potential.

Children First, another program, helps new moms, especially those with multiple births, adjust to motherhood up until their children are five years old. Whether educating the moms on feed-

ings, baby and mom sleeping adjustments or just assisting with overall health concerns, the childcare specialist is there to help.

The WIC Program (Women, Infants & Children) has aided babies and mothers for a long time now and continues to put a focus on nutrition to make sure that young children and moms are able to access healthy foods and beverages.

Furthermore, public health services offer a variety of other programs, such as tuberculosis control, HIV/AIDS programs, emergency preparedness programs, family planning programs and public awareness programs—aiding in the treatment of various illnesses.

Concerning the disease-related programs, Betty says, “We’re the first line of defense. We go out and find those cases and treat the contacts to make sure that we’re stopping the spread of the disease.”

Betty mentions some of her professional goals, including helping with an accreditation process that public health services is working on. She feels that it will institute a lot of good changes in the public health system.

“It will make us more accountable, because we will be really looking at what we’re doing and setting measurement goals,” says Betty.

Additionally, Betty wants public health nurses to be “educated and credentialed” in order to be effective in all that they do to service the public. She firmly believes that education is the foundation of a successful public health program. Betty wants to keep nurses “informed and up-to-date so that they can offer a quality product in the eight counties.”

Betty mentions a greatly admired personal mentor, Dr. Diane Weems, a pediatrician on Modena Island, who she has had the honor of working closely with for many years. Betty is also appre-

ciative to have worked with many outstanding medical professionals over the years.

She says, “I have been very fortunate that I have been able to work with several excellent nurses and physicians…been able to pull from them. Savannah is very fortunate to have good healthcare systems that have a good medical staff. We really all do learn from each other.”

Betty is proud of several of her noteworthy achievements and mentions one in particular.

“I’ve been very fortunate to present a study that I did on vaccines at the National Institute of Health. I’ve been there twice and presented on the HPV vaccine,” Betty states.

Betty loves the time she has with family and friends. Her family is near and dear to her. Actually, she has come to have a new love in her life, her 2 month old grandson Jack, who she just loves to pieces.

While going through some of his photos, she smiles tenderly and says, “He is just so cute; he is just precious.”

In her spare time, Betty likes to travel. She also really enjoys a couple of other pastimes—playing cards and reading. She and her husband spend most Friday nights playing cards with three or four other couples on Wilmington Island. Betty laughs and talks about the book club that she’s a part of. She is very fond of the club, and it has a quite catchy name as well—Babes with Books.

All in all, Betty wants to live life to the fullest and finds satisfaction in helping others along the way. She has had a notable profession in public health services. She continues to press forward and feels passionately about her career.

“Public Health is available; what we do, we do very well. We’re here to be accessed,” she said.

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New Years Eve in the Fifties

story and photos by judy helmey Well, this is me Little Baby Captain Judy Helmey. I am sitting on the back deck of my father’s wooden boat named Miss Jerry. This boat was named after my mother. In the back ground is the very wonderful, back then, grand Oglethorpe Hotel better known by most as the Sheraton Savannah Inn and Country Club!

I

The Old Oglethorpe Hotel…better known as the old Sheraton Hotel…now condominiums…etc

n the early thirties, on Wilmington Island, down a long narrow road, the Oglethorpe Hotel was built in all its grander. This was a local hotspot for many, from the rich to the famous to the regular. It was a great place to stay, to eat, and to party hard. The fact of the matter is back in old days especially on New Year Eve, this was the “Go to Spot!” If you want to take a “look see” I found a sight that had some pretty neat old time hotel pictures…go to http://www.sip.armstrong.edu/Oglethorpe/FullView/Ogle_ Img115.html Since I wasn’t around in the thirties I had to rely on what Daddy had to say about this place. Believe me he had plenty…According to my father this hotel wasn’t built because it was going to be the perfect tourist destination spot. As you read earlier this magnificent hotel was built on isolated out of the way Wilmington Island. My father always told me that Wilmington Island was sort of a “dropping off and picking up area.” In other words, “liquor was brought in from the sea, packed onto trucks, and

32 January/February 2016 | www.ChathamIslesLiving.com

transported right down that lonely narrow road right out of town.

This story could go on forever and maybe it will later. However, I really wanted to write about the “New Year’s Eve Balls” at the Oglethorpe Hotel.

However, before I go into the New Year’s Eve Ball, I must tell you this one last thing about the hotel. On the grounds was as 18-hole golf course. The fact of the matter is it was considered “World Class” golfing at it’s finest! After all according to daddy, those that were players in this particular transportation industry were sometimes golfers. After all those mafia types always played it in the show “Sopranos!” Believe me, this is one of my favorite shows. I know if dear old Captain Dad were still here with us, it would be his too!

Here’s what daddy had to say about the allegedly gangster activities at Oglethorpe Hotel golf course…. “In Las Vegas they buried their dead in the desert. On Wilmington Island they buried them on the golf course!” The fact of the matter is my father was a very smart man. However, there is no way he could have

made all this stuff up, because he knew too much detailed information about it. When I remember about the past I write it down as soon as I can!

All I want to know is where is that publisher that wants to write a book about all of my father’s wild adventures? Here’s one for you. In the fifties a certified book publisher that wanted to do his story approached my father with a deal. They wanted him to talk and they would do all the writing. My father quickly declined this great offer. Over the years he mentioned the book offer from time to time. I never really thought about asking him why until one day when it finally crossed my mind to do so. I asked him, “Why didn’t you let them write about all these great things that you experienced?” His answer was quick and to the point. Daddy said, “I was afraid it would affect you!” I still had to ask, “why?”

This answer came quick also. Daddy explained, “Some of those involved were still living and still had outside ties to the so called Underworld!” According to my father “really talking about it at this time wasn’t an option!”

I know I need to get back to the story at hand. My grandmother, who I didn’t see much after the age of 8 years old, (another story) lived and worked at the Oglethorpe Hotel. The bottom line was for the time that she was around and especially on New Year Eve I normally spent the night. She worked in the laundry room, which was located in the underground part of the hotel. As a small child, when I stayed with her, I pretty much got to know the hotel from “bottoms up!” It seemed after a few inspections that all areas such as the dining rooms and kitchen as well as the ballroom could be accessed from this area. So therefore the more I exercised my right as a child to sneak around while no was looking especially my grandmother, the more I discovered..

There was this one room besides the kitchen that I loved to

sneak around to. I called it the “green room,” but I think it was actually called the “Emerald Ball Room.” Now that name certainly does ring a big bell. There was a place in downtown Savannah called the “Emerald Room” if I’m not mistaken. I believe daddy visited there a lot too! I know I’m rambling.

The Emerald Room at the hotel was so special at least to me, because it had these long green velvet curtains. The windows in this place must have been 20 feet tall. Please remember as a child things can and do get a little exaggerated! However, this is what I remember for sure!

While looking about one early New Year’s Eve I watched as these guys with tall white hats chipped away at large blocks of colored ice. It looked like they were going to make swans, ducks, or some sort of bird shape. Others dressed in black and white attire placed colorful parties favors all over the tables covered with starched white tablecloths. After a while I become bored and backed out of there. As the evening went on I kept thinking about the ice figures and them just melting right away. It kind of made me sad. This particular thought probably only lasted about one minute.

My ultimate main goal was to go to sleep fast and wake up early so as to get ready for daddy to pick me up. As a young child I really didn’t know what all the fuss was about in regards to New Years Eve night. However, I have to admit that I was always anxious about getting my hands on those big party hats, blowouts, and noisemakers that daddy was going to bring me straight from the “Green Room!” What he didn’t know was I was there before him! As a child I had a wonderful life and as an adult it’s even better! Here’s wishing all my readers a Happy New Year! Thanks for reading! Captain Judy Helmey Miss Judy Charters

Judy and Dad on Miss Jerry

www.ChathamIslesLiving.com | January/February 2016

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY FISHING FORECAST FISHING REPORTS FROM CAPTAIN JUDY

For fishermen out there that just want to give fishing during this time of the year a try there are lot of catching opportunities.

And of course, you have options: You can use your boat or mine!

INSHORE FISHING By the time the months of January/ February rolls around the inshore fish that are migrating have left and the ones that are staying have gone into the hibernation mode. Spotted sea trout during this time are normally wintering in deep holes in the rivers or sounds. Best way to catch spotted sea trout when in the hibernation mode is use small saltwater or freshwater jigs rigged with curly or paddle tails. As far as main line I am from the old school and like to use 6 to 10 lb test monofilament, because of the extra stretch cushion it adds.

Those that prefer braided type main line, it will also work. However you need to make sure the drag set matches the main line used. Spotted sea trout have soft mouths and a hook can easily be pulled free. The best freshwater jigs that I have found that really work are http://www.jiffyjigs.com/ index.html I like to use 1/16 and 1/24 jig heads with an assorted colors of curly tails.

My favorite curly jig color combinations are a white jig head with white curly tail and red jig head with chartreuse flake.

Another favorite is a white jig or a plain lead (no paint) jig head rigged with your personal best curly tail. The secret when using any kind of soft bait in cold water is that it should be smaller and worked slower than usual. The best method when fishing a deep hole is to cast in the deepest part letting your lure hit the bottom, wait, reel a few times, wait, and repeat. Then I suggest casting lure to the sides of the hole so as to work this area. The secret to getting solid hits during cold water times is to work your lure as slow as you can while still keeping it near or right on the bottom.

There is an old saying, “To get a trout’s attention during hibernating mode you almost have to hit them right on top of the head with the lure!”

The inshore red fish bite can be very good, but you got to know the rules.

During cold water times the red fish senses are better tuned meaning they can see and hear better. This fish stays in high alert mode, because of their two main predators.

At this time it’s the dolphin aka porpoises and the fishermen. They definitely fear the porpoises more than man. Porpoises

are very diligent in knowing where to wait and how long to get a quick meal. Where you have porpoises staging you most likely have red fish schooling to the inshore!

The best artificial baits are going to be flukes rigged weed less. The golden bream and ice five inch Strike King Zoom flukes are proven baits. Don’t be afraid to lay a bead of some sort of fish sauce into the grove of this artificial bait. Fresh frozen pawn shrimp pieces and mullet steaks will also work. Adding and dipping your bait whether it is the real deal or not is going to only entice the bite! And whatever you do, when you do get a bite, give them time to eat!

ARTIFICIAL REEFS The artificial reefs located in less than 50 feet of water are holding the winter migration of Sheepshead. These fish are going to be staging on the wrecks that offer the most vertical feeding opportunity.

Before heading out make sure you know the coordinates for the wreck that you are going to fish. To get all information on Georgia’s artificial reefs go to http://coastalgadnr.org/node/2089 The best baits for this fish is going to be anything wrapped in a shell such as a purple back fiddlers, black back fiddlers, barnacles, green mussels, oysters, and shrimp. It is best to anchor over wreck, drop using Carolina style rig to the bottom, and then reel your bait up a couple of feet into the water column. Once you have either had a bite or caught a Sheepshead I suggest staying were you are. Sheepshead bites can come in flurries and then stop completely. I suggest when the bite stops not to relocate, but to re-situate your bait.

Then I suggest waiting until the school makes its way back around to the wreck area that you are fishing over.

TROPHY RED FISH OFFSHORE Trophy red fish migrate to the offshore water during the cold water times. The can be found schooling near the beachfronts, around offshore sandbars, and on the artificial reefs. These fish are normally schooling and feeding on some sort of bait that they have corralled. I have caught

34 January/February 2016 | www.PoolerMagazine.com

them on 4 ounce single tube diamond jigs and Spro buck tail hair jigs. Best colors tubes have been red and green. And best color jig hair combinations have been white on white and blue on white. For those fishermen that prefer using real bait, I suggest squid and shrimp laced on to 4/0 J or circle hooks fished directly on the bottom. Please remember red fish that are caught in federal waters (ocean) are protected and have to be released! During this time, some of this trophy red fish being caught have been up to 45 inches long please handle with care. However, plenty of pictures can be taken!

SAVANNAH SNAPPER BANKS The bottom fishing is always very good especially when you bait your hooks with plain old cut squid. If using live bait I suggest lip hooking sand perch, rock bass, juvenile vermilion, and tomtates also known as ruby red lips. Please remember grouper season is closed and will not open until May 1, 2016. The naval towers located at the banks R 7 3149.000/8016.500, M2R6 3132.000/8014.000, and R2 3122.500/8034.000 sometimes hold the interest of African pompano. Although this is not a fish that we normally catch in this area this is the time we see them!

Best bait is going to be the live ones such as a tomtates, menhaden, horny belly, or lookdown. The best presentation is either going to be hooking up live bait under some sort of traditional adjustable cork or basic free lining letting it just swim

Everett Gordon and his just caught black sea bass. In the fish counting world this was Everett’s 25th fish!

naturally. We normally try both methods in order to seal this catching deal!

GULF STREAM This is the time of the year, when you happen to get good weather predictions, to make blue water run. Trolling for Wahoo, king mackerel, and black fin tuna can offer one heck of a catching affair. Dolphin aka mahi mahi are few and far between during this time, but hook ups are still possible.

Finding a well defined edge at the stream during this time of the year can be done, but there is not that many large fish or schools of bait lining it. Your best bet is to know the coordinates of all ledges, holes, and live bottoms areas where you intend on fishing. When departing Savannah, Georgia I suggest always heading to the South Ledge area. (3106.416 /7955.300 coordinate for South Ledge) This ledge has always held the interest of top water fish as well as bait during this time of the year. Best rigged

baits are going to be chin weighted dink ballyhoo pulled naked and medium/large ballyhoo pulled on black or black/ red Ilanders. I suggest rigging small dinks baits with 60 pound test fluorocarbon and medium/ large ballyhoo with 80 to 100 pound test wire leader. When it comes to pulling the artificial stuff I always suggest not forgetting cedar plugs that have been soaked in menhaden. I always suggest pulling a couple of birds in your trolling spread. I pull No Alibi dolphin delights about 5 feet behind my birds. My preferred combination colors are pink/white and blue/white.

If your trolling spread doesn’t produce, then I suggest dropping to the bottom. Best bait is going to be cut ballyhoo, squid, and cut fish. Or I suggest giving deepwater jigging a try! The best news for you is that I have tried all of these suggestions, they have worked, and they are already proven by fish bites received! This all boils down to any fish that you wish!

Captain Judy Helmey, Zach Seal holding his just caught trophy red fish, and Trey Gordon.

www.ChathamIslesLiving.com | January/February 2016

35

Let ’s Go Fishing!

INSHORE • OFFSHORE • SIGHT SEEING

2016 Inshore Fishing Clinics February 20, 2016

Saturday in classroom $90.00 per person Continental breakfast and lunch included Place: Tubby’s Tank House 2909 River Drive, Thunderbolt, GA Time: 8:00 AM till 2:00 PM

October 29, 2015,Christopher Miller is holding up a large amberjack also known as a reef donkey!

February 21, 2016

Sunday on inshore boats in the water $125.00 per person Time: 8:00AM till12:00 NOON Snacks and drinks provided by Captain Judy Place: Miss Judy Charters dock, 202 Wilmington Island Road, Savannah, GA

Miss udy Charters

Trolling & Bottom Fishing • Heavy & Light Tackle • Multiple Boats Fishing License, All Bait & Tackle Supplied

912-897-4921 • WWW.MISSJUDYCHARTERS.COM

36 January/February 2016 | www.PoolerMagazine.com

Luke Smith

PHOTOGRAPHY LukeSmithPhotography.net (912) 547-9080

www.ChathamIslesLiving.com | January/February 2016

37

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