17 minute read
Roy Griffin, Jr. & The Effingham Bulldogs
ROY GRIFFIN, JR. & THE EFFINGHAM BULLDOGS: “V” is for Victory & Village
Roy Griffin, Jr. is the founder and basketball director of the Effingham Bulldogs. He has also coached for the Effingham County Recreation & Parks Department, under the leadership of Athletic Director Clarence Morgan, for 13 years. Roy, an Effingham native, has long possessed a true heart for kids—to inspire, to mentor, to coach. “I feel I owe it to God, and then myself, to help when I can. He’s put it in my heart,” said Roy.
The Bulldogs are Born
About three years ago, Roy was motivated to start his own travel basketball organization, feeling that it would be a rewarding opportunity for kids in the community. And the Effingham Bulldogs were born. The Bulldogs began with two groups at the time: a varsity team and a fifth-grade team. Travel sports are usually played at a more competitive level than regular recreational sports. Over time, the program grew, and Roy recruited a variety of talent, ranging from fifth to eleventh grade.
“Coaching and mentoring has always been my passion. I felt it was a good idea to give kids the opportunity to play a game that they love and to keep them occupied,” he said.
Roy is grateful to Clarence Morgan and staff for “providing facilities to practice and develop the players.”
The season workouts usually begin in January. Prospective players are introduced to various drills and skillrelated evaluations. Regular practices commence, and tournaments normally begin in March.
Roy coaches his eighth-grade group, but he is proud of his entire organization, especially after seeing all their growth and development over the years. “We had to learn how to lose before we could learn how to win,” he joked.
Hard Work Has Its Reward
The Bulldogs have become very familiar with winning. In fact, this season has been phenomenal: • In late March, they competed in the
Inaugural BJ Classic Tournament in Jacksonville, Florida, where the ninth-grade boys’ team and 10thgrade girls’ team placed 2nd. • In April, the group participated in the Garden City Jam Fest in Augusta.
There, the seventh-grade boys placed 2nd, and the ninth-grade boys won their first championship. • In early May, the teams traveled to Jacksonville again to compete in the
River City Classic; the seventh-grade boys placed 2nd, and the eighthgrade boys won the championship. • In mid-May, the Bulldogs competed in the Mega Hoops Session in
Atlanta; both the eighth-grade and ninth-grade boys’ teams brought the championship home, while the 10thgrade boys placed 2nd. • Following all those wins, the teams went to a basketball “showdown” in
Charleston, South Carolina.
“My eighth, ninth, and 10th-grade boys and girls all won the championship in Charleston. That was three in a row for the eighth-grade boys and two in a row for the ninth-grade boys. That’s never happened in our organization. It was definitely something to be proud of,” Coach Roy declared.
As a reward for winning the championship, the Bulldogs earned a free bid to select an upcoming tournament to participate in. They chose the USC Aiken Tournament, held at the end of July in Aiken, South Carolina.
The Bulldogs recently hosted their own tournament in Springfield at the new Clarence E. Morgan Gymnasium. The sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade boys all
won the championship; the 10th-grade girls won 2nd place.
“We defended our home court,” the proud coach stated.
Due to their fantastic season, the Bulldogs were invited to the 2021 United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) National Basketball Tournament in Kissimmee, Florida. Some of the most talented young athletes from around the country, including Puerto Rico, traveled to “compete under one roof.” In an impressive showing of skill and fortitude, the sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade boys made it to the semi-finals; the ninth- grade boys and 10th-grade girls placed 2nd.
“It was a proud moment for the organization. They represented well. It was a great experience for the kids. They stayed at a lovely resort, so they had a little fun, too,” Coach Roy said.
Beyond the Ball Game
Roy loves teaching his players about the game, but he loves inspiring them to be well-rounded young adults even more.
“Everything isn’t about winning. It’s about developing life skills—being able to network with different people and work with each other for a common goal. It’s about having respect and putting in the work. It’s about leadership, responsibility, commitment to life’s endeavors, and never giving up on dreams,” he stated.
Having an organization of genuinely dedicated individuals has made a lot of those dreams a reality. Roy is sincerely appreciative to everyone who has helped to make the Bulldogs a success.
“I have the best support cast that I could ever ask for. My coaches are one of a kind, hands-down. The work they put in speaks volumes. I’m so proud of how faithful this group has been—the coaches, parents, and kids. The coaches work hard, the parents support the
vision, and the kids are committed. The Bulldogs are one, big family,” he remarked. Roy is chairman of HYPE (Helping Young People Excel) OUTREACH MINISTRIES, INC., an organization designed to help young people live If we don’t invest in our youth, “ positive, productive lives. Whether hosting back-to-school drives or offering other beneficial resources, the organization has been an asset we cannot expect a high gain. to many children in the local area. We have to make the sacrifice “I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with kids in the community. … we have to be the village. “ It has truly been a blessing and is so fulfilling,” he said.
Giving Credit Where it is Due
Roy is forever thankful to his family, including his loving wife Chiaketa, daughter Rokayla, and two sons Dantevius and Jabari, all of whom have supported his dream and vision over the years … every meeting, practice, or out-of-town tournament. Roy is also immensely grateful for his parents Roy and Delma. He is certain he could not do it without them all and feels utterly blessed. n
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REO’s Cabinetry is a local company who sells and installs high quality kitchen, bathroom, and other residential cabinetry. They are experts in designing kitchen spaces—they can design the kitchen of your dreams for your new home construction or work with you in choosing the perfect upgrade and remodel cabinets for your existing home. They offer multiple lines across a range of prices, from affordable cabinets suitable for rentals to high end custom home cabinetry.
Ray Oldland, owner of REO’s Cabinetry, is 100% hands on and personally supervises every job. After many years in the home construction business, he decided to specialize in high quality cabinetry work and has been in the cabinet business since 1989. Founded in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, REO’s Cabinetry has been in the Effingham area for eight years, and their showroom in Rincon has been open for two years.
“We sell and install good quality cabinets,” says Ray. “The quality of the service you get from myself and our team is our customers’ number one compliment. The team is courteous, honest, and respectful of your home and needs. My installers have been with us for years and they are all extremely customer service orientated.”
Current trends in home design include the popular white Shaker, custom closets, built-ins, custom workstations, and distinctive sinks. In addition to cabinets, REO’s Cabinetry is also a Kraus dealer, a maker of exceptional modern, high quality kitchen sinks and bath products. They are members of the NKBA (the National Kitchen & Bath Association) and have an A+ rating with BBB (Better Business Bureau).
Ray says they are very busy keeping up with the current building boom and customers can expect a 4-8 week turnaround due to the high demand for materials. But he says customers should start the process now so they can have their brand new cabinets as soon as possible.
REO’s Cabinetry serves customers from Hilton Head to Brunswick, and of course the Effingham area. No job is too small or too large. (There is a minimum service call fee).
of Stille-DeWitt Health Brokerage, LLC
When it comes to her work, Melissa McBride Stille would rather talk about helping clients than herself. She has been an independent insurance agent for four years and has been in the health insurance industry for 13 years with specific expertise in Medicare. As a health insurance broker, she is passionate about matching her clients with the best health care options available. She says, “I love my job and I love helping people!”
It all started when she was working for a company and realized her position was essentially a dead end job. “I had two young children so when I had the opportunity to be Regional Broker Manager for Coventry Healthcare, I went for it,” she said. Melissa got the job but had to get her Georgia Life and Health License. “I absolutely had to pass so I studied hard and passed with flying colors. Next, I had to learn the business.” Her job was to recruit and train agents and keep them compliant within the many regulations.
“I was very successful, and I enjoyed my work. In 2017, I remarried and traveling for my work had become a challenge. Supervising agents spread across 23 counties in Georgia meant I was on the road a lot.” When the opportunity became available to manage the health department at DeWitt Insurance, Melissa was excited for the new chapter.
Melissa made the decision to purchase the agency’s health department in 2019 and she became the sole proprietor of Stille-DeWitt Health Brokerage in 2020. “DeWitt Insurance Agency has been in business since 1956. People in the community know the name, so I incorporated it into my agency name to keep the continuity within the community. I was very fortunate to have DeWayne Ladner, the owner of the agency, mentor me as he had been mentored by Lenda DeWitt (Crosby), when he purchased the agency in 2002.”
Customer Service
Customer service is a main focus for the agency. Melissa doesn't want her clients to feel as if they are just a number. “I care about each and every one of them and I do a review of everyone’s health policies every year because there are so many changes annually,” she says. She gives every client her cell number—it is even in all of her advertising so that every client, even future clients, can feel comfortable reaching out to her. She says, “I work for my clients, not the insurance company.” “Saving money is very important to most clients so I present multiple options enabling them to make educated decisions.” As a specialist in
Medicare, Melissa works with Medicare recipients over and under 65, including those who have Medicare through Social Security Disability and also with people utilizing Affordable Care Act Marketplace insurance, and some group insurances. Client Daylon Barnard says, “Before working with Melissa, I was paying $1800-$2100 every 3 months for my insulin. Melissa took my medication list, shopped the available plans for me and found a plan that covered my insulin better. Now I pay less than $200 every 3 months.” If you have a question regarding Medicare or other health insurance options, give Melissa a call!
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How Muscle Strengthening Affects Fine Motor Skills
There are several aspects of child development that many of us take for granted. Some children develop right on time as they should, where others seem to struggle to keep up.
Fine motor skills is a term we use to refer to the ability to make movements using the small muscles in our hands, wrists, fingers, feet, toes, lips and tongue. These skills are are required to master activities such as using scissors or pencils, building with lego or duplo blocks and even dressing (zippers, fasteners, buttons, tying shoes, etc)
For children to have good fine motor control, they must have a good base of support. In occupational therapy, we often use the phrase “proximal stability for distal mobility.” This means that the larger joints and muscles must be stable to provide a good solid base for precise movements at the joints further away from the body like the hands and fingers.
For example, if you observe your child sticking their elbow out when coloring or cutting, this could be a sign of weakness in the shoulder girdle that is affecting their fine motor skills. Difficulties with shoulder stability may also be seen with problems with tying shoes, manipulating small objects, using two hands during play, or handwriting difficulties.
Here are a few ways to help build strength at home to improve fine motor skills: • Do animal walks, wheelbarrow walks, pushing/pulling weighted objects, monkey bars, or chin ups/pull ups • Practice writing, coloring, or crafts on a vertical surface.
This allows the force of gravity to help strengthen shoulder muscles as well as improving wrist stability. • Complete activities on your belly like watching a movie, reading, or playing games. This promotes weight bearing through the upper extremities and help develop strength. • Tossing a balloon or beach ball and hitting it back either with hands or a racket.
Please contact Chatterbox Pediatric Therapy if you feel like your child is struggling at home or school to complete these tasks. Our Occupational Therapists will evaluate your child and provide the necessary recommendations your child needs to succeed.
FOR MORE INFORMATION related to your child’s fine motor development, please check out our FREE developmental checklist using the QR code below
ALEIDA HAYMES: Creating Beauty One Stitch at a Time
Story by Katrice Williams | Photos by Tonya Perry
Aleida Haymes, originally from Iquitos, Peru, enjoys gifting her clients with her creative talent, crafting custom-made wedding dresses or other splendidly made-to-order formal gowns. She also specializes in alterations, providing each client with the “dress of their dreams.”
“It’s the little things. To see that priceless expression on a bride's face makes my heart happy,” she said.
Aleida places tremendous emphasis on every intricate detail and design, feeling that quality is without compromise.
“I take pride in my job. I like for my job to be very clean. It doesn’t matter if it takes me a little extra time,” she added.
She understands that budgets often vary; she is eager to provide clients with a beautiful final product within their own unique budgets.
Developing Her Passion for Sewing
Aleida developed an interest in sewing at a young age, largely inspired by her mom Juanita, who was a talented seamstress. During high school, Aleida enrolled in sewing classes.
“That’s when my passion for sewing started,” she said.
At 16 years old, Aleida graduated and moved to Lima, Peru, where her dad Mauro resided. There, she attended Miguel Grau, a government subsidized school that allowed her to master her skills. After three years, she was certified in the craft.
One of her biggest mentors is her former teacher Yolanda Alvizuri. She owned a sewing shop and let Aleida assist her with small jobs.
“She saw potential in me and taught me a lot,” Aleida stated.
Aleida persisted to capitalize on her gift and was awarded a scholarship to attend the Geraldine School of Design, a prestigious school in Lima; she earned the school’s Award of Excellence.
Aleida later rented a small apartment room where she created her own sewing shop, specializing in designing formal dresses. She obtained two additional jobs—working for a children’s clothing line and a costume apparel store. Seeing her diligence, her mom moved in to help her at her sewing shop.
“She was the best support I had—my best friend. She was awesome,” Aleida said.
Surrounded by her Support System
Aleida is grateful for her husband David, who means the world to her.“He is a very supportive husband and a good man,” she stated. Long committed to her success, he is her biggest fan. David, a professional contractor, built her current sewing studio. The couple has a 19-year-old son, Joshua —their pride and joy.
Aleida is also thankful for her assistant Valeria, who loves to learn from her. Aleida enjoys being a mentor to those with such a heart to learn.
“I prayed for God to send the right person. The love she puts into this is amazing,” Aleida commented.
Moreover, Aleida has tremendous gratitude for her church home—Springfield Methodist Church.
“Finding a good church was always important to me. I feel I’m at home there,” she said.
Aleida gives credit where it is due, giving all glory to God. She is incredibly grateful for His many blessings and grace.
“I want to use my gift from God to make somebody else’s day.” n
Aleida’s Sewing, Embroidery, & Alterations
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