Pooler Magazine - September/October 2017

September/October 2017

Kassidy Oswald

Dreams Really Can Come True

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CONTRIBUTORS writers Susan Lee

Cindy Burbage

Katrice Williams

Karlee Anderson

began her writing career more than 25 years ago when she served in the U.S. Air Force as a military journalist stationed in Washington, D.C. After completing her tour of duty, Susan stayed on as a civilian employee in Washington, working for more than 10 years as Public Relations Director for the Air Force’s Services Division. She moved from D.C. to Effingham County in 1996 after meeting her husband, Springfield native Wesley Lee. She has continued to work in public relations and marketing throughout the years and is excited to now focus more on her writing.

is a married mother of two. She graduated from Georgia Southern University with a Business Administration Degree. Interestingly enough, at the time, she also had an interest in writing. She and her family moved to Pooler in 2003 from the Atlanta Metro Area. She later decided to pursue her writing interests. Katrice appreciates The Lord Jesus Christ and the many blessings that He has bestowed upon her. She loves spending time with her family.

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.

has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Professional Communications from Armstrong State University.

She has experience in writing grant proposals and writing for the Inkwell, Armstrong’s paper. In addition, Karlee enjoys spending time with her fiancé, Zach, and her family. She is very involved in her home church and does volunteer work for various ministries. Her hobbies include reading,

photographers Shelia Scott

Nelson Laporte

is an Effingham County native and Salzburg descendent. She has been married to her husband, and best friend, for 6 years. Between them, they have 9 children and 4 grandchildren.

She started dabbling in photography when her kids were little and fell in love. When not with her family, she’s off somewhere, camera in hand looking for the next amazing shot!

New York native, Nelson Laporte exudes his passion for photography & finding the beauty in each moment with every photo he produces. In March 2016, Nelson moved to Savannah, Ga after serving 8 years in the United States Marine Corps to be closer to his “why”, his daughter, Elizabeth.

You can truly understand love for photography as he captures the milestones of her & his clients’ lives.

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ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS

Pooler Magazine 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 Julie Hales at julie@idpmagazines.com.

Stories or ideas for stories must be submitted by email. Only feature stories and photo essays about people, places or things in Pooler will be considered.

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CONTENTS

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

Hellums 14 Aliciona Giving Back, One Paw At A Time

Kassidy Oswald

Dreams Really Can Come True

08

Hospice 18 Savannah It’s All About The Small Stuff

21 SPORTS 22 26 28

Pooler Recreation Department A Walk In The Park

Rec Spotlight Tommy GIbbs

Football Special

Wedding Story 34 ABobby and Abbigale Dunn

06 September/October 2017 | www.PoolerMagazine.com

PUBLISHER’S Thoughts

Are You Ready For Some Football?

Julie Hales owner/publisher julie@idpmagazines.com Naomi Forrestall graphic design Lea Allen administrative assistant/circulation lea@idpmagazines.com Wanda Hendricks Simmons account executive wanda@idpmagazines.com

Pooler Magazine is proudly produced by:

I

t’s finally here ...what a lot of us have been waiting on for months...college football season!

I am truly excited...college football is the best thing ever...even better than a peanut butter sandwich.

As some of you know, from past issues, sports has been a major part of my life. I grew up with a father who loved sports, from baseball to football to basketball...there was always a sporting event on the TV at my house.

When you are exposed to that as a child, it kind of becomes hereditary in some way. My mother always told me I was the spitting image of my dad.

I guess I can’t deny that, nor would I want to.

When college football season rolled around, you would always find him in the living room watching Julie Hales, PUBLISHER a game on television while listening to another one on the radio.

Just for the record, I am not that bad!

However, you will find me glued to the TV, anticipating every play. And, those weekends I am lucky enough to get game tickets, the excitement is at an all time high. The thrill of being there...being in a crowd of screaming fans...tailgating beforehand...tailgating afterwards...just the thought of it plants a huge smile all the way across my face.

Did I say tailgating? Oh, what fun. Some of the best times of my life have been at college football parties...spending time with my best friends, eating great food, sharing the love of football...and the love of each other. It just doesn’t get any better than that.

Georgia sure has some great teams to support. Whether you are a Bulldog, a Yellow Jacket, or an Eagle fan, the 2017 season should be a good one.

Make sure to support your favorite team. Have a party...make some tailgating food favorites...invite your friends and family over....share in this fun time of year!

Go Dawgs! Go Jackets! Go Eagles! Make Georgia proud!

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

September/October 2017

ABOUT THE COVER Pooler’s Kassidy Oswald pursues her dream of dancing as she leaves soon for school at the prestigious liberal arts school, Marymount Manhattan College in New York City.

Kassidy Oswald

Dreams Really Can Come True

www.PoolerMagazine.com | September/October 2017

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Kassidy Oswald

Dreams Really Can Come True story by Katrice Williams

“Keep striving towards your passion. Use the people who aren’t your fans, who tell you no or doubt you, as ammunition to keep going.” ~Kassidy Oswald

S

ince age three, Kassidy Oswald (Kassie) had dreams of dancing, and she has been following those dreams ever since. Early on, Kassie aspired to one day “get into a college dance program or a dance company.” Interestingly enough, that vision has become a reality, as the 18-year-old Savannah Arts Academy Graduate recently won a performing arts dance scholarship to Marymount Manhattan College, a well-known liberal arts college located in the very heart of New York City.

Only 55 individuals were accepted into the college’s dance department this year out of about 600 total dancers who all went through the same comprehensive audition process. What’s more, Kassie earned an academic scholarship as well.

Kassie is, therefore, double-majoring in dance and business. Though dance is her passion, she is still preparing a sound academic foundation. Her business concentration is in Arts and Entertainment Management. Hence, following her dance career, she desires to become a talent agent while owning her own agency. She enjoys the thought of managing other talented dancers and helping them to attain their goals.

Priding itself in “fostering intellectual achievement and personal growth” for its incredibly diverse student body, Marymount Manhattan College is a great fit for Kassie in both the academic and performing arts arenas. Regarding her love for dance, it will allow her to explore all that the world’s stage has to offer.

She will train and dance alongside an array of talented students from across the globe. With its esteemed faculty and nearly endless variety of extraordinary internal and external opportunities, Kassie feels that Marymount Manhattan will certainly prepare her to prevail in her future endeavors. She is thrilled about the tremendous opportunity.

“I was really excited when I found out I had gotten accepted to the school.”

As a small child, Kassie always strived to be the best dancer that she could possibly be. With the instruction, guidance and support of her mom Dawn, a skilled and talented dance instructor, Kassie maintained a positive attitude and noteworthy eagerness to consistently excel and flourish. Over the years, she became a well-rounded and outgoing dancer, being

proficient in a variety of styles--ballet, tap, jazz, modern, contemporary and hip-hop.

She has definitely “done it all.”

Kassie began her school-based dance endeavors at the Ester F. Garrison School of Visual and Performing Arts, which helped her to build onto her skill as a dancer. She later set her sights on Savannah Arts Academy, nationally known for their distinguished academic standards and stellar arts departments. There, Kassie was enrolled in two dance courses each day, allowing her to dance between academic classes. She appreciates all the efforts of her dance teacher, Mr. Jernigan.

Kassie remarks, “I had him all four years. He encouraged me to strive towards my potential and even broadened my scope as a dancer.”

Kassie is grateful for the opportunity to attend Savannah Arts.

She comments, “They have a very rigorous academic program; you have to keep up your grades to stay there. I was looking to gain a lot of knowledge from the teachers, not only from the dance teachers but from the academic teachers too.”

Kassie was glad to have the chance to dance after school at her mom’s dance studio, Coastal Performing Arts Academy. She practiced there for about five additional hours each day after leaving school. She feels so privileged for her mom to have been her dance instructor over all these years. She is truly Kassie’s biggest mentor and source of inspiration.

Kassie declares, “I’ve always looked up to my mom. It’s just really amazing that I was able to have a mother who was also my dance teacher, to see how she keeps this place running just to share her passion and love for dance with all these kids, so they

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can do the same things that my brother and I have accomplished.” Yes indeed, Kassie’s 11-year-old brother Wyatt also dances; actually, he sings and acts too.

Further, as much as her mom will miss her, Kassie knows that she is “super proud” of her.

She says, “I have grown up in her studio, and I’m going off to college because of the training that I got here in her studio that she has taken her life to build.”

Dawn, herself, has been dancing since she was a young girl. She started teaching dance and doing choreography as a teenager after performing in countless talent competitions. It’s obvious that the apples do not fall far from the tree.

Kassie, too, has done choreography for the younger dancers at Coastal. She has received impressive amounts of recognition over the years at competitions for her choreography.

She declares, “I really like to create dances.”

Kassie enjoys working with all the kids at Coastal. She has worked with all ages and typically works with the younger children over the summer months. Kassie feels good that she can help them to learn and reach their full potential as young dancers, understanding that many of them have the same dreams that she has always had.

She states, “It’s really cool seeing them—they’re most creative at that age.”

Kassie has accumulated a host of achievements over the years. In fact, she was nominated for the Governor’s Honors Program for dance during her sophomore year of high school. Additionally, as a junior, she was hired as the feature dancer for Savannah Theatre in their Broadway on Bull Street show, where she was able to display her talents on many weekends.

Kassie has a sincere love for dance.

She persists to maximize her potential and consistently capitalize on her skills.

Additionally, Kassie feels that almost anyone can benefit from the freedom, release and expressiveness that dance allows.

She reveals, “I feel like dance is a great outlet for everyone. I’ve always had dance, and I really enjoy sharing that with other people.”

Kassie is immensely thankful for the love shown by her entire family. She feels that, in addition to her mom, her stepdad Kurt Kuster, her dad Kurt Oswald and her brothers have greatly contributed to her reaching her goals. She treasures their support, as it has always been truly priceless to her.

The late Walt Disney once said: “All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.” Kassidy Oswald

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definitely exemplifies that courage. As she continues to follow her dreams, she will go far. Her extraordinary gifts and talents will provide the ammunition she needs along the way. With her passion, hard work and phenomenal amounts of potential, Kassie has a beautiful future in store.

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Aliciona Hellums Giving Back, One Paw at a Time Story by Stephanie Cardozo Photos by Nelson LaPorte

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“

O

f course there’s the, oh my gosh it’s a puppy, thought… But it also seemed like fun and so interesting to actually train one and watch

them grow.”

Aliciona Hellums is a young lady with a love for helping others. Her dedication is much more than one could imagine. At the young age of seventeen, she has managed to juggle school, life at home and raise a Golden Retriever named Cinnamon. She trained Cinnamon to assist someone with vision impairments, military trauma, or someone who has a need for a loving service dog.

In completing the puppy training, resulting in over four-thousand hours of community service, Aliciona is being awarded with the President’s Award for her Lifetime Achievement of Community Service.

How were you able to manage between training the puppy and school?

“I would say it’s definitely a fami-

ly project. There were days when I had practice and my brother would take the dog home, or my parents, they helped too, of course. Having the dog at school with me… It’s easier when you’re in an environment where animals are welcomed. So, that helped. But it was definitely a family project.” She repeats with gratitude for her family for being her number one supporters throughout the entire process.

What inspired you to raise puppies?

Aliciona speaks of a fellow student, Christel-Ann Ramus, who was raising a puppy for the Southeastern Guide Dogs program and how it peaked her interest in becoming a part of that training process.

“As I talked to her, I just thought it was a really amazing program that I really wanted to be a part of” she expressed, “Another reason is my dad. He’s in the military and he returned from deployment sick. So, it was just really interesting to be involved in a program that can help with that. We have a black Lab named Kyle that helps my dad.” Kyle is an ambassador dog for the Savannah area who was raised by Aliciona’s friend, Christel-Ann. Hitting close to

home, this miraculous young lady continues to inspire with her natural love of wanting to make a difference and do what is within her power to touch the lives of those in need of a loving and caring guide dog.

Raising puppy guide dogs is a huge responsibility and offers the puppy real-life experiences that will provide it with learning opportunities and growth. These are key elements in becoming a good guide dog and being placed with the right person to assist.

“It was a family commitment because we all had to be involved. It was different than raising your own family pet. You had to know everything about this dog, where to take them… And it really makes you look at everything differently,” Aliciona’s mother, Tammy explains. Raising a service puppy will open your eyes to a much bigger picture because this dog will potentially make someone’s life a lot better.

“I didn’t necessarily know what I was getting myself into when Aliciona came home one day and said, “Mom! I want to raise a puppy,” she continues, “It took me a few minutes to say okay. I told her to fill out the application. It opens your heart

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15

and your mind to more things that you can do and when your child comes home wanting to raise a service puppy and not knowing the whole aspect of raising one, it just blesses your heart that they want to give back.”

Aliciona has inspired her brother, Gabriel Hellums, to raise a service puppy as well. He is now training a six-month old yellow Labrador named Earl Farnsworth.

When asked what made him want to do this, Gabriel jokingly answers in true sibling fashion. “I kinda wanted to see if I can raise a better puppy than my sister.” Gabriel expressed that he too wanted to become a part of a wonderful program and assist in making a positive change in someone’s life.

Finding a taste for Cinnamon…

When asked about Cinnamon, giggles broke through the Hellums family. It was clear that Cinnamon was a force to be reckoned with and left quite a mark on Hellums family. With a joyful tone and a smile with each word spoken, Aliciona shares, “She was amazing!” Tammy chimes in, “She was just the life of the party!”

“She’s a sweetheart. I’m not a dog person. It’s not that I don’t like them, but usually, I would have a little kitten to play with. But Cinnamon just converted me. I’m completely in love with dogs now. She’s always so excited, happy, playful and sassy,”

adds Tammy.

Saying good-bye and saying hello!

After raising and training the sassy Cinnamon for just under a year, it was time to say good-bye and welcome the next puppy, Einstein, a fifteen week-old Goldador, Golden Retriever and Labrador Retriever mix. Aliciona explains that she is still getting to know the puppy in the early stages of raising him and that he is a much calmer canine. Cinnamon and Einstein were together for about two weeks before good-byes were said.

“The biggest challenge for me was to give Cinnamon back because you definitely get attached. You feel like it’s your dog but it’s not. It is what’s going to give somebody their life back. It’s really sad to let go. I said good-bye to her the night before dropping her off at campus in Florida. There, I just had to walk away,” shares Aliciona.

The Hellums family expressed high praises and gratitude for their area coordinator, Kersten Ramus for tending to their every need and answering all their question in ensuring that Aliciona raise the puppy in the best way possible.

Aliciona proves to be an exceptional young lady and knows that her sacrifices are for a wonderful cause. Congratulations to her for her Lifetime Achievement award in Community Service.

Gabriel and Aliciona with Kersten Ramus

16 September/October 2017 | www.PoolerMagazine.com

Gabriel and Aliciona with mother, Tammy

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It’s all about the small stuff or When light returns after the eclipse of the sun

I

n 1997, Richard Carlson wrote a book called Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff …and it’s All Small Stuff. In most circumstances in our lives, I would agree with that sentiment. But when we experience the death of someone we love and we are grieving, the pain oftentimes comes from the absence of the small stuff.

What is it that you miss about the person who has died? Is it simply not having their presence? That is probably part of it, but when the grief wave hits; when the pain shoots to your very core, what is it that triggers those grief attacks? Usually, it’s the small stuff.

Keep Me in Your Heart was the last song Warren Zevon wrote while he was dying from cancer.

“Sometimes when you're doin’ simple things around the house Maybe you'll think of me and smile You know I'm tied to you like the buttons on your blouse Keep me in your heart for a while.”

There is nothing much simpler or smaller than the buttons on your blouse. He is talking about the connection we have with our loved ones that permeates everything we are and everything we do. Do you think of your mother just as an amorphous idea? I wouldn’t think so. Do you think about cooking with her when you walk into your kitchen and grab her cookbook with all of your grandmother’s recipes? Or, do you think of her when you find the quilt she always had on her bed when you were a kid? The same quilt she would wrap you up in when you didn’t feel well. Do you wrap yourself in it now to remember her? This is the small stuff…

How about your Dad? Do you remember his cologne? When you hear an old song, do you remember dancing on the toes of his shoes? Do you have his robe that he wore every weekend morning to read the paper? Do you feel his strength if you put it on like he has his arms around you? This is the small stuff…

Brothers and sister…cousins and friends…these are the people that anchor us to times and places and are oftentimes the unseen compasses in our lives. Do you think of your sibling when you reach up and touch the scar on your chin from where they pushed you out of the bunk beds? Did you clean out your attic this spring and find the Rick Springfield poster your best friend who just died of breast cancer gave you for your 14th birthday? How many

18 September/October 2017 | www.PoolerMagazine.com

nights did the two of you stay up talking about Rick Springfield?

Don’t you wish you could call your friend or sibling and hear their voice again? This is the small stuff…

Warren Zevon goes on to sing…

“Hold me in your thoughts, Take me to your dreams Touch me as I fall into view When the winter comes Keep the fires lit And I will be right next to you.”

How often did you sit next to your spouse on the couch or in the car holding hands? Do you think of them as your hand brushes against their pillow at night? Do you feel sad and a little foolish when you still walk in the house after being gone and say out loud, “Honey (or darling or sweetie …) I’m home”? The rush of the recognition that they are not there comes at you like a gale force wind but in the quiet breeze afterwards you might still hear, “Welcome home Sweet Heart.” This is the small stuff…

In grief, it can feel like the “small stuff” will always have the potential to overwhelm. Pushing memories and unbidden thoughts away may feel like the only way to survive. But, in the long run, the small stuff is what keeps us connected and staying connected

Are you caring for a spouse with a chronic illness, a parent with dementia, or a disabled loved one?

Help is available at no charge is what helps us heal. The small stuff is what life is made of and telling the story of the small stuff brings our loved ones back to life in our hearts and memories.

Sometimes it can feel very much like the light has been turned off on that part of our lives. Virginia Woolf wrote, “How then does the light return to the world after the eclipse of the sun?

Miraculously. Frailly. In thin stripes. It hangs like a glass cage. It is a hoop to be fractured by a tiny jar. There is a spark there.” The spark is hope. Hope is what moves us forward in our grief. Hope that the memories will bring more smiles than tears. Hope that the pain will lessen. Light comes back after the eclipse of the sun.

It returns to light the path of your grief journey and too illumine the small stuff that is, in the end, the enduring connection to those that we love… Because love is always stronger than death.

Betsy R. Kammerud, LCSW, MVF-CSW, ACHP-SW is a Bereavement Counselor with Full Circle Grief and Loss Center located at 6000 Business Center Drive in Savannah. Grief counseling is provided to any child, teen or adult at no charge as a community service of not-for-profit Hospice Savannah, Inc. Reach Full Circle at 912.303.9442 or visit www.HospiceSavannah.org/fullcircle

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SPORTS

A Walk in the Park

F

or over a quarter century, the Pooler Recreation Department continues to be a vital part of keeping local residents healthy and active.

The vast majority of research supports the fact that physically active adults and children are much healthier and less likely to become obese, diabetic, or experience several forms of cancer and heart disease than those who lead a more sedentary lifestyle. However, what impedes most folks from getting out and trying to keep their weight down are often financial limitations, a lack of free time, or a combination thereof. To that end, the local community parks and recreation department provides a low cost, fun-filled way to maintain your overall health and well-being. The active lifestyle supported by parks and recreation is just one component that keeps a community vital – physically, socially and economically. The Pooler Recreation Department has been that vital component in the Pooler community for more than 30 years. “Pooler has experienced unprecedented growth over the past decade, and along with that growth there have been many

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changes in our community over the years.

However, one constant that has remained is the pride that Pooler has taken in its parks and recreation,� says Hugh Elton, Leisure Services Director. The Pooler Rec Department is funded primarily by the City of Pooler with additional revenue coming from the fees and charges collected by the department. The city currently maintains and operates five parks, including Pooler Park, Gleason Park, Joe Baker Park, Memorial Park and the Pooler Recreation Complex. Included in these parks are athletic fields, outdoor basketball courts, picnic areas, picnic pavilions, playgrounds, and green space areas.

Pooler Recreation and Leisure Services offers an array of recreational opportuni-

ties in several locations. Facilities include the Pooler Seniors Citizens Center, Pooler Park, the Pooler Recreation Complex, a community center and several smaller, passive parks. The mission of the Pooler Recreation Department is to provide quality facilities, educational programs and activities for the community that promote and enhance a healthy lifestyle.

At the Recreation Department, Pooler’s youth can choose from a variety of activities including basketball, tee ball, baseball, softball, soccer, football, cheerleading, gymnastics and dance. There are also opportunities for adult participation, which include basketball, softball and kickball.

and adults alike. These programs include baseball, softball, t-ball, basketball, soccer, cheerleading, football and men’s basketball.

Pooler also hosts numerous tournaments throughout the year at the Recreation Complex. For example, last year the inaugural season of youth volleyball was a huge hit with all of the participants. “With volleyball being a new program, we really didn't know what to expect or how many participants would show up,” says Elton. “As it turns out, we were able to field multiple teams and participate with teams from the Richmond Hill area. The response to that season was so positive that

Both the Recreation Complex, located at 200 Preston Stokes Drive, and Pooler Park, located at 900 South Rogers Street, include baseball/softball fields, picnic pavilions as well as playgrounds. Pooler Park, which contains football and soccer fields, is also home to the Recreation Department offices and gymnasiums.

The Senior Citizens Center, located at 955 Plantation Drive in the Sangrena Woods subdivision, is open Monday through Friday 9am to 3pm. The center strives to create a welcoming environment.

Seniors can enjoy arts and crafts classes, games, day trips, hot meals and much more at the center. Transportation can also be provided for those Pooler residents who need it.

In addition, the Community Center, which is located at 957 Plantation Drive in the Sangrena Woods subdivision, is available for parties, reunions and other events. It contains a kitchen, restrooms and enough room for parties with up to 100 guests. There is also ample room for many outdoor activities at the center.

The Community Recreation aspect of the department offers programming for both youth and adults. Community programs include tumbling and gymnastics classes, as well as dance classes, special events, summer athletic camps and Senior Center activities. In terms of athletics, there are plenty of offerings for youth

we expanded volleyball to a spring session this past March.”

The Pooler Recreation Department has an abundance of fall activities that have already begun while others will be starting very soon. The youth tackle football teams and cheerleading squads are currently practicing for their upcoming season. Each football team will have the opportunity to play at Pooler Stadium as well as travel to other area locations.

The fall youth soccer league is also in full swing, and the teams are currently practicing at least twice a week for their season set to start in the beginning of September. “We also began a flag football league that was held for the first time in the spring with over 100 kids participating, so we're offering that again in the fall,”

says Elton. “In addition, we have a church co-ed basketball league as well as an adult co-ed kickball league going on right now.

New Hampstead is playing its home softball games here, and along with all those activities, we're also hosting twelve high school football games this season as well as middle school games for both Godley Station and West Chatham, so we have quite a few activities going on right now.”

A community is more than a collection of people and buildings. When you can hear, feel, and sense the pulse of a people who are involved and engaged with one another through the places and spaces that are provided by your local parks and recreation department, you have a healthy, active community. So to see a complete list of offerings and amenities as well as registration opportunities, please visit the Pooler Recreation Department at www. poolerrec.com or like them on Facebook.

Please download the free app for Android and Iphones or call the recreation office at (912) 748-5776. For information concerning the Senior Center, please call (912) 330-0493.

www.PoolerMagazine.com | September/October 2017 23

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Our highly skilled, board certified physicians provide an essential first-line of care for our patients. Our practice is proud to hold national recognition as a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) and recognized for diabetic care (Diabetic Recognition Program), both by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

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SouthCoastHealth.com www.PoolerMagazine.com | September/October 2017

25

POOLER RECREATION SPOTLIGHT

Tommy Gibbs Coach Extraordinaire

T

Story by STEPHANIE CARDOZO

ommy Gibbs is a husband and father who shares his love for sports with the many hearts of children throughout west Chatham

county.

Tommy began his journey in physical education at the recreation department in Liberty County at the early age of twenty and shares that, “I found out that I loved coaching much more than I loved playing.”

“The coaching call was definitely the right move.” He reflects on his time in Liberty County and how he took a group of twelve-year old kids to finish second in the state in an all-star tournament.

A fire began to burn for his passion in helping children thrive in their love of sports. “I actually started my own travel organization that just ran a little differently than everybody else’s because I just do it as a volunteer. I don’t do it for a job. I do it to help kids improve and I love the rec department.

So I continued to coach for the rec and I graduated college in 2004 and got my first job at Bryan County High School.

I taught and coached there for two years.”

Tommy then took his love for coaching to West Chatham Elementary where

he has been happily teaching physical education for eleven years. “I’ve worked at the rec department here in Pooler for the past three years, where I coach baseball, basketball, and currently soccer.”

He continues, “Baseball is obviously my passion, I coached the eight and under all-stars last year and it was something new with that group. We were okay. We were about a five-hundred team, I would guess. At that time, I said, I am gonna invest in these kids, these upcoming eights for next year, and we’re gonna make a run at the state title. So, we spent the year doing travel baseball with these kids and developing, practicing, and we all signed back up this year. We made a run and we won the district championship and then finished second in the state.”

Tommy continues to express that he’s not in the field for a job, he does it for the love of the game and for the love of kids. “Kids are my life. I tell people that I don’t come to work for a job.

I come to work for a passion. I don’t know what I would do without them. I think I need them more than they need me. So, most days we come to work, we do P.E. at West Chatham, I go to one of the rec fields to do baseball, soccer,

Photos by NELSON LAPORTE

basketball, something like three to four days out of the week and then on the weekend.”

He shares that the people that work at the recreation department are all very helpful and allow him use to any and all that he needs in order to coach the kids. “They are wonderful and give me whatever I need as far as field space and things to coach, and to me, children are our future so developing them is what we have to do. All kids need a hobby, whether it’s sports, music, reading… It doesn’t matter what it is. But, I gotta get it in my kids’ heads that I want them to understand that they have to have something they love and believe in in life and follow it. With all of my baseball kids, I’ve got them trained that you know, you’re never good enough.

This sounds a little harsh but if you ever believe you’re good enough, it’s time to quit. Because even the guys that play on T.V. are looking to get better. There’s someone a little younger than them, a little faster than them, and a little stronger who’s always trying to come in and take their spot. So, if you ever get to a point where you stop working… somebody is gonna catch up and pass you so have got to keep that hunger and keep that fire, and the way to do that is to get

better. No matter how good you think you are, you can always get better,” he conveys with great profundity.

Tommy is transparent with a love and passion when it comes to coaching these kids and looks to himself in ways he can grow alongside his them. “I tell my kids the same about myself and look back at ways I can become a better teacher and how I can become a better coach,” he says.

These qualities that Tommy has in pushing for continuous growth in all that

he does, is exactly what he reflects to the children he coaches. He is a true leader by example and won 2015’s Teacher of the Year Award for West Chatham Elementary.

Paving the way for better physical education Tommy continues to move up the ladder, making bigger and positive changes while holding a spot in the organization that runs health and physical education for the state of Georgia. He is the south-eastern member at large and one of seven peo-

POOLER

P

ple who help create curriculum for physical education in schools for the state.

When asked if he would continue to volunteer, his response is quick and spoken with concrete certainty. “Coaching, whether it’s with the rec or the school, I don’t want it to become a business. I do it because I love it. I’ve had job offers to coach college, but it’s just not worth it to me because it’s not a business. This is just what I love to do.

748-5776

www.PoolerRec.com Join Us On Facebook

poolerrecreation@pooler-ga.gov

Recreation Department & Leisure Services

POOLER RECREATION COMPLEX 200 PRESTON STOKES DRIVE

5 Baseball Fields 2 Soccer/Football Fields Batting Cages and Playground

SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER (Sangrena Woods)

Daily Activities

Quilting • Billiards Room • Line Dancing • Jewelry Classes • Crafts • Day Trips • Meals • Exercise Transportation Provided If Necessary • Games •

• Baseball 5-14 • Softball 7-12 • T-Ball (Girls 4-6, Boys 4) • Spring Soccer 4-12 • Fall Soccer 4-12 • Youth Basketball 5-13 • Summer Basketball 9-13 • Adult Sports • Tumbling 3+ $45 • Dance 3+ $50/$60

Seeking Volunteers For Coaching

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Community Center

1400 square foot dining area, kitchen with complete stoves, ample room for outdoor activities, $100 per day rental.

Seeking Sponsorships For Our Youth Teams www.PoolerMagazine.com | September/October 2017

27

Are You Ready For Some Football?

It’s time for football…how exciting. All you college football fans better get your team gear cleaned up and ready to go… college football is under way. College football is a huge deal in these parts. And, our beautiful state of Georgia has several great teams for us to keep our eye on this season.

Who is your favorite team? University of Georgia Bulldogs? Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets? Georgia Southern Eagles?

Let's Take a look at the 2017 season!

University of Georgia The focus for coach Kirby Smart in his second season at Georgia is to make sure his team is considerably more offensive than it was a season ago.

Last year the Bulldogs ranked 11th in the SEC in scoring (24.4 points per game) and total offense (384.7 yards per game), subpar numbers that led to Georgia finishing 8-5, tying for its fewest wins in a season since 2013.

Between a freshman quarterback in Ja-

DATE

cob Eason, inconsistencies on the offensive line and the lack of big-play receivers,

Georgia scored only 30 or more points four times in 13 games. On four other

OPPONENT

Sat, Sept 2 Sat, Sept 9 Sat, Sept 16 Sat, Sept 23 Sat, Sept 30 Sat, Oct 7 Sat, Oct 14 Sat, Oct 28 Sat, Nov 4 Sat, Nov 11 Sat, Nov 18 Sat, Nov 25

Appalachian St Notre Dame Samford Miss St Tennessee Vanderbilt Missouri Florida South Carolina Auburn Kentucky Georgia Tech

Georgia Southern University Georgia Southern went 5-7 in Tyson Summers’ debut as head coach, which was labeled a disappointment considering all the experience he inherited. Now all those players are gone, as the Eagles return just seven starters.

Now, there are plenty of question marks surrounding the quarterback position, where speed and decision-making will be crucial.

occasions, they tallied fewer than 17.

Now two years removed from a devastating knee injury suffered at Tennessee, senior Nick Chubb is primed for a huge year. With Chubb and Sony Michel, Georgia's backfield should be one of the best duos in the country.

Defensively, there's a lot of optimism in Athens as Georgia returns 10 starters from a unit that finished fourth in the SEC in total defense and features junior defensive tackle Trenton Thompson and junior linebacker Roquan Smith, a pair of preseason All-SEC selections.

With five players returning who have starting experience, the offensive line should be a strong. If that unit jells, the

28 September/October 2017 | www.PoolerMagazine.com

TIME 7:30 PM 7:30 PM TBD TBD TBD TBD 3:30 PM TBD TBD TBD TBD

Eagles could be hard to stop.

Last season, the Eagles were solid against the run, they weren’t able to provide much assistance with the pass rush, sacking opposing quarterbacks just 11 times all season.

Now that has flipped. The Eagles return the core of their back end but will have to replace seven of their top nine linemen and nearly all of their linebacking unit. Georgia Southern has focused a lot of attention on defense in its recruiting this past year. Their experience in the defensive backfield should pay off.

DATE Sat, Sept 2 Sat, Sept 9 Sat, Sept 23 Wed, Oct 4 Sat, Oct 14 Sat, Oct 21 Sat, Oct 28 Sat, Nov 4 Thu, Nov 9 Sat, Nov 18 Sat, Nov 25 Sat, Dec 2

Georgia Tech Thanks to a strong finish, Georgia Tech enters 2017 with momentum in what looks to be a crowded ACC Coastal Division. The Yellow Jackets return plenty of experience, but will be breaking in a new starting quarterback and have some questions up front on defense.

With the bulk of a promising young offensive line returning along with its most productive running backs and every contributor at receiver, Georgia Tech has a chance to be more potent offensively than last season, when it averaged 258.1

DATE Mon, Sept 4 Sat, Sept 9 Sat, Sept 16 Sat, Sept 23 Sat, Sept 30 Thu, Oct 12 Sat, Oct 21 Sat, Oct 28 Sat, Nov 4 Sat, Nov 11 Sat, Nov 18 Sat, Nov 25

OPPONENT Auburn UNH Indiana Arkansas State New Mexico St UMass Troy Georgia State Appalachian St South Alabama Louisiana C. Carolina rushing yards.

But as always with offense, the quarterback is the catalyst for everything, and

Georgia Tech hasn’t had this much uncertainty at that position since 2013. Junior TaQuon Marshall offers dynamic play-

TIME 6:00 PM TBD 8:00 PM 6:00 PM 3:30 PM TBD 3:00 PM 7:30 PM 3:00 PM TBD TBD

making potential and started his career as an A-back because of his speed.

Georgia Tech is determined to reignite a pass rush that has fallen flat the past couple seasons, generating just 18 sacks in 2016. That would do wonders to help out an experienced secondary that is capable of making big plays but has had to survive too many aerial assaults in the quarterback-rich ACC. The Yellow Jackets have never been dominant on defense under Coach Johnson, but their best teams typically create enough negative plays and turnovers to give the ball to their clock-dominating offense.

OPPONENT Tennessee Jacksonville St UCF Pitt North Carolina Miami Wake Forest Clemson Virginia Virginia Tech Duke Georgia

TIME 12:30 PM 7:30 PM TBD TBD 8:00 PM TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD

www.PoolerMagazine.com | September/October 2017

29

Tailgating: A Southern Tradition A tailgate party is a social event held on and around the open tailgate of a vehicle. Tailgating, which originated in the United States, often involves consuming sodas or alcoholic beverages and grilling food. Tailgate parties occur in the parking lots at stadiums and arenas, before and occasionally after games and concerts. People attending such a party are said to be 'tailgating.’ Many people participate even if their vehicles do not have tailgates. Tailgate parties also involve people bringing their own drinks, barbecues, food etc. which is sampled and shared among fans attending the tailgate.

- Wikipedia

O

bviously, we love football season for the sport, but what makes it really special are the tailgating festivities that surround the games. Every college football game day begins with a pre-game of some kind, and the biggest and best of them really are the most spectacular parties. At the best college tailgates, fans, students, families and friends gather to party, eat, drink, watch football and enjoy the pre- and post-game festivities.

Pregame tailgating isn't just a party. It’s a tradition. Tailgating can be more about sharing than about competition. It’s a way to help build the brand of your favorite team. It’s a great avenue to participate in the team experience.

Tailgating before college games enables fans to share and surround themselves with the entertainment of fellow tailgaters.

It can be a competition to see which tailgaters have the most elaborate food and what vehicles and tents are decorated with the most team gear. And, of course, there is also the grills!

In the south, we love tailgating. It’s almost like having a huge

Coastal Spirits

family reunion….and a reunion for friends, old and new. There is something about building a tradition. It can give a sense of home and comfort.

The serious tailgaters love it….a chance to gather every week, boast about their favorite team, and enjoy the food and drink.

Taligating is also a great social experience. You can roam around and meet people who support your team and even meet tailgaters for the opposing team. People realize that a game is a game and tailgating is for both sides. It’s a way to have fun and meet new people.

So, next weekend, grab some family and friends and throw a big tailgating party for your favorite team. Show off your grilling skills…or throw together your favorite dip…bring out those old family recipes and see who can make the best pot of chili.

Who knows? Tailgating may become one of your favorite social experiences…support your favorite team and have a little fun doing it!

107 S. Godley Station Blvd. • Pooler, GA (Next to Sherwin Williams)

912-450-1200

www.poolerbeverage.com Hours: Monday - Thursday 10am-9pm Friday - Saturday 10am-10pm Sunday 12:30pm-8pm

Specialty Craft Beers Available

BEER WINE LIQUOR CIGARS 30 September/October 2017 | www.PoolerMagazine.com

Grilled Buffalo Wings Ingredients · 1 tablespoon kosher salt · 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper · 1 teaspoon garlic powder · 3 pounds whole chicken wings · 6 tablespoons unsalted butter · 1/3 cup hot sauce · 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar · 1 tablespoon honey

Let Coastal Transmission Help You

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Directions 1. In a small bowl, combine the salt, pepper and garlic powder. In a large bowl, toss the wings with the salt mixture to evenly coat.

2. Preheat a gas grill to medium heat (about 350 degrees F).

3. Place the wings on the grill, crowding them together so that they are all touching (this goes against the conventional wisdom of giving meat room so it doesn't steam¿you want them to steam so that they stay moist). Grill, flipping the wings every 5 minutes, for a total of 20 minutes of cooking.

4. In the meantime, heat the butter, hot sauce, vinegar and honey in a saucepan over low heat and whisk to combine.

5. In a clean large bowl, toss the wings with the sauce. Turn the heat up on the grill to medium high. Use tongs to remove the wings from the sauce and put them back on the grill until the skins crisp, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Put the wings back in the bowl with the sauce, toss and serve.

Pressure Cooker Chili Ingredients 3 pounds stew meat (beef, pork, and/or lamb) 2 teaspoons peanut oil 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt 1 (12-ounce) bottle of beer, preferably a medium ale 1 (16-ounce) container salsa 30 tortilla chips 2 chipotle peppers canned in adobo sauce, chopped 1 tablespoon adobo sauce (from the chipotle peppers in adobo) 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1 tablespoon chili powder 1 teaspoon ground cumin Directions 1. Place the meat in a large mixing bowl and toss with the peanut oil and salt. Set aside.

2. Heat a 6-quart heavy-bottomed pressure cooker over high heat until hot. Add the meat in 3 or 4 batches and brown on all sides, approximately 2 minutes per batch. Once each batch is browned, place the meat in a clean large bowl.

3. Once all of the meat is browned, add the beer to the cooker to deglaze the pot.

4. Scrape the browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Add the meat back to the pressure cooker along with the salsa, tortilla chips, chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, tomato paste, chili powder, and ground cumin and stir to combine. Lock the lid in place according to the manufacturer's instructions. When the steam begins to hiss out of the cooker, reduce the heat to low, just enough to maintain a very weak whistle. Cook for 25 minutes.

Remove from the heat and carefully release the steam. Serve immediately.

Richard Freymuth, President

(912) 964-7580 3237 West Bay St Savannah, GA coastaltransmission.com www.PoolerMagazine.com | September/October 2017

31

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32 September/October 2017 | www.PoolerMagazine.com

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Wedding Belles

F

Pooler BFF's and The Wedding of the Year!

Story by Dennis Stokely

rom the moment the family gets the phone call and text, "Mom and Dad, I'm engaged," to the teary-eyed audience that hears those life-changing words, "I do," sometimes a full year of frenzied work unfolds in a marathon session of planning and executing a modern Southern wedding. Hiring a fabulous wedding planner, booking a glam-squad, finding the perfect dress, picking the venue, where to go on the honeymoon and on, and on. The list is practically endless for everything needed to make the big day all that it's billed to be. Almost always, to the wonder and surprise of the Father-of-the-Bride (Stan Sparks, Pooler resident, Georgia Power Executive and Georgia Tech Alum), that also means spending money, lots and lots of money. Of course as the old saying goes, behind every great man is a great woman, well in this case, two women. Stan's wife, Kimber Sparks, recruited her lifelong (since sixth grade) bestie, Tracy Freymuth to create a dream team duo that brought two dear friends and families closer together and pulled off Pooler's Wedding of the Year!

In our fast paced world of instant everything, with social media shaping our daily lives, it truly is a small world. After over 20 years, I reconnected with Tracy Freymuth via Facebook and her running into my sister, Sherry Sikes, and asking her who did her hair? And in a hot minute, my former pal from high school (Groves) and I reconnected. Little did I know, she would be joined at the hip with her gorgeous and hilarious best friend, Kimber Sparks. I had finally found two blonde bombshells in my old stomping ground from my high school days, living in Pooler, Georgia! I was beyond thrilled when Kimber booked me as the hairstylist for her daughter Abbi's grand wedding. When Kimber told me that Abbi couldn't decide between two hairstyles, I said let's do both. And just like that, our fairy tale journey of an ultra glamorous and oh-so southern wedding began.

I have worked with so many brides over the years, but Abbi was the most ravishing red-head with the most incredible body

Photos by Denise Gansales

ever! I was so excited to create a low-messy bun for her walk down the aisle and a quick-change ponytail (inspired by Supermodel Giselle Buncheon) for the reception. Abbi rocked both looks and her 8 Bridesmaids were stunning in their, all-matching, hairdos!

Kimber and Tracy both sported ultra glamorous updo's. Tracy even told me as I was finishing her hair, "I am feeling very Ivana Trump, which I like!"

The fun back-story to the wedding was the special access I

Kimber Sparks

34 September/October 2017 | www.PoolerMagazine.com

Dennis Stokley

Tracy Freymuth

The Proposal: Bobby proposed at the Atlanta Botanical Garden and later with friends and family at a "She said YES" party in Buckhead.

The Dress: A Mikaella by Paloma Bianca purchased at Bleubelle Bridal.

The Reception: A formal affair at the Charles H. Morris Center beginning with a cocktail hour on the bluff and followed by a crowd pleasing, choreographed Father-Daughter first dance. And a succulent Savannah inspired menu from Savannah Event Catering (Pooler).

Ending with a sparkler send-off in a 1965 Ford Mustang!

The Honeymoon: Abbi and Bobby spent a week in the Dominican Republic.

Happily Ever After: And there you have it, Pooler's Wedding of the Year

had to Kimber and Tracy when they "motored" over for their many visits to see me at The Montage Salon, Palmetto Bluff prior to the wedding for their blonde touch-ups. I am mesmerized with the "Lucy and Ethel" banter of these two. They can finish each others sentences like any longtime married couple. It struck me after the wedding that my experience with Abbi, Kimber and Tracy was like being with 3 "Southern (Wedding) Belles."

Fittingly, there was only one Belle-of-the-Ball on the big day.

From the first look to the last dance, all eyes were on Abbi. I consider brides to be the celebrities of the South, and I've always said that walking the down the aisle to get married is like walking the red-carpet in Hollywood. After years of creating hundreds of hairstyles for brides in New York and Los Angeles, returning to my southern roots and working with Abbi was a dream come true.

Long gone are the days of highway 80 being the main drag through town and the Tastee Freeze being the cruising spot for all the young lovers. Abbi was raised in Pooler, graduated from Savannah Christian and Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, Ga. When she came home for her wedding weekend, she started the soiree with a festive Bride's Maid luncheon in her neighborhood at the Clubhouse at Savannah Quarters. This Georgia peach had pre-wedding and wedding day celebrations all over the state, including Jesup, Atlanta, Pooler and Savannah.

Yep, it certainly is cool being from Pooler and Bobby and Abbi perfectly represent the smart, fun and hip married couples from our booming little metropolis.

It wouldn't be the wedding of the year without a few show-stopping tidbits! So here we go... #1 - Abbie Sparks was the only Bride I worked with in 2017 that requested two hairstyles (ceremony & reception). #2 - The "Vendor Timeline" from the genius Wedding Planners, James and Liz Carlson of Carlson's Premier Events was 21 pages! #3 - Working with Kimber and Tracy was totally like working with "Lucy and Ethel" The Couple: Abbigale Sparks / Bobby Dunn Introduction: by friends at a Fraternity/Sorority party at GCSU. First Date: The Pickle Barrel Cafe and Sports Pub

Vendor List: Wedding Planner - Carlson's Premier Events Photographer - Denise Gonsales Hair - Dennis Stokely Makeup - Hillary Howie Videographer - Caleb Suttles DJ - Shockwave Caterer - Savannah Event Catering (Pooler) Florist - Joann's Florist Bride's Cake - Isaac Smith

Dennis Stokely is a top celebrity hairstylist. His work has appeared on AMERICAN IDOL and red carpets everywhere including the Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Golden Globes. Dennis lived in Pooler during high school and appeared on the Sixth Anniversary Cover of Pooler Magazine. www.PoolerMagazine.com | September/October 2017

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Bobby & Abbigale

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Bride: Abbigale Sparks Groom: Bobby Dunn Venue: Charles H. Morris Center Photography: Denise Gansales

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Finding Beauty In Every Moment

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Nelson LaPorte and daughter, Elizabeth

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