Connect April 2017

April 2017

‘Chicago’ comes to the PAC stage

ArtsFest 2017

music Downtown

The Arts SEEN

Play Festival

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mirth & Matter Editor’s letter

Spring has officially sprung. Well. It was supposed to spring. The weather this year has been completely insane.

One minute, we’re breaking out the sandals and shouting “Hallelujah!”…warm weather is here to stay. The next minute we’re digging our coats out of the back of the closet and shivering.

What’s up, Mother Nature?

Despite whatever the weather may be, there’s still plenty in the arts world to enjoy this month. At the Averitt, you can check out the production of “Our Town.” This play, which opens April 6, is from one of America’s great playwrights, Thornton Wilder. It handles some pretty complex subject matter, and this cast is certainly up to the task.

Coming to the stage at the GSU Performing Arts Center will be “Chicago” in a wild and jazzy production featuring local talent. Based on the 1926 play about Prohibition-era Chicago, the play shows us a glimpse into the world Angye Morrison Connect Editor of crooked lawyers, criminals and hot jazz clubs. The choreography is amazing and the cast is super talented. You won’t want to miss this one.

This month, we are spotlighting a group of students at GSU who have created a unique art exhibit. GSU graphic design students planned and designed “The World’s War is Georgia’s War, 1917-1919” in conjunction with the university’s history department. It gives students the chance to dip their toes into the professional world. Don’t miss this while it’s here, through Jan. 28, 2018 We’re also focusing the spotlight on ArtsFest, held on Sweetheart Circle at GSU on April 22. It’s a great place to see some talented artists and roll up your sleeves and create your own art as well.

Finally, you’re going to want to check out our newest feature, The Arts SEEN. These pages feature photos from recent arts events – cast, crew, audience…whoever. We invite you to send your photos from arts and music events and festivals you attend to amorrison@connectstatesboromagazine.com. We’d love to publish them! Just be sure to include the names of everyone in the photo, along with information on the event (date, location, etc.)

So in between pollen-induced sneezes, please enjoy this edition of Connect.

Behind the Scenes

Table of Contents

Angye Morrison, EDITOR 912.489.9402 | amorrison@connectstatesboromagazine.com

Calendar of Events ���������������������������������������������������������������� 4

People who make it happen

Hunter McCUMBER, ART DIRECTOR 912.489.9491 | hmccumber@statesboromagazine.com Stephanie Childs, MARKETING MANAGER 912.531.0786 | schilds@connectstatesboromagazine.com Pam pollard, classifieds manager 912.489.9420 | ppollard@connectstatesboromagazine.com Tim Webb, Multimedia twebb@statesboroherald.com Darrell Elliot, Distribution 912.489.9425 | delliot@statesboroherald.com Jim Healy, Operations manager 912.489.9402 | jhealy@statesboroherald.com Connect Magazine is published monthly (12 issues a year). The cover and contents of Connect Magazine are fully protected by copyright laws of the United States and may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without the written consent of Connect Magazine. We are not responsible for loss of unsolicited inquiries, manuscripts, photographs, transparencies or other materials.

Such materials will not be returned unless accompanied by return postage. Address letters and editorial contributions to Connect Statesboro, Angye Morrison, 1 Proctor Street, Statesboro, GA 30458, amorrison@connectstatesboromagazine.com. Copyright © 2017 by Statesboro Publishing Company, Inc. All rights reserved.

Editorial Edition

Dining Guide ������������������������������������������������������������������������ 5 ArtsFest �������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 6 Play Festival ������������������������������������������������������������������������� 8 ‘Chicago’ ��������������������������������������������������������������������� 10-11 ‘Our Town’ ������������������������������������������������������������������������� 12 Student-Designed Exhibit ������������������������������������������������������ 14 The Arts Seen �������������������������������������������������������������� 16-17 Music Downtown ��������������������������������������������������������������� 18 Vampin’ Gamer / Horoscope ����������������������������������������������� 20 Overthinking It ������������������������������������������������������������������� 22 Tailgate Tattler ������������������������������������������������������������� 24-25 Day Trippin’ ���������������������������������������������������������������������� 26 Classifieds ������������������������������������������������������������������� 28-29 April 2017 • 3

ART

Calendar

Things to do in April

MUSIC

Tuesday, April 4, 11, 18, 25 Open mic night at Loco’s, 9 p.m.

Friday, April 14 Rod Melancon at Dingus Magees, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, April 4, 11, 18, 25 Karaoke at Applebee’s, 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 22 System Overload at South City Tavern, 8 p.m.

Wednesday, April 5, 12, 19, 26 DJ & Karaoke at Gnat’s Landing, 9 p.m.

Ongoing Live music at Loco’s Musical acts perform each weekend, 9-11:30 p.m.

Friday, April 8 Ember City at Millhouse Steakhouse, 9 p.m. (Appearing through April 13)

OTHER Friday, April 7 F1RST Friday: Fine Arts, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Downtown will become a concert venue with a performance by First Baptist’s Starlight Orchestra performing classic and patriotic songs. There will also be chalk drawing available for children.

Saturday, April 8 Georgia Southern University, Hanner Fieldhouse GT Step Show,6:30 p.m.

The largest Greek step show in the Southeast, this year marks the 25th for the event. Participants will battle for $6,000 in prizes.

April 21-22 Statesboro Kiwanis Rodeo Kiwanis Ogeechee Fairground in Statesboro Now in its seventh year, the event promises even more fun than ever.

The fun begins at 5 p.m. each day. The fairgrounds are located at 16942 GA-67.

Saturday, April 22 Spring into Statesboro, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Come to the Courthouse lawn and enjoy this free event featuring live music, games, the farmer’s market, sidewalk sales and the Great American Cleanup.

Friday, April 28 Planetarium: Litchmond Georgia Southern University Planetarium

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Featuring shows at 6, 7, 8 and 9 p.m., this event is a poetic journey through the sounds and sights of a visionary parallel universe. General admission tickets will be given out the week of the event in the Physics Department office, Room 2005 in the Math and Physics building, and will be available in the planetarium lobby beginning at 5 p.m. the day of the event.

Saturdays Family Fun Swim, 10 a.m.-noon Splash in the Boro Spring Classes at Averitt Center for the Arts Finger Painting Poetry: For ages 9-12 years, the class is held at 5 p.m. on Tuesdays, and taught by Claire Nelson. Weird Science: For ages 14-17 years, the class is for writing poetry and prose about the things that inspire in the natural, weird world around us. Instructor is Christina Olson. Tuition for either class is $44 per month ($54 for non-members).

Call (912) 212-2787 or go online at www.averittcenterforthearts.org for more information.

Through Jan. 28, 2018 The World’s War is Georgia’s War: 1917-1919 Georgia Southern Museum Commemorate the 100th anniversary of the U.S. involvement in the first World War through the experience of Georgia. Stories of Georgia’s soldiers, civilians, training camps and communities.

Saturday, April 1 Averitt Center for the Arts Leaves: Book and Paper Arts Exhibition An exhibition of three artists who make one edition artist’s books and paper to build and create narratives or architectonic magic.

Artists are Susan Lenz, Jenny Bick and Christina Lihan.

Tuesday, April 4 DIY Marble Glass Votive Statesboro Bulloch County Library Join in at 6 p.m. and make a marbled glass votive with step by step instructions. Supplies are limited and sign-ups are required. Call (912) 764-1341 for information.

Saturday, April 8 Sip & Sketch Statesboro Bulloch County Library Relax at 2 p.m. and enjoy refreshments while sketching your own work of art. Limited to adults.

In the Community Room at the library. Call (912) 764-1341 for information.

Wednesday, April 19 Kids Art Night Statesboro Bulloch County Library Beginning at 5:30 p.m., kids ages 8 to 12 can get creative. No sign-ups required, but be prepared to get messy. Call (912) 764-1341 for information.

Through April 26 Leaves: Book and Paper Arts Exhibition Averitt Center for the Arts The exhibition features three artists who make one edition artist’s books and paper to build and create narratives or architectronic magic.

Artists participating include Susan Lenz, Jenny Bick and Christina Lihan.

Through April 26 Private Presidential Pathways

Averitt Center for the Arts A collection of candid presidential photographs by the late New York Times photographer, George Tames Tames, the NYT White House photographer from 1945 to 1985.

Saturday, April 22 ArtsFest Georgia Southern University, Sweetheart Circle This free public event will unite the community in celebrating the importance of performing and visual arts. Opportunities to create your own art will be available for adults and children. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

April 7-20 Youth Gallery, Averitt Center for the Arts The Youth Gallery features the artwork of Bulloch County students. Each month new schools are featured, and Statesboro High and William James Middle schools are featured in April.

The new exhibits are celebrated with a reception in the third floor gallery on the first Friday of each month.

Ongoing Give it a Spin! Workshop, 3rd Sunday each month Averitt Center for the Arts For those 16 years of age and up, from 1-4 p.m., this pottery class for beginners covers the basics. Bring a towel with you; all other materials provided. Cost is $25 ($40 for nonmembers).

Paint-N-Party, 2nd Friday each month Averitt Center for the Arts Come and have fun with your friends and your favorite drink (21+ to drink).

Price includes a 16X20 canvas and art supplies. Call Tony Phillips at (912) 212-2787 to register. Cost is $35 per session.

Theater Thursday, April 6 “Our Town” Averitt Center for the Arts, 7:30 p.m.

Thornton Wilder’s classic American play is set in the fictional town of Grover’s Corners, and has three acts and three focuses: daily life, love and marriage, and death and eternity.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for youth and $22 for a box. Call (912) 212-2787 or go online at www. averittcenterforthearts.org to purchase tickets.

Monday, April 17 “Chicago” Georgia Southern University, Nessmith-Lane Continuing

Education Building, 7:30 p.m.

Enter a world of paparazzi, crooked lawyers, criminals and all that jazz.

The story follows the trial of Roxie Hart, accused of the murder of her lover. The production is presented by the Georgia Southern Theatre & Performance, with support from the Performing Arts Center. Additional performances April 18-28 and April 30, all at 7:30 p.m. The production may contain language, difficult themes and sexual situations not appropriate for all. Viewer discretion is advised. Tickets are $20, and can be purchased online at www. georgiasouthern.edu.

Daily Specials

Happy Mondays: Happy Hour all day! Half off all alcohol and select appetizers Trivia Tuesdays: Trivia at 7 p.m. with cash prizes; $10 buckets of beer, $7.99 shrimp and grits Wicked Wednesdays: Karaoke and live DJ at 9 p.m.; $13 buckets (imports), $8 buckets (domestics), $3 doubles all day Thirsty Thursdays: $10 buckets of beer, $3 doubles, $3 bombs, $3 Newcastle all day Fridays & Saturdays: Live music; $10 buckets of beer Sunday Funday: Happy Hour all day! Karaoke and live DJ at 8 p.m.; 45¢ wings Everyday Lunch Specials: $7 lunches with a drink, 7 days a week!

Family Law | Personal Injury | Real Estate Law

Monday Pint Night: $2 pints (all draft beers), trivia at 8:30 p.m.

Tuesday: $3.99 Titos, $3.99 Jim Beam Wine & Whisky Wednesday: $10 off any bottle of wine, $4.99 Crown Thirsty Thursday: $3.99 Titos, $3.99 Jim Beam Friday, Saturday & Sunday: $10 domestic buckets, $15 import buckets

Thank you! We appreciate your willingness to help out wherever needed. It’s that kind of flexibility and dedication that will help this company grow to its full potential.

Wednesday we now have the pulled pork sandwich for $5.99 with fries from 11am-2pm.

The Drew’s Fried Chicken Sandwich will no longer be a special on Wednesday.

Saturday we now have $8 Domestic Pitchers instead of $7.

117 S. Zetterower Avenue, Statesboro 912-764-5555 staffordlawgroupllc.com April 2017 • 5

ArtsFest

By Rashida Otunba

ArtsFest celebrates 35th anniversary Spring is near, which means Statesboro’s annual ArtsFest celebration is right around the corner. ArtsFest is an annual community celebration that is designed to attract individuals of all ages, from all walks of life, and allow them to create their own works of art and interact with and view the work of artists in the Statesboro community.

ArtsFest features food vendors, art stations and other activities that allow individuals to relax and have fun with their families and friends.

Having originated in the early 1980s as a community event designed to connect faculty and students from Georgia Southern University’s Betty Foy Sanders Department of Art with members of the local community, this year marks ArtsFest’s 35th anniversary.

That spirit of unifying the community has carried on into the present day with Bulloch County Parks and Recreation Department heading the event planning, and organizations and businesses across Bulloch County

6 • Connect Magazine

participating in the event. “(ArtsFest) brings a lot of organizations together from the school system to the community to the university and it pulls us all together into one spot and that’s something that doesn’t happen a lot,” said Kimberly Sharpe, community events supervisor at the department.

After attending follow-up meetings and addressing issues that needed to be changed, the department took on the task of planning this year’s ArtsFest almost immediately after last year’s ended.

With last year’s ArtsFest welcoming an estimated 3,500 to 4,500 people, this year’s festivities are bound to attract an even bigger crowd. This year’s lineup will include art stations, food vendors and art markets, which sell artwork made by local artists, and will also bring a few new activities into the mix, including a balloon artist, and the addition of the Center for Wildlife Education at Georgia Southern University and the Southern Authors Association.

The Wildlife Center will bring in animals and other artifacts for a display show from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., while members of the Southern Authors Association will have tables set up featuring their upcoming books.

This year will also include a photo booth that will allow festival goers to take a keepsake photo with a logo and a date on the bottom to commemorate the event. The photos will be made available on the website the day after ArtsFest.

“I think it’s a good community project. I think it’s a good activity where families can come out and relax and enjoy, and they can see all the different types of art all combined into one,” Sharpe said.

ArtsFest is open to the public, and features activities for both children and adults.

The event will take place on April 22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. ArtsFest is free for anyone to attend, with the only cost being an optional $5 charge for an ArtsFest T-shirt, which was designed by GSU art students.

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Play Festival

Redesigned With you In Mind

By Michael Sapp

playwrights take center stage in GSU’s Ten Minute Play Festival

This month marks the return of Georgia Southern’s Ten Minute Play Festival, an annual event organized and produced by Theatre South, a student run organization in the university’s Communication Arts department.

As the name suggests, the festival featured short plays produced entirely by students.

From writing, directing, acting and staging, students worked independently in bringing their original ideas to the stage.

“Other than culling the submissions and analyzing the scripts, I really only supervise,” said faculty adviser Nick Newell. “This is almost an entirely student run process.”

A call for submissions went out last fall, and since then, faculty have been workshopping scripts with student playwrights and directors, honing in on the final festival performances.

Newell sees the process predominately as a learning experience for young artists.

“What we are doing is giving students the opportunity to see their work in a very barebones setting, a taste of what the playwriting and production process is like on a larger, more professional scale,” he said.

It was also an opportunity for fledgling playwrights to move from the more independent writing process towards a collaborative one in theater production. Theater majors make up the bulk of the festival’s participants, but submissions were open to all students.

8 • Connect Magazine

Newell says faculty focus on being more supportive than selective in the workshopping process, but their main concern is choosing pieces that best lend themselves to the format.

Though the 10-minute length requirement can seem restrictive, past performances vary wildly in genre, from political period pieces to personal love stories. Festival judges closely examine the writer’s voice, and if they are conveying their ideas in a more dramatic than literary way.

Student directors are given leeway as to how much they want to produce each play, but staging was minimal outside of a few blocks or pieces of furniture.

“What’s great about that is the play tends to take place more in the audience’s mind when there is very little spectacle, which in turn means they will focus more on the work itself,” said Newell.

This year’s event, held April 1, marked the 11th year Theatre South has hosted the festival, which has seen a steady increase in popularity, both among students and audiences. Five plays were selected for performance, taken from an ever larger pool of submissions. The performances were given in a classroom, but if the festival’s popularity continues to increase, Newell says it will have to expand into the university’s Black Box Theatre.

For more information on advertising opportunities, contact Stephanie Childs at 912.531.0786

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‘Chicago’

By Angye Morrison

‘Chicago’ comes to the PAC stage at GSU April 27 Step back in time to Prohibition-era Chicago, when the jazz was hot, and the dancers even hotter. It’s a world of crooked lawyers and criminals. Based on a 1926 play about the era, the story told in “Chicago” follows the trial of Roxie Hart, who has been accused of the murder of her lover. The events unfold through song and dance, styled after the burlesque houses of the 1920s.

The original production opened in 1975, with Bob Fosse choreographing. His style, which featured turned-in knees, sideways shuffling, rolled shoulders and jazz hands, was featured heavily in the show, and it’s become synonymous with the production. Fosse won Tony and Academy Awards for his work in “Pippin” and “Cabaret,” as well as “Chicago.”

Mathyn Miller is the dance choreographer for the Statesboro production, which opens at Georgia Southern University Performing Arts

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Center on April 27. The owner, artistic director and choreographer at Technique Dance Company, Miller said she kept all of the choreography in Fosse’s well-known and stylized form, with some of her own flair added in.

Casting the show was not difficult, Miller said. What was hard was not casting everyone who showed up to audition.

“We had a wonderful turnout,” she said.

“It’s always hard when you can only take 16 dancers max, but I knew what I was looking for in each dancer, and we had a fairly easy time casting.”

For Miller, the greatest challenge so far has been the amount of dances that are in the show.

“Choreographing more than 10 dances is always a challenge, but I have loved every minute of it,” she said.

Miller said the audience has a lot to look

forward to in this production – and that it’s not about one number over another – it’s a big picture kind of thing.

“I think choreography-wise the best thing the audience can look forward to is not necessarily one thing, but as a whole, all of the pieces. I think they can look forward to being entertained with all of the partner work, such as lifts and turns, as well as how each piece really tells a story with the fluid movements and at some times, surprising moments. I feel like there are a lot of wow factors to look forward to,” she said.

This cast is special, Miller added.

“They are all amazing triple threats. What I have found most special is how well they all work together as a group and at how quickly they have picked up this difficult choreography. I have had such an amazing time working with each and every one of them. They are

determined, hard workers, when it comes to memorizing and perfecting the dances,” she said.

Two of those dancers are Hannah Hogan and Kelsey Poole. Hogan is playing the part of Velma Kelly, while Poole tackles the role of Roxie Hart.

Both young women say they have found playing the roles challenging, and they are approaching the characters after studying who the women are.

“I think we’ve all done research on who our character is and how we can embody her better. One of the things that I did was I got a little bottle of perfume that it says that Velma wears, so I can kind of get into her character better,” Hogan said.

Poole says she’s found that tackling the turns in the dances has been her biggest challenge, while Hogan says the fast-paced singing and

dancing has been hers.

Both have dance in their backgrounds – Poole, who is a senior at GSU, has experience as a hip-hop dancer, and as an actor as well, but not in musicals.

“This is all very different for me. The singing and dancing at the same time, it’s quite difficult,” she said.

Freshman Hogan started dance when she was 2 years old, and has danced competitively since she was 5. She says she got into musical theater in high school, and studied in New York for two months as well.

As for what the audience can look forward to in the production, both women are somewhat tightlipped, but they enthusiastically encourage people to come. “(Our characters) go through a lot of emotions. You get to see the actors go through their weakest moments, and then their proudest

moments. These characters are so dynamic,” Hogan said.

Poole agrees, and says the show will be funny and highly entertaining.

“All of us are amazing singers and dancers.

It’s just a good time. It’s very different from the usual show you see at Georgia Southern. It’s a little edgy,” she said.

When you ask director Lisa Abbott about the cast, she echoes the sentiments expressed by Poole and Hogan.

“This cast is awesome because each and every one of them is a triple threat (singer/ dancer/actor) and it is rare to get that lucky,” she said.

Abbott said she felt auditions were a tough process, and she added that dance ended up being the determining factor because the nature of the show requires it to be.

As for the show being edgy, Abbott disagreed with Poole.

“I would not say that this is in any way edgier than what we normally do. We select shows that challenge our audience’s view on all sorts of topics in many ways all the time. I think in some ways it is safer because it is so stylized in terms of the manner in which sexuality and violence is presented,” she said.

Collaborating with Miller and Josh Cook, music director for the show, is something that Abbott said is one of the great things about the production of a musical.

“Josh has a very low key way of working that gets amazing work out of singers and Mathyn and I have worked together several times.

We like the same aesthetic and I can take a dance she has created and build on it in blocking or make suggestions as she is working, very much of a give and take,” she said. “Chicago is so well known, and therefore people have some clear expectations. I don’t think you need to reinvent the show. We are playing it grittier than the film, but are staying fairly true to the elements of the Bob Fosse choreography while avoiding the sparseness of the recent Broadway revival.”

Abbott says the audience can expect great singing, dancing, acting, costumes and sets.

“You name it,” she said. “I think we regularly do high quality shows here at GSU and I look forward to having a larger audience as a result of the PAC space.”

See “Chicago” April 27-30, at 7:30 p.m. each evening at GSU’s Performing Arts Center.

General admission tickets can be purchased online for $20 each at www.georgiasouthern. edu. Student tickets are $10, and faculty and staff tickets are $17. The production is for mature audiences.

April 2017 • 11

‘Our Town’

By Angye Morrison

‘Our Town’ opens at Averitt April 6 In his three-act play, “Our Town,” American playwright Thornton Wilder takes the audience to fictional Grover’s Corners in the early 1900s. While there, we see life through the eyes of the Gibbs and Webb families, and experience the highs and lows of it.

In this minimalist production, the Stage Manager addresses the audience directly.

The part of the Stage Manager is played

by Tehrelle Billups. A Statesboro native and graduate of Georgia Southern University, Billups comes to the stage with a varied background in music and literature. He’s relatively new to the stage, but says he loves acting.

He’s looking forward to playing this particular role.

“I understand the Stage Manager as the agent of knowledge and time,” he said. “I have the honor and burden of setting the stage and the mood for many of the scenes, but with Jackie Gordon as the director, she has managed to make this tough role work.”

To prepare for the role, Billups says he’s spending a lot of time in front of the mirror.

“Sounds vain, I know, but this character really has to command both its words and actions. But when it

12 • Connect Magazine

comes to the really hard part for me – the lines – I sing. No matter how horrendous it sounds, it really helps me memorize them and connect to the words,” he said.

Billups said that performing, for him, is about the energy he receives from it.

“It really helps me live in the moment, because for that one or two hours, I’m focusing everything I have in that character. I like to make people smile, laugh, cry or anything that makes someone feel what I’m feeling as the character. It’s like writing a letter to someone you miss…you want them to feel as connected to you as possible,” he said.

As for the heavy-duty subjects the play deals with, Billups says he hopes that the audience will simply “feel the moment.”

“I want the audience to be able to go home, and step out of life and watch it like the Stage Manager does throughout the play,” he said.

Death is a central theme in the play, and Billups says the topic worries him a lot.

“It makes you wonder what will happen or what happened with the loved ones who passed or will pass,” he said, adding that he’s not sure how it will affect the audience. “Everyone handles emotions differently. But I can hope it still makes them smile, even with this heavy topic. It’s something we can’t avoid, so we ought to see the bright side to it as best as possible.”

Ashley Morgan Brack will be playing the part of Mrs. Gibbs. Like Billups, she’s spent a

lot of time trying to understand her character.

“I am taking time to really embody her in a way that makes her unique and memorable,” she said, adding that she and her character have similar thought processes.

Brack says Mrs. Gibbs is a “pleasant, loving woman who makes her family a priority and strives to be a good friend and neighbor to all those around her.”

“She has a very protective nature, but not overbearingly so,” she said.

Brack says that performing allows her to take pieces of herself and show them to others in a safe environment.

“Performing is a place of catharsis for me, something I get to do to recharge. I live for shows like this one where I am able to make people think by cultivating an environment where they can think about ideas that they normally would not,” she said.

She agrees that death is a central theme in this play, and says that it causes an actor to re-evaluate his or her life, and those they’re around.

“It makes you appreciate the moment you are in with those in the cast around you, because you know that you are sharing in a very intense emotional experience,” she said. “In my experience, dealing with death in a play has an emotional effect on the audience.

It makes it a memorable experience and allows them a chance to grieve and feel things in the comfort of a theater, where they do not need to feel obligated to verbalize their emotions. It is as cathartic for them as it is for us as actors.”

Director Gordon, who has been acting and directing for about 20 years, says the play is “basically the cycle of life.”

“It has some important lessons in it,” she said. “A reminder for us as human beings to stay connected to each other, to really appreciate the small things in life. That really gets driven home in the third act when we deal with death.”

Gordon says she loves that the play is minimalist, because “then the focus is the story and not on costuming or props or set. “ “I love it because it’s a play that’s aware that it’s a play,” she added.

Gordon will take a unique approach to the script by having the actors on the stage at all times. Instead of waiting in the wings, they will be seated at the rear of the stage, awaiting their moments to enter the various scenes.

As is typical with “Our Town,” Gordon said there will be no props; they will just be mimed. There will also be no period costumes, although she plans to have pieces that represent the different characters that the actors will use.

Gordon calls the cast really awesome, and says it’s a mix of Averitt regulars, high school students and people who just showed up and wanted to do theater.

As for what people can expect in this production, she points to the central lesson Wilder penned in the script.

“In this time when we’re being bombarded with political issues and anger and just kind of general angst in our culture and in our society, this play will help people remember that we are all human beings on the same path,” she said.

“Our Town” will be performed at Averitt Center for the Arts April 6-8, at 7:30 p.m. each evening. Tickets may be purchased at averittcenterforthearts.org, or calling (912) 212-2787, and are $20 for adults, $10 for youth, and $22 for box seats (for non-members).

Connect Crime

bY Holli Deal Bragg

NO LAW BROKEN HERE – But a Dry Branch Mobile Home Park woman called deputies anyway to complain that she was upset because her father died and her boyfriend would not attend services with her. The man said he didn’t want to go because the woman’s ex-boyfriend would be there. Deputies determined no crime was committed.

MORE FROM DRY BRANCH VILLAGE – A man said a woman hit him with a spatula and shattered his truck’s glass window with a large piece of wood. The argument started when the man went to his wife’s work to tell him he had just lost his job. She became angry, and then followed him home, where she struck him and damaged the truck. Deputies arrested her after she was dishonest in denying having left work to go home.

AFRAID TO GO HOME – A Harvey Wilson Road woman said her livein boyfriend of 20 years had texted her all day threatening to beat her when she got home. She told deputies she did not want to go home if he was there. The man was angry when deputies arrived, saying he did not call them and they had no reason to be there. Family members talked him into leaving for the night since the woman had no place to go.

THAT’S JUST NASTY – A Rucker Lane man told police his roommate dumped trash on his bed.

DISHING IT OUT –Deputies spoke with a Thomkin Drive man being treated at the hospital who said he and a man argued over dishes, and the other man stuck him in the jaw with his fist.

HIT AND RUN – A man said someone on Cliponreka Road in a silver Ford pickup with a black brush guard ran him off the road, made him fall and ran over his bicycle before leaving the scene.

JUST A SCRATCH – Police spoke with a woman who was being treated at the hospital for a scratch she received when another woman tried to grab a pen from her.

April 2017 • 13

Student-Designed Exhibit

By Rashida Otunba

Graphic design students get hands-on experience with museum exhibition After much careful planning and design, Georgia Southern University’s new exhibit “The World’s War is Georgia’s War, 19171919” is available for the public to view thanks to the work of the Georgia Southern history department and graphic design students from the Betty Foy Sanders Department of Art. It takes a great deal of manpower to sort out the documents and artifacts that have been collected by historians to design an exhibit, work which was completed by graphic design students from the art department. The students work with the museum as a part of their professional practices class and spend their semester designing and mapping out the exhibits that will be showcased in the museum.

“At the start, after they did all the research and everything, they brought us the information and from there, we were to take all of that information and basically plan out almost essentially everything,” said Rashad Fife, senior graphic design major.

The professional practices class is designed to give graphic design students a taste of what they will be doing in the professional world

14 • Connect Magazine

and allows them the opportunity to gain handson experience working on exhibitions.

Graphic design students were tasked with planning not only the layout of the museum for the exhibit, but assessing how patrons were to travel throughout the museum to see the artifacts as well as assembling props.

Students were divided into three teams and given access to all of the information the history department collected, which they then used to create 3-D models of the museum and each team was given full control of how they wanted the layout and design of the museum to look. The layouts were then viewed by curators for the museum who would choose the layout they liked the best.

When the winning team was selected, members from each group then helped the winning team design the full-scale layout of the whole museum.

“This has become one of the things we do every year. It is very important for us and it’s really an experience that really helps the students. The challenges they face, they are unique and different,” said Santanu Majum-

dar, assistant professor of graphic design.

Students were not just tasked with making posters and banners for the exhibit, but they were also charged with making props. The most notable prop that the students created is a model artillery gun, which the students formed from wood and PVC pipe to create a replica of a gun that would have been used in war during that period.

Students like Fife enjoy these projects because it allows students a chance to show off their skills and explore new avenues to utilize their talents.

“I think this was the perfect example of the versatility (of the arts program at Georgia Southern). A lot of times it’s assumed we’re just going to go maybe design something, step back and let someone go the crafting, but this gave us the full experience of how we’re going to design, model and then actually create it ourselves,” Fife said.

The exhibition will be featured on campus until Jan. 28, 2018 and will eventually be placed in the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

Awards Awards

2017

NOMINATE and VOTE for your Favorite!

Voting Ends Mid-April! www.connectstatesboro.com/ choiceawards For more information, contact Stephanie Childs at 912.531.0786 or schilds@connectstatesboromagazine.com

April 2017 • 15

arts seen

The Arts SEEN is a new feature in Connect, and we invite you to send us your photos! Send photos, along with information about the event, as well as the names of those pictured, to amorrison@connectstatesboromagazine.com.

Helen Rosengart, director of the production, was presented a vintage Patsy Cline album, signed by the cast, to show their appreciation for her leadership.

She is shown here, at far left, with Averitt Development Director Rahn Hutcheson, center, and Carol Thompson, interim executive director, at right.

Members of the “Always” cast are shown with the show’s director, Helen Rosengart, far right.

The cast of “Love Always…Patsy Cline” gathered for a cast photo in costume on stage at the Averitt Center for the Arts. Cast members include band members Micahlan Boney, Jerry Roberson, Nathan Smith, John Patrick, John Patrick and Eddie Thomas; and the stars of the show, Brandi Harvey as Patsy Cline, and Christie McLendon as Louise Seger.

16 • Connect Magazine

Taking a break during the show, Brandi Harvey, as Patsy Cline, and Christie McLendon, as Louise Seger, mugged for the camera.

Valentin Garvie, left, Saar Berger, middle, and Sava Stoianov of the SaVaSa play a short piece while giving a lesson in playing brass instruments and making music.

Second graders Jayden Lovett, left, and Nekivius Williams get an up-close look and listen as Saar Berger of the SaVaSa Trio, right, demonstrates how a mute works with his French horn during a visit to Sallie Zetterower Elementary School in February. The reknowned musical group, based out of Frankfurt, Germany, gave a lesson in playing brass instruments and making music, even without instruments.

Second grader Azurie Walden, front right, and classmates approve as Saar Berger of the SaVaSa Trio demonstrates the many different sounds a French horn can make.

Members of the Statesboro Youth Chorale prepared last month to head to Carrollton, Georgia for their season-ending performance. While there, the group met with the Carrollton High School Show Choir. Shown here are Abbott Siplin, Chris Bernard, Chris Schmidt, Rachel Flannery, Taylor Hall, Margaret Kochetta, Olivia Liggett, Keiya Hagins, Joshua Grimsley, Garett Coleman, Bennon Smith, Paul Nielsen and Kinsley Polk. Not pictured are Kira Howard, Alaina Luther, Ami Palmer and Noelle Westmoreland.

While in Carrollton, the group worked with Tommy cox, director of the Performing Arts program at Carrollton High School, and Julie Lowry, choir director.

They worked with the choir for an entire day in preparation for their show that evening.

April 2017 • 17

music Downtown

By Brandi Harvey

Wanna hear some great music?

Head downtown…

“When you’re alone and life is making you lonely you can always go....downtown.”

Ah, Petula Clark had it right. As I begin my time covering the music scene for Connect, it seems there’s no better way to begin than with a look at some of the local live music venues and no better place to start than downtown.

As the buzz of community growth floods our local media and social media pages, the music scene in Statesboro is doing a great job keeping up. Local restaurants are tapping into the local music scene to not only bring in customers, but to add a bit of culture and a lot of energy to our dining while supporting local artists.

With the Downtown Statesboro Development Authority leading the charge in the “America’s Best Communities” competition, local business owners and restaurateurs are catching the wave and bringing in local artists to attract a broader clientele and enliven the interaction between our growing population and the gifted musicians that Bulloch County has become known for.

We’ll begin on West Main Street. A relatively new name to downtown, GeeDa’s sits in the location formerly known as Chops, but management and staff are no strangers to the area. Owner Andy Aldred has stepped in to

18 • Connect Magazine

make sure this establishment has some deliciously unique food offerings and a bar scene that brings in local musicians for an excellent experience. The added bonus of serving a Sunday brunch makes this venue a prime spot for the after church crowd, but evenings featuring area musicians bring in crowds who are looking for a little something different.

To quote another familiar tune, “Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name,” and our downtown restaurants have gotten this down to an art. If you frequent any of our downtown Statesboro establishments, you’ll find bartenders who are quick to learn your face, name and drink. Often voted an area favorite in this department is 40 East Grill on East Main Street. Over the last two years, owners Woody Pumphrey and Brian Carter have brought on management and staff who know the value of relating to their customers.

On Thursday through Saturday during the spring you can find the bar and back deck full of regulars who come back time and again to enjoy the live music of local and regional artists. They’ve even held a few CD release parties in their adjacent venue “The Hall,” and they continue to bring in up and coming local artists while continuing to support their house

favorites.

Our last stop on the “East-West Main Street Circuit” is Eagle Creek Brewery. If brews and music is your preference, head on down to Eagle Creek Brewery Co. While they are actually located on Savannah Avenue, they’re a quick walk from the Bulloch County Courthouse and the Averitt Center for the Arts and feature Wednesday night open mics to give our local singer/songwriters one of the only local open mic venues around. Nothing helps a songwriter out like getting a live audience’s feedback on an in-progress tune, and the Dismuke family understands what a great break these types of events can be for newcomers to the music scene. And, lest we forget, they also have regular bands, duets and solo acts on stage to add that extra something special that only live music can give an evening out for brews with friends.

As lovers of music can attest, the only way to keep live music growing and strong is to support these and other venues which offer us the chance to perform and build our fan base.

Next month we will check out some of the hottest spots closer to Georgia Southern University, where you can catch some of our best local artists performing.

You are invited to join us for one of our three Easter Services on Sunday April 16th. We will have a 7am sunrise service with traditional hymns and a short Easter message on the lobby patio. We will also have 9am and 11am identical services that will each have an Easter egg hunt for children. For more information visit us online at easterboro.com.

This Easter, DiscoverA Church Home of Love, Acceptance, and Forgiveness

Good Friday Service 7:00 p.m.

Easter: 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

6495 Harville Road | www.BelieversStatesboro.com | 912.681.1440 April 2017 • 19

Lori Grice Photography

Stephanie comes to Connect Magazine with more than 15 years of sales and marketing experience both internationally and nationally. Currently serving as the Marketing/Sales Manager for Connect Magazine and GSU Eagle Nation (gsueaglenation.com), she is also a Multimedia Sales Strategist for the Statesboro Herald.

She has extensive knowledge in providing strategic marketing planning to ensure her clients are reaching their desired goals. Stephanie prides herself in providing integrated advertising plans; campaign management; understanding the market and key competitors; and working collaboratively to determine creative messaging for all her clients.

Stephanie has extensive marketing and sales experience – B2B and B2C - in various industries including: business services; consumer products; food and beverage; financial, government; hardware; health care; recreation/leisure; and not-for-profit.

She places strong emphasis on integrating traditional marketing principles into her clients’ digital strategies to maximize their exposure so they receive the best ROI. A native of Statesboro, Stephanie enjoys spending time with her son Jackson; staying active at her son’s school, Bulloch Academy; traveling; cooking; and taking continuing education courses to stay abreast of all the changes and industry trends that affect marketing and communications.

Q: What is the best practice for creating a good and effective banner ad?

A: One of the biggest disadvantages of a digital ad campaign is an underachieving creative. Moreover, your campaign *can yield great conversions provided the message is effective. Who wouldn’t want to measure their return-on-investment (ROI); and digital campaigns can do just this!

One of my favorite (insert immense sarcasm) lines when discussing digital campaigns with a client is “well, the last time I ran this type of advertisement I had a lot of clicks and about 5 sales.” First, there are absolutely no guarantees with ANY advertising on the percentage of conversions you will receive. If you are not familiar with click-through rates (CTR), it is the ratio of users who click on a specific link to the number of total users who view a page, email, or advertisement. It is far better to receive 20 clicks with only 10 conversions versus 200 and only one. And if you are aiming for a static branding message…..the CTR is not all that essential for measuring your ROI. Simply put – don’t measure your CTR to sales or you may be sorely disappointed.

When it comes to selecting what photo to use, a general rule of thumb for optimal banner performance are those of people. This practice does not necessarily apply across the board as it depends significantly on your intended audience: Business to Business vs. Business to Consumers (B2B or B2C). Overall just make sure whatever photo you choose to use, your target audience will relate and it is relevant to your message.

I am all too often asked “what are the best colors to use on my creative?” Using bright colors are well known for drawing the reader’s attention; especially given a majority of webpages are white. Just bear in mind that you do not want your color palette to misalign with your brand. I am a stickler when it comes to branding. Your call-to-action should always stand out so feel free to play around with some more unique colors when working on this button.

Next on the list -- flash banner or static ad? If you recall where I reviewed CTR for measuring the effectiveness of your campaign, deciding on which one out of the two is very relevant if you are depending on the CTR as a tool for measurement. Using CTR is senseless if you are running a flash banner. While these ads tend to grab the reader’s attention; depending on your marketing objectives you may need to do multiple tests and with digital campaigns you have the option to change things out as often as you like.

If you don’t take-away much from this piece, this is the ONE BEST PRACTICE you should or quite honestly, squash all your methods for measuring the effectiveness of your campaign. You should always make certain you include an Urgent-Call-to-Action “button.” I have included an example; however, for those of you who are B2B, your call-to-action should be somewhat softer.

Morris MultiMedia (Connect Magazine, Statesboro Herald, PennySaver, Moments Magazine) offers a variety of digital solutions. By working directly with your advertising executive, we can ensure your message reaches your audience in a compelling way that will get you off to a great start!

20 • Connect Magazine

Horoscope The luckiest signs this Month: Cancer, Leo and Virgo.

vAMPIN’ gAMER

By Tim Webb

ARIES You are very excited to be faced with new challenges. At work or at home, you achieve something brilliant that quickly leads you along the path to success.

TAURUS You may witness a situation that leaves you feeling perplexed. Perhaps someone entrusts you with a secret that you are not very comfortable with for one reason or another.

GEMINI Stress is omnipresent this week; try to avoid unnecessary stimulation, such as from caffeine. Some situations are out of your control and you need to distance yourself from them.

CANCER You take on new responsibilities at work; this is going to be profitable for you. The adjustment is not easy, but your dedication allows you to reach new heights.

LEO Reconnect with your deeper feelings and take steps toward savoring an amazing experience. Some of these emotions may lead you to a form of spirituality.

VIRGO If you are unable to overcome certain emotions, you may want to consult a professional who can guide you. Any form of change is beneficial.

LIBRA The foundations of your relationship may be shaken. You tend to make a lot of compromises, and your partner should now do exactly the same in order to save your relationship.

SCORPIO Physical health is often connected to that of the mind. If you suffer from a chronic health problem, perhaps you need to look for the cause in your emotions or maybe even in the distant past.

SAGITTARIUS You need to improve your confidence in your abilities before you can know success. If you give some room to your ego, your charisma will help you stand out from the crowd.

CAPRICORN You need stability. If you are in the middle of moving, all you have to do is ask for some affection from your loved one in order to feel reassured.

AQUARIUS Do not mince words when expressing your disagreement. You do not hesitate to denounce all forms of injustice, loudly and clearly. You may also address a large crowd.

PISCES A precarious financial situation brings some anxiety. It is important to see things from a more positive perspective and remind yourself that this is only a temporary situation.

the newest open world tactical shooter game

Continuing with the Tom Clancy franchise, developer Ubisoft Paris and publisher Ubisoft have released their newest open world tactical shooter game Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands.

Wildlands is the 10th installment from the Ghost Recon series but is the first to feature an open world environment. Released on March 7 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, the game includes different locales such as forests, mountains, deserts, salt flats and more.

The game takes place in Bolivia which has been overrun by a previously minor Mexican drug cartel known as Santa Blanca. The Santa Blanca are led by El Sueño who has tortured and killed an undercover DEA agent Ricardo “Ricky” Sandoval. Because of this killing, the United States dispatches an elite special operations team called “Ghosts” to take down El Sueño and his Santa Blanca gang.

Being that the game is open world, players have the choice of when and how they encounter each mission as they transverse nine different types of terrains which also are impacted by a dynamic weather system as well as a day-night cycle. In addition, a variety of vehicles, such as dirt bikes, helicopters and dune buggies, are featured in the game for the players to use.

Players are free to explore the video game’s world as they please and can tackle missions using a variety of tactics that include stealth, long range weapons, short range weapons and melee attacks. The game utilizes an experience system which allows players to customize abilities and weapons as they level up. The game also has a co-operative mode in which a player can team up to three other players online. If gamers prefer to play solo, the other three players will be controlled by three AI teammates.

The game is stunning and Ubisoft has done a wonderful job with the map of Bolivia they’ve created for this game. The size is unbelievable and is even on a greater scale than Grand Theft Auto V’s map. Also, Ubisoft have given players the ability to customize their characters and weapons with hundreds of options to keep things fresh and unique for each player. There was little to find wrong with the game except for occasional bugs here and there, but nothing that made the game unplayable.

With a huge open world that gives total freedom and limitless customization options, Ghost Recon Wildlands is one of the best games this year. Playing co-op with friends is very sufficient and entertaining. Ubisoft have already announced several downloadable content missions and even a new multiplayer mode that will let gamers take on each other in the future that will be sure to keep this game relevant for a long time to come.

April 2017 • 21

oVERTHINKING IT bY katherine fallon

Moving beyond paper plate preferences

Recently, we began planning a themed dinner with friends: “Foods of our Homelands.” I struggled mightily with identifying what those might be for me.

I am of Swedish and French descent, so I thought first of lingonberries, jelly candies and anything containing a lot of butter. But those aren’t foods I’ve eaten often, so I dismissed them. In the more recent past, I am from South Carolina, but I grew up vegetarian, so most traditional Southern foods weren’t staples in our household, either.

I’m sure that I struggled because I have forgotten a lot about being a child, but I also struggled because within our household, we stood divided by food. One year when my sister and I were still in elementary school, my mother stuck two paper plates to the fridge front with magnets, with my name on one plate, and my sister’s name on the other. On those plates, she told us, we were allowed to make a list of the foods we would not eat, with the understanding that whatever we did not list was fair game for her to cook.

Both of us have always loved a self-centered list, so we diligently began the task. We also took it very seriously, knowing that if we hadn’t written it down and it showed up at dinner, we were obligated to eat it. We were very compliant children.

But Mom’s plan soon backfired. After each meal, we would storm the refrigerator to add

22 • Connect Magazine

whatever terrible things we’d choked down that evening, thereby ensuring we would never have to do so again.

Eventually, the family could only agree upon veggie burgers and pizza, and even the pizza had to be made in quadrants to ensure that I did not have to eat onions, my sister did not have to eat mushrooms, and my father did not have to eat anything green. My poor mother would eat just about anything.

My food preferences were also the most extreme, so far as our nuclear family went.

Although there was no meat in our home, my parents loved to tell the story of the time I got away from them at a wedding, still in diapers, and was later located beneath a buffet table, munching on two messy fistfuls of ham.

So I guess it’s really no wonder I am experiencing a “Foods of our Homelands” identity crisis.

My friends traded ideas easily via text message, announcing their planned contributions, and I began to look for holes to fill, rather than to try to identify traditional family dishes. My partner, of strong Italian roots, made manicotti, and served an antipasto course complete with roasted red peppers, homemade bread, fresh fruit and cheeses.

One friend planned for greens and biscuits, so those Southern delicacies were spoken for.

Another friend had a fantastic strawberry meringue cake in the works.

Unfortunately, my problem was further compounded by familial estrangement.

When I did finally decide upon dishes that made sense, I hit a wall. I didn’t have the recipes, and I couldn’t ask for them.

My sister and I are still close, though, and with her help, I made scalloped potatoes, which are the perfect confluence of Irish and Southern gluttony anyway. She reminded me, too, that in order to be authentic, I needed to leave one corner onion-free, in tribute to my ornery childhood self.

I also made fudge, which my great-grandmother made for our visits to her farmhouse in Camak. Neither my sister nor I have that recipe, though, so I had to learn a new one: that of my partner’s grandmother, Anna, who is 93, and who sends me a $20 bill at Christmastime.

Before my partner offered that recipe, I looked at a dozen of them online, scrolling listlessly and missing my family, and my old home. Making someone else’s fudge recipe did not erase that missing, but it soothed me to consider the ways in which we adjust to loss, and the bonds I’ve made beyond bloodlines, and will continue to make.

And anyway, it’s not as though I don’t still observe some of my family’s culinary traditions. In this house, we, too, eat veggie burgers and make pizza. Half with onions. Half without.

2016 BORO AWARD WINNERS Home Instead Senior Care Best Home Healthcare Facility

Boro Take-Out Express Best Takeout

Core Credit Union Best Credit Union, Best Customer Service, Best Student Banking, Best To Show True Blue Pride

D&R Intensive Car Care Best Auto Repair

East Georgia Center for Oral & Facial Surgery Best Oral Surgery Center

Gnat’s Landing Best Happy Hour, Best Sports Bar, Best Salad, Best Trivia, Best Bar for GSU Alumni, Best Lunch, Best Live Music, Best Burger, Best Sandwiches, Best Fries

J’ Adore Bridal Best Bridal Store

Jarrard Pre-Owned Vehicles Best Auto Dealer

McCook’s Pharmacy Best Pharmacy

Millhouse Best American Restaurant, Best Italian, Best Steak, Best Appetizers, Best Outdoor Dining, Friendliest Bar

Moe’s Best Burrito

The Sir Shop Nevil Tire Best Tire Store

Ricky Lane, DDS Best Dentist Office

Shogun Best Sushi, Best Japanese

Sir Shop Best Men’s Clothing Store, Best Tuxedo Rental

South Georgia Immediate Care Center Best Urgent Care Center

Southern Downs Best Apartment Complex

Steak ‘n Shake Best Milkshake

180 Fitness Best Gym

The Painted Chef Best BBQ, Best Ribs, Best Shrimp & Grits, Best Catering, and Best Chef

University Store Best Campus Bookstore, Best GSU Merchandise

Three Tree Coffee Roasters Best Tasting Coffee, Best Coffee Shop

Westwood Nursing Center Best Nursing Home April 2017 • 23

Tailgate Tattler

BY Chris Stanley

GATA making a comeback at GSU Culture is a word thrown around a lot in the world of sports, normally as some intangible factor that contributes to the success of a team or organization.

Normally I have a distaste for talking sports heads throwing around intangible attributes to players or teams. You’ll hear phrases like “those boys grind” or “he gives 110 percent” as ways to describe why a team or player has success. It’s lazy analysis in my book. It’s not as if there are 50 other teams in the country who “grind” or “give 110 percent.”

All of those platitudes don’t mean a hill of beans to me when it comes to analyzing success in sports. However culture is something I

24 • Connect Magazine

think is real – not some useless adjective that gets tossed around by Joe Sportstalker on 101.5 Cliche Sports Talk Show.

Culture is evident in a number of organizations throughout professional sports. The New England Patriots come to mind as an immediate example of an organization whose culture directly contributes to their success on the field.

Apologies ahead to any Falcons fans reading this still traumatized by the events of Super Bowl 51 – and as a Houston Texans fan I personally can’t stand the Patriots – but that doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate how their organizational structure rolls into Super Bowl

championships.

It all starts with the owner Robert Kraft. If you want to win in any line of sport, it starts from the top down. Kraft is hands off, doesn’t meddle in the team’s daily business and merely serves as a cash cow and hiring specialist to help keep the team afloat.

Over the years Kraft has hired the right people in key positions to contribute to the team’s success. The most obvious of the bunch being head coach Bill Belichick. Belichick not only serves as the team’s head coach but as the team’s general manager as well – giving him an unusual amount of power in one franchise.

Over the years who hear about the “Patriot

Way” coming out of the New England locker room. As former Patriot Kevin Faulk puts it in the Player’s Tribune: “The Patriot Way ain’t about nothing but winning, man. That’s it.

See, Coach Belichick is the kind of guy who doesn’t care what you do on your own time. He wants you to know football and he wants you to come to work every day and do your job to the best of your ability. Anything else, he doesn’t really care.”

Come in, do your job correctly and leave knowing you did everything possible to make the team better. It seems simple, but since the year 2000 no other team in professional football has had more success on the field than New England. From Kraft, to Belichick and down to Tom Brady – everyone buys into the Patriot Way. Whether it’s the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA, the St. Louis Cardinals in MLB or the Alabama Crimson Tide in college football – organizational stability, structure and a distinct cultural theme are all key components to a winning franchise.

Where is all of this going exactly? Well last season Georgia Southern’s football program appeared to get away from the “GATA” culture established by Erk Russell in the 80s. It was more than apparent on the field and even led to rumors of Tyson Summers’ firing near the end of the year.

However when I went out to spring practice for the first time on March 9, there was an obvious change in intensity and tone at practice. New offensive coordinator Bryan Cook was bouncing around and firing around orders during scrimmages – which seemingly was rubbing off on the players as they followed suit.

When I went and talked to Summers’ after practice, he preached the “GATA” attitude and that he wanted all of his assistants to bring a GATA attitude with them to every meeting and practice session.

“If you walk though are building we want you to feel the energy,” Summers said. “That’s the route we want to take and if we focus on the details and the fundamentals then it’ll bear the fruit we want.”

Summers credited not only Cook but new strength and conditioning Coach Dwayne Chandler as two integral components in helping turn attitudes around from 2016 going into 2017. Summers even admitted that he needed to make some personal changes in order to get things back on track.

“One of the places where I probably didn’t do a very good job was trying to do everything,” Summers said. “From a staff perspective I’m letting everyone run their phase, whether that’s the director of the football operations or the position coaches.”

A hands-off approach, hiring the right assistants and establishing a cultural identity are three clear things Summers has done this offseason to try and turn the culture around at Georgia Southern for the better. If anything it shows Summers has grown as a coach and has at least proven he can learn on the job.

Culture is something that doesn’t just rise out of nowhere. It takes years of implementation and players as well as coaches buying into the philosophies for a specific culture to take hold in a team, but it appears Georgia Southern is at least laying the groundwork for something successful.

So if there are any Southern fans out there who are still sour on Summers, take some solace in the fact that the 37-year-old, secondyear head coach is making an active effort to turn things around in 2017. Because it’s clear he knows without culture, he won’t have success.

At the very least, it looks like “GATA” is trying to make a comeback in Statesboro.

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April 2017 • 25

Day trippin’

bY Kenley Alligood

Fort provides look over Georgia’s coast, look back at Georgia’s history

It was supposed to be warm. And I guess it would have been, except for the stiff breeze coming in off of the Atlantic. I stepped out of my car and immediately regretted the decision to leave a warmer jacket at home. Above me, an American flag which must have been about 20 feet long snapped rhythmically. It looked like a cardboard cutout of a flag rather than the real thing.

The fort is an impressive feat of engineering and military strategy. Twenty-five million bricks make up 7 ½ foot thick walls, making Fort Pulaski one of the most spectacular masonry forts in the United States. The fort was touted as an impregnable fortress. U.S. Chief of Engineers Joseph Totten is reported to have said that trying to breach the fort’s walls would be like trying to “bombard the Rocky Mountains.” And, at the time, this was true. No cannon of the day would be powerful enough to penetrate the walls or even have the range to come anywhere close, dropping uselessly into the surrounding marsh.

Walking across the moat, through the earthworks of the demilune, and up to the sally port it certainly seems capable of resisting a massive assault. The original wooden doors of the fort are still in place along with the machinery for its iron portcullis. All this talk of moats and

26 • Connect Magazine

portcullises probably has you thinking of medieval castles and, while it’s true that the basic technology for fort building hasn’t changed all that much over time, Fort Pulaski was the gold standard in coastal defense.

The structure was completed in 1847 and named after the Polish count and cavalry commander who joined Washington and the other patriots in their fight against the British. He was killed in 1779 when the Revolutionaries successfully took the city of Savannah back from the British and he is believed to be buried in Monterey Square. The fort which bears his name sits in the Savannah River just off Tybee Island and continues to guard Savannah from naval assaults.

After its completion, the fort was left minimally garrisoned until 1861 when Georgia’s governor ordered state militia to seize the fort.

The Confederate States of America held the fort for a little over a year. Then the unthinkable happened. In only 30 hours, Union forces on Tybee Island had breached the southernmost corner of the fort and forced Col. Olmstead to surrender the fort. While the various breaches in the wall were restored in the late 30s, the effects of this bombardment are still visible. A short walk around the outside perimeter of the fort shows the pockmarks left by

Union cannon fire.

Fort Pulaski, contradictorily, was during its day both the height of military technology and the bottom. It was superseded by something which would revolutionize warfare forever: rifling. The Union army on Tybee Island brought some experimental weapons with them which utilized this new tech and its success led to even wider implementation, rendering brick and mortar fortifications like Pulaski obsolete.

Guided tours are available every day at 11, 1, and 2:30 Sunday through Thursday, and 11 and 2:30 on Fridays and Saturdays. Led by knowledgeable reenactors or park rangers, the tour is a convenient way to catch the highlights about the fort’s construction and its history. Entrance to the fort is $7 per person 16 and over. Anyone younger is free. While the island features several trails for hiking and biking, some are temporarily closed due to damage from Hurricane Matthew, so be sure to check the park’s website or ask a park ranger in the Visitor’s Center before setting out on the trails.

I hope that you get to visit the fort and stroll along the top of its walls on a comfortably warm day. However, if, like me, you happen to visit on a particularly chilly day, make time to thaw out in Savannah with a coffee or a late lunch.

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