Connect July 2017

July 2017

Firecracker Fest at Mill Creek Get your Drive-In: Films under game on at Galactic the stars

Plot your escape in the Boro

More than just maps at the CVB

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Table of Contents

Editorial for July

mirth & Matter Editor’s letter

Calendar of Events / Daily Specials �������������������������������������� 4 Firecracker Fest ������������������������������������������������������������������� 6 Folk Art Collection ��������������������������������������������������������������� 8 More than Maps ��������������������������������������������������������� 10-11 The Music Scene ���������������������������������������������������������������12 Connect Crime �����������������������������������������������������������������13

Angye Morrison Connect Editor

Unlocked �������������������������������������������������������������������������14

Anybody else longing for those cooler temperatures yet? Back when the weather was cold, I wanted warmth. Now that I’ve got that, I am dying for some cool breezes.

Color me fickle.

But what we don’t have in cool weather, we certainly have in activity. There’s a lot going on in the Boro, and the sunshine has been abundant, allowing for some great days to enjoy it all. This month there are a couple of July 4th celebrations in the area you can take advantage of.

Brooklet is kicking things off with its inaugural 4th of July parade, to be held on the 4th, beginning at 10 a.m. There’s also a 1-mile fun run at 8 a.m., prior to the parade. Come out and enjoy the fun.

Then at 5 p.m. at Mill Creek Park, you won’t want to miss the annual Firecracker Fest, filled with live music, games, food and a fireworks show. It’s a great family-friendly event that people of all ages can enjoy.

And this month’s F1RST Friday will be a downtown picnic on July 7 at 5:30. There’ll be free watermelon and lemonade to help you beat the heat. It’ll be a great time of games and entertainment, local vendors and fun in the sun.

In this issue, we’ve sought to give you some ideas of some things you can do for fun on these hazy, crazy days of summer. There’s an article about Statesboro Unlocked, a newer attraction in the Boro that appeals to adventurers of a different kind. If you’re looking for something educational that’ll take you inside where there’s AC, check out the interactive travel map at the Statesboro Convention and Visitors Bureau. It’s a great way to learn about some local history.

So get out there and enjoy all that sunshine. It’s hot outside – and that’s just groovy.

Galactic Games ����������������������������������������������������������������18 Overthinking It �����������������������������������������������������������������22 Tailgate Tattler ����������������������������������������������������������� 24-25 Day Trippin’ ��������������������������������������������������������������������26 Classifieds ����������������������������������������������������������������� 28-29 Vampin’ Gamer ����������������������������������������������������������������30

Behind the Scenes People who make it happen

Angye Morrison, EDITOR 912.489.9402 | amorrison@connectstatesboromagazine.com 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.

July 2017 • 3

Calendar

Daily Specials

MUSIC

Tuesday, July 4, 11, 18, 25 Open mic night at Loco’s, 9 pm.

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

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

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

Wednesday, July 5, 12, 19, 26 Open mic night at Eagle Creek Brewing Co. Saturday, July 15 Roshambeaux at Millhouse, 10 p.m.

ART

Putting Us on the Map: Georgia and its Coastal Plain Statesboro Convention and Visitors Bureau A unique collection of maps that tell stories about Georgia, the Coastal Plain and Bulloch County.

The exhibit will be on display throughout the month. The CVB is located at 222 South Main Street in Statesboro.

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 non-members).

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.

Friday, July 28 Smith Callaway Banks Collection of Folk Art Averitt Center for the Arts A selection from the Smith Calloway Banks Collection of Folk Art will be on display from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 29; and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, July 31. The collection will be in place through September 9

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!

OTHER

Tuesday, July 4 Firecracker Fest, 5-10 p.m. at Mill Creek Park Live music, games, inflatables, food and a fireworks show.

Tuesday, July 4 Inaugural Brooklet 4th of July Parade, 10 a.m.

This is the first year for this event. A 1-mile fun run will be held at 8 a.m. prior to the parade.

Friday, July 7 F1RST Friday: Downton Picnic, 5:30 to 8 p.m.

It’s hot in the Boro in July, so beat the heat with free lemonade and watermelon, games and entertainment, local vendors and more.

4 • Connect Magazine

Saturday, July 9 Family Day at Splash in the Boro, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Family-friendly fun. Enjoy water slides, float on the Lazy River or surf on the Flow Rider. Tickets range from $5 to $10.

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.

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

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s r e n n i W

May 2017 • 5

Firecracker

By Angye Morrison

Photo by Scott Bryant Khloee Major, 1, of Statesboro is all smiles while enjoying some grapes last year’s Firecracker Fest at Mill Creek Regional Park.

Firecracker Fest at Mill Creek on July 4th

Hosted by the Statesboro-Bulloch County Parks and Recreation Department and Mill Creek Park, along with Synovus Bank, Firecracker Fest 2017 will begin on July 4 at 5 p.m. at Mill Creek Park.

6 • Connect Magazine

The annual festival will last until 10 p.m., and will feature live music, games, inflatables, food and the fireworks display at the end of the night. The event is free and is family-friendly. The fireworks will be sponsored

by Briggs & Stratton.

Other sponsors for the event include Coca-Cola, Kiwanis International, Vaden Nissan of Statesboro, Rotary International, Blanchard Equipment, Brickhouse Live Productions, Statesboro Golf Carts and Chickfil-A. Kimberly Sharpe, Community Events supervisor with Statesboro-Bulloch County Parks and Recreation, said the department is looking forward to the event.

“We are looking forward to a fun evening at Mill Creek Park, where we will have many activities for the whole family,” she said. “We would like to encourage families to bring their lawn chairs or blankets and relax on the fields as we enjoy music and fireworks.”

Sharpe also wanted to remind people to bring a frog and join in on Field 3 for the annual frog jumping contest. Children can also wear their swimsuits and cool off on the water slides.

There will be concessions and parking on site, as well as public restrooms. For more information, call (912) 764-5637.

Kicking off the day of celebration will be the inaugural Brooklet 4th of July parade, beginning at 10 a.m. There will be a 1-mile fun run that begins at 8 a.m. The events are hosted by the Seven Four Foundation.

For more information on the parade or fun run, call (770) 301-9385.

Across the area, there will be numerous private celebrations, and it is paramount that local residents take precautions to use fireworks safely. It is legal to purchase and use fireworks in the state of Georgia.

House Bill 100, authored by Rep. Jay Roberts of Ocilla, allows residents to legally purchase fireworks including sparklers, Roman candles and bottle rockets in the state. The law states that fireworks may only be purchased by those 18 years of age and up. If you purchase fireworks in the state of Georgia, however, be prepared to pay an extra 5 percent tax. Senate Bill 360 provided that 55 percent of that tax will go toward trauma care, 40 percent will help train and equip firefighters, and the remaining 5 percent will help local government public safety agencies.

Fireworks can only be lit between 10 a.m. and midnight. For New Year’s and Independence Day, the time is extended until 1 a.m.

The law also dictates that fireworks cannot be ignited on roads and highways, or within 100 yards of a hospital, nursing home or prison.

This year, EveryBody Deserves a Massage Week takes place from July 16 to 22. This annual event was created in 1995 by the national membership association Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) to raise awareness about the benefits of massage therapy. While licensed massage therapists tout numerous health benefits related to massage, only some of these reported advantages are backed by solid scientific research. Here are a few welldocumented benefits of massage therapy.

Boosts the immune system A 2010 study found that massage increases production of lymphocytes, white blood cells that play an important role in the body’s ability to fight off disease.

Participants who received 45 minutes of Swedish massage were found to have higher levels of lymphocytes than those in the control group.

Improves mood Research indicates that massage therapy positively influences the cocktail of hormones and neurotransmitters that affect our mental well-being. After a massage therapy session, cortisol, the so-called stress hormone, is decreased, while oxytocin, the love hormone, is increased. Higher levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine,

which regulate mood and pleasure, are also found in the brain following a massage. For these reasons, massage therapy could be particularly beneficial for those with anxiety and depression.

Reduces inflammation In 2012, a study published in Science Translational Medicine found that a tenminute massage could provide significant relief of muscle soreness following physical exertion. Another study found that subjects who were treated with massage therapy

had decreased levels of cytokines, molecules associated with inflammation.

Reduces pain Various studies support the claim that massage can alleviate lower back pain.

In one test, 33 percent of subjects who were given a massage once a week for ten weeks saw an improvement in symptoms, versus only one out of 25 who received conventional treatment. Back massage can reduce stiffness and pain as well as enhance range of motion.

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Folk art

Folk art collection at the Averitt cENTER Described as “sometimes silly, sometimes scary, but always fascinating,” a portion of the Smith Callaway Banks Southern Folk Art Collection is currently on display at the Averitt Center for the Arts.

A native of Statesboro, Banks began his collection in the 1980s with the purchase of a face jug. The collection has since swelled to well over 1,000 pieces of art from Georgia, as well as the Carolinas, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Virginia, Tennessee, Mississippi and Texas.

Banks, who died in 2010 after a lengthy illness, was president of City Dairy, and owner of Smith Banks Antiques. He was active in the Statesboro community, serving as a member and one-time chair of the

Statesboro Regional Library Board of Directors, and as a leader of the Bulloch County Historical Society. He was also a curator and board member of the Georgia Southern Museum, and was official historian for the Bulloch County Historical Society and the Ogeechee Rifles Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans.

He donated his large and unique collection of Southern folk art to Georgia Southern University in 2007. The Fine Arts Department at the university named the Smith Callaway Banks Southern Folk Art Collection and Research Center in his honor.

The pieces in the collection are great examples of the folk art tradition that is such a part of Georgia’s history and culture. The

Banks collection provides a foundation for Georgia Southern University faculty and student research projects, as well as opportunity for art education projects for area students, from kindergarten through 12th grade.

The current display will be in place through Sept. 9.

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More than Maps

By Angye Morrison Photos by Visit Statesboro

Student-developed exhibit about more than just maps These days, when you want to go to an unfamiliar place, you simply whip out your smartphone and use your GPS, or use the system in your vehicle. Most people don’t rely on maps anymore.

But maps are not just for navigation – they also tell a story. Maps are pictorial histories of exploration and settlement, ownership and economics, environment and culture.

Or so says a new exhibit at the Statesboro Convention and Visitors Bureau, “Putting Us on the Map: Georgia and its Coastal Plain.”

This unique collection of maps tells much about the story of Georgia, the Coastal Plain and Bulloch County.

According to Dr. Brent Tharp, director of the Georgia Southern Museum, a collaboration was created between the CVB, the museum and the Georgia Southern Univer-

10 • Connect Magazine

sity Department of History to help visitors to Statesboro come to a better understanding culturally of the area they were visiting.

Tharp teaches a class of museum studies graduate students each year, and says that as they learn about all things museum, they find that the one thing that all museums have in common is exhibits. This year’s class worked on the current exhibit, using artifacts from the museum’s collection of maps, including maps from the early 18th century all the way up to the 1950s and 1960s.

“We brought the maps out and the students worked with them all through the semester, and they came up with this exhibit,” Tharp said. “This is their work. There are a variety of artifacts along with the maps that really tell the story of the area.”

Tharp said many people see maps but

they don’t understand how maps are made.

The exhibit includes a unique part of that process, a surveyor’s compass dating from the 1840s. The compass was used by members of the Hodges family up until the early 20th century, he said.

Included with the compass is the chain that was used to measure property lines, as well as a couple of plats in Evans County.

Tharp said the students wanted to include some of the Native American history in the exhibit.

“While they didn’t leave maps, we have some really important maps that say some things about (the Native Americans),” he said.

Early maps showed some of the Indian trails in Georgia that later became roads.

On display is a map from 1740 that shows

Native Americans depicted hunting deer and lions. Despite that foible, the map showed that the mapmakers actually knew the coast of Georgia fairly well.

“You could pick your way through even today with this,” Tharp said.

Displayed among the Native Americanrelated maps are two that show some of the state’s most difficult history. The first map, dated 1835, shows large counties in the southern portion of the state, and the northeast corner still occupied heavily by the Cherokee.

Just 20 years later in 1855, the second map showed a drastic change – all evidence of the Creek and Cherokee are gone, because of the Trail of Tears and the gold rush in North Georgia. The second map shows every bit of that area had become organized

counties with courthouses and county seats.

During this rush toward development, fraud became the order of the day. The state of Georgia developed a land lottery to alleviate the issue. Tharp said people went in and waited to see if their names were drawn. If a person’s name was drawn, there was another drawing for a piece of land.

The winner in that lottery would simply pay a small fee and the land was his.

Included in the exhibit are maps reflecting the lottery, as well as a small-scale barrel containing slips of paper bearing the actual names of people from the lottery drawings in the 1800s. Visitors touring the exhibit can pull the names out, lottery-style, and read who received what , then compare the land awarded to the maps on display.

Tharp said this portion of the exhibit is key to gaining knowledge about more than just history.

“It’s important for not just history but for genealogy as well, and helps you understand how the state was really settled,” he said.

One of the larger maps in the exhibit is a soil map of Bulloch County from 1910. It is displayed near a winnowing machine, circa 1900, and a cotton basket from Glascock County. Bulloch County was an important agriculture center for the early 19th century for the state.

As a part of this portion of the exhibit, a small-scare wooden cotton gin is on display, along with some cotton that visitors can run through the gin to gain understanding of the process. The model was made by a carpenter at GSU, Tharp said, using plans from The Eli Whitney Museum. The map displayed with the gin is from 1891, and shows the percentage of the population in each county that were slaves.

By the mid-19th century, maps were be-

ing used more for travel. The exhibit reflects this, showing the development of roads in the state, as well as canals and railroads.

On display is a map from 1922 showing the railways throughout the state of Georgia, the primary mode of transportation at the time.

As highways across the state were developed, travel by rail began to decrease.

The last section of the exhibit takes a look at highways and tourism. In Statesboro, known in the 1950s as The Tourist City, that meant Highway 301.

“It became the one place that was really reliable to get a good, clean motel, to get a good restaurant, to get your car repaired,” Tharp said. “That wasn’t true in other communities up and down 301. So we gained a reputation for that and it was really a place that people stayed for a long time.”

Included with this portion of the exhibit is a Rand-McNally atlas, donated by a former student at Georgia Southern. The atlas shows Georgia Southern in the wrong place. The student noticed this, wrote RandMcNally, and pointed it out. After the atlasmaker researched the claim, they found it was true, apologized, and responded that the error would be corrected in the 1994 atlas. It’s been correct ever since.

The final portion of the exhibit is all about the Blue Mile Project, and the development planned that will rejuvenate the section of South Main Street along Highway 301 that connects Georgia Southern to historic downtown Statesboro.

The announcement that Statesboro had won $1 million for the revitalization of South Main Street came while the students were working on the exhibit.

The exhibit will be in place at the CVB until April 2018. For more information, go online at www.visitstatesboroga.com.

July 2017 • 11

The music scene

By Brandi Harvey

Brandi Harvey on the mic with The Moss City Groove at Millhouse Steakhouse in Statesboro.

The Music Scene The Blue Mile and beyond

As the weekend draws near in the Boro, the event invitations start filling up my social media. There is no shortage of choices for live music in Statesboro. Looking back over the history of our fair city, there has been a steady stream of talented musicians touring the area performing and making names for themselves. I think if Blind Willie and Miss Emma Kelly were here today, they’d be pretty happy with the number of musicians we are still bringing forth.

As we wrap this series on the local live music scene, I am going to attempt to do the impossible. That is, I will be wrapping up with the remaining live music venues in town, and may I say, they are many! These venues are one of the many reasons that Statesboro was one of the finalists in the “America’s Best Communities” competition.

With the development of “The Blue Mile” in full swing as a result, what better place to begin this final leg of our tour?

Anchoring the night life on the Blue Mile is Gnat’s Landing. Formerly Archibald’s, Gnat’s was purchased from the previous owners and rebranded, and has been making its mark in the area since 2016. Depending on the night, you may hear one of a number of regional bands playing everything from blues to swing to country. Up-andcoming Nashville songwriter Trea Landon makes regular appearances here as well.

12 • Connect Magazine

Moving on down toward the bypass, one of Statesboro’s best known and most well loved restaurants and live music venues is the Millhouse Steakhouse. As a musician, this is a great place to play. The crowds are always solid and engaged, and there is a good-sized stage for performance. Early in the week you may find a duo or trio, but at least once during the weekend, you can find a hard-hitting band the likes of Blu Vudu or The Moss City Groove keeping the music going.

Just down the road, across the bypass, is Locos Grill & Pub. Aside from their great pub fare and fantastic drinks, if you’re looking for an intimate venue to hear acoustic music, Locos is a fantastic option. Recently, local artists have been rotating hosting duties for Jam Nights. Every Tuesday area musicians are invited to come together for an open jam where all are welcome to join in the music making. If you are looking to test your wings and give performing a try, swing by on Tuesday night and get a taste of Jam. Our last stop this week is the most familyfriendly live music venue around. Most of our local venues offer live music in the bar area, where kids may not be able to join the family. Your Pie, however, offers live acoustic music the whole family can enjoy. While it is not a constant staple, their Facebook page, Your Pie Statesboro, keeps followers

up to date on the artists you can see on their stage. On special occasions, you may even catch legends like Michael Braz, retired GSU professor and pianist extraordinaire, sharing his craft.

With so many venues to choose from, there is plenty of music to be enjoyed regardless of your taste and preference. Statesboro is truly a beautiful community to be a part of if you appreciate the arts. Of course, helping to nurture musicians are several facilities where young and old alike can hone their skills through instruction, performance opportunities and more. Organizations such as the Averitt Center for the Arts, the Boys & Girls Club of Bulloch County and Georgia Southern University are wonderful resources for those hoping to perfect their craft. Local music stores Pladd Dot and Deloach’s offer private lessons, and there are a plethora of experienced, well trained independent music teachers in our area. All of these have built a wonderful community of musicians and performers who truly enjoy working and performing together and supporting one another.

Statesboro is truly an exquisite place to be a musician. Next month, we’ll start taking a look at some of the biggest names in music around to have come out of Statesboro beginning with Statesboro’s matriarch of music, Emma Thompson Kelly.

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SEEING RED – Deputies responded to a domestic disturbance on Old Groveland Road where a woman accused a man of seeing other women.

When he expressed denial and concern that she would wake up their son with her yelling, she became even angrier and jumped on his back. The woman told deputies she saw a “red-headed woman rubbing (the man’s) butt in the swimming pool,” but there was no swimming pool or redheaded woman at the residence. Deputies said the woman appeared to be under the influence, was jittery and had a prescription to a substance similar to methadone, on which they said she possibly overdosed.

IT’S CAPTAIN KANGAROO – A South Edgewood Drive woman said someone broke in and stole $15 worth of ping pong balls.

RATIONALIZING THEFT – An Ashebrooke subdivision man caught another man taking metal from a container on his property. The offender, who was served with a criminal trespass warning, said he was building a dog pen and thought it would be OK to take the metal.

IN HER OWN WORLD – A woman who had been reported missing by her husband was found sitting under a tree, inhaling air duster from an aerosol can, with burns on her hands. She was highly intoxicated and taken to the hospital.

LOST AND WANTED – A Hightower Road woman called deputies when a man kept banging on her door. When deputies responded, they were flagged down by a man matching the woman’s description who said he had been drinking with others and they put him out on the side of the road. He claimed he did not know where he was and was lost. A check revealed he was wanted in Tattnall County for theft by taking and he was arrested.

SNAKES ALIVE – An Eldora Road woman and her husband confronted a neighbor, angry that he did not clean up his property, causing snakes to come into their yard. She said the neighbor’s stepson threatened them with harm as well.

July 2017 • 13

Unlocked

By Devin Conway

Photo courtesy of Stateboro Unlocked

Plot your escape in the Boro with Statesboro Unlocked

Statesboro Unlocked has brought the escape room experience to the Boro. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the concept, escape rooms are locked spaces designed specifically in a way that challenges a group of teammates to find their way out.

The groups are given a series of puzzles, riddles and combinations that must be solved in order to assist them along the way, and teams must work together and utilize these tools to discover an escape.

Escape rooms are subject to time limits 14 • Connect Magazine

and typically follow a particular theme.

Each theme has its own background details and follows a storyline, which works to engage the audience on a deeper level.

Statesboro Unlocked has three different themed rooms: The Lottery Ticket, The Mob Takedown and The Asylum.

The Lottery Ticket The Lottery Ticket involves a winning lottery ticket, an accidental death, a greedy nephew and, of course, a race against the clock. Their website lists the difficulty of this particular room as a 7/10.

The Mob Takedown The Mob Takedown involves a team of agents building a case against the mob, a prolonged investigation with a little assistance from a fellow agent attending to a matter at the courthouse and, of course, a race against the clock. Their website lists the difficulty of this particular room as a 9/10.

The Asylum The Asylum is the most recent of Statesboro Unlocked’s themed rooms. It opened just two months ago, and involves an extremely creepy old asylum that is set to shut down. Teams are faced with the task of sneaking in and figuring out what happened to a nurse that formerly worked there before it shuts down for good. Their website has no difficulty rating for The Asylum.

Feedback and Reviews Statesboro Unlocked has more than 1,500 likes on its Facebook page and boasts an average rating of 5 out of 5 stars.

“Our group had an awesome time from the arrival to end picture. Everyone was very welcoming and friendly. The room was set up to be challenging and fun. We will definitely be back and have already recommended it to several friends,” Christie Rowell said.

“This place is so much fun! The group I went with the first time I came were the first ones ever to unlock the Mob Boss room and the second time I came the group we brought beat the record for the fastest Lottery Ticket time! So much fun. The staff is also incredible! They are so playful and fun and they genuinely want you to escape the rooms. The price was well worth the fun we had both times,” Becca Bright said.

Costs, Reservations and Frequently Asked Questions Statesboro Unlocked is only open to the public Friday-Sunday. Monday-Thursday is reserved for “groups, organizations and corporate bookings.” The Friday-Sunday schedule is as follows: Friday (6 p.m. to midnight), Saturday (noon to midnight) and Sunday (4 to 10 p.m.). Cost of attendance is $25 per person, per game, but they do have packages available for larger parties.

Players must be 18 or older to participate individually, but anyone under the age of 18 can still attend so long as they are accompanied by an adult. Each room must be reserved prior to the game and it is suggested that players arrive at least 15 minutes early.

Local 12 Spotlight

on Local Dining

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16 • Connect Magazine

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July 2017 • 17

Galactic gAMES

By Devin Conway

Photos courtesy of Galactic Comics & Games

It’s Friday night: Get your game on at Galactic

Galactic Comics & Games, formerly Gallop’s Comics & Games, has been a staple of the local community for decades. Located downtown at 20 East Vine Street, Galactic offers its customers a subscription service that can include comics, magazines, toys, games, paperbacks and much more according to their website. They have hosted cosplay events, attended comic conventions and are constantly on the lookout for new merchandise.

18 • Connect Magazine

Shortly after moving to their new location, Do Savannah wrote a piece on the grand opening and interviewed the owner of the establishment, Keith Brown.

“We do it because we love it. Even if I wasn’t working here, I would still be here, playing the games, reading the comics,” Brown said, when asked about his work.

As many of its customers note, the appeal of Galactic doesn’t lie solely in the variety of merchandise that they have to offer, but

also largely in the environment and the sense of community that its patrons have developed.

“The real magic of this place is the atmosphere and the community of people that have gathered around it. There is always something neat going on, and the people, staff and fellow customers alike are friendly, welcoming, and eager to share knowledge.

Not only that, but it’s a wholesome environment that I’m eager to not only take my kids to, but also encourage my friends to take their kids to also,” Kevin Boyd, local resident, said.

Gaming Tournaments Galactic hosts a number of tournaments for games including but not limited to: Magic the Gathering, Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh! and Warhammer Fantasy & 40K. Fans of any and all games, be that of the card or board variety, are encouraged to use any of the available tables to host their matches.

For those of you looking for a little something different to do on Friday nights, Galactic hosts a series of gaming tournaments, for which they have become widely known, beginning late in the afternoon and continuing late into the night.

Their board game tournaments have become so popular that there is even an organization that includes officers and members as well as a Facebook page for them. The Galactic Board Game Community page is dedicated to the discussion of crowd favorites and the announcement of upcoming gaming schedules.

They typically host a Magic the Gathering tournament from 3 to 10 p.m., which can be entered with a small entrance fee, includes “booster drafting” and rewards include exclusive cards. Galactic encourages customers to learn the game, and even offers live demos and complimentary 60 card decks so that players can see the game unfold in real time and get a chance to practice with cards of their own.

From 6:30 to 11 p.m. on Friday nights, they also host a board game tournament.

Each week, they offer a feature game that has priority over other games, but everyone from the community is invited and encouraged to bring their own games and friends.

Some of the most popular board games among Galactic customers include Splendor, 7 Wonders, Hobbit/Lord of the Rings Building Game and Sherlock Holmes and Consulting Detective.

EAGLE NATION

MEDICAL

DIRECTORY

586 Brannen Street Statesboro, GA 30458 912-871-6611 Mon. – Fri. 7:30 am – 7:30 pm, Sat. 8:30 am – 5:00 pm, Sunday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm.

A collaboration of Optim Orthopedics and the physician-owned Optim Medical Center-Tattnall

16915 US Hwy 67 South Statesboro, GA 30458

1066 Bermuda Run Road Statesboro, GA 30458

912-681-2500

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Mon - Fri: 8 am – 5 pm

Mon.-Thur.: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm

57 Granade Street Statesboro, GA 30458 912-764-5643 202 Northside Dr West Statesboro, GA 912-764-6175 1198 Merchants Way Statesboro, GA 912-681-3784

23630 A Hwy 80 East Statesboro, GA 30461

Mon-Sat 9am - 9pm Sun 2pm - 7pm

912-764-2223

1601 Fair Road Statesboro, GA 30458

Open Mon. thru Fri. 9am to 6:30pm, Sat. 9-1, Closed Sunday.

912.681.2333 Mon-Fri 9am - 6pm Weekends & Holidays Closed

Professional Eye Care 1096 Bermuda Run Rd behind East Georgia Regional Hospital, Statesboro, GA 304586 912-871-5150 Mon. thru Fri. 9:00am – 8:00pm, Sat. 9:00am – 5:00pm, Sun. 12:00pm – 5:00pm.

214 Savannah Avenue, Statesboro, GA 30458 912-764-5609 Mon. 8:30am – 5:30pm Tues. 8:30am – 7:00pm Wed. 8:30am – 5:30pm Thurs. 8:30am – 4:00pm Fri. 8:30am – 2:00pm

1499 Fair Rd., Statesboro, GA 30458 912-486-1000

Home

Make Yourself at

111 SOUTH APARTMENTS

ASPEN HEIGHTS

111 South is one of the newest student housing communities in Statesboro, GA, located within walking distance of Georgia Southern University. We offer a luxurious lifestyle with fully furnished apartments, allinclusive rent packages, 24-hour clubhouse with free Starbucks coffee and a Best in the Boro Pool with lazy river. Our spacious floorplans include 2, 3, 4, and 5 bedroom apartments, all with private bathrooms and walk-in closets. In addition, all units have granite countertops, black appliances and faux-wood flooring.

Just a short drive from the storied city of Savannah is Statesboro, home of Georgia Southern University – one of the fastest growing universities in the country. Student life here is energetic and diverse, and it’s our privilege to partner with such a dynamic student culture.

www.one11south.com 111 Rucker Ln, Statesboro, GA 30458 (912) 225-0381

Our goal for every resident is simple – the best possible student experience! We help deliver this with spacious, luxury-style homes, unbeatable amenities and concierge service.

Watch our video, and get a taste of what life is like at Aspen Heights Statesboro. www.myaspenheights.com 17358 GA-67 #100, Statesboro, GA 30458 (912) 209-6961

CAMBRIDGE AT SOUTHERN

CAMPUS CROSSING AT STATESBORO

CAMPUS EVOLUTION VILLAGES

COPPERBEECH TOWNHOMES

Cambridge @ Southern is a Statesboro apartment community designed for students at Georgia Southern University. Enjoy furnished 1 to 4 bedroom apartments and townhomes with a full set of amenities such as two resort-style pools, fitness centers, beautiful clubhouses and the GSU shuttle bus right outside the front door.

Campus Crossings Statesboro is Georgia Southern University’s premier off-campus living community, where college living is more than a bedroom – it’s a lifestyle.

Campus Crossings Statesboro provides everything you and your friends will need, including a resort style pool with cabanas, 24 hour fitness center, cyber lounge, gaming center, free tanning, and private bedrooms and bathrooms. Come experience why Campus Crossing Statesboro is Georgia Southern University’s #1 choice for offcampus housing.

Welcome to Campus Evolution Villages student apartments in Statesboro, your new home away from home right across the street from Georgia Southern University. Campus Evolution Villages is the best off-campus student housing close to Georgia Southern University in Statesboro.

Your Life... Your Way! Copper Beech apartments are committed to providing the best living and learning environment possible with everything you need to feel at home! At Copper Beech, you don’t live in a cramped dorm but instead have the freedom of an apartment in a welcoming environment! With our weekly resident events, you will never be bored. Why live anywhere else?

Enjoy furnished apartments ranging from 1 to 4 bedrooms — even two-story townhomes — with available private bathrooms, included utilities and a full set of amenities such as two resort-style pools, two fitness centers, clubhouses and sports courts. All right across the street from campus. www.cambridge-southern.com 130 Lanier Drive, Statesboro, GA 30458 (912) 681-1300

www.livestatesboro.com 133 Lanier Drive, Statesboro, GA 30458 (912) 225-0098

Everything a student at Georgia Southern University needs in an off-campus living is here! Challenge your friends to a game of tennis or basketball on our flood-lit courts, read a book on the same terrace, or relax in the pool after class. www.cevstatesboro.com 1699 Statesboro Pl. Cir., Statesboro, GA 30458 (912) 681-2696

www.livecbeechstatesboro.com 1400 Statesboro Pl Cir., Statesboro, GA 30458 (912) 681-8307

DEER WOOD APARTMENTS

GROVE AT STATESBORO

HENDLEY PROPERTIES

LEGACY

Deer Wood Apartments offers newly renovated one and two bedroom apartments. Rent price includes water, sewer, garbage pick-up, maintenance, lawn care, and pest control. Call or come by for more information.

From our 24 hour fitness center to our resort-style pool to our awesome events for residents and their friends, our lifestyle is second to none. Our fully-furnished apartments featuring individual, private bathrooms and walk-in closets offer the ultimate home away from home. Want a firsthand look at what life at the Grove is all about? We’ll be happy to show you around.

Hendley Properties is a full service rental company and property management team located in Statesboro, GA. Family owned and operated since 1968; we pride ourselves on providing a sense of community and comfort while finding your new home and after. We offer over 400 units including residences at Greenbriar, Hawthorne Court, Hawthorne II, West Gentilly, Village at Midtown, Magnolia Village, Fountain at Mulberry, The Manor, Walnut Grove, Planters Row, Bulloch Square, The Oaks on West Inman and individual homes.

Legacy is right in the heart of Statesboro, Georgia and is located directly across from the Georgia Southern campus.

Residents retreat to their own fully furnished apartments, outfitted with spacious patios, vaulted ceilings and full-sized kitchens. When studying, residents take full advantage of Legacy’s computer center with free printing.

Other great features include a resort-style swimming pool, fitness center with cardio and weight machines, basketball and sand volleyball courts and a pet friendly environment!

www.cambridge-southern.com 560 East Main Street, Statesboro, GA 30461 (912) 225-9653

www.groveatstatesboro.com 1150 Brampton Ave, Statesboro, GA 30458 (912) 681-3888

www.hendleyproperties.com 21 Greenbriar Apartments, Statesboro, GA 30458 (912) 681-1166

www.legacygsu.com 100 Woodland Drive, Statesboro, GA 30458 (912) 681-6441

Make Yourself at Home 20 • Connect Magazine

MARKET 100

MONARCH 301

SEASONS APARTMENTS

SOUTHERN DOWNS

At Market 100 we are proud to offer one of the smartest off-campus housing destinations in Statesboro, Georgia! Located in the heart of the Market District, we’re a quick stroll to restaurants like McAlister’s Deli, Mellow Mushroom & Shane’s Rib Shack or if you’d like to grab some groceries and cook a meal for yourself in your full kitchen, Walmart is right nearby! We offer 2, 3 and 4 bedroom apartments, all with private bedrooms, private bathrooms and walk-in closets. Skip the hassle of setting up an account for cable and internet.

Statesboro’s Premier Student Housing - With academics, convenience, and comfort as our first priority, we have everything you need to experience Statesboro student life to the fullest! To accommodate our residents, we’ve created individualized floor plans and interiors that are fully-furnished and designed specifically for the student lifestyle.

Seasons Apartments is perfect for Georgia Southern, East Georgia, or Ogeechee Tech students, or ANYONE desiring a spacious apartment in a convenient location that is just minutes from campus and downtown Statesboro. You’ll feel at home at Seasons Apartments.

We are the perfect community for all seasons of your life. And don’t forget your pets they are welcome as well. You’ll be surrounded by the best kept secret, while still being in the heart of Statesboro. With our central location, you are just minutes from dining, shopping and recreation. With features such as sparkling pool, Pet Park, grill/picnic area, and a private pond, you’ll be living the good life at Seasons Apartments.

Welcome to Southern Downs, offering two, three and four-bedroom apartments and townhomes for rent in Statesboro, Georgia.

Located within walking distance of Georgia Southern University’s campus, plus local bars & restaurants, and easy access to shuttles, you will always be near all the Statesboro area’s hot spots as a resident of Southern Downs.

www.marketonehundred.com 100 Bermuda Run, Statesboro, GA 30458 (912) 681-6994

www.monarch301.com 816 S Main Street, Statesboro, GA 30458 (912) 373-8832

Monarch 301 offers students’ off-campus housing with luxury amenities & features right outside the doors of their classroom.

www.seasonsapartmentstatesboro.com 819 Robin Hood Trail, Statesboro, GA 30458 (912) 681-2440

With our location being so close to GSU, Southern Downs apartments are a great choice for off-campus student housing, and a short commute to work for area employees. www.aspensquare.com/georgia/ statesboro/apartments/southern-downs 710 Georgia Ave, Statesboro, GA 30458 (912) 871-6501

THE CONNECTION AT STATESBORO

THE FORUM AT STATESBORO

THE GARDEN DISTRICT

THE HAMPTONS STATESBORO

The Connection at Statesboro is conveniently located near Georgia Southern University. We are a luxury student apartment community with fully furnished options available!

Experience the comfort of The Connection complete with 24-hour access to amenities such as fitness center and private study rooms. We offer individual leases as well as roommate-matching programs for our wide floor plan selection. Come down and make The Connection your home today.

The Forum at Statesboro offers some of the best amenities in Statesboro, Georgia. Our spacious floor plans are outfitted with hardwood floors, sleek appliances, a washer and dryer and private balconies. In the heart of the community is the Forums’ Clubhouse with a fully equipped iMac computer study lounge with free printing, a 24hour fitness center, and a resort-style pool with beach entry. With our property located across the street from Georgia Southern University, there is no need to worry about transportation to and from class. Stop by today to see this amazing student community waiting for you to call home.

The Garden District, Statesboro’s leading apartment community, consists of apartment homes, quaint courtyards, private patios and private balconies within minutes of the Georgia Southern campus. The convenient location allows for easy access to shopping, restaurants and banking.

The exterior design is fashioned upon New Orleans’ historic Garden District and famous French Quarter. The interior of each apartment home is as contemporary in design as the exterior is traditional.

Experience college your way and escape everyday campus life at The Hamptons in Statesboro. With cottages of all sizes The Hamptons has room for everyone in a luxurious, unique experience close to campus. The Hamptons provides the best living experience in the best near-campus location. There is no shortage of perks here.

Planning on bringing your furry friend to school? The Hamptons is proud to have an ample amount of green space including pet parks with agility courses.

www.connectionatstatesboro.com 2000 Stambuk Ln, Statesboro, GA 30458 (912) 681-7270

www.forumstatesboro.com 831 S Main St., Statesboro, GA 30458 (912) 489-3676

www.gardendistrictrentals.com 17931 Highway 67 South, Statesboro, GA 30458 (912) 681-6539

www.hamptonsgsu.com 350 Rucker Ln, Statesboro, GA 30458 (912) 290-9595

THE ISLANDS STATESBORO

THE RENAISSANCE APARTMENT HOMES

THE VILLAGE AT MILL CREEK

UNIVERSITY POINTE APARTMENTS

The Islands Statesboro offers unique, efficient and beautiful two and three bedroom units here in Statesboro. Our spacious units are designed to accommodate any living style and make you feel right at home. These one of a kind luxury units come with the option of being furnished or unfurnished.

Located just two miles from Georgia Southern University’s campus, The Renaissance is perfect for any Eagle. The Renaissance features 3 and 4 bedroom townhomes and 4 bedroom flats, all with gorgeous upgrades, including granite counter tops, spacious closets, and much more. With various floorplans at great prices, you can create the amazing environment you always wanted.

University Pointe Apartments is the closest privately-owned complex to Georgia Southern University’s campus. We are less than five minutes from on-campus buildings, so you won’t be late for class! Come see us on Chandler Drive – right across the street from Centennial Place.

Relaxing at home is easy with our pool, new fitness studio, Bark Park, and deluxe game room.

Welcome to The Village at Mill Creek in Statesboro. Our beautiful community will be sure to surpass your expectations with our private fitness center, pool and cabana.

Our spacious floor plans feature energy efficient appliances, washer and dryer, and private patio areas for every unit. The Village at Mill Creek of Statesboro is conveniently located, just minutes from Georgia Southern, downtown Statesboro and is walking distance to Mill Creek Park. You’ll find just what you are looking for at our upscale community while making Statesboro home.

www.renaissancestatesboro.com 1818 Chandler Road, Statesboro, GA 30458 (912) 225-6653

www.thevillageatmillcreek.com 552 E Main Street, Statesboro, GA 30461 (912) 489-3044

Grounds feature a resort style pool with volleyball net and a full size basketball court and volley ball court perfect for those warm summer afternoons. www.theislandsstatesboro.com 104 Aruba Avenue, Statesboro, GA 30458 (912) 225-1387

We proudly boast the largest one-bedroom apartment in Statesboro! At 720 square feet, these apartments have more than enough space to accommodate your belongings.

We also provide two-bedroom apartment options that range from 924-994 square feet. www.upaptstatesboro.com 109 Harvey Drive, Statesboro, GA 30458 (912) 681-3291

Make Yourself at Home July 2017 • 21

oVERTHINKING IT bY katherine fallon

Don the necessary armor

Much research has been done concerning people’s fixation with true crime. Some people posit that we enjoy these stories because we find pleasure in other people’s discomfort, which is the very extreme version of laughing when someone falls down.

I don’t relate to this pleasure.

Others believe that we are attracted to true crime because we find relief in knowing that we were not the victims. Still others suggest that by involving ourselves so heavily in the true crime oeuvre – be it podcasts, television shows, click bait or nonfiction literature – we can consider the ways in which we would react should we be placed in similar threatening situations. The “don’t go up the stairs” of real life. Oversaturation can also desensitize us, calming our fears.

I am a true crime junkie. I think I see these stories as being warnings to heed, ways of identifying problematic behaviors and patterns in other people. They are also personal stories with clear motives and, most often, a tidy verdict.

My ex and I fell for one another shortly after we discovered an odd commonality: we both liked to fall asleep watching Law & Order SVU. It’s a preposterous thing to use to sing oneself to sleep, and yet there 22 • Connect Magazine

we were, two maudlin crime lovers tucked in amid the flash and glow of violent crimes against women. And, most times, their vindication. At least, legally speaking. She and I also collected bones, and spoke of getting pet leeches, so we weren’t exactly run of the mill.

My wife and I do not share this interest.

She does not like the television to be on at all while she is sleeping, so I bought her a sleep mask that makes her look rather like a bug. I refrain from watching anything too horrifying should she wake up and remove it. She calls them my “crime shows” and tries not to avoid them at all costs. I reserve my harrowing true and thinly-fictionalized crime stories for the daytime hours, when our schedules conflict, and I watch corny laugh track comedies while she sleeps beside me. And no holds barred when she’s out of town for work.

I am interested in these stories for the same reason that she is opposed to engaging with them: we both believe that humans are depraved. She wants to avoid that reality in her spare time, and I sink deeply into it. While some people are fascinated by these stories because they seem to highlight the most deplorable individuals, I un-

derstand that emotional and mental instability, as well as repressed sexuality and toxic masculinity, are far more prevalent than the general populace wants to believe, and can lead otherwise decent people to act in reprehensible ways.

Much to the chagrin of all quaint, small town residents where a grisly crime has occurred, there is no such thing as a place where these things can’t happen. The state of the world is bleak and blood-thirsty. The news is almost more harrowing than the true crime genre.

Certainly most people do not go to the extremes of those who kill, but we have all experienced loss of control, a moment in which we stop making sense to ourselves and those around us. For most of us, that may mean yelling or cheating or quitting a job without notice.

But the fact is that we all have the potential to be terrible to some degree. Being good is something that must be worked at, every day. I sometimes think I immerse myself in these horror stories to remind myself of that very tenet: be good, and don’t assume that others will be. It is sad to be so distrustful, but it is an armor, and, I think, a necessary one.

AWARDS

2017

Best Non-Profiit Family Services

Fostering Bulloch exists to share the Love of Christ with children in crisis situations, in real and tactile ways.

Great Foster Parents save lives.

They give HOPE to the abused, neglected and abandoned among us.

For more information on fostering in our community call 877-210-KIDS FOSTERINGBULLOCH@AOL.COM | WWW.FOSTERINGBULLOCH.COM

boro’s States ttle i own l ans rle New O

Contact us about our Fall Semester Specials!

912-681-6539 | Statesboro@gardendistrictrentals.com www.gardendistrictrentals.com

July 2017 • 23

Tailgate Tattler

BY Chris Stanley

Looking beyond the stats

While most of America longs for summer, for us sports writers the months of June and July are a bittersweet period.

Unless Major League Baseball is your craft summer is a time to relax, hit the beach and crack a cold one with the boys. However, when the non-MLB journalists get back to work there’s not much to do. Therefore, summertime becomes a period of the doldrums – simply playing a waiting game for preseason football as the offseason drags along.

Coming up with content can be tricky.

The news model demands content to be pushed on a daily basis, but content can be hard to come by when all of the players you cover are in the weight room and not on the field. The offseason forces you to get creative, which will be my goal for this month’s edition of Connect.

It may work well or it may be totally disastrous. Either way, if you’re reading this 24 • Connect Magazine

you’ve got nothing better to do at the doctor’s office or the mechanic. So strap in reader, hold my hand as we take a deep dive into one of my favorite things in the world: Sabermetrics!

I assume many of you don’t have a clue what Sabermetrics are unless you’ve seen the movie “Moneyball.” Even then, maybe you were too distracted by Brad Pitt’s chiseled face or the fact the fat kid from “Superbad” was playing a serious role alongside him. But since it is baseball season, Sabermetrics are a relevant topic of conversation for any fan wanting to learn more about the game.

Sabermetrics are defined as “the empirical analysis of baseball, especially baseball statistics that measure in-game activity.”

“But what about batting average, home runs, and RBI?” the average fan will ask himself. “Aren’t those enough to tell us

how well a baseball player swings the bat or throws the ball?”

Simply put, no.

Once upon a time, those stats were enough to satisfy the baseball nerd’s taste for analysis. However, as we grew smarter and statisticians learned how to look at the game from a different angle, stats like batting average started to become less significant because they didn’t tell us the whole story.

Batting average is the percentage to represent how many times a batter records a hit when he appears at the plate.

However, we know a hit isn’t the only way a batter can reach base safely. What about walks? Being hit by a pitch? Those get a hitter to first base just as easily as a base hit.

That’s why we now use on-base percentage as opposed to batting average because OBP paints a more colorful picture

of how often a batter can reach base. That being said, OBP isn’t a real SABR stat but it is the basis of a starting point in the case of advanced analytics.

What you’re about to read is going to get very complicated but hopefully at the end, you will look at baseball stats a little differently when you read the Braves season stats on your phone.

There are a couple of statistics you can use for offensive performance to better gauge how a baseball player is hitting – wOBA and wRC are two of the main SABR stats, and while the formulae can look intimidating they boil down to be simple calculations.

For a player example, let’s grab a Georgia Southern Eagle who was recently drafted into the big leagues back in June.

Jordan Wren, a senior right fielder who was taken in the 10th round by the Boston Red Sox, is a perfect example of why you can’t hang all of your evaluation on batting average and RBI. At first glance, Wren’s batting average of .268 isn’t all that impressive. But as previously mentioned, using batting average is not a fair way to evaluate Wren as a prospect. For starters, his OBP is .383 – an excellent mark for being able to get on base. But it’s Wren’s wOBA and wRC that got him drafted -- not just a high OBP. Weighted On Base Average (wOBA) is based on the concept that not all ways of arriving on base are created equal. A single isn’t a double, a double isn’t a walk and a walk isn’t a home run. In essence, wOBA aims to give the fan a complete picture of overall offensive performance.

To calculate wOBA, you need all the various things that can happen in one plate appearance – that’s singles, doubles, triples, homers, walks, hit-by-pitches and sacrifice hits. The formula runs as follows: wOBA = (0.690×uBB + 0.722×HBP + 0.888×1B + 1.271×2B + 1.616×3B + 2.101×HR) / (AB + BB – IBB + SF + HBP) Whoa! That’s a lot of numbers and letters, but this plugs pretty seamlessly into an Excel spreadsheet. For Wren’s wOBA, plug in his numbers and this is your result: 0.371 = (0.690×26 + 0.722×12 + 0.888×30 + 1.271×13 + 1.616×3 + 2.101×6) / (194 + 26 – 0 + 3 + 12) A .371 wOBA is considered great by

statisticians and hopefully, eliminates any confusion as to why Wren was a top-ten round pick. Instead of looking at a bunch of stats like doubles, triples, RBI, OBP and trying to make sense of all of it -- just use wOBA to paint one clear picture instead of a bunch of little ones.

Weighted Runs Created (wRC) is another SABR stat which aims to do the same thing as wOBA but uses runs instead of a percentage to measure value. In essence, how many runs was one player worth to his team last season?

This formula can become a little more tricky because to properly weight the stat you need some big numbers. Before I try to explain it further, here’s the formula for wRC: wRC = (((wOBA-Lg wOBA)/wOBA Scale)+(Lg R/PA))*PA To its credit, the formula isn’t as long as the one for wOBA. However I’m sure some of you have already noticed you need wOBA to calculate wRC, but what’s Lg wOBA? That’s the league’s wOBA, yes the combined wOBA of every team in the league – in this case the Sun Belt Conference.

So before you can even start here you need to grab all of the stats for the SBC, which are handily available on their website. The scale for wOBA is a weight to account for park difficulty based on climate, park size and the kind of bats you use. That weight is 1.192, conveniently calculated by the advanced state website Fangraphs.com.

Then plug in the total runs scored by all 12 SBC teams and the total plate appearances by the SBC and Wren, your final product looks like this: 40 = (((.371.335)/1.192)+(3818/27178))*235 So Baldwin was worth 40 runs for Georgia Southern last season in 235 plate appearances. Normally for MLB players, you scale for wRC for 600 PA, but since college players normally average around 250 PA 40 wRC is a great number for Wren.

So between a .371 wOBA and 40 wRC, Wren was a great offensive player for Georgia Southern last season – something a layman would have never thought is he just lazily glanced over at Wren’s batting average and thought “.268? Psh, what a scrub.”

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July 2017 • 25

Day trippin’

bY Kenley Alligood

Films under the stars

The 1950s holds a strange but very special place in the thoughts of many Americans as the golden age of Route 66, rock and roll and malt shops. In the years following World War II, Americans became increasingly mobile and life revolved around the family vehicle. In consequence, the 1950s were also the heyday of the drive-in theater.

If you’re a fan of the movie “Grease,” or you just have a soft place in your heart for saddle oxfords, I know just the place for you. Less than an hour and a half from Statesboro sits the Jesup Drive-In. Built in 1948, it is the oldest of only five drive-ins still operational in the state of Georgia.

Prices will have you feeling pretty nos26 • Connect Magazine

talgic too. Tickets are $7 for adults and every movie is a double feature. Who doesn’t love a buy one get one, especially since a trip to see just one film at a traditional movie theatre would cost you almost double? The Jesup Drive-In boasts two screens (the second was added in the 70s) on which to take in the latest films.

Their June lineup included “Wonder Woman,” “The Mummy” and the latest installments in the “Alien” and “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchises.

Gates open at 7 every night during the summer and the first movie starts at 9. Guests can visit the on-site concessions stand for burgers, hot dogs and typical movie theater fare, as well as fried Oreos

and funnel cake. There is also the option to grab something on the way and simply pay the $5 for a food permit.

The best way to view the night’s films is from the bed of a pickup truck. Sound is transmitted over the radio, so be careful of your car’s battery. Frequent visitors instead recommend a small portable radio.

This way you can enjoy a beautiful summer evening and an unobstructed view without the fear of needing a jump to get home.

Toss your bug spray, some blankets and as many boxes of Mike & Ikes as you can carry in your backseat and purchase your tickets at http://www.jesupmovies.com/ jesup-drive-in.html.

BEST SUSHI IN THE BORO AWARDS

2017

JAPANESE HIBACHI GRILL, STEAK HOUSE & SUSHI BAR 609 BRANNEN STREET #5 912-489-1688 July 2017 • 27

Items for Sale

Pets & Animals

Help Wanted

General Merchandise

Pets

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No phone calls. LPN Required.

Beautiful, high energy, White Shepherd is looking for a loving home with plenty of room to run.

Great with children. Excellent watch dog. Paid $1800 Free to good home. Shots up to date. Call for details. 912.237.6548

Services Jobs Drivers Wanted

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Tyson Utilities Construction is accepting applications for experienced Truck Driver, CDL Class A required with clean MVR, Minimum 3 years experience.

Apply in person, 777 Little Road, Metter, GA 30439.

Concrete Truck Driver

Seeking a full time driver. Competitive wages and benefits. CDL license required. Subject to DOT drug testing.

Apply at Kennedy Concrete, 500 S. Zetterower St. Statesboro.

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Call 912-682-7184.

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912-657-5176

28 • Connect Magazine

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Send resume & cover letter to staffing@optimhealth.com

The Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office is accepting applications for Jail Deputy. Entry level position; will involve prisoner supervision (intake/search, booking, housing/ feeding, transport, etc.) BCSO will pay all training expenses for successful applicants; qualified candidates can apply to the Georgia Police Academy after one year of service. Experience in public safety/security/military preferred but not required. Valid driver’s license/satisfactory driving and criminal history required.

Apply at http://bullochcounty. net/job-opportunities-andapplications/. EOE.

The Dogs Spot is seeking a motivated, active person to fill 2X Dog Trainer positions. Experience preferred but not necessary. Will train the right applicant. Must be a self starter, and want a career with dogs.

Weekends and holiday availability is a must.

Call 912-823-4382 or email dogsspot@icloud.com Real Estate Open House

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Certain messages need to be repeated several times

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July 2017 • 29

vAMPIN’ gAMER

By Tim Webb

The big players don’t disappoint

Although I couldn’t make it to Los Angeles E3 2017, I did get a chance to watch all the conference streaming online. The big players Electronic Arts, Bethesda, Ubi¬soft, Microsoft, PlayStation and Nintendo all showcased new games and hardware expected in the coming months and year.

Here is a recap of each conference.

Electronic Arts kicked the conference off with the announcement of Madden 18 hav¬ing a new story mode like the one found in NBA 2K. They followed this announcement up with a new expansion to Battlefield 1, Name of the Tsar. Need For Speed Pay¬back was teased and gave its impression of the “Fast and Furious” movies with slow motion car chase scenes. The new FIFA 18 showed off some impressive graph¬ics and then an interesting and new video game was shown. A co-op prison break adventure game, A Way Out, was debuted that looked incredible. Of course, EA also showed off some NBA 18 and the antici¬pated Battlefront 2.

Next was Bethesda who kicked off their conference with a push for virtual reality.

Fallout 4 and Doom for VR were teased.

They next announced some interesting news for a store for Fallout 4 and Skyrim addons called Creation Club. Collaborations 30 • Connect Magazine

be¬tween Bethesda and modders would allow creators to get a cut of the profits made from their content. Then Bethesda pretty much owned the E3 week by announcing new Dishonored, Wolfenstein, and Evil Within games.

Ubisoft conference was next but sadly Aisha Tyler was nowhere to be found.

Surpris¬ingly they announced a new game for the Nintendo Switch, Mario + Rabbids King¬dom Battle which is like an XCOM mashup of Mario characters and Rabbids charac¬ters. Next they premiered gameplay of one of the most talked about games from this year’s E3, Assassin’s Creed Origins which is based in Ancient Egypt. A sequel to The Crew was announced along with a trailer for South Park: The Fractured But Whole. A unique VR game called Transference and a pirate game called Skull & Bones were also shown. Then a weird dance routine was done on stage to announce another Just Dance game. Later they showed an Olympics expansion for Steep as well as video of the new Far Cry 5. Then a cinematic trailer that was a bit of a surprise to most showed Beyond Good & Evil 2 and left many gam¬ers cheering.

Microsoft took to stage next and did not disappoint. Phil Spencer was on stage to

reassure everyone of how powerful Project Scorpio is, now finally announced as Xbox One X is the most powerful console ever (and it is). Then unexpectedly Microsoft did the unthinkable and focused on games – 42 games to be exact. I’ll just speak on the important ones like the first announced game which showed off the stunning 4K 60 frames per second power of the Xbox One X, Forza Motorsport 7. Then surprisingly they also revealed a new Meto game called Metro Exodus which was stunning. Ubisoft showed off some more of Assassin’s Creed Origins, PlayerUnkown’s Battlegrounds was announced to be coming to Xbox, and Minecraft announced cross-platform with PC, Xbox and Nintendo Switch players as well as 4K capabilities. Then a lot of smaller indie games were shown that all looked decent. Microsoft ended their conference with a robot/mech fighting game called Anthem that was the best showing during the show for me.

Sony played it safe with their conference without any real big surprises or reveals and instead showcased a good stream of trailers from highly anticipated titles already announced. Sony delighted with trailers of their PlayStation exclusives: Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, Days Gone, God of War, Detroit: Become Human, and the most popular Spider-Man. Sony also made a huge push for VR related games like Bravo Team, Starchild, and even Skyrim. Shadow of the Colossus was also announced to be getting a full HD remake next year. Also a VR Final Fantasy XV fishing simulator game, Monster of the Deep, was announced.

Finally Nintendo took to the stage for a mere 30 minutes but made the most of this small amount of time compared to the other conferences. Rocket League was announced to be coming to Nintendo Switch with Nintendo-themed times and cross-platform play. Next they showed a Xenoblade Chronicles 2 trailer. A new Kirby game was announced to be coming to Switch as well as a Pokemon RPG. Also teased was a new Metroid Prime 4 coming to the Switch.

The next showed a trailer for a new Yoshi Switch game and also one for Fire Emblem Warriors. As expected, they showed off Zelda Breath of the Wild DLC details and the release date of June 30 for the first pack. And then the biggest and most talked about announcement of E3, Super Mario Odyssey, was given a release date of Oct. 27.

AT STARTING

$

695

Magnolia Village The Oaks on West Inman

The Village At Midtown

Walnut Grove

The Manor

The Fountain At Mulberry

The Retreat

Bulloch Square

Greenbriar Office: Phone: 912.681.1166 | Fax: 912.871.6116 WWW.HENDLEYPROPERTIES.COM

21 Greenbriar Apartments | Statesboro, GA 30458 July 2017 • 31

AWARDS

2017

Military Discounts & Student Discounts CHECK OUT OUR STATESBORO STORE (ACROSS FROM THE FAIR GROUNDS) 17067 HWY 67 STATESBORO • 912-681-7766 Mon - Wed: 10am-10pm • Thurs: 10am-12am • Fri - Sat: 10am-1am • Sun: 12pm-8pm