Chatham County Living - February 2018 by With You In Mind Publications

february 2018

chatham county

The Eye of the Beholder Image Consultant Victoria Baylor wants women to see the beauty in themselves.

Flying it Forward Sarah Perry truly epitomizes the Air Force core values.

Sweet Potatoes Comes Full Circle This kitchen continues to change the way its patrons view Southern food.

H o m e t o w n L i v i n g at i t s B e s t

Helping residents of Chatham, Eﬃngham, Bulloch, Bryan & Liberty with their legal needs for over 30 years!

Southeast Georgia’s Only Level I Trauma Center

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Inside or thisother building, change everytake day. Last yearof alone, people Women with a family history of breast cancer risk lives factors can now charge their3,501 health. The were rushed here with injuries so extreme, they offers required the region’s Curtis and Elizabeth Anderson Cancer Institute at Memorial University Medical Center a Breast Cancer RISK program. Our fellowship-trained doctors and 1genetic assess your cancer risk. We give and you a only Level traumacounselor center. Within these walls, surgeons, nurses, personalized plan with screening recommendations, lifestyle advice, and intervention strategies to protect emergency professionals provide lifesaving care, 24 hours a day, 365 * yourcare physician for a referral to our your health. Most insurance plans will cover the service withthis a referral. days a year. In fact, facility’sAsk trauma was ranked among the Breast Cancer RISK program. Experience Excellence. Memorial Health. ®* Top 100 in the Nation for Patient Safety by CareChex . We hope

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Savannah

Square

PHOTOS BY LESLIE HAND

Savannah’s premier senior living community offers five star service and care with the warmth of home.

When 89 year-old Savannah Square resident Dorothy Madsen moved to the Hostess City from Dubuque, Iowa this past December, she was understandably a bit apprehensive. “I had never been to Georgia, so I didn’t know what to expect. However, when my son moved here from Connecticut after he retired from his job, he didn’t want me to spend my winters in Iowa, so we began looking for a place here for me to live.” Although Dody (as she’s known) would usually spend her winters in Arizona and Florida, she says she still longed for a more active lifestyle. “I’m still a very active person, but I don’t play golf or bridge. After taking a look at several places in the area, we then decided to take a look at Savannah Square.” Immediately Dody and her son Fred were struck by the welcoming atmosphere of the senior living community, which offers elegant and comfortable residences for seniors with a range of lifestyles and requirements. With their spacious cottages and apartments, Savannah Square’s independent living accommodations are perfect for seniors on the go, but the community also features Palmetto Inn, a personal care residence with an on-site health center. “My son told me that this is a place that I was going to just love, so he put down the deposit without telling me. He had already made up my mind, so to speak,”

laughs Dody, “But in the end he was right. I do love it, and I couldn’t have asked for a better place to live.” Savannah Square’s amenities include restaurant-style dining, a full-service beauty salon, clubhouse, fitness studio, library, and a 24-hour staff. Located just three miles from St. Joseph Candler Hospital, their midtown location provides convenient access to all the best dining, shopping and cultural attractions that historic Savannah has to offer. Situated on several acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, Savannah Square offers an abundance of organized educational, social and recreational activities for all its seniors. There is also laundry and housekeeping services available, and Savannah Square provides a convenient car service for its residents seven days a week. “I love my neighbors and all the staff here,” says Dody. “Everyone is incredibly accommodating and makes you feel so welcome. In fact, the whole community feels like one big family to me. Plus there are always events and activities planned for us. It gives me such a feeling of warmth every time I walk through the front doors, and I feel right at home.” Savannah Square is located at 1 Savannah Square Dr. in Savannah, Georgia. For more information about availability, please contact Kelli Hartley at (912) 921-8002 or (912) 9277550 or by email at khartley@5ssl.com.

Simply Come takeThe a Best tour with our sales team Savannah Square’s amenities

include restaurant-style dining,

Kelli Hartley, Salesbeauty Director salon, a full-service Whitney Norwood, Movestudio, In Coordinator clubhouse, fitness library, and a 24-hour staff.

Hometown Living At Its Best

Returning to

His Roots PHOTOS BY LESLIE HAND

Dr. Rodney S. Cohen returns to Savannah to begin his second successful career in gastroenterology.

Looking Forward Dr. Cohen says he’s looking forward to helping his Savannah patients acheive the same optimal results through the quality care that he provided in Florida for the last quarter century.

Dr. Rodney S. Cohen and his family are returning to Savannah after his successful twenty-five year career in Boca Raton, Florida. He recently spoke about returning to his hometown while sitting in his office at the Center for Digestive and Liver Health. “I was in practice in gastroenterology and cancer prevention for twenty-five years in Florida,” he says, “but after raising my kids, I decided it was time to move back home. We always wanted to come back since my wife and her kids love this city, and I was raised here. So basically when the opportunity arose, I decided to take it.” Concerning his new practice, Dr. Cohen points out that there is an unique throwback to his time growing up in Savannah. “As a boy attending Savannah Country Day School, I actually lived down the street from Dr. Mark Murphy, who is one of my colleagues at the center. When it was time to think about coming back here, (the practice) was growing so I figured I’d get back up there before he gave my spot away,” he laughs.” After receiving his undergraduate degree from Duke University, Dr. Cohen obtained his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia and completed his fellowship in gastroenterology at Presbyterian Medical Center of the University of Pennsylvania. Like his colleagues at the Center for Digestive and Liver Health, Dr. Cohen specializes in the prevention, detection and management of digestive diseases. “This can range from chronic heartburn that requires over-the-counter medications to colonoscopies and endoscopies,” says Dr. Cohen. All physicians who perform procedures in their endoscopy center are certified

theAmerican AmericanBoard BoardofofInternal InternalMedicine MedicineininInternal InternalMedicine Medicine bybythe by the and American Board of Internal Medicine in Internal Medicine andGastroenterology. Gastroenterology. should alsomention mention that coloncancer cancer “I“Ishould also that colon and Gastroenterology. “I should mention thatpreventable, colon cancersosoI Iurge oneofofthe thecancers cancers thatisalso isalmost almost entirely preventable, urge isisone that entirely is one everyone ofeveryone the cancers that is or almost entirely preventable, so Icolonoscopy. urge who’s fifty orolder older undergo screening colonoscopy. who’s fifty totoundergo a ascreening everyone fifty or older to undergo a screening It’swho’s very important thing do.We We alsohave havecolonoscopy. telephone It’s a avery important thing totodo. also a atelephone It’s a very important thing that tothat do. We also have to atotelephone screening interview allows patients providebasic basicmedical medical screening interview allows patients provide screening interview that allows patients to provide basic medical history fortheir their colonoscopy without having separate officevisit visit history for colonoscopy without having a aseparate office historyinfor their colonoscopy inadvance,” advance,” adds. without having a separate office visit heheadds. in advance,” he adds. Dr.Cohen Cohen quicktotoemphasize emphasizethat thatwhile whilehehewas wasextremely extremely Dr. isisquick Dr. Cohen isduring quick emphasize that while was extremely fulfilled duringto his timeininFlorida, Florida, he’she looking forwardtotohelping helping fulfilled his time he’s looking forward fulfilled during his time in Florida, he’s the looking forward helping his fellow Savannahians achieve thesame same levelofofto health his his fellow Savannahians achieve level health asashis his fellow Savannahians achieve the level of as hismy prior patients.“I’m “I’m happyand andsame veryproud proud starting mysecond second prior patients. happy very totohealth bebestarting prior patients. “I’minin happy and very proud to be starting my secondtake careerhere here Savannah. really enjoy helping my patients take career Savannah. I Ireally enjoy helping my patients career ahere in proactive Savannah. I really enjoy helpingdiseases my patients take amore more proactiveapproach approach digestive diseases while teaching totodigestive while teaching a morethem proactive approach digestive diseases while teaching themhow howtheir theirbody bodyto works,” says.“It’s “It’s honor andprivilege privilege works,” hehesays. ananhonor and them how their body works,” he says. “It’s and an honor and privilege able downwith with someone and discuss their concerns totobebe able totositsit down someone discuss their concerns to be able sit downlevel withinin someone discuss their concerns apersonal personal level ordertotoand help themprevent prevent problemsdown down ononato order help them problems on a personal level order to help themwho’s prevent problems down about theroad. road. SoIinIencourage encourage anyone who’s had secondthoughts thoughts about the So anyone had second the road. So I aencourage anyone who’s secondheartburn thoughtsissues about having acolonoscopy colonoscopy has hadhad untreated heartburn issuestoto having ororhas had untreated havinggive agive colonoscopy or hadsays untreated heartburn issuestoto call.”Dr. Dr.has Cohen sayshe’s he’slooking lookingforward forward tohelping helpinghis his ususa acall.” Cohen give usSavannah a call.” Dr. Cohenacheive says he’s looking forwardresults to helping his the Savannah patients acheive the sameoptimal optimal results through the patients the same through Savannah patients acheive the sameinoptimal results through the century. quality carethat thatheheprovided provided inFlorida Florida forthe the lastquarter quarter century. quality care for last quality“I’ve care that heenjoyed provided inpast Florida for the last quarter “I’vereally really enjoyedthe the pasttwenty-five twenty-five years, butI century. Ilook lookforward forward years, but “I’ve really enjoyed the twenty-five years, but I look forward doing here mybeautiful beautifulhometown hometown for long time.” totodoing itithere ininpast my for a along time.” to doing You itYou here invisit my hometown for ahis long time.” can visitbeautiful Dr.Rodney Rodney Cohenand andhis fellow physiciansatatthe the can Dr. Cohen fellow physicians YouCenter can visit Dr. Rodneyand Cohen and his fellow physicians at the Center for Digestive andLiver Liver Health andthe theEndoscopy Endoscopy Center, for Digestive Health and Center, Centerlocated for Digestive and Liver Health andnext the to Endoscopy Center, located 1139 Lexington Avenue next toMemorial Memorial Hospital atat1139 Lexington Avenue Hospital locatedinin atSavannah 1139 Lexington Avenue next to Memorial Hospital Savannah their Pooler location 140Traders TradersWay. Way.For For ororatattheir Pooler location atat140 in Savannah or at their Pooler location at 140 Traders Way. For moreinformation, information, calltheir theiroffices offices (912) 303-4200 visittheir their more call atat(912) 303-4200 ororvisit more information, call their offices at (912) 303-4200 or visit their websiteatatwww.savannahgi.com www.savannahgi.com learn moreabout about their services. website totolearn more their services. website at www.savannahgi.com to learn more about their services.

Savannah SavannahOffice: Office:1139 1139Lexington LexingtonAve. Ave.| Savannah, | Savannah,GA GA31404 31404 Pooler Pooler Office: Office: 140 140 Traders TradersWay WayPooler PoolerGA GA31322 31322 Savannah Office: 1139 Lexington Ave. | Savannah, GA 31404 Okatie OkatieOffice: Office: 4040Okatie Okatie CenterGA Blvd, Blvd, South SouthSuite Suite210 210| Okatie, | Okatie,SC SC29909 29909 Pooler Office: 140 Traders Way Center Pooler 31322 www.savannahgi.com | 912-303-4200 | Blvd, 912-303-4200 Okatie www.savannahgi.com Office: 40 Okatie Center South Suite 210 | Okatie, SC 29909 www.savannahgi.com | 912-303-4200 The TheBoard-Certified Board-CertifiedGastroenterologists GastroenterologistsofofCDLH: CDLH:George GeorgeC.C.Aragon, Aragon,MD; MD;Steven StevenCarpenter, Carpenter,MD; MD;Rodney RodneyS.S.Cohen, Cohen,MD; MD; Charles Charles W.W.Duckworth, Duckworth, MD; MD;Mark MarkE.E.Murphy, Murphy, MD; MD;Mark Mark R.R.Nyce, Nyce, MD; MD;Edward Edward Rydzak, Rydzak, MD; MD;Telciane Telciane S.S.Vesa, Vesa, MD; MD; Ryan Ryan C.C.Wanamaker, Wanamaker,MD MD The Board-Certified Gastroenterologists of CDLH: George C. Aragon, MD; Steven Carpenter, MD; Rodney S. Cohen, MD; Charles W. Duckworth, MD; Mark E. Murphy, MD; Mark R. Nyce, MD; Edward Rydzak, MD; Telciane S. Vesa, MD; Ryan C. Wanamaker, MD

Chatham County living

contents 12

Flying it Forward

Sarah Perry is an extremely competent, fully qualified pilot who truly epitomizes the Air Force core values of integrity, service and excellence.

The Cotton & Rye

One of Savannahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most unique dining establishments is the culmination of a shared vision between three great friends.

In Pursuit of a Dream

During his lifetime, Ellis published 22 books, many of them devoted exclusively to his paintings of the Southeast.

26 About the Cover Featured on the cover is the beautiful Tiffani Taylor. The photo was taken by Leslie Hand Photography. Turn to page 86 to read more about her heart of gold and amazing art.

Dance Your Cares (and pounds) Away

Salon de Baile in Pooler hopes to turn dancing into a sport for a lifetime.

On Location

Cayman Eby and Jody Schiesser help focus filmmakersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; cameras on Savannah.

chatham county living

The Eye of the Beholder Image Consultant Victoria Baylor wants women to see the beauty in themselves.

The Art of Infinite Possibilities

As others walk in her footsteps, Tiffani Taylor empowers the next generation of artists to find their own dream.

104

Building Literacy Block by Block

Deep Center helps Savannah students find their inner voice.

116

Sweet Potatoes Comes Full Circle

Now at its new location, Sweet Potatoes Kitchen continues to change the way its patrons view Southern food.

128

I Just Love that Joyful Noise

With no plans of slowing down, The Christy Alan Band has been bringing audiences to their feet for more than two decades.

142

Junk 2 Funk

156 158

Bartered Blessings

Gary and Isabel Field used the barter system to work with local vendors to plan their wedding.

168

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words Graphic recording helps others express what they cannot say in words.

The annual Savannah Arts Academy fashion show will be celebrating its 10th Anniversary in 2018 and it promises to be the best one to date.

104

Coastal Ear, Nose & Throat is your BEST Option for care of Coastal Ear, Throat is your your Nose entire&Family!

BEST OPTION for care of your entire Family! Coastal Ear, N & Throat, LL ose C

Dr. David O

Dr. Ian McL

liver

Dr. Jagadish Navare ENT Allergy

eod

Pat Fall, Pediatric Nurs e Practionier

Karla McKenz ie, Audiologist

• Balloon Sinuplasty • Hearing loss • Dizziness & Balance Disorders • Hearing Aids • Sleep Apnea/Snoring • Chronic Ear infections • Balloon •Sinuplasty • Thyroid & Parathyroid Disorders Thyroid & Parathyroid Disorders • Sore throat • Hearing Aids • Dizziness & Balance Disorders • Chronic Ear Diseases • Chronic Ear infections • Chronic Ear Diseases • Enlarged adenoids • Sleep Apnea • ENT Allergy • Sore throat • ENT Allergy • Snoring 6

chatham county living

• Hearing loss

• Enlarged adenoids

Ian McLeod, MD | Karla McKenzie, Audiologist | David Oliver, MD Patricia Fall, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner ON-SIT

E PED

IATRIC HEARI NG SERVI AID CES

www.coastal-ent.com Our board-certified physicians offer both medical and surgical management of disorders of the ears, nose and throat. We perform a full range of ENT procedures on both children and adults. Two locations to serve, call today!

Now serving you in 2 locations Coastal Ear, Nose & Throat is dedicated to providing premier quality care by utilizing modern technology while serving each patient with dignity and compassion to provide the best overall experience.

322 Commercial Drive, Suite 2 Savannah, Georgia 31406

(912) 355-2335

200 Blue Moon Crossing, Suite 103 Pooler, Georgia 31322

(912) 450-2336

From the Publisher

Chatham AlbanyCounty Living m a g Living a z i n e

P u b l i s h e r With You In Mind Publications

Jay and Patti Martin

P u b l i s h e r With You in mind Publications

e d i to r Renee Corwine

e x e C u t i v e e d i to r s Jay and Patti martin

landon and mandi spivey

C r eat i v e | D e s i g n Stacey Nichols

Mandi C r e At i v e | D e s i G n Spivey mandi spivey

stacey nichols

While on an evening family hunt last week, i was standing at my

Whilespot savoring a cup one morning, I senttoour pick-up on the road in of thecoffee dark waiting for my husband come. i had set down my stuff and was looking at a bright full moon admiring daughters some awesome quotes on gratitude. According to the glow that softly illuminated the sky. A few minutes later, i saw some of the things I have read on this subject, gratitude can headlights rounding the curve and headed my way. As soon as the corneraturn was made, i was by what i saw. the headlights have profound effect onamazed us. Things like decrease in physical shown on three of the most intricately woven spider webs next to me pain, increased sleep quality, increased optimism, improved that i had previously missed in the dark. it caught my attention because they were so huge and the details less on them lookedand likethe an exquisite hand relationships, less self-focus, self-pity increased sewn lace pattern. All three looked different, yet each was so unique. ability to see all of the incredible beauty and blessings right in i stood there amazed that in the dark, i had missed these incredible front of us andasevery day. displays. Yet,each as soon the light was shed on them, they became a visible art show. immediately the clear message of dark and light spoke In pondering these thoughts, I was reminded of my initial to my heart. sometimes in the darkness, we may feel we are alone and phone with Tiffani She exuded there is visit nothing around us,Taylor. especially when basinggratefulness our feelings onwith our senses.word. however, God’s light me shines through, every Herwhen article made weep withhe herilluminates genuine what was there all along in his provisions and his love surrounding us. there authenticity gratitude family, friends and the world shein are no greaterand examples of thistoillustration than in some of the stories this issue. is blessed to be a part of! Babs hall and mrs. Juanita nixon are prime examples of lights in our The articles thiswith issue ofarms Chatham County community. Bothrepresented of these ladiesinlove open and hearts. Giving back toreflect people people is what you will alsosame read about in grateful Dr. Charityfor Wilson’s Living with that heart; what story as she displays her gifts of service in helping her patients above they can contribute to the people around them. In a world and beyond. People helping people is what discouragement, Albany does and wedismay, have seenhatred, that full of headlines that reflect time and time again through every story we are so honored to share. distrust, andisanger, it isnone withofgreat that with you the message clear that us areJOY alone as we Godshare uses his people to helpof shed the light in“rays this amazing some Chatham’s of lightcity. and love!” As always, we are so appreciative of the continued support of our Enjoy thiswho issue and please remember to thank theto you at advertisers so graciously make this magazine available no charge! Your complimentary available at each their “Amazing Advertisers” listedcopies in theare back who are theofreason businesses listed on page 176. this publication freefamily to all! Wishing you andisyour a verY merrY ChristmAs and a hAPPY neW YeAr!

God Bless!

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Sales: (912) 654-3045 Email: jay@wyimpublications.com withyouinmindpublications.com

With You In Mind Publications

sales: (912) 293-5900 chatham county living email: landonspivey.wyim@gmail.com

albany Living magazine

o f f i ce M a n age r Nikki Burkhalter

O f f i C e m A n AG e r Julie braly

A s s i s ta n t

tA n tDixon M a n ageArsss i sJune

m A n AG ers June dixon Julie Braly

nikki Burkhalter

P h otog r ap h e r s Dream Weaver Photos

P h OtO G r A PLes h e rWilkes s Chuck Olm Photography

David Parks Photography Leslie Hand Photography

eric s. Love with logic4design.com Jason townsend Photography More Than Words Photography Kelly mcdonald Photography Rebecca Galloway Photography millie mac Photography Ryan Lee Photography shae Foy Photography shannan blanchard Photography Malcolm Tully Photography

C ov e r P h oto Tiffani Taylor, taken by

Leslie Hand Photography

C ov e r P h oto Dr. Charity Wilson,

Photo by David Parks Photography

Sale s Landon Spivey

Patti Martin

Tiffanie s A l e s Livingston Keisha Cory Patti martin

Contributing

landon spivey

Wri te r s D. Annette Sasser

C O n t r i B David u t i n GPena Writ erDixon s elizabeth sheffield Gail

Dixon StephenGail Prudhomme

Jesse Williams Teri R. Williams

Jessica Fellows Kandice Brooks Kate deloach Chatham County Living© is published Keisha Cory three times a year by With You in Mind Publications.

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“

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Milan Day Spa on broughton

10 E Broughton Street | Savannah, GA 31401 | (912) 236-4900 | milandayspabroughton.com

from friends to business partners

Friends and business partners Leslie Bigwood and Beth Fleming came together to create their dream of helping children reach their full potential

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Friends and business partners Leslie Bigwood and Beth Fleming met while working together in Savannah. As their friendship grew they saw the need for a pediatric outpatient therapy clinic in Pooler and the surrounding areas. After the vision was created, there was a quick chat with their husbands, and a whole lot of faith before they set out on their mission to help children reach their full potential. Beth attended North Carolina State University and received her degree in communication sciences and disorders. Before attending graduate school at Armstrong State University, Beth worked as behavior therapist with children with Autism. Her backgrounds in both language development and behavior modification have driven her passion of working with children on the Autism spectrum. Leslie received her bachelors from the University of Central Florida then went on to receive her masters at Florida State University. She initially wanted to teach special education, but during her observations in classrooms, discovered the field of Speech-Language Pathology and there was an instant connection with the field. Both Leslie and Beth went to school to be SpeechLanguage Pathologists. Having no background in business, they were blessed to find a wonderful resource in Coastal Medical Billing, who took them on as their smallest client ever, and helped the business take root and grow.

Initially they wanted the company to remain small, but had a goal to “one day” bring on an occupational therapist. Two months later they hired OT, Kimber Zellner, who has been an invaluable source of knowledge as well as a mentor to new therapists. As the business grew, Beth and Leslie continued to be blessed through wonderful therapists and staff. One particular blessing was when they brought on “Miss. Pat”, who had recently moved to the south and insisted “just Pat” was fine. To which they responded “Ok, Miss Pat.” She eventually grew to love the term of endearment. She took on the clinic, therapists, patients, and families as her own and they each loved her the same. She remained with Chatterbox until she retired in 2015. Beth and Leslie worried how they would replace Miss Pat but were equally as blessed when their new office manager, Jenna Rose, just fell into place. Jenna is the third leg to Chatterbox. She keeps the place running and wears more hats than are available at a hat store. Through four expansions, the opening of a second location in Richmond Hill, and a total of 35 therapists and office staff, Beth and Leslie are thankful for the wonderful team which has helped them build this dream. Chatterbox has a staff that truly cares about the children they serve, which is evidenced by their daily interactions with them and their families. They look forward to continuing to help children reach their full potential.

Chatterbox Pediatric Therapy 110 PIPEMAKERS CIRCLE, STE 115 | POOLER, GA 31322 2451 B HWY 17 SOUTH | RICHMOND HILL, GA 31324 912-988-1526 | WWW.CHATTERBOXPEDS.COM

STARTING SMALL Initially they wanted the company to remain small, but had a goal to “one day” bring on an occupational therapist. Two months later they hired OT, Kimber Zellner, who has been an invaluable source of knowledge as well as a mentor to new therapists. As the business grew, Beth and Leslie continued to be blessed through wonderful therapists and staff. Hometown Living At Its Best

Chatham county Living

Story by Stephen Prudhomme

Photos by Dream Weaver Photos

Sarah Perry’s flying career started on her 13th birthday. Her parents’ gift to her was a flight onboard a small, private Cessna plane during which she took the controls. Sixteen years later, having moved up in plane size and flight status, Perry flew the gift forward by transporting people and supplies in an area of southwest Texas devastated by a hurricane. For the thousands of people forced to evacuate their homes due to record flooding, her presence – and flight – was a most welcome gift. The Pooler resident is piloting C-130s for the Georgia Air National Guard and flying around the world transporting military personnel and supplies and, last year, went to Texas to help victims of Hurricane Harvey. Perry, 29, is a Captain in the 165th Airlift Wing and one of three female pilots; by contrast, there are 55 male pilots in the 165th. According to Col. Peter Boone, Vice Commander of the 165th Airlift Wing, she is an extremely competent, fully qualified pilot who truly epitomizes the Air Force core values of integrity, service and excellence, and who embraces her role as a female pilot and officer in a male-dominated work force. Hometown Living At Its Best

Lt. Col. Brian Zwicker, an instructor pilot who works for Delta, says, “Perry has embraced the citizensoldier concept and has been the first to volunteer for many missions – including the hurricane relief effort. She has earned the respect of her peers,” he adds, “through her volunteerism for the most demanding missions and long overseas deployments.”

Chatham county Living

“Capt. Perry has deployed numerous times in combat environments supporting global C-130 taskings bestowed upon the Savannah Air National Guard,” Boone says. “Sarah is a true representative of the 165th Airlift Wing and I am extremely proud to be her wingman.” Tech Sgt. Juan Salterez has flown with Perry a number of times as a crew load master and describes her as an excellent pilot who fits right in with her male peers. “She gets no special treatment for being a girl, and if she has any difficulty working in a man’s world, she doesn’t show it,” he says. “She’s an exceptional pilot and we’re glad to have her.” adds Lt. Katie Parker, the 165th’s lone female navigator: “She’s a great pilot and friend, and someone I’ve enjoyed flying with since joining the unit.”

Hometown Living At Its Best

Chatham county Living

Piloting a plane fulfills a lifetime dream for Perry. The Ohio native was interested in flying as a child. Taking the controls during that pivotal 13th birthday flight was a test she passed with flying colors. “I first took the controls and the pilot said ‘you’re flying,’” Perry says. “It was a feeling of ‘wow, I’m actually doing this,’ and at the same time the most amazing experience of my life. In that moment I knew that was what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I had the good butterflies in my stomach – the ones you get when you fall in love, and I did. That was the day I fell in love with flying. I got home and asked my parents for an airplane for my birthday. They just laughed.”

Hometown Living At Its Best

Perry’s next step in pursuit of her flying dream was to join the Air Force as an enlistee, where she served for five and a half years. She attended Bowling Green University and earned a bachelor’s degree in aviation. Following graduation, Perry applied for pilot school and was accepted. Since only officers are eligible to be pilots, Perry attended officer training school for six weeks before entering the pilot training program. For two and a half years – working 12-hour days that she described as pretty stressful – Perry trained in smaller planes, starting with the T-6 and moving up to the T-1, and did lots of simulator flights. She also did 18

Chatham county Living

survival training, 24-7, for three straight weeks. “You never got off time,” Perry says. Perry eventually earned her wings and graduated to the C-130, a plane that can carry up to 90 people, tanks and ammo during a flight. As large as the plane is, Perry says it’s very maneuverable and can land on a 3,000-foot dirt strip. It was the C-130 that Perry piloted during the hurricane relief mission. In September 2017, Hurricane Harvey brought Category 4 winds and record flooding to Houston and a number of other cities and towns in southeast Texas. Thousands of

Hometown Living At Its Best

people abandoned their homes in a mad scramble for higher ground. Enter Perry and her large plane. For 10 days, she was part of a rescue and relief effort made up of 18 C-130s from nine states. Perry flew 18,000 pounds of potable water from Naval Air Station Fort Worth, along with large pallets she picked up from Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, to Beaumont and Galveston; the water was contaminated in both cities. She also carried displaced residents from those two cities to a shelter in Fort Worth and was struck by their difficult situation. “They had nothing,” says the 10-year military veteran. “They were carrying a small garbage bag with their possessions and with three or four kids starting over in Dallas. It was hard to see.” It also was hard to see where to land her plane. Perry says the airport landing strips were flooded and the navigational equipment on the ground was largely inoperable. When she was finally able to land, Perry saw thousands of people at the

Chatham county Living

“I love the variety of stuff we do. I get paid to fly. You can’t beat that.” [Sarah Perry] terminal, with a number of them disabled and in wheelchairs. Loading and unloading people, pets and supplies made for some long days for Perry, who flew two missions a day and was glad to do her part. “It was a great feeling making a difference in people’s lives and getting them to a safe shelter,” Perry says. “It was great to see the states coming together to provide the C-130s, personnel and flight crews. Family and friends told me they wish they could do something to help the hurricane victims. I get a lot of satisfaction that we have the equipment and planes and knowing I can help.” Lt. Col. Brian Zwicker, an instructor pilot who works for Delta, says, “Perry has embraced the citizen-soldier concept and has been the first to volunteer for many missions – including the hurricane relief effort. She has earned the respect of her peers,” he adds, “through her volunteerism for the most demanding missions and long overseas deployments.” “As with all our young airman, she has tackled the challenges of tactical airlift and long deployments with a positive attitude and willingness to work hard,” Zwicker says. “Capt. Perry continues to focus on building her aviation and leadership skills, which is evident from the improvement I see on every flight that I fly with her.” In addition to her relief mission in Texas, Perry has flown a C-130 on Guard lifts and humanitarian efforts to Europe, the Middle East and the Republic of Georgia, where she helped train that country’s Air Force, and earned an air medal. She spends half her time away from home and is preparing for an upcoming mission to Kuwait. “I love the variety of stuff we do,” Perry says. “I get paid to fly. You can’t beat that.”  CCL

Hometown Living At Its Best

Dr. Michael Huntly brings his adventurous spirit to the Coastal Empire.

Heart

AN ADVENTUROUS

WRITTEN BY GAIL DIXON

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Dr. Michael Huntly, a U.S. citizen, is a native of Dumfries, Scotland, home of Robert Burns, Scotlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s national poet. He has more than 30 years of experience in all aspects of plastic and reconstructive surgery. A graduate of Birmingham Medical School in England, Dr. Huntly did his residency in General Surgery and residency in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and achieved Board Certification in both specialties. In 2013, Dr. Huntly became a partner at Coastal Empire Plastic Surgery in Savannah. He has developed a wide experience in facial cosmetic, breast, and body contouring surgeries, while maintaining an interest in breast

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HELPING OTHERS Dr. Huntly has been on several mission trips, including a surgical elective to Maua in the Kenyan Jungle. Another was a cleft lip and palate trip to Honduras and two trips to Antiqua, Guatemala, to care for children and adults with cleft lip and palate and burn scar contractures of the hands and limbs.

reconstruction, hand surgery, and both hand and maxilla-facial trauma. He continues to provide the full spectrum of plastic surgery services with 80% cosmetic bias. Dr. Huntly’s wife, Jacqueline, is a M.D. with a Master’s in Public Health (Epidemiology) and is Board Certified in Preventive Medicine from Emory University. She is involved in physician coaching and is the founder of “Thrive to Lead MD” LLC. They have three children: Rory, who graduated from Davidson College and has a MBA from UNC Chapel Hill; Hamish, who graduated from the University of Vermont in finance; and Jaimie, their daughter, who graduated from Wesleyan in Connecticut, completed Medical School at the Medical College of Georgia, and is an OB/GYN resident at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York. Dr. Huntly has been on several mission trips, including a surgical elective to Maua in the Kenyan Jungle. Another was a cleft lip and palate trip to Honduras and two trips to Antiqua, Guatemala, to care for children and adults with cleft lip and palate and burn scar contractures of the hands and limbs. Dr. Huntly enjoys golf, fishing, hunting, skiing, and hiking.

He has taken trips that include walking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru. He took a backroads bicycle trip around Vietnam and Cambodia, including visits to the Hanoi Hilton and Angkor Wat, the 7th Wonder of the World, a huge Hindu temple deep in the Cambodian jungle. He has taken a rail and air trip to Victoria Falls, jumping on a rope swing, 300 feet long, over the Zambesi River Gorge and a driving and walking safari at Ruckomechi Game Park, surrounded by big game. Recently, he took a hiking trip, over four days, along the sea cliffs of Cornwall, England. Dr. Huntly is currently certified in Plastic Surgery and is on staff at Candler Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital, and Memorial University Medical Center. Previously, Dr. Huntly was Chief of Plastic Surgery at Guthrie Clinic in Pennsylvania, a 250 physician, multi-specialty group. He was Associate Clinical Professor for medical students from Hahnemann and SUNY Medical Schools. Dr. Huntly considers a referral to be the highest compliment he can receive. He feels privileged when a satisfied patient refers a friend or family member to his practice and pledges his best effort in serving their needs. Hometown Living At Its Best

50And Years Still Going Strong

W R I T T E N BY G A I L D I X O N | P H O T O S BY L E S L I E H A N D

In March, Andy’s Lawn Machinery will be celebrating 50 years of service (1968-2018) to the community. Of course, when people stop in, they want to know who Andy is and we have to give a small history lesson on the name of the business…Jess Andrews worked for the railroad in the 1960s and worked on lawnmowers at his home in his spare time. Jess’s friends called him “Andy” and so a sign, “Andy’s Repair Shop”, was installed over the garage. Jess’s daughter, Gloria, married Wayne Sumner, who served in the Vietnam War. When he returned from the war, he started working with his father-in-law on lawnmowers, realized he loved doing that kind of work, and opened his own business, Andy’s Lawn Machinery, in 1968. Steven Best began working for Andy’s Lawn Machinery at the age of 15. In 1995, Steven became the sole owner of the business. When Steven got married in 2000, his wife, Jenny,

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was a school teacher. As the business grew, she quit teaching and went to work with Steven full-time in the business. They have two children, Madison (15) and Mason (13), who help out during the summer. Steven says, “Madison loves to work the counter and talk to people while Mason likes assembling Stihl and breaking down boxes.” Andy’s Lawn Machinery has 9 other employees; three are true family members and the others are like family. Steven hired two sisters, Karen Johnson (Sales Manager for 16 years) and Terri Allen (Sales for 9 years), and Terri’s daughter, Amy Stanfield (Service Manager for 10 years). We have factory-certified technicians…David Turner, 11 years; Jason Young, 10 years; Dewayne Powell, 9 years; and Alex Waite, 1 year. Also, helping out are Dylan Gale (Sales, 1 year) and Mike Burgstiner (Assembly-Delivery, 1 year). “We try to make working fun and enjoyable. We all get along

together and act like one big happy family,” says Steven. Andy’s Lawn Machinery only sells lawn equipment, but we have full support for parts and warranty needs; we have more product knowledge because we focus on lawn equipment. Our goal is to give a higher level of service to our customers that the bigger chain stores cannot. We try to build a work relationship with all of our customers so they will continue doing business with us. Andy’s Lawn Machinery is an independently owned company offering outdoor power equipment since 1968. We carry a full line of Exmark and Snapper lawn mowers and Stihl hand-held equipment. We can help you find the latest and greatest on the market; stop by and see what kind of savings and giveaways we have going on during our 50-Year Celebration.

Who Is Andy? Of course, when people stop in, they want to know who Andy is and we have to give a small history lesson on the name of the business…Jess Andrews worked for the railroad in the 1960s and worked on lawnmowers at his home in his spare time. Jess’s friends called him “Andy” and so a sign, “Andy’s Repair Shop”, was installed over the garage. Hometown Living At Its Best

Story By David Pena | Photos by Rebecca Galloway Photography

One of Savannahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most unique dining establishments is the culmination of a shared vision between three great friends.

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Cotton & Rye The

Located just southeast of the historic district, Savannah’s Starland District has all but outgrown its exclusive Savannah College of Art and Design “student days.” With posh eateries like Foxy Loxy and the Starland Cafe enjoying tremendous amounts of success, it was only a matter of time before another trendy dining establishment emerged. Enter Zach Shultz and his friends, Brandon and Kimberly Whitestone, the brains behind Cotton & Rye, an approachably stylish eatery that caters to

Savannahians who want just the right ambiance for a date, a relaxing cocktail after work, or the perfectly proportioned brunch. It’s a dining experience that offers a foray into a creative menu that features Southern cuisine with a twist. Since its opening in July 2015, Cotton & Rye has proven to be the true embodiment of the collective visions of its three founders. Zach grew up in Savannah but ultimately moved to Florida to attend Johnson and Wales Culinary School, where he met Brandon. While

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attending school in Miami, Zach decided it was time to join a kitchen with a national reputation. “I chose Chef Allen’s in Aventura, Florida. The owner and chef of this restaurant was Allen Susser, who is credited with bringing New World cuisine to Florida, along with a couple other big name chefs,” Zach says. As it turns out, Brandon was a culinary school student who also happened to be interning with Chef Allen. “We worked really well together and always talked about doing a restaurant one day,” says Zach. “However, we both knew that we were still a bit too green to do it, so we continued working and learning how to run kitchens for the next few years.” After a successful stint as chef in Key West, Zach eventually returned to Savannah in 2010, but he stayed in touch with Brandon. “We always talked about opening our own place, so in 2013 I reached out to Brandon and (then girlfriend) Kimberly and said, ‘Let’s do it; let’s make an attempt.’ We had the same mindset in terms of the concept we wanted to do, so we didn’t have to (try to) convince each other,” he says. The trio soon began scouting for spaces in Miami, but its high-priced market, along with the lure of the emerging scene in Savannah, brought them back to the Hostess City. “After endless searches (in Florida), I realized pretty quickly how expensive it was going to be,” says Zach. “I then suggested looking at Savannah since I grew up here and knew

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“We wanted something really sleek and modern but not too over the top. We did a lot of research on colors and textures because we wanted a place that was cool and comfortable, where we’d want to go hang out.” - Brandon Whitestone

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Finding The Place They soon continued their search for just the right spot for their restaurant, albeit now in Savannah. After looking at dozens of spaces, they settled on an old bank building on Habersham Street.

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Creating The Space The restauranteurs spent eight months renovating the building, which was originally contructed in 1953, and the end result is both aesthetically pleasing and still pragmatic.

the city well. Brandon and Kimberly decided they would come up to Savannah and check it out.” Since all three had trained under Chef Allen, there seemed to be a unified vision for their venture right from the start. “During the week Brandon and Kimberly were here, we dined at every restaurant in town, and I did everything I could to convince them that this would be a great place to open,” Zach says. His efforts paid off, as the couple fell in love with Savannah, opting to relocate to here shortly after their visit. They soon continued their search for just the right spot for their restaurant, albeit now in Savannah. After looking at dozens of spaces, they settled on an old bank building on Habersham Street. “We wanted something really sleek and modern but not too over the top. We did a lot of research on colors and textures because we wanted a place that was cool and comfortable, where we’d want to go hang out,” says Brandon, now Cotton & Rye’s executive chef. The trio made it a point not to consult an interior designer – and for good reason. “Kim has a great eye for things like this,” Brandon says of the previously

Hometown Living At Its Best

“Everything is done in-house and is made from scratch, we use as much local products as possible, but it’s all about getting the best ingredients.” - Brandon Whitestone

cramped space. “There’s nothing else really like it in town. The three of us met in Miami, so it kind of has that feel, but it’s in a trendy and up-and-coming neighborhood, so you don’t usually see that kind of thing,” Zach adds. The restauranteurs spent eight months renovating the building, which was originally contructed in 1953, and the end result is both aesthetically pleasing and still pragmatic. Since Cotton & Rye occupies a building that was formerly a bank, the door to its safe remains in the dining room and serves as a unique conversation-starter. “The vault door will stay open. I think you might get a little scared otherwise,” Kimberly says with a laugh. “We just want people to go in and have a good time. I think over time the building just told us what it needed, so it’s been a great collaboration.”

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The restaurant has a streamlined interior, complete with unfinished wood and brushed metals – a look that is both sleek and comfortable. There is an open-air feel to the dining area, and cotton accents along with white brick add a distinctive character. Additionally, a shaded outdoor space provides the perfect setting for dining al fresco in the spring or summer. Perhaps the biggest labor of love for the restauranteurs was the 900-square-foot kitchen addition, which has a wood-burning grill. There’s only one other restaurant in Savannah that has one. “Since we’ve basically worked in the industry our wholes lives, we were able to design the place and know what needed to go where,” Zach says. “We spent a lot of time designing (the kitchen), and were able to get what we needed.”

Upgrading The Classics The midcentury modern feel of the restaurant is softened by the meticulously caring and unique approach to Southern cooking, where even a familiar staple like shrimp and grits is upgraded with tomato, bacon and aged cheddar.

The midcentury modern feel of the restaurant is softened by the meticulously caring and unique approach to Southern cooking, where even a familiar staple like shrimp and grits is upgraded with tomato, bacon and aged cheddar. Almost everything is made from scratch, and the eponymous fresh-baked-daily rye slices, wrapped carefully in a white cotton cloth, will easily help patrons pass the time between courses. Brandon says that their version of modern American cuisine will please the most discerning of palates. “Everything is done in-house and is made from scratch,” he says. “We use as much local products as possible, but it’s all about getting the best ingredients.” Guests can expect everything from fried chicken thighs and braised pork with pappardelle pasta to confit duck with giant lima beans. Regular patron Jonathan Moody says, “As a fried chicken, homecookin’ kind of guy, it’s normally tough to beat little hole-in-the-wall restaurants that do soul food well. Cotton & Rye is the exception to that rule, as they’ve found a way to make the Southern dining experience more than just a normal meat-and-three walk up.” The cocktails, too, are delightfully inventive as Kimberly, now the restaurant’s beverage director and general manager, explains. “Putting together the cocktail menu was quite an enjoyable experience. We always want our guests to be deliriously happy and have a great time,” she says. With Cotton & Rye in its third year, Shultz says the talented trio are not looking back. “We opened in July of 2015 with myself on the grill, Brandon on sauce, and Kimberly running the dining room. In a little over two years, we’re doing great. In fact, we opened its sister restaurant called Sugo Rossa six months ago, so we’re excited about that.” Now married, Brandon and Kimberly welcomed their first child in December, and he says he’s also excited about the future of the restaurant. “It’s really awesome to create the kind of food you want to do without the constraints of (working for someone else),” he says. “So we’ll just keep doing what we do best.”  CCL

Hometown Living At Its Best

Dr. William Gabbard educates the Coastal Empire on how managing stress can lead to a healthy and happy lifestyle.

donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t worry be healthy 34

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In the late eighties, Bobby McFerrin’s pop mega-hit “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” inadvertently gave us all some simple but sage advice. It’s commonly known that the effects of stress and bad diet can ultimately lead to a multitude of health problems. However, those of us who live in the Coastal Empire are fortunate to have the physicians at Nephrology & Hypertension Medical Associates to help combat the risk factors that accompany a stressful and unhealthy lifestyle. NHMA is a full service, privately-owned and operated practice based out of Savannah. Since 1969, their primary focus and specialty has been diagnosing and treating patients with kidney related diseases as well as hypertension. The doctors at NHMA include: Dana Kumjian, MD; Rebecca Sentman, MD; Erik Bernstein, MD; James Bazemore, MD; Jessica Coleman, MD; William Gabbard, MD and Mikhail Novikov, M.D. Dr. Gabbard, who joined the practice nine months ago, treats all aspects of kidney care. After doing his fellowship at LSU, Dr. Gabbard was in practice at the Ochner Clinic in New Orleans for most of his career before moving to Savannah in March. As it turns out, the transition to the South’s Hostess City has not been difficult at all for him or his wife. “Lydia and I are really enjoying Savannah a lot. It’s a friendly city with a great deal of southern charm. In fact, in Louisiana, we used to call Savannah ‘New Orleans Lite’ since the two cities are so similar.” When he’s not exercising with his wife, strumming his guitar or getting acquainted with his adoptive city, Dr. Gabbard says that his main

focus at NHMA will be to help his patients with all aspects of care for their kidneys. “Unfortunately, Georgia is located in what we call the ‘Stone Belt,’ where kidney stones tend to occur more frequently,” he says. “And since we have a lot of stone disease in the area, it helps that I’ve done a good bit of training as well as research on stone work. The problem occurs primarily due to genetics, of course, but Savannah also has a hot climate and a local diet that includes a good deal of salt, which unfortunately adds to the risk for kidney stones. Through my work, I hope to keep my patients off of dialysis and help them control risk factors, which has always been very gratifying to me.” In addition to kidney care, the physicians at NHMA also provide hemodialysis services, peritoneal dialysis, renal transplant referrals, and care following transplantation. One of the most common ailments they see is hypertension, or high blood pressure, a chronic medical condition in which blood pressure in the arteries is elevated. Hypertension puts strain on the heart and can ultimately lead to heart disease and coronary artery disease. The physicians at NHMA are dedicated to providing their patients and their families with the finest of care as they seek to enhance health and improve the quality of life for every patient that they serve. Dr. Gabbard adds, “At our practice we also try to have an environment that is comfortable for our patients and very accommodating. We take our time with every patient in order to provide the best individualized care and treatment available for them.”

1115 Lexington Ave, Savannah, GA 31404 Phone: (912) 354-4813 www.thekidneydocs.com

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Story By David Pena | Photos by Dream Weaver Photos and the Ellis Family

In Pursuit of a Dream “I have spent my life painting things in places I love. However, it was my intent to capture impressions of each place, each scene, each moment as it occurred in time.”

- { Ray Ellis }

Known primarily as a marine painter, the late Ray Ellis is a nationally-recognized artist whose paintings are in the permanent collection at the White House, as well as in museums across the country. During his lifetime, Ellis published 22 books, many of them devoted exclusively to his paintings of the Southeast. Treesa Germany, director of the Ray Ellis Gallery in Savannah, said of the artist, “Ray was a realist painter who had a keen eye and an affinity for the landscape. With an economy of strokes, he could capture the essence of any place.” Born in 1921, Raymond George Ellis grew up in Glenside, Pennsylvania, along with his three siblings. “We had an idyllic childhood,” said his brother Dick, a retired pilot. “Three Ellis families lived on our street. We had a baseball team and a nine-hole golf course in back of us, where we both learned to golf. I can’t imagine a better place to grow up.” Ellis’ father, Raymond, who studied art at Drexel Institute, and his mother, Helen, were both artists who encouraged their son’s creative endeavours. “They really made a huge impact on Ray, often taking us on trips to

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One Man Show In 1947, 26-year-old Ellis had his first one-man show at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts to rave reviews. Despite his early success, however, the work was not enough to support his family. So, in 1954 he founded Ellis Advertising in New Jersey and New York.

meet other talented artists who were friends of our father, and this was tremendously influential on him,” Dick said. Subsequently, by age 11, Ellis began producing a weekly comic strip, which he sold around his neighbourhood. Throughout his teens he continued to practice painting, and after high school he enrolled at the Philadelphia Museum School of Art. During World War II, while he was stationed in Maine with the Coast Guard, his work drew the attention of a local museum. “The Portland Museum actually gave him a studio, where he held several of his first exhibitions,” said Dick. In 1947, 26-year-old Ellis had his first one-man show at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts to rave reviews. Despite his early success, however, the work was not enough to support his family, which included his first wife, Elizabeth, and their four children. So, in 1954 he founded Ellis Advertising in New Jersey and New York.

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“Ray was a realist painter who had a keen eye and an affinity for the landscape. With an economy of strokes, he could capture the essence of any place.” - Treesa Germany

Ellis continued to paint watercolors throughout his advertising career and was ultimately elected to the American Watercolor Society as well as the Salmagundi Club in New York, the country’s oldest established professional art association. It was around this time that Ellis hit a professional crossroads. “One day at a Phillies game, he told me that he was closing his advertising business due to financial difficulties,” said Dick. “He really had no plans at that point, so I encouraged him to open up a gallery in Morristown, New Jersey, adding that I could be his first agent.” Already an accomplished artist when he decided to leave the advertising business, from 1969 on Ellis worked exclusively as an artist with his brother Dick as his agent. “I would take his originals and prints on my TWA flights and show them to galleries around the country during my layovers,” Dick said. Ultimately, their tenaciousness paid off when the Hunter Gallery in San Francisco gave Ellis a pivotal show in 1973. Ray Steele, then the director of the Charles Russell museum in Great Falls, Montana, worked with Ellis on a watercolor show, which opened to record-breaking attendance. From there, Ellis took his paintings to the Trailside Gallery in Phoenix, Arizona, where he was represented for a number of highly successful years.

A Growing Success Ellis continued to paint watercolors throughout his advertising career and was ultimately elected to the American Watercolor Society as well as the Salmagundi Club in New York, the country’s oldest established professional art association.

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“Those years were so much fun, Every day was an adventure. You never knew who would call or what opportunity would appear.” - Treesa Germany

In the 1980s, Ellis and the late television journalist Walter Cronkite collaborated on a series of books depicting America’s coastlines through both word and image. “When the publishers asked Ray if he would produce a book for them on the Southeast coastlines, Ray jumped at the chance, but he told them that he needed a narrator,” Dick said. Some prominent names were discussed but no decision was made – until one fateful trip to Maine. “We were sitting around a couple of lobsters one night, and I suggested that he get a ‘national guy’ to narrate the book,” Dick said. As luck would have it, Ellis played tennis regularly with veteran news anchor Walter Cronkite, but he didn’t think the television icon would be interested in the project. With some

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trepidation, Ellis asked Cronkite during their next tennis match. Cronkite agreed on one condition: that the publishers buy him a boat. The deal was cast, and so began one of the most popular coffee table books on art in the country, “South by Southeast.” The pair collaborated on two more books, “North by Northeast” and “Westwind,” before parting ways. “After (the third book) Walter told Ray that he had other fish to fry, but (those books) really established Ray,” said Dick. “He no longer needed me at that point. That was my swansong, and it was good time to call it a day.” During a brief second marriage, Ellis moved from New Jersey to Hilton Head Island, then ultimately to Savannah after doing a show for the

A Famous Collaboration In the 1980s, Ellis and the late television journalist Walter Cronkite collaborated on a series of books depicting Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coastlines through both word and image.

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Making Each Day Count

Telfair Academy. There he founded Compass Prints on Ellis Square (no relation), the art gallery that continues to serve as his headquarters. “Those years were so much fun,” said Treesa, the gallery’s director. “Every day was an adventure. You never knew who would call or what opportunity would appear.” Ellis had numerous exhibitions and commissions, including an exhibition at the Telfair Museum entitled “Ray Ellis: The Telfair Paintings,” which included 14 of his watercolors. “Ray coordinated many programs between (the Savannah College of Art and Design) and the museum, as well as doing his regular weekend exhibitions there,” Dick said. Ellis also donated prints for auction to numerous local charities, and in an effort to support aspiring artists, he established the Ray Ellis Foundation, which provides funds for those pursuing careers in the visual arts.

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Ellis made a habit of celebrating each day – both on canvas and in the world he shared with Teddie Axtell, his wife of 28 years. Encouraged by Teddie, until the time of his illness, Ellis’ daily routine included at least five matches of backgammon with her in his studio, followed by several hours of painting at his easel. In 1986, after 16 happy years in Savannah, the couple began living year-round at their summer home on Martha’s Vineyard. During that time, Ellis raised more than $1 million for the Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust. For 25 years, he was commissioned to paint yearly Vineyard fishing scenes from which commemorative limited edition prints were made to benefit the Derby Scholarship Fund. For three consecutive years beginning in 1998, the artist was commissioned by President Bill Clinton to paint scenes of the White House to be reproduced as their

official holiday greeting card. His works have been exhibited in United States embassies around the globe and he has been awarded the Salmagundi Club’s Medal of Honor for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts. Toward the end of his life, Ellis was as prolific as ever, even accepting an invitation to conduct a demonstration of one of his works at the Century Club in New York. Working tirelessly, Ellis tragically suffered a stroke in the days before his trip. “After his stroke, Ray sadly lost his ability to paint. He didn’t want to spend five years recuperating, so he just let go,” said Dick. Ellis died in 2013 of complications from his stroke. He was 92. Ellis perpetually sought out beauty in everything. An unwavering optimist, the artist imagined the best possible reality and then attempted to live up to it. “His personality was such that Ray could just walk into a room and light it up,” said Dick. “I miss him every day.”  CCL

An Artist Until The End Toward the end of his life, Ellis was as prolific as ever, even accepting an invitation to conduct a demonstration of one of his works at the Century Club in New York.

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Duffy & Feemster, LLC is located at 236 East Oglethorpe Avenue and is part of what is known as “Marshall Row.” This row of townhouses was developed in the 1850s by Mary Marshall, a female architect who also built the Marshall House Hotel and whose portrait hangs in the Marshall House. Legend has it that in the 1960s the entire row of four townhouses was owned by a brick broker who was going to demolish the buildings for their Savannah Grey brick. Robert Duffy and others were able to raise the money to buy the dilapidated townhouses from the brick broker and renovate them. The one at 236 was turned into Robert Duffy’s law office in the mid 1960s and has been the home of Duffy & Feemster, LLC since 1982.

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Hometown Living At Its Best

49 45

Dance T

Your Cares (and Pounds) Away

The art of the dance has enjoyed a huge resurgence in the past few years due in part to popular shows like “Dancing With the Stars” and “So You Think You Can Dance.” There is also an ever-increasing number of fitness programs that center around shaking the booty. And aside from the physical perks of hitting the dance floor, dancing has even been shown to improve brain activity and help reduce stress. To that end, Rachael Moore, founder and lead instructor at Salon de Baile, says that her goal is to actually turn dancing into a lifetime sport for everyone. “Our dance school currently teaches students from all walks of life, age groups, and interest levels. From beginning to advanced dancers, our classes are very versatile. We teach a wide variety of dances for all ability levels. From ballroom dancing and tap to hip hop and Country Two-Step, we can teach a dance that will suit just about anyone,” she says. “As a fitness professional, I encourage everyone to try it. In fact, our youngest student is six months old, while our oldest is 98 years young.” Originally from Rincon, Moore’s first love was actually gymnastics for the majority of her childhood. “I really excelled at it, which ultimately led me to (try) cheerleading and other sports. Unfortunately, the college I

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attended didn’t have a gymnastics team, and their cheerleading squad wasn’t as competitive as I thought it would be.” So it was Moore’s mother who then turned her on to the idea of trying ballroom dancing. “She thought I would be really good at it, but at the time I was more interested in solo sports. However, when I saw that my options were exhausted, I decided to take a stab at it,” she says. Amazingly, after only three months, Rachael’s dance instructor told her that she needed to seek higher instruction because she was getting much better than he anticipated. “He told me that I needed to find someone who could help me pursue my career further (than he could). Shortly thereafter, when I was told by a ballroom professional that I had a talent for dancing, it lit a fire under my butt to pursue it full-time.” Moore then traveled to places like Hawaii, Florida, and New York looking for professionals who could help her pursue her dancing career. “Ironically, after all that traveling, my last mentor told me to seek out a man named Robin Stockdale, who resided in Savannah, so that’s what led me back home.” Stockdale was a full ballroom adjudicator (judge) and nationallyknown instructor, and he was Moore’s mentor until he passed away. As luck would have it,

By David Pena | Photos by Dream Weaver Photos

Salon de Baile in Pooler hopes to turn dancing into a sport for a lifetime. Hometown Living At Its Best

“Our dance school currently teaches students from all walks of life, age groups, and interest levels. From beginning to advanced dancers, our classes are very versatile. We teach a wide variety of dances for all ability levels. From ballroom dancing and tap to hip hop and Country Two-Step, we can teach a dance that will suit just about anyone.” { Rachael Moore }

Stockdale introduced Moore to Eddie Ares, the owner of Academy Ballroom in Atlanta. Ares is a former world mambo champion as well as a world-renowned choreographer/coach, and he saw Moore’s potential right away. “He chose me to be a part of his professional dance team in 2011,” she recalls, “so every weekend I would commute from Savannah to wherever the team would perform since I was still training with Rob; my car certainly now has the mileage to prove it!” she laughs. Ares’ team traveled all around the Southeast as a professional show during dance competitions, and it

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was at this time that Moore met her professional dance partner, Jeff Trent. “We started practicing together while getting coached by well-known professionals in the industry,” says Moore. The pair soon began competing professionally in the American Smooth Circuit, which includes the Tango, Waltz, Foxtrot and Viennese Waltz in their dances. “We did very well at competitions. We were finalists in the division, so it was really encouraging,” she says. After two years, Moore’s partner retired and she decided go back to school to get her Bachelor’s degree from Armstrong State University. “I picked a degree that

Moore opened Salon de Baile in 2010 under the guidance of Stockdale. “I wanted to make ballroom dancing accessible for everyone, and I came up with that name because it means ‘Studio of Dance’ in any language. I started in a very little hallway with little space,” she recalls, “but I ran it the way I still do today. I employ no one; every one of my instructors is an independent contractor who makes their own schedule, similar to how hair salons do it. They are their own boss; I just own the studio and it’s worked out well for everyone.”

Hometown Living At Its Best

With over 200 students now training at her studio, Moore’s next goal is to ultimately bring dance into the public and private school systems. “I want to show kids how something so traditional can have such a wide range of applications, from teaching etiquette to rhythm and coordination.”

would be meaningful to take to the studio since I already had dance training, so I majored in Health and Physical Education, and I think it’s worked out well.” Moore opened Salon de Baile in 2010 under the guidance of Stockdale. “I wanted to make ballroom dancing accessible for everyone, and I came up with that name because it means ‘Studio of Dance’ in any language. I started in a very little hallway with little space,” she recalls, “but I ran it the way I still do today. I employ no one; every one of my instructors is an independent contractor who makes their own schedule, similar to how hair salons do it. They are their own boss; I just own the studio and it’s worked out well for everyone.” Her very first student, Dr. John Odom, had been dancing both socially and competitively for many years before taking

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instruction from Moore, so he was by all means no novice to dancing. “Rachael became my instructor ten years ago after my original instructor retired. I quickly found her to be the best qualified instructor of competitive dancing south of Atlanta,” he says. “She is a wonderful choreographer, a fact that many brides will happily attest to, and a woman who lives to dance and teach. Rachael’s life is truly defined by her craft.” And since Odom is involved in competitive dancing, he still takes instruction from Moore to this day. Fellow instructor Theresa Reed began teaching at Salon de Baile since the studio opened and says that the atmosphere at Moore’s studio is very conducive to bringing out the talent in all levels of dancers. “I’ve taught line dancing and the Country Two-Step since we first opened, and I think we’ve always had a

“She is a wonderful choreographer, a fact that many brides will happily attest to, and a woman who lives to dance and teach. Rachael’s life is truly defined by her craft.” { Dr. John Odom }

Hometown Living At Its Best

“I love helping people dance because it helps them forget their worries of the day while doing something healthy for their bodies, It truly helps with the aging process to keep active and keep your brain stimulated by having to follow patterns of the various dance { Theresa Reed } steps. It’s great for the body as well as the brain.”

very pleasant atmosphere here. Along with a great dance floor, we provide a comfortable environment to learn how to dance.” Reed goes on to say that Rachael has a special connection with everyone she teaches. “Rachael is extremely dedicated to her students and really focused on helping the community. She has always unselfishly given her time to Dancing with the Stars of Coastal Georgia, an annual fundraiser that benefits the Alzheimer’s Association, and she is continuously looking for new ways to expand the dancing community.” Moore and her fellow instructors are quick to point out that, while their students usually come to the studio for enjoyment as well as for the social factor involved, another benefit is the positive impact that dancing has on one’s mental and physical health. “I love helping people dance because it helps them forget their worries of the day while doing something healthy for their bodies,” explains Reed. “It truly helps with the aging process to keep active and keep your brain stimulated by having to follow patterns of the various dance steps. It’s great for the body as well as the brain.” With over 200 students now training at her studio, Moore’s next goal is to ultimately bring dance into the public and private school systems. “I want to show kids how something so traditional can have such a wide range of applications, from teaching etiquette to rhythm and coordination. Our schools are, for the most part, missing music and dance classes in their curriculum. I really hope to change that in the near future and teach kids that dancing truly doesn’t have to be stuffy; it can be a fun, healthy activity that you can enjoy for a lifetime.” For more information about Salon de Baile, call (612) 470-6683 or email them at salondebaile.dance@gmail.com. You can also visit Rachael’s studio at 301 US Highway 80 in Pooler.  CCL

Moore and her fellow instructors are quick to point out that, while their students usually come to the studio for enjoyment as well as for the social factor involved, another benefit is the positive impact that dancing has on one’s mental and physical health.

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“Everyone treats you so well and makes you feel so comfortable. The people here are very loving and caring, so I truly feel that I’m in good hands.”

A A 2708Lee Lee Street Street || Brunswick, Brunswick, Georgia 2708 Georgia31520 31520 912.265.6771 | www.gracemorenursingrehab.com 912.265.6771

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ThAn Just Nursing PHOTOS BY LESLIE HAND

About ago, Abouttwo twomonths months ago, 88-year-oldBeverly Beverly Lessing 88-year-old Lessing movedfrom fromDenver, Denver, Colorado moved Colorado into GraceMore Nursing into GraceMore Nursing andand Rehabfacility in Brunswick. From Rehab in Brunswick. the start, Lessing says She From the start, Lessing says absolutely fell in love with she absolutely fell in love with her new Southern home. her new Southerntold home. “My daughter me“My how daughter told me how wonderful this placewonderful was, this was, and I couldn’t andplace I couldn’t agree more,” agree more,” retired exclaims theexclaims retired the dental dental assistant. “Everyone treats assistant. “Everyone treats you so well andand makes you so well makesyou youfeel feel so so comfortable. The people comfortable. The people herehere are are very and caring, so very lovingloving and caring, so I truly I truly feel that I’m in good feel that I’m in good hands.” hands.” Lessing’s daughter LuAnn Lessing’s daughter Carlson, a former nurse at LuAnn Carlson, a former GraceMore, highly recommended nurse at GraceMore, highly the facility when her mother recommended the facility was thinking about moving to when her mother was thinking the South. “Nowto I’m soSouth. happy about moving the to have found GraceMore, and I These days when Beverly’s not love playing bridge, attending just my new home.” These church services or not winning days when Beverly’s playing at the bingo table, she loves bridge, attending church services to greet visitors with a broad or winning at the bingo table, smile. “We call Beverly our she loves to greet visitors with ‘Golden Girl,’” says Nichole a broad smile. “We call Beverly Moore, the Activities Director our ‘Golden Girl,’” saysalways Nichole at GraceMore. “She Moore, the Activities Director at has a bright smile on her face, GraceMore. always has a and she just“She loves to meet bright smileatonthe herfront face, door and she everyone as just loves to meet everyone at the soon as they enter. She also helpsdoor keep in as line.” front as us soon they walk in. in 1972 SheConstructed also helps to keep us ininline.” Brunswick, the facility Constructed in 1972 in was purchased in 1991 bywas the Brunswick, the facility current owners, Bill and purchased in 1991 by the current Wanda Davis. With over owners, Bill and Wanda Davis. 20 years of health-care With over 20 years of health-care experience, the couple focused experience, the couple focused their attention on providing their attention on providing resident-centered quality care resident-centered quality care right from the start. Today right from the Today the the values ofstart. GraceMore are founded on those values of GraceMore aresame founded principles, with a high with on those same principles, on helping residents apremium high premium on helping feel like they’re right home. residents feel like they’reatright at

- Beverly Lessing

home. GraceMore is now a 60GraceMore is now a 60bedskilled skilled nursing facility bed nursing facility with withthan more of more 40than years40 ofyears experience experience in the health-care in the health-care field. The field. staff istocommitted staff is The committed providing to providing compassionate,compassionate, individualized individualized care for each of care for each of their residents. their residents. Since GraceMore Since2008 2008 GraceMore has continued to to receive the has continued receive “Excellence in Action” national the “Excellence in Action” honors from My Innerview national honors from My National Research Corporation, Innerview National Research Corporation, it is of theits and it is the firstand facility firstinfacility of itstokind in kind Brunswick receive Brunswick to receive the the Silver Award, a national Silver Award, a health-care national nursing home and nursing home and healthhonor bestowed by the AHCA. care honor bestowed by the “We were federal and state AHCA. “We were federal deficiency-free, which basically and state deficiency-free, relates to the excellent caretothat which basically relates the we provide care for allthat ourwe residents,” excellent provide says Moore. for all our residents,” says GraceMore’s excellent care Moore. GraceMore’s excellent care includes several outcome based includes severalthat outcome therapy programs are based therapy programs that available to its residents, such are available to its residents, as a cardiac recovery program, such as a program, cardiac recovery orthopedic program, orthopedic program, post-stroke care, dysphagia post-stroke care, dysphagia program, wound carecare program,and and wound program. In addition, there program. In addition, there are and physician arepharmacy pharmacy and physician services, support, as services,nutritional nutritional well as physical, support, as welloccupational as physical, occupational and speech and speech/language pathology language pathology services. services. There are organized There are organized dailyand daily recreational activities recreational activities and an on-site beautician, along an on-site beautician, along with complimentary Wi-Fi with complimentary Wi-Fi access for all residents and access for all residents and their “We areare all all about theirguests. guests. “We about Southern hospitality here, and Southern hospitality here, we to try looktoout for out everyone,” andtrywe look for emphasizes everyone,”Moore. emphasizes Moore. For information about Formore more information about the facility, contact the facility, contact GraceMore’s GraceMore’s staff at or (912) staff at (912) 265-6771 visit 265-6771 or online at them at 2708 Lee Street inwww. gracemorenursingrehab.com Brunswick, Georgia.

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It’s not about Giving Up. It’s about Getting Help.

At Hospice Savannah, it’s not about dying, it’s about living. For almost 40 years we’ve been helping people with matters of the heart. As the largest, oldest and only Joint Commissionaccredited hospice in the Coastal Empire, we help caregivers give their loved ones the best possible quality of life. Let us help you in your caregiving journey long before you need to consider hospice care.

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On location Story By D. Annette Sasser | Photos by Malcolm Tully Photography

Cayman Eby and Jody Schiesser help focus filmmakers’ cameras on Savannah

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It was a sunny July day in 2017 when four large trucks and several unfamiliar cars rolled onto the grounds where our Wilmington Island dock and boat marine rail is located. Well-trained crew members quickly poured out of the vehicles and began to unload all manner of movie making paraphernalia. Although I am not an avid movie watcher, nor am I normally awe-struck by movie stars, I could definitely identify with the near mesmerizing fascination that often accompanies the magic of filmmaking. It can cause us common folk to gape when lights come on, cameras roll and actors take their places. Our property was one of several locations in Savannah being used to film scenes for a new movie called “The Peanut Butter Falcon,” a modern day Mark Twain adventure. I had the opportunity to meet the film’s location manager Jody Schiesser, and Cayman Eby, another location manager who helped him scout for the film. “When we search for the right property, waterway or building, we make sure that

The Movies Although I am not an avid movie watcher, nor am I normally awe-struck by movie stars, I could definitely identify with the near mesmerizing fascination that often accompanies the magic of filmmaking. It can cause us common folk to gape when lights come on, cameras roll and actors take their places.

Hometown Living At Its Best

A Tricky Job Although Cayman and Jody sometimes submit for the same positions on movie projects, they said they don’t consider themselves to be competitors. “We prefer to combine resources for the betterment of the film industry. We work with each other and help one another out when we can,” Cayman said.

everyone is aware up front of what the moviemaker expects, and what the home owner or property owner expects,” said Cayman. “Everything is prearranged beforehand. We make sure that it’s a winwin for everybody involved. That is the name of our game.” As colleagues working within the small but growing Savannah film production community, Cayman and Jody often cross paths, as they did on “The Peanut Butter Falcon.” “As location managers or location scouts, we are usually the first ones contacted and hired when prospective out-of-town movie producers consider Savannah as a possible location for a particular movie,” said Jody. “We keep a clientele list of people who are interested in having their property used for films,” added Cayman. “We also get recommendations and ideas from previous clients, and quite often we 64

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“Shooting movies in Savannah has a distinctive and comfortable feel. Savannah residents are charmed with movie making and the area offers a unique Southern urban setting full of character and a range of historic and natural settings. - Cayman eby

ride around searching until we find what we want.” Although Cayman and Jody sometimes submit for the same positions on movie projects, they said they don’t consider themselves to be competitors. “We prefer to combine resources for the betterment of the film industry. We work with each other and help one another out when we can,” Cayman said. An example of this unity is their work on the 2017 movie “Lizzie,” a dark psychological thriller set in the 1890s. “We were working with 40 different locations,” said Jody. “For the main home, we were asked to find a Greek Revival option here in Savannah to tell the story in that time period in New England. There are only a few houses in Savannah with Greek Revival architecture, and most of them have large Southern porches. The movie’s director had already been shown 30 or more options that didn’t offer all that he

wanted, and I hired Cayman to look for a better match.” It was a tricky job for the two location experts. After a diligent search, Cayman finally found a house behind the Bull Street Library that had three out of the five things that the director wanted. “A great guy owned the house,” said Cayman. “I introduced myself and after chatting with him for awhile he agreed to the idea of filming the movie at his home. But we continued an exhausting search of Savannah for a perfect match of a house that would satisfy the director. Eventually, the director realized that he wasn’t going to get all the things he wanted, and that this was the house that would work for the film. Which was great, as Jody and I had probably approached and photographed 200 plus houses in just a couple of weeks.” A producer, writer and location manager, Cayman is a Florida native who was raised in Washington, D.C. In 2001,

Hometown Living At Its Best

Relocation A local location manager and scout, as well as a writer and photographer, Jody is a native of Michigan who graduated from the University of Michigan and moved to Savannah in 1994, where he continues to reside with his wife, Sarah, and two sons.

after serving in the Army at Fort Stewart, he studied filmmaking for four years at the Savannah College of Art and Design. “During and after SCAD, I started and ran a small production operation for commercials and marketing videos,” said Cayman. “But shortly after graduation, the 2008 recession happened, and the local market for what I was doing collapsed. So, I went out west to chase the ‘L.A. dream.’” Less than a year later, Cayman found himself moving to Virginia with his two sons, where there was little work in the film industry. While there, he got his masters degree in education to fulfill a different kind of dream. “I’ve always had a passion for helping children,” said Cayman. “With my degree program, I was able to become a certified

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“After returning to Savannah, I was invited to manage locations on an independent feature, a little ghost story called ‘Mara,’ which led me to managing locations for a Michael Caine indie film called ‘Coup d’ Etat.’” - Cayman eby

educator and worked with special needs children in the Virginia public school system for a few years.” In 2015, Cayman returned to settle in Savannah and re-enter the film industry while continuing his work in education with the Chatham County Schools. “Before my hiatus in Virginia, I cut my teeth in the industry with reality television, live broadcast shows and music videos, but really wanted to get more seriously into feature films,” said Cayman. “After returning to Savannah, I was invited to manage locations on an independent feature, a little ghost story called ‘Mara,’ which led me to managing locations for a Michael Caine indie film called ‘Coup d’ Etat.’” Cayman said the film industry in Savannah is thriving, keeping him happily busy. “Shooting movies in Savannah has a distinctive and comfortable feel. Savannah residents are charmed with movie making and the area offers a unique Southern urban setting full of character and a range of historic and natural settings,” he said. Jody wholeheartedly agreed. “The film industry in Savannah is still growing,” said Jody. “When movie makers from out-of-town scout to see if it’s possible to use Savannah, we work to convince

Keeping Busy Cayman stays busy with film projects and is building his personal company, The Savannah Locations Company. “Essentially, it’s a vehicle for me to do what I love to do, which is bringing together property owners with filmmakers.”

Hometown Living At Its Best

them to make the movie here. If we can help pull in a movie, it helps Savannah. These projects often hire local people. The industry is really contributing to the jobs available in Savannah and to the economy as a whole.” A local location manager and scout, as well as a writer and photographer, Jody is a native of Michigan who graduated from the University of Michigan and moved to Savannah in 1994, where he continues to reside with his wife, Sarah, and two sons. “I got into the film industry in 2002,” said Jody. “In 2006, in a writer’s group, I met my friend Nathaniel Nauert who had a script and we got together and made a short film called ‘The Street Cleaner.’ It did really well.” Jody’s movies have played in film festivals around the world. “I won recognition and some best film awards,” said Jody. “That was really the launching point for me. Like Cayman, some of my first film jobs were with reality TV projects, including acting and associate producer for the three seasons of the awardwinning series ‘Ruby,’ which first aired in 2008.” Jody went on to work for three seasons as the Savannah location manager of Tyler Perry’s show ‘The Have and The Have Nots,’ which led to many other opportunities including nine feature-length movies. In 2016, Jody and his friend Anthony Paderewski founded a company called Savannah Location Services to provide scouting and location services to feature 68

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films. “I also optimize my time with family in between filmmaking,” said Jody. “In this line of work, you need that time to refresh because when you’re making a movie, you’re in the movie world. It’s long hours. You don’t get to see your family very much.” Cayman stays busy with film projects and is building his personal company, The Savannah Locations Company. “Essentially, it’s a vehicle for me to do what I love to do, which is bringing together property owners with filmmakers,” said Cayman. “This lets me introduce the incredible community of Savannah to the industry players who come into town. The end game is to make Savannah my home and to start producing my own features and television shows for children. In between film projects, I spend time with my sons and continue to work locally with special needs children in the school system. It’s the two careers for which I’ve found my passion.” It is true that Savannah is still charmed by the movie making industry. We are delighted to see Forest Gump sitting on one of our benches. When we recognize familiar places in movies, which are supposedly set somewhere else, we are proud to play along. And the possibility of a glimpse of a famous movie star walking down River Street will always give us pleasure. Thanks to the work of Cayman and Jody, stars in their own right, Savannah’s love affair with filmmaking will continue to enthrall residents and visitors alike.  CCL

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family

JOINING A NEW

My name is Peggy Drummond. I grew up in the small town of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, which is about 30 miles from downtown Pittsburgh. I attended McKeesport High school and married my high school sweetheart who was in the U.S. Army. We traveled all over the world. We lived in Okinawa as well as several Army bases in the U.S. My oldest son was born at Fort Carson Army hospital in Colorado, and youngest son was born in an Army Hospital in Stuttgart, Germany. I later returned to Pennsylvania. I worked at the local hospital for 22 years as a nursing assistant before retiring. After being single for 15 years, I got remarried and we enjoyed traveling to Florida every winter to get away from the cold. After my husband died I decided to move to Savannah. I had lived here before and enjoyed the sunny and warm weather. I have lived here for eight years now years and love it, and I’ve lived at Savannah Commons for almost two years now and it has been the best decision I have ever made. Savannah Commons was gracious enough to let me put my sewing machine in the craft room because I love to sew. I make raggedy denim quilts for all the veterans who live here. When a new resident moves in I introduce myself and the first question I ask is “are you a veteran?” If they are then I get busy at the sewing machine. I have also made afghans for two female veterans that live here. In addition, I enjoy making raggedy flannel baby quilts. Savannah Commons is my home now and living here is like living with family. I have met so many wonderful people here, who are like brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles. I had to down-size when I moved here, but I have everything I need. I can’t say enough about how wonderful Joyce McBride, the Executive Director, and the staff here are. Chef, Debbie Reid, really caters to us and prepares food to everyone’s liking. During both hurricanes we were treated like royalty. Like I said we are one big family. If you are thinking about moving to an Independent living apartment consider Savannah Commons, you won’t be disappointed.

Moving to Savannah Commons has helped Peggy Drummond extend her family to include her fellow residents.

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FRAMING AS AN ART

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Greg Greg McGinty, McGinty, owner owner of of Savannah Savannah Framing Framing Company, Company, was was born born in in Savannah Savannah and and began began his his framing framing career career in in 1987. 1987. He He continues continues sharing sharing his his experience experience in in his his hometown hometown today today providing providing an an extensive extensive collection collection of of signature signature frames, frames, mats, mats, and and glass glass that that suit suit aa range range of of styles styles and and budgets. budgets.

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Ear, Nose, and Throat Associates of Savannah, P.C. has been providing expert medical care to patients of all ages in Savannah since 1977. Our medical professionals specialize in diseases and disorders of the ear, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck. Our board certified Physicians, Audiologists, and Allergy specialist at Ear, Nose, and Throat Associates of Savannah, LLC utilize the most advanced technologies and procedures to ensure all patients the best results with the least discomfort. Audiology and Hearing Aid Services, is our on site Audiology department with certified Doctors of Audiology making us the Southeastâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Premier Hearing Healthcare Team. For our patients convenience we have our own Surgery Center and satellite office locations in The Landings, Pooler, Rincon, Richmond Hill, Statesboro and Bluffton, SC.

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The Eye of the Beholder

Story By David Pena | Photos By Ryan Lee Photography

Image Consultant Victoria Baylor wants women to see the beauty in themselves

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“Every woman can identify with the experience of trying on that perfect outfit and suddenly feeling like a million bucks,” said Victoria Baylor, image consultant and professional seamstress. “It’s truly an instant transformation, and in that moment she is absolutely beautiful in her own eyes. That’s the power of style.” Helping women uncover their own personal style is what Baylor said she loves most about her job. “In my profession, I unfortunately see a lot of women who don’t feel great about themselves. However, once they obtain the right style and look, the clothes really become their suit of armor, and I truly love being part of it.” As a seamstress who’s worked in the custom garment and sewing industry for 14 years, Baylor knows all too well the value of image and style. Now the owner of two businesses,

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Her New Purpose “I am my clients. As women we get caught up in doing for everyone else but ourselves, losing our sense of self in the process. However, we simply cannot give to others what we fail to give ourselves, and that’s where I come in.” Her consultation services also include giving advice on wardrobe choices, shopping, etiquette as well as personal styling.

Tailored Seams by Victoria and Distinctly You Image and Color Consulting, she said her primary goal in each venture is to show women how to take charge of their lives by cultivating their own authentic image and style. “Our society doesn’t necessarily build up women’s self-confidence. In fact, it usually has the opposite effect,” she said. “So my job is to help my clients feel empowered and confident enough to go after the things they truly want with no reservations.” Born in Fort Carson, Colorado, as a self-described “military brat,” Baylor said she was raised “pretty much all over the place.” Constantly being on the move, while sometimes challenging, ultimately helped her acclimate herself to different environments and easily adapt to new situations. “It’s funny because all my life I’ve always fought change, but it was always part of my life. However, now that I’ve been in this area for over 20 years, I’m enjoying the fact that I’m staying put for once,” she said with a laugh. While many of us are still searching for our true purpose in life, Baylor said she found her calling from a very early age. “When I was four years old, I saw a fascinating documentary featuring the late Jacques Cousteau. That’s when my love and obsession with the ocean began. My attraction (to Hometown Living At Its Best

the ocean) had to do with the mysteries of its depth, as well as the fact that it was teeming with life,” she said. After high school, Baylor pursued a degree in Marine Science at Savannah State University. She then interned at the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, where she was employed after graduating from SSU with honors. During that time, Baylor said she experienced a life-changing event when her husband’s beloved grandmother passed away in 2004. This would prove to have a profound impact on the young woman. “All throughout her life, Jimmy’s grandmother, Anne, was always the epitome of kindness and virtue,” Baylor said. “After she died, I was humbled to learn that my mother-in-law gifted Anne’s sewing machine to me. So, as a tribute to this great woman, I decided to take up sewing.” Although Baylor’s sewing experience was limited to her high school Home Economics class, she took to her new obsession with relish: “I started taking a beginner’s class at a local fabric store, and then taught myself from there when I mastered the basics.” From the outset, her new venture proved to be challenging, but, as Baylor recalled, “I understand how transformative clothing can be, so I threw myself into this new sideline.” She started making custom garments and doing alterations while still working at the Oceanography Institute, but gradually began to see that sewing could be much more than just a hobby.

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Baylor’s late father also began to take notice of his daughter’s talents. “My father saw that I had some real ability as a seamstress, so he suggested that I take it a step further,” an idea she dismissed at first. “He encouraged me to pursue it as a side business, and after two years I had really mastered the process enough to consider it,” she said. However, Baylor now admits that there was a good deal of trepidation involved in the decision. “I knew it was time for a new chapter to begin in my life, but flying solo without a safety net was a huge leap for me. In fact, I joke that I should have bought stock in Kleenex since I spent the first month crying,” she said. After some very successful years as a part-time seamstress, in November 2013 Baylor finally decided to make the leap from being a scientific researcher to becoming a full-fledged entrepreneur. Her husband,

“All throughout her life, Jimmy’s grandmother, Anne, was always the epitome of kindness and virtue. After she died, I was humbled to learn that my mother-in-law gifted Anne’s sewing machine to me. So, as a tribute to this great woman, I decided to take up sewing.” - Victoria Baylor Hometown Living At Its Best

Jimmy, was aware of the significant amount of risk involved, but saw her determination as the key to getting her business off the ground. “She’s never been selfemployed, let alone chased after something that had no guarantees,” he said. “With marine microbiology, she had degrees, certification and all kinds of training. Her background was so different (from this business venture), but she was tenacious and remained focused on her goals. Then it just took off from there.” In fact, Baylor credits her husband as being her main cheerleader during the difficult move into entrepreneurship. Her attention to detail and drive to succeed were integral to her early success. “Victoria is a very tenacious person who makes sure that she researches anything that she attempts, which stems from her background in microbiology,” he said. “She went to the Small Business Bureau to ask all the pertinent questions and even went to New York to spend time in the garment districts to learn more about color and fabrics.” As for Baylor, she said that in the beginning she came to rely upon her clients’ word of mouth and pro bono advertising, as well as a bit of divine intervention. “I always 80

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like to say that God knows the exact purpose for each one of us, and because of His help and guidance, it didn’t take long for the word to spread about me,” she said. As a devoted wife and mother, Baylor said she knows all too well about the plight of women in today’s fast-paced world. “I am my clients. As women, we get caught up in doing for everyone else but ourselves – losing our sense of self in the process. However, we simply cannot give to others what we fail to give to ourselves, and that’s where I come in,” she said. In addition to sewing, her consultation services include advice on wardrobe choices, shopping, etiquette and personal styling. “One’s image is important because it not only impacts you, but it also impacts how others perceive you,” she said. Client Katya Shirokova agreed, saying, “Victoria was highly professional and took her time with me. My experiences with her made me feel very special and uplifted, and I would highly recommend her to anyone.” Whether Baylor is helping her clients pick the right wardrobe, understand their body type, or simply find the perfect colors to wear, she said she truly has found her niche in life and wouldn’t have it any other way. “No matter their size or color, all women should know that they are truly beautiful,” she said. “I don’t think God put all of the beauty on this planet for us to miss seeing it in ourselves. That’s why I’m excited to get up each day and do what I do – inspire others to exude their own greatness.” Contact Baylor at www.distinctly-u.com or by calling. 843-940-8950  CCL

Her Biggest Fan In fact, Baylor credits her husband as being her main cheerleader during the difficult move into entrepreneurship. Her attention to detail and drive to succeed were integral to her early success. “Victoria is a very tenacious person who makes sure that she researches anything that she attempts, which stems from her background in microbiology,” he said. “She went to the Small Business Bureau to ask all the pertinent questions and even went to New York to spend time in the garment districts to learn more about color and fabrics.” Hometown Living At Its Best

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percentage of the class of 2017 who gained early admission to UGA

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National Merit finalists in the past 5 years

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number of fine & performing arts offerings

colleges to which the class of 2017 gained acceptance

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Story by Teri R.. Williams Photos by Leslie Hand Photography

Tiff sig of Ple Tiffaniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s artwork can be purchased at the gallery on many different items including ceramics, phone cases, accessary bags, latte mugs, scarves, candles, as well as a collection of bedding. Tiffani is shown wearing the beautiful jewelry designed by the incredibly talented artist Chad Crawford of 13 Secrets and can be found at 13secret.com.

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On a bitter cold morning this past January, I walked into the warmth and glow of Tiffani Taylor’s gallery. A painting of bright red poppies immediately drew me in as the gentle melody of a classical piece played in the background. My eyes traveled around the room from canvas to canvas. Each piece of art held storytelling power with images integrated with nature, lines of poetry, and musical notations. I breathed deeply. All the recent threats of black ice and freezing temperatures began to fade. Little Papa, Tiffani’s constant companion and traveling buddy, greeted me as if I was a lifelong friend before settling onto a pillow at my feet. At first glance, Tiffani’s gallery seemed a paradox to the world outside. But the visual feast was not in opposition, I realized. Tiffani’s gallery was an offer of hope and courage rather than escape, and an invitation to be fully present in a safe space. “Did you paint this in Paris?” I asked. Shaking her head, she said, “This piece was tacked to the walls of my apartment and brought back to Savannah.” “Do you write the poetry as well?” “Yes. I use poetry compositionally to create areas of light and dark and to lead

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“My grandparents taught me reverence for nature.” “My family are all wordsmiths, lovers of Divinity and nature,” said Tiffani. “My grandparents taught me reverence for nature. To enjoy the stillness. I always felt very present with them. I think it was a grounding gift that rooted my soul.” She remembered going to church as a child, and believed in God and angels. “But I just never felt the Spirit within organized religion like I do within nature.”

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the eyes throughout. It’s all stream of consciousness from my heart, and adds another layer of meaning. I’ve kept every journal since I was in the fifth grade. When I looked back through them, I found that I wrote a lot about light. I think even before I was aware of God’s grace, I felt it.” Camping out under the stars and walking the woods and fields of Wyoming, Tiffani learned from her grandparents, Roma and Clyde Olson, to see the invisible in the visible, the spiritual in the natural, the holy in the ordinary. A feather became an omen, a song an atmosphere, and fields of poppies a dream of happiness and peace. From them she learned not to be distracted by the external discomfort of something as changeable as the weather, but to see like a star gazer the vastness of the heavens through the lens of a telescope. “I come from humble beginnings,” said Tiffani recalling the single parent home where she was raised in Ogden,

photo by Tanner Levi

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photo by quentin Crestinu

Utah. The oldest of three, her parents divorced when she was only in the first grade. Even though she moved often, her summers were spent on her grandparent’s homestead in Wyoming and provided a stable ground for deep roots and a true sense of belonging. It was from them that she learned to look to nature for signs and messages from God. “My family are all wordsmiths, lovers of Divinity and nature,” said Tiffani. “My grandparents taught me reverence for nature. To enjoy the stillness. I always felt very present with them. I think it was a grounding gift that rooted my soul.” She remembered going to church as a child, and believed in God and angels. “But I just never felt the Spirit within organized religion like I do within nature.” Tiffani’s grandmother was a singer and performed all over Wyoming with her sisters. “They sang in perfect harmony and even produced a record, which was pretty amazing all those many years ago.” Tiffani’s grandfather worked the railroad. “He was hired to remove rocks from

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photo by quentin Crestinu

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the tracks, but he worked his way up to foreman.” Her eyes were bright as she talked about the man who served as a father figure to her and her siblings. “He always made sure we had what we needed.” When I asked about the poppies that first caught my eye, Tiffani paused. When she spoke, I felt the weight of her words in her heart. “Poppies are my signifier,” she said. “They represent the fire in my belly, my dream as a child to live a peaceful and happy life traveling the world and painting in France. I would share those dreams with my family, and they encouraged me. Even though we had very little in terms of money, I had this rich environment for creativity, unconditional love, and support, which I would choose any day over material wealth.” But Tiffani was not just a dreamer. She applied discipline to her dreams, a practice she attributed, once again, to the influence of her grandparents and mom. Nearly every night she read. She sketched. She studied Monet, Degas, George O’Keefe, Helen Franenthaler and Jackson Pollock, the two artists who bridged watercolor and expressionism, a discernable art style in her own body of work, and read the poetry of Sylvia Plath and Emily Dickinson. “I set up ‘still lifes’ in my bedroom with a single light source and would draw.” She was sixteen when she first saw a poster about SCAD tacked to the wall at her high school. Even though Tiffani had never traveled any further than her grandparent’s homestead in Wyoming, she said, “I just knew it was home.” She

Like her grandmother, there’s a harmony to Tiffani’s life that flows from relationships with those she calls her sisters. “Opening a gallery was a big growing experience, but learning to manage a business from a different continent was another thing altogether,” said Tiffani. “I couldn’t do it without my strong and loving sisterhood team. We’re so loving and supportive of each other.”

entered every scholarship offered by SCAD at the time and got everyone she applied for including the Presidential Scholarship, the Portfolio Scholarship, and an Academic Scholarship for her high ACT scores. In 1998, Tiffani moved to Savannah and somehow managed to live on about $2 a day. “When I first arrived, it was very difficult to have the courage to stay. I was so homesick,” said Tiffani. “I began having this vivid dream about my grandmother. In the dream I was standing in fields of poppies from my youth, and I could hear my grandmother’s music. I would wake up and write about it. I spent the next four years of college learning to make what I saw and heard in those dreams manifest with different techniques and materials. That dream guides my work even today. My grandmother’s music is always with me.” Eventually, Tiffani had enough money from her part-time job at Midnight Star Pottery where she worked and painted commissions to buy a car. And by her third year of college, she was able to quit her part-time job and start her own business as a fulltime artist. In 2002, Tiffani graduated Valedictorian of her class with a BFA in Painting and a minor in Art History in 2002, and went right into her master’s degree in Art History. “I wanted to teach art, which would have meant going directly into an MFA in painting, but I felt I needed to learn more.” Just after graduating with her master’s in Art History, Tiffani sold her first large painting for about $6,000. “I immediately bought a ticket to Paris.” Accompanied by her friend, Angie, the two stayed with someone they knew from Statesboro who was living in Paris at the time. “She took us to Montmartre and then we had a picnic near the Eiffel Tower. We walked along the Seine, went to the Notre Dame Cathedral and lit a candle. We ran through the Louvre trying to see everything, and ate from the vendors selling little baguettes and pain au chocolate.” In the years that followed, Tiffani’s business continued to grow and her work gained the attention of many. Commissioned by the Salvador Dali Museum in St Petersburg, Florida, she created pottery based on the Dali’s surrealist paintings, which are still on display. “I was painting pottery, murals, paintings, watercolor, and mixed media works. I said ‘yes’ to every possible commission, even those that frightened

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me a little if the subject matter or medium was unfamiliar because I wanted to grow.” Tiffani also continued to travel spending her time in France and Italy for inspiration and reflection. Like the twisted strands of DNA, the unique combination of influences in her life developed into a distinctive artistic style all her own. In 2008, designer Henri Bendel purchased the rights to use images from her watercolor poppies collection for 600 cashmere sweaters, which sold out in New York almost overnight. In 2011, she opened the Tiffani Taylor Gallery in historic downtown Savannah on Whitaker Street. Her work, which has been on exhibition internationally, can be found in art collections owned by André Leon Talley, the designer Diane von Furstenberg, Oprah Winfrey, President Paula Wallace, Mayor Jackson, and many others. In 2015, Tiffani was a pioneer of the SCAD Alumni Atelier grant program. “It’s an artist ambassadorship given by SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace. It really is a testament to President Wallace’s beautiful heart,” said Tiffani. The purpose of the grant is to help alumni “expand the boundaries of their work, strengthen their connection with their alma mater and join a select group of ambassadors within the university’s global network of emerging artists and scholars” (www. scad.org). The three-month grant provided Tiffani with an Atelier, (which is French for gallery, she explained), in the south of France on the SCAD Lacoste campus. Within the first two weeks, Tiffani’s art had been purchased by people from ten different countries. Her childhood dream had become a reality. She was an international artist. “That summer, Pierre Cardin,” the renowned French fashion designer, “whom I admire greatly as an artist, came into the Atelier. He visited three or four times and bought my art. To have him as a patron was magical and affirming,” said Tiffani. Another frequent visitor to the Atelier turned out to be the director of ICART School of Arts in Paris (École des Métiers de la Culture et du

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Marché de l’Art). “This is one of the most renowned universities in the world for MBAs,” said Tiffani. She soon found herself invited to teach a course at the school on Art and Marketing, which she was more than happy to do. Although art transcends language, Tiffani knew the importance of learning the language, especially as a teacher. “I came home to check on my gallery and then returned to France to attend language school.” The course was intense. “Classes were five hours a day, five days a week, and I was the only American in a class of fifty-eight students from all over the world.” In addition to learning to speak French, she said, “I made some beautiful friendships and learned so much about the different cultures of the people I met.” Tiffani worked as a consultant for SCAD in Lacoste back in August and continues to travel, but said, “I’m very focused on being present in Savannah this year.” In addition to her work as an artist, she finds “great purpose” in her work with the Rape Crisis Center of the Coastal Empire, Safe Shelter, a center for domestic violence services, and Hopeful horizons, a shelter in South Carolina. Tiffani also co-founded the Safe Shelter Light the Way campaign, an initiative with WJCL that helps provide needed items for children and adult victims of domestic violence. In 2015, Tiffani founded the “Savannah Art Walk,” an art event held on the second Saturday of the month from September to June. Free to the public, the event introduces participants to over twenty different galleries in the downtown area. Beginning with free cocktails at one of the hotels, the art walk finishes with an after party enjoyed with other participants and a featured artist at the Savannah Desoto Hilton Hotel. The April event will be a collaboration with the upcoming American Traditions Vocal Competition with the theme “An American in Paris.” Like her grandmother, there’s a harmony to Tiffani’s life that flows from relationships with those she calls her sisters. “Opening a gallery was a big growing experience, but learning to manage

a business from a different continent was another thing altogether,” said Tiffani. “I couldn’t do it without my strong and loving sisterhood team. We’re so loving and supportive of each other.” Tiffani’s artwork can be purchased at the gallery on many different items including ceramics, phone cases, accessary bags, latte mugs, scarves, candles, as well as a collection of bedding. When I picked up a small ceramic vase imprinted with a feather and the word “Hope” to purchase, Tiffani insisted I receive it as a gift. Even with all she is doing, Tiffani is somehow pursuing an MFA in painting so she can one day teach art students like herself who come to SCAD with little more than a dream. “Teaching brings me the most joy,” she said. “I believe it’s the highest calling. After being an artist for twenty years I finally feel worthy of teaching. I want to give everything I’ve learned to my students so they can do better things than I’ve done.” It’s a brave thing to become a teacher. In a sense, it’s taking the light inside of you and offering to share it with the candle in the hand next to you. It’s like saying, “Here are all the places my heart has traveled, all the work I’ve done, the ways I’ve struggled, and the paths I’ve made.” As others walk in her footsteps, Tiffani empowers the next generation of artists to find their own dream of infinite possibilities. By breaking her bread, it is multiplied. And as new light is discovered, we all see more clearly.  CCL

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Building Literacy

Block by Block

Deep Center helps Savannah students find their inner voice 104

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“Our kids really come from all walks of life, partly because we push really hard against (using) labels like ‘at risk’ or ‘straight A’ students. Programs (that use that lingo) generally work from a deficit-based perspective, while we don’t.” -Keith Miller

“A lot of schools and institutions today see their students as needing to be taught to do something, to reach a particular goal,” says Keith Miller, program director at Savannah’s Deep Center. “However, we think that the youth enter the classroom already full of stories, and our job is to help them figure out the tools to convey those stories.” Miller should know; in his Block by Block program, the center’s advanced, yearlong creative writing workshop, he helps high school students channel their more creative sides and find their inner voice. “It’s basically a creative writing and youth leadership program for high school students, but it goes much deeper for everyone who attends, including me,” he says. The program’s attendees meet twice a week for 10 months throughout their high school years. “Most of the 40 or so students stay with us until they graduate, and we fill the vacancies every year,” says Miller. “I have partnerships with just about every high school, so I contact them when we have slots available. The students themselves also recommend others who may be a good fit. In addition, we also currently have a 106

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partnership with the juvenile court system, and we work with probation officers, so we get some of our kids from there as well.” As far as the typical program attendee, Miller says there is no such thing. “Our kids really come from all walks of life, partly because we push really hard against (using) labels like ‘at risk’ or ‘straight A’ students. Programs (that use that lingo) generally work from a deficitbased perspective, while we don’t.” As long as students are high-school age and have a passion for storytelling, Miller says they’re eligible. “Plus, they really can be all over the spectrum in terms of ability because we’ll spend nearly a year with them, increasing their writing skills. The goal is to help them discover the joy of writing first, and then equip them with the tools to tell their stories fearlessly,” he says. The program is part of Deep Center, a Savannah-based nonprofit that has provided writing workshops for students in the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System for nearly a decade. Senior Program Director Megan Ave’Lallemant says that Block by Block is more than just technical writing training. It actually provides a unique opportunity to see Savannah through the eyes of the next generation.

“It’s basically a creative writing and youth leadership program for high school students, but it goes much deeper for everyone who attends, including me.” -Keith Miller

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“Our version of what literacy is has really broadened over the years, so while creative writing has always been our primary focus, we really strive to help our youth make sense of the world around them and then provide counter-narratives that highlight their previously hidden histories,” she says. From the beginning, she says the goal always was to help magnify students’ voices while helping to dispel some of the negative stereotypes surrounding low-income neighborhoods and the young people who live in them. Miller’s own road to the Deep Center is one rife with curves and several pit stops. While in his senior year at Northwestern University, Miller was discovered by a modeling agency in New York. After securing a modeling gig in the Big Apple, he also began working in the nonprofit sector, where he unexpectantly found his calling – albeit not on the runway. “(Modeling) was a lot harder than I expected, so I began to focus my attention on youth mentoring,” he says.

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After giving up on a career in modeling, Miller soon began working for one of the largest mentoring organizations in New York, where he trained and managed mentors who served 18 different high schools. After relocating to Georgia, he stumbled upon the ad for his current position. “It was the first job description that required you to submit some of your personal writing, and when I interviewed for the job (at Deep Center), it was a magical combination of everything I had been looking for,” he says. “It was the first job I’ve had that required me to be an artist first. Plus, it was in my hometown, so that was great.” Miller and his colleagues encourage their young authors to be fearless in their writing. No topic is off limits – no matter how difficult – as long as the writer is earnestly exploring the issue. This often results in profoundly moving and emotional writing. Miller explains, “We deliberately focus our content on day-to-day living experiences and topics that are culturally and socially relevant to our kids. In many ways, the students

His True Calling

Millerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own road to the Deep Center is one rife with curves and several pit stops. While in his senior year at Northwestern University, Miller was discovered by a modeling agency in New York. After securing a modeling gig in the Big Apple, he also began working in the nonprofit sector, where he unexpectantly found his calling â&#x20AC;&#x201C; albeit not on the runway.

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The Center Deep Center often invites students’ family members to experience the creative process throughout the year, along with members of the community. Miller says that, more often than not, everyone involved in the process ends up learning something.

help us figure out what (topics) we need to explore in the future. At the heart of the program, we want the youth to discover their own voices while uplifting those who have been largely silenced and ignored in the community.” The instructors also consciously utilize thought-provoking texts on diverse topics ranging from art and music to more controversial topics such as police brutality and body shaming. “We basically want to catch their attention and promote healthy discussion. We then engage them in such a way where we can have those difficult, messy kinds of conversations that they’re usually not allowed to have in school.” And, according to Miller, while the topics are quite challenging, they are cathartic as well. “We do a lot of discovering together, and all of us come away from the experience more enlightened,” he says. The program has been extremely successful, despite the apathy that most students feel toward putting pen to paper. Guy Blanchard, a tenth grader at Beach High, says, “Unlike school, there are no limitations; I can think outside all the boxes if I want to. Mr. Keith has taught 110

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me that the world is one giant book, and I can always express any problem or feeling that I have without hesitation.” Karen Snowden, Guy’s mother, says she has seen a complete change in her son since starting Block by Block. “He used to hate writing, but working with Keith has brought out a passion in him that I never knew existed,” she says. “Keith tapped into some things in my son that have just amazed me. Guy now loves to write and looks forward to his sessions with Keith.” Block by Block is one of two programs offered through the Deep Center. There’s also an introductory program called the Young Author Project, an after-school, semester-long creative writing program that utilizes professional writers as mentors for middle school students. At the end of the semester, the students’ works are published in a handsomely-bound book and are performed in public to a standing-room-only crowd. “We serve about 300 kids annually through our middle school program, and when they age-out of that program, they can attend Block by Block, which is more intensive. And since it’s out of school, there are field trips, visiting adult artists, and a deeper journey into more challenging topics,” says Miller. Deep Center often invites students’ family members to experience the creative process throughout the year, along with members of the community. Miller says that, more often than not, everyone involved in the process ends up learning something. “The only reason that (Block by Block) works incredibly well is because as an educator and an artist, I acknowledge that my kids have just as much to teach me as I have to teach them,” he says. “That’s the only way that it can continue to work – if we are co-experiencing, co-writing and co-learning together. It’s really rewarding to see their family members along with those in the community moved to tears from the students’ fearlessness in their work. I continually have to remind myself that it’s all because we dared to go there together.”  CCL

“Keith tapped into some things in my son that have just amazed me. Guy now loves to write and looks forward to his sessions with Keith.” - Karen Snowden Hometown Living At Its Best

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Now at its new location, Sweet Potatoes Kitchen continues to change the way its patrons view Southern food.

For the past 16 years, one of Savannah’s most popular dining establishments was located rather inconspicuously next to a Shell station in midtown Savannah. With cuisine best described as “upscale Southern comfort food with a healthy twist,” Sweet Potatoes Kitchen began as the brainchild of owners Nancy and Steve Magulias, who set out to create a niche for themselves amidst all the chain restaurants, fast food joints and familiar local staples. “We wanted to make good Southern food with a flair while offering our customers a bit more variety. We also wanted to improve the dining experience (with that cuisine) while still making it affordable,” says Steve. “That’s basically what we tried to accomplish when we opened Sweet Potatoes all those years ago.” Having enjoyed a successful 16-year run on Waters Avenue, the popular eatery now occupies the building

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Sweet Potatoes Comes Full Circle

A Beloved Home With Toucan closed since 2016, the restaurateurs decided to move Sweet Potatoes to the Stephenson Avenue location because, like many of their customers, they missed the building.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;We wanted to make good Southern food with a flair while offering our customers a bit more variety.â&#x20AC;? - Steve Magulias

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on Stephenson Avenue where its “sister restaurant,” Toucan Cafe, was located. Amazingly, while both establishments were in business, Steve divided his time between them, much to the astonishment of his wife. “I don’t know how he did it, because honestly, having just one restaurant is challenging enough for us both,” she says. With Toucan closed since 2016, the restaurateurs decided to move Sweet Potatoes to the Stephenson Avenue location because, like many of their customers, they missed the building. “We intended to sell the property, but since we were leasing the restaurant (on Waters Avenue), it didn’t make sense to continue paying the mortgage (on an unused property), so we decided to go back to where it all began,” says Nancy. “And honestly the building is not really suitable for anything but a restaurant, so it worked out for the best. We’ve really just come full circle, and now we have our brand in one place, which is great for us.” Interestingly enough, the idea of owning their own restaurant came about more than 20 years ago when Nancy issued a challenge to her husband after dining out one night. “Steve is half Greek, and almost all Greek men love to

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cook,” she says. “While I was working as an occupational therapist in a private practice, he’s been working in the restaurant business all his life. A lot of the time after we’d go out to eat, Steve would come up with new ideas about how our food could’ve been prepared or served. Well, one day I told him to put his money where his mouth was and open up his own restaurant.” Thus in 1994, the couple opened up the first version of Toucan Cafe in the Eisenhower Shopping Center. “I couldn’t believe we were actually doing it,” Nancy says with a laugh. “We came up with all our own recipes and made just about everything from scratch.” It wasn’t long before word began to spread about the cafe through reviews and local news segments. In fact, the public response to the restaurant was so great that after just three years, Steve moved Toucan to a newly-constructed, bigger location on Stephenson Avenue. Due to the enormous success of his first venture, Steve decided to expand and opened Sweet Potatoes in 2001. “The timing was strange. We actually opened on the day before the September 11th attacks, so it’s a memorable

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We came up with all our own recipes and made just about everything from scratch.â&#x20AC;? - Nancy Magulias

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A New Take On Southern Food Steve set out to change people’s mindsets regarding traditional Southern cuisine, which was no small feat. “We’ve always used very little fat in our dishes, opting instead to use lemon juice, vinegar or olive oil to season.”

date in everyone’s mind,” Steve says. The name was chosen because, as he explains, “It’s really a very versatile and very healthy vegetable. You can make everything from soups to pies with it. Plus, ‘healthy Southern food’ doesn’t have to be a contradiction in terms.” With this idea in mind, Steve set out to change people’s mindsets regarding traditional Southern cuisine, which was no small feat. “We’ve always used very little fat in our dishes, opting instead to use lemon juice, vinegar or olive oil to season,” he says. “We just added some twists on the familiar Southern diet, even including some vegan items, but we still have staples like our fried chicken and catfish. It’s a healthy mix.” From the beginning, the Midtown eatery touted itself as serving “endearing food,” which was prepared in much healthier ways and always served with a smile. “It’s pretty simple in the restaurant business. Food, service and atmosphere are three things that will keep customers coming back, so we’ve 122

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always focused on those areas,” Steve says. Indeed, when you enter the restaurant you’ll more than likely be greeted by Motown or soul music coming over the sound system, a perfect addition to the “soulful” Southern dining experience. Server Shelia Wilde, who was a customer before she started working at the restaurant, says, “We have a great vibe in here, and the food really sets us apart from other restaurants. It’s all amazing, especially the pot roast, which is my favorite.” From the American farm-raised fried catfish and shrimp to the pot roast and meatloaf, Sweet Potatoes’ menu is sure to offer something that will please even the most discerning Southern palate. Along with the delicious entrees, a vast array of sandwiches and salads offer patrons plenty of healthy choices as well. “We’ve always put a lot of love into our food, and you can tell from the first bite,” Nancy says. A variety of wines, beer and craft beer also is available, and patrons can find a perfect finale to their meal in the restaurant’s dessert menu. The desserts include their legendary banana pudding, cappucino ice cream pie, chocolate toffee pecan pie and sweet potato pie, all of which are made from scratch daily. “Each of our desserts are made in-house by yours truly. How many restaurants can honestly say that?” Nancy beams proudly. A few years ago, one of their desserts even drew the attention of Adam Richman, the former host of Food Network’s “Man vs. Food,” who proclaimed that their banana pudding was the “best on planet Earth,” a distinction that Nancy says helped boost their patronage. “The benefits from (Richman’s quote) on both the local news and his national show were astounding. It really helped to put us on the map,” she says. At the restaurant’s new location, Steve and Nancy said that they’re going to continue putting their unique twist on familiar Southern culinary staples, to the delight of their many loyal patrons. “(Our menu) will continue to stay true to the old Sweet Potatoes’ type of upscale, affordable home cooking, but now that we have a bigger kitchen, we’re able to diversify a bit more,” Steve says. “We’ve brought back some familiar items, like our gyro and our Moroccan salmon, but we’re also offering several different types of salads, and our desserts are something that we’re now really focusing on.” The new location also features outside dining with umbrella tables, complete with a fire pit and live entertainment. “We want Sweet Potatoes to continue being just a fun, family-friendly place to eat. It’s like we’re inviting old friends to dinner, just on a bit bigger scale,” says Nancy. “So everyone should come out and see our new location. Our regular customers are excited about it, and our new customers are simply going to be blown away.”  CCL

A Famous Dessert A few years ago, one of their desserts even drew the attention of Adam Richman, the former host of Food Network’s “Man vs. Food,” who proclaimed that their banana pudding was the “best on planet Earth,” a distinction that Nancy says helped boost their patronage.

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That

Story By David Pena | Photos By Rebecca Galloway Photography

With no plans of slowing down, The Christy Alan Band has been bringing audiences to their feet for more than two decades.

If you’ve ventured out to any of the local watering holes in Savannah and Tybee Island, then no doubt you’ve heard the tuneful stylings of The Christy Alan Band. For more than 20 years, Christy and her band have delighted audiences with their upbeat, effervescent performances of some of the most current (and past) hits. Blending outstanding musicianship along with a seemingly infectious energy always seems to bring audiences to their feet. And while the band plays at venues all over the Southeast, they always return to Tybee as their “home base,” most notably at Fannie’s on the Beach,

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where the group got its start. Back in the 1990s, Christy wasn’t yet known for her singing. “Much of my career in the ‘90s had to do with being an on-air personality for (radio station) KIX 96.5, which was owned by WJCL television,” she said. “One of the producers thought I would do well as a TV spokesperson, so that’s when I began doing commercials for Riverside Toyota, which snowballed into other opportunities.” Christy’s television stint came to an end when other business opportunities came her way. Those opportunities afforded her more time to flex her musical muscles, as it were. “I had started playing some gigs with friends just as a singer around then.

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I didn’t really take it all that seriously at first. I just wanted to have fun and perform.” By the mid ‘90s, Christy was performing in local bars a bit more frequently, so she decided to brush up on her guitar skills. “I really wanted to accompany myself on guitar when I sang, so I decided to take lessons,” she said. In 1995, Christy began taking guitar lessons from Roy Swindelle. After spending a decade touring around the Southeast with his wife, Martha, the Swindelles decided to stay closer to home, choosing to play local gigs. As fate would have it, Christy soon landed a gig at a new spot but need some backup music, so she called Roy and Martha, who were happy to

In The Beginning Back in the 1990s, Christy wasn’t yet known for her singing. “Much of my career in the ‘90s had to do with being an on-air personality for (radio station) KIX 96.5, which was owned by WJCL television,” she said. “One of the producers thought I would do well as a TV spokesperson, so that’s when I began doing commercials for Riverside Toyota, which snowballed into other opportunities.”

oblige. When the trio first got together to practice, they all seemed to sense that something special was happening. “There was an immediate chemistry between Martha, Roy and myself,” Christy said. With Roy on guitar/vocals and Martha on keyboards, they laid the perfect musical foundation for Christy’s vocal style. “I have always loved top 40 popular music. I just love that joyful noise that you can recognize immediately; it’s what lifts my spirits. Roy and Martha had also found a niche in that (style of music) long before I came along, when they toured the Southeast, so they already played every song I knew. We just meshed right away,” she said. The band’s first gig was at a venue called Sam Fink’s, which was located where the Mellow Mushroom stands now. By all accounts, it was an overwhelming success. “The audience just went wild for us,” Roy said. “There were more people there than I expected due to her (radio) fan base,

but despite the fact it was our first gig together, we just felt comfortable together on stage from the very start.” The group’s apparent chemistry seemed to pay off. Their immediate popularity drew the attention of Jenny Orr, the owner of Fannie’s on the Beach. “(Jenny) was getting her business on Tybee up and running at the time, and she was wondering if she could use a band to help draw in business,” Christy said. “When she finally decided to give us a whirl, like the Sam Fink’s gig, it was an instant hit. This was around the time when she was building the second story deck onto her restaurant, where the stage was located.” Every Friday and Saturday night, The Christy Alan Band was the house band, and the rest, as they say, is history. “I love being so closely associated with Fannie’s, especially since Jenny is my BFF. Fannie’s just celebrated their 25-year anniversary, and Jenny and I basically grew up together, so it’s

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“Christy, Roy, and Martha have been a constant at Fannie’s on the Beach for 20 years. They have been our house band and brought the fun and funk for many years. Fannie’s just wouldn’t be the same without them.” -{ Jenny }

Music For Everyone Christy and her band pride themselves on being able to satisfy even the most stubborn music aficionados. Whether it’s pop, country, rock, soul or even the occasional polka, there’s something for everyone.

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really great to be part of it with her,” said Christy. Jenny echoed her sentiments. “Christy, Roy, and Martha have been a constant at Fannie’s on the Beach for 20 years. They have been our house band and brought the fun and funk for many years. Fannie’s just wouldn’t be the same without them.” The group hit a bump in the road in 2004 with what Alan calls a “difference of opinion,” and split up for a time, with Roy and Martha continuing to play as a duo. As for Christy, she formed another band with a guitarist and keyboardist, while still playing under the moniker of The Christy Alan Band. That version of the band had a pretty successful five-year run until guitarist Brian Dingess, aka “Ragman,” unexpectedly died. Christy said the shock of losing her close friend forced her to reflect on her own lifestyle. “I really had to take a two-year hiatus from music and playing to get myself together. I stopped playing altogether in order to really take a close look at my life. I decided then and there to make some serious changes in the way that I was living.” During her break from performing, Alan said she

missed the Swindelles, so she made a lunch date with Martha to reconnect with her old friend. After lunch, Christy said she wished Martha well and told her it was great catching up. Much to Christy’s surprise, Martha told her that she suspected an ulterior motive was behind the meeting. “Martha said she thought that I was trying to get the band back together. I replied, ‘Well, there’s an idea!’ That’s been about five years ago, and we’ve been together ever since.” Christy and her band pride themselves on being able to satisfy even the most stubborn music aficionados. Whether it’s pop, country, rock, soul or even the occasional polka, there’s something for everyone. “We don’t look at it as work. We love being on stage together,” Roy said. “I’ve been doing this a long time, and Christy is the best front person I’ve ever seen. No one works harder at trying to get a crowd up and going.” She’s even become proficient enough in her guitar skills to be able to perform as a duo with drummer Butch Braddy. Christy and Butch perform in some of the same venues as The Christy Alan Band, just with a more

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“I’m definitely in my happy place when I perform for people,” she said. “When I’m performing, I love bringing the audience in with me. I encourage them to sing with me, dance and clap their hands. … Basically, I want us all to have a great time and enjoy the experience together. That’s what music is all about: joyful noise.” - { Christy Alan }

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stripped down approach. “We wanted to break it down in its rawest form, so Butch’s bass drum is actually an old, leather suitcase,” she said with a laugh. For Christy and her fellow musicians, music has not only been a cathartic experience, but it also has been a means to bring their audience into the musical fold along with them. “I’m definitely in my happy place when I perform for people,” she said. “When I’m performing, I love bringing the audience in with me. I encourage them to sing with me, dance and clap their hands. … Basically, I want us all to have a great time and enjoy the experience together. That’s what music is all about: joyful noise.” For more information about The Christy Alan Band, go to christyalanband.com or visit them on Facebook.  CCL Hometown Living At Its Best

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Makes the Perfect Gift for Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day

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Hometown Hometown Living Living At At Its Its Best Best

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By David Pena | Photos by Dream Weaver Photos (Jamie Weaver and Kaci Weaver, age 14)

Junk 2 Funk

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The annual Savannah Arts Academy fashion show will be celebrating its 10th Anniversary in 2018 and it promises to be the best one to date.

Every January there seems to be a certain buzz surrounding the campus of Savannah Arts Academy, the first dedicated performing and visual arts school in the city. That’s because the school holds a fashion show unlike any other, and the anticipation in the months prior to the show truly reaches fever pitch. The production generally includes three separate shows presented over the course of two days, and it routinely sells out within hours, so tickets have become extremely hard to come by. It’s called the Junk 2 Funk fashion show, aptly named since the student designers use recycled and reclaimed materials to make their creations. The annual event draws about 1,000 attendees for each show, a capacity crowd for the John A. Varnedoe Theatre, and academy principal Gif

It’s called the Junk 2 Funk fashion show, aptly named since the student designers use recycled and reclaimed materials to make their creations. The annual event draws about 1,000 attendees for each show, a capacity crowd for the John A. Varnedoe Theatre, and academy principal Gif Lockley said the event has been a huge success.

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Lockley said the event has been a huge success. “We usually sell out faster than Britney Spears does,” Lockley said with a laugh, “but we don’t have 50,000 seats to sell like she does.” Attendees of the show are met with an explosion of color from avant-garde garments that adorn the more than 100 student models. Ultra hip music is provided by a deejay, a Savannah Arts alumni who is flown in all the way from Los Angeles. Students themselves create the elaborate set designs, and theater tech students oversee the stage during the production. Crew members scramble to help get the designs together, and a lighting director is in place to make sure the look of the stage is no less than perfect. In fact, all of the designers, models, crew and support staff are Savannah Arts students working under the direction of the visual arts department and school staff, and all proceeds from the event go to the visual arts department to make every year better than the last. “I have only six art teachers, and it’s a small fortune that we clear every year, but the show helps us buy much-needed supplies,” Lockley said. “For example, pottery wheels go for around $2,500 each, and we bought four of them recently, so this allows us to fund special

Dumpster Diving The student designers mainly craft their outfits out of unconventional materials, items that would usually be considered junk. “We’re a public school, so we don’t want our students spending money for the materials they use,” Scoggins said. “We encourage them to find their materials, literally like going dumpster diving.”

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“The coolest thing for me is to see the students take their visions from the classroom to the stage and to see their visions realized in front of an audience instead of on an easel in a corner somewhere.” - Trellis Payne

artistic projects that we wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford.” As for the show itself, instructor Meghan Scoggins said, “We want the experience to hit you as soon as you walk in the door.” Scoggins, the fashion director, co-founded Junk 2 Funk 10 years ago along with colleague Trellis Payne, the show’s artistic director and chair of the visual arts department. “This has been my baby, and I’ve seen it grow into this huge event,” said Payne. “The coolest thing for me is to see the students take their visions from the classroom to the stage and to see their visions realized in front of an audience instead of on an easel in a corner somewhere.” The student designers mainly craft their outfits out of unconventional materials, items that would usually be considered junk. “We’re a public school, so we don’t want our students spending money for the materials they use,” Scoggins said. “We encourage them to find their materials,

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“It’s awesome because the production is truly a collaborative process with all departments pitching in - Trellis Payne to make it a success.”

literally like going dumpster diving.” The shows have a central theme, and the theme for next year’s show is right in line with the event’s 10-year anniversary. “I gave students our theme early this year so they could think about it,” said Scoggins. “Since the event is turning 10 this year, we thought we’d throw ourselves a big birthday party, so our theme is centered around anything sweet, like Candyland or Willy Wonka, mixed with a celebration. Since we’ve usually centered our production around a darker, more nature-based theme, for our 10th anniversary we wanted to mix up the color palettes as well as the materials used for the designs.”

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Although Savannah Arts Academy is both a performing and a visual arts school, Payne said the idea for the show was hatched when the visual arts department was looking for a way to host its own performance. “We had a gallery to display our art, but we really had no performance like the other majors have.” Scoggins, who has a master’s degree in fashion design from the Savannah College of Art and Design, teamed up with Payne, and the pair had the idea to put together a “little show” after school one day. “After I worked in the fashion field for a while, I came to SCAD, and that’s where I was partnered up with Trellis (Payne),” said Scoggins.

The partnership proved to be successful right from the start, as the two came up with the idea of the Junk 2 Funk fashion show in Trellis’ sculpture class. “At the time I was her student teacher, and back then there was only her sculpture class. There were no productions that were fashionrelated,” Scoggins said. “So when I was doing my senior thesis for my master’s program, we came up with the idea one day to combine her sculpture class with my background in fashion design. We then had her students create threedimensional, wearable garments made entirely of recycled materials, and it just grew from there.” The inaugural show was less than spectacular in terms of a budget or a stage. “It was in a conference room downstairs,” Payne said with a laugh. “We made a little flyer and a few people showed up for it, but we had a vision that it could be really huge. This could be our baby.” Ten years later, Junk 2 Funk routinely sells out shows within hours, and tickets are a hot commodity. “It’s crazy. The entire school shows up for it. It’s truly become our signature event,” said Payne. Thus, the process of selecting the student models for the show can get a bit intense. “The models have to try out first and pass the auditions,” said Payne. “We’ve had over 300 models try

The Beginning The inaugural show was less than spectacular in terms of a budget or a stage. “It was in a conference room downstairs,” Payne said with a laugh. “We made a little flyer and a few people showed up for it, but we had a vision that it could be really huge. This could be our baby.” Ten years later, Junk 2 Funk routinely sells out shows within hours, and tickets are a hot commodity.

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out this past year, so it gets pretty competitive.” When the production moves into the theater and the staging has been erected by other students, the finalists get to practice. “It’s awesome because the production is truly a collaborative process with all departments pitching in to make it a success,” Payne said. The show even has roles for students of all majors, with photographers and graphic designers creating a “Look Book,” as well as video production students producing promotional videos that capture the final shows. Indeed, Scoggins attributes the enormous success of Junk 2 Funk to the collaborative nature of the entire production. “We’re first and foremost an art school, so this is our biggest event. It’s really like our homecoming, and the camaraderie that it brings out in everyone involved is really special. The collaboration of all the students and all the majors offered at Savannah Arts is what has made the Junk 2 Funk show such a huge success,” Scoggins said. Payne added, “The energy of combining the visual and the performing arts really drives the kids because they have an audience to prepare for.” Although Payne is pleased with the overwhelming (and sometimes stress-inducing) success of the shows, she says she’d like to see more community involvement than in previous years. “We are looking to possibly do some kind of signature event in conjunction with this year’s show to further showcase the students’ work to the public. We want the community to witness first-hand what these kids have done as well as the tremendous potential they have.”  CCL 148

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Art As Performance Although Savannah Arts Academy is both a performing and a visual arts school, Payne said the idea for the show was hatched when the visual arts department was looking for a way to host its own performance. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We had a gallery to display our art, but we really had no performance like the other majors have.â&#x20AC;?

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Your Official Guide To What’s Happening In Pooler

Calendar Of Events

February 2018 - June 2018

February 10, 2018

National Museum Of The Mighty Eighth Air Force | 6:30 PM - 11 PM

March 16, 17, & 18

St. Patrick’s Shuttles Friday 16th, 10 AM - 12 Midnight Saturday 17th, Parade Day | 7:30 AM - 12 Midnight Sunday 18th, 11 AM - 10 PM Pick up Molly MacPhersons - Pooler

April

Taste Of Pooler - Time/Date TBD National Museum Of The Mighty Eighth Air Force

June

Sip & Savor | Casino Night Time/Date TBD National Museum Of The Mighty Eighth Air Force

Visit Us Online at poolerchamber.com | Like Us On Facebook!

The The Pooler Pooler Chamber Chamber of of Commerce Commerce and and Visitors Visitors Bureau, Bureau, Inc. Inc. is is proud proud to to introduce introduce the the 2018 2018 Board Board of of Directors Directors and and Staff. Staff.

MARTY MARTY JONES JONES President President Prestige Prestige Pest Pest Control Control

JABRON JABRON WEBSTER WEBSTER Vice Vice President President Jan Jan Pro Pro

DR. DR. JOHNNY JOHNNY DIBLASI DIBLASI Lifestream Lifestream Medical Medical Spa Spa &&Welness Welness Center Center

MAURICE MAURICE JACKSON JACKSON Texas Texas Roadhouse Roadhouse

WHITNEY WHITNEY RAY RAY Treasurer Treasurer Ameris Ameris Bank Bank

ABBY ABBY KRUENEGEL KRUENEGEL The The Front Front Porch Porch

ADAM ADAM BRIDGES BRIDGES BJ’s BJ’s Beverage/ Beverage/ Allstate Allstate Insurance Insurance

FALGUN FALGUN PATEL PATEL Royal Royal Cinemas Cinemas && IMAX IMAXTheater Theater

DANIEL DANIEL CLOUTIER CLOUTIER Molly Molly MacPherson’s MacPherson’s Scottish Scottish Pub Pub && Grill Grill

DR. DR.NICHOLAS NICHOLASTHEODOTOU THEODOTOU Oral Oral Facial Facial Surgery Surgery Group Group

STAFF STAFF

REBECCA REBECCA IWANSKI IWANSKI Honorary Honorary Member Member Memorial Memorial Health Health University University Physicians Physicians

MARCUS MARCUS MCBRIDE MCBRIDE ADHOC ADHOC State State Bank Bank && Trust Trust Company Company

JAMES JAMES SULLIVAN SULLIVAN Parliamentarian Parliamentarian Preferred Preferred Pest Pest Control Control

PAM PAM SOUTHARD SOUTHARD JANE JANE GRISMER GRISMER Executive ExecutiveDirector Director Director Directorof ofCommunity Community Relations Relations

POOLER CHAMBER CHAMBER OF OF COMMERCE COMMERCE AND ANDVISITORS VISITORS BUREAU, BUREAU,INC. INC.

DONNA DONNA LIPPENS LIPPENS Coordinator/Member Coordinator/Member Partnerships Partnerships

SUSAN SUSAN EISEMAN EISEMAN Office OfficeManager Manager

PLEASE PLEASE CONTACT CONTACT US US AT AT 912-748-0110 912-748-0110 poolerchamber.com poolerchamber.com Hometown Living At Its Best

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Marlene S. Buhler Sandra Burt NMLS #757283 Branch Manager West Pooler, GA 31322 •Godley (912)748-0110 • Vice• President Station Mortgage Originator 140 Towne Center Blvd (912) 657-9700 Pooler (912) 201-4918

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• Same Day Crowns Ruby E. Barkley, DMD ntistry • Same Day Crowns • General Dentistry • Same Day Crowns (912) 988-7723 404 HIGHWAY 80 . POOLER, GA 31322 . (912) 748-0110 . WWW.POOLERCHAMBER.COM Come to Pooler wholetoothdentistry.com • Cosmetic Dentistry • Sedation • Sedation entistry • Sedation Your Savannah flooring experts since 1946 1215 East Highway 80 | Pooler, Georgia 31322

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THE MEDICINE YOU NEED, AND THE SERVICE YOU DESERVE

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Bartered Blessings

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Story By Gail Dixon | Photos By Dream Weaver Photos

Gary and Isabel Field used the barter system to work with local vendors to plan their wedding.

Gary Field began a business 15 years ago in Savannah known as NuBarter, which is a company that allows businesses to conserve their cash by trading what they have for what they need with the use of barter dollars. Barter dollars are equivalent to U.S. Dollars but give the participating businesses a competitive advantage by accepting them when their competition might not. Gary moved the corporate office to Atlanta in 2012. Every business would like to generate more revenue and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s where NuBarter comes in. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what they do for companies; it might not be conventional, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a proven method that works! NuBarter introduces your company to thousands of local, national and international business owners. Your company does business with respected companies within the network. The higher visibility gives your company the competitive advantage it needs. Recognized by Forbes Magazine as one of the top five companies in America worthy of investment, featured in The Wall Street

A New Type Of Business Gary Field began a business 15 years ago in Savannah known as NuBarter, which is a company that allows businesses to conserve their cash by trading what they have for what they need with the use of barter dollars. Barter dollars are equivalent to U.S. Dollars but give the participating businesses a competitive advantage by accepting them when their competition might not.

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Journal, and recognized as Business of the Year. Thanksgiving 2014, Gary was home alone, eating a Swanson turkey dinner, watching television and looking at Facebook, when he saw an open invitation to a party and decided that he would go just to get out of the house. There were a lot of people there mixing and mingling when he saw Isabel. (Isabel is from Germany, but was living in Tennessee at the time with her daughter, Emily.) She was visiting her American “Mom” in Atlanta, was at this same party, and this is where they met. Gary and Isabel were invited to a Christmas Eve party at one of Gary’s neighbor’s homes. He and Isabel began talking and Gary found out that Isabel was doing laundry but there was no dryer at the place where Isabel was staying. So, Gary being the gentleman that he is, invited Isabel to his house the next day to use his dryer and she accepted. While hanging out, they played pool and talked. A friend of Gary’s called and invited him to the movies and Gary asked if he could take a friend, which was Isabel. After the movies, Gary and Isabel went back 160

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to his place for hot apple cider. They exchanged phone numbers and Isabel left. A few days later, Gary’s sister, who lives in Florida, called to see if she and a friend could stay with him in Atlanta because they had been invited to a New Year’s Eve party. Gary said it was fine and invited himself and Isabel to the party. Well, Isabel had a new job in Tennessee and she wasn’t sure she could get off, but she did! Gary and Isabel got to the New Year’s Eve party around 8:00 PM and talked. Gary said they never ran out of conversation, it was as if they had known each other forever. When the time came for the countdown and dropping of the ball, Gary decided he was going to kiss Isabel and see what would happen. Yes, she kissed him back and they spent the rest of the weekend hanging out together. Sunday evening, Isabel went back to Tennessee. A few days later, Gary got a call from the company that had purchased NuBarter wanting to know if Gary would like to go back to Savannah and run that territory. Gary had no problem with

Taking A Chance Gary and Isabel got to the New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eve party around 8:00 PM and talked. Gary said they never ran out of conversation, it was as if they had known each other forever. When the time came for the countdown and dropping of the ball, Gary decided he was going to kiss Isabel and see what would happen.

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that because he loved Savannah and so he moved. Isabel was still living in Tennessee at this time and Gary called to see if she would be interested in working at NuBarter. Isabel has a Master’s in International Business from Georgia Tech and fit right in with NuBarter. One year later, December 31, 2016 at a New Year’s Eve party in downtown Savannah, Gary proposed to Isabel. As the fireworks began and everyone was getting ready to ring in the New Year with a kiss, Gary was getting down on one knee and giving Isabel a ring. Wedding plans began…Isabel found a dress online that she loved and ordered. When the dress arrived, it looked awful and there was no refund. She was upset and disappointed, so they went to That Dress, which had the most gorgeous dress ever. The only problem was that it was expensive and they didn’t think they could afford it. After talking to the owner and agreeing to barter, Isabel got the dress! Gary says, “Everything for the wedding just seemed to fall into place. It was perfect!” Clients of NuBarter helped with all of the details and the new owners of NuBarter, as a wedding present, gave them the barter dollars to pay for everything. Gary and Isabel would like to thank all of the NuBarter clients who played a big part in putting together their wedding, mostly on trade versus cash. Everyone accommodated their wishes and they wanted the vendors to be recognized because they are a part of NuBarter and loved and appreciated very much.  CCL

A Dress Disaster Isabel found a dress online that she loved and ordered. When the dress arrived, it looked awful and there was no refund. She was upset and disappointed, so they went to That Dress, which had the most gorgeous dress ever. The only problem was that it was expensive and they didn’t think they could afford it. After talking to the owner and agreeing to barter, Isabel got the dress! 162

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If you are looking for the “wedding of your dreams”, consider using some of the vendors Gary and Isabel used; you will not be disappointed! Here is a list of the vendors: Wedding Planner & Coordinator: Paradise Events – Rosalind J. Ashe-Gay Venue: Gingerbread House – Sarah Wright Wedding Gown: That Dress – Mia Areford Engagement Ring & Groom’s Wedding Band: Golden Realm – Cindy Carroll Bride’s Wedding Ring Band: Harkleroad – Caleb Harkleroad Wedding Cake: Unforgettable Bakery – Belinda Baptiste Groom’s Cake: Ms. Polly’s Cake Giant – Wanda Beckett Bridal Party Lunch Catering: Joe’s Homemade – Don & Ted Holland Catering: (Cocktail Hour & Reception) – North Beach Bar & Grill – George Spriggs Wedding Pictures: Dream Weaver Photos – Jamie Weaver Ceremony Musician: Coastal Harp – Leslie Adair (Harp) Videographer: Walker Media – Jeff Walker Hair & Makeup for Bride & Bridal Party: Savannah Makeup Professionals by Lynn and Company – Lynn McDonald Quann & Ginger Fawcett Eyelashes & Eyebrows: Locks & Lashes – Sandy Orio Accessories, Linens, Glassware, & China: In Any Event – Sheree Gloss Chuppah, Linens, & Décor: D.vine Events Invitations & Thank You Cards: Creative Approach – Travis Sawyer Musician for Cocktail Hour: Steel the Show – Melvin Dean DJ: Shockwave Entertainment – Jeff Wells Floral Designer: Kiwi Fleur – Vicki Sepielli Maid of Honor & Jr. Bridesmaids Gifts: RMC Boutique Rosa Carpenter Wedding Favors & Out-of-town Guests Baskets: Cool Savannah – Brenda Scarpati Bride & Groom Getaway: Savannah Pedi Cab – Rusty & Karen Browne Bride & Groom’s Wedding Night: Armstrong Inns – Monique Armstrong Rehearsal Dinner: Sweet Potatoes – Steve Magulias Officiant: Rabbi Haas – Congregation Mickve Israel For more information, go to www.nubarter.com.

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GODLEY STATION

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Story By David Pena | Photos By Rebecca Galloway Photography and Brittany Curry

a Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

[ Graphic recording helps others express what they cannot say in words.] “Pictures and images can say things that words often fail to convey,” explains Brittany Curry, owner of InkyBrittany, a graphic facilitation company based in Savannah. Graphic facilitation, also known as graphic recording, is the visual element that is often missing from many meetings and workshops today, says Curry. “Most organizations spend a good deal of time planning and talking about big ideas, but when the meeting is over, people forget a lot of what was said and fall right back into a familiar routine,” she says. Thus, her role as that of a graphic recorder is to capture the contents of a meeting visually on a large piece of paper, which can then be photographed or displayed to serve as memorable documentation for the participants, as well as others who couldn’t attend the meeting. Curry says this communication through the use of pictures can be much more effective than more traditional formats. “We are able to see patterns that exist much more accurately through visuals rather than through dialogue,” she says. A life-long doodler, Curry now “uses deep listening to create visual imagery to help individuals, businesses and organizations improve upon their processes and outcomes.” Curry says her love of all things visual and artistic began while spending time at her family’s business. “I grew up in Savannah with my grandparents, who owned their own dry cleaning business. I was always surrounded by pens, paper and tablets as a kid, so it was natural

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for me to take up doodling to pass the time,” she says. While attending Calvary Day School, she loved to write, doodle and draw cartoons for her friends and teachers. “I’ve never had any art classes beyond high school, but I’ve always loved to sketch and write,” she says. “Over the years, I started seeing that pictures and images can often say things that words can’t.” After high school, Curry attended Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies with a concentration in philosophy and rhetoric. “In addition to drawing, I’ve always had a passion to write, but when I got to college and saw how the process was taught and evaluated, the formality of it all turned off my creative juices in terms of writing. That may explain why I’ve now leaned toward the visual world,” she says. After college, Curry traveled to India to complete an internship with a women’s empowerment organization called Badlav Ki Aur, which helps to foster children’s literacy as well as cultural exchange. This is where she gained some hands-on training for what would ultimately be part of her chosen vocation. “In India, I really learned a lot about grassroots organizing when I worked for the

Learning A World Away After college, Curry traveled to India to complete an internship with a women’s empowerment organization called Badlav Ki Aur, which helps to foster children’s literacy as well as cultural exchange. This is where she gained some hands-on training for what would ultimately be part of her chosen vocation.

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women’s empowerment group, so that’s where my interest in community activism began,” Curry says. Additionally, in 2012 Curry had a fateful meeting with Margaret Chambliss, longtime coordinator for the Oconee Area Citizen Advocacy program, a grassroots community organization seeking to unite people with disabilities with other residents who are capable of speaking up for them, while also helping them become more involved in their community. “Her job involved breaking down walls of social exclusion that many people with disabilities continue to experience,” Curry said. That year, Curry also attended a workshop at the Toronto Summer Institute for Inclusion, where she first learned about graphic recording, the use of large-scale visual imagery to communicate to groups and individuals. “I took a class in graphic recording,” she says. “I learned that graphics had been used in the advocacy world for years because it allows the person to visually see their whole life instead of (just one aspect of it).” With the help and encouragement of Chambliss, Curry ultimately became the director of the Citizen Advocacy program in Milledgeville. “In my five years working for 172

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the Advocacy office, part of my job was to educate the advocates about disability awareness and basically support them in their advocacy relationship,” Curry says. “One way was by sending them a card or note that often included some sort of sketch I’d made. It was my way of saying that I was here for them. That was when I first started seeing how powerful pictures can be and how effective images are in terms of conveying a message.” During the next several months, Curry began implementing her new-found graphic recording skills during meetings with various civic organizations, such as Emergent Savannah and the Savannah Development and Renewal Authority. “Basically, if I was available for a meeting, I would ask to come and provide my services. Sometimes I was paid, sometimes not,” she says with a laugh. The response was overwhelmingly positive and enthusiastic, and soon enough the network of people requesting her services necessitated the creation of her business, InkyBrittany. She became so busy that in November 2016 she decided to leave her position at the Citizen Advocacy office and pursue graphic facilitation

full-time. “After the meetings, I would truly feel a sense of accomplishment, knowing that I helped bring people to a new place in their lives. I also felt really proud to build on a continuum of work (in this medium) that was laid out decades before I started and updating it for today’s audiences.That’s when I knew I had to do this,” she says. Still very active in the disability advocacy community in Savannah and around the state, Curry helps galvanize support for self-advocates, helping them pursue homes, careers and fully integrated social lives. Curry explains, “I basically see myself as a visual communicator. When I create that vision of a person’s life in front of them, it’s amazing how it really amps up the process, as opposed to just telling them a standard plan. They become really excited because they can actually see the outcome rather than talk about it. They love seeing their caricature and quotes brought to life; it really helps to unlock their emotions, and they get passionate about their goals.” Curry’s expertise is not just limited to citizen advocacy. “I also help businesses,

I basically see myself as a visual communicator. When I create that vision of a person’s life in front of them, it’s amazing how it really amps up the process, as opposed to just telling them a standard plan. They become really excited because they can actually see the outcome rather than talk about it. They love seeing their caricature and quotes brought to life; it really helps to unlock their emotions, and they get passionate about their goals.” - Brittany Curry Hometown Living At Its Best

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universities and other organizations achieve different outcomes, but in the same way – by basically putting their goals or plans into a visual format to help them actually see the process,” she says. Kesha Carter of the Coastal Empire’s Rape Crisis Center lauds the process, adding, “(Graphic recording) is such a great tool that allows an audience to engage, as well as to see the results of their dialogue. We were also able to set those tangible goals in the form of a living document that serves as a reminder, holding (the meeting’s attendees) accountable for their goals.” As for the future, Curry sees a shift in the way that all organizations conduct meetings and plan their seminars, and she’s excited to be part of it all. “Anyone who is thinking about using graphic facilitation is on the sharp edge of where we’re headed in the next few years. We’ve already seen the shift toward a more visual society. I’m just glad to be participating in the movement, and I’m ready to see where it takes us from here.”  CCL

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chatham county Shear Elegance Ashley is a success in the business world because she was willing to make sacrafices and work hard to pursue her dream.

At the Table

Behind the great food at Chef Randall’s kitchen is a strong spirit and a heart of gold.

Through the Eyes of Art

The Fiber Guild offers something for everyone who loves to explore their creativity.

At the Table

Behind the great food at Chef Randall’s kitchen is a strong spirit and a heart of gold. H o m e t o w n L i v i n g at i t s B e s t

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42nd Annual

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Index of Advertisers Alfred’s Furniture Depot & Liquidator …….......................…….... 127 Habersham House ……..................................................…………. 85 Andy’s Lawn Machinery ……………......................................... 24-25 Hospice Savannah ……………...................................................... 60 Automoto of Savannah, LLC ........................................……….... 166 Hubbard’s Maid Service ……………........................................... 125 Camping World RV Sales ……...........................................……….. 69 Logic4Design ……………............................................................ 139 Captain Mike’s Dolphin Tours ………….................................….. 137 Innovative Orthodontics ……………................................... 100, 165 Caring Man In A Van ………................................................…….. 175 Marche De Macarons …………….............................................. 138 Case Vet ………...................................................................….... 167 Memorial Health ……..................................... 98, Inside Back Cover Chatham County Living ….............................……....................... 112 Milan Day Spa ……………............................................................... 9 Chatham Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, P.C. …………..........….... 164 More Than Words Photography by Beanna Rendon …………….. 102 Chatterbox Pediatric Therapy …………...............................….. 10-11 Nephrology & Hypertension Associates ……………................ 34-35 City Market …………..............................................................….. 157 Obsession Bows ………….......................................................... 126 Coastal Canvas Products ……..........................................……….. 83 Paul Anderson Youth Home ………............................................. 136 Coastal Empire Plastic Surgery ……………............................. 22-23 Planters Inn on Reynolds Square …………….......................... 48-49 Coastal ENT Hearing Center ……………....................................... 6-7 Pooler Chamber of Commerce …………….......................... 150-151 Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners ……...........................……….. 61 Pooler Pharmacy ……………...................................................... 154 Counter Fitters ………..........................................................…….. 99 Quick RX Drugs ……………........................................................... 59 Country Financial | Freddie Miller Insurance Agency ………... 36-37 Rebecca Galloway Photography ……………................................ 157 Dental Designs of Savannah …………...................................….. 103 Ryan Lee Photography …………….............................................. 124 Dream Weaver Photos ……………............................................... 140 Savannah Commons ……………................................................... 70 Dream Weaver Photos 3D Virtual Tours ……...................……….. 141 Savannah Country Day School …………….................................... 84 Duffy & Feemster ……………................................................... 46-47 Savannah Floor Covering Co., Inc. ……………............................ 155 Ear, Nose, and Throat Associates of Savannah, PC ………….....….73 Savannah Framing ……………...................................................... 72 Endodontic Associates of Savannah ……………................... 71, 164 Savannah Pain Management ……………...................................... 82 Enmarket ………................................................................…….. 101 Savannah Scottish Games ……………........................................ 175 Finger & Associates Plastic Surgery Center ……….............…….. 113 Savannah Square …………….......................................................... 1 Galloway & Galloway A Professional Corporation ……………..... 152 Sherry’s Honey Pot Fabric & More ……………............................. 167 Galloway & Galloway Attorneys at Law ………....... Inside Front Cover St. Joseph’s|Candler Immediate Care ……………...................... 155 Georgia Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center ……………............. 166 The Center for Digestive & Liver Health ……………...................... 2-3 Georgia Southern University …….............................. 57, Back Cover The Whole Tooth Dentistry ……………........................................ 153 GeorgiaGameChangers Running Company ……………............... 115 Tracy E. Durham DDS P.C. ……………................................. 156, 165 Godley Station …………................................................….. 164-165 Visit Pooler ……………........................................................ 150-156 GraceMore Nursing and Rehabilitation ……….....................…….. 58 Zaxby’s ………....................................................................…….. 114

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The Eye of the Beholder Image Consultant Victoria Baylor wants women to see the beauty in themselves.

Flying it Forward Sarah Perry truly epitomizes the Air Force core values.

Sweet Potatoes Comes Full Circle This kitchen continues to change the way its patrons view Southern food.

H o m e t o w n L i v i n g at i t s B e s t