Chatham County Living - September 2016 by With You In Mind Publications

September 2016

chatham county

The Gift of Love Belinda B. Baptiste and her legacy has enabled her to provide for the hungry children of Haiti.

The Leaf Life

Mary Kay Ross MD and Functional Medicine A Health Plan That Works. Savannah’s only medical practice dedicated solely to the practice of Functional/Integrative Medicine.

guitars A talented guitar maker goes back to his roots after a life filled with music and adventure.

Lou Thomann made a delightful discovery that changed the course of his life.

Brightening Her Own Corner Local songstress Huxsie Scott looks back on a musical legacy of over forty years...and counting.

Healing Begins Here™

912.352.1234 • 3 JOHNSTON STREET, SUITE A • IPMSAVANNAH.COM H o m e t o w n L i v i n g at i t s B e s t

Where every day is an adventure, and

age is just a number

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With no buy-in and thousands of reasons to move in, we’re proud to be Savannah’s home for exceptional senior living experiences. • Large one- and two-bedroom cottages and apartments, with plenty of personalization options • Five Star Dining Experience, designed by a celebrity chef

• Lifestyle360 activity program, offering new adventures daily • Five Star service, featuring gated access, concierge, and transportation

CALL TO JOIN US FOR AN ADVENTURE OR A TOUR. 1 Savannah Square Drive Savannah, GA 31406

912-927-7550

www.SavannahSquareRetirement.com

INDEPENDENT LIVING • PERSONAL CARE S K I L L E D N U R S I N G • R E H A B I L I TAT I O N Pet Friendly

Hometown Living At Its Best

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So your “friend” has hemorrhoids? Bleeding. Itching. Leaking. Pain. Finally, a non-surgical treatment exists that is: • 99% effective • Minimally invasive

• Has little or no discomfort • Completed in 3 minutes or less

• No bowel cleanse or driver required • Short recovery time

The Center for Digestive & Liver Health and The Endoscopy Center is the first physician practice in Savannah to offer this breakthrough treatment known as hemorrhoidal banding. Four of our physicians have the expertise and experience to provide symptomatic relief from hemorrhoids. Symptom relief can be seen as quickly as one treatment!

Ryan Wanamaker, MD Mark Nyce, MD Vesa, MD Top Ten Reasons PatientsTelciane Choose Our Practice

George Aragon, MD

Don’t let your “friend” suffer any longer!

10. We are the largest Gastroenterology Practice in the state of Georgia outside of Atlanta. 9. Our Endoscopy Unit was recognized by the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) for promoting outstanding quality in patient care.

8. Our Endoscopy Center is Nationally Accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc. (AAAHC) for more than 11 years and received Medicare Deemed status by the Federal government.

4. All of our Endoscopy Scope Technicians are Nationally Certified with the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution, Inc. which has resulted in no post procedure infections in our unit. 3. Our physicians are committed to the education of residents, interns, and medical students at Memorial University Medical Center, Medical College of GA, South University, and Mercer University School of Medicine.

Call today to schedule a consultation

912-303-4200

7. Eight of the 10 physicians in Savannah who perform Endoscopic Retrograde Cholandgiopancreatiography (ERCP) are in our practice.

6. We were the first in Georgia to offer Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) to detect esophageal cancer.

2. We lead the region in screening for colorectal cancer and perform more life-saving exams—colonoscopy than all other gastroenterologists in Savannah combined. 1. We exceed the ACG/ASGE National benchmarks for polyp detection rate by 36% in men and in women utilizing high-definition equipment deployed in our Endoscopy Unit. See our website for more quality data on our physicians and The Endoscopy Center.

For more information on hemorrhoidal banding, visit us at www.savannahgi.com 5. Seven of our physicians have been selected as members of “Best Doctors in America”—the only gastroenterologists in Coastal Georgia chosen for this honor.

SAVANNAH OFFICE:

1139 Lexington Ave. | Savannah, GA 31404 912.303.4200

RINCON OFFICE:

5715 GA Hwy 21 South, Suite A | Rincon, GA 31326 912.303.4200 152

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WHY PATIENTS CHOOSE OUR GROUP • We exceed the ACG/ASGE National benchmarks for polyp detection rate by 36% in men and in women utilizing high-definition equipment deployed in our Endoscopy Unit. See our website for more quality data on our physicians and The Endoscopy Center. • We lead the region in screening for colorectal cancer and perform more life-saving exams—colonoscopy than all other gastroenterologists in Savannah combined. • Our Endoscopy Scope Technicians are Nationally Certified with the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution, Inc. which has resulted in no post procedure infections in our unit. • Seven of our physicians have been selected as members of “Best Doctors in America”—the only gastroenterologists in Coastal Georgia chosen for this honor. • We were the first in Georgia to offer Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) to detect esophageal cancer. • Our Endoscopy Center is Nationally Accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc. (AAAHC) for more than 12 years. • Our Endoscopy Unit was recognized by the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) for promoting outstanding quality inpatient care.Gastroenterologists of CDLH: (L to R) The Board-Certified Charles W. Duckworth, MD; Steven Carpenter, MD, MACP; Mark E. Murphy, MD, FACP, AGAF; Edward Rydzak, MD, AGAF;

The Board-Certified of CDLH: (L to R) Telciane S. Vesa, MD, CNSC; Gastroenterologists George C. Aragon, MD; Ryan C. Wanamaker, MD; Mark R. Nyce, MD

Charles W. Duckworth, MD; Steven Carpenter, MACP; Providers: Mark E. Murphy, MD, FACP, AGAF; Edward Rydzak, MD, OurMD, Midlevel PA; George Elizabeth Buck, Nancy Ellison, PA; Joanna Angela Ring, PA MD; Mark R. Nyce, MD AGAF; Telciane S. Vesa,Caroline MD, Brennan, CNSC; C.NP;Aragon, MD; RyanMay, C.PA; Wanamaker,

Our Midlevel RinconProviders: Office: 5715 GA Hwy 21 South, Suite A | Rincon, GA 31326 | 912.303.4200 www.savannahgi.com

Savannah Office: 1139 Lexington Ave. | Savannah, GA 31404 | 912.303.4200

Elizabeth Buck, NP; Angela Ring, PA; Caroline Brennan, PA; Joanna May, PA; Nancy Ellison, PA

Savannah Office: 1139 Lexington Ave. | Savannah, GA 31404 | 912.303.4200 Rincon Office: 5715 GA Hwy 21 South, Suite A | Rincon, GA 31326 | 912.303.4200

www.savannahgi.com

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Savannah Bee Company

Savannah Bee Company grew out of Ted Dennardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s passion for bees, beekeeping, and honey. One small hive was the humble origin of this business.

Brightening Her Own Corner of the World

Local songstress Huxsie Scott looks back on a musical legacy of over forty years... and counting.

A Resolution for Change

Bethesda is a powerful educational option offering a highly supportive environment for young men.

The Caretta Research Project

The Caretta Research Project is designed to increase the publicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s appreciation for the environment and natural resources, their understanding of the necessity for sea turtle management and their participation in marine conservation and research.

The Leaf Life

chatham county living

68 About the Cover

Randy Wood, a talented guitar maker, goes back to his roots after a life filled with music and adventure. Turn to page 142 to read about his extraordinary career.

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E. Ronald Finger, MD

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A NEW YOU

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Medical Director& Master Injector, Author of Why Grow Old?

OFFERING:

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SKIN CARE: Dr. Finger Developed One Of The First True Anti-Aging / Anti-Glycation Skin Care Systems In The USA

Ask About Our Extensive List Of Surgical & Non-Surgical Procedures First Outpatient Surgery Center In Georgia First Medical Spa In Savannah First To Perform Liposuction First NeoGraft Hair Restoration Center In Georgia PRP Therapy & Scalp Therapy for Hair Regrowth Micro-NeedlingWith PRP for Anti-Aging Of The Skin ThermiTight & ThermiSmooth for Skin Laxity And Cellulite Reduction Of The Neck, Face, Abdomen, Arms, Legs, Thighs And Buttocks NO PAIN | NO DOWNTIME Go Tattless with Pain-free Tattoo Removal!

w w.fingerandas ociates.com • w w.newyouthmedicalspa.com E. Ronald Finger, MD

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New youth Skin Care Works On A Cellular Level Dr. Finger & His Spa Team

Trapper Jackâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Predator Control

Trapper Jack Douglas has dedicated his life to educating the public about the importance of wildlife and intervening when man and nature overlap.

The Gift of Love

Belinda B. Baptiste moved from Haiti to come to the United States at the age of seventeen; a legacy of service, hope and perseverance has enabled her to provide for the hungry children of Haiti.

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On the Brighter Side

For Peter and Janie Brodhead, their vision for the future defied all odds as they let passion be their guide.

126

Case Veterinary Hospital: A Tradition of Giving Back

With over a hundred years of loyalty from their Savannah patients, Case Veterinary Hospital gives back to the community in a big way.

142

Randy Wood Guitars

Randy Wood is famous for the musical instruments heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s made over the past fifty years. He is a skilled craftsman, a legend in his field of expertise, and an icon in the Country Music industry.

154

Second Chance at Life

Pamela Turek agrees that instead of dwelling on the disease, she tried to focus on what she could do, instead of what she could not.

chatham county living

154 168

Scenes of Chatham

Take a look at a few more of the reasons why we think Chatham County is a great place to live.

142

SKILLED ORTHODONTIC CARE FOR ALL AGES!

p O COMMITTED TO PROVIDING FRIENDLY AND HIGHLY SKILLED ORTHODONTIC CARE FOR ALL AGES!

DONIHUE WATERS, DDS, MDS | www.drwatersbraces.com DONIHUE WATERS, DDS, MDS | www.drwatersbraces.com

Savannah Rincon 9100 WhitSavannah e Bluff Rd., Suite 104 613 Towne Park West Dr. Ste 201 Rincon 9100 White Bluff Rd., Suite 104 613 Towne Park West Dr. Ste 201 912.354.3474 912.826.2501 912.354.3474 912.826.2501

Pooler 145 Traders Way, Suite C Pooler 145 Traders Way, Suite C 912.748.5041 912.748.5041

Hometown Living At Its Best

From the Publisher

Chatham County living

P u b l i s h e r With You In Mind Publications Jay and Patti Martin

e want to say “Thank You” again! Because of you, the sponsors of Chatham County Living, we have added 8 more pages to this issue. One of the special days that I most enjoy is writing this letter. The reason is that I review all of the articles that are in the issue. It is a reminder that great people do exist and care about Chatham County. They go about their lives quietly contributing to all of us around them in some way. Aside from being able to write this letter, this has been a very special week. Patti and I received a number of pictures from our children of our grandchildren. One common theme leapt out at us. Smiles were everywhere. All of the grandkids were happy!! Some of the pictures were recent, some were several years old. Regardless, there was a smile on their faces and a twinkle in their eyes. We caught ourselves smiling and laughing at each photograph. A happy smile is contagious! The grandkids didn’t know we were smiling; they were just loving life. It struck me that whenever we smile and someone else sees us, it generally elicits good feelings. What would happen if each of us genuinely shared a smile with someone?

C reati v e | D esig n Elizabeth Beasley Russ Hutto Stacey Nichols Jose Palos Ryan Sichelstiel Mandi Spivey Leslie Walsh o f f ice M a n ager Nikki Burkhalter

A ssista n t M a n agers Kimberly Anderson

June Dixon Makayla Martin P h otograp h ers Dawn McDaniel Owens Dream Weaver Photos Gail Dixon Jamie Weaver Kelly McDonald Photography Labeeb Abdullah LaWanda Wilson Painting With Light Photography Ryan Lee Photography C ov er P h oto Practicing in Playing Guitar

S ales Dottie Hicks Tiffanie Livingston Patti Martin

C o n trib u ti n g

Wri t er s Gail Dixon

J. Lesley Dixon David Pena D. Annette Sasser Teri R. Williams

“We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do.” Mother Teresa. “Children learn to smile from their parents.” Shinichi Suzuki

Blessings,

Jay and Patti Martin Sales: (912) 654-3045 Email: jay@wyimpublications.com www.hometown-living.com 8

chatham county living

Chatham County Living Magazine© is published three times a year by With You in Mind Publications. www.hometown-living.com P.O. Box 55 • Glennville, GA 30427 (912) 654-3045 All rights reserved. Copies or reproduction of this publication in whole or in part is strictly prohibited without expressed written authorization from the publisher. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein. Advertising is subject to omission, errors, and other changes without notice.

Live Oak Park 316 Stephenson Avenue Savannah, GA 31405 912.355.7790 800.851.8491 •

Lakeside 309 Pete Phillips Drive Vidalia, GA 30474 912.538.0724 •

Godley Station 145 Traders Way, Suite B Pooler, GA 31322

Dale A. Miles, DMD Rebecca M. Aspinwall, DMD Derek V. Miles, DMD

912.998.0020

“Specializing in root canal therapy since 1986” Hometown Living At Its Best

Bee Company For Ted Dennard, the love of bees is a way of life.

Story by Gail Dixon Photos by Savannah Bee Company

Chatham county Living

I never really thought about bees, or their importance, one way or the other. I like honey but I don't eat it a lot. Until recently, I didn't know beauty products were made from â&#x20AC;&#x153;treasured hive ingredients like beeswax, royal jelly, propolis, and honey.â&#x20AC;? Savannah Bee Company has enlightened my education about bees, their hives and their honey! Ted Dennard, President and Founder of Savannah Bee Company grew up on St. Simons Island and was first introduced to honey as a 12-year-old boy. Roy Hightower, an elderly beekeeper, offered young Ted an education in beekeeping, which opened his eyes to a world of magic and wonder that remains with him 30 years later. For Ted, the love of bees is a way of life. He kept bees in high school and college, taught beekeeping

Hometown Living At Its Best

Savannah Bee Company grew out of Ted's passion for bees, beekeeping, and honey. One small hive was the humble origin of this business.

to village farmers in Jamaica, and he traveled to New Zealand, Vietnam, Ireland, and France to learn the native beekeeping practices. Ted says, “Savannah is great. Trying to make a career in Savannah is a wonderful thing, but also a challenge. In the late 90s, there may have been fantastic jobs in Savannah; but for me with my Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy, there seemed to be no good opportunities. My credentials were not very ordinary: a Philosophy major who taught beekeeping in the Peace Corps, traveled the world, worked with Hopi Indians, and bailed out on his Colorado outdoor-adventure company. What do you do with that? With no prospects I felt I had to just make it up, create my career out of thin air. I was working multiple jobs just to make loan payments and scrape by. I was really worried about never getting my head above water, much less getting a kick-butt job that supported me and my passion.” That was 18 years ago. In hindsight, Ted did make up a career and an unlikely one at that. He didn't know anything about starting a business but he thought he could turn his hobby, beekeeping, into something that would support him. Ted had five hives of bees, was removing honeybee swarms from houses, and selling jars of honey to a handful of stores. After all, he didn't have anything to lose except time. He went to a bank, asked for a loan to buy more beehives, received the loan and started a bee business. Ted bought 50 hives of bees and an old trailer to move them on. He says, “From that time I have taken the next step, again and again. Now I sell $5000 worth of products every working hour and the business just keeps on unfolding.” Savannah Bee Company grew out of Ted's passion for bees, beekeeping, and honey. One small hive was the humble origin of this business. He says, “Today, the one small hive concept is the very foundation on which our company's mission and philosophy rests.” They believe

Chatham county Living

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Trust me, our honey is the best you will ever taste.â&#x20AC;&#x153;

Ted's passion for beekeeping and honey carries through in every product that is sold at Savannah Bee. After more than 30 years working with bees, he is confident his company offers the world's finest honey and beeswax body care products available.

Hometown Living At Its Best

Start a Beehive Just like the honeybee, they strive to enhance and contribute to the community and environment from which they thrive. This hive mentality flows through every aspect of Savannah Bee Company, from the sourcing of their raw material to their educational outreach initiatives that extend across the country.

Chatham county Living

the noble honeybee is the perfect role model for a successful and sustainable company. Just like the honeybee, they strive to enhance and contribute to the community and environment from which they thrive. This hive mentality flows through every aspect of Savannah Bee Company, from the sourcing of their raw material to their educational outreach initiatives that extend across the country. Ted's passion for beekeeping and honey carries through in every product that is sold at Savannah Bee. After more than 30 years working with bees, he is confident his company offers the world's finest honey and beeswax body care products available. Savannah Bee carefully bottles the purest single-flower honeys. The Everyday Honey line instructs customers how to use each particular honey—Grill, Tea, and Cheese. All honeys are hand-harvested at the peak of the blooming season to ensure purity. All are KSA Kosher certified and all are 100% pure honey. “We make decisions about sourcing honey based on purity rather than on profit. Trust me, our honey is the best you will ever taste. Our body care products are all-natural, use organic ingredients, and work as well or better than those on the market that are loaded with chemicals. The products feel great and are good for your skin as well as your body. There is no tradeoff between our natural products and how

“We make decisions about sourcing honey based on purity rather than on profit. Trust me, our honey is the best you will ever taste. Our body care products are all-natural, use organic ingredients, and work as well or better than those on the market that are loaded with chemicals. The products feel great and are good for your skin as well as your body.”

Hometown Living At Its Best

well they feel and work. Bees live in a manner that only contributes positively to the world around them,â&#x20AC;? says Ted. Savannah Bee Company loves honeybees and the company is dedicated to educating children and adults about the important role bees play as pollinators of our most healthy foods. They believe that honeybees need all the help people can give themâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;start a beehive, avoid pesticides, plant diverse flowering species, and support local beekeepers. Savannah Bee employees are given the opportunity to learn the art of beekeeping and keep their own beehives in their bee garden on Wilmington Island. The Wilmington Island store is home to an indoor observation hive and honeybee education is available to all customers. Savannah Bee Company is also the proud parent of The Bee Cause Project. 16

Chatham county Living

Ted founded the non-profit in 2013. This project is an organization dedicated to educating students about the importance of healthy honeybee populations. Ted loves honeybees, teaching, and children. He likes their unbiased point of view and genuine interest in the world. He says, “Their unchecked wonder allows them to see the bees for the amazing species they are—the unsung heroines of the planet. Introducing our next generation to honeybees will ultimately help people understand how important bees are to our survival. Recognizing the connection between pollinators and our food chain, as well as the health and future success of our planet world, is key to ensure future decisions are made with a broader, more informed perspective.” Bee Cause has donated and installed over 170 Observation Honeybee Hives in schools in 30 different states and in the Bahamas. They are also partnering with Whole Kids Foundation to offer their Observation Honeybee Hive Grant Program. Ted gets up and fights the good fight of fulfilling this dream every single day. He had no idea how to run or grow a business, but he was never afraid to ask questions or ask for help. He says, “There are so many people who helped make Savannah Bee what it is today. I don't deserve any credit for having a

Savannah Bee carefully bottles the purest single-flower honeys. The Everyday Honey line instructs customers how to use each particular honey—Grill, Tea, and Cheese. All honeys are hand-harvested at the peak of the blooming season to ensure purity. All are KSA Kosher certified and all are 100% pure honey.

grand vision and knowing how to make it happen. The only credit I should get is for the tenacity of believing it could work and for getting others to believe it too. I get help and ask questions of people who seem to be further along than I am. I keep trying to learn. Knowing I don't have the answers is very liberating. People always give great ideas—million dollar ideas! Lord knows I have a bunch of ideas too, but it is the daily execution of an idea that brings it into reality.” Ted feels the real gold is found when you follow through. Those people who can manifest an idea are the people he needs around him. He personally needs reminding that working on one idea to completion is better than several great ideas that never get finished. If he can do what he has done, then he says you can do much better than he in a much shorter time. “Pick something you love, get creative, write out a rough list, and

then get to work checking off the list. Don't give up, but also don't be so rigid that you can't flow around an obstacle to a better path than you were initially on. Ask for help, get people who complete tasks to believe in your dream. And then just remember to have some fun while you are working,” says Ted.  CCL For more information about Savannah Bee Company, go to savannahbee.com.

Hometown Living At Its Best

{ Specialized Memory Care Program }

MEMORY CARE – BRID GE TO REDISCOVERY™

Bridge to Rediscovery, the Five Star Senior Living innovative memory care program, has been honored with multiple “Best of the Best” awards from the Assisted Living Federation of America. Bridge to Rediscovery was inspired by the Montessori-style approach to education. We celebrate the spirit within each resident through personalized activities that encourage creativity and self-expression. We work with each resident individually, striving for small successes each day that create a sense of accomplishment. Habersham House offers an intimate layout with a common area for the residents to gather. The secure outdoor patio garden allows the residents to enjoy nature. The private dining room allows each resident to receive individual requests and accommodations. Our services and amenities include: • Three balanced meals a day, plus snacks

• Private and companion suites

• Housekeeping

• Choice of floor plans

• Personal laundry and linen services

• Private bathroom

• Assistance with bathing, dressing and other activities of daily living

• Individually controlled room temperature

• Bridge to Rediscovery Program

• Welcoming common areas • Lovely community dining room

• Weekly scheduled outings

• Medication management

• 24-hour, specially trained, caring staff

• Beauty/barber shop (additional fee)

• Scheduled local transportation

• Lovely, secure outdoor courtyard

• Utilities to include electricity and cable

Pet Friendly

for your consideration.

OUR MISSION

urtoattorneys looklegal forward you with all aspects We seek provide quality servicetotoassisting clients with competency, integrity, your legal representation. this is one of the zealousofrepresentation, within the boundsweof realize law and that responsiveness to our most important decisions you will ever make, and we are grateful clients’ needs. for your consideration.

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PRACTICAL AREAS OUR MISSION

Ourseek firmtopractices in a legal variety of areas, including: We provide law quality service to clients with competency, integrity, zealous representation, within the bounds of law and responsiveness to our clients’ needs.

· Business Litigation · Real Estate Disputes ·PRACTICAL Commercial & residential · Personal Injury AREAS construction disputes · Product Liability Our firm practices law in a variety of areas, including: · Eminent Domain · Domestic Relations ·· Contractual Law ·· Criminal Law Business Litigation Real Estate Disputes · Commercial & residential construction disputes · Eminent Domain · Contractual Law

· Personal Injury · Product Liability · Domestic Relations · Criminal Law

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

EST. EST. 1951 1951

(912) (912) 236-6311 236-6311 20

Chatham County Living

p O Duffy, Feemster & Strother Duffy, Feemster & Strother has been taking care of Savannah and Coastal Empire area residents and businesses, providing them with professional legal representation since 1951. has been taking care of Savannah and Coastal Empire area residents and businesses, providing them with professional legal representation since 1951.

236 E. Oglethorpe Avenue | Savannah, GA 236 E. Oglethorpe Avenue | Savannah, GA

www.duffyfeemster.com www.duffyfeemster.com

Call today today to to schedule schedule aa consultation! consultation! Call

Hometown Living At Its Best

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Chatham County Living

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Brightening Her Own Corner of the World STORY BY | David Pena PHOTOS BY | Jamie Weaver, Dream Weaver Photos

Local songstress Huxsie Scott looks back on a musical legacy of over forty years... and counting.

chatham county living

Hometown Living At Its Best

“Whatever life throws at you, I have found that music can be an empathizer, sympathizer and encourager,”

“Whatever life throws at you, I have found that music can be an empathizer, sympathizer and encourager,” explains Huxsie Scott, Savannah vocalist extraordinaire, “so what I’ve tried to do is to not only sing the song, but BE the song for the audience.” For over 40 years, Scott has been entertaining music lovers throughout the Southeast with her sweet, heartfelt voice and emotive interpretations of timeless classics. And though her diverse musical influences range from Aretha Franklin and Carmen McRae to Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton, Scott is quick to point out that she’s actually more influenced by the songs themselves. “What really catches my ear and captures my heart are the songs that I can relate to, rather than the singers themselves,” she says. “I never sing anything that doesn’t touch me personally.” For the past 14 years, Scott has been capturing hearts and ears of her audiences as a featured vocalist in the cast of The Savannah Theatre, where she performs regularly in two shows, Savannah Live and Rewind. Michael Meece, stage director and producer for the Savannah Theatre, says of Huxsie’s performances, “Her vocal stylings are inspired 26

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creations on a show-by-show basis. She has sung a few particular numbers, like “Georgia On My Mind” for instance, over 2000 times during the last 14 years, and I’ve never heard any two versions exactly alike.” Scott’s journey as a soulful songstress began fairly early, as she was initially “discovered” by her seventh-grade choral teacher at Wilder Middle School. “My choral teacher, Carolyn (Tootsie) Turner, was actually supposed to be my piano instructor, but she encouraged me to sing when she first heard my voice,” she fondly recalls. “She was really the first person to compliment my voice. She even gave me a repertoire to work from.” Emboldened by her teacher, the young talent then went on to make her first television appearance at age 13 on WSAV. In 1977, she entered a competition co-sponsored by WTOC and was crowned “Miss Champagne Music.” Interestingly, the winning prize included the opportunity to perform with Lawrence Welk and his orchestra at the Johnny Mercer Theater. “In addition to performing with Mr. Welk, I actually got a chance to dance with him as well,” Scott laughs. “I learned the polka for our

dance, and he was genuinely surprised that I knew (how).” By her late teens, Scott was singing professionally with the Dixieland Cats Dixieland Band, whose leader also happened to be the band director at Savannah State College, where Scott was a freshman at the time. Scott soon became the first vocalist for the Telfair Jazz Society, later called the Coastal Jazz Society, which was established by jazz artists Teddy Adams and the late Ben Tucker, who hired her on reputation alone. While regularly performing with the Telfair group, she also became the first vocalist with the Savannah Jazz Orchestra, and though life seemed to be looking up for the young songstress, there were also some low notes, most notably a brush with death in 1982. “I had a heart attack when I was just twenty-eight, and I had to have emergency open-heart surgery. Since I’d just started teaching at Beach High, I had no medical benefits,” Scott says. “Plus I had three small kids, and I was going to be out of work for several months. Lee Luckett, the president of The Coastal Jazz Society, promptly organized a benefit for Scott’s medical and living expenses, naming it “Hearts for Huxsie.” The Hyatt Hometown Living At Its Best

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Regency graciously donated the use of its ballroom while SCAD students helped with the decorations. Scott assumed the benefit would be a small party with some of the musicians she’d worked with. However, not only did most of her fellow musicians agree to perform, but also on the bill was Freddy Cole, brother of Nat King Cole and headliner at the 2012 Savannah Music Festival. “I wasn’t allowed to drive after the surgery, so I took a taxi,” Scott recalls. “I walked into the ballroom and saw these multitudes of people. I thought, ‘maybe my benefit is later, but I’m going to see what this is.’ Only after seeing a few familiar faces did I realize it was for me. It was a very special evening. The people (of Savannah) have been so incredible to me with all their big hearts, and if I ever needed love, it was then.” After recovering from her surgery, Scott continued teaching for another twenty-five years. “I’ve also worked part-time for about ten years mentoring new teachers and serving as a chorus teacher for Oglethorpe Academy,” she says. “My students have taught me a lot about life and loyalty over the years, and as a Social Studies teacher, I always tried to make history come alive for them.”

In addition to being part of the ministry as a featured vocalist at Overcoming by Faith Ministries, Scott continues to perform weekly with the cast of the Savannah Theatre. Michael Meece says of the talented soloist, “Huxsie has been a performer with our company since our very first performance in the Savannah Theatre on August 10, 2002, and the level of professionalism that she brings to the stage is so great that I always try to give her a solo within the first 10 minutes of the show. I always knew she was the best blues and gospel artist in the area, but now I’m convinced that there’s not a single style of music she can’t turn into a show stopper!” The respect is reciprocated by Scott, as she says the company has helped to forge life-long bonds between cast and crew. “Once you’ve been a part of the Savannah Theatre, you become like family. No matter what capacity or role you fill, you’re treated as such, and I love being part of it.” The passion for music seems to run in Scott’s family. Her late father was a preacher who also sang and played the organ, while her mother, the Reverend Rubbeanuion, is a pastor as well as being an accomplished pianist and songwriter. Scott’s twin daughters, Deyna and Zeyna, are

“Once you’ve been a part of the Savannah Theatre, you become like family. No matter what capacity or role you fill, you’re treated as such, and I love being part of it.” Hometown Living At Its Best

both amazing vocalists in their own right, and her son, Rethyl, can play up to sixteen different instruments. However, though her children are extremely talented musicians, they seem to show little interest in following their family’s musical legacy, choosing instead to follow their own career paths. One of her eleven grandchildren, Markeya Relaford, who at 19 is already a singing powerhouse, is poised to continue her talented grandmother’s musical legacy. “I expect her to follow in my footsteps, and I expect her to do even greater things than I’ve done,” Scott says. “She definitely has my passion for music.” Michael Meece agrees, saying, “You can hear Huxsie in (Markeya’s) voice. It’s uncanny.” Meece featured Scott and Markeya together in their first public duet about three years ago. In recognition of her 40th year in entertainment, Scott played a prominent part in “The Great 30

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American Songbook,” a two-hour collection of more than forty standards from the 1930s through the 1950s. Presented at the Savannah Theatre in 2013, the production also featured a solo performance from granddaughter Markeya, which garnered high praise from those in attendance. That same year, Huxie also took time out to release a self-titled CD, which includes some of her favorite classics, and was inducted into the Coastal Jazz Association Hall of Fame. As far as Scott’s future musical endeavors, she plans to continue performing at the Savannah Theatre. “I feel like I’ve

done so much, but I don’t want to stop. I’m going to continue to brighten the corner where I am, living my life on my terms,” she says. What keeps her going are the enthusiastic and appreciative audiences that continue to fill the seats of the theater every week. “Savannah audiences have been great to me through the years; they’re the kind (of audience) that an entertainer needs and thrives upon.” Jazz great Charles Mingus once said that “jazz is the language of the emotions,” and, luckily for Savannah audiences, that soulful language is spoken on a weekly basis at the Savannah Theatre. CCL Hometown Living At Its Best

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Hometown Living At Its Best

A Resolution for Change Story by Teri R. Williams 38

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Bethesda is a powerful educational option offering a highly supportive environment for young men.

Photos provided by Andrea Dove

Since the first race five years ago, the Yates-Astro Resolution Race 5k Trail Run and Walk has become the group’s most profitable annual fundraiser for the young men at Bethesda Academy.

With a cup of coffee and a half piece of burnt toast, I’m out the door. Since burning the toast happens so regularly, I’ve decided it’s part of the ritual. The sun is just rising, but it’s already 72 degrees. It will rise 10 degrees more before I’ve finished my tenmile run. Surely I’m the only crazy fifty-five year old grandmother out running at daybreak on a Saturday morning, I think to myself. But I know better. I am one of many, some younger, some older, who joined the running craze in recent years. In fact, “Between 1990 and 2013,” Running USA, a non-profit organization for the running industry reports, “finisher totals skyrocketed from five million road race runners to over 19 million.” As the number has risen, the Women’s Board of Bethesda (WBOB) has seized the opportunity with a race of their own. Since the first race five years ago, the Yates-Astro Resolution Race 5k Trail Run and Walk has become the group’s most profitable annual fundraiser for the young men at Bethesda Academy. Hometown Living At Its Best

Today, through the efforts of fifty active members along with a company of now inactive members called “sustainers,” these women continue to make a huge impact on the work at Bethesda. Long before the WBOB officially formed in 1913, women played a vital role in the work at Bethesda. When King George II awarded George Whitefield, the well-known evangelist of the “Great Awakening,” a 500-acre land grant in 1740 for an orphanage, Whitefield depended on volunteers and charitable donations for the work to succeed. Whitefield’s records state that Bethesda Orphan House and Academy started with forty-nine girls and boys: twenty-three English; ten Scots; four Dutch; five French; and seven “Americans” who were born in the colonies. Among these, twenty-three had lost both parents, and twenty-four had only one living parent. Eight times he crossed the Atlantic Ocean in an attempt to raise money for the orphans he found living on the streets of Savannah, but found contributions hard to come by. Establishing a colony was no small venture for the 114 colonists who came with James Oglethorpe in 1733 to form the thirteenth and final American colony in Savannah. It’s not hard to imagine the many

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difficulties they faced. Even so, when Whitefield opened Bethesda, women in the colony stepped up and did what they could to help. “They did special things for the children like presents on their birthday, and making Easter baskets, something no one else thought about,” said Alva Compton, the present Chairman of the WBOB. “Bethesda has an incredible history and women have always been a part of its story.” At the turn of the 20th century, charity work created new roles of leadership in America for women such as Jane Addams, who established Hull House in Chicago in 1889; Mary Ellen Richmond, whose books include Friendly Visiting Among the Poor: A Handbook for Charity Workers (1899), The Good Neighbor in the Modern City (1908), and Social Diagnosis (1917) for which she is known as the “mother of social work,” according to historyofsocialwork.org; and Julia

Lathrop, the first director of the Children’s Federal Bureau in 1912 who was called “America’s First Official Mother” as stated on Vassar Encyclopedia online.* Sometime in the early 1800s, the orphanage became an all boys’ home. By 1900, it had been renamed Bethesda Home for Boys. Not long after, the group of women working behind the scenes for the boys of Bethesda recognized the need for a more unified effort. In 1913, they officially formed the WBOB. Today, through the efforts of fifty active members along with a company of now inactive members called “sustainers,” these women continue to make a huge impact on the work at Bethesda. With the onset of social services in America, Bethesda continued to evolve to meet the needs of boys in the community. “In 1992, Bethesda School began educating students on the 600-acre campus, Hometown Living At Its Best

providing a wide range of learning experiences rooted in George Whitefield’s founding mission. In 2011, the school was officially re-branded as Bethesda Academy…” (www.bethesdaacademy. com) The private boarding and day school for young men grades 6-12, which is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, will have approximately 130 students this 20162017 school year. Bethesda continues to carry on Whitefield’s vision of being a “seat of sound

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learning” and his core values, “Love of God, love of learning, and a strong work ethic,” said Alva, “Bethesda Academy does not receive any state or federal funding.” According to the school’s 2014-2015 Annual Report, “Bethesda raises $3.4 million annually, or approximately $30,000 per student. Every family pays tuition; however, tuition makes up only 10% of the needed revenue at Bethesda….While the endowment covers approximately 30% of our budget, the remaining 60%, or $2 million, must be raised through Annual Giving, special events, and other enterprise opportunities….The growth and success of these boys is reflected in on-time graduation rates of 95%, college enrollment of 85%, military service, and gainful employment.” Bethesda is a powerful educational option offering a highly supportive environment for young men. “Parents usually enroll their boys here because they want them to have the best education possible in a more nurturing

an answer or solution to something

One definition of resolution is “an answer or solution to something.” From the time of George Whitefield until today, Bethesda has been “an answer or solution” to the needs of children. Unlike many New Year’s resolutions, a race is more than a declaration: it is an action. As runners experience this incredible place called Bethesda Academy, we are truly participating in “an answer” to the needs of young men in the community.

Hometown Living At Its Best

“Some come to Bethesda Academy because they don’t want their child influenced by the social group they’re growing up around. Others realize their child may have a different style of learning, and they’re looking for more of a hands-on approach to learning. The classrooms at Bethesda also offer a smaller teacher to student ratio, which allows this to be such a nurturing place. Confidence is built into these boys.”

Chatham county Living

environment than they were perhaps able to receive in public school,” said Alva. “Some come to Bethesda Academy because they don’t want their child influenced by the social group they’re growing up around. Others realize their child may have a different style of learning, and they’re looking for more of a hands-on approach to learning. The classrooms at Bethesda also offer a smaller teacher to student ratio, which allows this to be such a nurturing place. Confidence is built into these boys.”

SHOWN Bethesda’s President, Dr. Mike Hughes

One way the WBOB contributes to that confidence is with the gift of a navy blue blazer and tie to every senior at the beginning of the school year. “John B. Rourke partners with us. We took the boys and had them fitted and presented to them. They wear them throughout the year for different events. As soon as they put them on, they turned into young men right in front of our eyes.” As Bethesda has evolved through the years to best meet the needs of young men in our community, the WBOB has faithfully followed suit. From decorating the Chapel at Christmas, to Honor Roll Luncheons, essay contests, providing speakers for Career Day, and funds for after school activities and field trips, “We want to do whatever we can to enhance their education,” said Alva. One of the most special characteristics of the WBOB is that they are involved in more ways than

just raising money. They are often found cheering alongside parents at sporting events. When the boys were in the football state play-offs, the WBOB provided for their hotel and other expenses. “We’re always asking the school to let us know what they need. We work closely with the President of Bethesda Academy, Michael Hughes, and our School Principal, Megan Kicklighter, to try to determine just where we can be the most helpful. We are especially proud of the renovations we were able to make on the cottages.” (The four cottages can accommodate ten to twelve boarding students, along with a married couple as cottage teachers.) “Every student at Bethesda is expected to work hard and develop skills that will make him a productive citizen,” said Alva. One of the many ways in which students gain this experience is through

participation in Bethesda’s high school “entrepreneurship” curriculum, delivered through a variety of campus enterprises. Students interning with either the Farm & Garden or Cattle & Beef enterprises learn to care for over a hundred cattle, sheep, goats, and chickens. On any given day, internship responsibilities may include weighing the cows, collecting eggs from the hen house, or maintaining the five-acre organic garden and 1,500 square foot greenhouse. Produce is sold by students and staff at the campus Farm Stand on Thursday afternoons from 3:00-5:30 p.m. (Note: Bethesda recently launched a new grass-fed beef program). The campus internships are simply part of the academic day. A student may have Literature 1st period, Chemistry 2nd, Farm & Garden 3rd, Geometry 4th, and so on. It is built into the curriculum. In addition to the Farm Hometown Living At Its Best

and Cattle internships, students also have internship opportunities with Dining Services, Intro to Digital Media, Maintenance, Athletic Management/Training, Events/Marketing/Development, Teachers’ Aid, Office Assistants, and Bethesda’s Wildlife Sanctuary & Preserve where they assist with quail and pheasant hunts during the hunting season. By the end of the school year, our students had worked over 12,000 hours on campus, a grading system was established to qualify and quantify the actual work skills that our students exhibited, and we infused our school culture with the idea that our students must be prepared to invest in their own education. (20142015 Annual Report) "Following the lead of the Board of Governors,” said President of Bethesda, Dr. Mike Hughes, “Bethesda Academy has launched a new strategic plan called ‘Lead the Way.’ Bethesda is working to enhance its overall educational program and approach by focusing on teaching every student key leadership skills, introducing them to entrepreneurship, and teaching sustainability as a lifestyle and operating principle….The leadership emphasis coupled with Reverend Whitefield's founding mission (Love of God, Love of Learning, A Strong Work Ethic) makes Bethesda a truly unique institution.” TOP One way the WBOB contributes to that confidence is with the gift of a navy blue blazer and tie to every senior at the beginning of the school year. FAR LEFT TOP WBOB Homecoming BBQ - TShirt contest. FAR LEFT BOTTOM Essay Awards.

Chatham county Living

The WBOB holds two major fundraisers throughout the year for the boys at Bethesda Academy. “One is simply a Christmas letter,” said Alva. “We’ve done that for years, and people are so faithful to send in their support,” The other is the Yates-Astro Resolution Race 5k Trail Run and Walk held on the first Saturday of the New Year. We partnered with Yates-Astro Termite and Pest Control as our title sponsor five years ago, and businesses in the community have been great to help us.” According to Bethesda’s most recent Annual Report, “The WBOB used race proceeds to support Bethesda by funding science lab equipment, cottage improvements and landscaping, classroom technology upgrades, computer software, and scholarship funding.” “Last year,” said Alva, “we had over 380 runners, and netted over $44,000. These proceeds enabled us, along with South State Bank and a private foundation, to purchase white board technology for the classrooms. We were also able to update the curriculum for the entire school.” Even though there is a lot of work that goes on before hand, all fifty WBOB members will come out to help on race day. “We stand along the course to hand out water and cheer people on.” The after-race Optim Orthopedics Pancake Breakfast is one of the many things that make the race so special. But the best part is the race itself. “A lot of people in the community never get the opportunity to see the beauty of these 650 acres. The runners really get to experience what Bethesda is all

about. We set up a trail course that goes around the circle with its ancient oaks and then moves along Moon River [that borders Bethesda]. The course goes through paths and cow pastures. The cows will actually come up to the fence and moo at runners as they pass by,” said Alva and laughed. “Winners of age groups are given cowbells on ribbons that can hang around your neck.” This year there will be two new awards given. “There will be a special award for those who have participated in the race all five years and another for the family who has the most participants registered for the race.” The reason the WBOB chose to hold the race on the first Saturday of the New Year and call it The YatesAstro Resolution Race 5k Trail Run and Walk was simple: “A lot of people make a New Year resolution to get in shape. We actually encourage participants to sign the sponsor banner with their personal resolution and, each year, we display the past race banners too. This is just a way to ‘start the year on the right foot,’ for yourself and for our community.” One definition of resolution is “an answer or solution to something.” From the time of George Whitefield until today, Bethesda has been “an answer or solution” to the needs of children. Unlike many New Year’s resolutions, a race is more than a declaration: it is an action. As runners experience this incredible place called Bethesda Academy, we are truly participating in “an answer” to the needs of young men in the community. Only twenty minutes from downtown Savannah,

Hometown Living At Its Best

the Yates-Astro Resolution Race 5k Trail Run and Walk gives runners like me one more reason to get out of bed on a Saturday morning and keep running. In a place of “…salt marshes, forest trails, Colonial and pre-Civil War history…” as described by moonriverdistrict.com, the WBOB has given us all a whole new reason to look forward to the New Year’s resolutions.  CCL For more information: www.facebook.com/ YatesAstroResolutionRace5k To register: https://runsignup.com/Race/GA/ Savannah/Resolution Sources: http://www.runningusa.org/ http://www.historyofsocialwork.org/eng/details. php?cps=4&canon_id=137 https://vcencyclopedia.vassar.edu/ “I’ve never seen so much enthusiasm and energy poured into such a fun and family oriented event. It’s the end result that motivates me because I know the money we raise will make a difference in 48

Chatham county Living

the lives of young men and their families….It is the sense of community that makes Bethesda so very special. Volunteering for Bethesda Academy is the most rewarding experience I’ve ever had.” (2017 WBOB Yates Astro Resolution Race Chairman, Val Bowers) “Thank you for supporting the Women's Board of Bethesda Yates-Astro Trail Race! The proceeds from this event will directly benefit the approximately 120 young men who attend Bethesda Academy. The Women's Board of Bethesda generously and enthusiastically supports the ‘boys of Bethesda’ in many ways through purchases of textbooks/curricula, a variety of educational materials to supplement class/lab learning exercises, and Navy dress blazers for our senior students, to provide a few examples. “Enjoy the race and thank you for your support of Bethesda!” (Bethesda’s new President, Dr. Mike Hughes)

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The Caretta Research Project (CRP) is a non-profit environmental organization located in Savannah, Georgia. The project was founded in 1972 by a family member of the Wassaw Island Trust, herpetologists at the Savannah Science Museum, and staff of the USFWS Savannah Coastal Refuges. Initially, the work was done by the Savannah Herpetology Club and it expanded to the volunteer-based program that it is today.

Hometown Living At Its Best

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During the summer of 1972, nesting turtles were observed but no protection was given to nests. A tagging program, which continues to date, was implemented in 1973 with nest protection beginning in 1976. This makes the CRP one of the longest continuously running marine turtle monitoring projects in the United States. Data collected since 1973 has been used to monitor population trends in Georgia and the Southeastern United States. The CRP is a hands-on research, conservation, and education project that has been protecting loggerhead sea turtles on Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge since 1973. There are three main goals of

the project: (1) to learn more about the reproductive biology, population trends, and nesting habits of loggerhead turtles; (2) to enhance the survival of eggs and hatchlings on a nesting beach; and (3) to educate and involve the public in turtle preservation. Since 1973, over 1386 individual turtles have been tagged, they have monitored 3480 nests containing more than 401,000 eggs, they have successfully released nearly 250,000 hatchlings into the ocean, trained 21 interns who have gone to other environmental/educational programs, and involved and educated over 3000 volunteers from all over the world in sea turtle conservation efforts. Funding for the CRP is derived from multiple sources including granting agencies, fundraising events, donations from community members, and contributions from local businesses. Additional money is received from fee-based participation of the public volunteers in the activities of the project. Each year, for 16 weeks during the summer, groups of volunteers, ages 15 and up, travel to the beaches of Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge to help monitor egg-laying and hatching activity and to collect data on the loggerhead turtles, a threatened species, under the direction of CRP staff. There have been many research projects, as well as collaborative projects, at the CRP including:

Since 1973, over 1386 individual turtles have been tagged, they have monitored 3480 nests containing more than 401,000 eggs, they have successfully released nearly 250,000 hatchlings into the ocean, trained 21 interns who have gone to other environmental/educational programs, and involved and educated over 3000 volunteers from all over the world in sea turtle conservation efforts.

Hometown Living At Its Best

The CRP is a hands-on research, conservation, and education project that has been protecting loggerhead sea turtles on Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge since 1973. There are three main goals of the project: (1) to learn more about the reproductive biology, population trends, and nesting habits of loggerhead turtles; (2) to enhance the survival of eggs and hatchlings on a nesting beach; and (3) to educate and involve the public in turtle preservation.

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identification, life history and genetic analysis of epibionts of the loggerhead; monitoring of incubation temperatures in nests for approximation of sex ratios in hatchlings; determining fecundity of females by ultrasound and blood hormone levels; genetic studies, fungal and bacterial infestation of nests, and tracking inter-nesting and postnesting movements of females by satellite telemetry. Kris Williams has been the CRP Director since 1996. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was just finishing up my BS in Biology in 1990 and got a position working with sea turtles on Long Island and I was completely hooked! I saw this position advertised at the International Sea Turtle Symposium in 1996 and was very lucky to get the job,â&#x20AC;? Kris says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It's amazing to watch these 300 pound turtles lumber up the

beach, dig their nests, and deposit their eggs. And, it's so much fun to show new volunteers the turtles; some have never even seen a beach before, never mind a 300-plus pound turtle!â&#x20AC;? What does a volunteer do? The work varies with the turtle activity, weather, and crew experience. But you have to understand that the turtles dictate the work load. When a turtle is spotted, the team waits for the right time to begin their work. They measure all turtles and put tags on the ones that do not have tags. If nests are in a high risk area, the eggs are relocated to a safer place in the sand dunes. All nests are covered with screens to protect them from raccoon and hog predation. Because turtles usually lay their eggs at night, the team sleeps during the day and has free time to explore the island, relax, or catch up on reading.

What does a volunteer do? The work varies with the turtle activity, weather, and crew experience. But you have to understand that the turtles dictate the work load. When a turtle is spotted, the team waits for the right time to begin their work. They measure all turtles and put tags on the ones that do not have tags. If nests are in a high risk area, the eggs are relocated to a safer place in the sand dunes.

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The hatching season is late July through September and each of the nests are monitored for signs of hatching. When hatchlings begin emerging from the sand and making their way to the water, the work begins. Members of the team escort the hatchlings and begin collecting data. Three days after the hatchlings emerge, the nest must be carefully excavated and the unhatched eggs are counted. Hatching success is determined for each nest. Because not all nests hatch at once, there's usually more time during the hatching season to enjoy day activities. In recent years, Kris said one of the most exciting things she has encountered on the job is the growing number of turtles coming onto the island to nest. In the last few years, nesting records have been broken on the island and there has also been an increase in the number of new untagged turtles venturing onto the island. Shane Ramee, a volunteer, says, “Volunteers get to know some of the less visited parts of Wassaw Island. The project has been around long enough that its beneficial impacts for the local Loggerhead population can be seen more clearly every year. It really opened my eyes to the rewards of such work and helped motivate me to pursue my current career path in fisheries research and conservation.”

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Darnice, another volunteer and Veterinarian, states, “I have participated on the CRP for at least 12 years and have always enjoyed my weeks on Wassaw immensely. It is a chance to see a Georgia Barrier Island in its true wild state (birds, reptiles, amphibians, bugs, plants, stars, ocean life, and a constantly changing beach); to meet people from all walks of life (you will live for a week with five people you may not know in one room, however, by the end of the week you develop some good friends); learn to cook, work, and 'play well' with others in all situations; but most importantly, you will get to help a threatened species make a comeback. There is nothing like seeing a nest of hatchlings crawl to the water's edge, take off swimming, and then pop their little heads up to get a breath of air before they are gone from sight. These are just a few of the reasons I return to help with the project every year.” Why should people care about sea turtles? (1) Sea turtles help maintain healthy dune systems by introducing nutrients in the form of nests. (2) They may serve as an indicator of the ecological stability of our oceans. Dying turtles are symptoms of sick oceans, caused by pollution, over-harvesting, and habitat destruction. Healthy oceans are essential to healthy human populations and this affects everyone. (3) They are part of our natural heritage and just as

historical landmarks and natural tracts of land should be preserved, so should wildlife. Extinction is forever and the loss of species diversity is ethically, economically, and culturally tragic. Sea turtles are found in many different ecosystems worldwide: nesting and hatching on beaches, in coastal rivers and marshes, on reefs, on beds of sea grasses, and throughout the depths of the oceans, from the Arctic to the tropics. Conserving sea turtles means protecting both in-water and coastal habitats, which ultimately protects the complex, interconnected world on which human societies depend. “The Caretta Research Project is designed to increase the public's appreciation for the environment and natural resources, their understanding of the necessity for sea turtle management and their participation in marine conservation and research. They are completely immersed in all of our activities, and they leave with a true sense of accomplishment, feeling really good knowing that they contributed to the survival of these turtles,” Kris said. To learn more about volunteer opportunities, how to donate to the project, or how to adopt a turtle, go to www. carettaresearchproject.org, e-mail wassawcrp@aol.com, or call 912-704-9323.  CCL

Please join the staff and Board for their annual Sea Turtle Celebration! This event will be held at the Florence on Thursday, October 20th, 2016. Ticket sales will be announced on their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ CarettaResearchProject/) and will be available to purchase on their website (www.carettaresearchproject.org) in September.

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the leaf life

D. Annette Sasser Ryan Lee Photography

story by photos by

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Chatham county Living

When Lou Thomann and his wife, Lori, and son, Albert, spent a weekend with a few couples on beautiful Ossabaw Island in the fall of 2010, Lou made a delightful discovery that changed the course of his life. The ex-rice trader and historic building renovator from Savannah, Georgia, became both intrigued and delighted as UGA naturalist, John “Crawfish” Crawford guided the group across the natural, Barrier Island and introduced them to the Yaupon holly tree and its legendary magical power. “We made tea from its leaves after dinner and I was amazed at how good it tasted,” said Lou. Ossabaw Island is located twenty miles south by water from historic downtown Savannah. Ossabaw means Land of the Yaupon. “It was given that name by Native Americans who first inhabited the Island,” said Lou. “They made tea from the leaves of the Yaupon Tree and called it the “black drink.” Because of the tea’s apparent health benefits and healing virtues they believed it had magical powers. All of the Southeast tribal nations, as well as early colonial settlers, knew of its medicinal value. Georgia history reveals that it was this Native American black drink, made from leaves of the Yaupon Holly Tree that Tomochichi served Oglethorpe when they first met. “It was a gesture of friendship,” said Lou. “The tea was considered a treasure and because of its

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“It was a gesture of friendship.” Georgia history reveals that it was this Native American black drink, made from leaves of the Yaupon Holly Tree that Tomochichi served Oglethorpe when they first met.

apparent natural health benefits, including antioxidants, the natives believed it to be a magical tree. They referred to it as the loving tree, big medicine, and ASI, which meant ‘the purifier’ in their native tongue.” The Yaupon holly is a species of Holly that is native to southeastern North America. The word Yaupon was derived from its Catawban name, yopun, which is a diminutive form of the word yop, meaning “tree”. (Wikipedia, the Encyclopedia)

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“People everywhere are getting excited about this product.” Lou spent three years demonstrating his product, going to trade shows, hiring pickers, and doing demo tastings. In July of 2013, after trademarking and branding the tea, ASI (purifier in the American Native tongue) tea was on the shelf. “My mission was to bring the indigenous, healthy, natural, excellent tasting Yaupon Tea Beverage back,” said Lou. “And I wanted it in the hands of health minded consumers who want the real authentic stuff. I feel that it is good and important to celebrate American local food ways. We have the good stuff here and we are continuing to spread the good news about Yaupon. People everywhere are getting excited about this product.”

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Lou grew up in Boston and became an avid history buff at an early age. “I got my love of history from my dad, who was a history teacher,” said Lou. “There were nine of us children and when we traveled Dad would stop at every historical marker. We’d all pile out of the car, read the sign, and then climb back in until we came to the next one.” The tea’s fresh, richly flavored taste and captivating history fascinated Lou. When he returned to Savannah from Ossabaw Island he began to research everything he could find about the Yaupon black drink. He became enchanted with the Native American legends and excited over the historical facts he found. “As a young kid I was fascinated with Native American culture. But the fascination waned as I grew older and lay dormant. When I started reading and studying about the Yaupon Tree my youthful attraction to Native American culture sprang back to life. There was one legend in particular that I found quite interesting,” Lou smiled. “It seems that a Native American man who had been suffering from a lingering illness had a dream that if he went into the woods and slept, he should drink whatever he awakened to find. So he went deep Hometown Living At Its Best

into the woods, lay down and went fast asleep. When he awoke there was a Yaupon Tree growing beside him. He had not seen the tree there previously. He believed it to be a sign and so made a tea like beverage from its leaves. Day after day he drank the black tea, and his health was soon restored.” Regardless of the accuracy of the many legends, all Southeast Native American tribes knew about the healing virtue of the Yaupon Tree, and most of the early settlers who interacted with Native Americans attributed their health and well-being to it. “Stephen Foster, a prominent herbalist in the country, calls the Yaupon the ‘undiscovered medicinal plant,’” said Lou. Lou’s historical and scientific findings, combined with his own experience with the tasty, refreshing tea, gave him the incentive to launch out with his findings, and he started packing tea bags by hand in his kitchen and garage. “I gave the tea to a few people and they loved it,” said Lou. “Soon friends and relatives were asking for more of my Yaupon black drink. So 76

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I decided to give it a go, and began to produce the tea in larger quantities.” Lou spent three years demonstrating his product, going to trade shows, hiring pickers, and doing demo tastings. In July of 2013, after trademarking and branding the tea, ASI (purifier in the American Native tongue) tea was on the shelf. “My mission was to bring the indigenous, healthy, natural, excellent tasting Yaupon tea beverage back,” said Lou. “And I wanted it in the hands of health minded consumers who want the real authentic stuff. I feel that it is good and important to celebrate American local food ways. We have the good stuff here and we are continuing to spread the good news about Yaupon. People everywhere are getting excited about this product.” Lou purchased an old fish camp, 250 acres on Herd Island, in Darien, Georgia. “Herd Island is loaded with Yaupon Trees,” said Lou. “We renovated the ‘ole fish camp’ because that is primarily where we pick. The pickers pick the leaves in the wild woods and then dry them. Although

the Yaupon Tree is native to the entire Southeast everything we do is picked in the woods of Georgia right now.” During the civil war and both World Wars, Lou explained, most southerners knew about the “tea in the woods”, and its natural caffeine that stimulates the brain and not the nervous system. “Southerners knew where to find their tea when you could not find tea in the market place,” said Lou. “They knew that the natural caffeine in Yaupon would give them energy, yet produce a calming effect at the same time. And there would be no dangerous rise in blood pressure.” When I met Lou and toured the ASI facility on Telfair Street in Savannah in January of 2016, he said, “We use this facility primarily for dry tea processing. We used to bottle here, but now all bottling is done in our facility in Rae, Georgia.” I was surprised to learn that Yaupon tea comes in different flavors including Muscodine, Aronia Berry, Sweet Tea (not real sweet), and Honey and Mint, which I enjoyed tasting. The tea comes

in bottles, tea bags, and loose leaf. “I want people to rediscover this American native treasure we call ASI,” said Lou. “Even early Spanish explorers loved its pleasant taste and health benefits. They called it Indian chocolate.” One bottle of ASI tea contains 30 mg of caffeine and 372 mg of antioxidants. “That’s really a high amount of antioxidants,” said Lou. “ASI tea also has anti-inflammatory benefits, which helps colon cancer, among other things. It contains natural caffeine, which stimulates the brain but not the nervous system. It calms nerves and helps you focus better. It also contains a wonderful ingredient called Theobromine.” In modern medicine Theobromine is being used as a vasodilator (a blood vessel widener), a diuretic (urination aid), and heart stimulant. Because of its diuretic effect, and its ability to dilate blood vessels, Theobromine has been used to treat high blood pressure. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition notes that historic use of Theobromine

as a treatment for other circulatory problems including arteriosclerosis, certain vascular diseases, angina pectoris, and hypertension should be considered in future studies. (en.m.wikipedia.org) Although the ASI Tea Company is only about three years old, the products are now available for purchase in Georgia, North and South Carolina, Alabama and Florida. “We’re really just getting started good,” said Lou. We need supporters, ambassadors, and of course, finances. We’re in the process of working to secure a SBIR (Small Business Intervention Research) grant.” The ASI Tea Company is also seeking to secure a National Science Foundation grant to study this plant more fully. “It does almost seem like a magical plant,” said Lou. “The tea can be consumed either hot or cold and is good to drink because of its delicious taste and health potentials. A person should drink at least three to four cups a day to get the tea’s full benefits.”

Lou Thomann’s mission at the ASI Tea Company goes beyond his desire to bring the knowledge of the indigenous American black drink back to America and make it available to consumers. “We want to celebrate American food ways, create fair way jobs in rural counties in the south, and give back to the environment,” said Lou. “We are also sustainable because everything we harvest grows back.” Lou’s youthful love of Native American culture continues to grow since the discovery of the magical tea once so wisely used. “We are giving out of our business proceeds to the American Indian College Fund,” said Lou. “It’s one way we can pay homage to their knowledge.”  CCL ASI tea products can be found in Savannah at Whole Foods Market and Brighter Day Natural Foods, and on Amazon. Source: https://www.wikipedia.org

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t’s a h w t u o k c Che ! ne w this fall

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e US. Featuring on corative ar ts in th de d an n ai el rc Russian po

Ar tists in : s e ti in ta r e c n U 0 Complex ing September 3 n e p O a c ri e Postwar Am of works from Telfair’s collection,

hibition, tmaking from This evolving ex s that infused ar nt re ur rc de un h brings fort til today. World War II un

temporar y n o C : d e h rs te a W graphy Landscape Photo er 14 Opening Octob

of ten strate mankind’s on m de at th s ph ogra Presenting phot uring work by on the land feat ct pa and more. negative im illiam Eggleston W n, an M lly Sa Jack Leigh,

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le in original ar t for sa of ty rie va e id w s ses a ’t miss children’ The fair showca and media. Don es ic pr of e ng a broad ra square! ac tivities in the Free and open

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Trapper Jack Douglas holding alligator head mount

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Trapper

Jackâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Predator Control STORY BY | J. Lesley Dixon PHOTOS BY | Painting With Light Photography

Trapper Jack Douglas has dedicated his life to educating the public about the importance of wildlife and intervening when man and nature overlap. Hometown Living At Its Best

Assortment of hides and skulls in trophy room

was raised in South Georgia, and remember hearing stories about how valuable animals were to the Native American culture. To some degree, animals were considered relatives to man, and were treated with much respect by the majority of tribes. Animals were killed for sustenance, and every piece of the animal was used without waste. Meat was immediately prepared for meals or preserved; hides were used for clothing or shelter; bones were used to craft tools or weapons; and tendons were used to bind these creations together. There was little tolerance for what we would consider “trophy” hunts in today’s society. Many of

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the Native American cultures believed that the animals could teach man, enlighten him, or somehow guide him in life. One example of these beliefs is found with the eagle; the eagle was viewed as the most sacred of all animals. It could fly the highest, and the beliefs were held that it could communicate with the Creator. The traditions, or beliefs, surrounding a tribe’s animal brethren would be passed down throughout generations in order to ensure future generations understood the importance of resource management. My wife and I recently had the opportunity to meet “Trapper Jack” Douglas, and spend some time with him at his home and business located in Chatham County, Georgia. Mr. Douglas has dedicated over forty years of his life to educating the people around him on wildlife. He has delivered presentations to children, as well as adults, in schools, at flea markets, church functions and festivals. During these presentations, participants are afforded a unique learning

Trapper Jack opens jaws of large alligator skull

experience in which they view mounted alligator heads, observe live alligators, and interact with other types of animals to include rabbits. Throughout his career, he has provided services to the public as a nuisance animal trapper, as well as a guide for hunters for various types of game. I was reminded of the stories regarding the beliefs of the Native Americans as we talked with Mr. Douglas. People sometimes unfairly misinterpret or even misrepresent the motivations of persons who hunt, work as trappers or as hunting guides; it was readily apparent that Mr. Douglas was truly concerned about the future of wildlife and that he is focused on conservation efforts. It also became apparent that he is focused on educating future generations on his craft for the benefit of both wildlife and man. Mr. Douglas was licensed as one of only ten trappers through the nuisance alligator program in Georgia when it was established in 1989; this facilitates persons who are authorized to â&#x20AC;&#x153;capture and harvestâ&#x20AC;? nuisance alligators which are four feet long or larger. By definition (Georgia Department of Natural Resources, www.georgiawildlife.com/ node/270), â&#x20AC;&#x153;a nuisance alligator is one that (1) is located outside of its normal range, (2) has been fed, intentionally or not, by humans, or (3) become so

Diamondback Rattlesnake mount in trophy room

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Trapper Jack Douglas with baby alligator which he trapped

chatham county living

A trapper can â&#x20AC;&#x153;capture and harvestâ&#x20AC;? nuisance alligators which are four feet long or larger when...

1 2 3

An alligator is located outside of its normal range, An alligator has been fed, intentionally or not, by humans.

An alligator has become so habituated to humans that they no longer move away from humans or become aggressive.

habituated to humans that they no longer move away from humans or become aggressive.â&#x20AC;? This is probably a good time to mention that it is illegal to feed or harass alligators in the state of Georgia, and doing so could actually make the animal more aggressive to humans in the future due to associations the animal makes between food and humans. Alligators under the length of six feet are relocated approximately twenty miles from the site of capture in an effort to give the animal the opportunity to re-establish itself and to thrive away from human contact; many of these animals are also tagged to facilitate study. Approximately 200 small alligators are captured and relocated each year through the efforts of Trapper Jack Douglas. Alligators over six feet in length are harvested; the meat is sold to restaurants and the hide is sold to be used for consumer products. During our tour of his facility, Mr. Douglas demonstrated how the animals were cleaned and processed in order for the meat to be packaged and sold; he also demonstrated how the hides were preserved through traditional methods using salt before being packaged and shipped to sales. Mr. Douglas actively participates in conservation efforts with the alligator population through his services as a hunting guide in local rivers for public hunts; he provides his services to persons who are legally allowed (Georgia issued tags) to hunt alligators. Georgia instituted an alligator hunting season in 2003 in an effort to manage alligator numbers throughout the state after the population bounced back from its lowest point in the 1960s. Hunting alligators is a dangerous business which requires much skill and patience. The hunters drift the river in a boat until they see the head of a large alligator; the alligator will probably submerge at this time. The hunters anchor the boat and wait patiently in silence until the alligator surfaces, which could be as long as two hours. A 200 pound test line with a snag hook is used to cast over the alligator when it rises; a second line is attached to the alligator for safety. Georgia law states that the alligator must be secured with a line before dispatching it in order to prevent losing the animal. The lines Hometown Living At Its Best

are worked until the alligator surfaces in such a manner that it can be safely and humanely dispatched (bangstick or handgun per Georgia law). The largest alligator Mr. Douglas has harvested was approximately 13â&#x20AC;&#x2122;1â&#x20AC;? and weighed between 700 and 800 pounds. Last year was a record year for hunts in Effingham County, Fitzgerald and Brunswick. Mr. Douglas is very clear that he participates in the hunts to manage the resources of the state of Georgia. He sadly shared stories with us regarding persons who were not properly informed nor trained in how to capture alligators and ultimately wasted the entire animal. Trapper Jack will also trap other nuisance animals from properties throughout the southeastern United States. He works on quail plantations in South Carolina and Georgia to capture coyote and bobcat throughout the trapping season (December through February) each year. Coyotes are sold alive and substituted for foxes in other geographic locations to be hunted with hounds. Trapper Jack got his start trapping coyotes when he worked for the city and county; he also was heavily involved in trapping beavers related

Coyote mount in trophy room

Alligator skull dipped in camouflage in trophy room

chatham county living

Salted alligator skin rolled up

Décor beside entrance to trophy room

to flooding issues. Again, his goal has always been to salvage as much of the animal as possible; skins are saved or sold, while the heads, claws, and feet are mounted for educational purposes. I was sad to see our visit with Mr. Douglas come to an end; he is a genuine man with a true burden for the preservation of our state’s natural resources. He is a kind and compassionate Christian man with a burden to share his love for Jesus with others; his business logo incorporates the words “Jesus Loves You!” In today’s world, it is a rarity to find someone willing to step up and take the role of Christian mentor; Trapper Jack does just that with those whom he encounters on a daily basis. As far as future plans are concerned, Mr. Douglas would love to pen a book about his wildlife adventures. For more information regarding services provided by Trapper Jack Douglas, please refer to his website at www.trapperjacksavannah.com, find him on Facebook, or contact him via phone at 912-658-5594. CCL Trapper Jack Douglas demonstrates how to salt alligator hide Hometown Living At Its Best

Auto | Home | Life | Flood Insurance Auto | Home | Life | FloodPooler Insurance Savannah Office Office | Home Insurance 9100 White Auto Bluff Rd. Ste 102| Life | Flood114 Canal St. Ste 103 Savannah, GA 31406 Pooler, GA Savannah Office Pooler Office 912-961-1115 912-748-7300 9100 WhiteOffice Bluff Rd. Ste 102 114 Canal St. Ste 103 Savannah Pooler Office Savannah, 31406 Pooler, GA St. Ste 103 9100 WhiteGA Bluff Rd. Ste 102 114 Canal 912-961-1115 912-748-7300 Savannah, GA 31406 Pooler, GA Sam Sharpe, Agent | sam@samsharpe.org | samsharpe.org 912-961-1115 912-748-7300 Sam Sharpe, Agent | sam@samsharpe.org | samsharpe.org Sam Sharpe, Agent | sam@samsharpe.org | samsharpe.org *Discounts may vary state to state. Based on a 2008 internal State Farm claims department national study. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, State Farm Indemnity Company, Bloomington, IL State Farm Life Insurance Company (Not licensed in MA, NY or WI) - State Farm Life and Accident Assurance Company (Licensed in NY and WI) - Bloomington, IL

*Discounts may vary state to state. Based on a 2008 internal State Farm claims department national study. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, State Farm Indemnity Company, Bloomington, IL *Discounts may vary state to state. Based on a 2008 internal State Farm claims department national study. State Farm Life Insurance Company (Not licensed in MA, NY or WI) - State Farm Life and Accident Assurance Company (Licensed in NY and WI) - Bloomington, IL State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, State Farm Indemnity Company, Bloomington, IL XX

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On January 12, 2010, at approximately 4:53 PM, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 M struck approximately 15 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti; aftershocks followed as high as 5.9 M in magnitude. Estimates range from 100,000 to over 300,000 persons killed, and over 300,000 injured. It has been estimated that over 1 million persons were displaced with approximately 285,000 homes destroyed or damaged. I watched the news reports on the destruction; I saw the chaos of the international response along with the massive infrastructure and personal loss the citizens were enduring. I tried to process the scenes unfolding in light of what I had experienced years earlier while responding to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Little did I know that I would personally experience the aftermath of the earthquake within the next 18 months. I traveled to Haiti in mid-2011 on a mission trip with the Baptist Collegiate Ministries of the College of Coastal Georgia and Armstrong State University. I believe that Katrina was a training ground that prepared me to serve in Haiti. On my first day, a young man asked why I cared about the people of Haiti; I shared some of my experiences from Hurricane Katrina

Unforgettable Bakery was established in 2009, and is a story of miracles. The purpose of this bakery is to give back to the community; it is service.

Hometown Living At Its Best

Ms. Baptiste recalls discovering a gift for baking first as a hobby as she worked in higher education; however, she felt something missing. She felt a calling to do something different. She decided to open a bakery and wanted to have a place for people to come together in community.

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with him. That young man came to me in tears one morning and hugged me as a brother. I found Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love on a mountain top in Haiti in a small church made of scavenged wood and tin. Eight days in Haiti changed my heart. We helped little children and traumatized adults; we provided food and water for the hungry and thirsty. We shared the love of Christ with those who had wounded souls. I received healing, and I provided some healing for others in need. The pastor of the church in which we worked pulled me aside on our last day and told me that the church was â&#x20AC;&#x153;usâ&#x20AC;? and was worldwide. He told me that he

would continue to pray for me if I would continue to pray for the people of Haiti. I often recall his comments and my experiences in Haiti. I recently visited the Unforgettable Bakery and CafĂŠ at 238 Eisenhower Drive in Savannah. I met the owner, Belinda B. Baptiste, and spent some time with her. My first impression of Ms. Baptiste was of a strong Haitian woman full of love and compassion just like the people I met in 2011. Ms. Baptiste entrusted me with her life story. She arrived in Chicago from Haiti at the age of seventeen years, where she attended high school and college. She worked at Northwestern University in Chicago for a time before moving to Massachusetts in the early 2000s where she worked at Harvard and Lesley University, both in Cambridge. Ms. Baptiste remembers her parents demonstrating a duty to serve; they

often cooked large meals and fed the community. On a monthly basis, they would take food to the underprivileged and mentally ill by buses and vans. They delivered food and clothing items to persons in need. Her parents engrained this attitude of servitude into her at a young age. Ms. Baptiste recalls discovering a gift for baking first as a hobby as she worked in higher education; however, she felt something missing. Her cooking at the time was so good that family members playfully fought over the last bite; coworkers at Lesley University complimented the quality of her cakes which she brought to work. She recalls a Thanksgiving dinner when her brother-in-law could not stop eating and told her that he never realized that food could be so good. Ms. Baptiste felt a calling to do something different. She decided to open a bakery and wanted to have

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a place for people to come together in community. Having never worked at a restaurant, she realized that baking at home and baking for business were two totally different things. She did find a location to rent through her ex-husband’s barber. Then, the trials began, and her perseverance came through. The bakery was established in 2009, and is a story of miracles. Ms. Baptiste overcame the challenges of a divorce, having a business partner leave, and experiencing catastrophic problems with the freezer and case cooler in her bakery. Many people would have quit and moved on during such trials. With a brave smile, Ms. Baptiste explained that she is not a quitter, and that God had a plan for her. She quoted Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you…” She has met some of the most amazing people who have helped her with the bakery. One day while she was sitting in Ms. Baptiste remembers her parents demonstrating a duty to serve; they often cooked large meals and fed the community. On a monthly basis, they would take food to the underprivileged and mentally ill by buses and vans. They delivered food and clothing items to persons in need. Her parents engrained this attitude of servitude into her at a young age.

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traffic, she heard a voice say, “This place can be a place with purpose.” She went to work and received confirmation when a man came in and told her to “make this place a place with purpose.” She was stunned, and realized that she was in business not for the purpose of making money, but for the purpose of serving people, as were her parents. When the earthquake hit Haiti in 2010, Ms. Baptiste baked cakes for sale to sponsor mission trips to Haiti. Ms. Baptiste later befriended Joan Kornblatt, a partner for Hope for LaGonave, and together they have worked on numerous projects for the benefit of the citizens of Haiti. In 2006, a beloved servant of Haiti, Matthew Baugh, died in a tragic accident there; Mr. Baugh was a pastor and missionary diligently working in the LaGonave area of Haiti. Hope for LaGonave was established by his family to carry on the work which Mr. Baugh had passionately started. Their motto is “Doing nothing is not an option.” Mrs. Kornblatt authored a book, I See Colors, designed for Haitian children, for learning about the beauty found in the world around them through colors. Individuals may

People come into the bakery for reasons other than to purchase food; some come and visit for the sole purpose of supporting missions in Haiti.

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purchase a book at the Unforgettable Bakery for themselves or send one to a Haitian child. Through their combined efforts, Haitian children who once ate a meal twice a week now receive a daily meal. Approximately 400 children in Haiti are fed through this effort. People come into the bakery for reasons other than to purchase food; some come and visit for the sole purpose of supporting missions in Haiti. One miracle occurred when a brochure pertinent to the Haitian missions was accidentally dropped in the mud one day. A woman found it while walking her dog, and later came in the bakery to make a donation. Ms. Baptiste remarked how amazing it can be when God works; she has so many stories to tell regarding His work through the bakery. A customer lost her husband and Ms. Baptiste was able to minister to her in her time of loss. People often come in and ask for prayer, or to have a group prayer. On Thanksgiving, small groups gather to cook for the homeless and any others who come. At the first year of the Thanksgiving meal, only 15 diners were in attendance, but this past year there were 37; there was even a short entertainment program. Ms. Baptiste and friends once held a fundraiser for a family trying to adopt; the fundraiser lasted two hours and raised $1500. The family found out on the same day that they were able to adopt a son! The bakery has also hosted fundraisers to support the Leukemia Foundation. The purpose of this bakery is to give back to the community; it is service. In 2013, Ms. Baptiste traveled to Haiti

for a visit; she related how difficult the trip was for her because all of the children she saw were so poor. She said, “Those kids have nothing and we have everything.” She advised that God whispers, “Not what you know (disadvantaged versus advantaged), but what you are going to do.” As a result of her trip, she has become more heavily involved in service and currently sponsors two Haitian children herself. Unforgettable Bakery and Café specializes in a variety of meals and treats, including mouthwatering crab cakes, savory chicken salad sandwiches, cakes, and cupcakes. Ms. Baptiste spoke about a new cake she designed just for Savannah, a praline pound cake. She hopes to launch the special cake and donate the money to the children of Haiti. During my visit, I saw a German chocolate cake, a chocolate cake with cream cheese icing, a red velvet cake, and a double chocolate cake. Upon conclusion of my tour of the Unforgettable Bakery and Café, Ms. Baptiste sent me off with these words, “You come as a guest, but you stay as a friend.” I truly felt this as I left her that afternoon.  CCL For more information on the Unforgettable Bakery and Café, please contact Ms. Baptiste at #912-355-6160, via email at unforgettablebakery@ gmail.com, or online at www. unforgettablebakery.com.

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630 West Bay Street, Savannah, Georgia 31401

912.629.2001 | 912.629.2002 ChoiceHotels.com

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This historic all-suites hotel is located in Downtown Savannah off of I-95 and I-16 only 2 blocks from River Street and the City Market area, near the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center, Savannah Civic Center and the Savannah College of Art & Design. â&#x20AC;˘ Comfort Suites Historic District Hotel, recipient of the TripAdvisorÂŽ 2014 Certificate of Excellence offers a wide range of amenities and value adds. Hotel Amenities Free wireless high-speed Internet access | Free hot deluxe breakfast Free transportation within the historic district | Pet-friendly suites | Motorcycle wash area | On-site Market

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David M. Kessler Fine Art

“Modern Jazz 8” 30x30 Acrylic on Canvas

“It Started Out Red” 20x20 Acrylic on Canvas

“Tidal Shift 3” 36x36 Acrylic on Canvas

“Evening Excursion 4” 48x48 Acrylic on Canvas

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Contemporary Abstract Paintings for the Modern Home and Office www.davidmkessler.com 336-418-3038 david@davidmkessler.com Hometown Living At Its Best

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Story by David Pena Photos by LaWanda Wilson

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For Peter and Janie Brodhead, their vision for the future defied all odds as they let passion be their guide.

For nearly four decades, Peter and his wife, Janie, have helped to make Brighter Day Natural Foods the quintessential health food store in Savannah, but it hasn’t always been easy for the green grocers.

Peter Brodhead, co-owner of Brighter Day Natural Foods, wants you to know that he enjoys a good hamburger every now and then. That is, as long as it’s grass-fed, all natural, hormone free beef he’s eating. For nearly four decades, Peter and his wife, Janie, have helped to make Brighter Day Natural Foods the quintessential health food store in Savannah, but it hasn’t always been easy for the green grocers. In 1978, Peter’s wife and co-owner of Brighter Day remembers the time well. “We were opening our first account at a local bank on the corner. When we told them our plans (for Brighter Day), they warned us against the idea, saying it was not a great location, to say the least. Hometown Living At Its Best

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But we were young and naive, and we believed in what we were doing at the time.” Peter adds, “You have to remember that when we first opened, downtown was not what you would call a ‘happening’ place; most people wouldn’t even shop on our corner. There was no SCAD and the tourist boom hadn’t hit yet.” The couple knew they had an uphill battle, but according to Janie, “when something is such an intrinsic part of what you believe in, you persevere with little more than your passion to guide you.” According to Peter, that passion about nutrition and optimum health began during his high school years. “Inexplicably, I started reading health books, and began thinking about diet and nutrition. Also, during the late sixties my older brother, Bill, got into this fairly new thing called macrobiotic dieting,” Considered the original counterculture diet of the sixties, this diet is known for its mixture of brown rice, beans, sea vegetables, and Asian yinyang philosophy of finding a balance in life for health and 112

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vitality. Ironically, Peter’s stepfather was a cattle rancher, so he had a bit of both worlds growing up. “He was really into the meat business, so I grew up going to his cattle ranch, being around cows and eating a lot of meat. I still continued to read books about macrobiotics and herbs so I saw both sides, in a way.” Peter’s head-first foray into the organic way of life began with a very “hands-on” approach, albeit hundreds of miles away. “When I was a senior in high school, Bill and some of his college buddies got together and started an organic farm in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. It was a communal 114

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farm, with about eight people living together and growing vegetables organically way before it became the norm.” After he graduated, Peter traveled to his brother’s farm and ended up staying for an entire summer. While working on the farm, Brodhead began to step outside of the ‘McDonald culture’ of the seventies into a new, macrobiotic way of life. “I lived in an old farmhouse, complete with a wood burning stove and an outhouse, eating lots of vegetables and brown rice,” he recalls. “It was really kind of a seminole moment for me, planting the seeds (no pun intended) for what was to come later in my life.” Unfortunately,

For the past 38 years, Peter and Janie have seen a tremendous change in the industry and feel fortunate to be part of the natural foods and medicine movement that’s grown throughout the whole country. “The public demand eventually built the industry’s growth; now you see (health products) in grocery stores and places like Target, whereas before it just wasn’t available to them,” Janie observes. She adds that it helps to have a partner who’s always learning and very passionate about what he does.

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after two years, the farm had run its course. Peter recalls, “The whole thing couldn’t make it financially anymore. Everyone was in their early twenties and looking to do new things, but remember - this was a couple of decades before the whole organic thing really took off. They were definitely way ahead of their time.” After his second summer on the farm, Brodhead attended college at Mercer as an economics major with a minor in art. “I guess I wanted to cover the right and left sides of my brain evenly,” he says with a laugh. After graduating, Peter moved back to Florida and decided to put his economics background to good use and began working at a bank in Englewood for about a year. More importantly, he began dating Janie during that summer, albeit sporadically. “It was a long distance relationship since she was teaching in Macon at that time. I then moved to Macon to be with her and worked at a bank there, but after a short time knew that I wanted to do something else.” As fate would have it, shortly thereafter, Peter was hired by a health food store he frequented. “The store was 116

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run by a couple from Colorado who followed this Indian guru,” he laughs. “As soon as I started working for them, I knew I had found my home. I hardly made any money, but it didn’t matter.” Interestingly, it was one of Peter’s hobbies that drew him to the hostess city. “I came from a big family with eight kids. Growing up in Sarasota, Florida, I loved to be in or near the water, and I have a passion for windsurfing, which is where you’ll find me whenever I have free time. Needless to say, we were getting frustrated being inland (Macon), so we started exploring the coast for places to move.” When Peter and Janie arrived in Savannah, they were struck by its beauty and southern charm. “I lived for a time in Spain as a kid, and Savannah seemed very European to me,” he adds. As luck would have it, on their second trip to Savannah, the young couple found a health food store for sale in Forsyth Park. After getting some sage business advice from his stepfather, the couple made an offer, which was actually half of what was being asked, and the owners miraculously accepted.

Education has always been a really big part of their vision, so the couple regularly holds community gardening programs by partnering with local schools to get kids to grow their own food. “If they grow it, they’re more likely to eat it.”

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Once Brighter Day was purchased, Peter and Janie knew they had their work ahead of them. “The store was located in an area that was pretty much off limits; it was in a pretty rundown area,” remembers Peter. “The south side was basically the place to be.” Besides the location, there was another more pressing hurdle to overcome. When the couple took over the store that August, there was no air conditioning. Rather than buying a new unit and sinking further into debt, the new owners decided to shut down the store and reopen in October. “We ended up having to throw out half of what was on the shelves due to the heat. Then we had to borrow money to fill the rest of a pretty small inventory, but we opened on time,” Peter says. On Brighter Day’s first day open, the store made about $350.00 in sales, eclipsing the $50.00 daily average of its previous owners. Against all odds, the young entrepreneurs began to see the business slowly make strides, but not without some sacrifices in their personal comfort. “We saved money by actually living in the part of the store where the deli is now located, but with no air conditioning and only a fan to keep cool. There was a little pull-out bed we slept on, and we took showers at the public showers on Tybee Island, but we were having the time of our lives.” Janie and Peter were eventually able to grow their business by educating their customers about health and nutrition through extensive community outreach. In addition to being a regular sponsor for the Forsyth Park Farmers’ Market every Saturday, Brighter Day has given support to the Savannah Skateboard Park Campaign and various school fund-raisers. “We love the fact that our customers can go to Forsyth Park and meet the farmers, and we’re very excited about organic farm culture growing in Savannah.” Education has always been a really big part of their vision, so the couple regularly holds community gardening programs by partnering with local schools to get kids to grow their own food. “If they grow it, they’re more likely to eat it,” Janie points out. “Peter is great at lecturing to the community and raising awareness so we try to inform the public any way we can. We sometimes have classes right in the store, where we can move some shelfing around and seat about 50 people. In fact, we just had a class on how to make your own sauerkraut.” Brighter Day also continues to help educating the medical establishment in Savannah, ensuring that there are knowledgeable physicians available to those in the community interested in alternative medicine. They regularly bring nationally known speakers to give lectures to physicians and the general public, many of whom are at the top of their fields in medicine. For the past 38 years, Peter and Janie have seen a tremendous change in the industry and feel fortunate to be

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part of the natural foods and medicine movement that’s grown throughout the whole country. “The public demand eventually built the industry’s growth; now you see (health products) in grocery stores and places like Target, whereas before it just wasn’t available to them,” Janie observes. She adds that it helps to have a partner who’s always learning and very passionate about what he does. “It’s not that often that people work together and still enjoy each other, so we’re fortunate because we balance each other out. Plus, I like the fact that we really are a family business. Our kids grew up with this store; they’ve worked here. We also encourage our employees to have family time as well.” Peter agrees, stating, “The industry has gone through an amazing evolution, or should I say revolution. I think we were fortunate since people were starting to really take charge of their health and wanted better food for their families than what was out there, but I couldn’t do it without Janie; she’s really the nuts and bolts of the store.” And to think, in 1978, tofu was just a strange word – now it’s a staple of the American diet. Do your body good by heading on down to Brighter Day.  CCL For more information, visit brighterdayfoods.com.

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Lindsay N. Harris, DMD • Russell D. Clemmons, DDS

912.355.2050 www.savannahdentalaesthetics.com

310 Eisenhower Drive • Building # 8 | Savannah, GA 31406

• Immunization & Preventative Care • Laparoscopy • Laser Surgery • Therapeutic Laser & Rehabilitation • Pain Management • Acupuncture • Geriatric Medicine • Radiology • Dental Care • Ultrasound • Surgery • Nutritional Counseling • Microchipping • Boarding • Bathing • Grooming Case Veterinary Hospital is a proud sponsor of Willow, Ronald McDonald House’s Fun Development Manager

CaseCare Our preventative health care payment plans are designed to budget for all stages of your pet’s life, which includes exams, vaccinations, parasite screening and diagnostic screening. Monday - Friday: 8AM - 6PM | Saturdays: 8AM - 1PM 111 Eisenhower Drive • Savannah, GA 31406 www.casevet.com • email: info@casevet.com • 912-352-3081 Hometown Living At Its Best

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Urological Associates of Savannah Proudly Announces the Arrival of New Urologist

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Andrew Michigan, MD Buffi G. Boyd, MD David L. Cheng, MD John W. Coursey, MD Michael J. Cox, MD Michael D. Funderburk, MD James C. Judy, MD

Richard Mazo, MD Stephen Michigan, MD Ruth Ann Miles, MD Thomas E. Shook, MD Samuel A. Torres, MD Heather M. Wallace, MD Melissa Porter, PA-C

230 E. DeRenne Avenue • Savannah, GA 31405 • Ph 912/790-4000 • www.urologysavannah.com

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We start with the best ingredients to bake the best cookies. byrdcookiecompany.com • (912) 355-1716

Three Locations to Serve You! | (912) 236-4400 | www.gaheritagefcu.org 102 Park Ave., Pooler • 1085 W. Lathrop Ave., SAV • 200 Stephenson Ave., Ste. 100, SAV

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Subject to terms, conditions and availabiliy. Savings vary by state and produce line. Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Co., Allstate Vehicle and Property Insurance Co., Allstate Insurance Co., Allstate Indemnity Co. ÂŠ 2015 Allstate Insurance Co.

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173997

5859 Abercorn St., Unit 1 Savannah

Congratulations to the Class of 2016

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26

Presidential, Merit, Academic,

Honors, Achievement and Foundation

invitations to Collegiate

and Governorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Honors

Honors Programs

Scholarships awarded

National AP

Scholar Awards

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Program Participant

236 Advanced Placement

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UGA and Georgia Tech

Together, these accomplished individuals earned over $6

acceptances into

million in college scholarships.

Call us at 912.721.2114 or visit our website savcps.com to learn more about the Class of 2016.

We Are Savannah Christian Prep Savannah Christian Preparatory School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin.

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CASE VETERINARY HOSPITAL:

A Tradition of

Giving Back STORY BY | David Pena PHOTOS BY | Ryan Lee Photography and Les Wilkes

With over a hundred years of loyalty from their Savannah patients, Case Veterinary Hospital gives back to the community in a big way.

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While perusing the front halls of Case Veterinary Hospital and seeing the various medical tools and implements used in their practice through the ages on display, one is seemingly transported back to a virtual animal medicine time machine, and for good reason. For over a century now, the Case family has been providing superior health care for Savannah’s pets born out of a love and deep passion for helping our furry friends. Dr. Carla Case-McCorvey, DVM, recently reflected on her great-grandfather Erle’s legacy, the origins of Case Veterinary Hospital, which she and her father, Dr. Jerry L. Case, DVM, still own and operate today, and especially on ways that Case Veterinary Hospital has given back to the community. “When people learn that I’m associated with Case 128

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Veterinary Hospital, they frequently stop to tell me a story about a situation in which Case has been involved with one of their pets at some point in their lives. It may be funny or sad, but it always impresses upon me how important pets are in our lives and what an honor it is to be entrusted with their care,” Dr. Case-McCorvey reflects. “To know that my family has been privileged to be included in such an important part of the lives of other families in Savannah over the past 107+ years is humbling, and it makes you want to continue to carry on the legacy- to make decisions based on what’s right, even when it isn’t popular or lucrative.” Making decisions “based on what’s right” can be traced back to Carla’s great-grandfather and the hospital’s founder, Dr. Erle Case. Around the beginning of the twentieth

century, Erle Case traveled to Savannah by steamship after accepting an employment offer from a local vet. Fortunately for all pet lovers in Savannah, that job offer fell through, so the entrepreneurial patriarch started his own practice which grew into a hospital for animals both large and small. “Erle Case was the first Savannah veterinarian with a degree. (Other vets) who had no formal training resented him for that,” says Dr. Case-McCorvey. Interestingly, during the early days of the hospital, a client could pay the Case practice with chickens or farm produce. Case also provided treatments before the discovery of antibiotics, and by 1928 the practice boasted its own ambulance, complete with stained glass windows, which is now on display at the hospital. Sadly, Case’s original hospital was in the city’s historic downtown area, but it was destroyed by fire. The family doesn’t have a record of its exact location, but it is believed to have been where the Savannah Civic Center now stands. “As the city grew, some people didn’t like the traffic and the odor of large animals downtown, so Erle was asked to move farther out when he began rebuilding,” Case-McCorvey says. “He built a new practice on Ash Street in 1923, which at the time was outside the city limits. The family residence was upstairs.” Francis Horace Case, Erle’s son and Carla’s grandfather, grew up working with his father, then entered veterinary school and received his DVM degree in 1943 from Alabama Polytechnic Institute (today’s Auburn University). “He went there because the University of Georgia’s veterinary college, where both my Dad and I received our degrees, was closed during the war years,” Case-McCorvey says. Erle Case died in 1949, months before his grandson, Jerry, was born. Jerry Lynn Case soon followed in the family footsteps and gradually became a principal owner of the hospital. His daughter, Carla, was barely walking when she began to accompany her father to the hospital, eagerly eyeing the myriad of animals coming to see Hometown Living At Its Best

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her father and grandfather for their care. Case Veterinary Hospital is unique because it is the only veterinary hospital worldwide that can boast four direct generations of veterinarians. And with each generation, the Case family has continued to build on the trust that they would provide their patients with the best possible care available; the reputation of the hospital reflects on both the business and the family name. “Very often people in the community will share ways that our hospital has impacted their lives and made a difference. When clients come back and share their stories about how we have touched them and helped their pets, that’s what it’s all about to me and makes what we do so special,” emphasizes Dr. Case-McCorvey. What many, including clients of the hospital, may not know is that, apart from the excellent care that Case provides, the practice routinely gives back to the community outside the confines of its hospital walls. Dr. Case-McCorvey notes, “As a long-standing, respected veterinary hospital, we are approached by many worthwhile organizations with which to affiliate, but there are a few that seem to really reflect our belief system very well.” One such organization, Senior Citizens, Inc., who oversees the Meals on Wheels program, has partnered with Case and The Humane Society to create their Pet Food Program. Whitney Cobb, the Director of Meals on Wheels commented 130

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on the program’s inception as well as Case’s involvement. “The program started when we discovered that clients were feeding their home delivered meals to their pets since they could not afford to purchase food on their (low) income. We are very fortunate to receive donations from sites such as Case Veterinary Hospital, the Humane Society, and private donors. Through these donations, our Pet Food Program is able to serve about 90 pets throughout Chatham County. We have volunteers who sort, package, and deliver pet food monthly to our Meals on Wheels clients. Senior Citizens, Inc. is very thankful for all the community support it receives and the support from organizations like Case.” Dr. Case-McCorvey continues. “We have also supported Friends of Animals since its inception.” Friends of Animals is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization that distributes funds from its annual auctions to existing non-profit animal rescue and welfare groups in our area. “It’s kind of like the United Way of pet care, if you like,” Carla contends. “It benefits many groups such as The Humane Society, Coastal Pet Rescue, and Save a Life, to name a few. We donate items to the auctions, which we attend every year.” In addition, Case Veterinary Hospital also attends to the needs of Willow, the Labradoodle who resides at the Ronald

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McDonald House. The Case staff sees to it that she is clean and groomed, in addition to providing all the vet care she needs. Because of the delicate and fastidious environment in which she lives, Willow has had months of extensive training in preparation for her therapeutic, calming role at the House. Because of her vital presence there, she has been a light for the kids as well as their families, bringing smiles when smiles are hard to come by at times. Several years ago, Case partnered with Hospice Savannah to help them receive a grant which enabled Hospice to form Pets Peace of Mind, a program that would enable those under hospice care to keep their pets with them. Before the program’s inception, pets were obviously not allowed 132

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in the rooms for sanitary reasons. However, now that Case helps provide an animal’s health care, grooming, parasite control and vaccinations during its owner’s time at hospice, the pets are able to comfort their owners much like a close friend or relative. It is no wonder then that during one of the most important and challenging life stages — the end-of-life journey — pets can play a critical role; thus, this program is committed to educating hospices about the importance of pets in the lives of hospice patients and helping them support patients and pets in practical ways as they share the end of life journey together. And as Dr. Case-McCorvey points out, “There are so many worthwhile organizations to partner with, but these four in particular just really seem to embody our

Mission Statement that “We are committed to enhancing lives of families, caring for one pet at a time.” Since Carla’s gradual takeover of the family business in 2009, Jerry has stepped down as a vet, but continues to be consulted on critical decisions regarding the practice he shared with his daughter. Now a married mother of two, Carla has positioned Case Veterinary Hospital as one of the only hospitals in the region to routinely offer laparoscopic procedures to its patients. This technology is comparable to what is expected in the human medical field, enabling less invasive procedures with fewer complications and faster recovery time. The facility also performs laser surgery, therapeutic laser treatments, ultrasonography, acupuncture, rehabilitative therapy, dental procedures and laser surgery in addition to routine preventative wellness care. Additionally, Carla is continuing to push Case Veterinary Hospital to the forefront of veterinary medicine by investing in continued education and training for all the veterinarians and certified veterinary technicians that she employs as well as

herself. Case has grown into a practice involving roughly six veterinarians, eight technicians, five kennel assistants and six administrative personnel. “Being an established veterinary hospital for over a century in a city like Savannah, there are many, many people throughout the community that have been a part of our team at Case at some point through the years. Whether they are local vets which now have established hospitals of their own, or they are individuals now enjoying any variety of occupations, many in the community once were associates, technicians, receptionists or kennel assistants here,” Dr. Case-McCorvey reflects. “They all have helped to build and develop Case into who we are today. That impact on a community and the way the community, in kind, circles back and impacts the business is interesting to think about.” Indeed. Somewhere, at any given time, a tail is wagging because of what Case Veterinary Hospital and its staff has brought to the community, and in the words of Dr. Carla Case-McCorvey, “That’s what makes it all worthwhile.”  CCL

Pet Peace of Mind program paid for Sparky, owned by patient Mr. Graham, to be groomed. Pet Peace of Mind program paid for Booger, a cat belonging to our homecare patient Mr. Palmer, to be boarded for one week when he came in for a short stay in Hospice House. During that time, we also paid to have Booger vaccinated, and ultimately, we found Booger a new home after Mr. Palmer died. He is now owned by one of our staff members! Hometown Living At Its Best

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POOLER The closest interstate connection to Historic Savannah, Georgia and the Tybee beaches

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ur once sleepy little town has seen overwhelming growth in the last several years. Pooler has become an ideal location for those loving the small town life while being able to enjoy what the cities have to offer. It is no surprise that more and more families are relocating to Pooler. With only a 20 minute drive to Historic Savannah and Tybee Beaches being less than an hour away, the convenient location offers affordable housing and the benefits of being able to enjoy so many fine residential communities. Pooler has it all for those looking to relocate. Pooler is also home to fortune 500 businesses such as Gulfstream, JCB, Mitsubishi and other large manufacturing businesses, providing job opportunities for so many. The Savannah Hilton Head International Airport is only a 10 minute drive away, allowing an easy commute for business travelers and tourists alike.

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We Are excited to serve Pooler, GA with the freshest, most delicious coffee and espresso drinks as well as pastries and lunch items 215 West Collins Street | Pooler, GA | (912) 348-2240 Mon-wed 7am-6pm | Thur-Sat 7am-9pm | Closed Sundays

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912-856-2205 | craig@brewersurvey.com | www.brewersurvey.com | P.O. Box 441, Pooler, GA 31322

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Delivering exceptional customer service for all your banking needs Marlene S. Buhler NMLS #757283 Vice President Mortgage Originator (912) 657-9700

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Sandra Burt Branch Manager Godley Station 140 Towne Center Blvd Pooler (912) 201-4918

Whitney Ray Branch Manager Downtown Pooler 501 West Highway 80 Pooler (912) 944-2621

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All loans subject to credit approval

404 HIGHWAY 80 * POOLER, GA 31322 * (912) 748-0110 * WWW.POOLERCHAMBER.COM

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Randy Wood Guitars STORY BY |D. Annette Sasser PHOTOS BY | Ryan Lee Photography

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A talented guitar maker goes back to his roots after a life filled with music and adventure.

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There is a place on the outskirts of Bloomingdale in rural Chatham County that draws me like a magnet. It could stem from my own love and family history of music, singing and playing stringed instruments. Or perhaps it’s the charm and serene atmosphere of the country style building, or the tuning of an instrument, or melodies from the fingers of skilled musicians that occasionally float out through the doors of the Music Store, that makes Randy Wood Guitars a place where one might pause to sit in a rocking chair on the little porch of the store’s entrance and breathe deeply. Randy Wood grew up hearing his father and uncles sing and play all kinds of stringed instruments along with the harmonica. “During the nineteen thirties and forties they performed as a gospel quartet called Wood Brother’s Quartet,” said Randy. “My dad was a share cropper, and we worked hard to make a living. But music was as big a part of our lives as picking cotton and working in the tobacco fields.” Randy was born a twin on August 11, 1943, in Douglas, Georgia. His twin, Reggie, passed away six years ago. “There were three boys and three girls,” said Randy. “I started 144

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working on the farm picking cotton and stringing tobacco when I was around five years old. Back then people had large families, because on the farm you needed a lot of hands to work in the fields; it was a family affair. Everyone worked as soon as they got old enough.” From an early age Randy enjoyed music, but he had an even greater love and gifting. “I was always interested in music, but I really loved whittling, making something out of wood,” said Randy. “I use to borrow my dad’s pocketknife, and I got a bad whipping one time for losing it. I was around five years old at the time. But when my parents went to town that weekend he bought me my own pocketknife. I’ve had one ever since.” Randy was eleven years old when his parents moved the family to Brunswick, Georgia. In 1961, he graduated from high school and immediately joined the army. While stationed in Hawaii he was in charge of the woodworking facility, and built an auto harp that he used to entertain his fellow soldiers with popular folk songs. “I also purchased a little Gene Autry guitar that I played around with a little,” said Randy. “One day I rolled a jeep

down the side of one of the gulches and ended up at Tripler Army Hospital in Honolulu. Although I wasn’t hurt bad I was put on light duty. Since I wasn’t married and lived in the barracks I stayed at the hospital for about ten weeks. I met a guy there who played the guitar, and I started playing with him at special events.” Randy left the military in 1964 and returned to Brunswick where he formed a blue grass band with his brother and three of his friends. Later on he joined with two other musicians and began playing at a club on St. Simons Island. “We played blue grass on Saturday afternoons and rhythm and blues at night,” said Randy. “Then I met some guys from Atlanta…I went to Atlanta and played with them several times before I decided to move there. In Atlanta I worked as a draftsman in an engineering company and played music on the weekends.” One night at a pickin’ party in Atlanta Randy met Tut Taylor, a Dobro player from Milledgeville, Georgia. The two became fast friends, and Randy started going with Tut to jam sessions. Tut suggested Randy move to Milledgeville so he’d have someone to jam with on a regular basis. Randy’s interest was greatly piqued when he learned that Tut also had a wood shop. “Up until that time my life’s ambition was to have access to a wood shop,” said Randy. “I didn’t care if it was building furniture or whatever. I just loved working with wood. I told Tut that if he could find me a job I’d move. A couple of months later he called with a job offer.” In Milledgeville Randy worked a job, played music, and helped Tut repair dobros. He even built a few banjos. In 1967 he built his first mandolin. Two years later Randy met a man named Rual Yarbrough who had a music store in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. “Rual played banjo for country singer Bill Monroe,” said Randy. “He told me that if I would move to Muscle Shoals, that he would build me my own shop. I made the move and that is where I actually got into the repair business and Hometown Living At Its Best

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music industry.” Things really took off for Randy in Muscle Shoals. He began to travel with country singers like Bill Monroe, who was known as the Father of bluegrass. Randy occasionally made guest appearances singing and playing his guitar. “I didn’t work for Bill Monroe. We became pretty good friends and I just traveled with him,” said Randy. I’m not a great musician. I mainly sing. I enjoy making instruments more than playing them.” Randy built or made in-lays and carvings for instruments of well-known entertainers like Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Emmy Lou Harris, Eric Clapton, Danny Gatton, and many others. His work spoke for itself and he soon became nationally known as an excellent craftsman. During this time, the Gibson Company contacted Randy about the possibility of hiring him to put his intricate carvings on the back of their guitars as he had done on banjos. Randy, his friend Tut, and George Gruhn, a horse trader from Chicago he had met a year earlier, made a trip to Gibson’s manufacturing company in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Although Randy was unable to made a satisfactory deal with Gibson, the result of that trip was something much more rewarding. “On the way home we started talking about opening a vintage music store in Nashville, Tennessee, because there wasn’t one there at that time,” said Randy. “George had several contacts in Nashville, and Tut and I knew several country artists there

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as well.” In January of 1970 Randy moved to Nashville, Tennessee, and the three men founded a vintage music retail and repair store called GTR (initials of their first names and the abbreviation for guitar). “We found a building right behind the Grand Ole’ Opry on Fourth Avenue,” said Randy. “At that time they were filming the Johnny Cash Show on Thursday nights. They practiced from Monday through Wednesday nights, and in between rehearsals they’d all come to our store and hang out. We got to meet almost everyone in country music. It was a good time.” Tut left GTR after a year. A couple of years later, Randy sold his share to George. In 1972, he opened the Ol’ Time Pickin’ Parlor on Second Avenue with Tut and a new partner named Grant Boatwright. “After about eight months, I bought them out and became sole owner,” said Randy. “It started out as a small music storefront and repair shop, but developed into a combination custom instrument shop and a 200-seat nightclub that featured bluegrass music.” In 1979 Randy left Nashville and moved to Isle of Hope in Savannah. “I was semi-retired, but I had a little repair shop in my two-car garage behind my house. I repaired a few instruments and worked when I wanted to,” said Randy. After twenty-two years of living on Isle of Hope, Randy began to search for something more ‘rural’. In 1999 he purchased 4 acres on Highway 80 where he built a house with

â&#x20AC;?

I gave up trying to make money a long time ago. I decided to just enjoy life and make a decent living. I love what I do, and I still enjoy getting up every morning and going to work. Not many people I know can say that.

â&#x20AC;?

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what is called a “mother-in-law suite”, a workshop, a retail store and a Bar-B-Q Restaurant. In 2000, a 100-seat “Pickin’ Parlor Concert Hall” was added. Music fans of all kinds enjoy the popular music groups and artists that come from around the country to perform in the Pickin’ Parlor Concert Hall two to three times a month. Eating at Randy’s Bar-B-Q restaurant, which is open six days a week under the management of the Goetlieb Brothers of Savannah, is an added adventure. Randy and Irene, his wife of fiftyone years, continue to live in the house. Their daughter Renee, and granddaughter, Elizabeth, live in the “mother-in-law suite.” “It’s really nice,” said Randy. “They have their own space but we get to see them every day.” Randy Wood Guitars’ primary business is two-fold: custom-made Randy Wood fretted instruments and fretted instrument repair and modifications. The music store offers a wide variety of new and used stringed instruments and accessories, including some of Randy’s famous custom-made instruments. Music lessons are also available. Randy Wood is famous for the musical instruments he’s made over

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the past fifty years. He is a skilled craftsman, a legend in his field of expertise, and an icon in the Country Music industry. My husband and I have been a regular customer of Randy Wood Guitars for several years and have always admired his beautiful handmade guitars, mandolins, and other instruments. We’ve eaten at his restaurant, and attended some of the Pickin’ Parlor musical events. Prior to this article, we had only spoken with Randy on occasion and admired him from a distance. But when I sat and talked with him for this interview I discovered something about Randy Wood that makes him even more of a legend. He stands tall among a rare breed of individuals who walk with humility and honesty, who strive to be fair with everyone, who stand behind the integrity of their work, “doing unto others what they would have men do unto them.” Perhaps that is one of the reasons why Randy Wood is able to say what many might be hesitate to speak: “I gave up trying to make money a long time ago. I decided to just enjoy life and make a decent living. I love what I do, and I still enjoy getting up every morning and going to work. Not many people I know can say that.”  CCL

Randy Wood Guitars is located at 1304 E. Highway 80, Bloomindale, Georgia 31302 Telephone: 912-748-1030 info@randywoodguitars. www.randywoodguitars.com

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GODLEY STATION

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DONIHUE WATERS, DDS, MDS | www.drwatersbraces.com Savannah 9100 White Bluff Rd., Suite 104 912.354.3474 150

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Frank E. Scarbrough | D.M.D., F.A.C.O.M.S. Michael C. Wilson | D.M.D., F.A.C.O.M.S.

W hen experience counts...

Dual Board Certified Surgeons with combined 33 years of experience specializing in: Dental Implants, Wisdom Teeth Extractions, Comprehensive TMJ Treatment, Laser Procedures, Oral Pathology, Bone Grafts / Reconstruction, Dental Extractions, Facial Trauma, Jaw Surgery, Sleep Apnea, General Anesthesia, I.V. Sedations • Serving Savannah for 17 years • 3i, Nobel, and Zimmer implant systems consultants • Staff members at Memorial University Medical Center, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Candler Hospital • Diplomates, American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery • Fellows, AmericanAssociation of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons 310 Eisenhower Dr, Bldg 1 Savannah Eisenhower Drive Medical Center

912-354-1515

145 Traders Way, Suite A Pooler Pooler Parkway / Godley Station

912-748-4365

www.chathamoralsurgery.com Hometown Living At Its Best

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WHELAN CHIROPRACTIC We’ve Got Your Back!

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DR CHRIS WHELAN, DC 602 Abercorn St | Savannah, GA 31401

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Call for an appointment to see us!

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DOCKWORKS NEW CONSTRUCTION • WOOD PILE DRIVING • BOAT LIFTS BOAT LIFT REPAIR • SEA WALLS • RIP RAP Locally owned and operated in the Isle of Hope area for over 25 years.

7510 Central Avenue | Savannah, GA 31406 | (912) 352-7767 152

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CALL US ABOUT OUR SNORING AND NON-CPAP SLEEP APNEA TREATMENT. ONE MALL TERRACE SAVANNAH GA 31406 | T 912.352.7808 F 912.352.7807 WWW.SAVANNAH-DENTIST.COM Hometown Living At Its Best

MATTHEW S. ROSENTHAL, DMD ONE MALL TERRACE SAVANNAH GA 31406 T 912.352.7808 F 912.352.7807

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Story by David Pena Photos by LaWanda Wilson

With the fierce determination of a prizefighter in training, seventy-twoyear-old Pamela Turek aggressively works the heavy bag at the AndersonCohen Weightlifting Center, executing combinations of left, right, left...to the torso of an imaginary opponent, finishing with a flurry of knockout punches to its head, all under the tutelage of fifth level Olympic trainer and former Olympian Michael Cohen. Along with several boxing drills, she and her fellow athletes go through a regimen of stretching, coordination exercises and weightlifting at least twice a week at the center. Eleven years ago, however, it was a different story altogether for Pamela. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was at a cocktail party with friends, when one of them noticed trembling in my hands. I simply wrote it off then as just a nervous tick, attributing it to a rough couple of years dealing with family issues.â&#x20AC;? After Pamela made a subsequent trip

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to her doctor, he referred her to a neurologist, who diagnosed her with Parkinson's disease. “When I found out (about the disease), I went into a really deep depression for about six months. In fact, my first Christmas (after the diagnosis), I went to bed and cried all day. I just couldn't get it together.” Nothing seemed to help Pamela accept the seemingly unacceptable, that is, except a furry friend named Prissy. “My husband looked at me one day and said, 'you need a dog again.' So we got a Sheltie, and I trained her to be a certified therapy dog. Now we take her to Hunter Army Airfield to greet the incoming and outgoing soldiers. It gave me a purpose and took me out of myself. That was the beginning of my climb back into life.” Another very integral part of Pamela's climb back, of course, involved Michael Cohen, who manages the weightlifting center named partially after his father Howard, a former Golden Gloves champion. In early January, Cohen got a phone call from Sarah Bernzott, the executive director of the Savannah Parkinson’s Support Group. Bernzott told Cohen about a program based out of Indianapolis called Rock Steady Boxing, which helps Parkinson’s patients live out more active lifestyles through the rudiments of boxing. Scott C. Newman, the originator of Rock Steady, found that boxing created an improvement in a person's overall health, agility and energy levels. After researching the Indianapolis program, Cohen believed that with the resources available to him at Anderson-Cohen, he could create his own more comprehensive program, which he refers to as GEM, or “Get Excited and Move.” Early into the program, however, Cohen decided that his program shouldn't be limited to just boxing. “It started with boxing,” the former Olympian contends, “but didn’t like its one-dimensionality. I needed them to understand other things. I’m big on variety.” Initially Cohen took a trial class of about twenty patients and ran them through his six-week Level 1 course, which was completed on March 31. This trial class was somewhat experimental and needed some definite tweaking, but he contends that he still hasn’t lost a single participant yet. At the first level, the athletes work on basic stretching and agility exercises, focusing on building core strength through basic boxing moves. Then at Level 2, the athletes move on to more intensive drills on balance and agility,

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mixing up the boxing drills to keep the brain active, which is integral for Parkinson's patients. The Level 3 classes, which are set to begin in mid-May, will involve competitions, aerobic exercises and will even extend to the indoor pool at Savannah State, where the focus will be on overcoming water resistance. “Through simple, repetitive exercises, the brain can re-establish connection with nerves affected by the disease,” said the former Olympian. “At first we introduce patients to basic exercise movements with just one chief goal in mind: we want the patients to know that they can do it. Then we simply build on that belief.” Word has gotten out about the program and, more importantly, its results. Sarah Bernzott beams, “We

started on February 23, and now we have a wait list through September. The cost is only ten dollars per person per class, since part of the program is subsidized through Chatham County.” Each class can accommodate twenty-four people, which includes twelve athletes along with one caregiver per attendee. Bernzott, who works with most of the class members regularly in her support group, said the difference made in just six weeks has been remarkable. “Patients are doing things they had thought they’d never be able to do again,” she proudly states. “They really thought they would decline from here, and now they’re discovering there’s so much they can do.” Pamela Turek agrees, saying that instead of dwelling on the disease, she tried to focus on

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Word has gotten out about the program and, more importantly, its results. Sarah Bernzott beams, “We started on February 23, and now we have a wait list through September. The cost is only ten dollars per person per class, since part of the program is subsidized through Chatham County.”

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what she could do, instead of what she could not. “After I was diagnosed, I was told to go home and read everything I could on the Internet about Parkinson's disease. I was also about to begin a pretty abundant supply of medications. Instead, I refused and got a second opinion at the Mayo Clinic. The doctors there told me not to read a thing on the internet or I'd go nuts, so I decided to start acupuncture treatments and began Michael's program at its inception. Now I feel I can accomplish anything. Little by little my quality of life is improving, along with my outlook.” In fact, inspired by her progress as well as Cohen's encouragement, Pamela will compete in her very first weightlifting competition, the 20th annual Matt Davis Memorial competition, on May 28.

“The whole thing feels like a dream to me. I owe so much to Michael. He and his family are some of the kindest people that I've ever met, and they care about their community very deeply. Michael is truly one of the bestkept secrets in Savannah.” Cohen shies away from the accolades, and instead would rather give credit to his athletes. “We don't think of them as clients or patients; they are athletes,” he stresses. “(The classes) are really all about getting you out of your comfort zone and making yourself do something.” Sarah Bernzott also reflected on the impact that the program has had on its athletes as well as Cohen's ability to inspire them. “It's really incredible to watch (Cohen) work with them. After they get out of class, they hold their heads a bit higher; they're walking and feeling better. When they

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walk into Michael's gym, they're no longer people with Parkinson's anymore; they're athletes, so we don't treat them with kid gloves. Recently, one woman even thanked us for giving her family member back to her.” She also stressed the physiological impact that this program has on the attendees. “Physically we know they will improve,” she notes. “If we can make their quality of life better for one day, one week or more, that's what's most important. It's a life-long commitment.”  CCL For information regarding the program or placement, call Sarah Bernzott at (912) 376-9833 or (912) 351-3500.

Cohen shies away from the accolades, and instead would rather give credit to his athletes. “We don’t think of them as clients or patients; they are athletes,” he stresses. “(The classes) are really all about getting you out of your comfort zone and making yourself do something.”

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Sandfly is a historic community located on the outskirts of Savannah, Georgia. Historically, Sandfly serves as a crossroad between other important historical sites in the area including Isle of Hope and Wormsloe Plantation, Skidaway Island and Modena Plantation, Pinpoint, and the Bethesda Home for Boys, now Bethesda Academy. The area's documented history dates back to 1736.

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8 5 0 7 F e r g u s o n Av e . Savannah, GA 31406

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nahJames Gunn clothing boutique

Shop Sandfly Calypso Mother Denim Joie Equipment Shoshanna Amanda Uprichard Autumn Cashmere Sundry

912.335.1887

8413 Ferguson Avenue Suite C (Shops At Sandfly)

Enjoy complete meals prepared with fresh ingredients! We do the heavy lifting; all you need to do is turn on the oven and enjoy.

We provide comforting casseroles, hearty meats and veggies, and options for those looking for more healthy fare. We also offers meals from the freezer!

HOURS: M-F10am-6pm | 912.323.2023 | whatsfordinnersavannah@gmail.com 8509 Ferguson Avenue Savannah GA 31406

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Shop Sandfly Your favorite store around the corner!

8409 Ferguson Ave. Savannah

912.691.4729 Home •

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decor •

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8511 Ferguson Avenue Located at the old JC Clements Furniture Store

912.777.4081

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CHATHAM COUNTY

Living

Tiffanie Livingston 912-429-8060 tiffanie.wyim@gmail.com Rape Crisis Center Events Sponsored By

BE A PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER More than a gym, we’re a community. Join Today! YMCA OF COASTAL GEORGIA

Active Woman Self-defense For Runners & Striders Sunday, September 25th | 3p-5p Art & “SOLE” Live Auction & Party, Soles Against Rape Thursday, September 29th| 6p-8p Local artists will transfer their works of art onto a running shoe sole -- turned canvas. Some artists include, Samantha Claar, Christina Edwards, Jonathan Keller and Tiffani Taylor. Both events will be hosted at Fleet Feet Sports 3405 Waters Ave.

Savannah Reindeer Run & Holiday Market

The Rudolf Race Against Bullies Saturday, December 17th | 8a-12p Participants enjoy a kiddie race, 8K, and post-race activities; to include a Holiday Cookie Contest, Costume Contest and Holiday Shopping. Register at runsignup.com. For more information or to RSVP for any event, call 912-233-3000 or e-mail ES PIN events@rccsav.org O ZA

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Kumon Math & Reading Center of Savannah 10010 Abercorn Ave., Ste. 5A, Savannah, GA 31406

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September 2016

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Soul Searching

Kayla and Jade plan to continue celebrating the common man on Souls of Savannah.

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

Making Life Count

Jasmine Chatman is working hard to bring awareness of Type 1 Diabetes and helping kids fight.

A Sense of Solidarity

am chath c o un t y No matter where our relationships have been forged, the story we share brings us together.

january 2016

On the Brighter Side

H OMETOWN L IVING AT ITS B EST

For Peter and Janie Brodhead, their vision for the future defied all odds as they let passion be their guide.

The Leaf Life

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Mary Kay Ross MD and Functional Medicine A Health Plan That Works.

A talented guitar maker goes back to his roots after a life filled with music and adventure.

Savannah’s only medical practice dedicated solely to the practice of Functional/Integrative Medicine.

Lou Thomann made a delightful discovery that changed the course of his life.

Brightening Her Own Corner Local songstress Huxsie Scott looks back on a musical legacy of over forty years...and counting.

Healing Begins Here™

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Abbey and Brent World-class dancers, a legacy for Wood, have truly created proud. which Savannah can be Hometown

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

Through the Eyes of Art

life and

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

To advertise in the next issue or to offer story ideas, give us a call or email us at:

912.654.3045 nikki@wyimpublications.com Like us on Facebook!

Chatham County Living

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We’ll Come to Your Doorstep We hear it all the time. Readers don’t want to miss an exciting issue of Chatham County Living. Now you can make sure a copy is delivered right to your home, so you’ll never miss a story.

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Scenes

of Chatham

Around every corner in our amazing community, there are treasures that lay awaiting discovery. Beauty is indeed all around us and in endless supply. Take a look at a few

why we love Chatham County.

more reasons

photo by

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LaWanda Wilson

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Painting With Light Photography

photo by

Painting With Light Photography

photo by

LaWanda Wilson

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photo by

Kelly McDonald Photography

photo by

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LaWanda Wilson

Chatham County Living

LaWanda Wilson

photo by

Ryan Lee Photography

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photo by

Painting With Light Photography

photo by

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Ryan Lee Photography

LaWanda Wilson

photo by

LaWanda Wilson

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sometimes the most ordinary things could be made extraordinary, simply by doing them with the right people.â&#x20AC;?

- Nicholas Sparks photo by

LaWanda Wilson Hometown Living at Its Best

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LaWanda Wilson

photo by

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LaWanda Wilson

photo by

LaWanda Wilson

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Index of Advertisers

24Seven Family Fitness & Tanning Centers …......... 82 Allstate - Rountree & Brady Insurance Agency …... 124 Ameris Bank ...............................................………. 140 Annabelle’s …….................................................…. 164 Bath Fitter ………................................................ 32-33 Brewer Land Surveying ……...............................…. 140 Brighter Day Natural Foods Market ....................... 120 Byrd’s Cookie Company ……..............................…. 123 Camping World ….............................................……. 64 Captain Mike’s Dolphin Tours …….......................…. 52 Case Veterinary Hospital ....................................... 121 Chatham County Living Magazine ………................ 166 Chatham County Living Subscription ..................... 167 Chatham Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, P.C. ………. 151 Chatterbox Pediatric Therapy ………....................... 137 City Market …….................................................…. 125 Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens ....…...........…. 122 Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners ..............………. 55 Colony Bank ………................................................... 79 Comfort Suites …...........................................……. 106 Country Financial …....................................……. 22-23 David M. Kessler Fine Art ………............................. 109 Dental Designs of Savannah ….........................……. 53 Dentistry at Godley Station ……….......................... 151 Do you Thrive? ……............................................…. 165 Dockworks …..................................................……. 152 DoubleTree by Hilton …….....................................…. 96 Dream Weaver Photos ……….................................. 107 Duffy, Feemster & Strother LLC ………................ 20-21 ENT Associates of Savannah, P.C. ............................ 81 Endodontic Associates of Savannah ………........ 9, 150 Enmarket ………............................... Inside Back Cover Finger & Associates Plastic Surgery Center …........…. 5 Galloway & Galloway, PC ....…. 136, Inside Front Cover Georgia Heritage Federal Credit Union ….......……. 123 Georgia MOHS & Skin Cancer Center …….........…. 124 Godley Station ……....................................…. 150-151 Habersham House Assisted Living ……............... 18-19 Hawk’s Point Golf Club …...............................…. 36-37 Holiday Inn & Suites Savannah Airport-Pooler …... 138 Hospice Savannah ……........................................…. 67 Innovative Orthodontics ………........................... 7, 150 Islands Framing Gallery …................................……. 93 James Gunn Clothing Boutique ……...................…. 163 Kumon Math & Reading Center of Savannah ….…. 166 Lair’s Auto Electric …….......................................... 164 Live Oak Children’s Therapy ……..........................…. 65

Logic 4 Design .............................................……. 161 Lovin’ Spoons Self-Serve FroYo ………................. 166 Marche de Macarons ….................................……. 95 Memorial Health …….........................................…. 49 Memory Care Insignia of Savannah ……..........…. 166 Miller’s Coins & Currency ………........................... 161 Paul Anderson Youth Home ………....................... 108 Planter’s Inn ………........................................... 34-35 Pooler Chamber of Commerce ….........……. 134-135 Pooler Pharmacy ….......................................……. 141 Quick Rx Drugs/ The Prescription Shop………........ 94 Rape Crisis Center Events …….........................…. 165 Rosenthal Dental Group ………............................ 153 Sandfly Market Place …...............................……. 164 Savannah Christian Preparatory School ……...…. 125 Savannah Comfort …….....................................…. 54 Savannah Country Day School ….............……........ 51 Savannah Dental Aesthetics …….....................…. 121 Savannah Floor Covering Co., Inc. ……............…. 139 Savannah Pain Management, Inc. ……..............…. 97 Savannah Square ……….......................................... 1 Shear Elegance ………......................................... 162 Sherry’s Honey Pot Fabric & More ……............…. 153 Shop Sandfly ……....................................…. 162-164 Southeast Lung Associates …........................……. 83 State Farm - Bill Richard …….............................…. 50 State Farm - Clay Clark ……...............................…. 50 State Farm - Erica Herndon .........................………. 50 State Farm - London Arashiro …….....................…. 50 State Farm - Sam Sharpe & Team ……..............…. 92 Swim Bike Run ….........................................……. 120 Tater Bugs ……….................................................. 141 Telfair Museums Jepson Center ………................... 80 The Center For Digestive & Liver Health ………...... 2-3 The Endoscopy Center ……...............................…. 2-3 The Front Porch Coffeehouse ……….................... 138 The Institute for Personalized Medicine ... Back Cover The Law Office of Charles C. Grile ………............... 141 The Whole Tooth General Dentistry ...........………. 139 Tiffanie Livingston ………..................................... 165 United Community Bank ……….............................. 66 Urological Associates of Savannah …..........……. 122 Visit Pooler ……........................................…. 134-141 What’s For Dinner ………...................................... 163 Whelan Chiropractic …….................................…. 152 YMCA of Coastal Georgia …….........................…. 165 Zaxby’s .......................................................………. 78

Please thank these sponsors for making this publication possible!

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The Gift of Love Belinda B. Baptiste and her legacy has enabled her to provide for the hungry children of Haiti.

The Leaf Life

Mary Kay Ross MD and Functional Medicine A Health Plan That Works. Savannah’s only medical practice dedicated solely to the practice of Functional/Integrative Medicine.

guitars A talented guitar maker goes back to his roots after a life filled with music and adventure.

Lou Thomann made a delightful discovery that changed the course of his life.

Brightening Her Own Corner Local songstress Huxsie Scott looks back on a musical legacy of over forty years...and counting.

Healing Begins Here™

912.352.1234 • 3 JOHNSTON STREET, SUITE A • IPMSAVANNAH.COM H o m e t o w n L i v i n g at i t s B e s t