If you are thinking about visiting our beautiful
city of Savannah, or maybe you are already here all ready to enjoy the St.
Patrick's Day Parade, here are a few things that you should keep in mind!
The festivities are scheduled to begin Thursday,
March 17th, 2016 at 8:00 a.m. with the Mass-Feast of Saint Patrick at the
Cathedral of St. John The Baptist, located at 222 East Harris, Street, Savannah,
(912) 233-4709.
As is the tradition, the Parade will follow the Mass
and will begin approximately at 10:15 a.m.
The
Parade will be held Rain or Shine!!
The Route:
The
parade begins at the corner of Gwinnet and Abercorn Street, it will make its
way North on Abercorn to Broughton, where it will turn East to East Broad
Street. The parade will then turn North
on E. Broad and then will head West on Bay, the parade will also pass City
Hall, (make sure to look up and admire the top of the building!). The parade will then take a left onto Bull
Street, and it will end at Harris Street.
Savannah
Chatham Metropolitan Police Department has also made available the following
"Real Time Closure Map":
Please make sure you visit their page as often as possible for any updated and also, take
notes on all of the "No Parking Zones". SCMPD Road Closure Map and NO PARKING ZONES.
While
you can choose to rise bright and early (and by this I mean: real early) to find
the perfect spot on one of the squares along the parade route, there are other
options as well:
BLEACHERS ARE AVAILABLE: Reserve your individual or corporate seating by visiting Kelly Tours' Website today at www.kellytours.comor call 912-964-2010.
INDIVIDUAL SEATS: $25 IN ADVANCE ($30 DAY OF
PARADE)
Bay Street
Colonial Cemetary
Cathedral
CORPORATE SEATING: $1,200.00
Accomodates 65 people
While this is a wonderful celebration, it can be and will be very crowded. Make sure you talk to your young ones about any and all safety rules. The City is using social media tools likes Facebook and Twitter to keep everyone updated with any disruptions, changes, traffic information, street closures, parking information, as well as local ordinances.
We will not be participating this year... while Ms. Bree seems to be recovering ahead of schedule, it is better if we just watch the parade on WTOC from the comfort of our home. After all, we are only on Post Surgery Day 6.
Enjoy the festivities, St. Patrick's Day Parade is one of the biggest, greatest and most exciting celebration of the year!!
Monday was a long day for us but it was a good day.
Little Man's first baseball practice was Monday and I'm happy to say that it went well! I'm glad that many fathers expressed their desire to help and had no problem been hands on.
Unfortunately, as our group gets older, the practices are not as early as I would like them to be. Our practices are currently scheduled for 7:00 p.m., which is a bit late if you take in consideration the length of the practice plus the time it takes to get the kids home, showered and settled in bed.
Our kids were finally in bed by 10:00 p.m. which is extremely late!!
Late bed time equals late mornings... late mornings equals quick and simple hair styles because we've spent too much time looking for silly socks for school! Ms Bree's hair was in two braids, I tucked in the ends in order to protect them from this moody weather.
This week our school is participating in "Read Across America Week" which celebrates Dr. Seuss' Birthday. Throughout the week, the kids will be partaking in all of sorts of Dr Seuss themed activities! How FUN!
Yesterday was "Fox in Socks"- Wear silly socks.
Today is "Happy Birthday to You!"- wear silly hats or birthday hats to celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday or wear your best "Who Hair".
Thursday is "Green Eggs and Ham"- Wear all Green...
and Friday is "My Book About Me"- Wear Your Favorite Outfit...
While I've been trying to stay away from dark colors, when in a hurry I always end up grabbing my "to go" colors! Black and Red.
And yesterday l had to make an extra stop before we could get home, IT WAS TIME TO VOTE! And that's exactly what I did!
The Savannah College of Art and Design presents The Savannah Film
Festival.
Each year more than 40,000 people attend this eight day event filled
with cinematic creativity from both award-winning professionals and emerging
student filmmakers. The Festival is host to a wide variety of competition film
screenings, special screenings, workshops, discussion panels and lectures.Venues vary.Go tofilmfest.scad.edu for
times and locations.
Bring the kids dressed up for a Pre-Trick or Treat on River Street in Downtown Savannah on October 29, 2015 5-8 p.m. To participate, pick up your trick-or-treat bag the day of at the staff tent across from the Rousakis Plaza Arbor Stage at 115 E. River St. Get goodies from over 30 participating businesses at this FREE Halloween event.Just make sure to look for the “Pre-Trick or Treat Participating Establishment” poster on the storefronts to know which door to say “Trick or Treat” to! For more information, call (912) 234-0295 or go toriverstreetsavannah.com.
Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays:Savannah Live! Come and join us as we celebrate our 10th Anniversary in Savannah with our newest creation, a dazzling new variety show with 2 hours of high-energy song, dance and comedy! Admission: $37+tax for adults $18+tax for children. (912) 233-7764 or savannahtheatre.com.
Enjoy a unique run through the beautiful Lake Mayer Park. You will be
among thespians during Halloween so now isn’t the time to be shy about your
costume creativity. Grab a partner, friends and family and compete for the Best
Costume Couple or Group or go big on your own for the Best Overall Costume
Award. A post race party will follow the run with including spooky
treats and music. A 50-50 drawing could be the biggest prize of the day.
Proceeds from the
event will benefit the Savannah Arts Academy Theatre Department. Your
contribution will directly support the Theatre Productions including
performances, set and costume design and construction.
Tickets are $25 until October 29, when they change to $30. Packet
pickup is from 3-5 p.m. on October 30 at the Unforgettable Bakery
& Deli (238 Eisenhower Drive, Savannah 31406). Military and student
discounts are available.Click herefor tickets
Race day
registration and packet pick up opens the day of the race (October 31) at 7:30
a.m. and closes at 8:15 a.m. The race kicks off at 8:30 a.m. and the awards and
50/50 drawing is at 10 a.m. For more information, go to savannahraces.com.
Tanger Outlets' Halloween Trick
or Treat
Event Details
Start: 31 October 2015 1:00 pm
Join the fun as Tanger hosts its annual Trick or Treat event
Saturday, October 31, from 1-3 p.m. Visit Shopper Services and participating
stores for candy and prizes for children under 12. Bring the entire family for
some Trick or Treat fun! For more information, go
to tangeroutlet.com/savannah.
The Forsyth
Farmers’ Market (FFM) was founded in 2009 by six women who came together with
the intention of supporting their common vision of a local food system that is
good for the health of all people and the environment. They merged with the
existing Starland market and sought permission from the city to allow a
farmers’ market in historic Forsyth Park. The first market was on May 9th,
2009. The FFM was conceived and planned to provide all members of Savannah’s
community a welcoming, inclusive place to purchase local food and address food
access issues. Despite some logistical challenges, Forsyth Park was chosen
because it is a beautiful, public place in Savannah where everyone feels
welcome. The founders made a special effort to seek out vendors from all
backgrounds and conduct outreach to a wide variety of people. FFM, Inc. is
currently in the process of applying for a 501c3 designation.
From the very
beginning, the FFM has focused on food and food issues which is why it is a
producer-only market (meaning all vendors have to be producing at least 75% of
the products they sell) and allows only food and plant vendors. The founders
also sought to address food access by opening the market with a token system
that allow shoppers to use SNAP (supplemental nutrition assistance program,
formerly known as food stamps). The FFM was one of the first independent,
farmers’ markets in the nation to institute this system. By partnering with
Wholesome Wave Georgia to double SNAP purchases and by conducting outreach to
those community members who utilize SNAP the FFM has had the second highest
SNAP sales at a farmers’ market in the state year after year.
Organizers
envision a farmers’ market that is a strong hub of community activity that
supports many aspects of a healthy local food system. To that end, there are
many ways to participate in the market besides buying and selling. The market
partners with health advocates, garden enthusiasts, community builders and a
variety of other groups. There is a designated education and outreach space at
each market. Please check out our “get involved” page to see who you can deepen
your understanding of and participation in the transformation of our food
system.
Mission
The mission of the Forsyth Farmers’ Market is to promote understanding and
participation in a local food system that supports sustainable production and
increases access to local products.
Vision
The FFM envisions a sustainable, local food system that promotes the health of
individuals, farmers and the community.
This
family-friendly Halloween Baazar will have over 50 vendors to check out
(arts, crafts, shopping and food trucks), as well as trick-or-treating, games,
prizes and a costume contest for kids and adults. There is a $1 entry fee,
which includes two bazaar bucks to spend at any vendor. For more
information, go to wellfedsavannah.com/events/bazaar.
"Stranger Than
Fiction: An Exploration of the Extraordinary in Old Savannah"
Every weekend in October the Davenport
House Museum will have 90-minute tours to see historical entertainment on the
many extraordinary ideas, beliefs and objects with which people in the 1820s
would have been familiar. While visitors maneuver the historic site they will
come into contact with those who lived there in 1828 as they hear about what
thrilled, scared and horrified Savannahians of that time. Special attention
will be paid to spiritual convictions of Lowcountry African Americans of the
past. Tickets are $22 in advance and $25 at the door. For more information
about the Stranger Than Fiction tours or the museum itself, call the Davenport
House Museum at (912) 236-8097.
"The Nightmare
on Congress Street"- Charity Bar Crawl
October 31:“The Nightmare on Congress Street”
Charity Bar Crawl is Savannah’s creepiest and scariest bar crawl along
Savannah’s eeriest strip. Costume Crawlers will quench their thirst on drink
specials at each participating bar as they creep down chilling Congress Street.
As opposed to a typical “bar crawl” where participants travel as one big group
with designated time slots at each bar, this event allows participants to
“crawl” at their own pace. staffordpromotions.com/.
May Street Fall Festival
Get ready for a night of treats and sweets on May Street. On Oct. 27, Gadsden Elementary School and West Broad Street YMCA will be hosting this annual event for the entire family. The will be food, face painting, freebies and more. Don’t forget to bring a friend! Learn more at www.westbroadstreetymca.org.
Bryan County Bark Park will host its third annual Howl-o-ween BYOD (bring your own dog) event featuring canine costume competitions to raise funds to pay off the building loan and keep the park free and open to all. Raffle giveaway is a paddle board worth $1,000 plus fins, leash and car rack as well as a one-hour introductory lesson. Raffle tickets are $5 each or $20 for five tickets and can be purchased at the event or by calling 912-657-1221.
It is not essential to attend the event to win. Learn more at www.bryanbarkpark.com.
Wednesday October 28, 2015 6:00pm - 9:00pm Fish Tales Restaurant(3203 Fort McAllister Road)
To learn more about these and to see more events visit
In the wake of Black History Month, it is not only
important that we discuss the prominent African Americans but also the
“unknown’ African Americans that have helped paved the way for others to
succeed today, like Retired Lieutenant John White who was one of the first
black Police Officers on the Savannah Police Department.
By caring that heavy burden of being one of the first
African Americans, Lieutenant John White, who was one of the “First Nine Black
Officers” to be employed by the Savannah Police Department in 1947.HIS ACT AND STRUGGLES paved the way for so
many other blacks both male and female.
During an
interview in February 17, 2010, with Savannah Morning News, “Lt. White
reflected on his days patrolling a city where the color of one’s skin dictated
what level of justice one would apply”.
(photo by Savannah Morning News)
In Atlanta, Georgia, Claude Dixon, one of the first
eight black police officers appointed to serve in 1948 said, “When we took our
oath, all of us had to stand up there and say, -“I do solemnly swear as nigger
policemen that I will uphold the segregation laws of the City of Atlanta.”
(photo by unknown)
Said statement was countered by Former Police Chief
Herbert Jenkins of Atlanta, who stated the following: “Black police officers
were not required to take an oath any different from that of the white
officers”.
However, did you know that black police officers
throughout the country were not allowed to arrest white no matter what crime
thy committed?The officers had to hold
the white criminal until a white officer arrived to make the arrest. This
continued until the 1960s.Savannah is
one of the oldest black community and through the hardships of slavery, “Jim
Crow Laws” and the fight for civil rights, “colored people” as they referred as
at that time, founded their own churches, schools and communities in the City
of Savannah.
As I mentioned above, Lt. White is one of the original
nine officers hired by the Savannah Georgia Police department, and is now the
last surviving member of the “Original Nine” who still resides in the City of
Savannah. I’ve had the pleasure of
meeting him and the opportunity to talk with him about his experiences on the
Police Department Lt. White explained
to me that when he was hired, he was trained in secret, once the training was
completed and he was sworn, it was stipulated that the black officers were
forbidden to arrest any white criminals.
He further explained the hardships he encountered as a
black officer in this city during the 1950s.He recalled the fact that all white officers had patrol vehicles while
the black officers had to walk even during the cold winter.
Lt. White shared with me a particular experience when
two white police officers had to give him a ride to headquarters and once he
was out of the vehicle, the vehicle was taken to have the inside of it cleaned
out because he had been in it. The gut
wrenching feeling he experienced at that particular moment cannot be described,
He said, these were officers he knew, officers he worked with and smiled at him,
laughed and joked with him but felt he was dirty and not fit to sit in back of
their patrol car, merely because of the color of his skin.
(photo by Savannah Morning News)
In spite of everything, Lt. White remained strong,
continuously fought battles of discrimination and racism.During the Civil Rights Movement, he often
found himself arresting the very people who were fighting for the civil rights
of every African American to include him.As he explained to me, it was one of the hardest things he had to do,
but he also realized that it was his job to treat those protesters with the
up most respect and kindness.
His retirement brought on commendations from Senators
and President Ronald Reagan in 1984. When SGT. White retired he was promoted to
from Sergeant to Lieutenant.
Is it better now in law enforcement because of Lt.
White’s actions? YES, it sure is, but
there is still much work to be done to eradicate the stench of discrimination
that has pledged our country and continues to diminish the quality of life and
even end the life of so many good people, like the young Trayvon Martin, who
could have been a future doctor with the cure for cancer, another black president,
or another astronaut. (the key word here is ANOTHER)
With the election of our first black President, we
have seen the resurrection of racial hate groups to indicate that racism is far
from dead.However, there are plenty of
African Americans who have achieved because of their hard work, dedication,
determination and their willingness to never back down and fight the
fight.
Whenever I talk to my seven year old son and my five
year old daughter about the contributions of their people, I cannot only
mention the famous and most celebrated African Americans but I also the ones
who are not so famous like Lt. John White or my wife’s mentor and friend, Judge
Tammy Cox Stokes, who was the first African American Woman to be appointed as
Recorder’s Court Judge in Chatham County.
We take our hat off, bow our heads and have a minute
of silence in to remember those famous activists that pave the way for future
African Americans but let us not forget those that suffered alone in silence.
Those who were not cheered for by the thousands but who paid the price,
sometimes with their life, so their children and grandchildren could have a
better life.So If you are blessed with
someone like Lt. White in your community, which there are at least one in every
community, take the time to honor them in your local paper, radio, and/or T.V.
but most of all honor them with your work and when you see them, tell them
thank you for a Job well down.
"The Original Nine: Pioneers of Law Enforcement"
Lt John White;Retired Officer Alexander Bryant, Jr.; Howard Davis; Milton Hall; Stepney Houston; Frank Mullino; James Nealey; Leroy Wilson.
