Savannah’s

COMMUNiTY HEADLiNES

The Local Newswire

SAVANNAH FILM ALLIANCE GALA HONOREES (SAVANNAH, GA) The Savannah Film Alliance (SFA) honored eight outstanding local professionals from Savannah’s thriving film and television community at the inaugural SFA Honors Gala.  The star-studded event had the theme of “Old Hollywood” and was open to the public. It was a night of “Lights! Camera! Action!”, and the entertainment community pulled out all the stops that evening, evoking classic Hollywood with lights, a red carpet, live music – even paparazzi.  For more information visit www.savannahfilmalliance.org.
THE BRA PROJECT KICKOFF AND STUDENT PROJECT UNVEILING HAPPENING THIS THURSDAY (Bluffton/Beaufort, SC) In recognition of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Pinnacle Medical Group announces “The Bra Project” will once again benefit DragonBoat Beaufort and local breast cancer survivors. This is the fifth consecutive year that the group has presented the event. Local students from Hilton Head High School, May River High School and Bluffton High School have been invited to custom-design a bra and enter the competition. A kickoff unveiling event for these bras will be held at Pinnacle Plastic Surgery on Thursday, October 3, at 4 p.m. “The Bra Project” will then go on tour throughout the Lowcountry for the entire month. For more information about the unveiling event, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1597629250362138/
JAGUAR LAND ROVER COLUMBIA IN LAND ROVER TREK 2020 (COLUMBIA, S.C.) Jaguar Land Rover Columbia today announced plans to participate in Land Rover TReK 2020, Land Rover North America’s off-road driving skills competition. The competition is being held this year during the launch of the highly anticipated New Land Rover Defender.  Land Rover TReK 2020 is a two-day competition, comprised of a regional event and final event, for Land Rover retailer staff designed to educate and challenge sales, service and technician personnel with a variety of first-hand off-road experiences and challenges. The competition combines skills testing in off-road driving, navigation and team collaboration to test some of the best off-road driving experts across the U.S. and Canada.  Jaguar Land Rover Columbia will be represented by Dustin Nielsen, Jeffery Thomas and Matt Wheeler.  For more information visit  https://www.jaguarcolumbia.com/ or https://www.landrovercolumbia.com/.
14TH ANNUAL BUDDY WALK THIS WEEKEND (SAVANNAH, GA) The Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society will hold its 14th annual Buddy Walk on Saturday, Oct. 5, in Savannah’s Forsyth Park. This year’s event has a fundraising goal of $50,000. A festival will follow the walk, complete with face painting, pumpkin painting, bouncy houses, games, music, refreshments and other entertainment. For more information visit ldssga.org or email buddywalk@ldss.org
LOWCOUNTRY DOWN SYNDROME SOCIETY
BETSY PORTUNE HIRED BY ROTO-ROOTER PLUMBERS OF SAVANNAH (SAVANNAH, GA) Betsy Portune has joined Roto-Rooter Plumbers of Savannah as business manager. Her duties at Roto-Rooter will include maintaining company policies and procedures, handling employee relations, assisting with recruitment and overseeing daily reconciliations and banking.  For more information visit https://savannahceo.com/news/2019/09/betsy-portune-joins-roto-rooter-plumbers-savannah-business-manager/
UNION MISSION DONATION AND SERVICE DAY  (SAVANNAH, GA) Enmarket and Healthy Savannah presented a $1,000 donation to Union Mission as part of the 2019 Enmarket Encourage Health Education Series.Following the presentation, 15 volunteer representatives from Enmarket and Healthy Savannah remained onsite to repaint walls at Union Mission’s Ben and Bettye Barnes Center. The center provides permanent supportive housing for up to 16 single women living with disabilities. Program tenants are supported by such services as case management and community resource referrals.  Visit https://fox28media.com/news/local/enmarket-and-healthy-savannah-give-donation-to-union-mission-and-help-paint-their-center for more information.
SAVANNAH JUNIOR DERBY TAUNTS RECEIVE MOUTH GUARDS (SAVANNAH, GA) The Canfield Mouthshield Program, funded and administered by Savannah dentist Angela Canfield, fitted the Savannah Junior Derby Taunts for their new season with custom athletic mouth guards that are awarded by the practice each year. For more information visit https://fox28media.com/news/local/local-dentist-donates-mouthguards-to-girls-derby-team
SANDY VIRGIN HIRED BY LOCAL DENTAL PRACTICES  (SAVANNAH, GA) Sandfly Family Dental in Savannah and Premier Dental Designs in Rincon are pleased to welcome Sandy Virgin to the general dentistry practices. Her duties as patient coordinator will entail greeting visitors and patients, answering the telephone, scheduling patient appointments, maintaining patient files, and submitting and processing insurance claims and payments. For more information, call 912.826.4037 or visit https://www.premierdentaldesigns.com/ or https://www.sandflyfamilydental.com/
CYNTHIA CRADDUCK PRESENTED AT NATIONAL CONFERENCE (SAVANNAH, GA) Cynthia Cradduck, Junior Partner of Carriage Trade Public Relations and Cecilia Russo Marketing, presented a Public Relations training session at the National Jaycees Convention in Corpus Christi, Texas. Cradduck is vice president of communications for the Georgia Jaycees and is an active and experienced member of the Savannah chapter.
JO ANN CULLEN JOINS BEAUFORT DERMATOLOGY (BEAUFORT, SC) Nurse practitioner Jo Ann Cullen has joined the staff of Beaufort Dermatology, 1096 Ribaut Road, which recently opened under new ownership after its purchase by the Pinnacle Medical Group. Cullen began her clinical experience as a cardiac nurse in 2001 and later moved into the operating room at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida. She became the Clinical Educator for perioperative services at Moffitt while she was working on her master’s degree and later served as the Clinical Specialist for perioperative services. In 2011, she helped launch a new dermatology practice in south Florida. To learn more, visit https://pinnaclemd.com/, https://pinnacleplasticsurgery.com/https://puremedspamd.com/ and https://www.beaufortdermatology.com/.
Jo Ann Cullen of Beaufort Dermatology
UNITED WAY DISTRIBUTES SCHOOL SUPPLIES (SAVANNAH, GA) United Way of the Coastal Empire distributed five pallets of school supplies to children in need at Title 1 Schools throughout the Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools System. The school supplies were generously donated by Publix Super Markets.  This year, United Way Community Fund invested $677,500 in programs and services that strengthen literacy, help children stay on track in school, and graduate high school.  For more information, please visit uwce.org.
PEACOCK AUTOMOTIVE AND WSAV “PAY IT FORWARD” TO LDSS (SAVANNAH, GA) WSAV, Peacock Automotive and Peacock Hyundai of Savannah honor another deserving organization that gives back to our community. This month they surprised the Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society at Forsyth Park, the site of the nonprofit’s annual Buddy Walk, taking place on Saturday, Oct. 5. To learn more, watch the video here: https://www.wsav.com/pay-it-forward/pay-it-forward-lowcountry-down-syndrome-society/
CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH EXPANSION (SIMPSONVILLE, SC) Christ Community Church of Simpsonville, S.C., dedicated its new and expanded worship space at 700 Harrison Bridge Road with a two-hour evening program and service. Felder & Associates served as the lead architect in partnership with the Aspen Group, a design firm that specializes in church construction. The $2.8 million addition and renovation includes a new 5,700-square-foot worship facility that can seat 420 people, along with a new office addition of 1,320 square feet. The existing worship service was converted to “Third Place” space – a welcoming space for connecting that includes a coffee bar and comfortable seating for casual gatherings, group meeting, dining and fellowship. To learn more visit https://www.christcommunitychurchonline.org/
Christ Community Church of Simpsonville, S.C.
WINNERS OF THE BIZPITCH 2019 COMPETITION (HILTON HEAD, SC) Three locally owned women businesses have won the inaugural Thrive Lowcountry BizPitch competition for women entrepreneurs.  Each winner received over $8,000 in cash and professional services (and prizes) to support them in their business development.  For more information visit https://www.hiltonheadchamber.org/thrive-2019/

LEFT TO RIGHT: Amy Shippy, founder of Blue Poppy Designs, Karen Balerna, founder of Nurse Advocate Partners, LLC., and Katherine Reeves and Jessica Lowther, cofounders of The Refinery Nail Bar and Skin Studio

THRIVE CONFERENCE
(HILTON HEAD, SC) Marjorie Young spoke on Public Relations at the Thrive Lowcountry Women’s Conference. Pictured below, Mayor John McCann of Hilton Head, Tina Tyus-Shaw of WSAV, Marjorie Young of Carriage Trade PR and William Miles, President and CEO of the Hilton Head Island – Bluffton Chamber of Commerce.
STEWART NAMED GENERAL MANAGER OF PORSCHE OF HILTON HEAD (BLUFFTON, SC) Amanda Stewart, a veteran employee of the Peacock Automotive family of companies, has been named general manager of Porsche of Hilton Head. As general manager, Stewart will manage the new and used inventory, appraise trades, ensure service and parts departments are operating efficiently and take responsibility for customer experience. For more information visit https://www.peacockautomotive.com/
ISLE OF HOPE ART & MUSIC FEST (SAVANNAH, GA) Mark your calendars, the Isle of Hope Art & Music Fest is returning Saturday, October 26, 2019.  Come enjoy great food and music and shop at over 100 artists stalls. Bring the kids for fun activities too.  For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/IsleOfHopeArtMusicFest/?eid=ARBkvtjIY-fbtdu_rRSVNFllRzqaLtO0sEmZctgvAcOpFQST3m8EMjYzs8TcM87YynYLHX0eEd5UxcVT
NEW FRESH EXPRESS PROGRAM LOCATION (SAVANNAH, GA) Have you heard that the Fresh Express Program is launching at a second location at the West Broad Street YMCA? Fresh produce hand-picked from Second Harvest will be available to the public on the third Friday of every month. Fresh Express locations are supported by the YMCA of Coastal Georgia and Healthy Savannah through grant funding awarded through the Center for Disease Control’s REACH program to close the gap in health disparities among priority populations in Savannah and Chatham County. Learn more here: https://ymcaofcoastalga.org/news/2019/08/20/ymca-news/ymca-launches-second-location-of-fresh-express-program-to-serve-savannah-s-west-side/ SHIPS OF THE SEA MARITIME MUSEUM GARDENS (SAVANNAH, GA) The Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum is pleased to announce the gardens of the museum have been certified by the National Wildlife Federation as a Certified Wildlife Habitat® through its Gardens for Wildlife™ program. The National Wildlife Federation celebrates this effort to create a garden that supports wildlife, provides natural sources of food, water, cover and places to raise young and is maintained in a sustainable way that incorporates native plants, conserves water and does not rely on pesticides. This is a part of the museum’s larger sustainability efforts which includes recycling, no tree-based paper products and a ban of single use plastics in the museum and at museum events. To learn more, visit https://www.nwf.org/garden-for-wildlife/certify
JUNIOR LEAGUE ANNOUNCES NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS (SAVANNAH, GA) The Junior League of Savannah (JLS) announces the 2019-2020 Board of Directors. This team of women exemplifies an assorted set of skills illustrated by previous experience in community involvement, finances and fundraising, and communications.  JLS is proud to welcome it’s 2019-2020 Board of Directors: Jennifer Grafton, Jackie Schott, Brooke Lozier, Gennie Long, Penny Rafferty, Alisha Goldbach, Denise Cooper, Yuntalay Gadson, and Natasha Holmes. To learn more visit https://www.jrleaguesav.org/
BETHESDA ACADEMY LIFE SKILLS CLASS LEARNS SWIMMING AND WATER SKILLS  (SAVANNAH, GA) Students at Bethesda learned swimming, stroke improvement and other water skills with the help of volunteers Jodi Encapera, Martha Welsh and Charlotte Brawner Welch this month as part of the Bethesda Academy Life Skills class. https://www.facebook.com/Bethesda-Academy-112707498760536/
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN SAVANNAH (SAVANNAH, GA) The latest excerpt from “Brews and Views” community forum, presented by Savannah Morning News, focused on affordable housing and homelessness in Savannah. Panelists included Union Mission Director of Operations, Josua Rine, and other community partners. To view the full video, visit https://www.unionmission.org/2019/09/24/brewsandviews/.
SAVANNAH SCORE WORKSHOP (SAVANNAH, GA) What do you need to know to create a successful business? Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur or a small business owner, you need real-world tools, knowledge and insights in order to succeed. The “Business Launchpad: How to Start, Manage, and Grow a Success Business” offers exactly that. As part of this workshop you will learn from expert SCORE Business mentors how to tell if you have a viable business idea, the key elements of a successful business, how to create an effective business plan, how to manage finances and achieve profitability, how to find possible sources of funding, how to create effective sales, marketing and social media strategies and so much more. This workshop will take place on Saturday, April 13th from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at SCORE Savannah, 111 E. Liberty Street, Savannah. Registration is required. Seats are limited. Please call the Savannah SCORE office at 912-652-4335 or email us at scoresav70@gmail.com. The session fee is $49 ($20 for Students and members of the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce)  includes all workshop materials, lunch, beverages and a flash drive with all workshop content. PHILLIP DAVIS JOINS PARK PLACE OUTREACH (SAVANNAH, GA) Phillip Davis has been hired by the Park Place Outreach Transitional Living Program (TLP) as a resident assistant. Davis, who will live onsite, is responsible for ensuring the safety and health of all TLP residents, while working with the program and case managers to make sure goals are met. To learn more, visit https://parkplaceyes.org
DEWITT TILTON GROUP SHARES PHOTOS OF THE PUMP HOUSE PROJECT WITH GEORGIA PORTS AUTHORITY (SAVANNAH, GA) The Pump House project on Georgia Ports Authority has received its first concrete pours. To learn more about the Dewitt Tilton Group and the commercial construction projects it has taken on in our community, visit https://www.dewitttiltongroup.com/
WHAT IS THE LUTZIE43 CAMPAIGN? (BLUFFTON, SC) Peacock Automotive is partnering with the Town of Bluffton and the Bluffton Police and Fire Departments on the Lutzie43 campaign to fight distracted driving in the Lowcountry. Watch the video below to learn more about the 5K held to raise funds and awareness for this campaign.
MEET STORM (SAVANNAH, GA) Storm is the sweetest and most lovable girl, and a recent graduate of Operation New Hope.  She walks beautifully on a leash and on occasion likes to run with you. She will jump up and lay her arms on you gently to come in for a hug. She keeps her kennel tidy. She prefers the company of people but may tolerate another calm dog with the proper introduction. She is happiest sitting with her person and collecting belly rubs. She doesn’t appreciate being alone and would do well with someone who is retired or works from home. She is loyal as they come and will make the right person so happy.  To adopt Storm, visit https://coastalpetrescue.org/adopt/view/2017-d-428-storm/