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The Savannah Police Department selected Gerard V. Tate to lead the agency’s End Gun Violence program, with a goal of reducing the number of shooting incidents and other gun-related issues that occur citywide.

According to announcement by the SPD, Tate previously served as a Police and Community Engagement Specialist in Ferguson, Missouri, and was also employed as the Police Support Services Division Manager in Marysville, California. He is a ten-year U.S. Army veteran, with his service including time as a military police officer working in the criminal investigations section.

“As a native of one of the most notorious gun-violence hotspots in America, I have firsthand knowledge of what it is like to grow up in communities plagued by gun violence,” Tate stated, referring to his upbringing in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood.

Tate’s educational background includes earning a bachelor’s degree in criminology from Webster University, a master’s in social work from Washington University in St. Louis, and his doctorate in social work from University of Southern California.

“My personal, academic, and occupational experiences have prepared me precisely for a role like the End Gun Violence Director for the Savannah Police Department,” Tate stated.

Savannah’s entire police force will benefit from Tate’s ability to identify root causes of local crime through an understanding of human behavior and social policy, according to SPD Chief Roy Minter.

“Our highest priority is to address and reduce gun violence in our community. We are very fortunate to have someone with the knowledge and expertise that Dr. Tate has at the helm of this program,” Minter stated.

In his new role, Tate will manage day-to-day operations of the SPD’s End Gun Violence program, created to address Savannah’s gun-violence issues with a public-health approach used to implement strategies that reduce violent crime. Tate’s work also entails engaging directly with the community, drawing on his experience of working with middle-school students as a D.A.R.E. officer.

According to the SPD website, the End Gun Violence program targets Savannah’s most violent groups and gang members who are responsible for a majority of shootings and homicides in the community, offering to provide them with social services to break free from the cycle of violence that often results in gun-related crimes.

Tate begins his service with the SPD in the first week of February, according to the Jan. 29 announcement.

“The Savannah Police Department is very excited about the addition of Dr. Tate to our agency,” Minter stated.

It’s easy to enjoy Savannah’s beautiful spring and summer seasons, but we are barely tolerant of the colder months. Spoiled by our reasonable temperatures, winter may seem like a poor time to visit the many appealing parks and outdoor recreation areas around our city. However, open-air exercise not only helps you shape up, but also relieves stress and reduces depression and anxiety. And as an added bonus, wintertime fresh-air fitness activities can generally be enjoyed without encountering the clouds of gnats that frequently fly around this region in warmer months. In many ways, there couldn’t be a better time than winter to explore Savannah’s outdoor-fitness options – especially since shoveling snow is almost certainly never to be one of them.

TAKE A HIKE OR RIDE A BIKE

Immersing in nature while hitting the trail is a huge stress reliever, whether it’s for a miles-long bike ride or a short walk with a four-legged friend. Along the way, the Lowcountry’s forested nature can look fascinating during the winter season. Try these trails around the area:

Skidaway Island State Park

The six miles of trails here offer glimpses of coastal Georgia wildlife. There are common sightings of deer, raccoons, and fiddler crabs, as well as excellent birding opportunities on any of the paths. The popular Sandpiper Trail Loop winds through marshes and creeks for about a mile, and is ADA accessible and allows dogs on leashes, but this path is closed to bicycles. The Big Ferry Loop does allow bikes, stretching three miles through the park. The one-mile Avian Loop Trail passes the Intracoastal Waterway, and the Connector Trail ties them all together. Location: 52 Diamond Causeway, Savannah. More info: gastateparks.org/SkidawayIsland

Whitemarsh Preserve

The Whitemarsh Preserve, a coastal maritime forest full of picturesque live oaks and Spanish moss, is encircled by a well-maintained track for walking and jogging. The inner loop is a popular cycling trail – even featuring log-jam crossings and dips for adrenaline-junkie mountain bikers – that is also beloved by dog walkers and hikers. For more relaxed strolling or biking, check out the paved trail that starts on Johnny Mercer Boulevard and ends in an open field near the parcel’s northern edge. Location: By the intersection of Johnny Mercer Boulevard and Bryan Woods Road, Whitemarsh Island.

Truman Linear Park Trail

As the first completed phase of Chatham County’s Tide to Town Trail Network Project, this well-structured public path provides easy access for a 4.5-mile trek, including a loop around Lake Mayer. The trail can be reached by parking at the Scarborough Sports Complex by the intersection of Skidaway Road and Bona Bella Avenue, or at Lake Mayer’s parking lots. The trail is also safe during winter’s early evening hours – planners thoughtfully added lighting, security cameras, and emergency call boxes to the ADA-accessible trail. Location: Spanning Lake Mayer Community Park to DeRenne Avenue largely alongside the Truman Parkway, Savannah. More info: tidetotown.org/truman-linear-park-trail

OUTDOOR FITNESS TRACKS

Anyone seeking a more vigorous workout has a variety of free fitness tracks to choose from in Chatham County, with varied aerobic challenges placed alongside paths for jogging or biking to provide completely customizable exercise regimens at these locations:

Lake Mayer Community Park

Lake Mayer has a 1.5-mile rubberized track with a fitness course, the Lake Mayer Circuit Run. The 18 stations of the course are easy to use, with signs explaining exactly how to do each exercise, broken down into three levels of difficulty. Hardcore health seekers can sprint between jumping jacks and wall sits. Whatever level you choose, the course is designed to provide pleasant lakeside views while getting your heart pumping. Location: 1850 Montgomery Cross Rd., Savannah. More info: parks.chathamcounty.org/Parks/Community-Parks/Lake-Mayer

Tom Triplett Community Park

Calm and peaceful, this park in Pooler also has a 1.5 mile trail that winds its way around a freshwater lake and features a fitness course, with signs explaining how to do the various exercise challenges. The park also provides a shaded playground and a dog-fitness area, along with tennis courts and fishing piers, truly offering healthy attractions for the entire family. Location: 100 Tom Triplett Rd., Pooler. More info: parks.chathamcounty.org/Parks/Community-Parks/Tom-Triplett

L. Scott Stell Community Park

Located in southwest Chatham County, this forested haven welcomes everyone for a wide variety of open-air activities. The jogging path is just a mile long at this park, but it is also lined with fitness facilities that will provide a rigorous workout. Other healthy amenities found here include lighted tennis courts, a large playground, a dog-exercise area, and even an archery range. Location: 195 Scott Stell Community Park, Savannah. More info: parks.chathamcounty.org/Parks/Community-Parks/L-Scott-Stell

TENNIS ANYTIME

Thanks to Savannah’s relatively balmy climate, public open-air tennis courts are available year-round in the Hostess City, providing well-maintained facilities for players of all skill levels. The city government also operates several leagues ranging from seniors-only to mixed doubles.

Daffin Park Tennis Courts

This central Savannah park features six supervised clay courts and three hard courts that are lit up at night, and all of them are easily accessible from Victory Drive. This is a regular playground for participants of the Savannah Area Tennis Association leagues, but anyone with rackets and balls can make reservations for a court and simply enjoy the love of the game. Location: 1301 E. Victory Dr., Savannah. More info: savannahga.gov/813/Tennis-Program

Bacon Park Tennis Complex

This modern facility is large, with 16 lighted hard courts available for play and an elevated clubhouse providing sweeping views over the entire complex. Varied leagues are hosted here as well for adults, juniors, and seniors, but anyone who makes reservations is welcome, and instruction opportunities are also available here. Location: 6262 Skidaway Rd., Savannah. More info: savannahsportscouncil.com/facilities/bacon-park-tennis

Forsyth Park Tennis Courts

At the southern end of the biggest park in Savannah’s historic district, four unsupervised public tennis courts welcome more casual players to get into the swing of things. While these free courts are often in high demand − even during wintertime − the other attractions around and within Forsyth Park ease any time spent waiting for an open court. Location: Near the intersection of E. Park Ave. and Drayton St., Savannah. More info: savannahsportscouncil.com/facilities/forsyth-park

FAIR-WEATHER FAIRWAYS

Golf is a popular pastime around Savannah all year long, and this area features several public courses that are often less crowded during wintertime, making this a perfect season for sharpening your swinging skills with a leisurely nine holes, or even just by hitting a few balls on the driving range.

Henderson Golf Club

Owned and operated by Chatham County’s municipal government, this course has been upgraded in recent years and is now one of the most appealing public courses in the region. While the grass may be dormant in winter, golf here is lovely all year long, and accessible for players of varying skill levels, with PGA professional instruction available onsite. Location: 1 Al Henderson Dr., Savannah. More info: hendersongolfclub.com

Bacon Park Golf Course

Designed in 1926 by Donald Ross, this popular Savannah golf spot features a varied array of holes named for their characteristics, with notable links on the first nine including Lowland, The Stretch, Long View, and Dead Aim. With a pro shop, nice driving range, and putting and chipping greens, this is an easygoing location for all of your golf needs anytime. Location: 1 Shorty Cooper Dr., Savannah. More info: baconparkgolf.com

Hunter Golf Course

You don’t need to enlist to play on the Hunter Army Airfield links. Hunter’s course is accessible through the Montgomery Street Gate just off of DeRenne Avenue. Open for military and civilians alike, the greens on the base are beautiful. This course is also home to the Georgia Adaptive Golf Program, an organization devoted to bringing the game of golf to differently abled athletes. Location: 1548 S. Perimeter Rd., Hunter Army Airfield. More info: stewarthunter.armymwr.com/programs/hunter-golf-course

Crosswinds Golf Course

Rated by Golf Advisor as one of the country’s best courses to play for under $50, this club offers additional discounts for seniors, Gulfstream employees, military members, and first responders. This can be a great place for those new to the game to give it a go during the less-crowded winter season, with Callaway club rentals available. Location: 232 James B. Blackburn Dr., Savannah. More info: crosswindsgolfclub.com

Disc golf

As an alternative to traditional golf, disc golf is growing in popularity locally, with free public courses available at Tom Triplett Park (100 Tom Triplett Rd., Pooler) and Jaycee Park (30 Van Horne Ave., Tybee Island).

WINTER WATER SPORTS

Even though we may sometimes feel like it’s freezing in Savannah during winter, it is much more temperate here than most of the country, making water sports an option all year long. While at first it may be a little daunting to get out in the waves or area waterways, these organizations aren’t afraid to help you get wet and have fun doing it:

Savannah Canoe and Kayak

Explore the region’s tidal creeks, marshes, and interior waterways with the seasoned guides at Savannah Canoe and Kayak, providing all needed gear for paddlers of every skill level to enjoy active excursions. Meanwhile, extreme athletes with a wetsuit can try out more immersive wintertime water sports like paddleboarding or kayak fishing. Location: 414 Bonaventure Rd., Savannah. More info: savannahcanoeandkayak.com

Tybee Island Surf

It may not be an endless summer on Tybee Island, but it’s much balmier than most coasts during wintertime, and with less visitors on the shore this can be a perfect time to paddle out into the Atlantic to catch some waves. The hardy instructors at Tybee Island Surf provide lessons and surfboards to use, but participants must bring their own wetsuit. More info: tybeeislandsurf.com

Sail Savannah

While the folks at Sail Savannah specialize in leisurely cruises, they also provide active instruction excursions all year long. Participants can raise sails, crank winches, and take the helm to discover just how exhilarating and invigorating it can be to ride the wind in Savannah’s local waters that served at the Olympic sailing venue in 1996. More info: sailsav.com

Members of the U.S. military overcome all kinds of challenges to carry out their missions – and during Savannah’s fifth-annual “Rockin’ for the Vets” concert, several local bands will follow the example of American soldiers to hold a fundraising event benefitting area veterans while striving to stay safe amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

On Jan. 30, local acts Whaleboat, Ember City, Perpetual Care, Salute Your Jorts, and others will perform live at The Wormhole for this annual charity concert that will raise money for Savannah’s Tiny House Project for homeless veterans. Concert entry is free, but organizers are asking for donations at the door of money or non-perishable food items.

According to Michael Baker, bartender at The Rail Pub and a founding organizer of the concert, this year’s “Rockin’ for the Vets” show will be something of a homecoming as it will be held at its original location.

“We hosted the event at The Rail Pub the last few years, but we decided to move it back to The Wormhole this year to get back to its roots and provide an indoor venue in case of inclement weather,” Baker said.

Over the last four years, Baker and co-organizer Billie Null (a bartender at The Wormhole) have raised more than $4,000 for the Tiny House Project operated by the Chatham County Homeless Authority, providing its veteran residents with safe long-term shelter, resources, and services, along with a supportive community.

“We hope to be able to raise even more after our event this year,” said Baker.

The project hits close to home for Baker and Null, who are both Army combat veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“It just seems like a natural fit for us,” explained Baker. “People seem to enjoy a reason to support local music while also helping out the most vulnerable members of our community.”

Speaking of vulnerable populations, COVID-19 remains at the forefront of organizers’ minds as they move forward with planning this concert while the pandemic continues through the holidays.

“COVID-19 is a big concern this year, so we are asking people to continue to wear masks and respect social distancing if they are attending the event in person,” Baker said.

This year, in light of the pandemic’s obvious challenges, they are also making accommodations for people to attend the concert virtually through Facebook Live (check back on Connect’s Facebook page to learn how to watch).

“I am working on a way to accept donations if people want to contribute while watching remotely,” explained Baker.

Baker and Null are hoping the remote option helps expand the concert’s audience for the benefit of the event’s beneficiaries, and are also offering other ways to raise money at the concert, like raffles, silent auctions and more.

“I feel that we’re a better community if we actively participate in enriching the lives of the less-fortunate, especially those who have gone through the traumas that our veterans have,” said Baker.

Savannah’s “Rockin’ for the Vets” concert is happening at The Wormhole (2307 Bull St., Savannah) from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Dec. 30; attendees must be aged 18 or older. Visit wormholebar.com for more details.

The Savannah Stage Company is inviting schoolchildren down the rabbit hole by presenting an imaginative virtual production of Alice in Wonderland.

Since the Savannah-based troupe remains unable to stage large-scale plays for live audiences due to ongoing pandemic precautions, its dedicated artistes decided to expand its reach by launching the Savannah Stage Company’s first-ever “virtual field trip” with an aim of offering school-aged kids across Georgia and beyond opportunities to participate in a literary-theater experience online.

While this virtual field trip will be available to schools by request – as well as a Q&A with the artists that created it and an interactive study guide – the company is presenting an online premiere of its new Alice in Wonderland adaptation via a Facebook Live streaming event from the historic Savannah Theatre at 7 p.m. on Jan. 30. There is no charge to tune into this play, although donations to support the Savannah Stage Company are gratefully accepted.

This colorful version of Lewis Carroll’s classic story is a collaborative effort based on a script written by company member Alexis Balaoing Ambrose, who also plays Alice in the show.

“Alice in Wonderland appealed to me because of its sort of nonsensical nature of the world that she falls into, and Lewis Carroll’s absurdism,” Ambrose said.

According to director David McCall, that absurdism can be perplexing for some audience members, but this Savannah Stage Company production is custom-made so that Carroll’s fanciful tale will be more accessible for youths.

“I remember people talking about Alice in Wonderland not being their favorite story because it just seems like madness. But Lexi [Ambrose] did a really great job of giving context or a message to the madness,” McCall said.

In this new adaptation, the audience will be given a fuller look at Alice’s everyday life and provide more depth to largely unseen characters in her world. The script gives Alice’s mom (DeAnna Laree Craig), stepdad (Rayshawn Roberts), and sister (Ashley Cook) a voice, while a tutor (Ryan Henderson) appears later as the White Rabbit, “much like The Wizard of Oz, how you have real-world characters aligning with fantasy characters,” McCall added.

McCall said that preparing for this online show was unlike any other production that he’d ever worked on, with challenges including arranging “proper rehearsals” among cast members.

“When I say proper rehearsals, I mean proper for 2020. Meaning a Zoom room, with me and a stage manager, Abbie Wells, and then all the cast in their respective spaces,” McCall said. “Who knows what the neighbors must have thought? Shouting lines from Lewis Carroll, but it was so fun!”

While this style of remote direction was limiting in some regards, McCall said that the Savannah Stage Company thespians adapted well to the unconventional circumstances.

“As a director, you try to be clear and honor everyone’s input as much as you can. You’re trying to build this world, and it’s already difficult while you’re in the same room. It’s crazy difficult when you’re all over Zoom,” McCall said. “Some things work in our imaginations in Zoom rehearsals that don’t work practically, but this cast was incredible at adapting and problem-solving.”

The actors were outfitted by costume designer Megan Wellman Blanton, and the play features original music by McKenna Lyons, a fellow Savannah Stage Company member.

“I’d have to say I’m a little biased as a director, but I think it’s some of the most stunning music, especially a lot of her underscoring music. It’s so transporting. I loved it. I loved working with it,” said McCall.

For the entire crew behind the Savannah Stage Company’s new Alice in Wonderland show, rehearsing and presenting this play online in a nontraditional way served as a reminder that following your curiosity can lead to fantastic places.

View the Savannah Stage Company’s play Alice in Wonderland online via Facebook Live at 7 p.m on Jan. 30 by visiting facebook.com/savannahstagecompany.com, and check out savannahstagecompany.com for more details.

Some artists are inspired by past greats. Others are inspired to bring past greats back to life.

The five young performers starring in “Legends Live On” – a decade-hopping revue of energetic song-and-dance tributes to iconic chart-toppers ranging from The Temptations to The Beatles to The Jackson Five to Bruno Mars – are now lighting up the Savannah Theatre’s storied stage, and each of them have ample experience with vocally channeling historic figures.

The show features the four accomplished stars of Legacy – Tracy Byrd, Justin Reynolds, Noah Rivera, and Deaundre Woods – along with widely traveled songstress Alex Hairston, performing with the Savannah Theatre’s house band and a local aerialist on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through Feb. 14.

For New York-based Tracy Byrd, who played Lionel Ritchie in a touring production of “Motown: The Musical,” singing hits from the ’70s and ’80s comes naturally.

“It’s a dream come true to me, honestly,” Byrd said, adding that being in “Legends Live On” gives him greater understanding of the difficult circumstances endured by many of the artists they’re emulating. “I find myself channeling what they were going through when they were singing.”

Justin Reynolds, who performed as Smokey Robinson in “The Marvin Gaye Musical,” also experiences flashbacks to his past role.

“We actually don’t have any Smokey in this show, but we do a whole Temptations medley, which Smokey Robinson wrote a lot of that music,” Reynolds said.

Since Noah Rivera hit the high notes while playing Frankie Valli in the Las Vegas production of “Jersey Boys,” it might be expected that he would belt out all the falsetto parts in “Legends Live On,” but this show calls on all of its performers to use their full vocal ranges.

“I sing bass most of the show, and we all are jumping all over the place,” says Rivera, who now tours with Valli’s ensemble, and meanwhile leads a Four Seasons performance in the “Legends Live On” show.

Shortly before the pandemic struck, Deaundre Woods was playing the title role in the San Francisco production of “Hamilton,” and while the bygone performers that he is channeling in this show are distinguished in a different way than the American statesman, he still feels their historic connections.

“A lot of this music is music that I wish I grew up with,” Woods says of Legacy’s repertoire.

As for Alex Hairston, she’s made a name for herself starring in “The Donna Summer Musical,” and in “Legends Live On” she uses that experience to sing a disco medley.

“I was actually right in the middle of a tour, the ‘Donna Summer’ tour, when the pandemic shut everything down,” Hairston recalls, adding that she’s grateful that this production allows her to “revisit some of those songs, and revisit her spirit in the show.”

All five of these artistes are glad to be staging “Legends Live On” in the historic Savannah Theatre, where pictures of world-renowned actors who have graced this venue hang on numerous walls.

“In 40 years, somebody’s going to be looking at our pictures here,” says Byrd as the ensemble laughs in agreement.

“Legends Live On” is playing at the Savannah Theatre (222 Bull St., Savannah) on Jan. 29, 30, and 31, and Feb. 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, and 14. Friday and Saturday shows are at 8 p.m. (except on Saturday, Feb. 13, with shows at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.) and Sunday shows are at 3 p.m. To allow for social distancing during performances, audiences are limited to 35% of theater capacity. See savannahtheatre.com for details.

While many activities are disrupted by the ongoing pandemic, human trafficking is not one of them.

Experts say that human trafficking is now proliferating due to how COVID-19 is worsening the social and economic conditions that are root causes of this global crime. Locally, the Savannah Interagency Diversity Council’s annual Traffick Jam is taking action to diminish this increase through education.

Because of the pandemic, the SIDC was not able to hold its annual in-person Traffick Jam event this year to raise awareness about human trafficking in this region, but the group is adapting and reaching new crowds by hosting their annual conference online this month.

The SIDC will conclude its 2021 Traffick Jam conference, themed “Breaking the Cycle of Human Trafficking One Human at a Time,” with the main event open to the public on Jan. 30 from 8 a.m. to noon.

Like many other events that have taken place since the pandemic’s outbreak, this is the first time that the Traffick Jam conference has gone virtual. This year’s conference was hosted by the streaming platform Airmeet with sponsors including Memorial Health and International Paper, according to SIDC Marketing Chair and Treasurer Tina Browning.

The Traffick Jam is usually held at Savannah State University on a single day with varied speakers addressing area professionals who confront human trafficking – including law-enforcement officers and mental-health specialists – along with one seminar series welcoming the general public.

To accommodate its online platform, this year’s Traffick Jam is taking place over the course of four consecutive Saturdays, with the three sessions of specialized educational training workshops for professionals held on Jan. 9, 16, and 23, and the final session for all community members happening on Saturday.

“The reason why we have this every year is to ensure that the public obtains awareness as to what to look for, the signs, and who to contact in case they see or suspect human trafficking or know someone who is being trafficked,” said SIDC Chairman William Gettis. “We also want to ensure the public gains knowledge of who our partners are, including the local organizations we want the public to know who they are, because that’s who they would call for assistance.”

The conference’s educational topics include the operations and rescue efforts of the National Human Trafficking Hotline, victim resources and rehabilitation services, how sex trafficking victims are targeted and groomed, victim and survivor stories, and local prevention partners.

Going virtual is not the only difference between this sixth-annual conference and previous ones. This year, the Traffick Jam is featuring its first male survivor of human trafficking as a speaker: Jerome Elam, the president and CEO of the Trafficking in America Task Force. Elam is a former victim of child abuse, child sex trafficking, and child pornography.

“The reason why we have this every year is to ensure that the public obtains awareness as to what to look for, the signs, and who to contact in case they see or suspect human trafficking or know someone who is being trafficked.”

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Other main-event speakers include nurse practitioner Heather Quaile, Sarah Pederson with Georgia’s Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, and Mel Meyer, director of the Atlanta Dream Center’s Anti-Sex Trafficking Department.

“These are top-level speakers that will be at the January 30 main conference weekend,” said Gettis.

By reaching out to diverse community members, Traffick Jam organizers hope to raise awareness of what to look out for to identify human trafficking in all sectors of society, according to Browning.

“How important it is that every individual in their respective roles, including employees, business owners, and partners, understand really what human trafficking is, who’s at risk, and the negative impact of trafficking on individuals,” said Browning. “A lot of people think it’s just sex trafficking, but it’s also the forced labor where they have the domestic servitude, and it occurs everywhere.”

Over 600 participants joined 2020’s Traffick Jam, and this year, even more are taking part in the virtual conference, according to organizers. Gettis enthusiastically added that the conference is attracting participants from faraway locations like Washington, D.C., Illinois, Philadelphia, Michigan, and even the Philippines.

“We think that it’s important that this gets out in media that’s in every area, and we’re not going to let COVID pull us back,” said Browning.

Visit thesidc.org for more information about the 2021 Traffick Jam and to register for the Jan. 30 conference events.

Slap shots and hat tricks will get local hockey fans on their feet soon after the Savannah Arena is completed, according to Mayor Van Johnson’s Jan. 27 announcement that the city will soon be home to a new professional ice-hockey team.

Johnson joined other city leaders at the Savannah Arena construction site on Wednesday to announce the formation of the new team, which will be named based on the results of a contest. The team is the first official tenant at the Savannah Arena, which is scheduled to open in winter of 2022.

“Savannah is officially a hockey town now,” Johnson exclaimed at a press conference held amid the partially completed arena’s exposed girders and concrete slabs, while construction workers plugged away throughout the stories-tall framework towering over the city’s Canal District.

“As you can see, this is rapidly becoming reality,” Johnson said of the Savannah Arena, which is being built for $165 million with Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax funding. “This will serve as a gathering place, a meeting place, a fun place.”

Savannah’s ECHL hockey team will be owned by Roo Hockey, LLC, with the organization being established immediately and a permanent business office planned to open in the city in July, according to Roo Hockey CEO Andy Kaufmann.

“We are grateful to the ECHL Board of Governors for awarding us a new membership,” Kaufmann stated. “Savannah is a terrific sports town and we look forward to making it a fantastic hockey town.”

According to ECHL Commissioner Ryan Crelin, Savannah’s hockey team will be taking on regional competitors such as the Atlanta Gladiators, the South Carolina Stingrays, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, and the Jacksonville Icemen.

“Jacksonville, you’re going down. Atlanta, you’re going down,” Johnson quipped of Savannah’s soon-to-be rival teams.

Savannah’s pro hockey team will be an official affiliate to the NHL and AHL, with plans to begin competing in October of 2022 and playing 36 regular-season home games, according to the team’s savannahprohockey.com website. The team is currently accepting deposits to reserve season tickets and for premium seats in its inaugural season.

Team management also announced that a “Good Neighbor” program will be established to work with Savannah’s nonprofit community groups to bring hockey-based educational opportunities for local youths.

The team is being established through a collaboration with the Oak View Group, the company hired by Savannah’s City Council to manage and operate the Savannah Arena. According to Oak View Group Chairman Peter Luukko, hockey will be only one of many attractions at the city’s newest major venue.

“You’re going to see Beyoncé here. You’re going to see Bon Jovi here,” Luukko said during the press conference. “Savannah’s new professional hockey team is the first in many terrific events and attractions we will bring to the new Savannah Arena.”

Luukko emphasized that Oak View Group would be developing and implementing new protocols at the Savannah Arena to establish systems to ensure pandemic safety during all events.

“We need to have a safe and sanitized environment,” Luukko said.

Details about the contest to name the hockey team will be announced soon, although Johnson proposed an option during the press conference.

“It’s going to be, ‘The Savannah City Council,’” Johnson declared to the nonplussed crowd, before immediately withdrawing the proposal. “It sounded good when we talked about it.”

Following the press conference, Johnson joined fellow City Council members Linda Wilder-Bryan and Nick Palumbo for a ceremonial first face-off at a goal set up by the edge of the construction site’s muddy rubble.

As the Savannah tourism industry grows, appreciation for locally owned independent restaurants is quickly becoming a thing of the past. Many Savannahians remember several mom-and-pop eateries that were on corners for years before watching their unfortunate shuttering.

Harboring fond memories of these beloved spots is getting to be part of what it means to be a local in Savannah, but it still hurts to see another longstanding staple shut its doors. Sadly, at the end of January, River Street’s Bayou Cafe will be joining that nostalgic list.

Along with its delicious food, Bayou Cafe has been a spot for soul-filling live music for over 30 years. Despite rumors, Bayou Cafe is not closing due to COVID-19. The property’s landlord has increased the rent, and Bayou management made this difficult decision after weighing the cost of continuing business.

Bayou Cafe served as one of the few places in town that put live music front and center, standing the test of time for three decades by providing food and live music seven days a week.

While living in Savannah during the heyday of Southern rock, Jerry Zambito − a touring musician in bands such as Tangerine − played at the venue that preceded the Bayou in the same location. He decided to open the Bayou and bring his love of music to the people.

In 1991, Zambito first welcomed guests to Bayou Cafe. Since then, pretty much every Savannah native has stopped into the Bayou at some point during their stumbles down River Street, but few know the storied history of what it has meant to Savannah’s live-music scene.

Thomas Claxton, the restaurant’s assistant booker and frequent performer, started his musical career at the Bayou. As a junior in high school, Claxton first played on the Bayou Stage. Even though he is classically trained, much of his music education came from the Bayou and learning from other performers at the Bayou.

“After you work with guys like Jerry Zambito and Chief, you definitely are more prepared when you go into major cities,” he told me. After learning from them and starting at the Bayou, Claxton claims he was never nervous onstage performing anywhere else.

Though it goes without saying, Claxton also told me that “this place had a serious impact on this area, especially River Street in general. This is a place where people come from all around the country just to come visit every time they are in town.”

The quaint stage has hosted a plethora of big names, even drawing other big names to observe from the crowds. Acts like The Black Crowes, Edwin McCain, and Derek St. Holmes have all earned their stripes on the storied stage of Bayou Cafe.

When the Black Crowes called Zambito to set up a gig at Bayou, they asked if there was any room for security detail. He jokingly told them that they would have to set them up in the kitchen if they came, because it wasn’t the biggest venue in the world. As legend has it, they ended up coming anyways and were so charmed by Zambito that they asked him to play a few numbers onstage with them.

The Black Crowes, incredible though they may be, are not the only famous folks to have walked through the doors at Bayou Cafe.

“I looked up from the stage one day and the WWE World Champion was sitting in here,” Thomas told me. It was one of those nights that stood out for Claxton. Like most young boys of the ’80s and ’90s, Claxton grew up watching wrestling. He instantly recognized A.J. Stiles and The Good Brothers, bought them a round, and continued with his show.

Spending most of his career learning and growing with the Bayou, it is fitting that Claxton will host the farewell celebration, but he wanted to ensure that patrons remembered the people who made Bayou Cafe so special.

“Chief was our house musician here on the weekdays. Sunday through Thursday, from 1991 until he unfortunately passed away in 2011. A good 20 years he was a regular guy up here. I don’t think I met anybody yet that played the Bayou that left a mark on the Bayou quite like he did,” Thomas opined.

If you never met Chief, I can tell you that he was an incredible musician. Like any great artist, the music that he played was matched only by his presence onstage − injecting humor and himself into everything that he did. Unlike modern musicians with iPads and holders for their drinks, Chief brought books of music and lyrics with him to every show. He was as old school as they came, and customers still ask about him to this day. When people think back on what made Bayou what it was, visions of Chief will certainly dance in their heads.

Going out in style, the Bayou Cafe will say goodbye with a four-day celebration. On Thursday, Jan. 28, Claxton will play an acoustic set that he says is inspired by “those old MTV unplugged type of feels, where Alice In Chains was onstage with just their acoustic guitar.”

On Jan. 29, John Lee and the Hextons will play and host an open jam for anyone who wants to join in. And for the big finale weekend, Claxton, Paul Cooper, Jo, Willis, and Gordon Perry will play open-jam sessions on Saturday and Saturday dubbed The Grand Jam Finale.

Though the doors may be shutting, the Bayou Cafe food truck will continue to carry the torch of their delicious fare. Vince Zambito, son of the Bayou Cafe’s founder, will be all around Savannah filling mouths with delicious bites of Cajun cookin’.

The bittersweet closing of Bayou Cafe isn’t lost on anyone that has ever been a part of the family that made Bayou what it was. From employees to patrons to musicians to the folks that sat outside and vibed alone on the cobblestones to the music inside, the Bayou family extends its warmest and most gracious adoration and praise. It’s what both Zambito and Claxton shared as they reminisced about the long history of this long-loved local hangout.

Bayou Cafe: 14 N. Abercorn Ramp, Savannah. Visit epicuropedia.com for more by Lindy Moody.

Various officials of Savannah and Chatham County are increasing their efforts to boost the number of local citizens taking the coronavirus vaccine to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

During his weekly press conference on Jan. 26, Savannah Mayor Van Johnson repeated a call from Georgia’s Department of Public Health urging licensed medical professionals and others to volunteer to help with administering the COVID-19 vaccine.

“An effective response relies on volunteers who are pre-credentialed,” Johnson said, referring to doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other medical professionals who can legally administer the vaccine shots. “Nonmedical volunteers may be used in administrative roles such as registering individuals for vaccination.”

Anyone interested in volunteering to help with the vaccination effort can visit dph.georgia.gov/georgia-responds and click on the “Register Now” box.

In another initiative, three members of the Chatham County Commission made a public display of receiving their inoculations with hopes of inspiring eligible area residents to roll up their sleeves to take the vaccine as well.

County Commission Chairman Chester Ellis and Commissioners Bobby Lockett and Tanya Milton announced on Jan. 25 that they had received COVID-19 vaccinations at the Chatham County Health Department.

“Commissioners Lockett and Milton and I have received our first COVID vaccination, since we fell in the group of 65 and older. We did it as a commission to send out the message to all of those who are skeptical about taking the vaccine,” said Ellis. “I encourage all of you that when your time comes, to get with your health provider, get with the health department to make an appointment. I need to take care of you. You need to take care of me. We need to take care of one another. Please get your vaccination.”

While local officials encourage the public to take the coronavirus vaccine, the DPH is making some adjustments to its COVID-19 testing services to accommodate the inoculation operations.

According to Coastal Health District Health Director Dr. Lawton Davis, beginning Feb. 1 all CHD COVID-19 testing services will be shifted to two regional testing sites in Chatham and Glynn Counties to increase the capacity to administer the vaccine in health facilities of smaller counties.

“We have to shift our priorities to better meet the demand for COVID-19 vaccine,” Davis said.

The CHD COVID-19 testing services will continue at the Savannah Civic Center without appointments, but individuals must pre-register for tests beforehand. Visit covid19.gachd.org for more details.

The Chatham Area Transit Board of Directors voted 6-3 to terminate CAT CEO Bacarra Mauldin during their Jan. 26 monthly meeting, according to a statement issued by Board Chairman Deidrick Cody.

Cody said that he could provide no further details about the termination, citing the issue as a personnel matter. In the last few minutes of the Jan. 26 virtual meeting, board member Helen Stone, the Chatham County Commissioner for District 1, initiated Mauldin’s removal.

“I make the motion that at this time it is necessary to terminate our executive director, effective immediately,” Stone said. Board member Tabitha Odell seconded the motion.

After the 6-3 vote was taken, Cody – who voted to remove Mauldin – expressed gratitude to the freshly fired CEO for her work at CAT.

“I am sorry we had to close out like this. I want to also thank Ms. Mauldin for her services,” Cody said.

“Thank you for the opportunity to serve,” Mauldin replied, before abruptly departing from the meeting.

Following the vote, board member Clinton Edminster – who voted against removing Mauldin – vocalized his dismay with the outcome.

“I’m just disappointed,” Edminster said. “I don’t think this was the right move.”

CAT’s Chief Administrative Officer David Stearns was appointed by the board to serve as the interim CEO on a temporary basis, and the board plans to meet again this week to appoint a long-term replacement, according to the statement.

Mauldin was announced as CAT’s new CEO in June of 2020. Previously she served as the Director of Policy and Innovation with the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority. According to the CAT Facebook page, Mauldin was elected as the Vice President of the Georgia Transit Association in December.