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Specialty clothing brand Free People will open its 85th boutique in Savannah on October 4 in the old Clothing Warehouse space on West Broughton Street.

The 2,200 square foot space "was designed in the brand’s Black Smith’s Cottage concept, highlighting Free People’s rugged side and maintaining the site’s historical integrity by leaving the original storefront," says a company spokesperson.

The original brick walls will be painted white and the beam ceiling left exposed, and "new additions include reclaimed bead board and blackened steel accents throughout, as well as glitter plaster walls and twinkle lights that embrace a more feminine feel."

The store will also feature a popular Free People installations — a built-in work bench cash wrap with spools of yarn, and a mural on the adjacent brick wall.

John Bennett, executive director of the Savannah Bicycle Campaign and Connect Savannah's "The News Cycle" columnist, is among the just-announced 2013-2014 class of Leadership Savannah.

Here are the others:
Jamal Barrow, United States Air Force
Mark Bennett, Gulfstream
Kate Blair, Wells Fargo Insurance Services
Karen Bogans, International Paper
Tommy Branch, Callaway, Braun, Riddle & Hughes, P.C.
Toby Browne, The Savannah Bank
Eric Bull, Spine and Sport
Ricky Byrd, Elkins Constructors, Inc.
Todd Cellini, South University
Patrick Connell, Ellis, Painter, Ratterree and Adams
Carol Coppola, SunTrust Bank
Kerry Coursey, Savannah Chatham County Public Schools
Daniel Crook, HunterMaclean
Beth Desloges, Susan G. Komen Coastal Georgia
Emily Dickinson, Wet Willie's Management Corp.
Megan Duffy, City of Savannah, Georgia
Patton Dugas, The Coastal Bank
Catherine Edwards, Skidaway Institute of Oceanography
Troy Follak, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporaton
John Giordano, Thomas & Hutton Engineering
John Harper, US District Court for the Southern District of Georgia
Tom Hartridge, Willis
Amy Henderson, Bart Meyer & Company LLP
Brandt Herndon, SEDA
Tina Hinson, Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce
Robert Howard, Armstrong Atlantic State University
Dani Ibarra-Beckmann, Savannah College of Art and Design
Wanda Jackson, USG - Savannah State University
Benjamin Karpf, Bouhan Falligant, LLP
Gina Kreiss, North Point Hospitality Group
Ryan Martin, Sea Island Bank a division of Synovus Bank
Alfred McGuire, Savannah Chatham County Public Schools
Brian Mitchell, Georgia Power Company
Sheron Morgan, City of Savannah
Jessica Pedigo, Seacrest Partners, Inc.
Michael Poulios, H+K Engineering Group
Mark Revenew, City of Pooler
Nancy Reyes, Savannah Morning News/savannahnow.com
Lizann Roberts, Lizann Roberts Consulting
Andrew Smith, R.B. Baker Construction
Ernie Tafoya, US Army, Hunter Army Airfield
Cody Tharpe, Tharpe Structural Design Group
Jessica Thomas, Memorial Health Anderson Cancer Center
Tripp Turner, J.T. Turner Construction
Tony Uhrich, Hussey Gay Bell & DeYoung, Consulting Engineers
Randall Webb, Deemer Dana & Froehle LLP
Jenny Woodruff, Savannah Music Festival
Bea Wray, The Creative Coast
Paul Yarborough, Georgia Ports Authority

The program is a one-year commitment, which focuses on developing the leadership skills of the group to improve the community.

The advocacy group Oceana is hosting a public forum about the threats of seismic airgun testing off the East Coast in Savannah on September 26, 6-8 p.m. at the new SSU Student Union (next to Tiger Arena), Building 200, Event Room C, 3219 College St. The event is free and open to the public.

Seismic airguns, which shoot very loud blasts of sound that are each 100,000 times more intense than a jet engine, are being considered to look for oil and gas deposits deep below the ocean floor in an area twice the size of California, stretching all the way from Delaware to Florida.

See a video here.

"The government’s own estimates show that the seismic airgun activities planned for the Atlantic Ocean will injure and possibly kill 138,500 dolphins and whales, including nine critically endangered North Atlantic right whales, of which there are only approximately 500 left in the world," says a spokesperson for Oceana.

In April, Oceana released a new report outlining the threats of seismic airgun use to marine life and coastal economies along the East Coast, including the potential danger to commercial and recreational fisheries, as well as tourism and coastal recreation, putting more than 730,000 jobs at risk in the blast zone alone.

Speakers are Matt Huelsenbeck, a Marine Scientist with Oceana, and Dr. Sue Eubanks, Professor at Savannah State University. The event is moderated by Mike Vaquer of the Vaquer Firm.

The tenth annual Veterans Stand Down for Homelessness Resource and Job Fair will be held October 8 & 9 at the Savannah Civic Center from 8 am until 2 PM.

The Stand Down is a collaborative effort by area veteran’s organizations and local nonprofits to reach veterans and others in the Savannah area that are facing homelessness.

Representatives from more than 40 Social Service agencies will be available to provide information and outreach on a variety of services including housing options, job resources, resume writing tips, substance abuse treatment, income tax assistance, and accesses to Social Security and Veteran’s Administration services.

The Stand Down was adapted by two Vietnam era veterans in 1988 that recognized veterans were highly represented in the homeless population. Participants will be offered a hot meal, haircuts, showers and opportunities for a variety of health screenings. The Stand Down is intended to serve homeless veterans but is open to all individuals and families impacted by homelessness. There is no cost to attend.

The Savannah State University (SSU) Department of Political Science and Public Affairs will present a forum on Race and Class in 21st Century America at noon Friday, September 20, in room 115 of the Social Sciences Building.

Panelists will discuss structural issues in the U.S Constitution that support race inequality, the current status of race and class in America, the historic relationship between minority communities and the American power elite, an introduction to the Critical Race Theory and causes of racial inequality and the current paths to change.

Panelists include:

· Otis S. Johnson, Ph. D., SSU Scholar-in-Residence

· Kenneth Jordan, Ph. D., Professor, SSU Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences

· Gwendolyn Jordan, Lecturer, SSU Department of Political Science & Public Affairs

· Daniel Dodd-Ramirez, Executive Director, Step-Up Savannah

· Geoffery Bowden, Ph.D., Instructor, SSU Department of Political Science & Public Affairs

The forum is free and open to the public.

The Chatham Emergency Management Agency tells us, "At 8:06 PM tonight, the tide at Ft. Pulaski is expected to be at 9.4. At this level the Coastal Tide could result in water on Hwy. 80 to Tybee. Please be aware of road conditions and use caution."

The City of Savannah Water Systems 2012 Consumer Confidence Reports are now available at all Chatham County Public Libraries or by visiting www.savannahga.gov and typing “Water Quality Reports” in the Search Bar. A copy of the report was sent to every City of Savannah water customer this summer.

Every year the City is required to prepare Consumer Confidence Reports for each of its water systems summarizing to the public the results of tests that measure the amount of certain substances in the water to ensure that the system meets Environmental Protection Agency standards. In 2012, the City of Savannah Water Laboratory performed more than 132,000 tests to ensure water quality. Those tests showed the City met all standards and received excellent report cards for each of its eight water systems.

A survey by the American Water Works Association found that Savannah has the lowest combined water and sewer rate in Georgia, and the fourth lowest of 70 water systems surveyed in the Southeast United States.

The Humane Society for Greater Savannah is among those local groups benefiting from the 2013 Critz Tybee Run Fest. At its annual “Giving Back to the Community” reception on September 18, the Savannah Foundation, on behalf of the Critz Tybee Run Fest, distributed $70,000 from the Run Fest to local organizations dedicated to serving youth and education.

“This grant will allow us to offer training to more new adopters to help them become better, more responsible pet parents. We also plan to increase educational opportunities for our volunteers, many of whom are high school students.” said Lynn Gensamer, Executive Director of HSGS. “We are very grateful to the Critz family for their generosity.”

During the 2014 race, the Humane Society will be sponsoring a “Race Within A Race.” Participants will be able to register for any or all races as a “Pet Pal.” Proceeds from the race registration fees of all Pet Pals will be donated to HSGS.

Online registration for the January 31-February 1 events are open on at www.critztybeerun.com.

Kavon Smalls, being sought after indictment on various charges stemming from gang activity in Savannah, turned himself in to gang detectives from the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department.

The search continues for Jeshavious J. Keel and Tashard K. Orr, both of whom are considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone aware of the location of any of the men is advised not to approach them but to call Emergency 911 immediately. Or they can call Crimestoppers at (912) 234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637). Tipsters to Crimestoppers remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward. A confidential Tip Line also is open directly to SCMPD investigators at (912) 525-3124.

The City of Savannah launched a new website that allows residents to find out "how their pennies have been put to work," says a City spokesman.

The new site at www.savannahga.gov/splost offers a tour of many of the City projects made possible through the 1% Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, known as SPLOST.

"Within the SPLOST site, citizens can view photos, watch videos and review supporting documents to learn more about how the City of Savannah has managed its share of SPLOST through the years," the City says.

SPLOST has funded more than $1 billion worth of projects in Chatham County since voters approved the first referendum in 1985. The City of Savannah’s share has totaled $342 million, almost half of which has been spent on drainage.