News Feed

The City of Savannah Office of Capital Projects Management says it will start construction on Phase I of the Broughton Street Improvement Project on Monday, April 27.

Broughton Street will be closed to traffic between Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and Jefferson Street, and detour signs will be posted to direct drivers. Pedestrian access to homes and businesses on Broughton Street will be available throughout construction.

"Phase I includes Broughton Street between Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and Drayton Street. Improvements include new sidewalks and crosswalks with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ramps, traffic signage and markings, and lighting and landscaping," a City spokesperson says.

"The construction budget is just over $11 million and was approved by the prior council last year," the spokesperson says.

Work on Phase I was original scheduled start in early April, but COVID-19 delayed delivery of needed materials," the City says. It is scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2021.

Several Chatham Area Transit stops on the 14 Abercorn and 11 Candler routes will be impacted by the work.

Outbound stops missed – Closest alternative stops:

Broughton & Montgomery – Transit Center (610 W. Oglethorpe Avenue)

Broughton & Barnard – Transit Center

Broughton & Bull Street – Transit Center

Broughton & Abercorn Street – Abercorn & Oglethorpe

Abercorn & York Street – Abercorn & Oglethorpe


Inbound stops missed Inbound – Closest alternative stops:

Abercorn & Broughton (next to the SCAD Library) – Abercorn & Oglethorpe

Broughton & Jefferson (in front of McDonalds) – Transit Center

In another highly controversial announcement, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp this afternoon announced that restaurant dine-in services can reopen beginning this coming Monday, April 27.

In addition, on this coming Friday, April 24, various services such as hair and nail care, tattoo and body art shops, massage therapists, gyms and fitness centers, and bowling alleys can also reopen.

All the "phased-in" reopening will involve a mandatory amount and degree of social distancing between patrons, which the governor's office promised to be more specific about at a later time.

Bars and nightclubs will remain closed.

In-person church services will specifically be allowed, though the governor urged congregations to also observe social distancing during services.

Kemp specifically said that no local government may introduce measures which are either more or less restrictive than the ones he announced.

This means city governments such as Savannah's will not be able to keep restaurants from re-opening for dine-in service a week from today.

Otherwise, the governor's shelter-in-place order will remain in effect through April 30, Kemp said.

A few minutes after the announcement, Savannah Mayor Van Johnson simply posted on Facebook:

"Premature, Irresponsible, and Dangerous."

Kemp said his plans reflect the White House's plan for "phasing in" the economy during the pandemic.

"Informed by the Coronavirus Task Force and public health officials, 'Opening Up America Again' includes three phases to safely reopen and get folks back to work. To initiate Phase One, a state must meet a series of basic criteria, which can be tailored to reflect specific circumstances for a regional or statewide approach," the governor said.

"For weeks now, our state has taken targeted action to prevent, detect, and address the spread of coronavirus by leveraging data and advice from health officials in the public and private sectors. Thanks to this methodical approach and the millions of Georgians who have worked diligently to slow the spread of coronavirus, we are on track to meet the gating criteria for Phase One."

Kemp also announced that hospitals will be allowed to perform "essential" elective surgery.

"Given the recent changes in modeling as it relates to surge capacity and national supply as the needs of other states diminish and following weeks of discussions with hospital leaders and medical providers, I believe Georgia is positioned to secure the necessary personal protective equipment for healthcare facilities to resume elective surgeries deemed essential."

Kemp made waves earlier this month when he announced that the state's beaches could re-open, also with proper social distancing.

The move prompted a minor revolt, as Tybee Island Mayor Shirley Sessions garnered national attention when she opted to close off access to the beach, even as the state allowed people to recreate on it. 

Savannah Police Violent Crimes detectives are investigating an early morning double shooting resulting in one fatality.

"Around 1:20 a.m., officers heard gunfire in the area of Avery Street and Oglethorpe Avenue and quickly responded to the scene finding Charles Daniels, 40, with gunshot wounds. Daniels was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries," police report.

While responding to the scene, "officers located a second victim, Warnie Bonaparte, 31, in a vehicle with non-life threatening injuries. He was transported to a local hospital for further treatment."

Detectives do not believe this is a random shooting and are continuing to investigate. Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to contact detectives at (912) 525-3124 or CrimeStoppers at (912) 234-2020.

Bluegrass by the Pint from Service Brewing — Join Service Brewing for
live streaming Bluegrass from one of our favorite local bands, City Hotel!
Fridays, 6 p.m.
facebook.com/servicebrewing/

Cooking Between the Lines — Hands-on livestreamed cooking lessons from Chef Darin Sehnert. Mondays, 6 p.m., Wednesdays, 6 p.m. and Fridays, 6 p.m.
facebook.com/chefdarinskitchentable/

Eric Britt — Local singer/songwriter Eric Britt plays solo sets,
alternating with releases from his new album ‘Full Circle.’
Wed., April 8, 6 p.m.
facebook.com/eric.britt1

Flashback: A Rock ‘n’ Roll Bar with a Sports Attitude — Livestreams with area artists each Friday and Saturday night at 8 p.m. Fridays,
Saturdays, 8 p.m.

Forsyth Farmers Market
9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Enhanced social distancing between vendors.

Front Porch Improv: Storytime — What’s the story, morning glory? You
have to check in to find out!
Mondays-Fridays, 1 p.m.
facebook.com/frontporchimprov/

Front Porch Improv: Classics — Enjoy archives of past Front Porch Improv performances.
Fridays, Saturdays, 8 p.m.
facebook.com/frontporchimprov/

Jason Bible — Jason Bible of local favorites The Train Wrecks performs
solo sets.
Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays, 8 p.m.
facebook.com/thetrainwrecksband/

Keystone Postcard - “Neighborhood Concerts from our Driveway” every Wednesdays 4-6pm and Sundays 1-3pm
facebook.com/KeystonePostcard/

Laney Contemporary — Join Laney Contemporary Art Gallery on Instagram Live each day for a PRESENT TENSE #ArtBreak 5 p.m.

Lyn Avenue - “Six String Sippin” every Friday at 8pm
facebook.com/LynAvenue

Neighborhood Comics Facebook Live Check-In - Every Wednesday at 2PM to discuss the latest in comics, updates from staff and customers and general goofiness.
facebook.com/nbrhdcomics

NSFW DJ Collective — Livestreams from you favorite NSFW DJs plus special
guest mixes.
5 p.m.-midnight. Fridays-Sundays.
facebook.com/NSFWDJ/

Psychotronic Film Society Viewing Parties — PFS streams unusual
feature-length movies with live, locally produced introductions. After
the films viewers can discuss the films in Real-Time via the comments section of our page. In order to receive the secret link to these hidden streaming playlists, people MUST join the PFS of SAV’s Private Facebook Group, at the link below. Each week, anyone who chooses to voluntarily donate at least $5 to the organization via PayPal or Venmo receives a free high quality digital download of a movie from the PFS archive, and is entered into a drawing to win a free
limited edition T-shirt. Links remain active for 48 hours. Wednesdays,
Sundays, 8 p.m.
facebook.com/groups/2519522234807695/

Otium Savannah yoga studio and wellness space — 20 minute guided
meditation overlooking the city from Perry Lane Hotel rooftop.
9am on Thursdays.
@otiumsavannah and @ThePerryLaneHotel Instagram channels

Quarantine Concert: Andrae Murchison, Marc Chesanow, Eric Jones & Robert Saunders— Local ensemble performs live set in a pro studio setting.
Fri. April 25, 7:30 p.m.
quarantineconcerts.org

Quarantine Concert: Isaac Smith with Andrew Sovine-Wolf— Local musicians perform live set in a pro studio setting. Sun. April 26, 3 p.m.
quarantineconcerts.org

Quarantine Concert: Sean Kelly of A Fragile Tomorrow — Local ensemble performs a live set in a pro studio setting. Sat. April 29, 7:30 p.m.
quarantineconcerts.org

Sarah Poole — Local musician Sarah Poole performs.
Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays, 6:30 p.m.
facebook.com/sarah.poole.505

Sean Moloney — Local musician performs.
Daily 5 p.m.
facebook.com/sean.moloney.5

Irish Music with Seldom Sober — Savannah’s only Irish music ensemble, Seldom Sober (Michael Corbett and Colleen Settle) perform a set spanning Trad Irish to American folk.
Tuesdays, 8 p.m.
facebook.com/seldomsober/

Shed Show Live - Local musician Matt Eckstine presents a weekly livestream from his cozy shed. A mix of original songs, music from his time with The Accomplices, and covers.
Saturdays, 7:30 p.m.
facebook.com/matteckstinemusic

Streaming Odd! — Odd Lot Improv is streaming some favorite games live!
Watch live and interact! Give suggestions! Comment as we go! You can
also post your favorite quotes, lyrics, weird words to this event and we
will try to incorporate as many as we can!
Fridays, 7:30 p.m.
facebook.com/OddLot/

Sunday Service with Epiphany — A “different kind of church,” Epiphany
livestreams their Sunday morning service. Sundays, 11 a.m.
facebook.com/EpiphanySavannah/

Virtual Group Bike Ride — Every Friday, Bike Walk Savannah will be
releasing a new virtual bike ride route for you to check out, ranging
from 3-20 miles. We’ll be doing the ride on Friday morning (weather
permitting).
Fridays, 10 a.m.
facebook.com/bikewalksavannah/

 Savannah Police Violent Crimes detectives are investigating the homicide of an unidentified male, found Thursday evening.

"At around 8:15 p.m., officers responded to the 2600 block of Pate Street and located the deceased white male. An initial investigation revealed that the male had sustained injuries from gunfire," police report.

Detectives are continuing to investigate this homicide. Anyone with information on the victim’s identity or this case is encouraged to contact detectives at (912) 525-3124 or CrimeStoppers at (912) 234-2020.

Tips can also be submitted through a CrimeStoppers online tip portal at https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=757. Tipsters may qualify for a reward up to $2,500, depending on the severity of the crime. More information on the process of submitting a tip and how rewards are processed can be viewed at http://www.savannahchathamcrimestoppers.org/About_Us.cfm.

Location Gallery today announced Moveable Feasts, their first foray into virtual exhibitions. Work from their roster of artists is available for purchase on their website.

Typically, Location donates gallery profits to a local nonprofit, but in lieu of a typical reception, they're partnering with Bull Street Taco to help support nursing staff.
"We launched our first online exhibition with 70+ pieces by some of our favorite Savannah artists," says gallery director Peter Roberts. "When art is purchased, we take our gallery profits and buy Bull Street Taco boxes that they make and deliver to our frontline healthcare professionals. Happy artists, happy nurses!"

Each piece of art for sale on the website is valued at a certain number of taco boxes. Proceeds from that sale fund the purchase of taco boxes, and a taco box counter at the top of the website counts how many boxes have been purchased thus far.

For more, visit locationgallery.net or the gallery's Instagram. 

The Chatham-Savannah Homeless Authority has put out a call for volunteers to help with some important no-contact measures to help the area's growing homeless population.

John Miller, Vice Chair of the Chatham Savannah Authority for the Homeless and a former homeless services & shelter operator, has issued a call for volunteers to help staff not only Homeless Authority efforts, but to help other organizations that work with the homeless and  less advantaged in Savannah.

“This is a crucial time for this community and the various groups we are trying to help,” Miller said. “The demands are greater than they have ever been, and the resources are at their lowest. While needs have grown geometrically, budgets are stretched more than ever, and most are working with skeleton staffs."

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Savannah’s Homeless Authority has an immediate need for masks, non-medical PPE, paper towels, toilet paper, soap, and other personal items.

Goodwill Southeast Georgia is partnering to collect these critically needed items.
Donated items for the Homeless Authority are being accepted at the Sallie Mood,
Eisenhower, McAlpin Square, Wilmington Island, and Pooler store donation doors
from 10 am to 6 pm 7 days a week.

Donations will be placed directly into segregated donation bins and then delivered to the Homeless Authority. All Goodwill Donation Centers have a no-contact donation processes to accommodate social distancing. Goodwill will also provide materials to volunteers making masks as part of this effort.

A bag of t-shirts and/or sheets will be given to the first 50 sewing volunteers in need of materials to make masks. The bags will be distributed on Wednesday, April 22, from 10am to noon, at the Goodwill Donation Center at 7220 Sallie Mood Drive.

Just Pop the Trunk and Goodwill staff will put the bag of materials into the volunteers’ cars. Completed masks must be washed and placed into plastic bags before returning  them to a Goodwill Donation Centers.

Donations of needed items can also be dropped off at Savannah Fire Departments, Police stations and the Homeless Authority tent outside DFCS building on Wheaton Street.

The Homeless Authority has recently set up hand washing stations for those who are homeless at several locations.

“All of these organizations have existed for years through the generosity of mostly elderly volunteers who became the lifeblood of almost every endeavor,” Miller said. “But the COVID19 virus threatens elderly and those who have medical issues, so they have been unable to continue their efforts at a time they are most needed. At the same time, younger, healthier members of our population have found themselves unable to return to work and I believe many of them would be willing to join hands with community organization staff members to help those who are unable to help themselves.”

The Homeless Authority is also issuing a call for volunteers to help staff efforts to help house and feed homeless residents, many of whom are trapped in makeshift camps and substandard buildings that present strong challenges to hygiene, what scientists advise is the most helpful weapon against the spread of the virus.

Members of the public can join the volunteer force by sending an email to
[email protected]. The information that will be needed is: Name, Email, Phone, Age, Availability, Access to a Car, Volunteering Interest, Special Abilities & Limitations.

Visit Savannah announced today a marketing campaign urging locals to "Rediscover Our City" — as soon as it is deemed safe to do so by health and government officials.

In a statement some might perhaps find provocative, a spokesperson says "Since before either the mayor or the governor issued orders to shelter in place and avoid contact outside of the home, Visit Savannah and Visit Tybee’s communications team have been planning ahead for the time when restrictions are lifted and the first signs of recovery are apparent."

The campaign "will include creative spots and social media assets with bucket list items for Savannah area residents to check off."

Some ideas include saying hi to friends at a favorite restaurant, or enjoying a to-go lunch in a square.

Other catch-phrases in the campaign will include "We Missed Y'all," and "It's Been Awhile."

Promotional material for the campaign includes the statement, "It'll soon be time." But how soon, of course, is unknowable at this time.

“Recovery post-COVID 19 must begin at home and we want to be a big part of
jump-starting the local economy,” says Visit Savannah President Joe Marinelli.

Marinelli says that Visit Savannah has three objectives for the campaign. First, to
provide a boost to the lagging area economy and to get locals out around town
to support area businesses and attractions.

Second, to "unify the message among local media outlets and channels so that
one message, 'Rediscover Our City,' resonates in strong way to support the
economy."

And thirdly, to "leverage Visit Savannah’s leadership in the local marketplace as
a strong marketing organization with the ability to drive traffic to local businesses
that the community knows it to be."

The state shelter-in-place order continues through April 30, but could be extended by the governor.  

Savannah Police’s Traffic Investigation Unit (TIU) is investigating an April 13 crash on Interstate 516 that resulted in two fatalities.

"A preliminary investigation revealed that at around 8:25 p.m., Tiffany Adkins, 33, driving a Chevrolet Trailblazer, was traveling north bound on Interstate 516 in the south bound lane. At the same time, Shanetta Fails, 41, driving a Toyota RAV 4, was traveling south bound when she saw Adkin’s vehicle approaching but was unable to avoid a head on collision," police report.

The passenger in the Toyota RAV 4, Quenton Carter, 41, of Savannah, and Tiffany Adkins, of Savannah, both succumbed to their injuries due to the crash. The passenger of the Chevrolet Trailblazer, Jalisa Hamilton, 30, and Shanetta Fails were both transported to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

This collision continues to be investigated by the TIU.

To show their appreciation of healthcare workers and first responders, Charles Cutler and Mike Ferreira, who own 12 Dunkin’ restaurants throughout Savannah, are offering a free medium hot or iced coffee to all frontline healthcare workers and first-responders.

Dunkin’ has also launched an online gift card site, DunkinCoffeeBreak.com, so that guests in Savannah and across the country can send a Dunkin’ eGift Card as a token of appreciation to thank a doctor, nurse, first responder, teacher, grocery clerk, postal worker, neighbor or any hero in their life.

For every card purchased at this site, Dunkin’ will donate $1, up to $100,000, to the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation emergency funds, specifically for non-profits helping families affected by COVID-19.