Office Closing Schedule

Need to find a place to get rid of your Christmas Tree?

Chatham County residents can drop off their Christmas trees so they can be recycled into mulch or used as a wildlife habitat.

From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Jan. 7, take your tree to Home Depot at 11180 Abercorn St.; Home Depot at 190 Pooler Parkway; Home Depot at 1901 Victory Dr.; and solid waste facilities Dean Forest Landfill at 1325 Dean Forest Rd.; Bacon Park Landfill at Shorty Cooper Rd.; Wilmington Island Landfill at 7022 Concord Rd.

All city and county disposal centers will take them at other times - just not for mulch. Both city and county normal trash pickup procedures apply.

The program is called the largest tree recycling program in the nation, and has been running in Georgia for 20 years.

For more details, call the city of Savannah Recycling Dept. at 912.651.1967.



-The city of Richmond Hill will hold its "Bring One for the Chipper" event on Jan. 7.

Dispose of your real Christmas tree properly and help make J.F. Gregory Park more beautiful at the same time.

Drop off Christmas trees from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at J. F. Gregory Park. The park's department will recycle it into mulch for the park’s grounds.

Troopers increased patrols starting this past Friday!

The Georgia State Patrol has stepped up patrols during the upcoming Christmas and New Year's holiday travel periods. Troopers urge to have designated driver if alcohol consumption is part of the festivities.

Colonel Mark McDonough, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety, said in a statement that troopers will enforcement will focus on impaired drivers, unrestrained drivers and passengers and drivers who are exceeding the speed limit.

The Christmas holiday travel period begins at 6 p.m. Friday and ends the night of Dec. 26. The New Year's holiday period begins at 6 p.m. Dec. 30 and ends the night of Jan. 2, 2012. Both holiday periods are 78-hours long.

During last year Christmas holiday period, GSP investigated 351 traffic crashes which resulted in 280 injuries and three fatalities. During the New Year's holiday travel period, troopers investigated 320 traffic crashes in Georgia that resulted in 270 injuries and seven traffic deaths.

McDonough recommended drivers check the air pressure in the tires; make sure the windshield wiper blades are not cracked; checke that all headlights, brake lights, turn signals, and tag lights are working; and checke the vehicle's fluid levels, according to a news release.

City of Savannah officials want to meet with Comcast

Is the City of Savannah getting ready for a face off with the areas only cable provider? Earlier this week, city councilman Tony Thomas ripped into Comcast for what he called a "monopoly" on local cable service and questioned whether or not the city had prevented competition.

Since Tuesday, Thomas says he has received a staggering number of calls and concerns about Comcast, their customer service, their internet and cable service and overall displeasure.

The city now says they want to meet with the cable company.

Thomas says the city is ready to hold Comcast's feet to the fire, so to speak. They are asking for all Savannah residents who have any problems their cable service to call the city directly using the 311 system, so they can monitor and collect information on how many people really are having issues with Comcast.

Thomas has the support of other council members who say it's time to find some competition.

"That would give us a choice, and right now, we don't have a choice," Mary Osborne, District 2, said Thursday afternoon.

Osborne and others say they agree with Thomas on this issue and want the city to take a stand for their residents. We spoke to Comcast's local vice president, Mike Daves, this week. He said he had not heard from the city yet, but he should be expecting a call soon.

City leaders say they want to sit down and meet with Daves and others from Comcast to find out how they can fix the problems customers are having.

In a memo to Savannah City Council, city manager Rochelle Small-Toney said since 2008, two companies, Hargray and AT&T, have filed franchise applications with the State of Georgia to provide cable service in Savannah. Neither have followed through, as of yet.

In the memo, Hargray representatives responded to the city by saying their delay is based on demand.

The city said Comcast does not have a "granted monopoly."

Thomas says the feedback to the issue has been overwhelmingly negative in regards to Comcast's service.

"I've heard from a flood of people about problems they had experienced with Comcast. I'm seeing it on Facebook. I'm hearing it. These folks aren't answering and helping people like they should and we are going to hold them accountable," Thomas told WTOC.

Thomas says the city's goal is now to get Comcast to, as he calls it, clean up their act and find another cable company to come into Savannah to offer a choice.

Mike Daves with Comcast told me Thursday afternoon, despite all the publicity, Thomas nor the City of Savannah have not contacted Comcast but they are willing to sit down and talk. He says customer service is their first concern.

A Furry Christmas for All Event- Today

Topsail Bar & Grill will host the first ever “A Furry Christmas For All” fund-raiser event on Friday, Dec. 16, to benefit the Humane Society for Greater Savannah.

The event will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. and all pets are welcome. There will be pet Christmas costume contests with prizes for the top three winners, pet photos with Santa, silent auction, live music and plenty of drink specials.

Topsail Bar & Grill is located off of Hwy. 80 on Tybee Island.

For additional information, contact Richelle at 912.659.0677.

If your looking for a light show, this is the place to go!

Everybody is getting in the holiday spirit these days including folks on Holiday Drive off Quacco Road. Folks who live on Holiday Drive display lights every year. The Gall family's display is even set to music.

"Christmas has always been our favorite holiday and it is more of a family tradition. We love to just go all the way with our lights," Betty Gall.

The lights will be up every night after the sun goes down through the holidays

10 days to go: Have a Jolly Christmas on the Fly

With only 10 days left until Christmas, people across the country are scrambling for last-minute ideas to keep their friends and loved ones from thinking they had been forgotten. Hopefully that means a gift that doesn't look like a thrown together mess.

For those of us who don't want to pick through the last of the Barbie printable hairtastics or the array of cake pop makers at the local shop, there still is a plethora of quick, cheap gifts to get even the most outlandish procrastinators out of a bind.
Framed photos

Looking for a gift with minimum hassle? Have you considered framing a picture?

One of the best gifts my mother told me I ever got her was a giant photo collage-type frame filled with family photos. This was a last-minute gift borne of a frantic brainstorm between my sister and I.

There are plenty of ways to personalize this gift and make it more second-cousin-who-you-don't-want-to-have-a-picture-of-you friendly. A photographer friend of mine once gave me a framed copy of what he considered his "best picture" one holiday. If you don't live with the recipient of your gift, a photograph of your town - or theirs - could make a good, neutral gift.
Mason jar recipes

People love to be cooked for, and if the popularity of fast food joints has said anything it's that people don't like cooking for themselves nearly as much. Applying this idea to the holiday season, when everyone's cozying up with fresh-baked cookies and eggnog, you can make a simple Mason jar recipe kit to share the holiday warmth.

This gift is easy to make even if you don't want to share your secret family recipe for the most amazing M&M blondies on the planet.

Fill a Mason jar with the dry ingredients for your treat, attach a card with cooking instructions and a list of the wet ingredients needed. You can even jazz up the package by tying a festive bow around the neck of the bottle. These jars are an easy, quick, personal gift to share with your friends and loved ones. And you can buy Mason jars at most craft stores.

Crafted goods

If you've got a little more time on your hands and you're handy with a pair of knitting or crochet needles, there are a plethora of great, free patterns available online. A good starting place, even for the amateur knitter, is Ravelry, an online community with patterns from video game inspired scarves and easy hats to wedding dresses. With a free account on the site you can search through thousands of patterns. A simple search using the word "quick" yields more than 4,000 patterns on its own.

There are also other free places to get easy patterns, such as Lion Brand yarn's free pattern index. The site has crochet, knit, weaving loom and general craft patterns.
Personal coupons

By far the cheapest, easiest, quickest gift of all is the gift of personal coupons. Allowing someone to play boss is usually very well-received - and best of all, the personal nature of these "personal coupons" can easily be tailored to anyone's last minute gift needs.

For a significant other, you can make coupons for lovey-dovey things, like kisses or a foot rub, as well as utilitarian things like yard work and ironing. Coupons could be tailored to a child, to allow for computer time or control of the television. The possibilities are as endless as your imagination.

If you don't have the artistic skill to make coupons on your computer or by hand, Kodak has a quick and easy template available for free.

If you don't feel like throwing something together and would prefer to just pick something up from the store, keep in mind that most retailers will be closed on Christmas Day. Be a good little elf and get your gifts while the doors are still open. Many will be open on Christmas Eve until at least 6 p.m.

Tybee for the Holidays Upcoming Events

Tybee Island Georgia hosts multiple events this Holiday Season- Here is a list of different events that are going on soon! For more information go to their website at http://tybeefortheholidays.com/

Remainder of December

14 Wed
Best Decorated Residential Judging EveningTime: 06:00pm | Place: Meet at the Post Office
more

17 Sat
7th Annual Christmas Caroling TrolleyTime: 05:00pm | Place: North Beach Grill & island ride
more

18 Sun
Holiday Market at the LighthouseTime: 09:00am | Place: Tybee Island Light Station & Museum
more

24 Sat
Chapel By the Sea Christmas Eve Service
more

24 Sat
St. Michael’s Catholic Church Christmas Eve ServiceTime: 05:30pm
more

24 Sat
Trinity Chapel United Methodist Christmas Eve ServiceTime: 06:30pm
more

24 Sat
All Saints’ Episcopal Church Christmas Eve ServiceTime: 07:00pm
more

31 Sat
American Legion’s New Year’s Eve DanceTime: 06:00pm
more

31 Sat
New Year’s Eve Fireworks CelebrationTime: 11:59pm | Place: South beach areas

January 2012

01 Sun
Polar PlungeTime: 12:00pm | Place: The base of the Pier and Pavilion

2nd Annual Reindeer Run/Walk draws runners to Savannah!!

With just a few days left to register, more than 200 people will get on their marks, get set and go Saturday morning for the 2nd Annual 8k Reindeer Run/Walk at the International Trade and Convention Center on Hutchinson Island.

You can still sign up and register athttp://www.fleetfeetsavannah.com/reindeer-run.

The first 80 runners to pick up their packets will get a free fleece blanket from IKEA.

Proceeds from the run benefit the Rape Crisis Center. Participants are also asked to bring a canned good to be donated to America's Second Harvest.

At 8:45 a.m., the kids run around Bryan Square will kick off the event. The kids run is Free.

At 9:00 a.m., the Savannah Reindeer Run/Walk begins. Come dressed in your favorite holiday themed costume and win a prize. Winners will be judged on costume, not race results and must race in costume and finish the race.

WTOC's Don Logana and Lynda Figueredo will host the morning activities, which will also feature a Chili Cook Off pitting the talents of Savor Savannah, Hyatt Hotel, Hilton Hotel, Marriott Riverfront and the Westin against each other.

Celebrity Judges for the cook-off are Jamie Deen, South Magazine's Michael Brooks, movie producer and Leopold Ice Cream's Stratton Leopold and Savannah's tourism and social media guru, Amy Brock. Plus, special guest, the Ambassador of Laughter, from the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey.

Santa will be in town, plus a very special feature of the event focuses on the cause, which is rape crisis. Organizers have brought in a display of unique medallions made from shards of china plates thrown by victims, as they turn anger into art.

Be Aware of Surroundings this Time of Year

Tis the SEASON…fun, joy and unfortunately CRIME:

As many of you know this is the time of year when crime rates rise. We hear about it on the news and through our friends and family who may have fallen victim. It is even more prevalent in these hard economic times.

Tips on crime prevention this holiday season:

Always contact your local police department for more detailed ways to avoid crime.

HOME
· Lock all windows and doors in your home at all times, even if you are stepping out for just a few minutes.

· Keep blinds closed when you are not home.

· Change your routine frequently by leaving and arriving at different times.

· Always set your intrusion alarms even when they are not monitored by the police.
When leaving home for an extended time, have a neighbor or family member watch your house and pick up your newspapers and mail.
Indoor and outdoor lights should be on an automatic timer.
Leave a radio or television on so the house looks and sounds occupied.
Large displays of holiday gifts should not be visible through the windows and doors of your home.

VEHICLE 

·Lock alls doors and keep windows completely closed at all times. 

· Never leave your car running unattended while you make a quick stop or just want to warm it up from the cold temps.

· Never leave valuable items visible in your car (coats, handbags, wallets, CD’s, DVD’s, iPods, cell phones, jewelry or money). These are an INVITATION to become a victim.

· Avoid drive thru or walk up ATM machines when possible.

PERSON
· No matter where you are always pay attention to your surroundings.

· Trust you instinct if you have a bad feeling act on it.

· If you are going to be alone let someone know where you are headed, when you are leaving and that you arrived safely.

· Make copies of each of your credit cards front and back as well as your driver’s license and keep record in a safe place. This is extremely helpful in the event your purse or wallet is stolen.

· Never carry large amounts of cash or let others see you pulling it in and out of your purse or wallet.

· Try to travel in pairs or groups whenever possible.

SHOPPING
Shopping during the holiday season can present unique danger. Taking a few preventative measures can help keep your holiday season joyous. The holiday season is a time when busy people can become careless and vulnerable to theft and other holiday crime.
Avoid driving alone or at night.
Keep all vehicle doors locked and windows closed while in or out of your vehicle. Set your alarm or use an anti-theft device.
If you must shop at night, park in a well-lighted area.
Avoid parking next to vans, trucks with camper shells, or vehicle with tinted windows.
Park as close as you can to your destination and take notice of where you parked.
Never leave your car unoccupied with the motor running or with children inside.
Do not leave packages or valuables on the seat of your vehicle. This creates a temptation for thieves. If you must leave something in the vehicle, lock it in the trunk or put it out of sight. However, keep in mind that especially this time of year thieves are watching parking areas of shopping centers and can still break into your trunk if they see you put valuables inside. It is always best to have the individual store hold your purchase until you have completed all of your shopping and are ready to leave.
Be sure to locate your keys prior to going to your vehicle.
Never talk on your cell phone when walking to your vehicle; you must always pay attention to your surroundings.
Keep a secure hold on your purse, handbag and parcels. Do not put them down or on top of the car in order to open the door.
Do not approach your vehicle alone if there are suspicious people in the area.
Ask mall or store security for an escort before leaving your shopping location.

12 ways to find extra cash for the holidays!

The holidays are upon us. In addition to having enjoyed a Thanksgiving feast and ringing in the New Year, this means that many people are planning to buy gifts for their loved ones. Given the persistent negative state of the economy, however, some gift-giving budgets are stretched thin. If yours is among them, have hope. There are ways you can squeeze some extra holiday spirit out of your budget -- both now and over the next months.

1) Save your pennies (and nickels, dimes and quarters).

Buy with cash instead of credit. Then, at the end of the day, collect your change in a jar. Later, turn in the coins at a coin-counting machine. Either use the cash you've accumulated to buy holiday gifts or, if the machine offers gift cards instead of cash back, use those for holiday shopping. Paying in cash provides another benefit, too. Some studies show that people who pay in cash instead of with credit cards can spend up to 15 percent less.

2) Use office amenities.

Instead of buying coffee on the way to work, drink the coffee available at the office if that is available. Visit the water cooler instead of buying bottled water or soda. The measures may sound small, but try it between now and the end of year, and you'll be surprised at how the savings add up.

3) Bike, bus or carpool.

Save money on gas and parking and instead make a concerted effort to carpool, use public transit, or walk or bike to work.

4) Pare down TV costs.

Cancel cable or satellite television. It may not be as drastic as you think. If you have an HDTV, you probably receive several local channels in high definition without cable. Try Netflix (including streaming content if you have a game system with WiFi), rent DVDs at a Redbox or similar kiosk, or check out DVDs from the library.

5) Sell unneeded items.

Inventory your belongings and see if there is anything you no longer use or want. Items like bicycles and high-end toys, for instance, in good condition can bring a good return. Try selling locally on Craigslist (listings are free and you will not need to ship). Or advertise shippable items on eBay or Amazon.com. As with any online service, beware of scams. Use reputable payment and shipping methods to stay safe.

6) Try mystery shopping.

If you have some spare time and you are organized, legitimate mystery shopping companies can put some extra money in your wallet. Mystery shoppers visit or call a business and then report on the experience. Usually, shoppers must write a report on their experience to be paid. Note that while mystery shoppers sometimes must make a small purchase out of pocket as part of the shopping trip, and then be reimbursed, true mystery shopping companies are free to join.

7) Earn from your talents.

Do you have a creative hobby? Sell your items at a craft fair, or via online services such as Etsy, Artfire, Jewelry Wonder, eBay or Craigslist. For example, photographers can make 25 cents every time someone downloads their photographs from Shutterstock. Creative thinkers could also try a website like Fiverr, where people offer just about any service for $5.

8) Turn computer time into cash.

The Internet provides many legitimate opportunities to earn. Working with online survey sites can pay a few dollars, and Amazon's Mechanical Turk site has people complete simple tasks for a few cents at a time (which can add up quickly). If you have a habit of surfing the Net while your kids are watching TV, turn that time into income generation. As always, watch for scammers! Search a site's reputation before you give any personal information or download any files. Remember: Anything that sounds too good to be true probably is.

9) Sell back textbooks.

If you are a recent graduate, sell your unused textbooks before they get old. Newer books can generate a good return. Try sites like eCampus or textbooksrus.com, or sell directly to someone at your school.

10) Drum up extra work.

The workforce is tight these days, but opportunities remain. Try tutoring or teaching a language, if you have the skills. Or apply for work-from-home customer service jobs. During the holidays, neighbors and acquaintances might need help with house sitting, pet sitting, dog walking, house cleaning, hanging holiday lights or shoveling snow. If you are computer savvy, offer to help friends and family with website design, virus removal or cleaning up a hard drive.


11) Ask about price-matching.

Some merchants match or beat a competitor's prices. Others accept competitors' coupons. This is especially helpful if you find a good price online. Ask a local retailer if they can match or beat an online price -- you might get the great price and also cut out shipping costs.

12) Ship early.

If your holiday plans including sending gifts to far-away friends and family, remember shipping can add up, especially at the last minute. Save on shipping costs by shopping earlier so you can ship via economy services or take advantage of sites that offer free shipping with plenty of lead time.

Over the next weeks, extra income can help make the holidays a little brighter for you and your family, as well as the charitable causes you support. And after the holidays, try to keep up some of the above habits and use the extra dollars to help pay off debt or build a nest egg, and make the rest of the year less stressful.

11 Common Holiday Home Decor mistakes!

Before you begin your holiday decorating this year, use this list of the top holiday decorating mistakes as a guide to prevent style and safety faux-pas.
1. Forgetting Children And Pets

When you start to decorate your home, remember your décor should be tailored to your lifestyle, as well as your personal style. Keep children and pets in mind when adding décor pieces to your seasonal displays.

-Fake snow spray for windows is often made of a toxic formula, and is harmful if consumed. If there are children in your home (or pets liable to give your windows a lick), do not use fake snow spray on your windows.

-Breakable ornaments should never be placed on the lower half of your Christmas tree, or anywhere else within reach of children or pets. To prevent keepsakes from being broken and prevent injuries from shattered ceramic or glass, store fragile pieces away entirely, or up high.

-Overloaded tables are a risk to your décor and your loved ones. While it may be tempting to design intricate, style-stuffed holiday scenes on coffee or side tables, keep in mind these items can easily be knocked over by a child or curious pet. Place décor pieces on fireplace mantels, countertops and high tables, well out of reach of inquisitive hands and paws.

-Poisonous berries are unfortunately a common addition to many holiday displays. If you plan to decorate with Holly, Mistletoe or Jerusalem Cherry, keep them as high off the ground as possible. As these décor pieces are typically only used for aesthetic appeal rather than scent or touch, faux craft versions may be the best option for homes with children and pets.
2. Forgetting To Water The Christmas Tree

Natural Christmas trees are a tradition in many homes, and are a great way to add the wonderful scent of a pine forest to your house. Unfortunately, having a real pine tree in your house can present real danger, and requires maintenance. Always be sure your tree has several inches of water in its tree-stand bowl. A dry tree can easily catch fire from overly hot light bulbs, fireplaces and heating vents.
3. Overloading Electrical Outlets

There's nothing wrong with enjoying a brightly lit Christmas display, but you must prevent electrical fires from overloaded outlets. Always use surge protecting power strips, and never attach more than one string light set into a single outlet (placing one string light into the back socket of another, which is placed in the wall socket). While this may be convenient, it's also dangerous. Purchasing extra power strips is an easy way to prevent electrical surge damage and potential fire risks.
4. Leaving Lit Candles Next To Décor Pieces

Candles are frequently included in holiday displays, and can add beautiful light and scent to any room with any holiday décor theme. When using your candles, do not ever place them directly beneath fabric, décor pieces or wood pieces. Plenty of space above and around your candles will prevent their heat or the flames themselves from catching anything on fire.
5. Going Too Far

Showing your holiday spirit doesn't mean buying as much décor as possible. When setting up interior and exterior displays, choose quality over quantity. Well made, stylish pieces give your home a distinctive and chic look, while piling on the Santa figurines, candy canes, ornaments and poinsettias wherever you can squeeze them will only do more harm than good.
6. Wrapping Presents Without Marking Them

If you prefer to wrap your holiday presents all at once, be sure to avoid this frustrating mistake. Immediately after wrapping each present, add the recipient's nametag. After two or more presents have been wrapped but not labeled, it can be easy to forget which package goes to whom. Rather than giving the wrong gift or unwrapping and subsequently re-wrapping gifts, make sure to take the time to write out nametags with every present.
7. Mixing Christmas Themes

Avoid awkwardly blending themes when decorating various rooms throughout your house, and outside. This can appear cluttered, kitschy and unstyled, leaving your home looking less decorated and more muddled. Select one of the following Christmas themes (or create one of your own) and stick to it.

Traditional

Elegant

Modern

Natural

Nautical

Rustic

Nordic

Colonial

Victorian
8. Forgetting Key Rooms

Many homes center their Christmas décor around the Christmas tree and outdoors. While these are important spaces, don't forget other frequently used areas of the home. A little can go a long way in unifying your seasonal décor scheme and greeting holiday guests wherever they venture within your home.

Foyers

Bathrooms

Kitchen

Dining Room

Guest bedrooms

Hallways

Patios
9. Using Outdated Electrical Decorations

While using your favorite string lights or vintage light up Santa is a heartwarming reminder of Christmases past, outdated electrical pieces are also a fire hazard. Only use certified, well constructed and undamaged lighting and electrical décor pieces around your home.
10. Overloading The Mantel

The fireplace mantel is often the heart of a home's Christmas décor, though safety and décor rules still apply here. When hanging stockings, garland, beads and other seasonal decorations from your mantel, be sure they do not come close enough to the fireplace's flames to pick up heat, let alone catch fire. Even if you do not use your fireplace, keep an eye out for candles placed too near flammable mantel décor pieces.
11. Leaving String Lights Tangled

After you decide to remove your string lights, always store them in a neat bundle. Leaving them knotted and tangled will create a chore for next year's decorating, and can damage the bulbs or string, leading to potential electrical issues.

Remember with the Holidays Coming up, Residents You Can Host a Party Here!

Come & Join Us For Our Holiday Christmas Party!

Moving Challenges during the Holiday Season

Let’s face it: the holiday season is likely not the best time of the year to move. In many parts of the country, there is cold, snowy weather to contend with. You may have a lot going on besides your move, including holiday visits to family. And the sense of dislocation in moving may be particularly acute at this time of year.

Here are some tips to consider that might make moving during the holidays just a little easier for you.

Move in the off-season. Here’s a silver lining. Because the month of December is considered an off-season for moving in many parts of the country, you likely will be able to procure moving services of all kinds at a discount over spring and summer rates.

Get your schedule organized. You’ll want to plan your move around any religious or social obligations you traditionally have during the holidays. That means planning well in advance, especially if you’re hoping to host any holiday gatherings in your new home. (Remember to give yourself extra time for the move in case you hit any unexpected snags.) Or maybe you’ll want to be nice to yourself and spend the holidays with family and friends before you really settle in to your new home.

Get holiday contact info for your community manager. You’ll want to know the information to be able to get in touch with a contact at your new apartment community who has been designated to assist you with any move-in details.

Prepare for the weather. A winter move can be hazardous to your car and your belongings. Keep weather conditions in mind as you undertake your move in winter months.

Also, inquire about arrangements you can make in advance with your apartment community to assist with the details of getting moved in, such as reserving a freight elevator or securing parking for your moving truck. Planning ahead may help speed up the process.

And keep in mind that you’ll still be sweating even underneath a sweater or winter coat when you move your belongings, so you’ll need to stay hydrated even if you’re not feeling the heat.

Don’t move presents. Whenever possible, have gifts shipped directly to the recipient or to your new home. Any present you don’t have to move yourself is one less source of stress!

Take advantage of holiday celebrations. Tree lightings, tours of homes, ice rinks — lots of towns put on a show for the holidays. These can give you an opportunity to get out and see the sights of your new town. Similarly, some apartment communities host holiday events for residents, allowing you to meet your neighbors over eggnog.

Though moving at a busy time of year like the holidays may feel like an unwanted distraction, you can try turning your move into a fond memory to come. Whether it’s with holiday music in the car as you’re driving, a tree with a few of your favorite ornaments, or a menorah that plays host to the first fire you light in your new fireplace, taking a little time to acknowledge the holidays may boost your mood and make you feel more at home in your new apartment at holiday-time!

Hot n Healthy: One Leg Balancing Poses- Develops Balance, Strengthens Hips & Glutes

As yogis, we believe that a strong and healthy body sets the foundation for a healthy mind. From there, the possibilities are limitless.

Today we are going to do some one leg standing balance poses. These poses target the hips and glutes. Let’s get started.

We’ll start in Mountain Pose

• Stand up straight with your big toes touching.

• Turn your palms to face forward and feel your shoulders press into the back of your body.

• Relax your shoulders away from your ears.

• Roll your inner thighs back and take a couple of breaths.



Next, we’ll take Hand to Knee or Big Toe Pose

• Bend your right knee and lift it to hip height. Grab the front of the knee or reach for the big toe with your first two fingers.

• Anchor your left hand on your hip.

• If you are holding your toe, extend your leg toward straight as long as you can keep your spine upright.

• Hold for five breaths. Switch sides and hold for five breaths.



From here let’s move right into Airplane Pose

• Release the knee or big toe and return to Mountain Pose with your hands by your sides.

• From your upright position shift your weight to the left leg and tilt at the hips, reaching the right leg straight back and bringing the upper body parallel to the floor.

• The front of both hips should face down, so roll your right hip down if it is opening to the side.

• Hold for five breaths then keep your leg lifted and reach both hands to the floor.



To come in to Half Moon Pose

• Place your right hand about a foot in front of your right pinkie toe and bring your left hand to your right hip. Place a yoga block or thick book under your right hand, if needed.

• Roll your left hip open toward the ceiling and reach the left hand up.

• Hold for five breaths, then release the upper hand and foot to the floor and take an easy forward fold for a few breaths



Repeat the entire sequence on the other side.

Anyone who is looking for a job..

Great Dane Trailers will be hiring 400 workers in December to work at its new 450,000 square foot facility in Statesboro.

Great Dane is joining together with Ogeechee Technical College and Georgia Quick Start to launch a new workforce initiative program to bring jobs to Bulloch County.

"Well, I would hope it means a lot. One of the reasons why we chose this site was because there was a higher number of employee availability," said Kevin Black, Great Dane Trailers Plant Manager.

The company is looking to fill positions for painters, truck drivers, assembly workers, and a variety of other jobs during a recruitment fair from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 14 at Ogeechee Technical College. Applications will only be accepted by Department of Labor representatives at the event. Applicants should not apply directly to the company for those positions.

Attention Resident's Macy's Family & Friends Deal is Almost Under Way

Our Dear Friend with Macy's just delivered their very own Coupons (see below) here to the front office! We would like to share the gift to you so booklets are here for pick up at the front office :) Happy Shopping!

Shop Savvy for the Holidays: A dozen tips for Stress-Free Savings

Thanksgiving just passed and that means that Christmas is right around the corner. Have you started your shopping yet? Many of you ventured out for those Black Friday sales….. hoping to score a great deal. Deals are everywhere, not just on Black Friday. You just have to know where to find them. Follow my tips to shop Savvy and get ready for the holidays this year.

I encourage everyone to shop local when you can. It supports our friends and family members who are employed by local stores. Keeping the sales tax locally also helps support our schools.

Tip #1

Know your prices! Stores compete to have the best prices on electronic, toys and clothes. Prices can fluctuate greatly between stores. An easy way to compare prices at local stores is to go online towww.freepricealerts.com . This free tool allows you to search for the item you are looking for and compare it to all of the stores in the area. You do not have to complete the purchase online, simply shop locally at the store that has the best price.

Tip #2

Price Match! Wal-Mart and Target will match a competitors ad and so will many electronic and office supply stores. There are different reasons for price matching. Maybe the store is out of the item. In that case, simply price match that ad at another store. Another time when you may want to price match is if you have a coupon for a different store. Example Store A has a TV on sale for $1,000; Store B has the TV on sale for $800. You have a coupon for $20 off a $100.00 purchase for store A. Price matches the ad for Store B at Store A, and use the coupon.

Tip #3

Save Receipts! This is very important. If you have purchased an item and it has gone on sale w/in 30-60 days many stores will refund you the difference. Wal-Mart has announced that they will reimburse the difference in the form of Wal-Mart gift cards. To keep up with the changing prices you can use the website www.pricewatch.com. Another reason to save the receipt is you may need to return the item. Without the receipt the store will calculate the price based on the lowest price the item sold for. Without the receipt, you may lose money.

Tip #4

Think Outside of the Box! You found the perfect jeans but they only have a size 0. The sale ends today…. Go ahead and buy the size 0…. And exchange it for your size later. This allows you to take advantage of the sale price, just make sure you save the receipt.

Tip #5

Midweek Sales – Stores place sales ad in the weekly paper too. Be sure to check the paper daily for sales ads, retail coupons etc.

Tip #6

Watch for Coupons! Sign up for your favorite stores mailing list. Many stores will e-mail you sales ads, coupons, etc. JC Penny’s & Belk both send some awesome coupons via snail mail. You can also find printable coupons and online coupon codes for retail stores at www.retailmenot.com andwww.couponmountain.com

Tip #7

Facebook! Never shop at a store without checking their Facebook page for special offers, coupons and sales! To locate the stores Facebook page just type the name of the store in the search field on facebook or try typing the stores name after the /. Example: www.facebook.com/maybelline. Be sure to watch the Savvy Shopper Facebook for coupons etc. www.facebook.com/savannahsavvyshopper

Tip #8

Use Your Phone! If you have a smart phone use the aps on the phone to locate the best deals. “Check In” at various places and they will send coupons to your phone. The cashier simply scans your phone at the register. Shop Kick is a cool app that rewards you with points just for walking in the store. You can cash those points in for prizes. Shop Savvy allows you to scan a bar code to see which stores sell the item in the area, and it even gives you the prices at those stores.

Tip #9

Use the Gift Guide! Be sure to check out the gift guide at www.savannahgiftguide.com. You will find ideas for many people on your shopping list, and the stores are all local.

Tip #10

Daily Deals! Instead of giving “stuff” why not give gift certificates to your loved ones. You can find many great gifts to give on the daily deal site dailydeals.savannahnow.com. You will also find some great deals to snag for lunch or dinner while you are doing your holiday shopping.

Tip #11

Gift Cards: Purchase gift cards instead of clothing for your older children. This is a win/win. Your children will be able to pick out the clothes that they want, and prices drop significantly after Christmas, allowing them to get even more than they would have before.

Tip #12

Shop the After Christmas Sales! Start shopping right after Christmas for next year. The day after Christmas many things will be marked down. You will find all sorts of novelty items that will make good gifts for next year. Some of my favorites are the spa items…these would make great Valentines gifts too.

Make Memories this year…. not empty bank accounts. Years from now your children will not remember all of the toys they received at Christmas, but they will remember baking cookies, playing games etc. Please remember those who are less fortunate, perhaps you can snag a deal for them too.

Give the Gift of Giving this Holiday Season

November Challenge: Growing a Beard for Charity

ABC News on Campus reporter Olivia Stacey blogs: Some call it No-Shave November. Others say Novembeard. For guys it means a one-month challenge to put away their shaving cream and razors. The rules are simple: don’t shave, trim or wax any facial hair for 30 days. Matt Stauffer, a campus minister at the University of Florida, is pictured above holding a sign that says "Look at that neck beard!" (Photo courtesy of Matt Stauffer) While many men are joining the competition for fun, others are doing it for a reason. Jesse Lash, a senior at the University of Florida, has been working with his brother, Jon, to give No-Shave November more meaning. They created their own fundraiser, “Grow a Beard, Free a Slave” to help oppressed children in India. They’re raising money for Dalites Freedom Network, a non-profit organization dedicated to end modern-day slavery in India. The Dalits, also called the “untouchables,” “outcastes,” or “slumdogs,” fall into the very lowest caste of the social hierarchy. They are shunned by those socially above them and live at risk of discrimination, child labor and human trafficking. The Dalit Freedom Network provides educational and financial resources for the Dalits. That's how the Novembeard competition can help. The Lashes created a site where men can sign-up to earn pledges for each day they don’t shave.

“Anyone can upload a picture of their clean-shaven face and start getting sponsors for their beard,” Lash told ABCNews.com. “All they have to do is not shave, it's ‘slacktivism’ at its best." A quarter every day adds up to $7.50 from one sponsor. Lash said that’s enough to pay for the food, education and health care of a Dalit child in an English-medium school for a week. The school uses English as the primary language for instruction to give students an equal opportunity to succeed.
Most desirable jobs in Indian society are offered to those who can understand English, as well as their own dialect. Most Dalits cannot afford English-medium schools, which widens the socio-economic gap between the castes.

The Lash brothers set a goal to sponsor 15 Dalit children for a full year through their fundraiser. That adds up to about $5,000, Lash said. Twenty-five guys are in the running along with an entire class of high school seniors. The site shows each contestant’s weekly progress in beard growth and fundraising total. Matt Stauffer (right), 26, a campus minister at the University of Florida has earned the most money so far. He's raised a total of $75 and counting. Stauffer had heard of Novembeard before, but it never piqued his curiosity. He thought it seemed like something funny to do, but was never interested until he got the Facebook invite from the Lash brothers. Once he got permission from his wife and boss, he gave it a go. “Now I’ll do that goofy thing because it has significance and meaning,” said Stauffer. He even created his own website, http://beard.thisenddown.com/ to document his experience and gain more support. Since the launch of his site on November 1st, he's had 264 people visit. Stauffer is keeping donors updated on his progress and as an incentive, posts their quotes on his site. Emilio DeSilvo, a senior at Calvary Chistian High in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., convinced his school to change some of their rules in honor of Novembeard. The private school gave permission for the underclassmen to participate, who normally are not allowed to grow facial hair. The only condition: they must have sponsors and donate to a good cause. DeSilvo motivated 15 of his classmates to sign-up and four teachers. “The guys love to grow their hair, especially the younger ones,” he said. “They think it’s manly.” “It’s so easy to raise money and 25 cents a day for not shaving can go a long way.” Josh Frank, a senior at the University of South Florida, is unofficially participating to promote awareness for prostate cancer. He said he isn’t participating to raise money. “Just showing my support and man, is it itchy and annoying,” said Frank. “From what I know, you're supposed to go full beard for Novembeard and Decembeard, then just the mustache for Manuary,” he said. “That may be pushing it for me.” Signs of No-shave November are not only visible on guys’ faces. Jamie Wilson, a freshman at UF said her friends are constantly using social media to give updates on their progress. “This year, more than ever, I’ve seen Tweets, Facebook groups, and posts about No-Shave November,” said Wilson. However, she noticed they aren’t talking about the cause. Megan Haney, a junior at UF said she knows several guys who are growing beards for the month, although she doesn’t know their motivation. “If it’s for a good cause, it’s good. But if they’re doing it just to do it, that’s strange,” said Haney. “Either way, it’s a competition so of course guys are going to do it.” “Many of them probably don’t realize that they can raise money or don’t know where to get started," she said. That’s what Jesse Lash says he and his brother are hoping to change. Lash said a lot of people have heard of No-Shave November and they’ll do it without knowing the full story. "Sometimes, it's just a competition among friends, who has the best facial hair, who has the manliest beard,” said Lash. “I think it’s fun, but if there's no purpose behind it, are you just trying to clamor for attention?” “Not to be too harsh-sounding, but the whole point is to help people while having fun,” said Lash.

A little brief history lesson on Thanksgiving Day.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs a bill officially establishing the fourth Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day.

The tradition of celebrating the holiday on Thursday dates back to the early history of the Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay colonies, when post-harvest holidays were celebrated on the weekday regularly set aside as "Lecture Day," a midweek church meeting where topical sermons were presented. A famous Thanksgiving observance occurred in the autumn of 1621, when Plymouth governor William Bradford invited local Indians to join the Pilgrims in a three-day festival held in gratitude for the bounty of the season.

Thanksgiving became an annual custom throughout New England in the 17th century, and in 1777 the Continental Congress declared the first national American Thanksgiving following the Patriot victory at Saratoga. In 1789, President George Washington became the first president to proclaim a Thanksgiving holiday, when, at the request of Congress, he proclaimed November 26, a Tuesday, as a day of national thanksgiving for the U.S. Constitution. However, it was not until 1863, when PresidentAbraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving to fall on the last Thursday of November, that the modern holiday was celebrated nationally.

With a few deviations, Lincoln's precedent was followed annually by every subsequent president--until 1939. In 1939, Franklin D. Roosevelt departed from tradition by declaring November 23, the next to last Thursday that year, as Thanksgiving Day. Considerable controversy surrounded this deviation, and some Americans refused to honor Roosevelt's declaration. For the next two years, Roosevelt repeated the unpopular proclamation, but on November 26, 1941, he admitted his mistake and signed a bill into law officially making the fourth Thursday in November the national holiday of Thanksgiving Day.

Legendary Broadcaster was Voice of Georgia Football to Generations of Fans

ATHENS —

Friends of Larry Munson, the players whose games he called and people who never met the man in person recalled the legendary radio broadcaster with tears and laughter Monday.

They shed tears because Munson died Sunday at the age of 89, and they laughed when they recalled the good times they’d shared with him in person or over the radio waves.

Munson was the play-by-play broadcaster for Georgia football for four decades, and tens of thousands of Georgia football fans grew up experiencing Georgia football through Munson’s voice.

He’d tell fans the weather conditions and invite them to imagine they were looking at the football field, left to right, recalled his longtime broadcast partner, Loran Smith.

“He made you feel like you were there. He was the ultimate radio guy. He had the sense for it, and he knew how to describe the action for the listener,” said Smith, who responded to Munson’s “Whaddaya got, Loran?” for more than 30 years as sideline reporter.

Even that simple little phrase demonstrates Munson’s verbal gifts, Smith said.

Today’s top-drawer play-by-play broadcasters are likely to say, “Let’s go to Julie on the sidelines.”

But with “Whaddaya got, Loran?” Munson made a bland, routine question into a beloved Bulldog mantra.



The right words

“He just had a gift for saying the right thing, the interesting thing,” Smith said.

“He made you feel like you were down there on the sideline sweating it out and gritting your teeth,” said lifelong Bulldog fan and UGA graduate Reed Holden of Athens.

“That’s how you related to Georgia football,” said another Munson fan, University of Georgia Foundation president Bill Young.

Dating from the first time a 6-year-old Holden sneaked a radio under the covers to listen to Georgia play Notre Dame for the national championship — past his bedtime — Munson was almost like another family member.

“I grew up in a family of Bulldog fans,” said Holden, owner of the Athens-based audiovisual systems company Aurora Systems. “It was a fact of life at any family function on a fall Saturday: We were watching TV and listening to Munson.”

Like countless other Bulldog families, they listened to Munson even if the game was televised, turning down the TV volume and turning on the radio.

Munson was a gifted painter with words who could make you feel like you could see what you were hearing, agreed C.B. “Scooter” Grubbs of Tifton, another lifelong Georgia fan.

“He had the ability to say exactly what he saw and what was happening on the field, and he gave you the ability to see it on the radio, as well,” Grubbs said. “He’d say, ‘He twisted and turned for two more yards,’ and you’d watch the replay and that’s exactly what he did. It just came naturally, phrases just rolled out of his mouth. It was just his personality, and we all hung on all of his words.”

“It was just as good as going to the game, almost,” said longtime UGA sports information director and tennis coach Dan Magill, who worked with Munson for more than 40 years. “There was nobody better. He’s one of the greatest, no doubt about it.”



‘Bigger than life’

Former Georgia kicker Allan Leavitt said he was glad he never got to hear Munson’s broadcasts during the games he played at Georgia from 1973 to 1976.

“He always made everything bigger than life,” Leavitt said.

Leavitt is probably best known for his end-of-the game field goal against Georgia Tech on a wet field in 1976, preserving a spot for 10-1 Georgia against top-ranked Pittsburgh in the Sugar Bowl.

“If I’d been listening to Munson, I’d have missed it,” said Leavitt, now retired from business and coaching high school football in Jacksonville, Fla.

Leavitt said Munson clearly rooted for Georgia, but at the same time, he showed respect for Georgia’s opponents.

“He was extremely positive to both the opponent and for our team,” Leavitt said. “It’s class and character.”

No one doubted that Munson rooted for the home team. He seemed to live and die with every pass or run of the ball during close Georgia games and conveyed that emotion not with volume but by changing the pitch of his voice.

“I think what made Munson so special. He became an unabashed homer, but it was not offensive,” Smith said. “And Munson became a great cheerleader.”

Nowadays, almost all of Georgia’s football games are televised. However, in the 1960s, ’70s and early 1980s before a lawsuit broke the NCAA TV monopoly, Georgia might only be on television once or twice a year, so Munson’s voice was the game for many in the Bulldog Nation, noted longtime UGA football coach Vince Dooley.

“He would reach into every crack and corner of the state that had a radio, and they became part of it through him,” Dooley said. “He was a real folk hero to the Bulldog Nation. Regardless of your background or ability to pay money, everybody had a 50-yard seat at their home following Georgia through Larry Munson.”



REGISTRY BOOK AT FOX & WEEKS

Fox & Weeks Funeral directors have put out a registry book for Larry Munson at the Fox & Weeks location on Hodgson Memorial Drive.

At the end of this week, Fox & Weeks will send the book to Larry Munson’s family.

The community is invited to visit the funeral home to sign the registry and offer well wishes, condolences and memories for Larry Munson’s family.

For more information, call 352-7200.

Black Friday App Puts the Deals on Your Phone!

In the information age, you don't have to wait for the crashing thud of the annual deal-heavy Thanksgiving Day newspaper to start the holiday shopping season. Now, those ads are on your phone.

The free TGI Black Friday smartphone app returns for a third year to help cash-strapped consumers navigate the door-busting deals of the official start of the holiday shopping season.

"Things are happening a lot faster this year," said Kevin Kahn, chief operating officer of DealCatcher.com. "We're seeing a lot of the ads coming out earlier this year."

Whether they're published or leaked, Kahn and a small team of workers take these ads from the paper and publish them to the web and to your smartphone through their TGI Black Friday app.

"They are really trying to get the information out there early," Kahn said.

Kahn says you don't have to wait for Black Friday to take advantage of the app and the deals his team has published.

Many retailers have begun introducing early specials to attract buyers.

"They're throwing out these really good prices," Kahn said.

As early as the first weekend in November, BestBuy offered a 32-inch Westinghouse 1080p LCD HDTV for $200, a $149 discount off its normal price. Target offered a 12-inch Acer laptop for $197, more than a $130 discount.

Consumers can browse the deals on the app or visit tgiblackfriday.com. There, products can be found separated into categories or by the store offering the sale.

On both the site and the app, users are presented with similar deals and price comparisons to see how good the deal actually is.

But if you're wary of the authenticity of a low price, Kahn's team also offers PDFs of the originating ads - one of the two options added to last year's app, along with support for push notifications.

The app allows users to make lists of their favorite things to save for later or to email to friends and family members. The third integration of the app now includes support for sharing with friends through Twitter and Facebook.

"We kept it pretty much the same because that's been working pretty good for us," Kahn said.

With millions of annual users and high rankings in the Apple App Store, the formula seems to be working.

The TGI Black Friday app can be downloaded for iPhone in the Apple App Store and the Android Market for smartphones running the Android platform.

Sense of Fashion: Black Friday deals at local shops!

Saving big for your closet or for your holiday gifts can be done with fresh air and without crowds.

Black Friday is almost upon us, and all you shoppers are eagerly making plans to save big.

For those smart shoppers who know their fashion, know their friends, and don’t love mall crowds we sent our scouts to seek out some of the best local Black Friday sales.

Bleu Belle Boutique



First, pick up your toasted caramel cocoa at Twelve Oaks and walk over to Bleu Belle to learn all about the rage in this month’s Lucky Magazine. Bleu Belle is the only boutique offering the Shawlsmith London scarf, and to highlight this fashionable item all scarves will be 20 percent off. Regularly $95 the SeaBreeze style scarf is the perfect compliment to your outfit all winter long in our Savannah climate. For Black Friday, these will be only $76.



Petite Feet



For the little ones in your life, Petite Feet is offering 20 percent off all in-stock booties. This includes their new shipment off UGG’s, North Face boots, Pedipeds boot and more. They will stomp through our tough winter weather with the adorable John Deere cowboy boots (in pink or tan), or the sassy Georgia Boot. Add to their accessories with additional savings on Kidorable items including scarves, hats and mitten sets, each featuring an adorable theme. These savings will be offered both Friday and Saturday the weekend of Thanksgiving.

The Pink Closet



Everything in the store is 50 percent off at this Richmond Hill store, with an additional $10 shopping pass. The sale runs Black Friday through Monday. Keep an eye out for a Louis Vuitton handbag.



Custard boutique

Custard’s got a surprise in store for this upcoming weekend. Browse the fine lines of great prices and enjoy a free gift with any purchase.

Or dig in and take advantage of the super savings on sale items. All sale items will be 60 percent off from Black Friday through Sunday until they are all gone. Items include fall fashion hits like Silver Jeans Brown boot cut cords, regularly $82, sale priced at $32.80 with the weekend offer. These have a terrific fit with just the right stretch to look great on most body types.



Cherry Picked

Oh the fun of the holidays starts at Cherry Picked. Black Friday only pick up your sweet deal at this consignment shop, as all items in the store will be 50 percent off. Make it easy to pick up holiday gifts for them and one for you with awesome designer selections like a brand new Tory Burch navy butterfly tunic. Originally retailed at $295, for sale at $100 and Friday only will be just $50.



Zia Boutique

Earrings are a girl’s best friend, and always the perfect gift for the holidays. Starting Black Friday
and going through the weekend, Zia will offer
25 percent off any purchases totaling $200 or more. For those under $200 you can still save 15 percent. Great gifts like the Tree of Life Necklace, available in 10 different birthstones for your favorite family friends. Offered in sterling silver or 14k gold fill, this is a beautiful look for anyone. The necklace is normally $89 and will be $75.65 at 15 percent off, or only $71.20 if you stock up to take advantage of the 25 percent off offer. This offer is good in person that weekend, or online with in-store pick-up.



Fab’rik

Fine fashion is a deal
at Fab’rik where there will be storewide savings of
30 percent off. Enjoy a complimentary Starbucks while you shop and save from Friday through the weekend. From party dresses to tall boots, this is a sale sensation that can’t be missed.



Satchel

Easy gifts are a cinch if you save at Satchel, which will be offering 20 percent off all trendy cuffs and clutches. Also enjoy 10 percent off the rest of the in-store merchandise, excluding custom orders, the entire weekend.



Birkenstock

Worn out those summer Birkenstocks, but waiting for a price to drop? This is the weekend to get that new pair. Birkenstock Savannah will offer a buy one, get one half off on all full price in-stock shoes, including the Birkenstock line and hot Five Finger footwear.

James Gunn



James Gunn is jumping into the fun with storewide savings of 20 percent off. This savings is good Friday, Saturday and Sunday so make sure you stop by and build your look. Ask your fashion specialist for help at either location, downtown or Sandfly, and set your holidays up to look great and save for more. Remember the man in your life this holiday with a wool coat detailed with angora and rabbit hair to keep him safe and warm. Save that weekend so you can treat yourself to a vibrant Dakota collarless peacoat in this season’s hot color marigold. Originally $295, that weekend only will be just $236.



Half Moon Outfitters

Don’t miss everyone’s favorite gift of the ever popular North Face Denali jacket, available in adult sizes at Half Moon Outfitters for $165. They have stocked their shelves full of colors, new brands and lots of warm and dry options for everyone in the family. Remember if you don’t see the right color or size, Half Moon has access to each of their vendors and can order it in time for your holiday gift needs, no need for added shipping cost. As you stop by, you may notice their broader selection of cowboy boots, expanded apparel and more into the store that used to just be for that outdoor girl.



Gigi’s Cupcakes

Opening at 8 a.m. Black Friday, you can start the day off with a kick. Sip a free coffee with any cupcake purchase from 8 to 10 a.m. Mid-morning snackers can snag a deal on a set of six cupcakes for $14, regularly almost $20. From noon to 2 p.m., all cupcakes in the store are just $2.50. Recharge from 2 to 4 p.m. with a happy dozen at just $25. And top off your day with cupcake happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. with buy 3 get 1 free. If you aren’t in the mood or are watching that waistline, consider this super stocking stuffer for each of your friends. For every $100 total in gift cards (remember $20 gets them 6) you’ll earn one $20 gift card back for yourself!



Glow Medspa & Beauty Boutique

Glow Medspa & Beauty Boutique is offering an early bird gift certificate special — all gift certificates purchased online on Black Friday get an additional 20 percent of credit. Visitwww.glowsavannah.com to buy the gift certificates. Remember, Glow also offers terrific lines of beauty products, so she can use this gift for fabulous name brand products or services.



Savannah Day Spa

Savannah Day Spa has created special holiday spa package. The “Girls Holly Day Special” includes a massage, spa manicure and pedicure for the packaged price of $150.



One Fish, Two Fish

Enjoy savings on Black Friday at One Fish, Two Fish on all Christmas décor – just in time for the holidays. Each item, excluding candles, will be discounted. Handcrafted glass ornaments come in a lovely acrylic box to show off their design, regularly priced at $15 each will be just $12 to make them the perfect gift.



See Jane

For that fortunate family or friend who has a new baby in their life, See Jane has lovely, safe baby items at 50 percent off, including bath bubbles and lotions. Home fragrances can make the holidays merry, and these will all be 50 percent off the entire holiday weekend. Voluspa Diffusers come beautifully packaged, and provide you with the ultimate fragrance luxury. The high-quality ingredients create the purest fragrance that is clean and refreshing that is long-lasting. Originally marked at $28 they will be just $14.



Paris Market

Decorative designer pillows by Jamie Young will be 20 percent off. Add a little spice to that room that needs holiday cheer, or find one for your friend to tuck into her favorite reading chair.

Savannah lands another film, City leaders consider studio investment!!

Savannah once again will welcome a film production next month, a psychological thriller called “When the Bough Breaks.”

Filming should continue into early January on the project, which has a budget of more than $1 million.

That may be the least of Savannah’s movie news to come.

The steady stream of feature films, independent projects and commercial shoots, paired with a renewed recognition of economic development potential, is bringing together city leaders, private interests and the Savannah Economic Development Authority to explore developing a film studio in Savannah.

SEDA stepped up its efforts to work with local film advocates after an independent study, the results of which came back earlier this year, showed that film and digital entertainment was an emerging technology Savannah should pursue.

“I think that validated what we’ve been trying to say all along,” said Dana Braun, a member of Savannah’s Film Commission. “This industry spends so much money. Every day there are new avenues of content. It’s not just one guy with a camera trying to make a movie.”

Jay Self, the city’s director of Film Services, said a soundstage and production facilities capable of handling feature films or a TV series, “would increase tenfold” the type of projects Savannah would be able to recruit.

One aspect of the discussion centers around developing a public/private partnership for the studio. Steve Weathers, SEDA president and CEO, said a studio project is one more way Savannah could diversify its economy and attract higher-paying jobs.

One of the companies SEDA has been talking with is The Forum Group, a locally based company. Officials with that company could not be reached Tuesday.

Another local firm trying to capitalize on Savannah’s film possibilities is Meddin Studios, which last year opened a 22,000-square-foot digital studio on Louisville Road. In the last 18 months, Meddin has produced seven films and is looking to quadruple its production facilities, said Nick Gant, the studio’s co-founder and creative director.

Meddin has been talking with city officials and SEDA about what incentives might be available for such an expansion, Gant said.

State tax incentives up to 30 percent for film companies that shoot in Georgia in recent years have brought in an almost constant flow of production work, and have helped grow Savannah’s available crew and production staff. A locally based studio would further fuel that growth, Gant agreed.

“If we could get five movies a year with budgets of
$5 million to $10 million, the Savannah area could add 120 to 125 jobs,” Gant said. “And these would be really good-paying jobs.”

Other ancillary jobs would follow, he said.

Not to be overlooked is the Savannah College of Art and Design, which not only provides a pool of interns but also graduates film students eager to return on larger films.

Savannah Mayor Otis Johnson, City Manager Rochelle Small-Toney and Alderman Van Johnson have been part of initial discussions for a studio. Alderman Johnson believes the city should entertain folding the city’s film office into the larger studio concept as part of the partnership. Being able to offer studio space is another enticement for producers considering locations, he said.

“I think it’s something that needs to be explored,” he said. “We can make ourselves much more attractive. It makes us more of a film market.”

Memorial University Medical Center Number 1 in neuroscience care!

Memorial University Medical Center has been rated the number one hospital in Georgia for overall neuroscience services by a national source of physician and hospital quality outcomes information.



HealthGrades also listed Memorial in the top 10 percent nationally for stroke care and over all neuroscience services



Neuroscience services include stoke care, neurosurgery, back and neck surgery, including spinal fusion and overall spine surgery with Memorial achieving a five-star rating in each category.



“We go to great lengths to provide the best care for our patients,’’ said Maggie Gill. president and CEO at Memorial Health, parent corporation for Memorial University Medical Center. “Being recognized as the No. 1 hospital in Georgia for overall neuroscience services is a tremendous honor and a tribute to our hard-working team.”



Kerry Hicks, HeathGrades CEO, adds, “We commend Memorial University Medical Center for its superior quality and support of consumerism and transparency in the Savannah market area.”



HealthGrades provides objective clinical outcomes and access to actionable quality measures to empower patient choice, Hicks added..

Made here at home: Daniel Defense

BRYAN CO., GA (WTOC) -

It was 10 years ago when Marty Daniel, by chance, turned his hobby for building guns into a worldwide small arms manufacturing business known as Daniel Defense.

"There were some components I wanted for my own weapons that weren't available," said Daniel. "I talked another manufacturer into building a hundred. I only needed 4, so I had to sell the other 96 of them. We set up a website. It was alot of fun. From there, we have grown into a firearms manufacturer that manufactures from raw material to finished guns."

The business has developed over the years from component sales in the commercial market to rifle sales.

"I think we are unique because we found a niche in the market where we want to built the absolute best firearms in the world. We are accomplishing that and continuing to raise the bar on that and doing it with people we found right here at home. We are having great success," said Daniel.

Each day, 50 rifles are manufactured at their plant in Black Creek and distributed across the world.

"These guns were built yesterday and they will be out the door today," said Daniel. "They are all pre-sold and we are sold out for about three to four months right now. We have a high demand product and we are continually stepped up production," said Daniel.

Daniel Defense also provides military firearms. They won a contract in 2003 to upgrade all m4's for the Special Forces.

"We love working for them and being a part of giving them the best tools they need to get the job done," said Daniel. "We are proud of the work they do and we support them."

Daniel Defense provides protection that is made here locally and used to defend people all across the world.

The company hopes to expand their rifle selection in the years to come and move into the handgun business by 2015.

Their long term goal is to capture 10 percent of the gun market.

For information on the company and to apply for a position visitwww.danieldefense.com/.

Nearly 4 out of 5 burglars use social networks!

According to a study out of the United Kingdom from Credit Sesame, approximately 78 percent of ex-burglars use Twitter, Foursquare and Facebook to identify properties with absent homeowners. This includes people that use location-enabled status updates or pictures to identify when they are at work or on an extended vacation. In addition, nearly three out of four ex-burglars use Google Street View to check out the quality of the home in addition to various escape routes within a neighborhood. The typical home invasion costs the homeowner just over $2,000 in the United States and robbery that occurs during the day usually yields higher losses than burglars that break in during the night.

The demographic most likely to tweet a location are Americans between 18 to 34 years old and approximately 15 percent of Americans regularly use social networks to state when they have left the home. According to the ex-burglars, 80 percent of first attempts to break into a home are typically unsuccessful and 78 percent would be driven off by a simple alarm system. On average, it takes a burglar about two minutes to break into a home and the average amount of time spent within the home is about ten minutes. Some of the the most common mistakes that homeowners make besides social updates include hiding a key near the front entrance, leaving UPS or Fedex deliveries on the front porch, leaving windows open and leaving valuables out in plain view of people walking through the neighborhood.

The ex-burglars also recommended steps to ensure greater social security including altering Facebook privacy settings to make sure the public can't see location updates and restricting friend list additions to actual friends. Other steps include refraining from updates about extended vacations and avoiding posting photos of expensive items taken within the home or photos that list the location of the home.

Courtney Station Proudly Supports the Toys for Tots Foundation.

We are officially a local drop off location for the Toys for Tots Foundation. Please bring gently used toys, brand new toys or toy's that your children have grown out of & donate them to a child in need of a furry little friend. 

Savannah Georgia Marine Toys For Tots Foundation

2011 Toys for Tots Events:

- November 18th: Fairway Lincoln Mazda @ 10101 Abercorn St., Savannah, GA; Time: 0900 - 1900

- November 26th: The Black Marlin Bayside Grill @ 86 Helmsman Way, Suite 103, Hilton Head, SC; Time: 1600 - 2200

- November 28th - October 2nd: 1st Annual Stuff a Bus Toy Drive @ Oglethorpe Mall, Savannah, GA; Time: 0800 - 1800

- December 2nd: Lights on for Tybee @ Tybee Island, GA

- December 2nd: Holiday Stop & Shop @ 111 Birch Dr., Beaufort, SC; Time: 1100-1800

- December 2nd: Enmark Savannah Bridge Run Expo @ Savannah Civic Center; Time: 0900-1900

- December 3rd: Enmark Savannah Bridge Run @ Savannah Civic Center; Time: 0600-1200

- December 7th: Martinis At the Mansion @ 700 Drayton St., Savannah, GA; Time: 1700-2000

- December 9th: Indigo Run Golf Club Toy Drive @101 Berwick Dr, Hilton Head, SC; Time: 1730 - 1930

- December 9th: 2011 YMCA Angel Tree @ 6400 Habersham St., Savannah, GA; Time: 1800-1930

- December 10th: Military Appreciation Day @ Hilton Head, SC; Time: 1000-1400

- December 10th: Breakfast with Santa @ 2 Grass Lawn Ave, Hilton Head, SC; Time: 1200 - 1700

- December 10th: Lady's Island Country Club @ 139 Francis Marion Circle; Time: 1200 - 1700

- December 16th: Antique Automobile Club of America Christmas Party @ Carey Hillards, 11111 Abercorn St, Savannah, GA,Time: 1830 - TBD

- December 17th: Warren Christmas Party @ 7 Amarella Lane, Savannah, GA; Time: 1700-TBD

- December 18th: Landings Christmas Parade @ The Landings; Time: TB

Military service members honored on Veterans Day - WTOC, Savannah, Georgia, news, weather and sports |

Military service members honored on Veterans Day - WTOC, Savannah, Georgia, news, weather and sports |

Streets to Close This Morning for Veterans Day Parade

The Veterans Day Parade will begin at Abercorn and Gwinnett streets at 10:50 a.m. Friday.

It will proceed north on Abercorn to Oglethorpe Avenue, where it will continue west to Montgomery Street. The parade will then move north on Montgomery to Broughton Street where it will proceed east until its end at East Broad Street.
Several streets will close Friday morning for Savannah’s annual Veterans Day Parade.

The intersections will be closed from 10 a.m. through 1 p.m. for the parade. Before the parade begins the staging area is expected to impact three blocks from Gwinnett Street south to Henry Street, Drayton Street, Abercorn Street and Lincoln Street.

There will be NO PARKING signs clearly posted along the staging area and parade route. SCMPD is asking for the public’s assistance by finding alternate parking between the hours from 7 a.m., until after the parade.

The parade begins at Abercorn and Gwinnett streets and travels north to Liberty Street, west to Montgomery, north to Broughton Street, east to East Broad Street, and south on East Broad Street, where it will disband. We expect the parade to be finished by 1 p.m.

Drivers should look for alternate routes.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner.. serve fresh cranberry relish on your menu

It’s that time of year again ... the time when bags of cranberries arrive on the shelves of our markets produce sections.

Prior to refrigerated trucking, you could not find cranberries if you lived too far from a grower.

In 1912, the United Cape Cod Cranberry Company was formed and began the commercial process of canning a cooked cranberry and sugar sauce.

The canned sauce could be shipped anywhere and became so popular that it evolved into a national traditional favorite to accompany roasted turkey.

But nowadays fresh cranberries are available nationwide, and the chefs of the Culinary Institute of America encourage you to try making your own cranberry relish this holiday season.

“Fresh cranberries are round like large marbles with a deep red color and a very tart flavor,” says CIA chef Robert Mullooly.

“They should be plump and bright and are excellent when paired with sweeter fruits to balance their tartness,” said Mullooly.

“If you prefer to make this dish without alcohol, you can substitute additional orange juice for the triple sec or Grand Marnier.”

The cranberry is one of two berries — along with the blueberry — native to North America. It’s an unusual fruit in that it grows in wet bogs primarily in the American North.

Wisconsin is the heaviest producer, followed by Massachusetts, but cranberries are also grown in New Jersey and the Pacific Northwest.

So go grab a bag of those beautiful fresh cranberries, and with just a few ingredients, you can make and serve this quick and delicious recipe for your guests this holiday season.

ON THE WEB

Go to savannahnow.com/accent to watch CIA’s Chef Robert Mullooly demonstrate how to prepare Fresh Cranberry Relish.


FRESH CRANBERRY RELISH

One 12-ounce bag of fresh or frozen cranberries

1/3 to 1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup orange juice

1/4 cup orange liqueur such as Grand Marnier or Triple Sec

2 to 3 tablespoons orange marmalade

1. If using fresh cranberries, wash, pick through, and dry them thoroughly.

2. In a medium saucepan, mix 1/3 cup of sugar with the cranberries and the remaining ingredients. Taste to adjust sweetness and add more sugar if desired.

3. Place over medium-high heat and simmer, stirring occasionally until the berries pop.

4. You may serve hot or cold.

Makes 6 servings

Nutrition Analysis per 1-ounce serving: 40 calories, 0 g protein, 9 g carbohydrate, 0 g fat, 0 mg sodium, 0 mg cholesterol, less than 1 g dietary fiber.

Georgia Suspends Three Running Backs...

ATHENS -- Georgia star freshman Isaiah Crowell and two other tailbacks are suspended for Saturday's game against New Mexico State, the school confirmed this afternoon, leaving the Bulldogs with two former walk-ons available at the position.

Crowell, Carlton Thomas and Ken Malcome are suspended for one game for a "violation of team policies," the school said in a statement released this afternoon.

Second-leading rusher Richard Samuel is already out a minimum of four weeks after undergoing surgery on his left ankle this morning, according to coach Mark Richt.

That leaves redshirt sophomore Brandon Harton and senior Wes Van Dyk as tailbacks available. Both are former walk-ons. Harton has rushed for 33 yards on 11 carries, all against Coastal Carolina. Van Dyk had one carry for one yard also in that game.

Richt did not mention the impending suspensions when he held his regular noon news conference today. He answered questions about the backup tailbacks with brief answers.

Crowell is fifth in the SEC with 689 rushing yards. Samuel has 240 yards rushing and Thomas 200.