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.