There’s a big celebration going on in Savannah March 17. Perhaps you’ve heard something about it?

IN OCTOBER 2001, a local paper named Connect Savannah merged with another local paper named Creative Loafing (which I edited at the time) to create the product you're looking at now.

Soon after BP capped the Deepwater Horizon well earlier this month, the all-clear came from the government. It was dutifully echoed by a compliant mainstream media which had lost enthusiasm for the oil spill story and was eager to move on to much more important issues, like where mosques are built.

One thing we've learned over the past year or two: the City of Savannah has some serious issues with local bars.

It's a myth that hard times bring out the best in people. They don't. It's something we say to comfort ourselves, to find meaning in tribulation.

I SWORE LONG AGO that whatever other questionable career decisions I might make, I would never, ever stoop so low as to write one of those schmaltzy, sappy, sentimental, horrifyingly clichéd pieces about a dear, departed pet.

Editor, It looks like it’s going to be another stellar year for over–regulation by our local government. For those of you in the know, last year the city wanted private businesses to charge a cover charge for entering businesses during St. Patrick’s Day and hand the money over to the City of Savannah (in the name of public safety). Myself and my business partner, Melissa Swanson, attended these  meetings and voiced our concern and objection ...

No argument for smoking, period Editor, I just finished reading your piece on the potential smoking ban for Savannah bars and nightclub, and am grateful to see that a long overdue local issue is being addressed. There are many arguments from the owners of our local bars and restaurants that banning smoking will adversely affect business. There are speculations on how the ban might drive potential patrons to bars and nightclubs in Pooler and other ...

Scheinbart also running for 163rd District Editor, I read your recent article 'Primary Colors,' July 14-20, and, as usual, was appreciative of your publication's great writing and reporting... that is, until I reached the end of the article. It's probably a minor point, but I found the section titled "State Representative - District 163" to be misleading. In that section, the question presented to your readers ("Who will replace Burke Day to represent the Islands?") ...

Editor, Another tragic beating has occurred in the historic district, leaving a 26 year old gay man unconscious and suffering from seizures and bruises to the brain. The alleged perpetrators ran away after the attack and when apprehended told police a version of the attack that did not match witness accounts. The cowards struck the victim in the back of the head as he was walking away. They were charged with a misdemeanor and released ...

Editor, America certainly owes a debt to John McCain. He endured things as a POW that we cannot even begin to imagine. That said, the John McCain we knew 9 or 10 years ago is not the John McCain we see now. He used to be a man of strong principles, willing to take a firm stand on the issues. He used to be a true conservative yet able to maintain compassion for his fellow ...

The state's Environmental Protection Division (EPD) office in Savannah closed July 1, the most recent victim of the state's ongoing budget cuts. Shuttering the local office raises questions about whether regulatory oversight in the area is sufficient to monitor the range of industry and development here.

At the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, you can gawk at a whale shark, the biggest fish in the world. They have four of the large-mouthed leviathans up there, the longest coming in at just under 24 feet.

I once heard a well-known evangelist ridicule Earth Day, saying, "What is it anyway - the celebration of dirt?"

My mom always called me a "noticer." This summer, as I venture outdoors, I'm noticing that certain wild things - things I recall from dog days past - have gone missing.

My neighbor’s front lawn is brown; every green leafy thing has died. It looks as if a horrific drought or plague singled out his property while the surrounding yards are verdant.

Former State Supreme Court Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears has earned a spot in the history books. So even though any number of organizations could have brought her to town for the evening, it’s appropriate that it’s the Historical Society who’s sponsoring her talk on Thursday, Sept. 2 at the Lucas Theatre.

With state revenues plummeting and a stormy forecast predicted for the next several budget years, the newly formed Tax Reform Council convened for the first time at the end of July to begin the unenviable task of analyzing the state's tax code.

The state of Georgia is only a few weeks into its new fiscal year, but the new budget could already be several hundred million dollars short, according to a report released last week by the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute.

There aren’t many things one really needs to know about California’s cranky, highpocketed, white–shoe–and–belt–wearing, prune–munching neighbor to the east.

The candidate signs and campaign commercials have been popping up more frequently over the past few weeks, which means it’s time for part one of this year’s political drama to unfold.

In a city with a reputation for celebrating the intersection between odd personalities and true crime drama, last week’s evidentiary hearings for Troy Davis did not disappoint.

At a press conference last week, Interim Police Chief Willie Lovett revealed a sizeable decrease in crime in Savannah during 2009. And as an aside, he also seemed to be making the case that he should no longer be just an interim chief.

A new program in the County's Juvenile Court system could provide young people with mental health issues a better option than probation.

11/13/06 - Berkow officially has first day as the Chief of Police for the SCMPD 11/15/06 - Berkow makes his first public appearance at a Wilshire Area Neighborhood Association Meeting. Nearly 100 people show up to ask questions and express concerns. 12/19/06 - A sworn deposition made public by a California court during a lawsuit for alleged sexual discrimination reveals Berkow had an extra-marital affair while serving as the Deputy Chief of the L.A.P.D. Every ...

Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Chief Michael Berkow announced his resignation this afternoon, less than three years after moving here from a controversial stint with the Los Angeles Police Department.

Geekend, the design and technology conference that debuted with resounding success last Fall, has just announced most of its lineup for 2010. Geekend runs November 4 through 6 at the Coastal Georgia Center.

End poverty? Bring about world peace? Cure cancer? Ted Batchelor’s personal goal isn’t so lofty. He wants to impress you by setting himself on fire.

The debate over a proposed municipal anti-smoking ordinance continues this week. The ordinance would close loopholes in the state's 2005 Clean Air Act, which currently allows smoking in bars and at outdoor seating for restaurants and cafes.

About an hour south of Savannah off Highway 17 in McIntosh County are two of the most interesting (and free!) sights on the Georgia coast.

It’s been a year since the issue of food access became part of the larger local dialogue about improving community health, following a visit to town by food accessibility consultant Mari Gallagher. While there have been improvements since then, there’s still progress to be made.

Facing a massive state revenue shortfall, the Georgia legislature’s response has been predictable: cut funding to public education. The proposed budget cuts to the public K–12 and public university system of Georgia would have a staggering impact: 17 percent of the budget for higher education ($300 million) and similar cuts from K–12 education that would ultimately cost Chatham Country about $37 million.

The line between social media and reality has become all too evident in recent demonstrations against proposed     budget cuts to the University System of Georgia.

Last Thursday, Savannah native Antwan Patton, better known as Big Boi from Grammy-winning hip hop group Outkast, took the stage at the Civic Center.

  Amidst ongoing discussions of progress, growth and economic development in Chatham County, one topic rarely mentioned as a potential obstacle is that of illiteracy. However, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education, Chatham County's illiteracy rate remained near 15% as of 2003, and adults with low level reading skills could be as many as one in four in the state. The effect of dealing with literacy issues in ...

In mid-August, thousands of new students at Armstrong Atlantic State University began their first classes ever at the southside Savannah state university, as did at least one professor. One night a week, Dr. Linda Bleicken is teaching a graduate level course in the Masters of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies Program.

There is a swell building in world of medicine, particularly the field of cancer treatment. What was once considered "alternative medicine" - using nutritional and herbal supplements as a way of maintaining a more holistic approach to health - is fighting for a place at the table in the ongoing discussion of how to best treat cancer patients.

Last week the Affordable Healthcare for America Act won a narrow vote in the House of Representatives, 220-215. But as critics and supporters alike continue to sift through the bill, which is nearly 2,000 pages long, questions remain about the impact it will have, and whether the reforms will actually increase access to healthcare in the United States.

Under-budget and highly effective aren't two words commonly used in discussions about healthcare these days, but they're apt descriptors of the City of Savannah's healthcare system.

Cutting through the H1N1 hype Flu epidemics can start off with a mild form, followed by a "second wave" caused by a more dangerous strain that can lead to an epidemic of severe illnesses during fall and winter crowding. The 1918-1919 flu epidemic started off this way. But after the onset of the second wave, more than 50 million people died, mostly from pneumonia. Even though the 1918 flu was caused by the H1N1 virus, ...

Democrat John Barrow has been Savannah's congressman since 2004. Though an early supporter of Barack Obama's presidential run, he has since become something of a thorn in the president's side on the issue of health care reform.

In what was probably one of the most anticipated City Council meetings of the year, our elected officials debated and voted on two of the most controversial issues of 2010 - the smoke free ordinance and a small increase in the millage rate.

There were no doubts that last week's City Council meeting was going to be contentious. After all, the two matters up for discussion were an increase in the property tax millage rate and the first reading of the smoke free ordinance, but nobody foresaw how events would play out (except maybe Paul the psychic octopus.)

The LNG challenge Public Service Commission member H. Doug Everett issued a challenge to Atlanta Gas Light (AGL) and the El Paso Corporation to make Georgia one of the country's leaders in Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fueling stations. "For the last twelve months I have been discussing various business models with AGL to construct the infrastructure for a network of CNG fueling stations to be operated by retailers here in Georgia," says Everett. "I want ...

Courthouse scare The Savannah Fire and Emergency Services Hazmat team was called to the Chatham County Courthouse last week in response to a suspicious powdery substance. An employee with the State Court Clerk's office opened envelope that contained an unidentified off-white substance around noon last Wednesday. The employee reacted quickly, isolating the substance and then evacuating the area. Officials then shut off the air conditioning unit for the office to prevent the substance from becoming ...

From trash to treasure There is a delegation of Swedish public officials and business people visiting Savannah this week from the city of Boras. The group is here to discuss shared economic development opportunities with officials from the City of Savannah, the Port Authority, and local business people, including giving a seminar on “waste to energy” technology they’ve developed. The “waste to energy” program takes household waste and converts it to energy, including harnessing methane, ...

Hartford Gongaware went back to elementary school last fall. He got a fifth grade pen pal named Christopher, he read some new books, and he and Christopher traded letters online about the books they read.

Two Thursdays ago, with butterflies in my stomach, I drove to an office in Market Walk on Hodgson Memorial Drive. I sat down at a table and completed one of those "fill in the bubble" forms, as if I were taking a test. Less than an hour later, I was on my way home, upbeat and relieved. It was an "A+" afternoon, with "A+" standing for my blood type, "A-positive."

I rarely think about Fort Pulaski at all, and when I do, my catalog of information reads something like this: a destination on the way to Tybee, and a good place to take an out of town guest.

With Historic Grayson Stadium literally in my backyard (I can see their fireworks from my back steps) a Savannah Sand Gnats baseball game last Saturday night promised a few hours of kicked-back visiting, some snacks, a little party music, and an iced diet soda or two.

One hot Thursday morning in June, Orlando Montoya, myself and eight other landlubbers gathered at Rodney Hall Boat Ramp at Skidaway Narrows (sometimes called Butterbean Beach) for a boat trip to Vanishing Georgia.

-- Officers were dispatched to a reported fight on the corner of Fahm and Zubly Streets. At the scene, they found a white male in a dress shirt yelling at a homeless man. The homeless fellow was telling the other guy to stay away from him, and the white guy was yelling that he wanted his money back. The officer separated the two and attempted to get their stories. The white guy appeared to be ...

An officer patrolling West Bay St. noticed a group of people headed in the direction of Williamson St., and one of them was acting extremely disorderly. The officer asked the man to calm down and explain the situation.

Police received a call that an intoxicated woman was trying to leave a residence with her children in the vehicle. The caller said that he and his girlfriend had gotten into an argument and that she was intoxicated. Prior to the arrival of the police, the woman loaded up the kids and drove away. A description of the vehicle was sent out to officers, one of whom eventually found it in the Thunderbolt area. A ...

A business owner on the eastside called police after he heard a loud explosion in the parking lot of his business. He went outside to see what had happened. A witness told police that it sounded like a shotgun had gone off at the back of the parking lot. It turned out to be a homemade bomb. The witness said he saw three black males running away from the business but that they were too ...

Officers were called to the 4400 block of Ogeechee Rd. in regard to a disorderly person. When an officer arrived, he spoke with the caller, who explained that he had been mowing an overgrown vacate lot when a resident of the adjacent trailer park came out and became agitated with the landscaper. When the officer went to get the resident's side of the story, the officer noticed the man was holding a marijuana plant. He ...