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The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series announces The Strumbellas as the headliner for the 2019 Rock ‘n’ Roll® Savannah Marathon & ½ Marathon.

On Saturday, Nov. 3, The Strumbellas will take to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Concert Stage outside the finish line festival at Forsyth Park.

The Strumbellas are an indie rock sextet that have previously performed at major festivals including, Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits.

The Strumbellas won the iHeartRadio Music award for Best New Alternative Rock Artist of 2017 and the JUNO Award for Single of the Year.

“We are excited to bring The Strumbellas to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Concert Stage in the Hostess City” said Keats McGonigal, Senior Regional Director for Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series. “The Strumbellas’ sound is the perfect complement to Savannah’s southern charm. Their energy is sure offer a spectacular celebration for runners and spectators who come to the finish line at Rock ‘n’ Roll Savannah this November.”

Race weekend kicks off with a Health & Fitness Expo on Thursday, Oct. 31 from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. and Friday, Nov. 1 from 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center, Halls A & B. The expo will showcase vendors featuring the latest in running technologies, fitness apparel, health and nutrition, and is free and open to the public.

To register or learn more information on the Rock ‘n’ Roll Savannah Marathon & ½ Marathon visit, www.runrocknroll.com/Savannah. 

Sea turtle nesting season on St. Catherine’s Island is on track for a record-breaking season this year.

Jaynie Gaskin, MPH, executive director of the Georgia Southern University Sea Turtle Program at St. Catherine’s Island (STP@SCI), said researchers counted more than 100 nests after just one month into the nesting season, which runs from May to October.

Gaskin said nests on St. Catherine’s Island were some of the first in the state to produce hatchlings.

“This year, we have officially broken our all-time record number of nests, which was 322 and set in 2016,” said Gaskin. “As of July 12, we recorded 327 nests. We knew the 2019 season was going to blow the 2016 season out of the water when we recorded 99 nests on June 1. That was up from 46 nests recorded on the same day in 2016.”

She attributes the increase in nests on St. Catherine’s specifically to conservation efforts in the late 1980s.

“These ‘new’ turtles are probably hatchings from the early years of the program that have just now reached nesting age,” she said. “Both the 2017 and 2018 sea turtle nesting seasons saw more than 80 individual sea turtles and all together they laid a total of over 200 nests. Since the turtles nest in cycles every two to three years, we are expecting that 2019 will see the return of the massive group of over 160 female turtles who laid 322 nests on SCI in 2016, plus new turtles who might have just reached nesting age.”

Savannah’s largest single-day outdoor music event, Picnic in the Park, happens Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019 in  Forsyth Park, with a headlining musical program from the Savannah Philharmonic.

This year the Philharmonic invites the public to help develop a celebratory slogan for the annual celebration.

This year’s Picnic in the Park slogan will be inspired by the word ‘kaleidoscope,' describing the event's multi-faceted nature.

This contest has been launched on Savannah Philharmonic’s Facebook page (facebook.com/SavannahPhilharmonic/), so anyone can enter the competition by submitting their ideas for a suitable theme.

The contest winner will be treated to VIP seating at Picnic in the Park, and will receive six tickets to the Holiday Spectacular Family Matinee concert on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, a $100 Enmarket gas card, and will be invited to join the judging panel for the best picnic site on the day of the event.

The winner will also be recognized on social media and from the stage during Picnic in the Park. Entries may be submitted on the Savannah Philharmonic’s Facebook page through July 31 for a chance to win. The single winner will be announced on August 2.

In the spirit of the event, attendees are encouraged to bring a picnic, as well as participate in the themed picnic venue contest.

Since its inception over 30 years ago, Picnic in the Park has served as one of Savannah’s most popular and well-attended community events. Over 18,000 people are expected to enjoy this year’s festivities, which are free and open to the public.

The Army’s 3rd Infantry Division Color Guard will take part and the 3rd ID will again provide their salute cannons as part of the program.

Savannah Philharmonic will begin its program at 7 p.m., following an afternoon of lively performances by area school bands and choruses as well as local musicians.

The 2019 Picnic in the Park event will be presented by these sponsors: Enmarket, the City of Savannah, Georgia Power, HunterMaclean, Stage Front, Gulfstream, Wet Willie’s, Cordasco & Company P.C., The Eichholz Law Firm, Corona, Service Brewing Co., and Leopold’s Ice Cream.

Georgia Southern University President Kyle Marrero and First Lady Jane Marrero will host A Summer Celebration with fresh fruit and Leopold's Ice Cream in separate events on each of the university’s three campuses.

Students, faculty, staff and community friends and partners are invited to attend.

"The celebrations will expand on the university’s long-standing tradition, begun by Georgia Southern President Zach Henderson in 1948, to provide a cool treat to the students, faculty and staff who are still on campus during the hot summer months," a University spokesperson says.

The events happen as follows:

Monday, July 15 at 10 a.m.
Armstrong Campus, 11935 Abercorn Street, Savannah
The Quad

Tuesday, July 16 at 10 a.m.
Liberty Campus, 175 West Memorial Drive, Hinesville
Outside of Student Commons

Wednesday, July 17 at 10 a.m.
Statesboro Campus, 1332 Southern Drive, Statesboro
On the Pedestrium near the Carruth Building

Savannah Philharmonic will launch its second season of the Larsen Musician Spotlight Series on Sunday, Sept. 15.

The series features "collaborative initiatives between Philharmonic musicians and premier institutions and artists from Savannah and beyond," the Phil says in a statement.

The Larsen Musician Spotlight series is curated by Savannah Philharmonic Concertmaster Dr. Sinisa Ciric, who has performed in Carnegie Hall and was a featured soloist on ARCO’s most recent recording of Vivaldi’s concertos for two, three and four violins.

Ciric has also served as director of Savannah Classical Academy’s Strings Conservatory Program since January 2016 and was named Artistic Director for the Musician Spotlight Series in early July 2019.

"Each concert in the series presents a different perspective of the Savannah Philharmonic’s involvement in the community and its mission to provide residents, as well as visitors, with the opportunity to attend chamber concerts of the highest artistic order," says a spokesperson.

The first concert, “Le Resistance,” is set for 5 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Lutheran Church of the Ascension. Pianist and soprano Laura Ball joins musicians of the Savannah Philharmonic for an elegant concert of newly commissioned works of James Naigus and Karen Walwyn, Spanish songs of Manuel de Falla, and Ernő Dohnányi’s dynamic Sextet in C major.

At 5 p.m. October 13, “From UGA with Love” will be presented at the Yamacraw Performing Arts Center, featuring a debut performance by the ARCO Chamber Orchestra and  soloist and UGA violin professor Levon Ambartsumia. Presenting pieces by Tchaikovsky and Podgaits, Ciric will join his mentor in the Concerto for 2 violins in D minor by J.S. Bach.

Featuring mezzo-soprano Mikki Sodergren, Gold Medalist and Artistic Director of the American Traditions Vocal Competition Mikki Sodergren, “The Death of Romance” will be performed at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 3, at the Lutheran Church of the Ascension.

At 5 p.m. Jan. 26,  students from the Savannah Arts Academy will share the stage with members of the Savannah Philharmonic in a collaborative chamber music project, “Strings United,” at First Presbyterian Church.

Featuring chamber works by film composers, “Cinephile du Joure” will be performed by The Blue Heron Chamber Ensemble at 5 p.m. Feb. 23, at the Lutheran Church of the Ascension.

The Larsen Musician Spotlight Series will present its final performance at 5 p.m. March 8 when members of the Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus join together for “Sympátheia,” a new work by Argentinian composer Martin Gendelman.

All six Larsen Musician Spotlight Series concerts can be purchased at a 20% discount – that is all six concerts for $125. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 912-232-6002, visit savannahphilharmonic.org or email [email protected].

UPDATE: Mr. Sloan has been found and is safe.

The Chatham County Police Department is looking for a missing man that was last seen at 11:30 AM on July 1, 2019.

Police are searching for 66-year-old, James Ervin Sloan. Sloan has medical issues, and police are concerned for his well-being.

Sloan was supposed to meet with his brother at 4:00 PM on July 1, 2019, but did not show up. James Ervin Sloan, lives on the 1000 block Juanita Street, Savannah, GA 31401.​

Sloan is pictured at left. Please note that he now has a beard.

He drives a black Toyota Tundra SR5 with tag number ACP7196

Anyone with information on Sloan’s whereabouts is asked to call 9-1-1 immediately.