Community News Connection

Stay in the know about the latest activities and achievements in our local community.

YMCA of Coastal Georgia holds annual “Lifeguard Rodeo” for lifeguard training and development

Credit: Courtesy of YMCA of Coastal Georgia

The YMCA of Coastal Georgia held its annual “Lifeguard Rodeo,” a crucial event dedicated to ensuring the highest safety and emergency response standards among our lifeguard staff. This year’s event took place on Sunday, June 9, at the Islands Family YMCA on Whitemarsh Island. While this event was not open to the public, it represented a significant investment in the safety and preparedness of our aquatic staff across all branches.

The Lifeguard Rodeo is an intensive, day-long training session designed to maintain and enhance lifeguard skills and standards. According to Camille Stone, Membership, Fitness, and Aquatics Director at the West Chatham YMCA and Chair of the Aquatics Cabinet for the Association, this annual event is crucial for ensuring our lifeguards are well-prepared for the busy summer season. “We close all the pools in our association on this day so that all our aquatics staff can attend and participate. It’s essential that our training is to the highest level possible, ensuring uniformity and maintaining high standards across all branches,” said Stone.

During the rodeo, lifeguards engaged in a variety of training exercises and scenarios, including emergency extrications, active and passive rescues, and team responses to emergencies. These drills were designed to help lifeguards become more comfortable with their roles in high-pressure situations and ensure they can effectively work as a cohesive team. Stone emphasizes the importance of this training, stating, “It’s all about maintaining standards and ensuring we have the strongest team possible. This allows us to have a consistent program in place across the association. A lifeguard from one branch could step in at another without missing a beat, ensuring seamless safety and service for all our members.”

The event featured several training stations covering CPR, pool chemistry and chemical handling, active and passive rescues, and spinal extrications. Lifeguards rotated between acting as rescuers and those being rescued, gaining hands-on experience in each scenario. In addition to these critical skills, there was an emphasis on stress response, communication, and team building.

One of the highlights of the day was “Aquatic Bingo,” an engaging activity designed to reinforce learning in a fun and interactive way. Lifeguards completed bingo sheets with scenarios that promote safety and customer service, such as helping a stressed swimmer, staying hydrated, and reviewing emergency action plans. Prizes were awarded to those who complete their sheets, adding a competitive and enjoyable element to the training.

The day culminated in a relay contest, pitting branches against each other in a friendly competition that reinforces teamwork and the practical application of skills learned throughout the day.

The YMCA of Coastal Georgia is always looking for dedicated individuals to join our aquatics team. We offer comprehensive training and certification as part of the hiring process. If you are interested in a rewarding career as a lifeguard or aquatics personnel, we encourage you to submit your resume and become part of our committed team.

For more information about the YMCA of Coastal Georgia and our programs, please visit our website at ymcaofcoastalga.org.

Chatham County DA and Devetter Law Firm partner with local pastor to host a community-based expungement clinic as part of church’s Justice June Month

Local Pastor Andre J. Osborne of First Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church (“First Tab”) is not only using his platform to preach the gospel, but to serve the local community by focusing on issues of social justice, fairness, and reform during what he calls “Justice June Month.” “First Tab,” as it is affectionately called, serves the community in many ways, but the month of June is specifically set aside to focus on criminal justice issues through community education, voter awareness and justice initiatives. This year’s focus will be on record restrictions, formerly known as expungements. Although First Tab has sponsored expungement clinics for many years, this year’s initiative started with an informational Zoom call on June 3, which will be followed up by the clinic on Monday, June 10, and will be buttressed by other judicial and community stakeholders.

Without question, any conversation about expungements, restrictions or clinics would be incomplete without the voice of local attorney Nancy DeVetter, one of Georgia’s foremost experts in expungement law. Since 2021, the DeVetter Law Firm has been a cornerstone of the community, offering monthly expungement clinics every second Monday at various locations around Savannah. These clinics provide vital assistance to individuals seeking to clear their criminal records, thereby enhancing employment opportunities and their overall quality of life.

The DeVetter Law Firm has partnered with the Georgia Legal Services Program (GLSP) which offers intake and guidance for their free legal services program to further assist with more complicated restrictions that require court involvement. This work is further supported by other local organizations to include the DEEP Center, ARCS Task Force and Filling the Gap, Inc. Together, DeVetter and these partners strive to break down barriers faced by over 4 million Georgians, who struggle to secure employment, housing, education. military enrollment, and medical care opportunities because of their criminal records. DeVetter and her team work tirelessly to educate the community about the “Second Chance Law.” Her monthly clinics are intentionally based in the community on a rotating basis to increase outreach and accessibility for those individuals in need of this service.

Typically, interested applicants would have to purchase and obtain their official criminal record from a law enforcement agency before attending a clinic. However, for this event, they need only bring a valid ID. The District Attorney’s Office will be present to run criminal histories, determine eligibility and restrict records on-site for qualified applicants at no cost. Those who do not qualify for immediate restriction or who require more in-depth legal support will be able to meet with DeVetter, her team and other community partners who will be on-site to assist. Details for this month’s clinic are as follows:

Community Based Expungement Clinic
First Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church
310 Alice St., Savannah, Ga. 31401
Monday, June 10 | 5–7p.m.

For information about other monthly clinics and record restrictions in general, please visit the DeVetter Law Firm’s Website at devetterlaw.com/expungement-clinics.

To pre-register for the June 10 event, please email daorecordrestrictions@chathamcounty.org. Though not required, pre-registration is strongly encouraged to secure a spot as participants will be seen on a first-come first-served basis.

King and Queen of the Netherlands visiting Savannah State University as part of their official working visit to United States on Tuesday, June 11

His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Her Majesty Queen Máxima are to travel to the United States for a working visit to the states of Georgia and New York June 10–13, 2024. Savannah State University will welcome the Royal Couple to campus on the morning of Tuesday, June 11.

University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue and Savannah State University Interim President Cynthia Robinson Alexander will welcome the Royal Couple and their delegation on the Savannah State University campus as they attend activities to include student presentations from the university’s Marine Science program, interacting with students and minority entrepreneurs about enterprise and building international businesses, and enjoying a cultural heritage performance. In parallel with their visit, a conference on artificial intelligence—a collaboration between Dutch and US universities—will be taking place on the Savannah State University campus that same day.

While in Savannah, the Royal Couple and their delegation will also tour SCAD and the Georgia Ports Authority, as well as attend a private reception at Telfair Museum. According to a statement from The Royal House of The Netherlands, His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Her Majesty Queen Máxima’s working visit will highlight the strong bilateral ties between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the United States, and its economic relations with Georgia and New York State. The US is the Netherlands’ biggest non-EU partner in regard to economic and security cooperation. These close transatlantic ties are essential in safeguarding the Netherlands’ prosperity.

This partnership is based on a shared history that goes back four hundred years. With more than five million Americans tracing their roots to the Netherlands, there are close personal and cultural links between our countries. Georgia is currently the Netherlands’ 10th-largest U.S. trade partner, a ranking that is rising fast. State capital Atlanta is a key logistics hub, both for the European and for the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom. Atlanta has long been a key logistics hub, and its airport is one of the world’s largest, as well as being among the most efficient and busiest in terms of the passenger numbers it processes. On the Georgia coast lies the Port of Savannah, the fourth-largest and fastest- growing port in North America.

To further broaden and deepen economic and knowledge cooperation, a CEO delegation from the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers (VNO-NCW) will attend certain parts of the Royal Couple’s visit, and a mission from the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), led by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, will join the visit to the headquarters of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta.

“Savannah State University is honored to have been chosen by the Royal House of the Netherlands to host His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Her Majesty Queen Máxima and their delegation on our campus so they can meet our dynamic students and faculty and learn more about our world-class programs,” said Interim President Cynthia Robinson Alexander.

For more information about Savannah State University, visit savannahstate.edu.

City to hold ribbon cutting for fountain in Kavanaugh Park honoring Ardsley Park Chatham Crescent Garden Club

The City of Savannah invites the community to join officials, neighborhood leaders and members of the community on Wednesday, June 12, at 2 p.m. in Kavanaugh Park, located at 100 Washington Ave., for a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating a new fountain.

The fountain will commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Ardsley Park Chatham Crescent Garden Club and is dedicated to the late Mary Robinson Myrick for her commitment to the City’s green spaces.

Myrick (1888-1983), a prominent and beloved member of Savannah, formed the Ardsley Park Chatham Crescent Garden Club in 1973. As a civic leader, she and others helped establish the Fragrance Garden for the Blind in Forsyth Park. She was also a driving force behind Keep Georgia Beautiful.

Installation of the fountain was approved by City Council on February 22, 2024, and presented to the City of Savannah by the Ardsley Park Chatham Crescent Garden Club.

City to hold informational session for Coin Operated Amusement Machine stakeholders

The City of Savannah’s Revenue Department will hold an informational session on Wednesday, June 12, from 2–4 p.m. at the Coastal Georgia Center Auditorium, located at 305 Fahm St., for Coin Operated Amusement Machine (COAM) stakeholders at the Coastal Georgia Center Auditorium.

The informational session will cover COAM gross receipt reporting, alcohol gross receipt reporting, local reporting/deficiencies, local enforcement and late fees and penalties. This event is free and open to all stakeholders.

City of Port Wentworth to host second annual Juneteenth Celebration on June 21

The City of Port Wentworth is slated to host its second annual Juneteenth Celebration on Friday, June 21. The event will be held from 5–9 p.m. at Port Wentworth City Hall, 7224 GA Highway 21, Port Wentworth, Ga. 31407. This celebratory event is free and open to the public and will feature a fun-filled evening for the whole family, culminating in a special performance by the Block Party Experience at 6:30 p.m. The Block Party Experience is a young and diverse Atlanta-based party and event band.

Founder of the City of Port Wentworth’s Juneteenth celebration, Councilmen Rufus Bright commented, “It is gratifying to see the continued growth and success of our city’s Juneteenth celebration. Celebrating this significant milestone for the American people by bringing together the diverse population who choose Port Wentworth as their home demonstrates the vibrancy of our community.”

Other attractions include a scavenger hunt, African drumming and dancing, plus a children’s play area in addition to a variety of food and other vendors. Guest speakers including Senator Derrick Mallow, Representative Carl Gilliard, Retired State Representative Rahn Mayo, and Retired State Representative Melvin Everson will kick off the celebrations and reflect on the importance of Juneteenth, which was established as a federal holiday in 2020 to mark the end of slavery on June 19, 1865.

“The City of Port Wentworth is excited to present our second annual Juneteenth event to kick off the weekend on June 21,” said Gabrielle Nelson, Mayor Pro-Tem. “I encourage everyone in our community to join us to enjoy an evening of unity and celebration.”

There is still availability for vendors to participate for a $50 fee. There is no cost for food truck vendors. Vendors must register by 4 p.m. on Friday, June 14. To request a vendor packet, please call 912-964-4379.

For more information about the City of Port Wentworth, please visit portwentworthga.gov.

Five Chatham County fishing captains are among the best in the world

Every year since 2015, FishingBooker, the world’s largest platform connecting anglers and fishing guides, announces its yearly Angler’s Choice Award. This exclusive recognition acknowledges charter operators for their exceptional customer service, reliability, and quality of fishing trips. Out of 7,910 captains who partner with FishingBooker, only 537, or 6.8%, were recognized for their excellence each quarter this year.

Five of the winners are based in Chatham County, which is 20% of all captains on FishingBooker in the county (25), nearly three times the national average. Chatham County is attracting more excellent captains, shown by the fact that it has one more winner than last year, when four captains received the annual Angler’s Choice Award.

This year’s winners in Chatham County are:

Hunter Delisle of Unforeseen Charters
Norvin Eubank of Flight Risk Charters
Marcus Hannon and Joseph Bechtel of Bad Intentions Fishing
Stephen Turner of Full Send Fishing
Nicholas Shreves of Big Fish Charters

The first four winners received the award for the second year in a row, while Captain Nicholas Shreves is a first-time winner.

One of the winners, Captain Norvin Eubank of Flight Risk Charters, says:

“The Angler’s Choice Award has helped my business by making customers aware that we have had so many good reviews. It also shows our pride and commitment to the customers we serve. After fishing most of my life my greatest joy now is watching other people enjoy fishing, especially seeing children or adults catching their first fish ever. It is truly one of my favorite things to witness and makes what I do a tremendous pleasure each and every day. A majority of the clients tell me that choose Flight Risk because of our reviews on Fishing Booker and that helped them to find our charter. So I would say that it has a large influence on the decision making process. “

To be eligible for the award, fishing guides had to meet the following criteria over the past 12 months: