There’s always something happening in the Hostess City. Stay in the know about upcoming events and the latest information with our periodic News & Notes.
Upcoming Events
Cobia Clarke Nursery announces ribbon cutting on March 1
Who: Cobia Clarke Nursery
When: Friday, March 1 at 11 a.m.
Where: 15015 Abercorn St.
What: The community is invited to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony of Cobia Clarke Nursery at its new location. Mike Neal is the owner of Cobia Clarke Nursery and Neal Landscape & Irrigation Co, since 2014. In 2018 Neal opened the nursery in Pooler. The nursery was recently bought out for a warehouse, prompting the relocation to its new location on Abercorn.
Cobia Clarke Nursery offers an extensive range of plants and landscaping products including shrubs, trees, landscaping supplies, and the ability to source most subtropical plants. With a seasoned staff possessing a wealth of planting and horticulture knowledge, customers can expect personalized service and expert guidance.
The nursery caters to a wide range of clients, from homeowners looking to enhance their yards to contractors with landscape operations and companies involved in the installation of large multi-phase projects.
During the ceremony, Neal and his staff will present a Green Gala sponsorship to the Savannah Tree Foundation. “Trees are our future, we must plant more trees at the rate of construction in our area,” said Neal.
Reflecting on the nursery’s name, Neal revealed, “Cobia Clarke Nursery is a tribute to my mother Ellen Cobia Neal, born Ellen Eugenia Cobia, and my mother-in-law Sandra Clarke Holloway, born Sandra Clarke. Maintaining strong family roots and tradition are very important to me,” said Neal.
Neal is a Savannah native, who grew up in the Windsor Forest neighborhood. He originally aspired to become a computer engineer and pursued his studies at the University of Miami. However, one summer break, he accepted a job with a commercial landscape company, where his responsibilities included mowing lawns and installing shrubs. The experience ignited a passion within him, and he just never looked back.
United Way of the Coastal Empire’s Women Who Rule event chaired by Diana Morrison features Woman of the Year Carol Bell and dynamic panelists
Presented by Step One Automotive Group
Who: United Way of the Coastal Empire
When: Tuesday, March 5 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Where: Savannah Convention Center
What: United Way of the Coastal Empire is proud to announce that this year’s Women Who Rule event, presented by Step One Automotive Group, will honor community leader and United Way supporter Carol Bell as the 2024 United Way “Woman of the Year.” The annual luncheon will be chaired this year by Diana Morrison of Ad Specialty. Championed by United Way’s WOMEN UNITED®, this popular annual event raises funds for the Women United Transportation Fund, which supports residents across our region who need dependable transportation.
“Each year, an average of 2,000 women and caregivers in Bryan, Chatham, Effingham, and Liberty counties receive support in the form of gas cards, bus passes, and even minor car repairs thanks to this effort,” said Diana Morrison, Women Who Rule Chair. “Over 30 women have volunteered their time and talents for the 2024 Women Who Rule Committee, and I am thankful for every one of them!”
Diana Morrison is a dedicated local business leader who has devoted 36 years to helping businesses create customized promotional products through her firm, Ad Specialty Services. Along with her business responsibilities, Diana is dedicated to community service. She has been involved with United Way for decades, having served on the board of directors for nine years. She was a founding member of the Women United Committee and Women Who Rule event and remains actively engaged today by serving on the organization’s Marketing Committee. Diana is a member of many area organizations and is a proud Rotarian. She is also a graduate of Leadership Savannah and Leadership Southeast Georgia.
Carol Bell, another Savannah trailblazer, will be honored for her long history
of dedicated service to United Way as she was the first African American board chair in 1998 and has continued to give, advocate, and volunteer to support the organization ever since. She broke barriers in 1976 as the first African American female manager for the City of Savannah, retiring in 2011 as Central Services Director and transitioning to become a City Councilwoman. Her extensive community involvement spans leadership roles in various organizations, including the Governor’s Children and Youth Coordinating Council, the United Negro College Fund’s telethon, and esteemed groups like Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and the Links, Savannah Chapter. The Woman of the Year award is presented by SERVPRO of Savannah.
This year’s event will also feature three outstanding community leaders as panelists. Guests will enjoy a conversation with Chatham Area Transit Authority Chief Executive Officer Faye DiMassimo, State Transportation Board of Georgia Vice Chairman Ann Purcell, and United Way of the Coastal Empire 211 Director Ariane Wallace. Table sponsorships and seats for the event are currently available for purchase. For more information, visit uwce.org/women-who-rule.
The Stacks Bookstore to host award-winning, best-selling local novelist Denny S. Bryce book launch
Who: Denny S. Bryce
When: Tuesday, March 5 at 7 p.m.
Where: The Stacks Bookstore, 2409 Waters Ave.
What: The Stacks Bookstore will host the launch for award-winning, best-selling local author Denny S. Bryce’s newest novel “Can’t We Be Friends” co-authored with USA Today bestselling author Eliza Knight. The event will include a moderated discussion with, a Q&A, and a book signing.
“Award-winning author Denny S. Bryce and USA Today bestselling author Eliza Knight collaborate on a brilliant novel that uncovers the boundary-breaking, genuine friendship between Ella Fitzgerald, the Queen of Jazz, and iconic movie star Marilyn Monroe.”
Denny S. Bryce is the bestselling, award-winning author of four novels: THE OTHER PRINCESS, A FACE IN THE SUN, WILD WOMEN AND THE BLUES, and the upcoming CAN’T WE BE FRIENDS: A Novel by Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe. She is also an NPR book critic, an adjunct professor at Drexel University, and a freelance writer who has written for Harper’s Bazaar and USA Today. A lover of the performing and visual arts, she enjoys singing jazz standards and watching classic films. She is a member of the Historical Novel Society, the Tall Poppy Writers, and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association (WFWA), for which she is the 2024 Guiding Scribe. You can learn more about her work at www.dennysbryce.com.
The eighth annual Savannah Antiques and Architecture Weekend
Who: The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the State of Georgia
When: March 7–9
Where: Various locations
What: This year we celebrate Savannah’s antiques and architectural legacy with American Antiques expert, Mr. Leigh Keno, best known for his role on The Antiques Road Show, tours of historic homes, and antiques collections on our Antiques Road Stroll.
Organized by the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Georgia, a 501C3 charitable organization, this event supports the ongoing preservation of two of the City’s prominent historic houses, the Andrew Low House Museum and The Green-Meldrim House. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.
Local Updates
Free faith and nutrition training for Savannah church groups, meet and greet breakfast scheduled for March 7
Healthy Savannah’s Faith and Nutrition coalition is hosting a free meet-and-greet breakfast for faith community leaders at 8 a.m. on March 7 at Kingdom Life Christian Fellowship Church, 425 W. Montgomery Cross Road in Savannah.
Organizers hope the event will encourage people to learn more about the coalition and the impact it has had on the community as well as the resources it offers, including Faith, Activity, and Nutrition training and upcoming events such as its second annual Faith Walk planned for 4 p.m. on April 21 at Lake Mayer.
“We’ll also be talking about some of Healthy Savannah’s other projects and partnerships such as the Tide to Town urban trail system, which are part of our overall mission to elevate the health and wellness of the community through policy, systems, and environmental change,” said Ruby Castro, Nutrition Program manager.”Plus we want to provide an overview of the Faith, Activity, and Nutrition training along with other upcoming events that the Faith and Health Coalition will be hosting.”
The free eight-week session will be offered online to Chatham area faith-based organizations to help foster increased physical activity and healthy food consumption among Black and Hispanic adults.
Also known as “FAN,” the training supports churches in:
• increasing opportunities for physical activity and healthy eating
• creating guidelines for physical activity and healthy eating
• engaging community faith leaders in FAN goals and supporting their health
• sharing health messages with members.
The Healthy Savannah Faith and Health Coalition can connect and support interested faith-based organizations to the FAN training. Online modules were created by The University of South Carolina Prevention Research Center and include eight engaging lessons. Faith leaders who complete the training course can receive free resources to support their members in preventing chronic disease and improving health outcomes.
“This is the fifth year we have offered this training designed to help faith leaders support and educate their members in embracing a healthier lifestyle and nutritional choices,” said Yolanda Roberson, executive pastor of Kingdom Life Christian Fellowship. “FAN is a successful program that is included in the National Cancer Institute’s Research Tested Intervention Programs. It has assisted more than 200 faith-based organizations to become stronger in health and wellness.”
Healthy Savannah’s Faith and Health Coalition is a network of Savannah area faith-based organizations of all faiths who come together to encourage healthy lifestyle behaviors in places of worship. The Coalition meets at 6 p.m. on the first Monday of the month at Kingdom Life Christian Fellowship Church.
Chronic diseases have significant health and economic costs in the United States; according to the CDC, those health gaps remain widespread among racial and ethnic minority groups. More than 868,000 Americans die of heart disease or stroke every year, which is one-third of all deaths. Those diseases take an economic toll, costing our healthcare system $214 billion per year and causing $138 billion in lost productivity on the job.
The Faith and Health Coalition will be offering other events tailored towards encouraging overall health including the upcoming ‘Faith Walk’ on April 21.
Enrollment is now open for the free breakfast, provided by the Southern Palate, on March 7. To sign up, RSVP by March 1:
For additional information, visit healthysavannah.org/the-faith-and-health-coalition/.
Repack the backpack arrives in Savannah, offering free book bags, supplies and vital healthcare support for the community
Amerigroup Georgia hosted a “Repack the Backpack” event in Savannah last week offering free book bags, school supplies and vital healthcare support to the local community. Amerigroup staff assisted attendees in maintaining crucial healthcare coverage, while also providing essential educational items, health screenings and entertainment.
“A Medicaid ‘unwinding’ process is underway in Georgia, jeopardizing healthcare coverage for nearly 2 million Medicaid recipients across the state,” said Maria Henriquez, Director of Medicaid Plan Marketing for Amerigroup Georgia. “It’s important to make sure individuals have access to resources that are crucial for their overall health and wellbeing.”
As of December 2023, 503,547 enrollees were disenrolled, including 73,392 who were determined ineligible and 430,155 who were terminated for procedural reasons across the state of Georgia.
“Understanding eligibility and coverage options can be confusing, but tools and resources are available, such as the new Georgia Pathways to Coverage program, to help people identify options and enroll in a health plan that can make a life-changing difference.”
Amerigroup Georgia is working to distribute renewal kits, assist provider offices and host community events such as this one in Savannah, where representatives can help community members find coverage directly.
“We are so grateful that we can host amazing events in the community with local partners, all while providing fun, entertainment and essential items that will improve our attendee’s quality of life and well-being,” Henriquez said.
You can visit Georgia Gateway (https://gateway.ga.gov/access/) for easy-to-understand instructions for renewing Medicaid coverage, shopping for individual coverage and accessing support.
For those facing coverage loss, explore the new Georgia Pathways to Coverage program and how to apply at https://dch.georgia.gov/georgiapathways.
This article appears in Connect Savannah I February 2024.
