Criminal Defense Attorney in Savannah, GA.

Decatur, GA — The city of Decatur is partnering with Savannah College of Art and Design and StoryCorps to collect stories for the 200 stories project. SCAD students will be gathering stories until May 14. Recordings will take place from 4-8 p.m. on Wednesdays and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays at Legacy Park, 500 S. Columbia Drive.

Throughout the year-long partnership, SCAD students will collect stories and develop creative materials to promote the city’s milestone anniversary. Stories will be collected from community members, past and present. Anyone interested in participating can schedule an appointment by emailing 200stories@decaturga.com Walk-ins are also welcome, according to a press release.

“It is important when celebrating the city of Decatur’s bicentennial that we focus on what makes the city special—its rich history and people,” said Maken Payne, executive director at SCADpro. “Our SCAD students are excited to work alongside city leadership and Decatur residents to preserve that history by contributing to the 200 Stories Initiative.”

The first phase of the project started with SCAD students developing special recording technology being used to preserve the stories of Decatur residents. The 200 Stories Initiative, modeled after StoryCorps, will record and archive 200 stories from a diverse cross-section of people in the Decatur community. Stories will be used to create a visual record through film and animation and shared at the official community celebration event.

“Every individual in the Decatur community is what makes it so special and unique,” said Renae Jackson, city of Decatur equity and engagement director. “As we celebrate the city’s bicentennial, it is the perfect time to elevate and uplift the stories and perspectives of the people who have and continue to contribute to making this place what is today and what it will be in the future.”

In the next phase, SCAD will present creative design assets to city leadership, which be seen all over Decatur to promote the bicentennial.

Between January to November 2023, SCAD will record stories and edit all audio recordings into 200 audio stories and will visualize 12 select themes or categories of stories as live action or animation to celebrate the city’s bicentennial, city staffers Aileen de la Torre and Renae Jackson previously wrote in a memo.

Participants can also record through StoryCorps’ virtual recording booth.

“Ask and answer questions like: Who has been the biggest influence on your life? What are you proudest of? What does it mean to be ‘from’ Decatur,” the StoryCorps website states.

In September 2022, the Decatur City Commission established a project budget of $260,000 and awarded a contract to the Savannah College of Art and Design for $160,000, as well as awarded a $100,000 contract to StoryCorps Studios for the bicentennial 200 Stories project.

The contract with StoryCorps includes the development of customized conversation groups, a limited number of interviews facilitated by StoryCorps, volunteer training to conduct interviews, and training and support to archive the conversations, according to the memo.

“This monumental project will provide opportunities for members of the Decatur community to connect with each other through different means of engagement (2020 Strategic Plan goal CT. 08), make space for all stories and perspectives to be shared (2020 Strategic Plan goal EQ.11); document stories of community members, past and present, and share their contributions to the community (2020 Strategic Plan goal EQ.18]; and serve as a kick off to Decatur’s ongoing story vault,” the memo states.

For more information, visit: decaturga.com/200stories

If you appreciate our work on this story, please become a paying supporter. For as little as $6 a month, you can help us keep you in the loop about your community. To become a supporter, click here.

Want Decaturish delivered to your inbox every day? Sign up for our free newsletter by clicking here.

Decaturish is now on Mastodon. To follow us, visit https://newsie.social/@Decaturish/.

Decaturish is now on Post. To follow us, visit https://post.news/@/decaturish.

Decaturish is now on Flipboard. To follow us, visit https://flipboard.com/@Decaturish.

Today, Bishop Stephen D. Parkes issued the statement below in regards to the Carmel in Savannah. Important to note is that the Bishop has no jurisdiction over the property of Carmel. The issue at hand is between the Carmel of Savannah and the Carmelite Order worldwide. This is the case with every religious order that functions in a diocese – the Bishop usually does not own their property, nor can he make internal decisions of the Order. Bishop Parkes has been an advocate for the Sisters, recognizing that they have given their lives to this way of life, and cannot simply be kicked out – however the final decision lies in the Carmelite Order. Those who will benefit from the sale of this Carmel, which has been unfortunately slowly in decline over the past few years, will be the monasteries where the Sisters transfer.

After my own two cents, here is the statement:

May 1, 2023

Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker

Dear Friends in Christ,

In 1957, Bishop Thomas J. McDonough invited a group of Discalced Carmelite Nuns from Philadelphia to make a new foundation in Savannah to pray for Priests and “for a deepening of faith in the few and scattered faithful” of our Mission Diocese. By the next year, the first generation of Nuns had moved into Our Lady of Confidence Monastery in Savannah where, by their prayers and presence, they have blessed our Diocese for 65 years.

In 2018, the Holy See released the instruction Cor orans, which contained new guidelines for the life and organization of monasteries for contemplative Nuns around the world. The document called for revisions to be implemented in various areas of monastic life, from community autonomy to work habits to formation. Last year, the Discalced Carmelite Order conducted an official visitation of the Carmel of Our Lady of Confidence to determine the sustainability of the community under the norms instituted by Cor orans. The local Sisters are in discussion and discernment with leaders of the Discalced Carmelite Order to determine the future of the community.

I am grateful to these holy women who have made their home among us for so many years. The Sisters are dear to my heart and their Carmelite spirituality has greatly enriched our local Church. I ask that the many supporters of the Carmel of Our Lady of Confidence join me in prayer for the guidance of the Holy Spirit so that discussions and decisions by the local Sisters and the Carmelite Order regarding the future of the monastery and the Nuns are carried out with justice and charity.

In Christ,

On Earth Day, the Town of Thunderbolt launched the trial of its glass recycling program. The move falls in line with Savannah and Tybee Island, which have recently adopted the eco-conscious initiative as well.

Like those other Chatham County municipalities, Thunderbolt is also partnering with The Upcyling Company, which formerly served as the glass collection wing under South Carolina-based GlassWRX. Upcycling now operates as an independent company, collecting glass products from communities and business partners and diverting the material away from landfills. The recycled glass is then sold and repurposed by U.S. manufacturers.

More:Glass recycling returns to Savannah. Here's where you can drop off your bottles.

More:City of Thunderbolt brings composting, conservation efforts to residents

For the next three months, Thunderbolt residents can drop off their glass items at the collection bin across from the Senior Citizens' Center at 3236 Russell St. The large collection bin is marked with Upcycling’s trademark “stay glassy.”

Residents can also drop off their compost in the same area. Composting bins, managed by Code of Return (COR) Compost were set up two years ago as part of Thunderbolt’s composting initiative.

Thunderbolt City Administrator Bob Milie said at the end of the three-month trial the city will look at the collection results and decide whether or not they should extend the recycling program for at least a year. According to Upcycling’s website, communities typically see a 10% reduction of glass in landfills within a year of the program.

“In the longer run, we’re hoping that a reduction in solid waste would keep us at a better threshold for rates for sanitation, especially at a time when rates continue to go up,” said Milie.

Thunderbolt’s green initiatives

A communal spirit thrives in Thunderbolt and, according to community members, feeds an inclination to preserve the environment. The former shrimping community owes its beginnings to the Wilmington River, which runs along the town’s east side.

While shrimping and fishing are no longer the primary activities, the Thunderbolt Marina is still a symbol of the town. The annual Blessing of the Fleet celebration pays homage to that history of sailing and trawling. Residents and city officials also frequently organize cleanups of the city’s riverbanks.

In addition to the glass recycling trial, the city also recently introduced a new water rate tied closer to water usage levels in order to incentive residents and businesses to conserve water. Milie said the city is monitoring the new consumption-based billing metric and expecting positive results next year.

“I can’t say if we’re more eco-conscious than other municipalities but being so small, it's easier maybe to see the impact than a larger municipality,” said Milie. “Whether it's a cleanup along the tidal influence area … people can see the impact. We’re hoping that energy sparks energy.”

Glass recycling makes a comeback

Several years ago, Thunderbolt Council Member Ed Drohan, a champion of several conservation and recycling efforts over the years, launched a push for a glass recycling program. But “the market wasn’t there,” he said.

“It was cheaper to get new sand to make glass rather than recycle old glass,” said Drohan.

But recent changes to the glass recycling industry have created more incentives for communities and manufacturers to repurpose the material.

“The need is definitely there now,” said Meagan Huth, chief marketing officer for The Upcycling Company. “A lot of organizations, in general, are making sustainable moves, goals and targets and decreasing their need for raw materials and shifting to recycled content.”

Huth explains that in order to tap into this market, companies like Upcycling are starting programs to collect glass separately, which results in a cleaner process. This method is different from the single-stream collecting – where all recyclable materials are placed in one bin – that has been the primary means of recycling since the 1990s.

“There’s quite a need for that clean glass, so you may start to see a shift in the way that we collect glass,” said Huth.

When Savannah brought back their glass recycling program with Upcycling earlier this year, Drohan took notice and brought the idea to Milie.

“We try to piggyback on the good ideas that the neighbors are doing,” said Drohan.

For residents looking for more eco-friendly ways of disposing of certain materials, the county also provides recycling opportunities:

Nancy Guan is the general assignment reporter covering Chatham County municipalities. Reach her at nguan@gannett.com or on Twitter @nancyguann.

For Savannah Morning News

Looking back at more than three decades of leading his flock at Savannah’s St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, the Very Rev. William Willoughby III, believes he has helped his parishioners create a “connected vision of meeting the needs of the most vulnerable in our (local) community.

“If a parish priest is doing (his or her) job,” they are making it part of their mission to make connections in the community, he said. “St. Paul in his letter said essentially the apostolic witness is to encourage and enable the baptized to do their work.”

Now that his work in Savannah is coming to a close, Willoughby, who will turn 68 this year, said he and his wife are planning an African safari “while I still have some gas left in me,” he said. But he pointed out that he will continue his national Episcopalian work and “would like to go and help congregations that could never afford to have someone with my background and experience.”

Which one is the salad fork?Savannah woman teaching Southern etiquette to young people

Ace in the Hole:Where's Johnny Mercer? Beloved Ellis Square statue not gone, but may not return soon

Prior coming to Savannah in 1987, the South Carolina native earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Chicago where he also attended divinity school. He studied at Oxford University in England and attended seminary at Nashotah House in Wisconsin, where he also earned a master’s degree in divinity.

Church led way in affordable housing

In Savannah, Willoughby’s accomplishments are long and impressive. He led the creation and chaired the St. Paul’s Development Corp., which was tasked with the mission of providing low- and moderate-income housing in the Thomas Square Historic District. (The church, which was founded in 1852, sits at 1802 Abercorn St. and is a landmark in the Thomas Square neighborhood.)

The St. Paul’s corporation, in partnership with the city, state and private agencies, converted the former Little Sisters of the Poor building at 37th Street and Abercorn into 75 units for low- to moderate-income senior residents. Additionally, the corporation purchased a city block of homes on 32nd Street off Habersham Street and renovated a four-plex residence and five duplexes for low- to moderate-income residents, he said.

In partnership with the Historic Savannah Foundation, the corporation participated in the Lincoln Street Corridor Renewal Project from 34th Street north to Anderson Street. Fortunately, St. Paul’s sold its real estate business ventures prior to 2008 when the bottom dropped out of the national economy, he said.

The St. Paul’s parish includes approximately 250 members. “The fastest growing sector (of the church) is Latino with 125 members,” he said, crediting the Rev. Leonel Polanco, with leading that group.

Contributions to Savannah community

In addition to his service at St. Paul’s, Willoughby:

· Served as Dean of the Savannah Convocation of the Episcopal Diocese of Savannah from 1989 to 1994 and from 2005 to his retirement.

· Provided for the pastoral and spiritual needs of St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, Burroughs, an historically African-American congregation, from 2000 to his retirement. Worked with diocesan and community leaders to preserve its past and identify new leaders for the future of this unique cultural asset.

· Served the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia in many capacities, including deputy and alternate to General Convention, vice-president of Diocesan Council, president of Standing Committee and member of the Mission Development Council, the Ecumenical Commission and the anti-Racism Committee.

· Serves as the current secretary-general of the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament USA.

Moreover, Willoughby has served as:

· Founding vice-president, board of Hope House for Single Mothers

· Founding chair, Savannah Fragile Infants Project, which established Open Arms

· Founding member, Interfaith AIDS Coalition

· Founding member, Board of Savannah Interfaith/Interracial Community

Art of Living:From NASA to Jesus, John Nelson has illustrated life and America for 94 years

· Unit commissioner and district chaplain, Coastal Empire Council of the Boy Scouts of America

· Troop Committee Member, Troop #1, Savannah, Boy Scouts of America

· Member, Board of Georgia Christian Council

· Member, American Friends of the Anglican Center in Rome

· Commissioner, Chatham County Department of Family and Children Services

· Member, Town and Gown Community Development Project/Savannah State University

· Volunteer, Habitat for Humanity

For Savannah Morning News

It’s the best show you’ve never heard of. That is how Savannah Theatre’s production of “The Drowsy Chaperone” was described to me.

I sat down at Agatha’s Coffee and Tea House with Mike and Shannon Zaller who are both in the cast to discuss this oddly confusing and completely funny play. It felt fitting because just as there are layers to the 1930s-style décor at Agatha’s, as Mike and Shannon explained, there are many layers to “The Drowsy Chaperone.”

“It’s a show within a show,” said Shannon, with Mike quickly adding, “It’s a musical within a play.”

The whole thing, as they told me, started off as a joke between a group of actors for a bachelor party. Eventually, that joke evolved into this play written by Bob Martin and Don McKellar.

“It’s kind of tongue in cheek, making fun of 1920s musicals in a more modern sense, or a tribute to them,” said Shannon. “It depends on how you're viewing the show. The show can actually be seen from so many different vantage points. You can watch the show two nights and get something totally different out of it depending on which part of the show you're paying attention to.”

Both Shannon and Mike were hesitant to describe too much about the plot because they said knowing too much can ruin the jokes, and there are a lot of jokes.

“There's so much comedy, so many jokes,” said Shannon. “Once you start describing too much, you're really just giving away all of the jokes.

“I stopped trying to explain what the show is and I said, 'It's just the funniest show you've never heard of,'” said Mike.

Both Mike and Shannon said there are layers within layers to “The Drowsy Chaperone.” One of those layers is the costuming. They were able to rent the original Broadway costumes from a shop in Florida. Mike even drove all the way down to South Florida to get them in time for their production.

'Something for everyone':New restaurant at Telfair promises refreshing meal among art

Odd jobs make good art:How some Savannah artists pay the bills to fuel their creativity

Mike explained that putting on this production is a bit of an indulgence. He and some others were able to see it in New York.

“Our flight was late into New York, and we got in the cab, and we had our bags. We had to go straight to the theater, and it pulled up like two minutes to curtain. We jumped out, we ran into the Marquis Theatre, and the house manager was like, well, you got to get in there before the show starts!”

Mike said that the house manager took their bags in order for them to run into the theater quickly and find their seats just in time.

“I laughed for 90 minutes straight.”

This is the second time “The Drowsy Chaperone” has been performed at the Savannah Theatre. The first run in early March was cut short due to conflicting commitments with the cast. For an average play, that wouldn’t be a problem. You’d just call in another actor or eliminate the role, but as Shannon said, this is an ensemble piece.

“Everybody's important to the cast. There's not a superfluous part. Everybody has a really important job in telling the story. Without a certain character, we can't do the show.”

However brief that first run, it was enough to generate a lot of buzz among local fans in order to bring it back for a second brief run from May 2-7.

As Mike said, “Don't look it up, just come and see it and experience it.”

If You Go >>

“The Drowsy Chaperone” at Savannah Theatre

When: May 2-7

Where: Savannah Theatre, 222 Bull St.