Typically, when people first ride in my dusty, dirty ‘96 Toyota station wagon, I’ve known them for a while. They’re familiar enough with me to excuse the broken air conditioning, crumpled pages of Googlemapped directions, gum wrappers and piles of fast-food napkins stowed hastily atop the center console. But when I ushered Samantha Brown across Bull Street and to the dinged door of my car that warm, windless day, I worried that she and I didn’t know each other well enough for the ride.

Yet, after she reached behind her for the seatbelt, politely not noticing the mild smell of stale coffee and hot vinyl, my fears were quickly diminished. She was laidback and smiling, cracking a window and scanning the oak-lined street ahead.

It shouldn’t have surprised me that Samantha Brown, Travel Channel starlet, would take in stride being stuck in a stifling station wagon with a nervous reporter.

As a television personality known for her perky demeanor and sustained enthusiasm, she is a woman whose tireless graciousness may be a small price to pay for one of the best jobs in the world.

As a profession, Brown travels 230 days a year, touring the world accompanied by a camera crew and a legion of doting followers living vicariously through her from the comfort of their own couches. A New Hampshire native, Brown began a career in musical theater before being tapped by the Travel Channel nearly a decade ago. She has since hosted a slew of critically and viewer acclaimed series for the network, including Passport to Europe, Great Hotels, Great Vacation Homes and Passport to Latin America. In each episode, Brown can be seen with her characteristic broad smile, exuberantly touring beautiful hotel rooms, fearlessly winding her way through crowded foreign streets and enveloping herself in the customs and culture of her host city. Her most recent project, Passport to Great American Weekends, has her Stateside visiting some of our country’s most interesting cities and towns—including Savannah and Charleston, which share an episode set to air May 9.

It was this show that brought Samantha Brown to Savannah and to the stuffy interior of my car. That afternoon, on a break from taping, we met for an interview.

With that complete, it was my assignment to safely drive her to a photo shoot at a train station several miles away. I told myself that this was a rare and exciting opportunity to be the tour guide in the city I love for one of the world’s most prolific travelers.

But then I got lost. I had never been to that train station before, and while she discreetly dabbed the sweat from her forehead, I had to pull over three times to call for directions from the waiting photographer. My embarrassment compounded by the continued squealing of my brakes, I finally found the location, then watched Brown pose skillfully in front of the camera before I put her back in the station wagon for a ride to her hotel.

Awkward as the situation was for this reporter, Brown’s patience and kindness never quit. Throughout the ride, she chatted about local politics and the best places in Savannah to shop. When I dropped her off on Broughton Street, she paused before opening the door. At first I thought that she was bracing herself for the humiliation of climbing out of my car. Instead, she thanked me for my time, kissed me on the cheek and wished me luck before confidently stepping out into the throngs of pedestrians, many of whom recognized her immediately and moved in her direction. The last I saw of her, Samantha Brown was smiling widely as she signed an autograph for a middle-aged woman near tears from excitement.

Driving home, still blushing slightly, I reasoned that the casual, go-with-the-flow attitude Samantha Brown exhibited throughout the torturous station wagon ride wasn’t a shallow celebrity act or even mere politeness— it was a perfect example of what makes her a great traveler. Rather than getting upset and anxious when the unexpected or unpleasant happens, Brown rolls with the punches and uses the situation as an opportunity to gain a new perspective on her surroundings. It’s the same tactic she employs on her show when it starts raining on an outdoor excursion or right after she’s put a questionably tasty item of local cuisine in her mouth. It’s Brown’s ability to turn a bad situation good that makes her so much fun to watch.

Samantha Brown offered up a few more items of traveling wisdom when we sat down at the Gryphon Tea Room on Bull Street to discuss life on the road and her thoughts on the great Hostess City.

The South magazine: Tell me about the episode of Passport to Great American Weekends you’re working on here in Savannah.

Samantha Brown: The episode is actually about Charleston and Savannah. We started in Charleston and ended with Savannah, and the theme—each Weekend show has a

theme to it, so it all ties together—the theme for this one is “Sam faces her fears down South.” I’m so scared to be on a horse, so in Charleston, we did a fox hunt. Well it was a drag hunt, not a real fox hunt because I would not do that. It was nuts! In Savannah, we’re staying at the Kehoe House, which is beautiful and, of course, it’s haunted, which is a fear. I also did my fear of bees, so we went to the Savannah Bee Company!

TSM: What’s been your favorite part of the city so far?

SB: The thing I was the most excited about in Savannah was to go to the bar The Jinx and do Rock and Roll Bingo. That was great! I mean, in every single travel show you’ve ever seen about Savannah, it’s always about the genteelness, the Southerness of it. No one knows that there are people here tattooed from head to foot. Whenever people ask me, ‘What should I do in this city?’ I’m like, do something that takes you out of your comfort zone. Take yourself to a place full of people that you don’t normally get to meet and just talk to them. I guess my whole general feeling of travel is that it allows us to talk more to people. I just think that for me, what makes travel absolutely special, is just the people in the destination that give you a side of that destination that you’re never going to find on a tour, never going to find on a website—you just gotta be there. I like when people watch the show and say, ‘I would never have done that, but because you went there, I feel like I could go there.’ Good! Get yourself to The Jinx and saddle yourself up to the most dangerous person you’ve ever seen in your life, because they’re absolute sweethearts.

TSM: Okay, I’ve got to give you a little trouble for covering both Savannah and Charleston in the same episode. There are people in both cities that might argue that we deserve two separate shows.

SB: I know! I know! If it was my choice, it would’ve been. We could have easily done an episode in Charleston and an episode in Savannah. That choice was not mine, and certainly not something I wanted to do. [There’s a] difference between the two [cities], because Charleston certainly has its characters, but Savannah just has that fringe element that I like. It’s kind of like, what Austin is to Texas, Savannah is to Georgia. It’s an anomaly. It’s sort of like your own independent state here, and I like that; I like that spontaneity here. Charleston is beautiful and just a little more conservative.

TSM: Well, we forgive you. Do you find that Savannah lives up to its Hostess City name?

SB: Oh absolutely! Everyone here says ‘Welcome to Savannah!’ and everyone has gone out of their way to be like, ‘Oh what are you doing?’ and ‘If you want to do this, come by.’ My favorite restaurant here is B. Matthews and I’ve eaten there everyday. So while sitting there, one of the professors at SCAD came up to me, and he invited me to a big open house tonight with the students, and I love that. You have friends everywhere.

TSM: So, you hear daily that you have the best job in the world— but what are the downsides to traveling so often?

SB: I do get very tired and that’s why people and my connection with them are vital to me. When we were doing [Passport to Europe], we’d be gone for a month at a time. After a while, it became very hard to be away that long, and so monuments and museums started to lose their allure and power for me, so I started to go towards neighborhoods. Normal, everyday neighborhoods. I didn’t want to see any tourists, because tourists made me feel alone. So I naturally gravitated toward where people live and really just started opening up myself for people to get an idea of their experience. It soothed me.

TSM: What is the best piece of advice you can offer an aspiring world traveler?

SB: What I would say, especially if you travel abroad to like say China or even Europe, make sure you spend time in someone’s everyday. Don’t just check things off the list, because someone’s everyday is your extraordinary. Just to get a sense of how they live, make sure you spend at least one day being in a neighborhood that’s not touristy.

Then you see how we’re similar— which is pretty exciting—but also how we’re different and how that difference is something that should be celebrated.

Watch it!

Check out the Savannah/Charleston episode of Passport to Great American Weekends, currently set to air May 9 on the Travel Channel. See your local listings for more details.

You’d be hard-pressed to find someone that speaks more fluently—or frequently—on Savannah’s storied history than Bob Register. As a tour guide with Old Savannah Tours for the last 15 years, he leads over 750 tours annually and has shaped the experiences of literally thousands of visitors with his genteel manners, erudite delivery and homespun Hostess City charm.

The South recently jumped on the trolley with the 65-year-old, fourth-generation Savannhian for a chat about being an ambassador for the city and having more Georgia on his mind than Ray Charles.

The South magazine: Does this job come naturally to you?

Bob Register: I’ve always been a salesman. So what I’m doing now is I’m selling Savannah. I’m still a salesman. My product has just changed.

TSM: How long did it take you to develop your style and approach on the tours?

BR: Oh, about 65 years! And it’s still a work in progress. I work at this every day, and I mean that literally.

TSM: You’re quite a student of Savannah’s history, aren’t you?

BR: When I was young, I didn’t pay a lot of attention to it because downtown was [just] a lot of old stuff. But as I got older, I developed a real insatiable thirst for knowledge about the city. That led ultimately into me becoming a tour guide.     > TSM: Savannah is a quirky place. Any strange experiences on your trolley to report?

BR: I had a lady ask me about three years ago—and this woman was in her mid-60s—she told me that she’d come to Savannah to go to Paula Deen’s restaurant. [She explained that] she’s a big fan, and she had a facelift before coming just in case she met Paula Deen.

TSM: What do you want to leave the tourists with?

BR: They’re not going to remember every last thing you’ve told them, but what they are going to remember is how they feel about their experience in Savannah and how they feel about the people. And I think the impression that I make upon these people and the way I present the city is going to determine their impression of the entire community. It gives me a great sense of pride and satisfaction to be part of these people’s lives O

On December 11, 1999, 36-year-old Christopher Argentinis said goodbye to his family and reported for duty as a patrolman with the Wareham Police Department in Massachusetts. He would never return home. Struck by a car while in a foot chase with a suspected drug offender, Chris succumbed to head injuries two days later, leaving a wife and two young sons, ages 6 and 4, to mourn his sudden loss.

For months following his son’s death, Tak Argentinis felt paralyzed by grief. Even today, as he sits across from me at a conference room table at his Midway, Georgia-based company, Elan Technology, Tak pauses frequently to regain composure as he speaks about Chris and the commendable 11 years he spent on the force. Yet after returning to his downtown Savannah home following the funeral and time spending time with family in Massachusetts, Tak says he found himself fixating upon an experience he had following Chris’s wake.

“The other officers were telling my daughter-in-law, ‘Don’t worry, the One Hundred Club will take care of you,’ but they didn’t know what it was,” he remembers. Then, several days later, an organization named the One Hundred Club of Massachusetts quietly presented Chris’s widow with a large check. Being in a position to fully support his family, Tak contacted the mysterious club to return the gifted money, but the organization refused to take it back. “They told me ‘No, it is in honor of your son,’” he says. “I was a basket case, but I was very intrigued, so I started researching.”

With a little digging, Tak found that the One Hundred Club of Massachusetts is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to providing immediate, no-strings-attached financial support to the families of law enforcement officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty. The concept dates back to 1952, when a Detroit businessman and 100 of his friends banded together to fully relieve the financial burdens belonging to the pregnant widow of a young police officer fatally shot while on patrol. The One Hundred Club of Detroit eventually inspired over 120 independent organizations carrying out the same objective throughout the United States. But at the time of Tak’s research, there was no such club representing Savannah and the Coastal Empire.

Nevertheless devastated but powerfully inspired, Tak went to work. By late 2000, he had called an informal meeting with two of his closest and best-connected friends: local lawyer Brooks Stillwell and Harry Haslam, managing partner of accounting firm Hancock, Askew & Company.

“So I called Brooks and Harry together for dinner,” Tak recalls. “I was very emotional. I explained to them the concept of the One Hundred Club. I said, ‘I’m going to start one here, in Chris’s memory. Savannah is a very charitable town. You have all of these charities, but there’s one you don’t have: one that would care for those who care for us. I am determined to start one.’”

With that first meeting, Tak gained two co-founders who approached the cause with the same infectious passion that he had been kindling since his son’s death. And thanks to the pair’s community connections, the Two Hundred Club of the Coastal Empire, as it was officially named, soon began to grow in membership.

Today, the Two Hundred Club has 328 members and covers first responders in 20 counties. It has offered a one-time financial gift to the families of 16 firefighters and law enforcement officials who passed away while off-duty or were critically injured on the job and currently provides lifetime care to the families of 14 individuals killed in the line of duty. But don’t mistake the work carried out by the organization as nothing more than mere check writing. The club’s emphasis may be placed on the provision of immediate financial support, but Tak is quick to point out that the Two Hundred Club’s efforts span far beyond money. He explains that the services offered to these families are meant not just to provide a helping hand out of financial uncertainty but also to serve as a respectful reminder that the family’s painful sacrifice has not gone unappreciated by the community.

“It isn’t fair that they sacrifice their life protecting all of us, and their families are left with debts,” says Tak, who often personally carries out the club’s bestowed benefits.

“We stay away for a few days after the funeral—I’ve been there, I know they’re in shock,” he explains of the club’s provision process for families receiving lifetime care. “Then we meet very privately with the widow at the commanding officer’s office, never allowing the press in any of the meetings. That meeting takes about 20 minutes, and it’s very brief. We introduce ourselves, we tell them we’re from the Two Hundred Club, we tell them what the purpose of the club is: to provide financial assistance. We give them an envelope with information about the club and a $10,000 check for immediate expenses. Then, I tell the widow that with her permission, I will contact her in a couple of weeks. When we next meet, I make copies of her credit card bills, auto loans, mortgage statements, etcetera. From there, I pick them up and begin paying them directly. Then we send their children U.S. Treasury bonds on their birthday and Christmas until they get to be 18 years old.” The Two Hundred Club even sends checks for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners and delivers flowers on Mother’s Day to the widows with children. And as if these efforts aren’t generous enough, the organization also pays for the college education of many of the children and spouses under the care of the club.

The Two Hundred Club of the Coastal Empire is able to give so much thanks to the generosity of annual due-paying members and the good business sense of the club’s leaders. There’s no administration with salaries to pay, no regular meetings to hold or newsletters to print. In fact, thanks to members like Brooks Stillwell, Harry Haslam and many others offering pro bono services within their field, the Two Hundred Club has no overhead to speak of. Over 99 percent of the money donated to the club reaches the hands of families in need or goes into a well-kept endowment for future expenses.

In agreement with his colleagues, Tak insists that despite the considerable time and effort put in by many members, the payoff is large and invaluable.

“We ask for nothing in return. But we do get paid. Stay here,” he says, standing up from the table and walking into the next room. I hear a file drawer open and then close, and Tak appears again at the conference table, tears already welling from his eyes.

“These are the letters we get,” he says, placing in front of me a disheveled stack of greeting cards and e-mail printouts. “Here’s one: ‘Dear members, thank you so much for remembering all the families throughout the year, especially during the holidays. We have so very much to be thankful for. This is a very sad time, and your gift always reminds us that we aren’t forgotten.’”

As he reads to me from the letters sent by the wives and children of the Coastal Empire’s fallen heroes, the necessity of organizations like the Two Hundred Club becomes heart-wrenchingly clear—as does the fulfillment that such work brings to Tak and his fellow club members. The letters spread out over the table, I survey the subtle evidence of 30 families’ of lives indelibly touched by the faceless generosity of a large group of locals. I see too, on a bookcase shelf packed with family portraits, a laminated photo of Christopher Argentinis, wearing his uniform and modestly smiling out towards the two of us.

“Yes,” says Tak. “We get paid very well.”

The Valor Award:

“The word hero has often been abused in the English language,” says Two Hundred Club president Tak Argentinis. “For example, when a football player scores a winning touch down, they’re called a hero, when the fact of the matter is, they’re just playing a game. We even have a sandwich we call a hero. But, I’ll tell you what a hero is. A hero is not someone who puts their life on the line to defend themselves. A hero is not even someone who puts their life on the line for their wife, children or family. A hero is a person who puts their life on the line to fight for a complete stranger. That is a true hero.”

With this definition in mind, the Two Hundred Club of the Coastal Empire created the Valor Awards in 2006, as a means of honoring exceptionally heroic efforts made by local law enforcement officers and firefighters. Now in its third year, the awards have proven an added benefit of bringing the public’s attention to the Two Hundred Club’s efforts. Each year, a special committee comprised of law enforcement and fire command officers sift through a number of nominations, seeking out those individuals who chose to risk their lives for the safety of others. The worthy recipients are provided a large cash reward and are presented a metal during a reception in their honor. Read on to learn about the courageous acts of the 2007 and 2008 Valor Award recipients.

Star Corporal Andy Osteen: 2008 Valor Award Recipient

On December 22, 2007, Star Corporal Andy Osteen is stopped at a light in his patrol car when he witnesses a suspicious person wearing all black enter an adjacent gas station and approach the cash register with his arm extended. Expecting an armed robbery and concerned for the safety of those involved, the 22-year veteran of the department pulls into the gas station’s parking lot and awaited the suspect’s exit. When the man walks into the parking lot, Osteen approaches him with verbal commands that go unheeded. Following a short foot chase, the suspect reportedly fires shots at Osteen, who returns fire, resulting in the suspect’s death.

“It shocked me. I was really shocked,” says Osteen of receiving the Two Hundred Club of the Coastal Empire’s coveted Valor Award. “I enjoyed getting the award, and I deeply appreciate it, but I would have preferred to not have gotten the award under those circumstances.”

Firefighter II Ashley Hazard and Deputy Chief Roy Howard.

2008 Valor Award Recipients

Deputy Chief Roy Howard and Firefighter II Ashley Hazard of Garden City Fire Department were two of the first responders to the Imperial Sugar Refinery explosion on February 7, 2008. Confronted with a massive fire and an unknown number of people inside, Howard and Hazard repeatedly venture into the burning building, ultimately rescuing two severely burned but still living individuals from the depths of the plant. Between trips into the structure, the pair spends hours assisting emergency service personnel in caring for and transporting over 40 burn victims.

“Once you get started doing it, you just do your job, what you trained for, but you don’t think about it,” explains Howard. “You might think about it when you first get there, but then you start doing what you’re trained to do it and it really doesn’t cross your mind.”

Star Corporal Donald Bryant.

2007 Valor Award Recipient

While working an off-duty security job at Popeyes Chicken and Biscuit on July 13, 2007, Star Corporal Donald Bryant witnesses a suspicious person enter the restaurant’s bathroom. When he enters the bathroom, Bryant finds a masked man with a gun. A struggle ensues, resulting in the suspect being shot in the leg and apprehended. Thanks to Bryant’s quick thinking, a conceivably deadly armed robbery was prevented     from happening.

“At the time it was something that just had to be done,” he says. “I don’t look at it as being a hero or wanting accolades or special favors. It was just natural instincts. I think it’s just that this is what I signed up for—this is the job that I do.”

“Unfortunately, most local governments in our 20 county area provide very little support to the families of deceased officers. This is especially true when you get outside of Chatham County. Some cities and counties do not provide any pensions and very limited or no life insurance. We have had cases where the employer stopped paying the widow of a fallen officer as of the date of death, leaving her with no money to pay her monthly expenses or even her husband’s funeral expenses in her time of grief.  We try to fill that financial void and to provide emotional support, to the extent we can.” -Brooks Stillwell, co-founder

“When I leave the house every morning, there’s almost a 100 percent chance I’m coming home. No one’s going to shoot at me that day; I’m not going to have to chase somebody; I’m not going to have to walk into a burning building. The Two Hundred Club has afforded me the chance to say thank you to those putting themselves in that position every day. I just want people to be open minded, to listen to what we do. If they’re moved, they can join us in our mission. It’s a real simple one.” -Lowell Kronowitz, chairman

“In the past you left a grieving widow after the funeral and she was pretty much forgotten about. The families of the fallen need attention to let them know that the community has not forgotten them and that they will stand with them as long as they need help.”  -Dave Gellatly, Chatham County commissioner; Savannah-Chatham Ret. Chief of Police

“I’ve seen it in other charities, but the raw enthusiasm here really is different. Once someone becomes part of the core group, it’s almost as if they’ll do anything they can to help, and the magnitude at which people have donated time and expenses and ideas has just been overwhelming.” -Harry Haslam, co-founder

“It’s enriched my life, being a part of the Two Hundred Club and meeting a lot of people who share the same view. I’m just glad I can do whatever I can do to help.” -Charles H. Morris, chairman emeritus

Get Involved:

>Join. The Two Hundred Club of the Coastal Empire is always looking for new members—it even boasts a special membership price for active or retired law enforcement officers and firefighters. For more information, visit www.twohundredclub.org

>Jog. Come out for the cause and participate in the third annual Savannah Mile, which will take place in downtown Savannah on Saturday, May­­­ 23. This 1-mile run straight down Drayton Street is perfect for athletes of all levels. Even better: All proceeds benefit the Two Hundred Club. Register at www.active.com

>Give. Enmark’s second annual “Shields for Fallen Heroes” fundraising campaign takes place through May. Purchase $1 and $5 “shields” at any of the 23 area Enmark locations in South Carolina and Georgia. Proceeds benefit the Two Hundred Club’s “Line of Duty” program, which provides financial assistance to families of active duty firefighters and law enforcement officers in 20 Lowcountry counties.

Jessica Kiss

Hails from: West Palm Beach, Florida

Why Savannah: Jessica Kiss moved northward to Savannah in early 2008 to fill her position as WJCL & Fox 28 morning anchor.

What she’s doing: Despite her hectic schedule and unconventional work hours, Kiss has become well known within the community as a voice for animals. Whether it be through her web articles, volunteer time or television spots, she constantly employs her position in the media to help out local causes. “It’s no longer enough to be just a broadcast personality,” explains Kiss. “Television is changing; my role extends well beyond the TV realm, and I’m embracing it.” Although she is modest about her contributions, many of Savannah’s animal lovers recognize her vital role. “Jessica is always willing to help get us on the air to get the word out,” says Lisa Scarbrough, founder of Coastal Pet Rescue. “She believes in what we do, but more importantly, she understand what we do. She never just walks through the motions with us on the set. She researches our topic, asks good questions and always welcomes us like old friends.”

On caring for animals: A lifetime lover of dogs and horses, Jessica’s favorite part of helping animals is being able to give them proper care. Like many other animal lovers, she says stories of abuse and neglect break her heart. “If you treat your dog with kindness, he or she will make you feel like royalty each and every time you walk through the door.”

“If you’re having a bad day, take time to pay attention to your pet. He or she is bound to do something to make you smile and probably laugh too!”

Robin C. Gold

Hails from: Greenwich, Connecticut

Why Savannah: Seeking a lifestyle change for her and her husband, Gold moved to Savannah in 2003. “We love the Southern living and the climate—other than the sand gnats,” she explains.

What she’s doing: For the last 11 years, Gold has been a state and federally licensed wildlife rehabilitator. “My efforts are 100 percent volunteer and self funded.” Many of the animals she has helped over the years were first provided medical care from a veterinarian and later turned over to her for the aftercare. “I am currently in the process of developing a wildlife rehabilitation center here in Savannah,” she says. “The purpose of the center will be to provide the area with a centralized location that can handle all species native to the Southeast.” With only two other fully accommodating facilities in the state of Georgia, Gold is a busy lady. “I have been donated the use of land and now need the funds to build the cages and building. It’s tough going in these economic times, but managing wildlife is a key factor in maintaining the balance of nature and environment. Hopefully enough people will realize the need for such a resource is important enough to make it happen.”

On caring for animals: Gold is painfully aware of the fact that animals need help as a result of humans interfering in their world. She claims that 99 percent of the animals brought to her arrive due to habitat destruction. “My feeling is that if humans are the cause of their misfortunes, we should be responsible enough to help them,” she says.

“I love the sense of helping creatures that are so desperately in need of assistance. A lot of the animals that I care for are species that most people consider a nuisance or not worthy of rehabilitation. I enjoy the sense of doing my share to maintain that balance, even though, as one person it’s a very small contribution.”

Lisa Scarbrough

Hails from: Although originally from Austell, Georgia, she proudly considers Tybee Island to be her true hometown.

Why Savannah: Lisa Scarbrough’s education has taken her around Georgia and even across the country but love of the water and Savannah’s small town feel has kept her coming back. “I like the closeness of the community and its people’s willingness to help each other,” she says.

What she’s doing: In addition to working full-time in Internet development, Scarbrough is president and founder of Coastal Pet Rescue, an all-volunteer, nonprofit animal rescue organization. Based in Savannah, the organization provides rescue, foster care, veterinary care and sterilization to homeless, neglected and otherwise abused cats and dogs not just in the Coastal Empire but in South Carolina’s Lowcountry as well. Scarbrough spends an estimated 80 hours a week doing work for the rescue, often even making late night runs to local veterinarians.

On caring for animals: Enamored with animals since the first time her father let her keep and care for a helpless stray that wandered into their home one Thanksgiving Day, Scarbrough can speak volumes about the treatment of animals. “The problem is that a lot of people see animals as property and people treat their property with different levels of care,” she explains. She recognizes the importance of education’s role in helping people maintain happier and healthier owner-pet relationships. Like any rescue worker, Scarbrough will tell you that her favorite part is seeing an animal that she has been caring for get adopted, bringing joy not only to the animal, but to the family of which it becomes a part.

“It is my hope that one day our community will no longer need the services of Coastal Pet Rescue—that everyone will have their pets spayed and neutered, and no neglect or cruelty will exist. Until that day, our volunteers will continue to do all they can to keep changing lives, one at a time.”

Chris Gentile

Hails from: Waterbury, Connecticut

Why Savannah: Chris Gentile moved to Savannah about two-years ago to serve as the director of Oatland Island Wildlife Center. Since then, the beauty of the city and the friends he and his wife have made have keep him appreciating their new home.

What he’s doing: As director for the center, Gentile has the power to introduce wildlife to area children that may not otherwise get the chance. In the interest of counteracting contemporary phenomenon such as nature deficient disorder, a theory that attributes certain behavioral problems in children to a lack of environmental exposure, Gentile is looking to get locals outdoors and involved. He loves to give a child— especially his own—the opportunity to get close to nature and explains that there’s nothing quite like seeing the amazement of a young child, nose pressed up against the glass and starry-eyed, seeing an animal for the very first time.

On caring for animals: “Animals in zoos and wildlife centers act as ambassadors for their wild counterparts,” explains Gentile. “They provide people a chance to learn about them and build appreciation for all animals.” He is a believer that allowing people to create an emotional connection is the best way to evoke lifelong awareness and respect of animals and their needs and importance.

“I like to take my name tag off, walk around the sites imagining myself as a guest and observe people making connections with the animals. It’s the best way to get real feedback on what is working and what we can do to make things better.”

Joyce Murless

Hails from: Louisville, Kentucky

Why Savannah: Murlless moved to Savannah in fall of 1970 with her late husband, but it’s Savannah’s nature and beauty that has kept her here. “Just speaking visually, we have the seasonal greens and golds of the salt marsh, the dark browns of a rich estuary, wide and sparkling sand beaches, trees whose trunks twist in magnificent shapes and shadows, clean water the color of root beer and the indescribable glow of the late afternoon sun shining through swaying Spanish moss.”

What she’s doing: In addition to a plethora of other roles, Joyce serves as executive director of Wilderness Southeast (WiSE), a nonprofit education organization offering the public opportunities to learn about nature and wildlife. WiSE has 36 years of experience connecting people with wildlife and their habitats. “Our nature tours for individuals, families and groups easily integrate information from many fields: biology, ecology, geology, astronomy, natural and cultural history.”

On caring for animals: Because of the wildlife habitats currently being degraded or destroyed, Murlless believes that animals need her and others’ help. “Too many people of all ages have no idea of the myriad life forms that exist in natural balance to support the lives they do know about,” she explains. “I want to help people understand the lives around them, and the value of those lives. Realizing our connections to lifeforms we often do not see will result in maintaining habitats and in helping these oft-unloved species survive.” Murlless says that these days she spends most of her time with the “animals that nobody loves.”

“I get to meet wonderful people and entertain and educate them at the same time I am helping to maintain creation. I’m not merely helping animals who can’t speak for themselves—I’m helping humans too! I get to watch them smile while their eyes light up with understanding and amazement.”

Penetrating sunshine, whimsical shades of khaki and green marsh grass, fiddler crabs scurrying from one habitat to the next—these are treasures found in abundance along the Georgia coast. And if you have ever wished you could safely bike or walk your way through this extraordinary environment, you’re not alone.

Thanks to the dedication and passion of a growing group of citizens, the Coastal Georgia Greenway (CGG) is drawing closer to realizing its vision of a 450-mile, connected trail system that will link South Carolina to Florida along Georgia’s pristine coastline. This breathtaking stretch of paved trails will be part of the larger, East Coast

Greenway trail system that when complete, will connect Key West, Florida to Calais, Maine—totaling 3,000 miles. To date, the entire system is 30 percent complete, with most trails found in the Northeast.

Closer to home, along the winding paths of the CGG, avid enthusiasts and casual visitors alike will be able to hike, walk, jog, bike, canoe, kayak and even ride horseback through Georgia’s relatively untouched six coastal counties; Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Glynn, Liberty and McIntosh. At its completion, the series of trails will offer newfound access to historical and cultural centers, waterways, parks, wildlife preserves and lighthouses for non-motorized users.

“It’s just one of those things that is truly positive in every way,” claims Rita Spalding, an attorney in Brunswick, Georgia, and vice president for public relations and fundraising for the CGG. “A connected trail system like this provides economic, cultural, societal, environmental and health benefits for everyone, of any age, to get out and enjoy.”

Spalding’s initial interest in biking gave her the drive to see a project like the CGG fully realized. It began four years ago when she and her teenage son first experienced the Bicycle Ride Across Georgia (BRAG). “It finally gave me common ground with my teenage son—not an easy feat. [Biking] is just a wonderful activity we can share together as a family.”

Through her involvement in the BRAG, she began to learn more about available, safe paths for cyclists in Georgia and was soon introduced by a mutual acquaintance to the CGG. Spalding’s passion peaked when she realized Interstate 95, though a valuable travel corridor linking north and south, is essentially a dividing line, separating smaller, East Coast communities and limiting their accessibility.

“If you look at it on a map, it’s very plain to see,” says Spalding. “I knew, from my BRAG experience, how special these small towns were. They celebrate our arrival and welcome us wholeheartedly; it’s an amazing thing to witness and something we need to cultivate by providing better access into the fiber of these communities.”

Restoring community connectivity is one of the many benefits the CGG will impart. By revitalizing trails along Georgia’s coast, the CGG is not only bringing much needed attention to coastal conservation efforts, but the group is also opening up lines of economic prosperity by bringing visitors into these oft-overlooked historic communities located along the length of the greenway.

“A resource like this isn’t just recreational; it also serves an economic purpose to stimulate additional tourism,” explains Mike Toma, professor of economics at Armstrong Atlantic State University and director of the Center for Regional Analysis. “Perhaps more importantly, trails not only attract more visitors, they also give them a reason to stay in an area longer, which translates into additional dollars in restaurants, hotels and gift shops.”

Even more insightful is the work Toma, who is a six-year contributor to the CGGs efforts, has done for the Savannah Convention and Visitors Bureau. The targeted study, which examined visitor trends from 2004 to 2006, was designed to help gain a better understanding of the types of individuals who are contacting the bureau for information and, more importantly, are actually visiting the area. Toma’s research has found that since 2004 individuals in the 35 to 49 age category have shown the most rapid growth, an indication of a younger, more active demographic to which the trails of the CGG would be of great interest.

“It’s just one of those things that is truly positive in every way. A connected trail system like this provides economic, cultural, societal, environmental and health benefits for everyone, of any age, to get out and enjoy.”

“So the economic appeal of the trail network is twofold,” says Toma. “First, you have a younger, more active audience, but secondly, within this audience, there is a significant number of cyclist and hikers who have proven to be among the more highly educated, affluent members of society—all very appealing factors for any tourism-driven city.”

Beyond the potential tourism benefits and retail resurgence, the trails might lure the growing number of homebuyers who prefer trails over other, typical activities a city or town may offer. In a recent study conducted by The National Association of Home Builders, trails were named the No. 1 amenity potential homeowners prefer when considering a move to a new community, ahead of public parks and outdoor pools.

“It’s a matter of quality time,” explains Drew Wade, a Savannah radiologist and president of the CGG. “Golf courses used to be in high demand but as personal budgets tightened and time became an increasing premium, families and individuals began placing more importance on fun outdoor activities they can share together.”

For others, like Susan Laney, artist and 13-year director of Jack Leigh Gallery in Savannah, interest in the CGG came about because, as Laney says, “It’s just a beautiful idea.” She remembers attending her first CGG meeting about one year ago, in the basement of a downtown Savannah restaurant. At the time, she considered herself to be a part-time cyclist interested in finding more ways to commute by bike. “Cities are designed around cars, but seeing the landscape from a bike is a totally different perspective,” said Laney.

Her interests mounted in January, after attending the Savannah-Northeast Florida

Workshop on Wheels, a four-day bike tour across five Georgia and Florida counties, with a focus on the development of trails in the local area. Even though she didn’t know a soul, Laney enjoyed the experience, and her passion for the project was ignited. “It was a huge undertaking that assembled this group of cyclists to visit existing trails, educated us on the efforts of the CGG, and just really strengthened the group effort,” reflects Laney. Through that experience, Laney learned not only of the recreational benefits of the CGG but the environmental and conservation efforts as well.

“I can’t help but compare this effort to those of the Appalachian Trail,” she says. “The pioneers of that effort changed the country in a very positive way, forever, and this is our chance to do the same, to preserve these coastal areas.”

Thanks to its inherent beauty, Georgia’s coast is considered prime real estate and unless conservation efforts are enacted immediately, there are no guarantees that the beauty will remain for next time we take a look.

“Everyone comes to it from a different place,” notes Wade. “But conservation is most important. Even in a down economy, the pressure to develop the coast commercially will continue to increase, but by providing interior access to these pristine areas, we are offering unforgettable experiences that will ultimately increase the desire for conservation.”

Though the trails’ connectivity is still in its early stages, the mobilization effort is making great strides. To date, more than 40 local, state and national organizations, including the Department of Transportation, have supported the trails with a vision for environmental, cultural and economic benefits for coastal Georgia. Each of the Peach State’s six involved coastal counties has already selected a trail segment for initial development. Eighty-five percent of the proposed trail system is currently in public domain, with the remaining 15 percent located in and around old rail corridors.

“Federal funding for this project makes sense because the project is bold and will have a lasting impact on generations to come,” said Diane Schleicher, Tybee city manager and advocate for the CGG. “The Coastal Georgia Greenway Project is reminiscent of the type of projects that were accomplished by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the

1930s, which have had a lasting value for generations after their construction.”

With assistance from its parent organization, Million Mile Greenway, funding for the completed sections of the trail has come largely from local, state and federal sources. Now, what began as a private sector initiative is in need of active, private support that can be used to leverage continued governmental funding for the trail’s remaining construction.

“The local governments located along the trails are fully onboard,” says Spaulding. “Now it is up to individuals to let their voices be heard so that the necessary funds are allocated for the CGG’s continued progress.”

“The local governments located along the trails are fully onboard,” says Spaulding. “Now it is up to individuals to let their voices be heard so that the necessary funds are allocated for the CGGs continued progress.”

From its conservation strides to its promised economic outcome, if you’re looking for a reason to get involved, just take your pick. The advantages of the proposed CGG prove that sometimes the best solutions just come naturally.

Blaze Your Own Trail

When the CGG says “Take A Hike,” it’s actually a good thing. Experience the existing portions of the CGG for yourself at these points of interest.

DOWNTOWN SAVANNAH: A little closer to home, the trail can be enjoyed by starting at the Back River Bridge on U.S. 17 on Hutchinson Island. From there, the ferry takes you over to Savannah’s, Historic River Street where a small, yet unmarked path heads east to the old U.S. 17 Bridge. The route continues on road around the SCAD building, up Indian Street to Fahm Street, then down Fahm to the Visitor’s Center.

DAFFIN PARK AREA: The Police Memorial Trail in Savannah that goes from the intersection of Kerry Street and Dixie Avenue, near Daffin Park, along the Truman Parkway to 52nd Street. With sufficient funding, phase two of this trail will link from East Truman and 52nd Street to Lake Mayer on Montgomery Crossroads in Savannah’s Midtown area.

RICHMOND HILL: In Richmond Hill, Georgia, there is a paved, 3-mile track behind J.F. Gregory Park that goes around the historic rice dikes, once part of Henry Ford’s expansive, palatial estate and grounds. Though this section is not yet dedicated, it is part of the master plan. Another trail, the Green Creek Trail, is found just off of Highway 144, south of spur 144, also in Richmond Hill, and will be part of the CGG network, eventually connecting to nearby Fort McAllister.

Get Involved

There are many ways you can help pave the way for the Coastal Georgia Greenway:

JOIN. Become a member of the Coastal Georgia Greenway. Details can be found at www.coastalgeorgiagreenway.org.

MEET. Attend a local or county CGG alliance meeting and learn more about projects in your area.

WRITE. Send a letter or e-mail to your city council and county commission asking the status of CGG in your area and make specific requests to allocate available funding to the trail system’s continued progress.

GET OUT. Experience the existing trails for yourself and spread the word so others will get involved.

After 27 years in the restaurant business, Kevin McPherson wastes no time laying down the facts. “I’m not an actual chef,” he says, referring to the absence of an official culinary education in his extensive career. “I started out in Charleston as a busboy,” McPherson explains. “I learned a lot, but didn’t do much cooking.”

After eight and a half years of learning the ropes in a French restaurant, McPherson moved to Savannah, gained some confidence in the kitchen, and ended up at Belford’s Seafood and Steaks in City Market, where he’s been sending out scrumptious dishes for the last 10 years. While McPherson primarily focuses on expediting these days (making sure dishes transition from the kitchen to the servers’ trays cleanly and quickly), he can still relate to the food. “Our Shrimp, Greens and Grits entree is my favorite,” he says of the award-winning dish. “I didn’t create it, but I feel connected to it.” With local shrimp and apple-smoked bacon resting on top of buttery grit cakes alongside wilted collard greens, all soaking in a Chardonnay butter sauce, one can’t help but wish to be connected to this dish too.

Although many of Belford’s creations have won prizes, McPherson says it’s the customers’ opinions that really matter. “Success is measured by the feedback I get.  That’s what motivates me,” he explains. “Not only is it the best way to know what’s working—it’s also the best form of advertising.”

When he’s not sending food out to eager eaters, McPherson keeps up his culinary craft by traveling, avoiding cookbooks and trying to incorporate new ingredients into creations with “Southern flair.” Whether he’s in the front of the restaurant or in the back, Kevin McPherson is using his all-around experience to help make Belford’s (and Savannah) a more delicious place.

Belford’s Seafood and Steaks, 315 West St. Julian Street, 912.233.2626, www.belfordssavannah.com

It’s the time of year when Savannah becomes a month-long Milan, a part-time Paris—an a la mode fashion capital hosting its signature event, SCAD Style. For six weeks, the Savannah College of Art and Design plays host to innovative designers and artists, simultaneously showcasing student work in programs of study like fashion, interior design, architecture and jewelry design. From lectures to trunk shows, special film screenings to exhibitions—our chic city brims with trendsetting talent.

The fashionable festivities of last year’s SCAD Style began with the prestigious SCAD Etoile Awards, a distinction bestowed on designers who have contributed significantly to the fields of art and design. Honorees at 2008’s swank soiree included potter and designer Jonathan Adler, Elle Décor Editor in Chief Margaret Russell, and fashion designer Pierre Cardin—influential individuals that helped start the event off on the right, well-heeled foot.

Last year’s event also saw lectures by the likes of Pritzker Prize-winning architect Frank Gehry, clothing designer Lela Rose, and book jacket designer and author Chip Kidd, proving that style is a far-reaching concept. Take the ideas of Jenny Little, the founder of Little by Jenny—a clothing line devoted to outfitting the world in sustainable hand screen-printed clothing in an effort to renew mankind’s relationship with the earth. Little was not alone in her forward-thinking fashion fervor; Paola Antonelli, famed design and architecture curator of New York’s Museum of Modern Art, delivered a lecture on the cutting-edge combination of design and science, emphasizing the ability of designers to transform technology into objects and ideas that the public can both appreciate and enjoy.

The 2008 events weren’t all talk and no action: A varied group of SCAD alums exhibited their work in an ongoing series of trunk shows held at Shop SCAD. Claire Sanchez’s vibrant handbags, Jennythreads’ hand-dyed silk scarves and Domestic Construction’s edgy belts were all on display for browsing and buying. The week culminated in the annual juried runway fashion show, an event jam-packed with stellar student designers and topped off by a presentation in honor of the 2008 Andre Leon Talley Lifetime Achievement Award, John Galliano.

Last year’s lineup may be a tough act to follow, but SCAD Style 2009, taking place March 23–May 16 in the 30th anniversary year of the schools founding is sure to be better than ever, presenting lectures on everything from comic strips to window dressings. Count on appearances by designers who have been featured in publications like Vogue, worked in places like France and displayed in stores like Bergdorf Goodman.

With all this talent traipsing into town, The South magazine took on the task of recognizing the designers you might not have heard of—yet: SCAD’s senior fashion students, hard at work on their runway-destined collections. We caught them in their home-away-from-home, SCAD’s Fashion Design building, Eckberg Hall where they stepped away from their dress forms, laid down their scissors, and spoke to us about their lines and ambitions. So, adoring public, here they are: The people that will snip, sew and (literally) shape the future of fashion.

Aileen Lowe
Age: 22
Hometown: Wilkes-Barr, Pennsylvania
Sum up your design style in three words: intuitive, ornate, elegant
What inspired your current line? A mixture between the fall 2008 collections for John Galliano and Alexander McQueen became part of my research for my senior collection. In the end, men’s tailored clothing helped inspire my spontaneous collection.
What are your favorite clothing stores in Savannah? Marc by Marc Jacobs, Copper Penny, Satchel
Following graduation, what is your dream job? To have my own line or work for Christian Dior or John Galliano.

Lindsey Creel
Age: 22
Hometown: Destin, Florida
Sum up your design style in three words: classic, clean, women-friendly
What made you want to be a fashion designer? I don’t really believe being a designer in general has to do with the want to be one. Design is what I love, think about and am called to create constantly.
What inspired your current line? My current line was inspired by school photos of my great-grandmother from the late 1930s and early 1940s. She has been a huge inspiration to me throughout my life so it felt appropriate for her life to be a part of my senior collection.

Caroline Mae Heidenreich
Age: 23
Hometown: Tallahassee, Florida
Sum up your design style in three words: deconstructed, sui generis, chic
Who are your favorite designers? Ann Demeulemeester, Karl Lagerfeld, Diane von Furstenberg, Dolce & Gabbana, Coco Chanel, Maison Martin Margiela, Raina Blyer
What inspired your current line? I am consistently inspired by what is around me. The global economic situation sits heavily with me as I realize I am a designer, who is to have something produced. Sustainability inspired my current collection. I thought about what it means to be sustainable and pondered if fashion plus sustainability equals [an] oxymoron.

Caitlin Clarke
Age: 21
Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee
Sum up your design style in three words: futuristic, angular, detailed
What made you want to be a fashion designer? I started out in costume design and fell in love with sewing. I then knew I wanted to spend my life creating interesting garments that people would appreciate and want to wear.
Who are your favorite designers? Carolina Herrera, Oscar de la Renta, Geoffrey Beene, Zac Posen, Chloé
What are your favorite clothing stores in Savannah? Banana Republic,
Clothing Warehouse

Molly Dunbar
Age: 22
Hometown: Wilkes-Barre, Pennsilvania
Sum up your design style in three words: young, urban, androgynous
What made you want to be a fashion designer? I grew up in a very artistic family. I was always encouraged to draw and create and was always interested in fashion. My love of drawing and clothing led me to design.
Who are your favorite designers? Raf Simmons, Ann Demeulemeester, Rodarte
Following graduation, what is your dream job? Drawing and designing, in a really amazing studio, in a really great city.

Imani Whyte
Age: 21
Hometown: New York, New York
Sum up your design style in three words: dramatic, royal, intricate
What made you want to be a fashion designer? I’ve been into the arts from a very young age and I’ve always loved clothes. So when I was 10 years old I went to my mom and said, ‘I’m going to be a fashion designer.’
What inspired your current line? The mystical fantasy world of the Chronicles of Narnia mixed with late ‘40s and early ‘50s evening wear.
What are your favorite clothing stores in Savannah? Civvies, Marc by Marc Jacobs, James Gunn, Bleu Belle

Deep in the South hides a material that could revolutionize the way the United States—and the world—consumes energy. It’s renewable, plentiful and probably in most backyards. It’s the Georgia pine tree. Disbelievers need only ask Ross Harding, senior advisor at Energy Launch Partners, about the power of the pine.

“Georgia has over 24 million acres of pine trees,” Harding explains. “New Mexico has solar energy, Montana has wind energy, and here in Georgia we have the ability to turn woody biomass into cellulose-based energy.” According to Harding, the Peach State lucked out in the natural resource department—unlike other forms of energy, wood can be used to produce not only heat, but also power, electricity and liquid fuels.

None of these transformative techniques would be possible without the work of Herty Advanced Materials Development Center, a Savannah-based business committed to analyzing, sampling and producing alternative energy. Once a tree reaches maturity, usually after about 10 years, it is chopped into 1-inch pieces and ground into a fine, sawdust-like material before its fate as a fuel source is decided.

If burned, the wood can be used to boil water, produce steam and turn turbines to produce electricity. Combine that same wood with a little heat and pressure, perform a few chemistry tricks, and voila: A substance that can be used similarly to natural gas. Finally, the multitalented timber can be made into ethanol by breaking down its natural sugars (known as cellulose) into liquid fuel. “Each product can replace fossil fuels like coal, natural gas and oil,” Harding says. “Most importantly, trees are a completely renewable resource. They grow on their own, don’t need to be artificially watered, and keep the soil together.” All of these positive attributes have brought the renewable energy spotlight to the Hostess City.

Savannah may seem like a sleepy Southern city to many, but the international energy community is watching—companies from as far away as Sweden are considering moving their headquarters to Savannah in order to take advantage of our abundant raw material and convenient access to distribution via the Savannah River.

With all the interest in harvesting Savannah’s forests, Harding reminds us that we must tread carefully. “People ask me if we are damaging the environment with this new industry,” he says. Fuel-efficient transportation methods, replanting and access to water sources are issues the biofuel industry must monitor carefully to ensure success. “These problems are small compared to the consequence of doing nothing,” Harding states. Global warming, reliance on foreign countries and pollution can potentially all be solved by the alternative fuel industry, and southeast Georgia is poised to take on the challenge.

“Everyone likes to talk about green energy, but the economy is an important part of this too.” Harding explains. In order to get this industry moving, power plants will have to be built, trees will have to be harvested, and energy will have to be created. What does this mean? “Jobs, jobs, and more jobs,” Harding says. “This is the industry that will sustain us for the next 100 years.” You heard him: Go hug a tree.

For more information on Energy Launch Partners, call 912.441.0303 or visit www.energylaunchpartners.com

If you are experiencing this situation at least once a week, you probably have what’s commonly referred to as “yadunnowhattodo-itis.” Don’t worry; it’s not fatal. But if left untreated, it could lead to a severe case of spring fever. The South’s Guide to Getting Out has been proven to reduce the symptoms of this debilitating condition, by offering suggestions for what to do on those irresistibly sunny days. Read it twice and call us in the morning. Oh yeah, and we are responsible for any pleasant side effects.

Yoga, Seaside

Start your morning off with an oceanside yoga class, and we guarantee you will have a better day. Or, at least, that’s what Ann Carroll, beach yoga instructor extraordinaire, believes. “What’s not to love? The beach is different every morning, and there’s something innately calming about the sound of the waves,” she explains. Her 7 a.m. class on Tybee Island’s north beach is popular with tourists and locals alike, and sometimes the scene is so relaxing, it’s hard for her students to tear themselves away from the Zen experience. Carroll adds, “After class is over, no one wants to leave.” So take a deep breath and do your sun salutation where it is meant to be done. To try your hand at

beach yoga, contact Ann Carroll by calling 912.704.7650, or visit www.aikyayoga.com

Hang Ten

For some, it’s just another water sport; for Jim Stephens, owner of Underground Board Works on Tybee Island, surfing is a lifestyle, a spiritual activity and, above all, a dance. “Surfers borrow the power and majesty of a wave pulse of energy that has come from across the ocean and, for a moment, dance on the face of a wave in its dying moments,” he says insightfully. That may sound a little deep, but Stephens passion for surfing comes from 50 years of riding waves. It’s no secret that Tybee’s surf can’t compare to the 10-foot swells of, say, Hawaii, but Stephens says it’s still a gnarly place to practice your “dancing” skills. He explains, “Tybee’s small waves, sand bottom and warm water in the summer months make it an ideal place to learn.” So practice this spring in order to wow the shoebes come June. Surf’s up! Underground Board Works, 1213 Highway 80 East, Tybee Island, 912.308.1249, www.undergroundboardworks.com

Rooftop Lounging

There’s no better place for an après-work cocktail on a spring day than an alfresco table, and Savannah is about to get one that will blow your socks off. Rocks on the Roof, set to open in June on top of the new Bohemian Hotel at Savannah Riverfront, will feature fantastic views from River Street all the way to South Carolina. It’s a new concept from the Kessler Collection, owners of the chic Mansion on Forsyth Park. Kessler Vice President Laura Van Til hopes the ambiance, in addition to the tapas menu, will keep guests coming back. “The lighting is dramatic, the oyster chandeliers are adorned with Swarovski crystals, the patio features a large fire pit, [and] roll-up doors will open the space entirely. It’s the feeling of being on a friend’s private deck party overlooking the bustle below,” Van Til describes. Is it happy hour yet? The Bohemian Hotel will open in June at 102 West Bay Street. For more information, visit www.kesslercollection.com

Giddyup

When you hear the word polo, does a 3-button collared shirt come to mind? The designer clothing reference may be unavoidable, but there’s another kind of polo—one that involves horses, a long-handled mallet and traditions dating back to before the time of

Christ—that’s going on in our own backyard. “Lowcountry Arena Polo was started out of a passion for the game of polo,” explains the group’s president, Michael Rippy. No riding experience is required; the group has a polo school in Bluffton and will teach you the basics. Just show up any Saturday morning and Rippy will do the rest.

“Anytime a person is on the back of a horse, it is a good thing,” Rippy declares. So don’t worry if your equestrian skills are limited to petting zoos and pony rides. Giddyup! For more information on Lowcountry Arena Polo, e-mail Michael Rippy at lapolo@hargray.com.

Stand Up and Surf

The Hawaiian name for it is Ku Hoe He’e Nalu, which translates to “to stand, to paddle, to surf a wave,” and that’s a pretty right-on description. Stand-up paddle surfing is similar to the original cowabunga sport, except you’re on your feet with a long paddle. Local stand-up paddle surfing enthusiasts Tim Malins and Stephen Palmer regularly practice this relatively new sport off Tybee Island. Palmer touts, “I was instantly attracted to the versatility of the sport. You can surf waves or lazily paddle around on flat water or sprint as fast as you can for an amazing workout.” The best part is that just about anyone can do it, according to Malins. “On flat water, it’s very easy for the average person. Probably the easiest entry level sport,” he adds. So get in touch with your inner island spirit and grab a paddle; you’ll feel the spirit of aloha in no time. For stand-up paddle boarding lessons and gear, visit High Tide Surf Shop, 405 Highway 80 East, Tybee Island, 912.786.6556, www.hightidesurfshop.com

Pickin’ in the Patch

Plump, juicy strawberries are synonymous with springtime, and the best kinds always seem to be the ones you pick yourself. Dig your straw hay out of the closet and head to the Bamboo Farm and Coastal Gardens to pluck your own right out of the ground. The Gardens contain a full acre of beautiful, budding strawberries. And here’s a special bonus: the farm will host a “Sunday Supper in the Strawberry Patch” on April 26, with country-style food, and of course, homemade strawberry shortcake. “Tours of the farm are given before supper,” says Jeffrey Webb, associate superintendent. “People can pick strawberries for $2.00 per pound.” Bring your empty stomach! For pickin’ times, contact the Bamboo Farm and Coastal Gardens at 912.921.5460 or www.bamboo.caes.uga.edu

Tour the Trees

If you’re looking for an excursion with less exertion, take a tour of the coast’s ancient trees. Start your journey on John’s Island outside of Charleston, where you’ll find a tree that is thought to be 1,500 years old. The “Angel Oak,” stands close to 60 feet high.

Next, head south to Bluffton to check out a tree that is much younger, but more legendary. “Secession Oak” got its name from the role it played in South Carolina’s breakaway from the Union. Of course, in Savannah you’ll discover the 300-year-old

Candler Oak, on Drayton Street, and equally impressive Majestic Oak. “Trees are great sources of shade and cool, and it’s hard to get hot when having a picnic underneath one,” says Adrienn Mendonca with the Savannah Tree Foundation. Plus, Mendonca adds, “We’d be nothing without our avenues of oaks and swaying moss.” Get more information on the area’s legendary trees on The Savannah Tree Foundation website,

www.savannahtreefoundation.com

Stroll with Sea Turtles

They crawl out of the sea at night, looking for a place to lay their slimy eggs in the sand. It sounds like a horror movie, but it’s just the natural nesting habit of a loggerhead sea turtle. You can see for yourself on a nighttime “turtle walk” with a reptile professional from the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island. Your guide will lead you on a beach walk in hopes of spotting one of these impressive animals. While turtle sightings aren’t guaranteed, Alicia Marin, the Center’s education coordinator, reveals “Some lucky groups may get to see a nesting loggerhead female deposit her eggs in the sand.” Turtle walks begin in June but spaces are often filled far in advance. For reservations, call 912.635.4444 or visit www.georgiaseaturtlecenter.org

Go Up the Creek

From 1000-year-old trees to rare birds, you can spot a variety of amazements just a short drive north of Savannah. A naturalist guide from Wilderness Southeast will lead you on a three-hour canoe paddle down Effingham County’s historic Ebenezer Creek, pointing out beautiful bald cypress trees dating back more than a millennium. “Their dark, twisted trunks are suggestive of a scene from a J.R.R. Tolkien novel, and they reflect perfectly in the mirror-dark water,” describes Karen Grainey, a guide. The paddling is easy, but you may get a little more out of the trip than a pretty picture. Grainey remarks, “Visiting the trees is a unique opportunity to contemplate the passage of time and our natural legacy.” For more information on the Blackwater River Paddle, contact Wilderness Southeast at 912.236.8115 or www.wilderness-southeast.org

Disk Golf

Take a game of Frisbee, mix in a round of golf, and you get an up-and-coming sport sweeping the Lowcountry. Disc golf is played like traditional golf except with a flying disc instead of a little dimpled ball. Jonathan Reppenhagen is an eight-year devotee of the game and touts its virtues. “Being outdoors, playing with my friends, meeting new people and challenging myself is what attracted me to disc golf,” he explains. According to Reppenhagen, most of the sport’s courses are in public or state parks. So on a beautiful spring day, it’s a great way to get a little fresh air. “I got addicted quick,” Reppenhagen admits. “But watching the disc fly through the air and hit your target is exciting to see.” Tiger Woods, take a backseat. The Savannah Disc Golf Club is always looking for new members. Visit www.savannahdiscgolf.com for more info on how and where to play.

Cruise the Barrier Island

If you’re the less-active outdoorsy type, a boat cruise might be more your style. Bull River Cruises offers tours of coastal Georgia’s salt marshes and barrier islands from the comfort of the “Island Explorer,” a 45-foot excursion vessel that seats over 40 passengers. Captain Mike Neal says the company’s signature Barrier Island Eco-Cruise is a fun, relaxing way for people to get outdoors. “Taking a boat through these waterways, going out to the barrier islands, and seeing dolphins can’t help but be great,” he says. Neal is your tour guide through this unique ecosystem and will point out wildlife, teach ecology and even pull a trawl net so guests can see the creatures living below the water’s surface. Who knows, maybe you’ll even learn a thing or two. Bull River Cruises, 912.898.1800, www.bullriver.com

Deep Sea Fishing

Grab a rod and hire a captain for an easygoing day in the sun with the possibility of a delicious, well-earned dinner. Captain Brian Woelber of One More Cast Charters has eight years of experience trolling Savannah’s waterways for the mysterious “big one.” Woelber says fishing isn’t just a great outdoor activity; it’s also excellent therapy. “The great thing about fishing or just being on the water is you are focused on the task at hand, and everything else going on in our crazy lives seems to be put on the back burner for a little while,” he claims. Savannah can be a tough fishing spot because of the fast-changing tides, Woelber warns, so be sure your guide knows what he’s doing. Contact One More Cast Charters by calling 912.308.5991 or visiting www.onemorecastcharters.com

“The trouble with brisket is that some people treat it like a roast beef,” explains McCrary. “And it certainly is not. It is a delicacy unto itself when cooked correctly.” And a delicacy it is. The beef is smoked with cedar and hickory for 12 to 14 hours before a dry rub is applied, enhancing the flavor while keeping in all the juices. The end result is meat so deliciously tender that it melts like chocolate in your mouth.

McCrary recommends some old-fashioned macaroni and cheese as a side to his brisket rather than your average mashed potatoes. Even better is his Dutch crust sweet potato casserole, which is reportedly so decadent many diners say it should be a dessert rather than a side. “When we moved to Savannah we were told that Savannahians would never adapt to brisket since Savannah is a pork city,” he says. “While pork is still the leading seller, our brisket is a close contender.” Wiley’s Championship BBQ, 4700 Highway 80, 912.201.3259.

Leoci’s: Tagliatelli Carbonara
Chef Roberto Leoci of the newly opened Leoci’s Trattoria brings Italian food lovers to new indulgences with his tagliatelli carbonara. He rejuvenates this usually smoky, creamy dish with a few of his own special touches, paying homage to rustic and gourmet Italian cooking.

It all starts with fresh homemade tagliatelli pasta, smoked prosciutto and Leoci’s untouchable talent. He adds a delicate poached egg and surrounds this dream of a dish with fresh shavings of sharp Pecorino Romano cheese.

“I presented this version of a classic dish to my family,” explains Leoci. “At first it’s hard to change such a classic dish—they were kind of drawn back—but as soon as they tasted it, they all agreed that I perfected the family recipe.” Leoci’s Trattoria, 606 Abercorn Street.

Eleven-06: Veal Scaloppini
Wanting to bring the taste of the Mediterranean to the Atlantic shore, Eleven-06 owners Clay Brewer and Vincent Cusanelli recently unleashed their veal scaloppini on Tybee Island diners. The tender veal is served in a sumptuous sauce, drenched in mushrooms and dripping with garlic undertones. Its bright and delicate flavors makes the entire dining experience a delight. “I have an Italian upbringing,” says Cusanelli. “I wanted to bring that into our bistro-type menu.”

Eleven-06 is celebrating the warm sweetness of spring with new additions to its already eclectic dishes. Be on the lookout for dreamy mussels over pasta, seared tuna, rib eyes, glazed pork chops, feta and spinach stuffed chicken, and a varied menu of seafood, classic Southern favorites and Italian-American fare. Eleven-06 Restaurant, 1106 Highway 80, Tybee Island, 912.786.0913, www.eleven-06.com