About The Savannah tribune. (Savannah, Ga.) 1973-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 19, 2008)
The Savannah Tribune • Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - 3 SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY NEWS Gulfstream Employees make Million-Dollar Pledge to United Way Savannah Music Festival Announces Most Artistically Diverse Lineup to Date Gulfstream employees give big to the United Way of the Coastal Empire! For the first time, Gulfstream employees' annual pledges to the United Way fundraising campaign have exceeded $1 million. This year's total pledge is $1,044,601, a 12 percent increase over last year's record total of $932,206. “During these uncertain economic times, our employ ees companywide recog nized that their community needs their financial support now more than ever,” said Joe Lombardo, Gulfstream president. “Despite concerns about energy costs, the avail ability of credit and the declining value of the stock market, our employees once again demonstrated tremen dous generosity that will help others.” Gulfstream does not pressure its employees to contribute to the United Way; instead, the company communicates extensively about the significance of supporting the community through the United Way. This is the fifth consecutive year that Gulfstream Preparations are under way as Old Savannah City Mission gears up for its sig nature event, the Eleventh Annual Day of Great Thanksgiving. As anticipa tion grows city-wide and beyond, the big day is sched uled for November 22nd in Forsyth Park. For the third consecu tive year, Wiley McCrary, owner of Wiley’s Championship BBQ and winner of multi-state awards, will lead teams of volunteers in preparation of 250 turkeys. Last year, more than 500 volunteers descended on the park to serve 3,452 meals. Many of the volun teers include community leaders and local politicians who enjoy serving up the special meals to whom the mission calls “friends and neighbors.” Volunteers are essential employees have pledged to the United Way. Since 2003, Gulfstream's U.S.-based work force has grown by 49 percent. During the same period, employee pledges to the United Way have increased by 108 percent. The company's total contri bution to the United Way consists of the employee pledges and a corporate com mitment. The corporate commitment will be announced next week. “The United Way of the Coastal Empire truly appre ciates the overwhelming generosity of Gulfstream employees,” said Gregg Schroeder, president and CEO of United Way of the Coastal Empire. This is a record-setting employee gift and comes at a time when the community deeply needs this support.” The 2008 United Way fundraising campaign goal is $8,288,888, up from the $8 million goal of last year. To date, 78 percent of goal has been raised. United Way officially kicked-off its com munity fundraising cam paign on September 10th and will end on November 21st. to the Mission,s year-round operations, however, the Day of Great Thanksgiving makes an emphatic state ment for the vital role played by volunteers. “This event occasions an opportunity to bring unity to the community,” says Reverend Jim Lewis, Executive Director of Old Savannah City Mission. “People who live paral lel lives throughout the year meet face to face and share a meal. The Mission believes healing of our community can only come through rela tionships. Homeless, inner- city, poor and marginalized people intermingle with the suburban, and more affluent members of society.” Wiley McCrary aka “The General” and his wife, Janet will organize and coor dinate the participation of many of Savannah’s finest See City Mission, page 8 The Savannah Music Festival (SMF) announces its most artistically diverse lineup to date for the upcoming 2009 festival, including several commis sioned works and a wealth of original productions showcasing a wide variety of American and interna tional musical traditions. Committed to enhancing the cultural landscape of Savannah, SMF programs combine elegance and soul in a way that mirrors the his tory and culture of the remarkable city. The unique The City of Savannah will offer free parking to the general public at the brand new Whitaker Street Garage through the end of November. The free parking will be on a first-come, first- served basis. It is the second stage of the facility's "soft opening," which began in late October for monthly card holders. The official opening of the garage is scheduled for the first week of December. The Whitaker Street Garage is a state-of-the-art facility that offers more than A unique training pro gram spearheaded by Savannah-Chatham Metro Police to help officers avoid putting themselves in danger ous situations received recognition from the International Association of Chiefs of Police at a ceremo ny on Friday in San Diego, California. The “Officer Created Jeopardy” program was cre ated in association with com munity groups across Chatham County, including the NAACP and faith organi zations, to help officers rec ognize dangerous situations musical arts event is one of the highlights of springtime on the southeastern U.S. coast and a distinctive desti nation for cultural travelers. The 2009 festival takes place between March 19 and April 5 in historic down town Savannah and features more than 100 musical per formances in intimate set tings. Tickets go on sale at 9 am EST on November 13 and are available online at www.savannahmusicfesti- val.org <http://www.savan- nahmusicfestival.org/> or by phone at 912-525-5050. 1,000 spaces of under ground parking — the City's first such structure. It is the cornerstone of the redevel opment of the Ellis Square area — a public-private part nership that is adding retail, housing units, a hotel and a restored Ellis Square — one of Gen. James Oglethorpe's original six squares. The entrance to the Whitaker Street Garage is located on Whitaker Street, just south of Bay Street. For more information, contact Parking and Mobility Director Sean Brandon at 651-4291. and how to avoid them to preserve both their safety and the safety of citizens. The department received a Certificate of Recognition for the program. Chief Erik Blake of the Oak Bluffs Police Department and Chair of the IACP Civil Rights Committee said in his letter to Sgt. Dan Flood who developed a large part of the program, “Efforts such as these illustrate to the public and your peers that members of the law enforcement com munity are among the nation’s most visible and See SCMPD, page 8 City Mission Gears Up for Great Thanksgiving Free parking at Whitaker Street SCMPD recognized by IACP Civil Rights Committee National Council of Negro Women to Celebrate Youth “Pride of Savannah: Our Youth” is this year's theme for the National Council of Negro Women's annual community event. Please join us Saturday, November 22nd at the Economic Opportunity Authority, 618 W. Anderson Street at 5:30 PM. The youth celebration will begin fol lowing an opening reception. We hope to see everyone from New members to Life members as we allow our young people to shine. Tickets are available and can be purchased from any NCNW member, or by call ing President Betty Lasseter at (912) 920-9691. The cost is $25.00 for adults and $5.00 for children 12 and under. We are accept ing new members for the adult and youth sections of this great and historic organ- Mary McLeod Bethune ization. Applications will be available following our youth celebration. Thank you for your continued support of the National Council of Negro Women. “Leave No One Behind.” Catalytic Converter Thefts On The Rise Metro Police are ask ing the public to be aware that thieves have been steal ing the catalytic converter from vehicles in our area. Over the past couple of weeks, there has been at least a dozen reported stolen in Savannah and about as many in the Garden City area. Police believe some of these catalytic converters are being sold at local area recycling yards and contain a very small amount of desirable metals. Police investigators are currently working some very credible leads. Thieves have been targeting larger vehicles such as trucks and vans. Police advise the public to park your vehicle in well lit areas or park them in a garage to reduce the chances of your vehicle becoming a target and please report sus picious activity. Broughton Street gets a Holiday Boost from the Community The Savannah Development and Renewal Authority (SDRA) is organiz ing community volunteers to decorate the lampposts along Broughton Street with red holiday bows. Volunteers will meet on Saturday, November 22nd, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM to decorate the lampposts that are located between Montgomery Street and Lincoln Street. Participants will meet at 220 West Broughton Street at 10:00. Over 40 participants from local businesses, church es, and sororities, and youth groups have already volun teered to participate in this year’s event. To volunteer, please contact Randall Toussaint at (912) 651-6973. Thank you in advance for your efforts to support Greater Downtown Savannah! For more information, please contact Randall Toussaint of the Savannah Development & Renewal Authority at (912) 651-6973 or via email Randalltous- saint@sdra.net. COUNTDOWN/ Ik M m j Qmmq 2009: emhtf U <* tad *m <fw! whw.savaiwahgtLgov WHEN ONE TON OF STEEL IS RECYCLED, 2 ' 500 POUNDS OF COAL AND 120 POUNDS MABmP DIE, 0F LXMtsjoHt ARE CONSERVED.
