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“GEORGIA’S BEST WEEKLY”
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Week of November 18,2009 - November 24,2009 • Vol. 37 No. 39 • www.savannahtribune.com • 912-233-6128 • Fax: 912-233-6140
City of Savannah Wins National
Award for Revitalization
Members of City Council and City staff accept the National League of Cities' Award for Municipal Excellence
Brown Honored
for Service
During WWII
Rev. Matthew Southall Brown, Sr.
The National League of
Cities recognized the City of
Savannah today with its
highest honor for its innova
tive work revitalizing dis
tressed neighborhoods.
Members of Savannah
City Council and staff were
presented with the Award for
Municipal Excellence during
a ceremony Friday at the
NLC's annual Congress of
Cities in San Antonio, Texas
(see attached photo).
Savannah won the Gold
Medal for cities with popula
tions between 50,000 and
150,000 for its
Neighborhood Renaissance
program. Gold Medal win
ners in the three other popu
lation categories were: New
York City; Long Beach,
Calif.; and Slidell, La.
Savannah's
Neighborhood Renaissance
initiative works with citizens
to create revitalization plans
for their neighborhoods, then
uses public-private partner
ships with multiple agencies
to rebuild infrastructure, add
new affordable housing,
refurbish existing homes,
acquire vacant property,
aggressively enforce proper
ty maintenance codes and
create enterprise zones to
spur economic development.
Between 2000 and
2008, the City's
Neighborhood Renaissance
program leveraged more than
$154 million for housing and
neighborhood improvements
in three Savannah neighbor
hoods: Cuyler-Brownville,
See City, pg. 16
Celebration Explores the African
American Influence on Mercer’s Music
The West Broad Street/ recognizing the African professor emeritus of audience back to the days
Johnny Mercer Task Force American influences on the humanities, Savannah State when West Broad Street was
and The Johnny Mercer music of Johnny Mercer on University, wowed those “king”! Elmore, who did
Centennial Committee pre- November 16. gathered at the celebration research for over five years in
sented a day of celebration Dr. Charles Elmore, breakfast. Elmore took the See Mercer, pg. 16
Rev. Matthew Southall
Brown Sr. of Savannah,
Georgia received an award
for his service to the nation
during World War II from the
Smithsonian's Hirshhorn
Museum on November 10.
The recognition was a
culmination of the evening's
debut presentation of the new
documentary, Chocolate
Soldiers from the U.S.A. The
Smithsonian's Theatre was
filled to its capacity with
viewers.
The film sheds light on
the first group of black sol
diers selected for combat in
the European theatre during
World War II. Brown is fea
tured throughout the film,
providing a historical per
spective to the combat expe
riences of the African
American troops as well as
their interactions with local
citizens in Europe.
The program was host
ed by the renowned author,
Willie Jolley, who has been
recognized as one of the
world's five most inspira
tional speakers.
Also in attendance was
Dr. Lonnie Bunch III, direc
tor of the African American
Museum, to be constructed
on the national mall in
Washington, D.C.
With Rev. Brown was
his son, Leonard A. Brown,
daughter Christa B.
Stephens, and Julius Hall, a
native of Savannah who
resides in the Washington,
D.C. area.
Rev. Brown returned to
Washington on Wednesday,
November 18th, at the invita
tion of Congress to serve as
Chaplin for the Day in the
U.S. House of
Representatives.
He will provide the
session's opening prayer.
Inside This Week’s Edition:
SSU Celebrates 119 Years, Pg. 2
Sigma Tau Chapter, AKA, Supports Breast Cancer Awareness,
Pg.3
United Way Urges the Community to Give, Pg. 8
Walker Installed as Homebuilder’s President, Pg. 9
Putney Receives Outstanding Ga. Citizen Award, Pg. 10
Coastal Health District Expands H1N1 Target
Groups,Pg. 11
City, Youth Commission Present Teen Leadership
Summit, Pg. 16
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Employee of Lhc Year fox 200?
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