On Saturday, February 2nd, the Tourism Leadership Council’s 8th Annual “Taste of Savannah” will be held at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center from 7 pm until 10pm. The event will be held in Exhibit Hall B of the convention center. The cost of admission is $50 for regular admission, $45 with a military i.d., or $75 for V.I.P. admission. The event is presented by Georgia Powers. R & R Restaurant Supply awards will be presented by The Savannah Bank.

There will be a seventies disco attire contest, raffles, dancing, and cash bars. V.I.P.’s will enjoy reserved seating, early admission at 6:30 pm, and a glass of sparkling wine upon entrance. Experience everything Savannah has to offer your tastebuds. The event showcases Savannah’s exceptional restaurants and caterers. The restaurants and caterers will be serving samples of their favorite dishes.

Technorati Tags: Caterers, Prizes, Restaurants, Sample, Savannah GA, Seventies, Taste of Savannah

On Saturday, February 2nd, the very first Savannah Book Festival will be held. There will be 30 authors presentations in Savannah between 10 am and 4 pm. The festival will be located in Telfair, Franklin, and surrounding areas. There will also be family activities in the City Market. Children will enjoy book readings, meeting a local children’s book author, and meeting a singer/songwriter. In addition, there will be a Critters-to-go petting zoo, Valentine’s Day crafts and activities, cupcake decorating, a fire truck and a police car.

The adults will have 5 venues to choose from. There will be Fiction, History and Biography, Lifestyle, Songwriting and Poetry, and Contemporary Issues. During these times, the Authors will give a presentation. Immediately following the presentations, they will sign books.

If you are free on Friday, February 1st at 5:30 pm, there will be a key note address by Terry Kay in the Lucas Theatre. Everything is free and open to the public, so come on out and join in the first Savannah Book Festival. They have a map available for the event and some hotels for out of town guests coming to the festival.

Technorati Tags: Book Festival, City Market, Franklin, hotels, map, Savannah, Savannah GA, Telfair

I keep reading articles about how Georgia will be unlikely to face a recession due to it’s diversity. The funny thing is, that optimism is only in the title and first couple paragraphs. When you read further, you see that most analysts say that recession is imminent and we aren’t immune. So which is it?
It could be either. I have decided that no matter what the issue, you will have two conflicting stories. I think people’s nature affects there outlook. Data can be skewed to support people’s theories. So what are people to do?

You can do your own research and form your own opinions. While I hope we avoid recession, I think it’s always best to be  prepared. Life is always changing.  Prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

So let’s look at some facts:

The real estate market has slowed in areas

The number of foreclosures has increased

Some businesses are feeling the crunch and trying to stay alive via lay offs, take overs, or termination

Unemployment has gone up slightly

Consumers are unsure of what is down the road. People trying to buy a home, face tougher mortgage regulations. The positive is that mortgage rates are still low. In some areas, home prices have gone down. In others, home prices have been stable or even increased. Whether or not it’s the right time to buy, is dependent on individual situations. If you have good credit and a steady job, it might be a great time to take advantage of the low interest rates. Before you do anything, make sure you weigh all your options.

Technorati Tags: conflicting stories, foreclosure, News, real estate market, recession, unemployment

No place on Earth celebrates St. Patrick’s Day like Savannah. And because of that, people come from all over to participate. The more people that come, the more safety becomes a concern. So, there have been some changes and some proposed changes to this year’s festivities. The most notable is that instead of a March 17th celebration, St. Patrick’s Day will be celebrated on Friday, March 14th.  An edict from a Bishop decreed that celebrations on the Monday of the holy week should not be allowed. So, the festivities were moved up. This is a benefit to people coming to the city to celebrate. They will have the weekend to celebrate.

Barricades were used last year to block in two of the most populated squares. Since they worked so well, more barricades will be used this year. Also, spectators are not allowed to set up tables, tents, or bring out their coolers until 6 am the day of the parade. And the New York Fire Department firefighters will not be marching in this years parade. However, some will still attend. There were a few altercation last year with beads being thrown to spectators and drinking while marching. They will be allowed to march in next year’s parade.

There have also been several proposed changes such as limiting the number of people to the parade. In addition, a permit may be required for viewing from public squares. The idea is to charge $25 for a 20 foot by 20 foot spot in the squares. This will ideally reduced the number of people in a square, thus reducing the chance of arguments between spectators.

Locals have voiced their concerns over the loss of tradition that may occur with these changes. More barricades, will make kissing the marching men harder. And reserving a square in the square will likely lead to a families’ loss of their usual spot. While the changes are just ways to improve safety, one hopes that tradition is not lost. Tradition is what makes us proud and brings people together.

Technorati Tags: changes, March 14, Savannah, Savannah GA, St. Patrick's Day

A new program called Shelter Partners has emerged as a way to relieve the overwhelming dog population of the South. A shelter in Alabama, the Shelby Human Society, has to euthanize over 3,000 animals a year. That number includes healthy dogs and puppies who could have had a chance. The new program transport dogs from overpopulated areas to place with potential homes. There have been several transports from Shelby and they have all gone to New Hampshire. There are not many stray dogs and people are on waiting lists to adopt dogs! They have been credited with strict licensing and leash laws that are enforced as well as having an affordable sterilization.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                                                    

The cause of our problem is lack of licensing or leash laws or the lack of enforcement of those laws. In addition, there are no incentives for people to spay and neuter their pets. In the past few months, I have heard of one low cost spay and neuter program. We need to do more. Not only do the dogs suffer, we suffer. With large numbers of dogs on the loose, our pets, children, and homes are at risk. It’s time to do something about this overwhelming problem. We need to ask for stricter laws and more enforcement of those laws. We need to ask for low cost option for those who can not afford to spay or neuter their pets.

Also check out PetSmart Charities, they have a similar program of transporting dogs from overpopulated areas to places where dogs are wanted. The program is called, “Rescue Waggin”.

Technorati Tags: Dogs, Euthanize, Laws, Leash, Licensing, Neuter, PetSmart Charities, Rescue Waggin, Savannah GA, Shelter Partners, Spay

There may be a change coming for downtown rental property owners. Alderman Tony Thomas has proposed that rentals need to be regulated more. The proposed change would require a license to rent properties. The basic idea behind the license, is to try and landlords to maintain their properties. With a threat of license revokation, a landlord may decide to keep up with the maintenance. In addition to a license, the city also would like to be able to inspect rental property interiors.

However, landlords say this is just extra paperwork and extra money. And any cost felt by the landlords will also eventually be felt by those renting. They also feel the city has enough power. If they see a violation, they have probable cause and can then inspect the interior of the rental property. They feel more inspectors are needed.

So what do you think?

Technorati Tags: Alderman, City, Inspection, Inspectors, Landlords, License, Rental Properties, Savannah GA

According to the dean of the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business, we here in the Peach State have a 45% chance of facing a recession. The major factors that could trigger the recession are housing, drought, and energy. However, they say since we are industrially diversified those shouldn’t make a big impact. The population growth in Georgia will be the fifth fastest in the nation. The Savannah area has seen growth every year and added more than 3000 jobs every year between 2000 and 2006. The population is expected to increase another 2.2% this year.

The growth will certainly bring more jobs. JCB is already making an expansion for it’s growth. There are so many plans in the making for the Pooler area. All you have to do is drive down Pooler Parkway and you’ll see new businesses. With all this growth in business, we may see an increase in the real estate market.

As they say, hope for no recession but be prepared for one in case. For more information on this story, see “The 2008 Forecast and Economic Trends Report“

Top Employers in the Healthcare Industry

Memorial Health University: This hospital located in Savannah employs over 5,000 people. With the growth in the suburban areas, there is more and more need for healthcare workers. It is also an academic medical center that serves 35 counties. 

St. Joseph’s/Candler Health System: They are considered the largest healthcare provider in the region. Candler is also the only faith-based and non-profit healthcare institution. They offer a holistic approach that enables patience to become more aware of their personal health. That being said, they still offer the state-of-art technology and comprehensive treatment. They employ over 3,000 people in the area. 

Top Employers in the Retail Industry

Wal-mart: I am sure everyone knows this retailer. They employ over 2,000 people in the area. They offer a wide range of positions and levels of employment.

Kroger: This retail grocery store employs about 1,100 people locally. They also offers many different levels of employment.

Home Depot: The third largest retail employer in the area. They employ over 800 people here.  They deal with home improvements, appliances, hardware, and lumber.

Top Employers in the Manufacturing Industry:

Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation: Founded in 1958, this large company’s industrial headquarters in Pooler, Georgia employs over 4,500 people. They manufacture jet aircrafts and aerospace equipment. It is situated near the Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport. They have manufactured aircraft for private corporate, government, and private customers. 

Georgia-Pacific Corporation: This company offers many products for not only the home but for businesses. A few of the most popular items are bath tissue, napkins, and paper towels. They employ over 1400 people. 

Other Employers in this area

Georgia Ports Authority is growing leaps and bounds.

Coca-Cola 

JCB - they are a construction equipment manufacturer that has seen tremendous growth and are currently planning an expansion. They are located in Pooler, Georgia along with Gulfstream.

Sysco - They assist in getting food to food service operators for people who eat meals away from home. They offer a wide variety of food and supplies.

Bellsouth - They are a company that deal with phone, internet, and cable.

Owens-Corning - They offer products like roofing shingles, insulation, and building materials.

Pitney Bowes - They deal with product for the postal industry such as postage scales.

International Paper 

Eastman Chemical

Waste Management

R.B. Baker Construction  

Technorati Tags: Candler, employment, Georgia Pacific, Gulfstream, JCB, Memorial, Savannah GA, Savannah-Hilton Head, St. Joseph, Walmart

There are three schools for higher education in Chatham County. All three of these institutions for higher learning are located in the Savannah area. They all have their history and charm. Combined, they offer a wide variety of programs to choose from.

The biggest and most publicized is the Savannah College of Art and Design, otherwise known as SCAD. SCAD occupies almost 2 million square feet in historic district of Savannah. SCAD reuses historical structures as classrooms, studios, and more and has 60 facilities. Thus, it is known for its historic preservation of all the facilities used. It offers over 30 programs of study and is accredited. All you have to do is walk the streets of downtown and you will see SCAD students or the SCAD theater. It is centrally located in the heart of Savannah to shopping, restaurants, entertainment, and the beach.

Armstrong Atlantic State University is located in Savannah on the southside and is an accredited university . It is a 268 acre campus that is a combination of residence communities and renovated educational buildings. Armstrong consists of colleges of Arts and Science, Education, and Health Professions. They also have the Schools of Computing and Graduate Studies. Armstrong offers state of the art computer and science labs, three theaters, multimedia classrooms, an Honors Program Suite, and much more.

Savannah State University is an accredited university located on the southside of Savannah like Armstrong Atlantic State University. It is the oldest institution of higher learning. SSU boasts a 178 acre campus that is made picturesque by the mossy oaks, marshes, and historic architecture. It offers the Colleges of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and Sciences and Technology. They have graduate programs in Business Administration, Public Administration, Marine Sciences, Urban Studies, and Social Work. Both Armstrong Atlantic State and Savannah State Universities are located near Georgetown, which is slightly southwest of Hunter Army Airfield.

No matter what your interests, there is a program for you. Savannah has so much to offer students looking to further their education. Savannah has plenty of opportunities for higher education and employment.

Please come back for more information and news about the Savannah Area.

Technorati Tags: Armstrong Atlantic State University, Education, Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah GA, Savannah State University, Southside

Number of sales during this period: 56
Average Sales Price: $199,013
Percentage of Asking Price Obtained: 94.6%
The Average Time on the Market: 121 days

Homes Sold in Chatham County (Pooler, Port Wentworth, Garden City, and parts of Bloomingdale and Savannah Real Estate):

Technorati Tags: Bloomingdale, Port Wentworth, Savannah GA