Your guide to
churches, schools, government & more in Bryan County
High-tech Classrooms and Quality Schools
Keeping the Public Healthy BCNC12Cover.indd 1
Still Going Strong
Richmond Hill’s 50th Birthday 8/20/2012 4:50:21 PM
Ways Station SHOPPING CENTER
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CATHY BUTLER GREGORY Associate Broker RE/MAX Hall of Fame Platinum Club RE/MAX of Georgia's Top Agent in Coastal Georgia
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NEWCOMERS & NEIGHBORS 2012-2013
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About Bryan County
Going Back in Time {History and historic sites} Where We Live Still Going Strong {2012 marks Richmond Hill’s 50th birthday} Coastal Living Has its Hazards {But Bryan County Emergency Services stands ready}
Bryan County Census Data Utilities Emergency Numbers Public Safety
49
Government
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Motor Vehicle Information Voter Registration Government Meetings Local Government Offices County Government Contacts
Recreation
Investing in Recreation The Great Outdoors {Wildlife abounds in ocean, forests and fort} Farmers Markets Thrive in Bryan County Community Connections {Military, veterans have strong ties to civilian community}
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Education
Excellence in Education {Community tells newcomers about quality schools} High-tech Classrooms Are the Rule in Bryan County What You Need for School Enrollment
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Health Care Keeping the Public Healthy Public Health Physicians
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Sightseeing Around Bryan County Recreation Facilities 2012-‘13 Calendar of Events Bryan County Event Highlights
2012-‘13 School Calendar Education Services Libraries County Schools
Community Churches Clubs & Community Groups Family & Human Services
NEWCOMERS & NEIGHBORS 2012
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Welcome to
Bryan County…
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2 012 -2 013 G U I D E TO B RYA N C O U N T Y
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NEWCOMERS & NEIGHBORS 2012
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PUBLISHER S. Marshall Griffin E D I TO R - I N - C H I E F Caitlyn Boza C R E AT I V E D I R E C TO R Ekaterina Wilkerson ADVERTISING S A L E S M A N AG E R Connie Parker ADVERTISING AC C O U N T E X E C U T I V E S Allison Hutto Connie Parker Lillian Gray CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Al Hackle Caitlyn Boza Randy Murray CONTRIBUTING P H OTO G R A P H E R S Cobblestone Photography Julia Harrison Caitlyn Boza Crissie Elrick Randy C. Murray GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Jesse Atwood Sherron McCanner
O F F I C E S TA F F Business Manager: Kathryn Fox Distribution Manager: Johnny Brown Published by Bryan County News 10221 Ford Ave., Ste. 3 Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 Phone: (912) 756-2668 Fax: (912) 756-5907 © Copyright 2012-2013 by Bryan County News All rights reserved.
10221 Ford Avenue, Suite 1 329 Commercial Drive, Suite 1 100 10221 Ford Avenue, Richmond Hill, Georgia 31324 • 912.459.5001 Savannah, Georgia 31406 • 912.356.5001 Richmond Hill, Georgia 31324 • 912.459.5001 www.KWRichmondHillGA.com www.KWSavannah.com www.KWRichmondHillGA.com
This publication may not be reproduced in any form without written consent of the publisher.
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Publisher’s Letter
B
ryan County and its communities, such as Richmond Hill, Pembroke and Ellabell, are well known for genuine Southern hospitality. This 2012-‘13 Newcomers and Neighbors Guide continues that tradition by extending a warm welcome to new arrivals. Bryan County is a place rich in history. When Henry Ford came to the small community of Ways Station nearly a century ago, he laid the foundation for what would become Richmond Hill — strong schools, good jobs and a passion for progress. Pembroke, the county seat, boasts a rich heritage of closeknit families helping each other create a strong sense of community. Though the population of Bryan County continues to grow and change, it maintains the small-town atmosphere it’s enjoyed for decades — one where newcomers and longtime residents work together as friends and neighbors. So we offer you a warm welcome to Bryan County, and we hope you get involved in our schools, neighborhoods, churches and civic organizations. When you do, you’ll find that you will make more than new friends. You’ll make a difference. The Bryan County News and all the advertisers in this guide are at your service. As friends in your new community, they stand ready to help you. We thank them for helping to make this guide a true resource for Bryan County. S. Marshall Griffin Publisher
On the Cover 2 0 12 G U I D E T O B R YA N C O U N T Y // R I C H M O N D H I L L // P E M B R O K E // E L L A B E L L
NEWCOMERS &Neighbors
Your guide to
CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, GOVERNMENT & more in Bryan County
Local school children disembark from the Richmond Hill Montessori bus. Photo by Cobblestone Photography.
Still Going Strong Richmond Hill’s 50 th
irthday
High-tech Classrooms and Quality Schools
Keeping the Public Healthy
Still Going Strong
Richmond Hill’s 50th Birthday
NEWCOMERS & NEIGHBORS 2012
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Welcome to Pembroke!
A
s Mayor and on behalf of our City Council, I extend to you a genuine welcome to the city of Pembroke. Located in north Bryan County at the intersections of U.S. Hwy. 280, Ga. Hwy. 67 and Ga. Hwy. 119, Pembroke is a small city with a
hometown atmosphere. Pembroke is easily accessible to regional areas of interest, including historic Savannah, Tybee Island, Statesboro and Georgia Southern University, as well as Fort Stewart. Incorporated in 1905, Pembroke was founded along the Savannah and Western Railway with turpentine as its leading business. In 1935 the county seat was moved from Clyde to Pembroke, where it remains today. Completed in 1937 as the center of the county’s government, the Bryan County Courthouse was listed in 1995 on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2003, the city restored the Old City Jail, first built in 1912 and later relocated near the courthouse. Plans to restore the 1938 Tos Theatre as a cultural arts center remain a priority of our Downtown
Development Authority. Our schools are recognized as top academic performers in coastal Georgia. The public library serves north Bryan County and is adjacent to the Bryan County Middle and High School complex in Pembroke. There are churches of many faiths located throughout the city. Citizens enjoy the charm of a small-neighborhood atmosphere with easy access for walking and biking. The city swimming pool is the focal point of our recreation program with swimming lessons and water aerobics offered throughout the summer months. The Whistlestop Farmers Market is held on Saturdays once a month throughout the spring and fall. Both children and adults enjoy the annual Easter Egg Hunt in the spring
and the Bryan County 4-H Christmas Parade in December. The North Bryan Chamber of Commerce sponsors an annual Chili Cook-Off in February and the Spooktacular Pumpkin Carving Contest in conjunction with the Whistlestop Farmers Market in late October. We hope you will visit our city, participate in our local events and make Pembroke your next home. On behalf of the City Council and our citizens, welcome to Pembroke. Mary V. Warnell Mayor of Pembroke
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Welcome to Richmond Hill!
W
elcoming people to Richmond Hill and south Bryan County is one of the highlights of my job. It gives me a chance to do something I love — tell people why Richmond Hill is one of the best places around
to live. Maybe it’s the people who live here or work here. We’re friendly and not afraid to extend a hand to welcome newcomers. You’ll really only be a newcomer for a short time. Once you’re a resident, you’re part of a unique family — those who know Richmond Hill is a great place to live and raise a family. Maybe people come here because of the amenities. We have large parks. J. F. Gregory Park is a one-of-a-kind park, complete with a large covered pavilion, a wetlands education center and a walking path through some of the most pristine land in the county. Maybe they come because of the cultural opportunities. J.F. Gregory Park hosts several large festivals every year. Whether it’s barbecue or seafood — you’ll find it at one of
our festivals. There’s nothing like watching July Fourth fireworks from J.F. Gregory Park. Families gather each week to picnic, grill and find fellowship. We also have an active arts community with Arts on the Coast. Maybe it’s the schools or churches. Both are excellent here. The schools consistently score among the best in the state. We have churches to represent most religious denominations. Maybe it’s the history that attracts people. Richmond Hill is one of the few cities in the country that can call Henry Ford a benefactor. He lived here for most winters in the 1930s and 1940s. He built more than 100 buildings, and his mansion still graces the streets of Richmond Hill. It’s probably all of these things, and more, that make
the city a great place to live. I’m glad you’re here and hope to meet you soon. Stop by my office in city hall to say hello. I hope to meet you soon. My door and the door of City Manager Chris Lovell are always open. E. Harold Fowler Mayor of Richmond Hill
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ABOUT BRYAN cOUNTY UTILITIES | EMERGENCY NUMBERS | PUBLIC SAFETY BCN-Newcomers2012.indd 13
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ABOUT BRYAN COUNTY
Going Back in Time By Al Hackle
History and historic sites Housed in what used to be the public kindergarten built by Henry Ford in 1941, the Richmond Hill Museum is home to hundreds of artifacts from Bryan County’s history. Photo by Caitlyn Boza.
First Sherman, then Ford
Union forces under Gen. William T. Sherman fought the last battle of their infamous March to the Sea in Bryan County, overwhelming the Confederate soldiers holding Fort McAllister. But a later visitor from the North, automobile magnate Henry Ford, left more lasting marks on the area. Settlement in what is now Bryan County dates back thousands of years, with Native American groups inhabiting the coast. The
The Bryan County seat, Pembroke, proudly exhibits its own historical character as a centuryold railroad town. Founded in 1894 as a depot site, the town was named for a prominent early resident, Judge Pembroke Whitfield Williams, and incorporated as a city in 1905.
first known European arrivals were the Spanish, who established a mission at the mouth of the Ogeechee River around 1610. When the British, commanded by James Edward Oglethorpe, arrived to found Savannah in 1733, they built an outpost called Fort Argyle on the west bank of the Ogeechee (the Fort Argyle historical marker is on Hwy. 144, 4.2 miles west of the intersection with Hwy. 17). Founded in 1793, Bryan County was named for Jonathan Bryan, a colonial settler involved in the creation of Georgia.
Fort McAllister
Fort McAllister State Historic Park displays the fully restored earthen fort. Visitors can explore the grounds and see cannons, barracks and bombproof shelters arranged much as they were during the Civil War. Built by the Confederates in 1861, Fort McAllister was attacked from the sea seven times by Union ironclads but did not fall until
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Sherman’s land army arrived in a brief but bloody charge on Dec. 13, 1864. A Confederate battle flag, originally flown by a Savannah unit known as the Emmett Rifles and captured by Union forces during an 1864 naval assault, was returned to Fort McAllister in February 2012. Maj. William Zoron Clayton, a Union artillery officer, carried it home with him to Maine where it remained with his family for 167 years before his great-grandson, Robert Clayton, donated it to Fort McAllister’s museum. The silk flag, with its faded red background, bold blue “X” and white stars, carries the names of both the Emmett Rifles and Fort McAllister. It has become a significant addition to the museum’s exhibits, according to park manager Daniel Brown. Park staff members perform musket firings as part of historical demonstrations at 1 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The park is open every day of the year except Thanksgiving and Christmas, with facilities available for camping, hiking, picnics and boating. While inextricably associated with Sherman, Fort McAllister is also linked to that other prominent northerner who came to Bryan County, Henry Ford. Ford purchased Fort McAllister in the 1930s as part of his vast landholdings in coastal Georgia and restored it before it became state property.
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Robert Clayton, whose great-grandfather captured the Emmet Rifles’ flag, looks on as re-enactors fire a cannon at Fort McAllister in honor of the flag’s return to the fort. Photo by Caitlyn Boza.
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Ford, who revolutionized the automobile industry, came to the Georgia coast looking for a summer home in 1925. He started buying property from various owners and ultimately owned more than 80,000 acres. NEWCOMERS & NEIGHBORS 2012
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Bailey Carpenter’s barbershop, recently relocated to the Richmond Hill Museum’s campus, was used by Bailey Carpenter for over 50 years. Photo by Caitlyn Boza.
Before Ford, the town that is now Richmond Hill was called Ways Station. Plantation owner William Ways had sold land to the railroad before the tracks were laid in 1856, explains Frank Grimm, caretaker of the Richmond Hill Museum. But the spot where Henry Ford built his mansion in the 1930s was on the former Richmond Plantation. When local people wanted to rename the town after Ford, he declined, and Ways Station became Richmond Hill in 1939. The Richmond Hill Museum, on the corner of Ford Avenue and Timber Trail Road, occupies a building that Ford built to serve as a public kindergarten. One room of the 3,000-square-foot museum is preserved as a schoolroom. Tour guides note other contributions Ford made to education in the area, such as the old George Washington Carver School he built for African Americans, replacing several oneroom schools with a more modern facility. Another exhibit showcases items made in the local Ford laboratory, which sought to discover plants that could be grown in the U.S. and harvested to make rubber for tires. Among the items is a pair of socks made of rayon from sweetgum trees. In 2011 the Richmond Hill Historical Society, which operates the museum, welcomed the addition of Bailey Carpenter’s barbershop to the grounds. The tin-roofed shop displays the barber chair purchased for Carpenter by his wealthiest customer — Henry Ford, of course — and other period barber tools. The museum also features displays on the antebellum period and the Civil War. It is open 10 a.m.-3 p.m. every day except Wednesdays, Sundays and holidays. Tours are free, but donations are appreciated.
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To find out more, call (912) 756-3697 or visit www.richmondhillhistoricalsociety.com. By the way, Henry Ford’s mansion still stands on the grounds of the Ford Plantation, now a private, 1,800-acre residential and sporting community with 400 home sites.
Historic Pembroke
The Bryan County seat, Pembroke, proudly exhibits its own historical character as a century-old railroad town. Founded in 1894 as a depot site, the town was named for a prominent early resident, Judge Pembroke Whitfield Williams, and incorporated as a city in 1905. Pembroke became the county seat in 1937, replacing Clyde, a town that was demolished to make room for what is now Fort Stewart. Before and after its 2005 centennial, the city of Pembroke has taken an active role in historic preservation. Money from the current Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax is allocated for restoration of the Tos Theatre as a venue for the arts and community events. The city bought the long-abandoned downtown movie house and an adjacent former drugstore building for $50,000 in 2001, and officials hope to obtain grants to complete the restoration. Another preserved historic building is the Old City Jail, near the Bryan County Courthouse. The cube-shaped brick jail was built as a one-room structure in 1912. But as its historical marker indicates, the city of Pembroke purchased the town of Clyde’s two-cell iron jail assemblage in 1938 and incorporated the iron Living history actors at Fort McAllister Historic Park re-enact Civil War life several times each year. Photo by Caitlyn Boza. cells into the jail.
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Where We Live
Situated on the banks of the Ogeechee River, Bryan County appeals to boating and fishing enthusiasts. File photo.
By Al Hackle
The coastal beauty, friendly people, quality schools and close proximity to some of Georgia’s biggest employers attract thousands of neighbors and newcomers to Bryan County each year.
North Bryan
2012 has seen Pembroke, the heart of the less densely populated north end of the county, land its first international industry. In June, Savannah Global Solutions and Brazil-based CZM Foundation Equipment, two makers of heavy equipment used in site preparation, broke ground on a manufacturing plant in Pembroke’s J.D. Harn Industrial Park. “This is thanks to the Development Authority of Bryan County for marketing that property for us, and we are very excited about that, with 50 jobs coming to Pembroke, some of which will be transfers, some of which will be new hires,” says Pembroke Mayor Mary Warnell. The 2010 Census counted just 2,196 people within its city limits, but Pembroke holds a bigger-than-numbers status as the seat of Bryan County’s government. Warnell believes that North Bryan is poised for success because of its location and ease of access. She notes the proximity of Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Armstrong Atlantic State University and Savannah State University in Savannah, as well as Savannah’s hospitals and historic district.
“The first thing that I think makes Richmond Hill so great is the people that live here.”
Harold Fowler, Richmond Hill Mayor
“We’re close to the beach if people want to go to the beach,” she says. “Historic Savannah is close by. In just a short trip you can be stepping back into history for sure, from the beginnings of our state.” At the same time, she notes that Pembroke has a downtown with small businesses that have survived the recession, thanks to support from local consumers. In her previous role as president of the North Bryan Chamber of Commerce, she helped launch a “Shop North Bryan First” campaign in 2011, and she continues to encourage Bryan County residents to buy from local retailers whenever possible. A commitment to green spaces and a walkable downtown is reflected in the ongoing development of parks and a grant-funded project that installs wide, brick-framed sidewalks between the historic caboose and the county public safety complex. The city also operates its own recreation complex with a seasonal summer program. North Bryan has recently received a large share of industrial growth through Interstate Centre, a strategically placed industrial park on I-16. But South Bryan, including Richmond Hill and the coast, continues to net the lion’s share of new residents.
South Bryan
As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Richmond Hill, with its 9,281 residents, was home to nearly one-third of Bryan County’s population, and still more live in subdivisions beyond the city limits. Continuing home sales indicate that the county’s population growth, which topped 29 percent in the previous decade, hasn’t stopped. “The first thing that I think makes Richmond Hill so great is the people that live here,” says Richmond Hill Mayor Harold Fowler.
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The Bryan County Courthouse in Pembroke is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. File photo.
Local people, he observes, believe in helping one another. As evidence, he cites the many charitable fundraising projects in the area, such as the SMA Angels campaign to combat spinal muscular atrophy, Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society and the Wounded Warrior Fishing Tournament. Among other factors attractive to new residents, Fowler and City Manager Chris Lovell cite a low crime rate, which they credit to an excellent police department. Another point of civic pride is J.F. Gregory Park. The cityowned park hosts the Great Ogeechee Seafood Festival each October, with crowds sometimes exceeding 30,000. Launched in 2011, the Richmond Hill Farmers Market, held in the park’s pavilion each Tuesday evening from April to midNovember, brings shoppers fresh produce and other locally produced items, from honey to beef. In an effort to attract new businesses, the city implemented its Open for Business program in April, exempting new or expanding commercial properties from water and sewer connection fees. These fees can total tens of thousands of dollars for a large restaurant, and Fowler says the program is intended to send a clear message that Richmond Hill welcomes new businesses. Officials also plan to annex 900 acres into the city limits as an industrial park within the next year. Industrial growth in the city could relieve some of the tax burden on residential property as well as providing jobs, says Fowler.
Still growing
After a slowdown during the worldwide recession, the local real estate market is recovering, says Lynne Bayens, real estate broker and co-owner of Re/Max Accent. Local home prices have risen slightly in 2012, she observes, thanks in part to major employers that are still bringing newcomers to the area. “Yes, we are experiencing growth, and we are selling houses,” Bayens says. “We have, of course, the military influence, but we also have a considerable number of people that come into our community from Gulfstream. We have a lot of medical people that work in the hospitals in Savannah. I know that St. Joseph’sCandler and Memorial have been hiring, and we’ve been selling houses to those people.” Though many of these professionals could live elsewhere and be just as close to their jobs, they choose to live in Bryan County. “They’re attracted to our low crime rate, reasonable taxes, our highly regarded school system, the good recreation programs,” says Bayens. “Most of the people we sell homes to are families looking for that lifestyle, kind of a total package for their children.” But newcomers also include retirees and young adults without children. “Of course you’ve got people attracted to the coastal region in general, and I would say people who are not necessarily there for their children are coming because of close proximity to water. They enjoy boating, our marinas, rivers, marshes,” Bayens observes. “Those things are very appealing to people.”
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Bryan County Census Data The following statistical data estimates are courtesy of the Coastal Regional Commission and U.S. Census Bureau:
Countywide population (2011)
Countywide households
31,377 Pembroke /North Bryan
9,738 20,495 435.97
Richmond Hill/South Bryan
Land area in square miles
Male
10,466
Female
49.4% 50.6% Under 18
29%
Median family income
$63,244
Over 65
Homeownership rate
9%
74.2%
Projected population by 2015
38,746
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UTILITIES
DirectTV
Strickland Propane
866-951-7998
(912) 748-4422
Pembroke City Hall
Pembroke Advanced Communications
AmeriGas Inc.
(912) 653-4413
(912) 653-4389
Richmond Hill City Hall
Electricity
Water
(912) 756-3345
Telephone
Georgia Power 888-660-5890
CenturyLink
Canoochee EMC
9899 Ford Ave. Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-9000
800-342-0134
Pembroke Telephone Co. 185 E. Bacon St. Pembroke, Ga. 31321 (912) 653-4389
Cable/Satellite TV Comcast 866-922-0069
Dish Network
Coastal Electric Cooperative (912) 884-3311
Gas/Propane Pembroke Propane Gas Co. 800-227-8317
Claxton Oil Co. (912) 739-1304
Coastal Gas Co.
800-427-4968
Atlanta Gas Light 800-427-5463
Trash Pick-up Bryan County (912) 964-2211
Pembroke (912) 653-4413
Richmond Hill (912) 756-3345
Refuse Centers
POST OFFICES Richmond Hill 9664 Ford Ave. (912) 756-6084 Monday-Friday: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday: 9 a.m.-noon
Pembroke 298 Ledford St. (912) 653-3377 Monday-Friday: 8:30-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-4:30 p.m. Saturday: 8:30 a.m.-noon
Ellabell & Black Creek 8745 Hwy. 280 E. (912) 858-4556 Monday-Friday: 8-11:30 a.m. and 1-4:30 p.m. Saturday: 9-11:30 a.m.
Mill Creek Landfill (912) 858-3855
Hwy. 144 Landfill (912) 727-3882
(912) 756-2927
888-261-7516
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Still Going Strong
By Caitlyn Boza
2012 marks Richmond Hill’s 50th birthday
Mayor Harold Fowler and city councilmen Russ Carpenter and John Fesperman bury a time capsule at the city’s 50th birthday celebration in March. Photo by Julia Harrison.
When Richmond Hill was incorporated in 1962, there were only about 450 people living in the area. Now, 50 years later, Richmond Hill has more than 9,000 residents. That’s more than 20 times the population of 1962. So how did Richmond Hill grow so much, so quickly? “Well, somebody must have been doing something right,” says Richard Davis, former mayor of Richmond Hill. “People fall in love with Richmond Hill, and once they move here, they stay here. That, and good schools, is what I attribute
“People fall in love with Richmond Hill, and once they move here, they stay here. That, and good schools, is what I attribute our growth to.”
Richard Davis, former mayor of Richmond Hill
Above: Fort McAllister Historic Park manager Danny Brown cuts the ribbon at the fort’s re-opening as a historic state park in 1980. Photo provided by Fort McAllister. Below: Former Richmond Hill Mayor Richard Davis holds up a copy of the 25th anniversary edition of the Richmond Hill News. Photo by Caitlyn Boza.
our growth to,” says Davis, who served as mayor from 1989 to 2009. Before incorporation, Richmond Hill was a small town with no stoplights, no doctors and an economy that still hadn’t recovered from the end of the Ford era. According to Tommy Darieng, one of the city’s first council-
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men and a longtime resident who can trace his family’s roots in the area back to the early 1800s, Richmond Hill began seeing progress shortly after incorporation. “As a city, we were able to do things we couldn’t do before,” he says, referring to the then new city’s ability to collect tax revenue and strengthen infrastructure. “The first thing we did was transfer the 5-10-15 liquor tax from the county to the city — that meant we got 5 cents on beer, 10 cents on wine and 15 cents on whiskey. Then we got some taxes from utilities and the railroads and had the garden club name the streets. After that, we got to work on water, garbage and streetlights.” In the following years, the city paved roads, purchased the water company, incorporated the fire department, opened Fort McAllister to the public and created organized recreational activities for residents. “Life was still simple, but Richmond Hill had come alive again. We’d started to get everything a city needs to survive,” says Darieng. 1971 brought more change to Richmond Hill, this time in the form of the 12-mile stretch of I-95 that connects Richmond Hill to Chatham County. “Hwy. 17 just died when they opened 95,” Darieng remembers. “You could sit out there all day, and all you’d see would be a couple of local cars.” The interstate had a damaging effect on local businesses along Hwy. 17, but it created an upswing in the real estate market. Once connected to I-95, Richmond Hill was more accessible to people living and working in Savannah. That, combined with
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the fact that Bryan County schools were outperforming those in Chatham County, made Richmond Hill an attractive alternative to Savannah. According to Trulia, a San Francisco-based real estate company that collects information on local demographics, 87 percent of all homes in Richmond Hill were constructed after 1970. “People started coming in from Savannah because they wanted a safe place with good schools,” says Davis. “The ‘70s saw a lot of building and new subdivisions. That’s when things really started to change. We started getting doctors, lawyers, grocery stores. We even had to put up our first traffic light in the ‘80s.” Davis believes that Richmond Hill has handled the surge in population well. “The county and city have done a good job keeping up with the growth. I’m proud of having been a part of this government and proud that the highest tax millage rate we ever had was under 6 percent.” Today, Richmond Hill is one of the fastest growing cities in Georgia. It boasts award-winning schools, a low crime rate and proximity to Savannah, Hinesville and Fort Stewart. So what will the next 50 years bring? “You can never tell,” says Davis. “In 1962, I never could have predicted what’s happened in the last 50 years or how it would affect this community. I’m optimistic though. I think this is a great place to live with mostly kind, respectful people, and I wish Richmond Hill well.” “Richmond Hill is a little diamond on the coast, and I think it’s got a long future ahead of it,” says Darieng. “I’ll get back to you in 50 years and let you know how it goes.”
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Coastal Living Has its Hazards
By Al Hackle
But Bryan County Emergency Services stands ready One tradeoff for the warmth and usually gentle waves of an Atlantic coastal community is relatively high exposure to hurricanes and tropical storms. As a storm surge map shows, Richmond Hill and much of Bryan County south of Fort Stewart can be flooded by a direct strike from even a Category 1 hurricane, while a somewhat more powerful Category 2 would also cause widespread flooding in the northern part of the county. This makes storm readiness a top priority. Each year Emergency Management Agency personnel hold hurricane preparedness briefings at announced locations in the northern and southern ends of the county. A map of evacuation routes, the storm surge map, instructions for making a disaster supply kit and PowerPoint slides from the 2012 hurricane briefings are available on the agency’s website, www.bryancoemergencyservices.org.
From South Bryan, the main evacuation route follows Ga. Hwy. 144 westward through Fort Stewart. For North Bryan, the routes follow U.S. Hwy. 280 and I-16 westward. Georgia Public Broadcasting carries emergency updates, and the local GPB Radio station is at 91.1 on the FM dial.
Bryan County EMA director William Collins, who doubles as Bryan County Drug Free Coalition program manager, says residents with questions about hurricane preparedness can email him at bcdfc@bryan-county.org.
Know your route out
Besides keeping a kit with things such as a battery-powered radio, flashlight, bottled water, sleeping bags, canned food and a can opener, residents should know their evacuation routes and have an out-of-area contact ready in case an evacuation is ordered, Collins advises. From South Bryan, the main evacuation route follows Ga. Hwy. 144 westward through Fort Stewart. For North Bryan, the routes follow U.S. Hwy. 280 and I-16 westward. Georgia Public Broadcasting carries emergency updates, and the local GPB Radio station is at 91.1 on the FM dial.
Emergency responders
With its headquarters on Hwy. 204, Bryan County Emergency Services is the umbrella agency that includes the county Emergency Management Agency, Fire Department, Emergency Medical Service and the Emergency Operations Center, or EOC. One of Emergency Services’ most valuable assets is its mobile command center, a $900,000 bus-like vehicle decked out with antennas and filled with communications and computer equip-
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The Atlantic hurricane season lasts from June 1 to Nov. 30.
ment to accommodate a mobile staff. Bryan County cooperates with other emergency agencies in Georgia Emergency Management Agency Region 5 and sends the mobile commander center, which was purchased with federal dollars, throughout the 12county region. While hurricanes get the most attention, tropical storms, tornadoes and even severe thunderstorms can prompt activation of the EOC. When high winds from a thunderstorm raked across northern Bryan County in July 2012, the EOC deployed firefighters to help clear fallen trees and search for anyone who may have been trapped beneath the debris. Bryan County Emergency Services responds to all emergencies, from missing persons to aircraft crashes to hazardous materials incidents and, of course, fires. As of summer 2012, assistant fire chief Otis Willis leads the Bryan County Fire Department as acting chief, while assistant chief/EMS director Susan Clark also doubles, like other Emergency Medical Service personnel, as a certified firefighter. Although the county department is separate from the Richmond Hill Fire Department and Pembroke Fire Department, the three agencies cooperate under mutual aid agreements to provide as much equipment and personnel as needed on each call. With nine stations in Bryan County, professional firefighters are on duty 24/7, supplemented by volunteers. With cross-training, the combined Fire/EMS workforce numbers 35 full-time personnel and about 50 volunteers. Thirteen county firefighters have been trained and certified as hazmat technicians. The number to call for most emergencies is 911.
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EMERGENCY NUMBERS Emergency Dial 911 Law Enforcement Police: Pembroke Richmond Hill
(912) 653-4414 (912) 756-5645
Sheriff’s Department: Pembroke (912) 653-3800 Richmond Hill (912) 756-2181 Georgia State Patrol (Rincon) (912) 754-1180
Bryan County Fire Department South Division Station No. 1 (912) 727-3033 North Division Station No. 5 (912) 653-4782 Forest Fire (912) 653-4411
Bryan County Animal Control Richmond Hill (912) 727-3884 Pembroke (912) 653-3816
Other Important Numbers Department of Natural Resources (912) 264-7237 Georgia Bureau of Investigation (912) 871-1211 FBI (912) 232-3176 Poison Control Center 800-282-5846 Left to right: Glenn Hewitt, Karen Crews, Angel Sheppard and Annie Hillard
RICHMOND HILL
Towne Center | 2409 Hwy. 17, Suite B
912-756-3315
DFCS Pembroke Richmond Hill
(912) 653-2805 (912) 756-4441
Coast Guard Search and Rescue (912) 786-5106 Drug Abuse Hotline 800-662-4357 NEWCOMERS & NEIGHBORS 2012
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PUBLIC SAFETY
Emergency Management Director William Collins
Bryan County Sheriff’s Office Sheriff Clyde Smith
(912) 858-2799 bcdfc@bryan-county.org
95 Safety Complex Drive Pembroke, Ga. 31321 (912) 653-3800
Richmond Hill Police Chief Billy Reynolds
(912) 858-2799
Station No. 4
15735 Hwy. 144 Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 727-3033
Station No. 2
Fire Department Bryan County Interim Fire Chief Otis Willis
Headquarters 5995 Hwy. 204 Ellabell, Ga. 31308 (912) 858-2790
Susan Clark (912) 858-2799
Station No. 1
P.O. Box 790 154 W. Railroad St. Pembroke, Ga. 31321 (912) 653-4414
The North Division District Chief Jimmy Cook
EMS Division Chief
P.O. Box 430 Pembroke, Ga. 31321 (912) 727-3033
Pembroke Police Department Chief Mark Crowe
Station No. 7
P.O. Box 430 Pembroke, Ga. 31321 (912) 653-4772
The South Division District Chief Mike Smith
P.O. Box 250 120 Richard Davis Drive Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-5645
(912) 727-2101
95 Daniel Siding Loop Road Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-3292
Blitchton 4747 Hwy. 80 Ellabell, Ga. 31308 (912) 858-2316
Station No. 5 Mill Creek 7392 Hwy. 280 E. Ellabell, Ga. 31308 (912) 858-2702
Station No. 8 Industrial Park 1400 Oracal Pkwy. Black Creek, Ga. 31308 (912) 851-2010
Station No. 9 4494 Belfast River Road Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 445-5258
Station No. 6 Bacontown 4281 Bacontown Road Pembroke, Ga. 31321 (912) 653-4782
Station No. 3 20580 Hwy. 144 Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324
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recreation Investing in Recreation
By Al Hackle
A local boy takes in the sights at Fort McAllister Historic Park. Photo by Caitlyn Boza.
Recreation is a priority in Bryan County. Local governments invest revenues from sources such as the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax in quality recreational facilities, and volunteers invest their time, assisting recreation professionals with a wealth of programs. Two county-level recreation departments provide sports for children and adults throughout the year. The cities of Pembroke and Richmond Hill operate several recreational facilities of their own, and Fort McAllister Historic Park is another rich source of family fun.
In July 2012, the department and Coastal Little League hosted the Georgia Little League 10-11 State Baseball Tournament. This first-time honor for the South Bryan County Recreation Department brought young ballplayers and their families from across the state to Bryan County.
North Bryan Recreation Department
North Bryan Recreation Department director Pratt Lockwood and two other paid staff members operate Hendrix Park and its programs, with help from volunteers of the Hendrix Park Recreation Association. A $1.3 million infusion of county SPLOST funds will bring some additions in 2012-‘13 to the department’s home at Hendrix Park. The park, at 3960 Wilma Edwards Road, in Ellabell, is about eight miles from Pembroke on U.S. Hwy. 280. Currently, it boasts a 14,000-square-foot gym, eight baseball fields, a soccer field, a football field and two tennis courts — all lighted — plus a paved walking and bike trail. The SPLOST-funded additions will include: an extension of the trail to about 1.5 miles — double its present length; four unlighted T-ball fields; a yet-to-be-determined number of soccer fields with a concession area; and a children’s splash park with ankle-deep water and spray features. Youth sports offered at Hendrix Park include baseball, softball, T-ball, football, cheerleading, basketball and soccer. The park al-
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Our Community. Our Life. Our News.
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e cover the issues that matter to the people of Bryan County. If it’s happening at city hall, in the schools, on your streets or in your neighborhood you’ll find out more about it in the pages of Bryan County News and online at BryanCountyNews.net. Need to know which Bryan County businesses offer the best deals and values? You’ll find more local advertising with us than with any other media company in the region. Get the Smart Source coupon book and other great coupons every week in the Bryan County News.
Your neighbors go to BryanCountyNews.net more than 12,000 times every week to talk about what’s happening and what they think. Stories, school news and sports, blogs, local photos, video, obits, celebrations… it’s all here.
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Welcome to the Neighborhood!
Buy ONe Breakfast Sandwich, Get the Second One Free (of equal or lesser value, excluding Dollar Menu)
Come on by.
Expires Expires 08/30/13. 9/30/12. Valid only at participating McDonald’s Restaurants in Bryan County, GA. Current prices and participation based on independent operator decision. Prices may vary. Not valid in conjunction with any other offer, discount, coupon or combo meal. Cash value 1/20 of 1¢. Limit one coupon per person per visit. Plus tax if applicable. Price of required purchase posted on menu board. Coupon may not be transferred, copied or duplicated in any way, or transmitted via electronic media. Valid when product served. May not be valid for custom orders. ©2012 McDonald’s.
Your friendly neighborhood McDonald’s® welcomes you to Bryan County. As a token of our hospitality, please accept these coupons to enjoy at your local McDonald’s. We look forward to serving you for years to come.
Get the Second One Free
Buy ONe Premium Sandwich, (of equal or lesser value, excluding Dollar Menu)
Expires 08/30/13. 9/30/12. Valid only at participating McDonald’s Restaurants in Bryan County, GA. Current prices and Expires participation based on independent operator decision. Prices may vary. Not valid in conjunction with any other offer, discount, coupon or combo meal. Cash value 1/20 of 1¢. Limit one coupon per person per visit. Plus tax if applicable. Price of required purchase posted on menu board. Coupon may not be transferred, copied or duplicated in any way, or transmitted via electronic media. Valid when product served. May not be valid for custom orders. ©2012 McDonald’s.
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Get a small McCafé Frappé or blended ice beverage FREE ®
(of equal or lesser value, excluding Dollar Menu)
Expires 08/30/13. 9/30/12. Valid only at participating McDonald’s Restaurants in Bryan County, GA. Current prices and Expires
participation based on independent operator decision. Prices may vary. Not valid in conjunction with any other offer, discount, coupon or combo meal. Cash value 1/20 of 1¢. Limit one coupon per person per visit. Plus tax if applicable. Price of required purchase posted on menu board. Coupon may not be transferred, copied or duplicated in any way, or transmitted via electronic media. Valid when product served. May not be valid for custom orders. ©2012 McDonald’s.
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so hosts adult basketball and softball, and the gym is sometimes used for skating and dancing activities. A picnic shelter, with grills, can be reserved. The park hosts family events such as Funday in the Park and Wet & Wild Days. To find out more, call (912) 858-4640, or visit www.hendrixpark.org.
South Bryan Recreation Department
A seven-member, full-time staff led by South Bryan Recreation director Kay Green operates two major parks and some smaller facilities. Volunteers provide coaching and support for a packed schedule of activities. In July 2012, the department and Coastal Little League hosted the Georgia Little League 10-11 State Baseball Tournament. This first-time honor for SBCR brought young ballplayers and their families from across the state to Bryan County. Department officials now hope to host the 11-12 tournament in 2013, with the host site to be voted on at a state little league meeting in January. Football, cheerleading, soccer, baseball, softball, wrestling, basketball and Special Olympics fill the youth sports calendar. Programs for adults include line dancing and informal soccer, as well as league softball. The department hosts a summer day camp for kids and numerous sport-specific
camps. Richmond Hill Park on Timber Trail Road, the SBCR’s headquarters, is home to a gym, two football fields, nine baseball fields, two covered and two uncovered batting cages and six tennis courts. The gym houses two basketball courts, one of which is used for roller-skating in the fall and spring. An additional park called The Bottom, at Ball Park Drive and Mimosa Street, offers three T-ball fields, a batting cage and a meeting room. DeVaul Henderson Park, on Hwy. 144 behind the county administrative complex, features two artificial-turf football/soccer fields, plus grassy areas divided for use as 12 additional youth-sized soccer fields. There are two adult softball fields, three youth softball fields and a high school baseball field. A lake surrounded by a halfmile walking trail is a highlight. SPLOST improvements on tap for the coming year include new tennis courts, additional restrooms and a concession stand at DeVaul Henderson Park, new lighting for football and baseball fields at Richmond Hill Park and air conditioning for gyms. For more information, call (912) 7564075 or visit www.SBCRec.org.
Pembroke city facilities
The city of Pembroke owns and operates the 5,000-square-foot J. Dixie Harn
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J.F. Gregory Park in Richmond Hill is a popular spot for nature lovers. Photo by Caitlyn Boza.
Fort McAllister hosts kids crabbing events seasonally at the park. Photo by Caitlyn Boza.
NEWCOMERS & NEIGHBORS 2012
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A father and son enjoy an afternoon of fishing at the Richmond Hill Fish Hatchery. Photo by Julia Harrison.
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Community Center, plus the adjacent city pool, a tennis court, a skate park and a ballpark. Open from Memorial Day weekend ® ine your insurance save big-time. CONTACT AGENT Likeand a good neighbor, State Farm there. Combine your AN insurance andisTODAY. save big-time. to Labor Day with lifeguards on duty, the pool is accessible from ® a good neighbor,CONTACT State Like Farm is there. ANaAGENT TODAY. State Farm is there.® good neighbor, changing facilities in the community center. ACT AN AGENT TODAY.CONTACT AN AGENT TODAY. The city provides a summer recreation program. The 2012 Combine your insurance and save big-time. “Summer in the City” included swimming lessons and water aeroLike a good neighbor, State Farm is there.® bics, plus T-ball, softball, kickball and soccer. The skate park hosts CONTACT AN AGENT TODAY. a skating competition, and Family Fun Day concludes the season. The city also maintains an outdoor basketball court and passive Combine your insurance and save big-time. parks at other locations. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.® “We are not in competition with the Hendrix Park recreation CONTACT AN AGENT TODAY. program,” says Pembroke Mayor Mary Warnell. “What we want to do is supplement the Hendrix Park recreation program for North Bryan.” Jay Kight, Agent Bob Ward, Agent 10377 Ford 6029 Ogeechee Road Agent Richmond Hill city facilities JayAvenue Kight, Agent Bob Ward, Richmond Hill, GA 31324 Savannah, GA 31419 Jay Kight, Agent Agent 10377 Ford Avenue 6029 OgeecheeBob RoadWard,J.F. Gregory Park, owned by the city of Richmond Hill, hosts 912-756-2061 Bus: 912-925-3943 Hill, Ford GA Bob 31324 Savannah, GA6029 31419Ogeechee 10377 Avenue Road Jay Kight, Agent Bus: Richmond Ward, Agent the Great Ogeechee Seafood Festival each October. The park inbob.ward.bwv7@statefarm.com Bus: 912-756-2061 10377 Ford Avenue www.jaykight.com 6029 Road Bus: 912-925-3943 Richmond Hill, GAOgeechee 31324 Savannah,cludes GA 31419 the large, open pavilion, plus a 30,000-square-foot civic www.jaykight.com bob.ward.bwv7@statefarm.com Richmond Hill, GA 31324 Savannah, GA 31419 Bus: 912-756-2061 Bus: 912-925-3943 center and the smaller John W. Stevens Wetlands Education CenBus: 912-756-2061 Bus: 912-925-3943 www.jaykight.com Jay Kight, Agentbob.ward.bwv7@statefarm.com ter. Bob Ward, Agent www.jaykight.com bob.ward.bwv7@statefarm.com 10377 Ford Avenue 6029the Ogeechee Road While developed area measures about 15 acres, the park also Jay Kight, Agent Richmond Hill,Bob GAWard, 31324Agent Savannah, GA 31419 encompasses nearly 300 acres of adjacent wetlands, where a three10377 Ford Avenue 6029 Ogeechee Road Bus: 912-756-2061 Bus: 912-925-3943 mile walking trail loops around former rice fields and a 10-acre lake. Richmond Hill, GA 31324 Savannah, GA 31419 www.jaykight.com bob.ward.bwv7@statefarm.com Canoeing, birding, fishing and hiking are encouraged. Bus: 912-756-2061 Bus: 912-925-3943 www.jaykight.com bob.ward.bwv7@statefarm.com ®
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The Great Outdoors
By Al Hackle
Wildlife abounds in ocean, forests and fort Seated on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, saturated by two converging blackwater rivers and transected by the massive and heavily forested Fort Stewart military reservation, Bryan County abounds in opportunities for fishing, hunting and boating.
Two marinas
Two marinas in Bryan County offer saltwater access for fishing and recreational boating. Fort McAllister Marina is the larger of the two, with 4,000 feet of dock. Its hoist can lift up to 50-foot boats, and yachts up to 100 feet can dock. It’s located at 3203 Fort McAllister Road, just downriver from the seven-mile bend in the Ogeechee. For more info, see www.fortmcallistermarinaga.com or call 727-2632. The marina hosts a number of events, such as fishing contests, throughout the year. Kilkenny Marina is closer to the ocean, on Kilkenny Creek a mile and a half from the Intracoastal Waterway. From the land side, it’s at the end of Kilkenny Road. Its hoist accommodates boats up to 24 feet, but larger transiting craft tie up there. Developed from a fishing camp, the marina has a shop offering live and frozen bait. Boaters also launch from Kilkenny to visit beaches on St. Catherine’s Sound. For more information, see www.kilkennymarina.com or call (912) 727-2215.
Richmond Hill WMA
The Richmond Hill Wildlife Management Area, managed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, includes 7,400
acres in 14 separate tracts. The largest are the Kilkenny, Oak Level and Egypt Island tracts, which contain more than half the total acreage. With upland pine stands and live oaks giving way to maritime forest near the marsh, the WMA is popular with deer, feral hog and squirrel hunters. A boat ramp on Egypt Island, usable only at high tide, accesses the Jerico River, but the area is mostly a hunting resource, not so much fishing, says David Mixon, DNR Coastal Region game management supervisor. An appropriate Georgia hunting license and WMA stamp are required for hunting.
Shooting range
The WMA also includes a 100-yard shooting range. Situated about one mile down Kikenny Road, off Hwy. 144 east of Richmond Hill, the range is self-service but has sheltered shooting benches. It’s closed each Tuesday for maintenance, but otherwise open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. from Sept. 16 through March 15 and 9 a.m.-8 p.m. from March 16 through Sept. 15. Rules regulating allowed target and firearms types are posted. The range is a GORP area, allowing people without a WMAstamped fishing or hunting license to access the range by means of the less expensive Georgia Outdoor Recreation Permit. For more info on the WMA and state licenses, visit www.georgiawildlife.com.
Fish Hatchery
The Richmond Hill Fish Hatchery provides fishing opportu-
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Several scenic running and walking trails make staying fit easy in Bryan County. File photo.
nities for children, as a sideline to its main role of raising striped and hybrid striped bass for sport fish restoration in state waters throughout Georgia. It also sells fingerling-size channel catfish, bluegill, redear sunfish and largemouth bass each winter for stocking private ponds. Operated by the DNR Fisheries Section, the hatchery has 31 production ponds and maintains three small ponds stocked with catfish, bream, largemouth bass and the occasional hybrid striper just for kids, says DNR fisheries biologist Chris Harper. The Kids Fishing Derby, held the first Saturday of June each year, is co-sponsored by the Richmond Hill Exchange Club. Organizers don’t worry about fishing licenses or put too much stress on the 15-and-under age bracket when other family members accompany kids. Outdoor Adventure Day, the fourth Saturday in September, offers kayaking and archery as well as another day of youth fishing. Between these events, the ponds are open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. for summer camp groups and parent-child fishing. But while the two special days are catch-and-keep, the interim season is catch-and-release only. The hatchery is located on Hatchery Drive, off Hwy. 144 next to Kroger. Call (912) 756-3691 for more information.
Fort Stewart
With 280,000 acres, Fort Stewart is like another county in itself, and 250,000 of those acres are forested. Although training and artillery impact areas are subject to military exercises, the Army’s presence shields the reservation’s forests, streams and ponds from civilian-style development.
A grandfather walks with his grandson at the 2012 Exchange Club Kids Fishing Derby at the Richmond Hill Fish Hatchery. Photo by Julia Harrison.
Crossed by the Canoochee River and bounded by the Ogeechee on the east, the reservation offers anglers 260 miles of river and stream access. Fort Stewart’s Fish and Wildlife Branch also stocks and manages 18 ponds totaling more than 400 fishable acres. Areas available for hunting include woodland, wetlands, old fields and more than 800 acres of wildlife clearings. Each year the Fish and Wildlife Branch plants about 200 acres of wildlife food plots, mainly for deer, and maintains some dove fields for scheduled hunts. The deer, turkeys and feral hogs are favorites with hunters, but there are also duck and squirrel hunting opportunities. Federal and state regulations apply, and the post sometimes imposes additional rules. Anyone wishing to fish, hunt or engage in other recreational activities, even nature watching or berry picking, must first go to the Pass and Permit Office and purchase a permit, notes Larry Carlile, planning and monitoring section chief in the Fish and Wildlife Branch. The permit office is on Hwy. 144 northeast of the main cantonment area and reachable by phone at (912) 435-8061. A year-long civilian fishing pass costs $30. This is in addition to a state fishing license, which must be presented to obtain the permit. A civilian hunting permit costs $60; a hunting/fishing combo permit is $85. With the permit comes a list of instructions on how to check into and out of areas for recreation access. A phone system at gated access points denies access to areas not open for recreational use. Checking out in-person is required at check stations during deer season. NEWCOMERS & NEIGHBORS 2012
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Farmers Markets Thrive in Bryan County
By Al Hackle
In the past two years, farmers markets have blossomed in both Richmond Hill and Pembroke, providing consumers with locally grown vegetables, regionally produced meat and dairy products and a variety of craft items.
Richmond Hill Farmers Market
From early April to the first weeks of November, the Richmond Hill Farmers Market is open from 3-7 p.m. each Tuesday, occupying the 25,000-square-foot pavilion in J.F. Gregory Park.
“It’s a great benefit for our community because we also get some vendors from outside our direct area that people still recognize as Bryan County folks.”
Sharroll Fanslau, Pembroke DDA executive director
The Richmond Hill Farmers Market offers fresh produce, meats and homemade goods from April to November each year. Photos by Caitlyn Boza.
By its first anniversary in July 2012, the market was drawing crowds of more than 700 shoppers and featuring more than 30 vendor booths each week. Market manager Angus McLeod adds that electricity, running water, “clean restrooms and plenty of parking” make the site attractive to buyers and sellers alike. “We’ve got one of the nicest venues and one of the most diverse markets in Georgia,” he says.
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McLeod was one of five men who shared a communal garden and, over coffee a couple of years ago, started talking about the need for a community market. They petitioned the city and received approval to start. After working as volunteers at the market the first year, the organizers continue to operate it on behalf of the city’s Park and Tree Department in exchange for a share of the booth rental, the rest of which goes to the city. “We just wanted the public to have the same access to fresh vegetables that we did with the garden,” McLeod explains. Seven vegetable growers are among the market’s regular vendors. Bakers sell fresh bread, cakes and cookies. A local beekeeper offers award-winning honey. Farmers from Brooklet and Sylvania market beef raised without antibiotics or hormones. A dairy, also less than 100 miles away, brings whole milk, cheese, yogurt, butter and cottage cheese. Wild-caught Georgia shrimp are a market favorite, and there’s even a producer of bison meat. Vendors also sell non-comestible items, like pottery, highquality primitive furniture and natural insect repellents. Cards and children’s books are the exceptions to a general rule against reselling manufactured items. The family-friendly market welcomes supervised children and leashed pets. Live local music is scheduled for the first and second Tuesday of each month. For more information, visit www.rhgamarket.com, or call McLeod at (912) 572-5888.
Pembroke’s Whistlestop Market
Pembroke’s Whistlestop Farmers Market, also launched in
2011, currently operates on an irregular schedule, often tied to special events. Hosted by the Pembroke Downtown Development Authority, the market at DuBois Square on Ledford Street makes monthly appearances from April through November, always on a Saturday. But the market opens sometimes in the morning, other times in the evening. Vendors at the market typically number 12-15, observes Pembroke DDA executive director Sharroll Fanslau. Several of the vendors, including purveyors of honey, shrimp and custom children’s books, were introduced to the DDA by organizers of the Richmond Hill Farmers Market. Fanslau says the introductions testify to the spirit of cooperation between the markets in northern and southern Bryan County. “It’s a great benefit for our community because we also get some vendors from outside our direct area that people still recognize as Bryan County folks,” she says. For more information, visit www.pembrokega.net/betterhometown.aspx, or contact Pembroke City Hall at (912) 6534413. Upcoming Whistlestop Markets: • Semi-Annual Community Yard Sale Sept. 15, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. • Spooktacular Jack-O-Lantern Carving Contest Oct. 27, 5-8 p.m. • Annual Pie Baking Contest Nov. 17, 5-8 p.m.
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Community Connections
By Randy C. Murray
Military, veterans have strong ties to civilian community
Many cities welcome newcomers with a claim to fame, such as a championship athletic team or a native celebrity. In Bryan County, we’re proud to announce our ties to the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Division. The areas surrounding Fort Stewart make one strong military community whose culture, values and economy are intricately connected with the Army and its affairs. More than 25,000 active-duty soldiers, 4,700 civilian employees and nearly 36,000 family members work and live on or near Fort Stewart. Another 32,250 military retirees and their family members reside in the surrounding communities, where they can maintain their ties to the “Rock of the Marne.” Their combined payrolls, along with annual expenditures from Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield, have an economic impact on Southeast Georgia of $4.35 billion a year, according to the installation’s Command Data Summary for fiscal year 2011.
Army families welcome the return of their loved ones from an overseas deployment. Photos by Randy C. Murray.
While the economy is largely connected to Fort Stewart, its soldiers, military civilians and their family members also are an integral part of the larger community, alongside retirees and their families. Military residents are important members of the community because this is their home, too — whether it’s for the time they’re stationed here or for the rest of their lives. They live here. They pay taxes, vote and serve jury duty here. Their children go to
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“I decided to stay here when I retired from federal service because Coastal Georgia has everything I was looking for — great people, mild weather and access to outstanding facilities for health and recreation, both on and off post.”
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school here. And many of them retire here. “My wife and I decided to stay here when I retired from the Army because we love the moderate climate and the slower pace of life,” says Luis Carreras, who now serves as the Army Reserve Ambassador for Georgia. “This is a great place to raise a family. Even though I’m a city boy from New York, I’ve made Coastal Georgia my home.” The ever-growing number of military retirees and the fact that Stewart-Hunter has won the Army Community of Excellence award five times indicate why this area is called The Southern Living Station of Choice and why it is the fastest-growing community in Southeast Georgia. “From where I view things, we have the Army’s habitual premier community of excellence in Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield, and the Southeast Georgia counties, cities and residents that support it,” says Paul Andreshak, a retired soldier and the executive director of Southeast Georgia Friends of Fort Stewart and Hunter. “I decided to stay here when I retired from federal service because Coastal Georgia has everything I was looking for — great people, mild weather and access to outstanding facilities for health and recreation, both on and off post.” Carreras, Andreshak and most military retirees don’t simply retire and then play golf or go fishing. Many of them start new careers. Most stay active through a myriad of military and veterans’ organizations. These veterans strongly support each other, their active-duty counterparts and the communities they now call home. To show support for those who serve, many local businesses offer military discounts, and several organizations have committees and consultants to offer a military perspective. The Fort Stewart Growth Management Partnership, funded by the Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment, is a four-county multi-governmental entity dedicated to ensuring that future growth in Bryan, Liberty, Long and Tattnall counties will promote the general welfare of the region. The partnership specifically focuses on education, housing, infrastructure and quality of life. Still, other organizations such as the Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion are dedicated to connecting former and retired service members to the resources they need. The community also rallies to commemorate patriotic and veterans’ events, such as the birthdays of various service branches, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Sept. 11 observances, Veterans Day and Pearl Harbor Day. Groups lay wreaths at memorial ceremonies, retire the American flag for private organizations and government agencies, provide food to soldiers and their families at public events and visit their own at the VA hospitals in Dublin and Charleston.
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Thomas Miles shows his young sons a cannon at Fort McAllister Historic Park. Photo by Caitlyn Boza.
Sightseeing Around Bryan County Bryan County Courthouse
The stately Bryan County Courthouse in Pembroke was built by architect W.P. Marshall in 1937. In 1995 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its unique Neoclassical Revival architectural style. The living monument continues to be used as the county’s leading judicial center, and the Bryan County Board of Commissioners gathers in the building for its meetings each month. The meeting room is used for a variety of community meetings throughout the year and is open to the public.
The Old Jailhouse
Built in 1912 in Pembroke and restored in 2003, the oneroom brick jailhouse with an armored door and bars on the windows was cramped enough to make even the most seasoned criminal regret his actions. Pay the jail a visit today. Phone: (912) 653-4413.
Historical Society Museum
The Richmond Hill Museum, operated by the Richmond Hill Historical Society, is a small, independent museum that highlights the history of Richmond Hill and Bryan Neck. There
are a number of artifacts dating from the pre-Civil War era up to current times on display. The actual building is the original schoolhouse Henry Ford built in 1941 for kindergarteners, and visitors can still see historical pieces from the old schoolhouse while touring the museum. Phone: (912) 756-3697
Fort McAllister Historic Park
Fort McAllister was built in 1861 as a fortification for the Confederate Army during the Civil War. The fort fell to Gen. William T. Sherman in 1864 and languished unused until Henry Ford purchased and restored the site. Today, the fort is considered to be one of the best-preserved sites of Confederate earthworks in the country. The 1,725-acre park offers a museum, historic fort, camping, fishing, hiking trails, boat ramps and rental cottages to visitors. Phone: (912) 727-2339
Coastal Georgia Attractions Bamboo Farm & Coastal Gardens
Pick pumpkins in the fall and berries in early summer at this NEWCOMERS & NEIGHBORS 2012
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interactive, educational farm that’s a project of the University of Georgia extension service. The farm also hosts a family fall festival and provides space for special events like weddings. Phone: (912) 921-5460
Brunswick - The Golden Isles
Enjoy some of Georgia’s most pristine coastlines and relaxed waterfront living in Brunswick and on Jekyll Island or St. Simons Island. Popular attractions include the sea turtle center, Fort Frederica National Monument, the St. Simons lighthouse, charter fishing and dolphin-watching tours.
Fort Morris Historic Site
The Revolutionary War-era fort in eastern Liberty County repelled the British in the colonial days and again in the War of 1812. Bird watching and educational programs are the regular highlights of this historic park, particularly its Colonial Christmas celebration in early December. Phone: (912) 884-5999
Fort Stewart Museum
Just across county lines is the fascinating history museum of the largest military installation east of the Mississippi. During a visit, museum-goers will learn more about those stationed on the post over the years who have risked their lives to protect our nation here and abroad. The exhibits include artifacts from World War II, Vietnam, Korea, Desert Storm and present-day Fort Stewart Museum exhibits include helicopters, tanks, weapons and military activities. other pieces from the installation’s history. Photo by Ekaterina Wilkerson. Phone: (912) 767-7885
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Hilton Head Island
Just past Bryan County in South Carolina, less than an hour away, lies the beauty of the Lowcountry. Hilton Head Island is known for its historic plantations and golf courses, as well as a gorgeous stretch of beach and nature preserves for visitors to enjoy. www.hiltonheadisland.org
Historic Downtown Savannah
Downtown Savannah is a great place to visit for a day, a weekend or just a quick bite to eat. There’s always activity on River Street with plenty of shopping and dining options within a stone’s throw of the Savannah River. Let a seasoned tour guide point out the famous – and infamous – hidden gems in the downtown area, like the bench Forrest Gump sat on during Tom Hanks’ award-winning film, Flannery O’Connor’s home, sites featured in “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” and many more. Visit a historic church or cathedral, take a ghost tour or take in a show at the Johnny Mercer Theatre. www.savannah.com
Tybee Island
Savannah’s Tybee Island is a quaint, quirky community and offers a beautiful three-mile stretch of beach. Visitors can climb to the top of the Tybee Lighthouse and get a panoramic view of the island and the Atlantic, go ocean kayaking, or even take a canoe ride over to Little Tybee Island. www.tybeeisland.com.
The iconic fountain in Savannah’s Forsyth Park is a popular destination for tourists. Photo by Caitlyn Boza.
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recreation Black Creek Golf Club This gorgeous, 18-hole, par-72 course with four sets of tees is in north Bryan County, one and a half miles south of I-16 at Exit 143 on Hwy. 280. Enjoy breakfast and lunch after a day on the course at the Dine By Nine restaurant. It’s also ideal for banquets, wedding receptions, reunions, meetings or any other group function. 277 Canterwood Drive Black Creek, Ga. 31308 (912) 858-GOLF www.blackcreekgolfclub.com
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Sterling Links Golf Club The Sterling Links Golf Club opened in 2008. There is an 18hole, par-72 course, and the club offers junior and group lessons and clinics, as well as a full driving range. Memberships are available. The clubhouse offers drinks and snacks. 53 Sterling Links Way
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Chimney Field Stables 1533 Fort McAllister Road Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 313-2842 karamojo@hotmail.com
Portside Stables Inc. 201 Sterling Woods Drive Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-5810
YMCA of Coastal Georgia 154 Thunderbird Drive Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324
(912) 756-5856 www.ymcaofcoastalga.org Monday-Thursday: 5 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday: 5 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday: 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday:1-5 p.m. YMCA activities: Child care programs: Fun Club, Mommy and Me, Childwatch, Mother’s Morning Out and Parent’s Night Out. School-age programs: before and after, Fun Club, Holiday Camp, Summer Day Camp and special needs “Camp Can Do.” Youth sports: spring T-ball, soccer, flag football, AAU basketball, fall soccer and flag football. Teen programs: Y Leaders Club, Teen Achievers, Teen Night and teen dances. Adults: Flag football tournaments, fishing tournaments, fitness programs, ballroom dancing, Pilates, cardio kickboxing and step aerobics.
Richmond Hill Fish Hatchery 110 Hatchery Drive Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-3691 Offers kids fishing tournaments and kids fishing days during the summer.
Kilkenny Marina (912) 727-2215 www.kilkennymarina.com
Fort McAllister Marina (912) 727-2632 www.fortmcallistermarinaga.com
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September
• Labor Day at Fort McAllister • Fort McAllister’s second annual Wounded Warrior Fishing Rodeo • Pembroke’s semi-annual Community Yard Sale • Outdoor Adventure Day at the Richmond Hill Fish Hatchery
October
• Richmond Hill Garden Club’s annual Pumpkin Patch
• Great Ogeechee Seafood Festival
• Candle Lantern Tour of Fort McAllister
• Spooktacular Pumpkin Carving Contest in Pembroke
November
• Taste of Richmond Hill • Capt. Matthew Freeman 5K Run for Peace in J.F. Gregory Park • Veterans Day observance in Richmond Hill • Veterans Day program in Pembroke • Pembroke’s annual Pie Baking Contest
December
• Richmond Hill’s annual Chili Cook-Off • Pembroke Christmas festival and parade • Richmond Hill Christmas Parade • Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony in Pembroke • Fort McAllister Winter Muster • Annual Christmas program, American Legion • Christmas on the Ogeechee Lighted Boat Parade and fireworks display • Christmas Stroll and Holiday Market in Richmond Hill
January
• “Bring One for the Chipper” Christmas Tree Recycling
February
• Rotary Club of Richmond Hill annual fundraiser
• Chili Cook-Off in Pembroke • Super Museum Sunday at Fort McAllister • Georgia Arbor Day
• Coastal Bryan Tree Foundation’s annual tree planting
March
• Pembroke’s annual Easter Egg Hunt • Richmond Hill Easter Extravaganza and Egg Hunt • American Cancer Society’s Bark for Life in Richmond Hill
2012-‘13 Calendar of Events
April
• Georgia Cities Week
May
• National Day of Prayer • Memorial Day program at Fort McAllister
• Memorial Day programs in Pembroke and Richmond Hill
June/July
• Richmond Hill Exchange Club Fishing Derby
• Richmond Hill’s July Fourth celebration in J.F. Gregory Park • Fourth of July celebration at Fort McAllister • Pembroke’s Patriotic Picnic & Concert
August
• National Night Out in Pembroke and Richmond Hill
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Bryan County Event Highlights The Great Ogeechee Seafood Festival Attendees of Georgia’s largest seafood festival, which takes place the third weekend in October, are treated to a variety of mouthwatering seafood, live entertainment from popular local and national performers, a carnival, fireworks, car show and, of course, a heap of Southern hospitality. For more information and the full list of this year’s entertainers, visit www. goseafoodfestival.com.
Pembroke Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting Pembroke knows how to get into the holiday spirit. The annual Hometown Christmas Parade kicks off December. It’s a true community affair; the whole town participates in the preparations to ensure the
crowd enjoys beauty queens, horses, marching units, vintage cars, ornamented floats and Santa himself – who leads the procession down the decorated streets of the city. There will also be rides, games, food and entertainment for the whole family. Also in December, the downtown tree lighting ceremony brings together residents and local officials with the lighting of Pembroke’s huge pine tree, which twinkles festively all season.
Richmond Hill Christmas Parade The Christmas events in Richmond Hill help residents get into the spirit of the holiday season. Families and businesses are encouraged to participate, as well as enjoy all that the parade has to offer. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be the stars of the tour as it winds through downtown.
Pembroke’s Patriotic Picnic and Concert Pembroke’s weekend-long Independence Day celebration honors area men and women in uniform with a picnic, farmers market and concert by an Army band from Fort Stewart. The activities are free and open to the public.
Fort McAllister Fun: Memorial Day The daylong celebration teaches visitors about the life of the everyday Confederate soldier, including what he ate and how he dressed. Guests are treated to musket and cannon firing demonstrations throughout the day as well.
Fourth of July Confederate Civil War reenactors honor the nation’s battle heroes by firing salutes, while staff and volunteers demonstrate
period past times and share refreshments with guests.
Labor Day Fort McAllister soldiers labor through daily duties at the fort, illustrating the blacksmithing and woodworking trades that helped keep the fort running smoothly. Visitors also experience mid-19th century cooking and medicinal techniques during the daylong event.
Candle Lantern Tour Experience the fort at night with a candlelit tour around the historic grounds and see how evening chores were performed by Civil War soldiers.
Winter Muster See scores of Confederate troops in action as they prepare for the assault by Union forces and re-enact the bloody 1864 battle that ended Sherman’s notorious March to the Sea.
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GOVERNMENT motor vehicle information | VOTER REGISTRATION | GOVERNMENT CONTACTS BCN-Newcomers2012.indd 49
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GOVERNMENT Motor Vehicle Information North Bryan County Courthouse Complex 11 North Courthouse St. Pembroke, Ga. 31321 (912) 653-3880 New residents to Bryan County must register vehicles within 30 days of establishing legal resident status. Individual vehicle registration expires on the owner’s birthday, not the end of the birth month. Business registrations expire on the last day of the registration month. You may renew your registration 30 days prior to your expiration date. No out-of-state or third-party checks are accepted. All penalties are by law and cannot be waived. To avoid penalties, renew as soon as possible after the beginning of the 30-day renewal period. You may renew your vehicle tag or view other information on the Georgia Department of Revenue’s website, www.dor.ga.gov.
Driver’s License, Identification Card Issuance and Renewal
New Laws Affecting Georgia Drivers
Effective July 1, 2012, resulting from federal requirements for the Real ID Act, the Department of Driver Services will begin issuing Real ID driver’s licenses and ID cards. Customers who are renewing or applying for the first time must visit a DDS customer service center in person and present documents proving identity, social security number and residential address. That requirement was already in place for people applying for their first license or ID card. The new rules extend that requirement to renewals and reinstatements.
Bryan County Vehicle Registration Information
Motor vehicle registration and tags are issued at the tax commissioner’s office in Pembroke or Richmond Hill.
To obtain, renew or replace a driver’s license or state-issued ID card, visit the Georgia Department of Driver Services offices in Hinesville or Savannah. Hours of operation are typically Tuesday through Saturday. A state-issued ID card costs $20 for five years or $35 for eight years. The Class A, B, C and M driver licenses cost $20 for five years or $35 for eight years. Permits under the same class cost $10 and are valid from six months to two years. The cost to replace a lost or stolen license, ID card or permit is $5. Drivers are required to bring original proof of identification to a DDS Customer Service Center, such as an original birth certificate, marriage certificate, Social Security card or military ID card. The name on the proof of identification must match the name on the requested ID or driver’s license. Address changes for driver’s licenses or state-issued ID cards can be made online or at Customer Service Centers. One free address change per term is permitted.
Georgia Department of Driver Services 866-754-3687 www.dds.ga.gov
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New Beginning. New Home.
Maureen Bryant | Cell: 912.441.3053 | Office: 912.756.5888 www.maureenbryant.com 17 Richard Davis Drive | Richmond Hill, GA 31324
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WORLD-CLASS WOMEN’S HEALTHCARE, RIGHT WHERE YOU LIVE. Worker. Wife. Mom. Grandma. Friend. Your busy life demands convenience without sacrificing quality. That’s why we offer appointments that fit your schedule, right here in Richmond Hill. We take the time to answer your questions and explain your options with compassion and respect. Don’t waste another minute of your valuable time. Call Darren Preuninger, M.D., today for an appointment. Provident OB/GYN Associates 2429 Highway 17 South (across from Augie’s) Richmond Hill, GA 31324 912-350-7020 providentobgyn.memorialhealth.com
VOTER REGISTRATION Voter Registration Warren Miller, chief registrar Registrar’s Office P.O. Box 1526 151 S. College St. Pembroke, Ga. 31321 Phone: (912) 653-3859 Fax: (912) 653-3895 vrbryan@bryan-county.org
Sunday
Holy Eucharist - 10 a.m. Children’s Christian Education - 10 a.m. Nursery Provided: 9:45 - 11:15 a.m.
Thrift Store open Tues, Thurs & Sat 10am-2pm
Weekly Bible Study for Men and Women Weekly youth program Preschool for 3-4 yrs old available The Rev. Dr. Clark Hubbard, Rector
St. elizabeth’s episcopal church 16491 Hwy 144, Richmond Hill, GA 912.727.2650 • stelizabethsrichmondhill.com
Precinct ID: 6 J.F. Gregory Park
66 Capt. Matthew Freeman Drive Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324
Precinct ID: 7 Keller
To register to vote, visit one of the locations above, a library or city hall, or go to www.sos.state. ga.us. You can download voting applications and absentee ballots at www.bryancountyga.org.
Precinct ID: 2 Ellabell
A
Poll site: Richmond Hill Recreation Center 508 Timber Trail Road Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324
County Administrative Complex
Poll site: Dixie Harn Community Center 91 Lanier St. Pembroke, Ga. 31321
BiBle-Believing church where Jesus is Lord and Savior and all are welcomed and loved; in community for the community, in the Spirit, today and tomorrow, to build the Kingdom of God.
Precinct ID: 5 Richmond Hill Recreation Center
Poll site: John W. Stevens Wetlands Education Center 600 Cedar St. Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324
Polling places: Precinct ID: 1 Pembroke
We accept most insurance plans, including all TRICARE.
Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324
Poll site: Hendrix Park Gym 4060 Wilma Edwards Road Pembroke, Ga. 31308
Precinct ID: 4 Ways Station Poll site: First Baptist Church 91284 Ford Ave.
Poll site: Corinth Baptist Church 19536 Hwy. 144 E. Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324
Precinct ID: 8 Hwy. 144 E. Poll site: Bryan County Administration Building 66 Captain Matthew Freeman Drive Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324
Precinct ID: 9 Public Safety Complex Poll site: Public Safety Complex 1955 Sgt. Michael W. Larsen Drive Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324
Precinct ID: 10 Daniel Siding Poll site: Daniel Siding Baptist Church 580 Daniel Siding Loop Road Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324
GOVERNMENT MEETINGS
Pembroke City Council meets at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at Pembroke City Hall. Pembroke Fire Department meets at 7:30 p.m. every Tuesday at the Pembroke Fire House. Call 653-4400 for more information. Development Authority of Bryan County meets at 8 a.m. on the third Wednesday of each month at alternating locations. (In Richmond Hill at the Sheriff’s Office Complex off Hwy. 17 and in North Bryan at the fire station on Hwy. 204.) Richmond Hill City Council meets at 7:30 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of each month at City Hall. Call (912) 756-3345 for more information. Bryan County Board of Commissioners meets at 5:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month at alternating locations. (In Richmond Hill at the County Administrative Complex and in Pembroke at the Bryan County Courthouse.) Bryan County Board of Education meets at 6:30 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month at various locations.
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COUNTY GOVERNMENT CONTACTS
Fun for le the Who Family!
Senior Citizens Terri Watkins (912) 653-4480
Sheriff Clyde Smith (912) 653-3800
Tax Appraiser, Chief Dan Rollf (912) 756-3209 (912) 653-3889
Tax Commissioner Carrol Ann Coleman (912) 653-3880
Transit Terri Watkins (912) 653-5793
Voter Registrar
On the Water at Ft. McAllister Marina HOURS Monday – Wednesday 4-9pm | Thursday 4-10pm Friday, Saturday 11am - Midnight | Sunday 11am - 8pm
912.727.3473 Check Facebook for Events and Live Entertainment
Warren Miller (912) 653-3859
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LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES
Fax: (912) 653-4691 dwaters@bryan-county.org
Board of Commissioners
Richmond Hill City Hall
P.O. Box 430 51 N. Courthouse St. Pembroke, Ga. 31321 Phone: (912) 653-3839 Fax: (912) 653-4691 www.bryancountyga.org
40 Richard Davis Drive Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-3345 www.richmondhill-ga.gov
Commissioners
Officers:
Mayor
City Council*
Directors:
E. Harold Fowler
Diane Moore Kimberly McGhee Johnnie Miller Ernest Hamilton Tiffany Walraven
Mark Bolton Noah Covington Linda Bragg Bea Betsworth Derrick Smith
City Clerk
*Subject to change with elections
County Administrator
Chris Lovell (912) 756-3345 clovell@richmondhill-ga.gov
Donna Waters Phone: (912) 653-3837
www.bryancountyga.com
Mary Warnell
City Council
County Clerk
160 N. Main St. Pembroke, Ga. 31321 (912) 653-4413 www.pembrokega.net
Steve Croy, chairman Dell Keith, vice chairman Sean Register, secretary Billy Conley, treasurer Josh Fenn, executive director
Jimmy Burnsed, chairman Joe Kendrick* Wade Price Glen Willard* Carter Infinger Jimmy Henderson
Phil Jones Phone: (912) 653-3819 Fax: (912) 653-4691 pjones@bryan-county.org
Pembroke City Hall
Van Hunter Russ Carpenter Jan Bass John Fesperman
City Manager
City Clerk Ursula Lee (912) 756-3345 ulee@richmondhill-ga.gov
Mayor
Betty Hill (912) 653-4413 clerk@pembrokega.net
Development Authority of Bryan County P.O. Box 267 116 Lanier St. Pembroke, Ga. 31321 Phone: (912) 653-4967 Fax: (912) 653-4978
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COUNTY GOVERNMENT CONTACTS 911 Center Kathy Hicks (912) 756-5216
Animal Control Skip Youmans (912) 756-2636
County Administrator Phil Jones (912) 653-3835
County Clerk Donna Waters (912) 653-3837
Court Clerk Becky Crowe (912) 653-3871
County Extension Coordinator Shanna Davis (912) 653-2231
Development Authority Josh Fenn (912) 653-4967
Emergency Management William Collins, acting director (912) 858-2799
EMS Coordinator Susan Clark (912) 858-2799 LIC #CR104149
HOTTEST SERVICE COOLEST COMPANY
Engineering & Inspections Ron Alexander (912) 756-2532
Family Connection Wendy Sims (912) 653-3824
Probate Judge Sam Davis (912) 653-3856 (912) 756-8559
*FREE* Home System Replacement Estimates
Magistrate Judge Darrell Snider (912) 653-3860
You know your price BEFORE we start repairs.
Recreation Pratt Lockwood (912) 858-4640 Kay Green (912) 756-4075
NO overtime charges, NO after hour rates.
Public Works Derrell Newman (912) 653-4511
24 Point Heating & Cooling Inspection for Single Residential Dwellings *Free to Active Duty Military Homebuyers, others only $39.00 for Single System.* *Call for Details.
Personnel/Payroll Cynthia Sims (912) 653-3836
Finance
912.876.8411
John Grotheer (912) 653-3899
Planning & Zoning Kirk Croasmun (912) 756-3177 (912) 653-3893
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education education services | libraries | schools | calendar NEWCOMERS & NEIGHBORS 2012
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education
Excellence in Education
By Al Hackle
Community tells newcomers about quality schools Third-graders at Richmond Hill Elementary School observe microscopic organisms in science class. File photo.
M
ost newcomers research Bryan County carefully before deciding to make it their home. One such couple, who moved here earlier this year, visited area restaurants, struck up conversations and casually told people they were moving to Bryan County — without first revealing what they do for a living. “They don’t even know what I do or anything like that, and 99.9 percent of them, the first thing they said was, ‘The school system is phenomenal. It’s great. You’ll love the schools.’ That was the first thing that came out of their mouths, so it was just very telling.” That’s Dr. Paul Brooksher, relating experiences that he and his wife, Dr. Kelly Brooksher, had on first arriving in Bryan County. Understandably, the Brookshers liked what they were hearing — and not just because they’re both educators and have two children, ages 9 and 11, who have since been enrolled in the school system. It’s no secret anymore that Paul Brooksher’s new job title, as of July 2012, is superintendent of Bryan County schools.
With nine campuses serving about 8,000 students, the school system employs almost 900 faculty and staff members. More than 80 percent of the system’s $50 million annual budget enters the local economy as pay and benefits for employees. Many newcomers are impressed by the system’s classroom technology and new buildings, but those, to Brooksher’s way of thinking, are not the most important investment. “From the superintendent’s perspective, it’s highly effective teachers — it’s the people, the quality of instruction that takes place in that classroom every single day, and not only the quality
“Good schools build better communities, someone once said, and I think that has definitely taken place here in Bryan County, and it will continue — not just good schools, but great.”
Paul Brooksher, Bryan County superintendent
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Co-owner of RE/MAX Accent Platinum Club Million Dollar Club National Association of Homebuilders Graduate Realtor Institute Richmond Hill United Methodist Church Former Bryan County School Teacher Rotary Club Member Chamber of Commerce Member Savannah Board of Realtors Long Range Planning Committee Graduate University of Georgia Former Director of Admissions Savannah College of Art and Design 200 Club Member
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Contact Us at: www.drugfreebryan.org 912-661-2095 5-lane Mat Racer Slide 3 large waterslides Play Pool • Dual FlowRider Spray Pad • Competition Pool Therapy Pool • 800 Ft. Lazy River Tot Slides • Leisure Pool Birthday Parties & Group Rates!
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Two first-graders from Richmond Hill Primary School show off the bikes they won in a drawing of students with perfect attendance in honor of National Bike Month. File photo.
of instruction but the actual learning that occurs,” he says. “We could have the best curriculum in the world, but if you don’t have highly competent, highly proven and highly effective teachers, the curriculum doesn’t matter.” In Brooksher, the Bryan County Board of Education found an administrator with experience hiring qualified people. For the past four years he’s served in the human resources department of Georgia’s largest school system, the 162,000-student Gwinnett County district. As a director of staffing, he oversaw hiring for 27 of Gwinnett’s 133 campuses. Before that, he was a principal, an assistant principal, a teacher and, originally, a special education paraprofessional. In his first weeks as superintendent, Brooksher said he observed quality people working in the Bryan County schools and strong support from the community. “Everyone really gets behind the school system,” he says. “They’re very supportive; they want to be involved; they want to see the very best for the school system and the children in the school system.” Bryan County’s investment in school facilities and technology reflects that support. An Educational Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax funds an aggressive capital and technology improvement pro-
gram. Built at a cost of $21.3 million, including about $19 from E-SPLOST and the rest from state funding, a brand-new campus for Richmond Hill Middle School opened at the start of the 2012-‘13 school year. The current Richmond Hill Elementary School opened in 2009. The next planned projects are a replacement Bryan County Elementary school in the north end of the county and an additional elementary school in the Richmond Hill area. The Board of Education in January 2012 moved its central offices into the former Black Creek Elementary School on U.S. Hwy. 280. This followed extensive renovations intended to preserve the historic character of school, which dates back to the 1920s, while making it function as a modern office building. The schools offer a variety of athletic and co-curricular activities, including band/chorus, sports, career-related organizations, academic clubs and more. As often noted, Bryan County students, on average, have performed well on state and national assessments in recent years. “Good schools build better communities, someone once said, and I think that has definitely taken place here in Bryan County, and it will continue — not just good schools, but great,” says Brooksher.
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High-tech Classrooms Are the Rule in Bryan County
By Al Hackle
Richmond Hill Middle School students read their favorite books on e-readers purchased with grant funds in 2011. File photo.
Walk into just about any classroom in any Bryan County school, and you’ll find some of the most up-to-date technological tools being used in education today. According to technology director Lori Warren, most classrooms boast digital document cameras in lieu of projectors, electronic student response systems with handheld “clickers” and microphone-based audio enhancement systems for teachers. In the elementary and middle schools there are interactive whiteboards — called Smart Boards — on the walls. In the high schools, teachers can use handheld digital slates to wirelessly
“If you look at what a 21st-century classroom is, we have it, and we’re looking outside the box all the time in technology.”
Lori Warren, technology director
project text onto a screen in front of the class. “If you look at what a 21st-century classroom is, we have it, and we’re looking outside the box all the time in technology,” says Warren. According to a technology survey submitted last year to the Georgia Department of Education, Bryan County’s schools have 2,645 desktop computers for student use, plus 11 mobile computer labs — mobile racks carrying a classroom supply of laptops. All of the computers are connected to the Internet and run either Windows 7 or Windows XP. In the 2011-‘12 fiscal year, the school system budgeted more than $500,000 for updating and maintaining technology, Warren reports. Some of the funding comes from the Educational Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, or E-SPLOST. Currently, the school system is looking at iPad labs as a new way to provide portable computing devices to classrooms. Richmond Hill High School has the first two in a pilot program. These, Warren says, could eventually replace the older mobile computer NEWCOMERS & NEIGHBORS 2012
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lab carts. “We’re looking at the data. We’re looking to see where our needs are, and then we use that technology to help teachers enhance their lessons, because you know these young kids are coming to us more advanced. … We have to keep up with them,” she says. At this point, the schools have wireless capabilities only in their mobile labs and a couple of media centers, but the school system has purchased the equipment to begin a wireless infrastructure for Richmond Hill Middle School, Richmond Hill High School and the media center at Bryan County High School. “Each year the hope is to continue adding wireless capabilities to these and our other schools,” Warren says. Warren, who heads a five-member central tech staff, notes that each of the nine schools has a certified, full-time technology resource teacher who assists teachers and students with training and use of new hardware, software and testing programs. “Training is an ongoing process in our schools,” she says. “All schools have training which is scheduled by the technology resource teacher throughout the school year, and some are required, and others could be just refresher courses.” Bryan County School Superintendent Paul Brooksher, who arrived on the job this summer from his previous administrative post in Georgia’s largest school system, Gwinnett County, observed that Bryan County has impressive technology in its classrooms. “We’ve got a great technology department,” Brooksher says. “They’re definitely forward thinkers, very proactive in the way they look at stuff and doing some great things.”
Technology is a priority in Bryan County Schools. File photo.
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What You Need for School Enrollment Immunization Record: An adequate and up-to-date immunization record (Form 3231) must be on file. Out-of-state records must be transferred to Georgia Form 3231. Immunizations and forms may be obtained from the Bryan County Health Department, another Georgia Health Department or from a private physician. Parents enrolling military children in Bryan County Schools should contact medical personnel at the military base for Georgia health forms. Eye-Ear-Dental Exam: Georgia Form 3300 must be on file stating that the student has received a screening examination for eye, ear and dental. The exams and forms may be obtained at the Bryan County Health Department, another Georgia Health Department or from a private physician. Parents enrolling military children in Bryan County Schools should contact medical personnel at the military base for Georgia health forms. Proof of Residency: Written proof must be supplied that the parent or legal guardian and student reside full-time in Bryan County. Acceptable items for documentation are: House purchase contract (proof residence is occupied); mortgage statement; signed lease; signed rental/lease agreement; signed closing statement; or signed rental receipts. Documentation must have a street address listed; post office box addresses are not acceptable proof of residence.
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Proof of Custody: A copy of divorce paperwork or custody paperwork must be provided if the student doesn’t live with both biological parents. Social Security Card: The student’s Social Security card must be provided at the time of enrollment. Birth Certificate: A copy of the student’s birth certificate must be on file at the time of enrollment. Proof of Grade Level: A student transferring from another school system must furnish a withdrawal form and must also have a report card or other verification of grade placement. High school students must have a transcript. If such a form cannot be presented, the school must be furnished with the phone number and name of the previous school so grade level and withdrawal status can be verified. Proof of Physical Address: When a cell phone is listed as the home phone number, a bill indicating the appropriate physical address must be provided in addition to other residency information. NEWCOMERS & NEIGHBORS 2012
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EDUCATION SERVICES Adult Literacy Education
2012-‘13 School Calendar
Bryan County Elementary School Pembroke, Ga. 31321 Contact Rick Smith at (912) 626-5048
Bryan County Board of Education Central Office 8810 Hwy. 280 Black Creek, Ga. 31308 Phone: (912) 851-4000 Fax: (912) 851-4093 www.bryan.k12.ga.us
Superintendent Dr. Paul Brooksher
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Brad Anderson
Bryan County Board of Education Members: Chairman - Eddie Warren Vice Chairman - Jeff Morton District 1 - Paine Bacon District 2 - Dennis Seger District 3 - Amy Murphy District 4 - Vacant District 5 - David Schwartz
Bryan County Head Start 166 Bacontown Road Pembroke, Ga. 31321 (912) 653-4990 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday Educational programs for Bryan County children from low-income families, ages 3-5 years. Limited transportation available.
LIBRARIES Richmond Hill Public Library 9607 Ford Ave. Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-3580
Pembroke Public Library 1018 Camellia Drive Pembroke, Ga. 31321 (912) 653-2822 Public Internet service, educational and informational programs for children and adults.
Aug. 3
Jan. 8
May 24, 28, 29
First day of school
Second semester begins
Post-planning for staff
Labor Day holiday
Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday
GRADUATIONS
Sept. 3 Oct. 8
End of first nine weeks
Oct. 11
Staff planning (student holiday)
Oct. 12, 15
Jan. 21 Feb. 18
Presidents Day holiday
March 13
End of third nine weeks
Fall holidays
March 15
Veterans Day holiday
Staff planning (holiday for students)
Thanksgiving holidays
Spring holidays
End of second nine weeks, first semester
End of fourth nine weeks, second semester
Winter holidays (staff returns Jan. 7; students return Jan. 8)
Memorial Day holiday
Nov. 12
Nov. 19-23 Dec. 20
Dec. 21
April 1-5 May 23
May 27
Bryan County High School: May 25 Richmond Hill High School: May 25
PROGRESS REPORTS Thursday, Sept. 6 Thursday, Nov. 15 Thursday, Feb. 14 Thursday, April 25
REPORT CARDS
Tuesday, Oct. 16 Thursday, Jan. 10 Thursday, March 21 Wednesday, May 29
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COUNTY SCHOOLS
Lanier Primary School (Pre-K-2)
Bryan County High School (9-12)
Richmond Hill Elementary School (2-3)
Richmond Hill High School (9-12)
Principal: Patti Newman 6024 Hwy. 280 E. Pembroke, Ga. 31321 Phone: (912) 626-5020 Fax: (912) 858-4350 www.bryan.k12.ga.us/lps Times: 8 a.m.-2:45 p.m.
Principal: Dawn Hadley 1234 Camelia Drive Pembroke, Ga. 31321 Phone: (912) 626-5060 Fax: (912) 653-2858 www.bryan.k12.ga.us/bchs Times: 7:55 a.m.-3:10 p.m.
Principal: Walt Barnes 120 Constitution Way Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 Phone: (912) 459-5100 Fax: (912) 756-3916 www.bryan.k12.ga.us/rhmes Times: 8:25 a.m.-3:25 p.m.
Principal: Helen Herndon 1 Wildcat Drive Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 Phone: (912) 459-5151 Fax: (912) 756-4958 www.bryan.k12.ga.us/rhhs Times: 7:40 a.m.-2:40 p.m.
Bryan County Elementary School (3-5)
Richmond Hill Pre-K Center
Dr. George Washington Carver Elementary School (4-5)
Principal: Debbie Laing 104 Ash Branch Road Pembroke, Ga. 31321 Phone: (912) 626-5033 Fax: (912) 653-4350 www.bryan.k12.ga.us/bces Times: 8 a.m.-3:05 p.m.
Bryan County Middle School (6-8) Principal: Deborah Hamm 600 Payne Drive Pembroke, Ga. 31321 Phone: (912) 626-5050 Fax: (912) 653-2705 www.bryan.k12.ga.us/bcms Times: 8 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Behind Richmond Hill Elementary School 120 Constitution Way Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-3335
Richmond Hill Primary School (K-1) Principal: Mary Ann Tiedemann 471 Frances Meeks Way Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 Phone: (912) 459-5080 Fax: (912) 756-5153 www.bryan.k12.ga.us/rhps Times: 8:25a.m.-3:25 p.m.
Principal: Crystal Morales 476 Frances Meeks Way Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 Phone: (912) 459-5111 Fax: (912) 756-5872 www.bryan.k12.ga.us/gwcues Times: 8:25 a.m.-3:25 p.m.
Richmond Hill Middle School (6-8) Principal: Billy McGrath 503 Warren Hill Road Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 Phone: (912) 459-5130 Fax: (912) 756-5369 www.bryan.k12.ga.us/rhms Times: 7:40 a.m.-2:40 p.m.
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HEALTH CARE public health | physicians | FAMILY AND HUMAN SERVICES & NEIGHBORS 2012 66 NEWCOMERS
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HEALTH CARE
Keeping the Public Healthy
By Al Hackle
The Richmond Hill Medical Home staff is dedicated to serving and treating the more than 8,000 military family members and veterans in the community. Photo by Cobblestone Photography.
Bryan County Health Department
Preventative health services available through the Bryan County Health Department range from vaccinations and childhood checkups to drinking water testing and septic system inspections. Because the county is divided geographically by Fort Stewart, the department operates clinics and environmental health offices in both Pembroke and Richmond Hill. A unit of Georgia’s Coastal Health District, the county department follows polices established by the state and a local board of health.
Clinical services
Nurse manager Joanne Burnsed, RN, leads a team of four nurses who provide clinical services at the two locations. They administer immunizations ranging from seasonal flu and pneumo-
nia shots to childhood vaccinations that are available year round. Both locations are open 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Health Department also performs vision, hearing and dental screenings required for children entering school in Georgia. Well-child exams are also available, but children who are sick should be taken to a doctor, not the health clinic. The Health Department is also the place to apply for the WIC program. Short for “Women, Infants and Children,” WIC supplies vouchers to help low-income pregnant women and children under the age of 5 obtain nutritious foods. Similarly, uninsured women ages 50-64 who meet certain requirements can get mammograms at all Georgia health departments through the Breast Test and More program. Other health clinic services include family planning (birth NEWCOMERS & NEIGHBORS 2012
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control), HIV testing and testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases.
Environmental Health
Two staff members — Environmental Health Director John W. “Skip” Youmans at the Richmond Hill office and Environmental Health Tech Betty Lee at the Pembroke office — provide field services to the entire county. These are the people who inspect restaurants and hotels and test the water at public pools. Most citizens are likely to have little contact with Youmans and Lee in their professional roles, but new homeowners installing a septic tank or an individual well will require permits from Environmental Health. The department will also respond to calls to pull drinking water samples from individual well systems for analysis. (Community water and sewer systems are permitted and monitored by another agency, the state EPD.) Homeowners with individual wells are not required to sample the water for analysis, “but it’s a good idea to get your water tested about every year,” Youmans says. Environmental health inspectors also play a role in rabies prevention, and here in Bryan County, Youmans doubles as the chief of Animal Control.
Animal Control
Bryan County Animal Control operates shelters in both Pembroke and Richmond Hill and has animal control officers assigned to both. The county requires registration for dogs, cats and ferrets. All animals available for adoption are posted on Petfinder.
com, searchable by ZIP code. Animal Control may be contacted at (912) 653-3816 in Pembroke, (912) 727-3884 in Richmond Hill, or through the Environmental Health office at (912) 756-2636.
Department of Family and Children Services
To serve residents at both ends of the county, the Bryan County Department of Family and Children Services maintains offices in both Pembroke and Richmond Hill. DFCS handles applications for programs such as Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP (previously Food Stamps), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and subsidized child care assistance. Applications for SNAP and child care assistance can also be completed through Georgia Department of Human Services website, www.compass.ga.gov. For other programs, call the local DFCS.
Bryan County DFCS - Pembroke Office 133 West Dubois St. Pembroke, Ga. 31321 Phone: (912) 653-2805 Fax: (912) 653-2803 Bryan County DFCS - Richmond Hill Office 66 Captain Matthew Freeman Drive Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-4441
Dr. Philip Copenhaver & Dr. Cathy Bordlemay Anxiety-Free Root Canals | Single Visit/One-Day Crowns | Laser-Assisted Surgeries for Fast Healing Complex Cosmetic Restorations | Low Exposure Digital X-Rays | In-Office & Take-Home Teeth Whitening 912.756.2936
10230 Ford Avenue
Richmond Hill, Georgia 31324
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PUBLIC HEALTH
Liberty Regional Medical Center
Bryan County Health Department: South Bryan
66 Capt. Matthew Freeman Drive Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 Phone: (912) 756-2611 Fax: (912) 756-4828 Monday-Friday: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
North Bryan 430 Ledford St. Pembroke, Ga. 31321 Phone: (912) 653-4331 Fax: (912) 653-4328 Monday-Friday: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Environmental Health Office (912) 756-2636 Monday-Friday: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Gateway Behavioral Health Service 40 E. Industrial Blvd. Pembroke, Ga. 31321 (912) 653-4151 Wednesday: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
462 E.G. Miles Pkwy. Hinesville, Ga. 31313 (912) 369-9400
Memorial University Medical Center 4700 Waters Ave. Savannah, Ga. 31404 (912) 350-8000 - Take I-95 to Exit 94, Savannah. - Turn right onto Hwy. 204. - Turn right on DeRenne Ave. and left on Waters Ave.
Richmond Hill Medical Home 2451A Hwy. 17 Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 435-7464 Monday-Friday: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. For military dependents only.
St. Joseph’s - Candler Hospital - St. Joseph’s Campus 11705 Mercy Blvd. Savannah, Ga. 31419
(912) 819-4100 - Take the Hwy. 204 exit toward Savannah, Exit 94. - Travel about eight miles. Cross the Forest River, pass the Savannah Mall on your left, then Armstrong Atlantic State University on the right. The next light is Mercy Boulevard. - Turn left on Mercy Boulevard. - St. Joseph’s Hospital is on your left; the entrance is a tenth of a mile after the turn.
St. Joseph’s - Candler Hospital - Candler Campus 5353 Reynolds St. Savannah, Ga. 31405 (912) 819-6000 - Take I-95 to Exit 94, Savannah. - Turn east (right) onto Hwy. 204. - Follow Hwy. 204/Abercorn St. to DeRenne Ave. and turn right. - Turn left on Reynolds St. The main entrance is about 500 feet on the right.
Richmond Hill Medical Home
Affiliated with Winn Army Community Hospital on Fort Stewart, the Richmond Hill Medical Home is one of 17 new clinics the Army is placing near its installations in the United States. The clinic opened in March 2011, making its services available to spouses and dependents of active-duty personnel, as well as some Army retirees under age 65. Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays at 2451A Hwy. 17 in the Ways Station shopping center, the facility provides behavioral health services in addition to primary medical care, immunization, pharmacy, laboratory and radiology services. The clinic is intended to serve more than 8,000 patients and is staffed with a psychologist and seven primary care providers – four physicians, two physician assistants and one nurse practitioner. Winn’s website, www.winn.amedd. army.mil, includes a page about the Richmond Hill Medical Home. The clinic phone number is (912) 435-7464.
Cedar Animal Hospital Kyle D.V.M. KyleChristiansen, Christiansen, D.V.M. Heather D.V.M. Heather Gill, Gill, D.V.M. Jennifer Torrescano, D.V.M. Office or Emergency Office or Emergency 912-756-7560 912-756-7560
Fax:Fax: 912-756-7564 912-756-7564 Cedar Street 150 Cedar150 Street, Richmond Hill, GA 31324 Richmond Hill, GA 31324
NEW LOCATION in Richmond Hill 9665 Ford Ave, Richmond Hill Call for an appointment:
1-800-526-0998 For more information please visit our website at
www.drcrews.com
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PHYSICIANS
Allergists Southern Allergy & Asthma 3780 Hwy. 17 Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 303-9355
Counseling Eastern Wellness Center 2479 Ford Ave. Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-4117
SouthCoast Medical Group
Psychological Services of Coastal Georgia
10200 Ford Ave. Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-3752
128 Frances Meeks Way, Ste. 3 Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-5696
Chiropractors Kelly Chiropractic Health Center
Richmond Hill Family Counseling Center
9390 Ford Ave., Ste. 2 Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-8080
Karla Hillen 10375 Ford Ave., Ste. 2 Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-7505
Leading Touch Chiropractic Health Center 10384 Ford Ave. Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-3004
Palmer Chiropractic 11400 Ford Ave. Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-3433
Highsmith, Courtney Camp DMD 11344 Ford Ave. Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-4060
Dr. Benjamin G. Massey 26 Edsel Drive Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-4646
Dental Wellness Center 10104 Ford Ave., Ste. G Ford Plaza Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 445-5337
Richmond Hill Family & Cosmetic Dentistry 10015 Ford Ave., Ste. 2A Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-3880
Dentists Robert A. Vaught 2701 Hwy. 17, 2B Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-2309
Coastal Endodontics 10220 Ford Ave., Ste. 101 Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-5960
Copenhaver Dental 10230 Ford Ave. Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-2936
South Georgia Orthodontics 9701 Ford Ave., Ste. 112
Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-2276
Village Dental 3766 Hwy. 17, Ste. 206 Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 459-2345
Dermatology Chatham Skin Cancer Center 9976 Ford Ave. Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 354-7124
Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center 10230 Ford Ave. Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 727-7546
Skin Essentials 10634 Ford Ave. Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 844-7449
Georgia Skin and Cancer Clinic 9665 Ford Ave. Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-4722
ii
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VOTED BEST ATTORNEY IN BRYAN COUNTY FOR 2010 Our professional staff is dedicated to the highest standards of our profession. With over 40 years of experience in Bryan and surrounding counties we pride ourselves in our accessability to our clients. Our common belief is focused on meeting our clients’ needs.
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PHYSICIANS
Ear, Nose, Throat Ear, Nose and Throat Associates of Savannah 10164 Ford Ave., Ste. B Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 351-3030
Family Practice Neighborhood Healthcare
Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-2273
Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-6131
Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 459-1270
SouthCoast Medical Group and Pediatrics
Gateway Behavioral Health Service
Optometry Georgia Eye Institute
10055 Ford Ave., Ste. 5A Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-2020
40 E. Industrial Blvd. Pembroke, Ga. 31321 (912) 653-4151
2429 Hwy. 17 Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-6091
Perry, Douglas A
Scholar Rehab
Low Country Eye Care
Michael Register 244 Ledford St. Pembroke, Ga. 31321 (912) 653-4357
10200 Ford Ave. Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-3752
128 Frances Meeks Way Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 727-2321
Richmond Hill Family Practice
Richmond Hill Medical Home
Spine & Sport Richmond Hill
Richmond Hill Vision Center 10082 Ford Ave. Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-3628
2451 Hwy. 17 Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 435-7464
2451 Hwy. 17, Ste. B Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 459-2230
OB/GYN Southside OB/GYN
West Rehab Services
9976 Ford Ave. Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-3872
St. Joseph’s-Candler Medical Group 159 W. Railroad St. Pembroke, Ga. 31321 (912) 653-2897
10025 Ford Ave., Ste. 3A Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-3404
Urgent Care Center of Richmond Hill
Rehabilitation Bryan County Health and Rehabilitation
60 Exchange St., Ste. B7
144 Carter St.
205 E. Bacon St. Pembroke, Ga. 31321 (912) 653-0040 2709 Hwy. 17, Building 2A Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-5699
Podiatry Georgia Foot and Ankle Center
Pledge to most be
Keith A. Rouse, DPM David A. Valbuena, DPM 1044 Ford Ave., Ste. A1 Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-4116
Pulmonologist Southeast Lung Associates
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Spend the holidays with us! ASK US ABOUT HOLIDAY GIFT
Dr. Scott Vann • Dr. Chris Pettigrew Dr. Scott Vann • Dr. Chris Pettigrew Dr. Barbara Davies • Dr. Carl Pearl Dr. Barbara Davies • Dr. Carl Pearl Dr. Harvey Zarem • Dr. Lawrence Ruf • Dr. Dan DeLoach
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Dr. Scott Vann • Dr. Chris Pettigrew Dr. Barbara Davies • Dr. Carl Pearl Dr. Harvey Zarem • Dr. Lawrence Ruf • Dr. Dan DeLoach
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RicHmond HiLL’s onLY
Yoga studio & boutique • Multiple Styles • • Classes 7 days a week • • Prenatal Yoga 2 times a week • military and student discounts Find Schedule of Classes on our website or Facebook page
Lik e Us on FAcebook ! Lisa F Ripa, RYT200 - studio owner/instructor 10384 Ford Avenue, Richmond Hill
912.656.9663
www.awakeningyogastudio.com
Richmond Hill Funeral Home We’re not just in your neighborhood... We’re part of your community.
FAMILY AND HUMAN SERVICES Bryan County Family Connection Wendy Sims, director P.O. Box 430 Pembroke, Ga. 31321 Phone: (912) 653-3824 Fax: (912) 756-2008 www.gafcp.org/fcnetwork/ bryan
Bryan County Transit Monday-Friday (912) 653-5793 Provides limited public transportation services in Bryan County for aging clients, mental health and developmentally delayed clients and those referred through Department of Family and Children Services. Transit requests should be submitted at least 24 hours in advance and are subject to availability of staff and equipment.
Bryan County Youth Advisory Council 185 Ball Park Road Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-3828 Provides positive peer interaction with academic and social activities.
The Way Station Food and Clothing Bank 9050 Ford Ave. Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-2190 Thursdays: 9 a.m.-noon Food and clothing for lowincome residents of South Bryan County.
Bill & Jennifer Cox, Owners Sandra Glendye, Secretary
Being located in your community and being an active member of it are two very different things. As your neighborhood funeral home we’re honored to serve you both through funeral care and community involvement. Located between US 17 & I-95 • 8901 Ford Ave • Richmond Hill
912.756.7575 • www.coxrichmondhillfh.com
Bryan County United Way 9611 Ford Ave. Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-5333 Referral assistance, senior programs, limited utility assistance, emergency food pantry and clothing program.
Women, Infants and Children
Bryan County Senior Centers
66 Capt. Matthew Freeman Drive Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-2611 430 Ledford St. Pembroke, Ga. 31321 (912) 653-4331 Provides food vouchers for pregnant women, infants and children under 5 years of age who meet financial requirements.
9930 Ford Ave. Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 Monday-Friday: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Call Brenda Garrett at (912) 756-2783 24 W. Bacon St. Pembroke, Ga. 31321 Call Kathy Sauls at (912) 653-4480 Homebound meals are provided on an eligibility basis as determined by the Coastal Area Agency on Aging. Transportation services are also available through Bryan County Transit and can be arranged when client intake information is completed. Volunteer opportunities are also available.
American Red Cross Savannah Chapter 41 Park of Commerce Way Savannah, Ga. 31405 (912) 651-5300 www.savannahredcross.org Provides 24-hour disaster service, CPR and first-aid training, babysitters training and volunteer opportunities.
Department of Family and Children Services 9665 Ford Ave. Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-4441 51 N. Courthouse St. Pembroke, Ga. 31321 (912) 653-2805 Accepts applications for TANF, food stamps, Medicaid, economic and social services.
First Steps 5353 Reynolds St. Savannah, Ga. 31405 (912) 819-6910, 1-800-children www.sjchs.org 24-hour crisis line available at 1-800-children. Program volunteers greet parents of newborns at hospitals and follows up with parenting education and emotional support.
Rape Crisis Center of the Coastal Empire
Coastal Care Center “Harmony House” 2235 Hwy. 17 Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-6026 coastalcare@yahoo.com
Magnolia Manor on the Coast 141 Timber Trail Road Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-4300 www.magnoliamanor.com
Coastal Regional Coaches 866-543-6744 Coastal Regional Coaches is a regional rural public transportation program that provides general public transit in the coastal counties of Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh and Screven. This service is available to anyone for any purpose to any destination in the coastal region. There are no eligibility requirements.
(912) 233-7273 1-888-241-7273 24-hour emotional support and information for victims of sexual assault.
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Professional Medical Care Close to Home OUR COMMITMENT TO YOUR CARE CONTINUES TO GROW ALONG WITH OUR SERVICES INCLUDING: Cough, Cold, Flu, Sore Throat and Sinus Infections • Ear and Eye Infections • Bladder and Skin Infections Digital X-Ray • Sprains and Strains • Fractures • Stitches and Splints Cuts, Scratches, Abrasions and Animal Bites • Marine Injuries • EKGs • Physicals Allergies and Asthma • Lab Tests • and Much More!
We are
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Walk-Ins Welcome • No Appointment Necessary • In-Network with Most Major Insurance 912.756.CARE | theUCConline.com | 60 Exchange Street, Suite B-7 (next to Kroger on Hwy 144) Open 7 Days a Week | Extended Hours | Call or Go Online for Details
The Urgent Care Center of Richmond Hill
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VOTED BEST
HOMEBUILDER
2011 & 2012
In Bryan County
Now building in:
Homes of Integrity Construction is the Southeast’s premiere new home builder. Our new construction homes are in new neighborhoods just outside of Savannah and in Richmond Hill; convenient to both Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield. Homes of Integrity is locally owned and operated. We want to provide the area’s residents with only the best designed new homes for sale in Richmond Hill and Savannah.
www.homesofintegrityconstruction.com (912) 414.4818 BCN-Newcomers2012.indd 74
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Coastal Living at its best.
I consider Richmond Hill and the Bryan County community an excellent place to live and would love to share with you my enthusiasm for where I call home. I live here, work here and love it here!
My Team sells over 100 homes a year amd we’d love to sell yours!
Our local expertise, extensive real estate training and experience will benefit you whether you are buying, selling or need property management. We are full service and would love to show you why we were voted Best Realtor in Bryan County!
Teresa Cowart Realtor CDPE, ABR www.teresacowart.com Cell: (912) 667-1881 | Office: (912) 756-5888
VOTED BEST REALTOR
in Bryan County!
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community churches | CLUBS & COMMUNITY GROUPS BCN-Newcomers2012.indd 76
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churches
Mill Creek Baptist Church
North Bryan
(912) 858-2534 www.ellabellunited methodistchurch.com
Black Creek Holy Church of God
Faith Harvest Sanctuary
394 Black Creek Church Road Ellabell, Ga. 31308 (912) 858-2883
1237 Bill Futch Road Ellabell, Ga. 31308 (912) 858-5446
Boyd’s Temple New Order
First Baptist Church of Blitchton
Greater Faith Ministries 236 Mill Creek Church Road Ellabell, Ga. 31308 (912) 858-3832
5204 Hwy. 80 E. Ellabell, Ga. 31308 (912) 858-3274 www.firstbaptistchurch ofblitchton.com
2539 Black Creek Church Road Ellabell, Ga. 31308 (912) 858-2255
Gospel Truth Bible Clinic
179 Butler Drive Ellabell, Ga. 31308 (912) 858-3216
Christ Baptist 3580 Wilma Edwards Road Ellabell, Ga. 31308 (912) 858-2724
Church of Christ at Ellabell 3458 Hwy. 204 Ellabell, Ga. 31308 (912) 858-3290 www.ellabellchurchhome.org
416 Wade Carter Road Ellabell, Ga. 31308 (912) 858-4777
Macedonia Baptist 85 Bird Cemetery Road Ellabell, Ga. 31308 (912) 858-3125
Ellabell United Methodist
327 Mill Creek Church Road Ellabell, Ga. 31308 (912) 858-3501
New Beginning Deliverance Center
Olive Branch Baptist
St. Paul AME 910 Groover Hill Road Ellabell, Ga. 31308 (912) 858-3552
Abundant Life Church of God 119 Wildwood Church Road Pembroke, Ga. 31321 (912) 653-3696
3079 Hwy. 204 Ellabell, Ga. 31308
community
Athens Holiness 215 Athens Church Road Pembroke, Ga. 31321 (912) 858-2069
Beautiful Zion Baptist 895 Beautiful Zion Church Road Pembroke, Ga. 31321 (912) 653-4371
Coastal Georgia Veterinary Care is Richmond Hill’s newest and most advanced veterinary clinic dedicated to delivering the highest quality medicine and surgery in a spa-like, nurturing environment. Led by former military veterinarian, Dr. Karen O’Connor, she and her staff invite you and your pet to discover the one-of-a-kind experience of Coastal Georgia Veterinary Care. Tuesday - Friday 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Phone (912) 445-5163 Fax (912) 445-5370
100 Timber Trail, Suite 104 Richmond Hill, GA 31324
coastalgavetcare.com
NEWCOMERS & NEIGHBORS 2012
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Burnsed Body Shop
Collision Repair Specialists Quality Service For Over 25 Years • Insurance Claims Welcome • Free Pick Up & Delivery • PPG Certified Refinished Technicians • Towing Available • I-Car Trained Frame Specialist • Free Estimates • Auto Glass Installation • Down Draft Spray Booth Collision Repair Specialists • Complete Frame Straightening Quality Service For Over 25 Years on All Repairs • Lifetime Guarantee
Burnsed Body Shop
Located at J. HarnHarn Industrial Park Park Located atDixie J. Dixie Industrial
Claims Welcome p & Delivery ed Refinished Technicians ailable d Frame Specialist ates Installation t Spray Booth Frame Straightening uarantee on All Repairs
Hwy 280 East Hwy 280 East Open Monday-Friday 7am-6pm Open Monday-Friday 7am-5pm
653-2773
653-2773
MEMBER OF ASA AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION
ANYTIME
Termite & Pest Services Serving the Coastal Empire of Georgia & the Low Country of South Carolina Pest Management Professionals with over 45 Years of Experience
churches Beulah Baptist P.O. Box 299 700 Beluah Church Road Pembroke, Ga. 31321 (912) 653-2640
Cypress Bay Baptist 281 Charles Shuman Road Pembroke, Ga. 31321 (912) 858-3151
First Baptist Church of Pembroke
Available Upon Request
912.756.5572 www.AnytimeTermite.com AnytimeInspections@msn.com
Locally Owned & Operated
The Bridge Church 745 Mason Road Pembroke, Ga. 31321 (912) 653-2081 www.thebridgepembroke.org
Pembroke United Methodist 102 N. College St. Pembroke, Ga. 31321 (912) 653-2220 www.pembrokeumc.com
Canaan Baptist Church 9150 Ford Ave. Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-3533
Coastal Community Christian Church 10770 Ford Ave. Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-3455 www.cccconline.net
Corinth Baptist Church 19536 Hwy. 144 E. Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 727-2617
169 Church St. Pembroke, Ga. 31321 (912) 653-4952 www.fbcpembroke.com
St. John AME
Holy Cross Catholic Church
Word of Life Tabernacle
90 W. Bacon St. Pembroke, Ga. 31321 (912) 653-4659
117 Ware St. Pembroke, Ga. 31321 (912) 653-2873
House of Deliverance
Zion Hill Holiness
54 Foxworth Drive Pembroke, Ga. 31321 (912) 653-5894 www.houseofdeliverance evangelisticcenter.org
465 Otter Hole Branch Road Pembroke, Ga. 31321 (912) 653-2890
Jerusalem Baptist
Bethel Baptist Church
244 Jerusalem Church Road Pembroke, Ga. 31321 (912) 653-2272 or (912) 653-3000
40 White Oak Lane Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-3324 www.bbcrhill.org
Faith Harbor Baptist Church
Little Salem Holiness
Bryan Neck Missionary Baptist
Kingdom Hall Jehovah’s Witnesses
16525 Hwy. 144 Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 727-2163
881 Belfast Keller Road Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 727-5262
Calvary Missionary Baptist
Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church
6978 Hwy. 280 W. Pembroke, Ga. 31321 (912) 653-3585
Mt. Moriah Baptist
Military, New Home Owner and Senior Discounts
(912) 653-2457 www.pembrokechristian.org
185 South Poplar St. Pembroke, Ga. 31321 (912) 653-2514 www.mountmoriahchurch. com
Northside Baptist Church 458 W.E. Smith Road Pembroke, Ga. 31321 (912) 653-3088 www.nsbcpembroke.com
Pembroke Christian
251 Benton St. Pembroke, Ga. 31321 (912) 653-5941
South Bryan
200 Daniel Siding Loop Road Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-2702 www.calvarymbcexperience. org
Calvary Holy Church of God 8933 Ford Ave. Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 756-3509
Daniel Baptist Church 580 Daniel Siding Loop Road Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-4667
Emmanuel Christian Church 152 Thunderbird Drive Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 445-5088
First Baptist Church 9184 Ford Ave. Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-2196 www.richmondhill.org
10425 Ford Ave. Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 385-9063
128 Frances Meeks Way, Ste. 14 Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-4455
New Beginnings Community Church 75 Crosswinds Drive Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 445-0196 nbcchurch.com
116 W. Bacon St. Pembroke, Ga. 31321
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Mayor Harold Fowler City Council Members - Van Hunter, Russ Carpenter, John Fesperman, Jan Bass
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Over $100,000,000 in Verdicts and Settlements Since 1997
Trial lawyer injury M. Brice ladson wrongful Death Serious Personal injury Business litigation Professional Malpractice non-Media Defamation
churches New Covenant Presbyterian Church 520 Cedar St. Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 727-2711 www.newcovpres.com
New Life Worship Center 16252 Hwy. 144 Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 727-3369 www.newliferichmondhill.com
Richmond Hill Church of Christ 11651 Ford Ave. Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-4970 www.richmondhillcoc.com
Richmond Hill Full Gospel Church 7056 Hwy. 17 Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-2439
912-459-1118 10375 Ford ave., Ste. 3, richmond Hill
Richmond Hill Presbyterian Church
St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church
12965 Hwy. 144 Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-2339 www.rhpchurch.com
16491 Hwy. 144 E. Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 727-2650 www. stelizabethsrichmondhill.com
Richmond Hill United Methodist 9050 Ford Ave. Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-2190 www.rhumc.com
Spirit of Peace Lutheran Church 10512 Ford Ave. Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 727-5608 www.spiritofpeacelutheran. org
St. Anne’s Catholic Church
Victory Temple Church of God in Christ 152 Thunderbird Drive, Ste. 205 Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 459-0510
The Waterfront Church 134 Thunderbird Drive P.O. Box 1978 Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 659-8290 www.thewaterfrontchurch. com
10550 Ford Ave. Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-3343 www.stannerh.org
www.ladsonlaw.com
About Us
Heather F. NeSmith, PA-C Michael Sharkey, MD Christi Gibson, PA-C Richard James, MD
Now offering Botox & Dermal Fillers Call today to make your dermatology appointment at (912)
727-SKIN
(7546)
Georgia Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center is a general and surgical dermatology practice comprised of sixteen offices throughout Georgia with locations including: Dublin, Statesboro, Macon, Warner Robins, Milledgeville, Thomaston, Forsyth, Augusta, Tifton, Americus, Cordele, Douglas, and coastal offices in Richmond Hill, Hinesville, Jesup, and Brunswick. The organization is well established and well known having served in Georgia for over forty years. There are eleven physicians, nine physician assistants and two nurse practitioners with a staff of more than one hundred associates. We specialize in the treatment of all types of skin disorders and the removal of skin cancer. Mohs surgery is performed by our Mohs surgeons in the Dublin, Warner Robins, Tifton, Hinesville, and Brunswick offices. We are now offering Botox, Dysport, and dermal fillers in the Richmond Hill office. We welcome new patients and referrals, and we accept most insurance plans. Our practice also has an in-house pathology lab located in Hinesville that services our sixteen locations as well as several other practices in the area. Laboratory services include evaluation of skin biopsies and excisions, slide preparation and immunohistochemical staining. Our office is conveniently located at
10230 Ford Avenue in Richmond Hill. Learn more about us at
GaDerm.com
PACPros: Make them YOUR technical support department!
Small business support Home networking Computer setup Internet security Data recovery Home theater setup
Call us at (912) 653-4389 On-site services or drop off in Pembroke
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CLUBS & COMMUNITY GROUPS American Legion Post 164 1040 Hwy. 280 W. Pembroke, Ga. 31324 (912) 653-4958 Meets at 8 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at the Legion Hall.
American Legion Post 27 P.O. Box 2767 Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-2649 Meets at 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at the Richmond HillBryan County Chamber of Commerce office.
Arts on the Coast (912) 713-1347 www.artsonthecoast.org This nonprofit arts association promotes drama, music, visual arts, culinary
arts and dance in coastal Georgia communities. AOC has sponsored dinner theater, culinary arts workshops, educational programs in the arts, festivals and art exhibits.
Bryan Animal Caregivers P.O. Box 104 Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 727-2694 www.bryanac.org Offers low-cost spay/neuter vouchers to minimize the number of unwanted animals in the county; adoption and placement of unwanted pets; and education to promote responsible treatment of animals. Bryan Animal Caregivers holds the See Spot Run 5K fundraiser each spring.
Bryan Cooperative Extension Service
(912) 653-2231 Leadership training opportunities through 4-H for children in fifth grade using research-based education in agriculture, the environment, communities, youth and families.
Open Daily for Lunch, Dinner, and Drinking
Boy Scouts of AmericaCoastal Empire Council (912) 927-7272 bsa099@bsamail.org www.bsasavannah.org
Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia
Daily Specials Sunday Brunch Wednesday Night Trivia Full Bar 180+ Single Malt Whiskies Private Functions
(912) 236-1571 www.gshg.org
Bryan County 4-H Club 131 N. College St. Pembroke, Ga. 31321 (912) 653-2231 www.bryan4-h.org
Molly MacPherson's 3742 S. Hwy 17, Richmond Hill 1/2 mile North from I-95 Exit 87
912.459.9600 www.macphersonspub.com
131 N. College St. Pembroke, Ga. 31321
“I work in Savannah, but I live in Bryan County. Gee, do I need two banks?” When you’re at home, come to Bryan Bank. During the workday, handle transactions at one of the many branches or ATMs of our big sister, The Savannah Bank. It’s two banks in one.
Richmond Hill
9971 Ford Avenue | 3700 Highway 17
(912) 756-4444 | bryanbank.com NEWCOMERS & NEIGHBORS 2012
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CLUBS & COMMUNITY GROUPS Bryan County Youth Advisory Council 185 Ball Park Road Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-3828 Members are students ages 13-18 in good academic standing who strive to make a positive impact on the Bryan County community.
Exchange Club of Richmond Hill P.O. Box 967 Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 727-2001 www.rhxc.org Meetings are at noon on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at the Richmond Hill City Center in J.F. Gregory Park. Exchange Club is a service organization dedicated to improving life in Richmond Hill.
Richmond Hill Rotary Club P.O. Box 2323 Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 445-0043 www.rotaryclubofrichmond hillga.com Meetings are 12:30 p.m. every Thursday at the Richmond Hill City Center.
Friends of the Library, Richmond Hill (912) 756-3580 Meetings are at 11 a.m. on the second Monday of each month at the Richmond Hill Public Library on Hwy. 144. The group provides funding for items that do not fall within the library’s budget, such as extra books, DVDs and movies. It hosts an annual book sale to raise money for the library. The organization also sells books, DVDs and CDs in the library.
Friends of the Library, Pembroke
North Bryan Chamber of Commerce
(912) 653-2822 Meetings are at 11 a.m. the second Thursday of every other month at the Pembroke Public Library. The group encourages residents to become interested in the public library and holds an annual book sale to raise funds for needed items. Books are also on sale year-round in the lobby of the library.
(912) 653-5655 www.bryancounty.org Monthly networking luncheons are at noon at the Dixie Harn Community Center in Pembroke behind the Bryan County Courthouse, and Business After Hours is held quarterly at various locations.
Garden Club of Richmond Hill (912) 727-2263 rhgardenclub@coastalnow.net The Richmond Hill Garden Club meets at 10 a.m. on the second Wednesday of each month at the library.
Garden Club of Pembroke (912) 858-3656 The Pembroke Garden Club meets at 10 a.m. on the third Thursday of the month from September to June at the Community Center on Lanier Street. The group hosts speakers and takes trips. Each April, they host the city’s yard sale, and in May they tour local gardens.
The Over the Hill Gang P.O. Box 473 Richmond Hill, Ga. (912) 727-4159 www.overthehillgang richmondhillga.com Nonprofit classic automobile club that meets at 5 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month at the Dairy Queen on Hwy. 144 in Richmond Hill. Club members must be at least 16 years old. Members are encouraged to have a car, truck or motorcycle to show, but it is not required.
Richmond Hill Area Tennis Association
(912) 653-4787 Meets at 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at the Pembroke Public Library.
508 Timber Trail Road Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 timjones@ifh.com www.richmondhilltennis.com The Richmond Hill Area Tennis Association is a member of the United States Tennis Association and Georgia Tennis Association. It’s a nonprofit that offers afterschool sports programs, leadership development programs and advanced skill development programs for youth and adults in Richmond Hill and Bryan County.
North Bryan Cancer Support Group
Richmond Hill-Bryan County Chamber of Commerce
(912) 858-2945 (912) 858-2079 Meets at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at the Pembroke Public Library.
2951 Hwy. 17, Ste. 100 Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-3444 www.rhbcchamber.org For information on joining the chamber or to find out about specific meeting dates and times, call the office. The Chamber hosts one Business
Lions Club of Richmond Hill (912) 727-3422 Meets the fourth Thursday of each month at various locations.
Lions Club of Pembroke
After Hours event each month with different businesses in Richmond Hill, as well as Lunch ‘n’ Learn, workshops, webinars and a quarterly forum for members.
Richmond Hill Convention and Visitors Bureau P.O. Box 1067 520 Cedar St. Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-2676 www.richmondhillcvb.org Meetings are at 8:30 a.m. on the third Wednesday of each month in the Richmond Hill City Center.
Richmond Hill Historical Society and Museum 11460 Ford Ave. Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-3697 www.richmondhill historicalsociety.com Membership is open to the public.
YMCA of Coastal Georgia 154 Thunderbird Drive Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324 (912) 756-5856 Programs for individuals and families including after-school care, summer camps, sports and leadership programs.
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Christy Carroll Balbo
attorney at law, p.C.
General Civil litiGation real estate Business law / Corporations Christy Carroll Balbo, Attorney At Law, P.C. is a civil practice law firm representing clients in the areas of Real Estate, Business/Corporate Law, Personal Injury and Contract Litigation. We pride ourselves in giving each of our clients the time and attention they deserve and the legal skill they require. Consider our firm for comprehensive legal assistance when you and your family need it most.
11258 Ford Avenue, Suite 8 Coastal (912) 756-5518 “Serving Georgia and Military Families Worldwide” Richmond Hill Court www.thebalbofirm.com Serving Coastal Georgia & Military Families A.J. Balbo, Esq. Worldwide CRIMINAL DEFENSE DIVORCE/FAMILY LAW MILITARY LAW/UCMJ PERSONAL INJURY IMMIGRATION DUI free consultations! Chester J. Gregg, Esq.
BalBo & GreGG Attorneys-At-lAw, p.c.
912-459-1776 • www.balbogregg.com 11258 Ford Avenue, Suite 11 • Richmond Hill, Georgia 31324
criminal defense • dui • divorce/family law military law/ucmj • personal injury free consulatation • immigration
Official Counsel of
Harp on Sports of ESPN 102.1 FM
A.J. Balbo, Esq. We accept credit cards
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Chester J. Gregg, Esq.
11258 Ford Avenue, Suite 11, Richmond Hill, Georgia 31324 • 912-459-1776 • www.balbogregg.com
8/20/2012 4:37:31 PM
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