Pooler July/August 2013

JULY/AUGUST 2013

Vance Smith Still Making Beautiful Music

02 July/August 2013 | Pooler Magazine

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CONTENTS July/August 2013

features

10 16 30

10 16

Vance Smith Still Making Beautiful Music

Rebecca Flaherty Fulfilling A Dream

Kim Polote Singer, Speaker - Now Actress

departments

09 42 44

Publisher’s Page Pooler Recreation Spotlight Dining Guide

specials

36

30 06 July/August 2013 | Pooler Magazine

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Pooler Magazine | March/April 2013 07

CONTRIBUTORS

Barbara Russell is a freelance writer and photographer, and in the past she was a high school English teacher and a flight attendant. Always an avid horse person and riding instructor, she enjoys writing for equine publications and she is writing a young adult novel about horses. For several years she wrote feature stories and a history column for Effingham CloseUp, and she has been published in a variety of magazines. Currently she enjoys writing for Independence Day Publishing.

Barbara Russell

July/August 2013 Julie Hales owner/publisher julie@idpmagazines.com Lane Gallegos graphic design and layout lane@idpmagazines.com

Sherry Cook is a Tennessee native who has traveled the world thanks to her husband’s military career. Germany, South Korea, Texas, Kentucky, and Alabama are just a few of the places they have called home over the past 25 years. Sherry and her husband now reside in Rincon, along with two of their three children. She is currently focusing on completing the requirements for her BA in History with the University of Maryland.

Lea Allen administrative assistant/circulation lea@idpmagazines.com Candice Shaufelberger administrative / graphic assistant candice@idpmagazines.com

Sherry Cook

DiAnna Jenkins sales manager dianna@idpmagazines.com

Paige Peebles-McDuffie is a freelance writer and blogger and relative newcomer to Effingham County. She is a life coach, motivational speaker and the owner of a small company providing international clients with personal and administrative assistance. She is a graduate of East Georgia College and is currently working towards her Masters in Behavioral Analysis.

Paige Peebles-McDuffie

Mitch is employed both by Gulfstream and his own wedding & portrait photography company - D&M Photo. He is a resident of Rincon and enjoys spending time with his wife and 3 sons, being behind the camera, studying foreign cultures and world music, and has a keen interest for all things having to do with world history, communication, the performing arts and technology.

Mitch Allman

Katie is a freelance writer and Effingham County native who enjoys meeting new and interesting people. She earned her English degree at Georgia Southern University, and caught the travel bug while studying abroad in Costa Rica, where she received a minor in Spanish. After college, she worked briefly in Yellowstone National Park, where she enjoyed hiking and photographing the scenery and the wildlife.

Kathryn Vandenhouten

Barbara Anderson account executive barbara@idpmagazines.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscribe to Pooler Magazine by submitting a check and subscription information form found in every issue. You may also subscribe by calling (912)8262760.

LETTERS TO THE PUBLISHER Write to us and tell us what you think. Pooler Magazine welcomes all letters to the publisher. Please send all letters via email to Julie Hales at julie@idpmagazines.com Letters to the publisher must have a phone number and name of contact.

Phone numbers will not be published.

ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS Pooler Magazine welcomes story ideas from our readers. If you have a story idea, or photo essay you would like to share, please submit ideas and material by emailing Julie Hales at julie@idpmagazines.com All articles and photos will be reviewed by the publisher, and if the articles and accompanying photos meet the criteria of Independence Day Publishing, Inc., the person submitting the material will be contacted. Stories or ideas for stories must be submitted by email. Only feature stories and photo essays about people, places or things in Pooler, Georgia will be considered.

Pooler Magazine is published bimonthly by Independence Day Publishing, Inc. Reproduction in whole or in part in any manner without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited.

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PUBLISHER’S Thoughts On the Cover

JULY/AUGUST 2013

Vance Smith Still Making Beautiful Music

Vance Smith, Cover photo by Mitch Allman

Julie Hales, Publisher

It’s Music To My Ears...

Connect with us on Facebook. Be the first to know what is going on with Pooler Magazine and what new and exciting things we are working on.

Become a fan today.

It’s definitely summer time! People are out and about all over….picnics…pool parties…. the beach….it is nice to be able to spend time outdoors again!

What is one thing that seems to be a common denominator in almost everything we do? Music! There is usually a radio playing while we are laying on the beach….or sitting by the pool….singing at church on Sunday morning……or just strumming a guitar while enjoying good times with family and friends.

There are all kinds of music….gospel, rock, country, rap, symphony, blue grass, soul……we all have our personal favorites. But, even with our different tastes and styles, music is something that seems to bring us all together. Music is universal.

And, where would we be without the people who bring us music? Where would we be without guitars and drums and perfect harmonies? Where would we be without that perfect country song or that classic southern rock? Or, where would we be without our old gospel favorite?

In this issue, we decided to give you some updates on several local talents we have featured in the past. The folks we chose have all had tremendous things happen in their careers since being featured in Pooler Magazine!

Our cover story, Vance Smith, is a very talented young man. Not only has he furthered his music career, this ambitious guy has opened his own business. He is currently auditioning for “The Voice” and we hope to be seeing this local young man on national television soon.

Rebecca Flaherty has been living her dream....and accomplishing the goals set before her. Her opera career has been phenomenal since being featured in our publication. Read her story and how she was instrumental in starting a new organization in Savannah for young opera singers.

And Kim Polote, what a delightfully talented lady! Kim has continued her musical career, along with motivational speaking. Since being feature in Pooler Magazine, she now wears a new hat....actress! Read her story to find out all about her newest venture in life.

I hope you enjoy reading about these local artists and all of their recent accomplishments. And, let a little music in your heart!

Pooler Magazine | July/August 2013 09

POOLER

musicians:

Vance Smith

Where are they now?

Still Making Beautiful Music You can follow this phenomenal musician on his facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TeamVanceSmith/info or his twitter account: Twitter.com/vance313.

10 July/August 2013 | Pooler Magazine

Story By Sherry Cook

E

xciting things have been happening for Vance Smith since his feature article appeared in the November/December 2012 issue of Pooler Magazine.

Early in 2012, Vance traveled to Nashville to audition for American Idol. As stated in his previous article, he did not make it to the second round of auditions but the whole experience strengthened his desire to become a successful recording artist. This is due to the reason they gave him for the rejection. The young R&B singer was told he was “overqualified” for the show, meaning they immediately realized he was an extremely talented and professional vocalist.

Once again, Vance will be auditioning for a popular television show, this time it is “The Voice.”

Later this month he will be heading to New York to showcase his vocal abilities for another panel of judges. While watching the show one night, he saw the advertisement for try-outs and decided to give it a try. Vance has successfully made it past the first round with the aid of a music video he submitted, and once in New York two more panels of judges will have to be tackled. Nonetheless, he is extremely excited about the opportunity he has been blessed with.

“I am learning to play the acoustic guitar and the piano,” Vance proudly states. This is quite an achievement for someone who cannot read music.

He has already mastered the drums, and hopes to become skilled at these two instruments. This driven young man has aspirations of starting his own band, with himself as the lead singer.

“Church is a necessity for me,” insists Vance. “I don’t tell people that I go to church to sound good.

I need church.” This is another area in which thrilling things are happening for him. He recently auditioned for the music ministry at Savannah Christian Church. The vocal audition was tough and Vance was impressed at how professional the process was. He was accepted and is overly joyed to be joining their team. He says, “I know Savannah Christian is the church for me!”

Everybody needs a steady income and this musician is no different. Vance recently started his own business, Pristine Clean Pressure Washing Service. He realized that in order to focus on his musical career he needed a job with a flexible schedule. This driven young gentleman knew waking up each day and working at a job he didn’t enjoy was not for him. So he started the business and is his own boss. He says so far it has been a very lucrative adventure. He is even considering starting a second business, a trucking company.

Success is what Vance is hoping to achieve in life, not just fame. He hopes to own two or three successful business, with one being an entertainment company. Working behind the scenes in the music business is where he would like to end up eventually. With his drive, determination and talent, it could eventually happen.

Taken from Pooler Magazine’s November/December 2012 issue

the

Heart & Soul of Vance Smith

Story By PAIGE PEEBLES - MCDUFFIE Photos By MITCH ALLMAN

L

ocal R&B singer, 20 year-old Vance Smith surprised me from the very beginning of our conversation all the way through to the end. I’m not sure what I was expecting when I pulled up in the family driveway, but all my preconceived notions just flew right out the window in the first thirty-seconds.

Vance was off in the wings of the upstairs entertainment area, finishing his preparations for our interview and his photoshoot, so I got to have an intimate chat with his manager-mom Vanito first.

There is a strong sense of family in this house. It’s tangible, and it’s evident as the interview unfolds.

Vanito has been managing his musical career since he was a small boy. She laughs at the term manager, but concedes that is pretty much what it boils down to.

Vance wrote one of his first songs about his favorite food Cheerios when he was a kid and got the nickname “Fella” when his older sister VanKeyta couldn’t quite wrap her tongue around “Vance”.

Vance admits it’s not easing having your mother as your manager, and that on more than one occasion they don’t see eye to eye.

He fondly calls her “The Boss Boss”.

Music runs deep in the family blood.

His dad Van Peter was a member in a basement R&B band back home in Detroit. After practice was over, five year-old Vance and the older kids would wander downstairs and jam a little bit with Dad. With Vance on drums, his sister would play the keyboard along with Dad. His brother Van Nashon hammered away on some more percussion and Mama, well...“Mama was just looking.... good,” Dad chuckles.

It’s apparent where Vance gets the shyer aspects of his personality. His Dad is an observer and a man of few words. Eventually, Van Peter warms up to the conversation going on around him and interjects that Vance is very mature for his age, and there isn’t much he can teach him these days. “Vance is in a league of his own. I just can’t believe the level he is able to compose and sing on.” Van Peter is also a deacon on the church and he shares with quiet approval “Vance really does love Christ. It’s not an act.”

It’s no surprise that R&B is his niche or that gospel was his beginning point. He hails from Detroit, the home of Motown and Fortune records and some

of the largest R&B names in the country, including Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles and The Four Tops among others.

Gospel is a strong influence in R&B style music. He grew up singing gospel in his church, and continues to sing with the gospel choir at The New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church of Savannah.

He really felt at one time that gospel was the path God was laying out for him but the doors kept closing and he struggled with some guilt about choosing R&B over gospel.

Vance realized one day that singing gospel with the choir was a deeply intimate and personal way for him to connect with God and that singing gospel professionally might alter the relationship he enjoyed with God. Once he realized that, R&B doors started opening up for him. Singing in the choir he is one voice among many; performing R&B, he is “The Voice” and he has to adjust his perspective for each style of music.

His mind is constantly brimming with lyrics and melodies and composition inspirations that he often records on his iPhone Voice recorder and later lays

down some tracks in his home studio after playback. His face lights up as he shares his newest inspiration. He is currently toying with the idea of remaking some of the old school gospel songs with a modern twist for a younger congregation without losing the heart and soul of the music. He gives me a little sample of the traditional “Amazing Grace.” I was blown away in those thirty seconds of a cappella, covered in chill bumps and the smart of tears in my eyes. This young man has mad skills.

Vance and his family moved to the Pooler area nearly a decade ago, escaping the harshness of life in Detroit. “Man, I saw it all. Domestic abuse, gangs, drugs, violence. I just can’t even tell you. And I was just a kid,” says Vance. His parents made a brave decision to just leave, and picked Pooler out of the blue as a safer haven for their young family. It has turned out to be an excellent decision for Vance’s career. Savannah, well known for being a hotbed of creativity and having a rich reputation for local talent, inspired him to take it a step further.

Although Vance grew up singing gospel and playing around with R&B, it wasn’t until his senior year in high school that he really found his voice. An excellent student at Groves High School with a greater than 3.5 GPA, he had the opportunity to perform with YCC, Young Cash Clique.

Vance said, “I felt the magic happen when I got onstage to sing in front of all those thousands of people and I’ve been chasing that magic ever since.”

He eventually left YCC to pursue a solo career in R&B and Pop. He has opened for such artists as Trey Songz, Blood Raw, Mishon and Young Buck and collaborated with Blood Raw on “Gettin’ Money”. He has had his music featured on local radio station 94.1 The Beat, and E93 Jams.

His music video “Caught Up On Your X” can be seen at www.Youtube. com/mrscoobyv. This former Hollister model will captivate you with his silky smooth, mellifluous voice, charismatic intensity and easy connection with the audience through the lens of the video camera.

Like many aspiring musicians today, Vance tested his skills at an American

Idol audition. Earlier this year he traveled to Memphis TN to spend six long hours standing and sitting outside on the concrete for a chance to spend ten seconds in front of the judges. Contestants perform in groups of three, and he was the last of his group to sing and among the last group of the day to go in front of the judges.

Competing against 16,000 other talented people was an eye opening experience for young Vance. He said his style was very different than the style of those that went on to the next level of the competition and that he got very good feedback from the judges.

He wasn’t asked to move forward in the competition, but he came away with the experience with renewed dedication to his one year plan of landing a major record deal. I was treated to another a cappella sample of his voice with his ten seconds of Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely” that he performed for the judges and I was struck by the purity of his pitch-perfect tenor, it’s honey-like consistency and fluid range.

His musical influences range from opera to industrial metal. He finds inspiration in everything and uses music to change his mood, to appease his inner muse, to bring him up out of a funk, or just find his happy place. He finds inspiration in artists such as Michael Jackson because he was a survivor and kept doing what he loved in the face of adversity and controversy. Bob Marley and other reggae choices are what he listens to before going on to perform, not R&B as many might suspect.

Vance’s compassionate side comes out as the conversation wanders to more personal matters. He dreams of starting a charity for physically and mentally challenged youth. Growing up, he had some cousins his age that were both physically and mentally handicapped. One suffered irreparable mental damage after a brutal beating by an abusive parent around age five and the other was born to a drug-addicted mother and suffered mental retardation. His family just always adapted to the needs of his cousins and never made them out to be “different.” Mentally and physically challenged kids “get put in a box. People don’t pay attention to them.

They are blessed in a very different way” and he envisions taking groups of these kids to outings like races, basketball games and other things that might not otherwise be available to them.

His face gets very still and quiet when he starts talking about the subject of mentally and physically challenged people, and there is a catch in his voice. I prod him a little and he opens up after quietly asking his mom (who is standing discreetly in the

wings, just outside of the room) if he should share this part of his story. She tells him, “its your story - you tell it, son.”

Vance takes a deep breath and begins his tale.

Having seen the devastation of drugs and violence among his own family members and in the neighborhoods of Detroit, he had long ago determined to not stray from the path of “good things” and had made a commitment to God to keep his faith and to be strong.

This past summer, life had him down over a relationship and he made a life altering decision and “Own your feelings and express decided to try the nouveau drug Spice as a way them. No matter how big they are, to get a moments respite always be honest about how you are from his mental troubles. feeling, and don’t be afraid to show This turned out to be a that vulnerability to others. You never horrible idea. Almost immediately after ingesting know when you might be the one to Spice, he found himself show them the way.” unable to breath, suffered from memory loss and cognitive skills. He was gram at his church and uses his personal unable to communicate clearly or express experiences rather than his music to reach himself and overwhelmed with feelings of these kids. The prevailing and common anxiety and panic. These symptoms came theme he sees among these kids is lack of and went for several weeks and during that opportunity and poor personal choices. time he spent a lot of time in prayer and He wants them to own their actions and searching his soul. be responsible for the kind of person they He said that those weeks of not being are, regardless of life circumstances. He able to frame coherent thoughts or speak knows. He’s been there. “Own your feelcomplete sentences gave him a unique ings and express them. No matter how big insight into what it might be like to be they are, always be honest about how you mentally challenged and helped him clarify are feeling, and don’t be afraid to show his vision of helping those less fortunate. that vulnerability to others. You never A member of the First Jerusalem Misknow when you might be the one to show sionary Baptist Church and Coordinator them the way.” for the “Boys to Men” outreach program, He gives the photographer and me a Tyrone Willis was one of the people that final treat as we wrap up our time together helped Vance get his life back together.

- a tour of his recording studio and a little This spiritual coach and mentor has impromptu recording session. He writes inspired him to eventually start his own all of his lyrics and engineers his music as trucking business as a way to provide jobs well, creating his own driving beats that to people in his community. Vance says, unconsciously reflect the throbbing 1950’s “Tyrone keeps me grounded and doesn’t cuban influences that left an indelible hold back on how he feels. He simply gives mark on the genre. While demonstrating, it to me straight” - something that is very he sheepishly admits that his impeccable necessary when everyone else tells you how percussion rhythm does not extend to his awesome and amazing you are. “Tyrone feet or his ability to dance. He burns us treats me like his own son” he continues, “I each our own CD and hands them to us truly wouldn’t be where I am without him. with a shy grin. “Enjoy this,” he says. I I love him like my own Pops!” took it home that night and did just that.

Vance has worked with over 20 kids Several times over. through the “Boys to Men” mentoring pro-

Pooler Magazine | July/August 2013 13

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POOLER

musicians: Where are they now?

rebecca flaherty Fulfilling A Dream

R

ebecca Flaherty has been a busy woman since her feature story appeared in Pooler Magazine in May/June 2010. Three years ago, the classically trained soprano, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Voice Performance from Oberlin Conservatory, spoke about her passion for singing and her plans for her future in the world of opera. Flaherty ardently expressed that performing opera is the thing that makes her happy and she believes everyone should actively pursue what makes them happy. Rebecca also expressed her desire to bring opera to Savannah once she made a name for herself. She has definitely made a name for herself as a performer and has also been instrumental in bringing this classic form of entertainment to the local area.

Since her last interview, Flaherty has successfully completed her Master’s Degree in Voice Performance with Georgia Southern University and accumulated an impressive resume of vocal engagements. The opera singer’s 2011 performances include the title role in Suor Angelica with the Georgia Southern Opera, Shakespeare Alive! with the Charleston Chamber Opera, and Ein deutsches Requiem with the Savannah Philharmonic. Charleston Chamber Opera’s The Impresario, Carmine Burana with the Savannah Philharmonic, and Symphony Under the Stars! with the Hilton Head Symphony are just a few of her 2012 engagements. This year Rebecca made her St. Augustine debut in First Coast Opera’s Gilbert and Sullivan Revue and performed in Mozart’s Requiem with the Hilton Head Symphony. She is devotedly accomplishing her goal of making herself happy with performing.

The Voice Co-op is an encouraging group of voice instructors that Rebecca had a hand in establishing in 2012. The mission

16 July/August 2013 | Pooler Magazine

of this group is to provide their students an environment that is nurturing and gives them an opportunity to bloom as a performer. Once a month, The Voice Co-op students perform before a group of their peers and veteran instructors in order to become comfortable singing for an audience, and to gain enough experience to advance to the next level of artistry. Kelly Balmaceda, Jillian Pashke, and Cyril Durant are the instructors who make up the co-op along with Flaherty. What a wonderful experience and opportunity for aspiring singers thanks to Rebecca Flaherty and her colleagues.

When Rebecca said she wished to bring opera to Savannah she meant it! Rebecca had attended VOICExperience (Voice and Operatic Intensive Creative Experience) in New York and expressed to the program’s executive director, soprano Maria Zoves, that Savannah had no opera company and could benefit culturally from a program like VOICExperience. Zoves and her husband, opera legend Sherrill Milnes, listened to Flaherty, and because they did, The Savannah Voice Festival will have its debut in August. The festival will take place August 3-17, and will include free performances, a community outreach program for students, and some of the world’s top vocal talents to include Rebecca. The Savannah Voice Festival is a great opportunity for the community to experience the world of opera thanks to Pooler’s rising star, Rebecca Flaherty.

More information about Rebecca Flaherty, The Voice Co-op, and the The Savannah Voice Festival can be found at www.rpflaherty.com/, www.thevoicecoop.org/, and www.savannahvoicefestival.org/.

Taken from Pooler Magazine’s May/June 2010 issue

SINGING SOPRANO

POOLER RESIDENT REBECCA FLAHERTY IS A RISING STAR IN THE WORLD OF OPERA •Story by KATIE TURNER •Photos by TODD WOOD

S

he has sung for audiences in Europe as well as the United States, and this summer she will go to Rome, Italy, to further progress her career as an opera singer.

Flaherty has been a quarter-finalist in the American Traditions singing competition, a semi-finalist in the Singer of the Year Competition in Shreveport, Louisiana, and was hand-picked by opera great Sherrill Milnes to sing for his master class in 2009.

She was born in Ohio on the campus of Oberlin College, which is home to one of the best music programs in the nation.

The Oberlin Conservatory of Music is the oldest and most widely known continuously operating conservatory in the country.

Remarkably, Flaherty would end up graduating from Oberlin as well; it seems she was literally born to sing.

“I’ve always been attracted to music,” Flaherty says. As the daughter of a choir director, she was picking out melodies on the family piano at the age of four. She sang all through high school, participated in community music theater and school musicals, and sang in her church choir growing up.

Even though she has always had an affinity for singing, she was apprehensive about pursuing a singing career at first. “I felt like I couldn’t really make music my career because it wasn’t

practical because you wouldn’t make money at it,” Flaherty says.

Her doubts were quickly dispelled when one of her professors at Hiram College noticed her passion for music and encouraged her to transfer to Oberlin. Despite her ongoing passion for music, Flaherty says she was the “low man on the totem pole” when she first arrived at Oberlin. “I was far behind other people that were there,” she says. “I didn’t really get my first voice lesson until I was twenty, and a lot of people that make a career out of this start when they’re as young as thirteen.”

After graduating from Oberlin, she moved around for the next ten years with her husband, Dan, and started a family. They have a daughter, Gwendolyn, and a son, Oliver.

For extra money, she worked various church jobs, taught private voice lessons, sang solos, and directed children’s choir.

Then she began to realize that her window of opportunity for an opera career was getting smaller, so she decided to finish her Master’s in Music.

When her family finally settled in Pooler, Flaherty decided to enroll in Georgia Southern University for her Master’s in Music in Voice Performance. “Georgia Southern is really the only school around that offers a Master’s degree in Voice Performance, and

Pooler Magazine | July/August 2013 17

they do have a really good opera program that will do a fully produced opera,” she says. “You can’t find that anywhere else around here.” She earned a graduate assistantship at GSU, which pays her tuition and a monthly stipend. She says she loves living in the south, even though her time here has not come without its trials.

Last Spring, she was cast in her first full operatic role at Georgia Southern. She thought the experience would solidify her decision to make a career out of opera. “The show was scheduled to go up March 27th,” she says, “and my mom died on March 3rd.”

Her mother had lost her battle with cancer, but Flaherty was determined to perform, despite her loss.

As a part of the healing process, she felt like she had to complete the performance. “I’d worked so much on it, and my mom was really proud of me for doing it. So I couldn’t just not do it. That would have made me feel worse-- like I was giving up,” she says.

Even though she missed an entire week of technical rehearsals, everyone at GSU welcomed her back, and she was able to complete the performance. Flaherty classifies this as one of her proudest moments. “I proved to myself that I could do it. No matter how hard life was for me personally, I could put that aside and do my work,” she says.

The loss of her mother also helped her realize a deeper aspect about interacting with her audience. “There’s always somebody out there in the audience whose mom just died or who just lost their job,” she emphasizes. “So it’s your job when you get on that stage to give those people something.” And Rebecca Flaherty holds nothing back when it comes to giving her all.

I had the privilege of hearing her sing at GSU in the Spring 2010 Opera Scenes, which was directed by Arikka Gregory and Richard Mercier. It was my first opera experience, and I was amazed at the talent of everyone involved.

Flaherty is absolutely magnetic on stage; I can only describe her voice as a powerful force- not only in volume and range, but in the emotion she exudes while performing.

And that reaction is exactly what Flaherty tries to elicit every time she takes the stage. “It’s an interactive thing,” she says.

Her favorite part of performing is the feeling that she is communicating with her audience. “When that happens, there’s this energy in the room where you can tell that the audience is really connected with you,” she says. “It’s almost like a religious experience.”

She maintains that communicating and interacting with the audience is essential in her line of work. “In Italy,” she explains, “one of the worst things you can say about a singer is that they didn’t say anything.” Flaherty says it is not enough to have a pretty voice and a good sound if the music does not speak to the listener. Music should convey a message.

Flaherty’s goal is to bring that message to the masses by educating and exposing more people to opera. She wants people to realize that the stories in operas are applicable to people today.

With tales of infidelity, death, forgiveness, love, and every human circumstance in between, the stories of operas are the stories of humanity.

“Watching the way the characters develop and having music be a part of what they say makes it really clear what they’re feeling,” she says. “That’s why people cry at an opera, because it’s so intense.”

And Flaherty’s passion for singing is as intense as the operas

18 July/August 2013 | Pooler Magazine

in which she performs. When she talks about opera and performing, she lights up with enthusiasm and cannot say enough about the art form she loves. “The really good operas transport an audience, and teach us how to live.”

Even though Flaherty sometimes worries about the obstacles that a music career entails, she feels she owes it to herself to pursue her passion: “When you see your mom laying in a coffin, it becomes very real to you that you’re next in line. That this really ends some day. So I feel like since we get one life, we have to pursue the thing that really makes us happy and that we’re really passionate about.”

She says her husband, Dan, encourages her the most when it comes to pursuing her dreams of singing opera. “I couldn’t have done this without him. He’s been incredibly supportive,” she says.

With the many challenges in the music industry, Flaherty needs all the support she can muster.

“There aren’t enough jobs for sopranos, because there are too many of us,” she says. “Just knowing going into it how the odds are stacked against me- That’s hard.” But she is still determined to make an operatic career for herself, despite the odds. Her greatest challenge now is raising money for her trip to Rome this summer. She earned a $500 scholarship for the program, but still needs more help raising the $7,000 it will take to make it happen.

Flaherty usually makes CD’s for those who donate money via her website. “I need money!” she says with a sense of humor.

When she returns from training in Rome this summer, she will spend three weeks in Tampa, Florida, singing with well-known opera singers Sherrill Milnes, Fabrizio Melano, Joan Dornemann, David Friedman , Geoffrey Holder, and Richard Thomas. Flaherty is understandably excited about this amazing opportunity. She is taking advantage of every opportunity to achieve a career in the world of opera. And after she makes a name for herself, she plans to bring opera to Savannah.

“I’d like to start my own opera company in Savannah,” Flaherty says. She loves working with children. She taught music briefly at Windsor Forest, and from that experience, she realized

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that children really are thirsty for the arts. “To go to area schools and community organizations and educate them about opera-There are some really cool things that opera companies do with their outreach programs,� Flaherty says.

Rebecca Flaherty is the soprano who hits all the high notes when it comes to talent and potential, and with any luck, she will have every success in bringing opera to the people of Pooler and the Savannah area.

Pooler Magazine | July/August 2013 19

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Smokin Pig BBQ

W

hat started out as a hobby for Kevin Fabre has turned into a full time job, and his own business.

Kevin liked to barbeque. He played around with it, cooking for friends, events and parties.

He and his family moved to Richmond Hill in 2006. There was no Barbeque restaurant there at the time. Kevin and his father, Clyde, decided to open one and see what happened. Smokin’ Pig was born. Both men were working other jobs at the time. Within two months of opening their first restaurant, both men had to quit their full time jobs to keep up with their growing venture.

Smokin’ Pig definitely has some of the best BBQ around. Both Kevin and Clyde take great pride in their business……and the fact that they use family recipes for everything they serve….some being handed down for four generations. They also take pride in always serving high quality products. Kevin says, “All of our pork is hand pulled. We only use very lean meat….so, you get no fat or gristle. And we have four home-made sauces to choose from….. hot, mild, spicy vinegar and sweet.”

The restaurant in Richmond Hill was a huge hit. The Fabre men decided it was time to expand. They choose Pooler as their second location. “Pooler has been good to us. Pooler is very business friendly. It was a great decision,” states Kevin.

Both Kevin and Clyde are hands-on in their business. Clyde takes care of the Richmond Hill location and Kevin takes care of Pooler. “We run our business like a Mom and Pop. We value our clients and do our best to give them great service every time they walk in our door,” says Kevin.

If you are looking for some good BBQ and fixings for your next

party or event, give Smokin’ Pig a call. They have a full catering menu that is sure to whet your appetite….and please your guests.

Smokin’ Pig is located at 1215 Highway 80 East, in the shopping center next to Spanky’s. They are open Mondays for lunch only, from 11 am til 2 pm. And on Tuesdays through Saturdays, they are open from 11 am til 9 pm.

Go by and have lunch or dinner with Kevin and his crew! You won’t be sorry!

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Pooler Magazine | July/August 2013 23

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For more information, please contact: Pooler Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau, Inc. office@poolerchamber.com (912) 748-0110 26 July/August 2013 | PoolerMagazine

Lucky’s Tavern

W

e all remember growing up and playing with our friends in the neighborhood, laughing and relaxing, and well, just enjoying each other’s company. As we grew up, responsibilities came into play, but we still have that desire to get with our friends and enjoy their company and relax. If you think you don’t have a place for that to happen, you are in Luck. Actually, you are very Lucky. And the place to be is Lucky’s Tavern.

Situated in Pooler at 301 Governor Truetlen Road, it is easy to find. It is located at the Savannah Conference Hotel and has plenty of parking spaces for you. Open since December of 2010, it provides that neighborhood feel you are looking for.

Owner Andrew Johnson always dreamed of owning and operating just such a place. He has definitely had the experience it takes to run a business like this having worked in all aspects of it. From bussing tables, waiting tables, bartending, bouncing, and cooking to name a few, he has the knowledge from every view point. This is probably why his interpretation of what a local tavern should be like will be his winning feat.

Community is important to Andrew and his wife, Angela, as they are involved in local events that support Pooler and the surrounding area. And local is the selling point. Andrew and Angela are very adamant about their belief that buying local and participating local is the key to helping a community thrive. “We appreciate the city of Pooler for their support and for welcoming us,” Andrew said. “We feel that by working together with the community, it makes it better for everyone. That is why we also buy local.”

The establishment is a full bar that also serves food. You can order at the bar and then sit and enjoy the atmosphere while your

te o v

d

Be

S

a tB

food is brought to you. And if you have something special such as a birthday, anniversary, or some important event that you want to celebrate, a quick phone call ahead will ensure that you and your guests will have a great time. The staff will decorate and provide a cake and balloons for the celebration, and will make sure your time there is fun.

“We offer a variety of specials throughout the week that hopefully the customers will enjoy”. The hours the tavern is open are, Mondays from 3 until 2 am, Tuesdays through Fridays from 2 until 2 am, Saturdays from 3 until 3 am, and Sundays from 1 until 12 midnight. The kitchen is open daily from 4 until 10 with Sunday starting at 1 and closing at 10. Whether your preference is a juicy burger with fries or the traditional hot wings, there is something for you to enjoy.

And then there are the festivities to be enjoyed. Wednesdays through Saturdays customers can enjoy the fun of karaoke, starting at 9. Many of the locals find this a relaxing atmosphere to just hang out with friends and see who can out-sing the other.

Mondays hold the pool tournament where you can find yourself playing against some of the best. And who can resist corn hole?

Corn hole tournaments are hosted on Tuesdays for those who feel that they have sharpened their skills. It is evident that Lucky’s provides a variety of activities to help anyone throw off the stress of the day and unwind in a place that feels like the old neighborhood.

Lucky’s Tavern is the local place to be if wanting to sit back, relax, and enjoy the company of other’s is what you are looking for. With great staff, a fine selection of wells and drafts, and great food, you are sure to leave feeling like a very lucky person indeed.

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POOLER

musicians: Where are they now?

Kim polote Singer, Speaker - Now Actress

Kim Michael Polote can be contacted at: 224-7464 or singingmomthree@yahoo.com Her CDs: “I Thought About You - a tribute to Johnny Mercer” and “Season of Love” a Christmas CD, can be purchased at E Shaver’s Book Store, Paula Dean’s Store, Savannah Tea Room on Broughton Street and at Barnes and Nobel.

30 July/August 2013 | Pooler Magazine

K

im Michael Polote has been called “Savannah’s Own Fabulous Vocalist” and that’s an accurate description.

She was born and raised in Savannah, and has been recognized here for her singing talent since the age of seven. She is the only Savannah native to be the Gold Medal Winner of the coveted American Traditions Competition, and her life is spent entertaining Savannah’s locals and tourists with her beautiful voice, her lively personality, and of course - her genuine smile.

The Kim Polote Trio performs at Ruth’s Chris Steak House every Friday night from 8-11pm. Kim, David and Alisha Duckworth have been a part of the Ruth Chris entertainment for going on 5 years.

David Armstrong’s Road Scholar / Elderhostel department are the host to travelers from all over the world. Part of their itinerary is a two hour Johnny Mercer music Lecture series which features the Kim Polote Trio. Their lively “Jumpin With Johnny” show celebratong Johnny Mercer,has been a huge success for the last 8 years. The trio performs from 30 to 40 of these Mercer shows every year for this eager group of travelers.

Polote, aka Paula Deen’s wedding singer, also makes regular guest appearances at The Lady and Sons restaurant bursting into song throughout the restaurant and gift shop. She and Paula have known one another for 16 years. Recently she respectfully fulfilled the wishes of a dear friend of both she and Paula, Nancy Mercer Gerard, Johnny Mercer’s niece, by singing at her funeral.

“Nancy was my friend, and she told me many years ago that she wanted me to sing “Skylark” at her gravesite when she went on to Glory. It was a special honor followed by Stratton and Mary Leopold serving Tutti Frutti ice cream right there in Bonaventure cemetery!

Polote also provides music for private events and her live performances have been nationally aired on the Food Network’s “Great Hotels” show of the Travel Channel, and the Emmy-Winning “Paula Dean’s Cooking” of the Food Network. She has sung with Harry Connick Jr. and his orchestra. The list goes on, but Polote’s beautiful voice, vivacious personality and positive attitude are used for more than just entertaining - she’s a motivational speaker - inspiring and impacting others through song and speaking.

In spite of a busy schedule, recently Kim has added a new dimension to her talent - she is a Civil War reenactor. When Savannah’s Michael Jordan asked her to portray one of the characters in “Savannah and the Civil War,” a documentary that he wrote and created, she stepped out of her comfort zone and into a new dimension of her life. In the DVD, Kim portrays Susie King Taylor, the first African American nurse Susie King Taylor was the only black woman to have had a book published of her Civil War memories. In the documentary, Ms. Polote is fully dressed in a replica civil war costume comparable to that which Susie King Taylor wore. As Polote prepared for her portrayal, she became immersed in the lives of the different historical characters prompting a desire to learn more about life in Savannah during the Civil War. The DVD was released in 2012 and is available at Mrs. Wilkes Restaurant on Jones Street in downtown Savannah. Be on the lookout for this singing historian’s next venture into Savannah’s rich and significant past inspired by a significant book written about the history of the civil war in Georgia entitled “Freedom”

by Michael L.Thurmond. Ironically, Susie King Taylor is on the cover. Great personal sacrifices were made in the name of ‘freedom.’ “Freedom is not free,” says Polote.

Savannah is fortunate to have Kim Michael Polote. It’s evident in her singing, motvational talks, and historical reenactments.

Kim celebrates living a life of joy, hope and divine inspiration.

Taken from Pooler Magazine’s March/April 2011 issue

Singing Servant

Story by BARBARA W. RUSSELL Photos by TODD WOOD

S

he’s got a voice that’s sweet, soulful and powerful, and a dynamite singing smile. Kim Michael Polote, of Pooler, was born with a God-given talent for singing, and she was raised in a family that was full of love and musical talent. After being a traditional house wife and raising three children, she put her musical talent to work. Today she uses her singing to entertain as-well-as to inspire.

“Singing and motivational speaking is what I do full time,” she said. “I do shows and fundraisers….I sing for children….I sing for prisoners. I speak at schools, for women and men’s groups, or for a business that says, ‘The moral is bad here’. I speak wherever there is a need, and I include singing with the message.

“Everybody’s got a mess. You can wallow in your mess till you die, or you can say, ‘What’s the message in this mess?’ so you can grab hold of the message and maybe help somebody else.”

This singer is all about helping others.

“When preparing for a speaking engagement I pray over it,” she said. “It’s not a mechanical thing, and it’s not about me. Music is my tool for bridging gaps to bring people together….to impact….to change. I’m just a musical ambassador with a message. I don’t want people to just feel good during my message and singing. I want them to carry it with them so it will make a difference in their lives.”

That’s impact.

“I remember certain people had an impact on me and I’m a vessel of impact. It’s not about me. It’s so much bigger than the song, or the stage – the message goes on.”

Polote remembers people who had an impact on her love of music and singing. While growing up, it was her family. Her parents, Dorothy and Leander Michael filled their home with all kinds of music, everything from country, R&B and classical. “Mom and Dad both loved music. We’d sing all the time, and we’d make up shows at home. I would sing with the hair brush. My brother, Toland, would play the guitar. We would even have church, and he would be the priest, and we would be the congregation and the choir, and then we would have candy for communion. We’d eat a lot of communion!”

Her joy is obvious at the retelling of her earliest musical memories.

“My Mama was a huge impact on my life. She’s a leader by example – she lives her life based on the gospel’s preaching, sometimes without saying a word.

“My choral teacher at St. Vincent’s Academy, Patty Scheck, had an impact on me. She’d say, ‘Open your mouth and sing - you’re not here to look pretty.’ She’s been the organist at St. John the Baptist Cathedral for 60+ years, and she’s still climbing those stairs!”

Polote’s sister Deborah also inspired her. “She was a symbol of determination,” Polote said. “Deborah wanted to go in the Army, but she was just a little thing, and I never thought she would stay in for 25 years, but she did, and she was a little dynamite. She was a performer in the Army Soldier Show, and they called her ‘Little Diana Ross’.”

As she was growing up, Polote was constantly singing, and she took every opportunity to perform on stage. She attended St. Vincent’s Academy, and during high school, she was a featured soloist for three years.

In 1978, she was the first runner up in the Miss Savannah Pageant, and she won the talent contest - singing of course.

When Polote graduated from high school, she enrolled at Armstrong to study business and music. While there, she was the featured artist performing with the Aubrey Mumford Trio for local and international dignitaries. “I went to Armstrong for two years,” she said, “and got married and had three children pretty quickly, and my music took a backseat. I put my music career on hold to raise my children, and I don’t regret it. I had opportunities that came - I declined.

“At Armstrong I never got to take the classes where you learn to read music….I don’t read music,” she said, “but it is written on my soul so it doesn’t matter.”

Although she dreamed most of her life of becoming a professional singer, Polote’s desire to become a motivational speaker evolved more slowly.

“Part of the motivational touch was born when I directed the children’s choir for 13 years at my church, Resurrection of Our Lord,” she said. “Before and after rehearsals was a time of connection. The children, as-well-as the parents, needed to know that I cared beyond the music. There were times when I would see the need to just embrace the moment of ‘what’s on your mind time’. Sometimes they just needed someone to listen to what they had on their hearts, as well as their minds.”

More opportunities to minister to the needs of others came when Laidlaw Transit hired her as their Payroll/Benefits Manager. She worked there for seven years and established a close relationship with the employees. “I quickly realized that being a payroll/benefits manager was not a job, but a ministry that involved real people with real stuff going on in their lives beyond their paychecks. Many times they would come just to talk, and I’d treat each one like they were just the most important person in the world. I’d feed them and I’d have treats. When they would come in my office there would always be soft music, and on payday, there would always be gospel music,” she said.

If there was a problem, she’d soothe them. “I’d say, ‘Calm down. Sit down,’” she recounted in a very soft and calming voice.

‘Let’s pass the collection plate.’

“They called me ‘The Singing Payroll Lady,’ because I sang all the time. I’d come to work singing. I’d go down the halls singing.

I’d leave work to sing on a gig, and sometimes I’d have my overnight bag because I had to leave town after I finished work to go sing. I was working there and singing, and the juggling act began to take its toll on me. I had to make a decision, because I was having to turn down music gigs.

“The pivotal moment that prompted my resignation was when an employee and I had a conversation about daring to dream and being brave enough to follow that dream. As I encouraged him to dream big, I realized that there was no time better than the present for me to set sail and go for it!

“I resigned from Laidlaw, and two weeks later I was a full time singer in the studio recording my first CD entitled ‘I Thought about You: A Salute to Johnny Mercer’.”

Shortly after releasing her CD, Polote and some of her friends went to the Civic Center to see Harry Connick Jr. perform, and she was very excited.

When they were seated for the show, there were several empty seats in the center of the first two rows. When Connick came out to perform, he said, “Why don’t some of you come up and sit in these seats?” Polote immediately ran up and sat in one of the seats in the second row.

“When Connick started singing, I held up my CD and started waving it back and forth, and he looked at me and said, ‘Is this for me?’ I said ‘Yes’ and passed it up to him. He read my name to the audience and asked if any of them had heard me sing, and many yelled, ‘Yes,’ and then he asked them if I was a good singer. They yelled ‘Yes,’ again and he asked me to come up on the stage to sing a song with him.”

“What song would you like to sing?” he asked me.

“I said, ‘How about At Last?’”

“He said, ‘Okay’ and sat down at his piano. I thought he’d just play a few notes, but he had the whole orchestra play while we sang the song, and the audience gave us a standing ovation!

“He is just the nicest man. He invited me backstage and introduced me to all his people, and I said, ‘My niece just loves you,’ and he said ‘Why don’t we call her? – and he did! He is a

32 July/August 2013 | Pooler Magazine

very sweet man, and he wrote a note and sent it to me.”

One of Polote’s biggest accomplishments was winning the $10,000 Oxnard Gold Medal in the American Traditions Competition for Singers in 2001. This is a prestigious event, and singers from all over the United States and Canada come to Savannah to compete. Polote is the only Savannah native who has won it. She had entered the international vocal competition twice before, but she almost didn’t enter the contest in 2001 because as the contest dates approached she had surgery on her mouth.

Naturally, she didn’t feel that she could sing her best, but when a friend told her that she had already “bought a dress for the winner,” Polote knew she would have to enter.

Winning the contest opened many doors for her, and soon after she found herself performing at many venues. She was the opening act for Al Green, and she sang at the 2009 Players Championship Tournament where Tiger Woods was the favorite.

She has sung for the former Presidents George Bush Sr. and Jimmy Carter, and for Georgia’s Governor Perdue. She’s been a featured guest on the Food Network with Paula Dean, and she has sung for the Zig Zigler motivational seminars. She’s a regular entertainer and educator with the international Elder Hostel programs, she is frequently a guest vocalist at many local churches and cathedrals, and the list goes on.

She’s also proud to be called ‘The National Anthem Girl’ because of a special medley that she sings. It begins with Amazing Grace, then goes into ‘God Bless America’ then back to the Amazing Grace. “I sang the National Anthem at the Extreme Makeover production, and once I was flown to Washington D C to sing just that one song at a political banquet. It’s a privilege to be an American, and when I sing it – with every note I say ‘Thank you’.”

Polote loves all genres of music. When performing she can concentrate on one genre, or she can take her audience on a musical journey from gospel to jazz, from blues to big band, from country to R&B. But she’s more than a great singer – she’s a great entertainer - I know, because I had the privilege of watching her perform. Her spirit and joy were evident as she playfully interacted with her audience while singing fun songs, and heartfelt emotions were touched as she sang love songs. To borrow words from the great Johnny Mercer, her singing is “High as a mountain and deep as a river,” and when her performance is over, you’ll want her to sing, “One more for the road.”

Kim Michael Polote is a gifted singer and speaker. Her life is dedicated to entertain and to inspire, and she genuinely cares about people. She effortlessly reaches out to help others, even strangers, and she’s always prepared to share a kind word, or a word of encouragement. “Sometimes when you start talking to people it’s kind of like a rose when it’s closed,” she said, “then as you’re talking to them, the rose begins to bloom, because most people don’t give them the time of day. They don’t talk to them.”

In addition to giving words of encouragement and kindness, Polote carries small cards with inspirational messages to give away. She showed one of the cards to me. It had a honey bee on it, and it said “Don’t bee worrying about today,” and it had a scripture that said, “Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Small cards and kind words – they can make an impact.

“My life and all of its colorful adventures and encounters fill my soul with so much to share with my audiences,” she said.

“When singing, I try to tune in to more than music. It’s so vital to tap in to the fullness of the moment and that involves the audience, and their needs, and sometimes their pain.

“We’re all here to serve….I just happen to be a servant who sings.”

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Great commercial property in downtown Savannah. This property has a 1000 sq ft retail space with 2000 sq ft warehouse.It sits on a prome location on the corner of 40th and Drayton. It was formerly a paint business and owner will sell inventory and equipment if desired. Or move in and start another business. $312,000

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Things To Do In Pooler 10 The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum 175 Bourne Ave. • Pooler, GA 31322 The Museum is conveniently located off of I-95 at exit 102 Pooler, GA. Just 2 miles south of the Savannah International Airport exit and minutes away from the heart of downtown Savannah, GA. Today, the Mighty 8th Air Force Museum is one of the world’s most powerful museum experiences.

Live Oak Public Library Located at 216 S. Rogers Street in Pooler, the Live Oak Public Library offers a wide variety of books, videos, music, newspapers, magazines and computers. The Pooler Live Oak Library has a wonderful children’s section, and is a great place to visit during the hotter summer months. For more information about the library visit their website at www.liveoakpl.org or call, (912) 748-0471

Recreation Pooler boasts a number of recreational attractions such as a recreation complex near city hall, the senior citizens center and a 102-acre “super complex” near the Pooler Parkway. This facility is located on Isaac Laroche Drive behind the West Chatham YMCA. Visit the Pooler Recreation Department website for more information, http:// www.poolerrec.com/rec/ or call 748-5776.

Movies Georgia Theatre Company has a 12-screen Pooler Stadium Cinemas 12 at the Pooler Marketplace. In Towne Center at Godley Station, a 10-screen Royal Cinema has a modern state of the art facility.

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Oglethorpe Speedway Park Every Friday, race fans gather at Oglethorpe Speedway Park to watch the best drivers in the area race for points and prizes. The half-mile speedway has entertained fans since March of 1951. The tradition of championship racing in a family oriented facility lives on as they run weekly sanctioned NASCAR events. Late Models, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks and Pure Stocks make up the weekly schedule. For more information or schedule visit www.ospracing.net

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Golf There are two golf courses in the Pooler area.

Crosswinds Golf Club is a unique golfing venue offering 27 holes of some of Savannah’s best golf. They are known for their excellent greens and course conditions throughout the year. The 18 hole championship course is an open, parkland style design with no homes anywhere on the course. Crosswinds is located at 232 James B. Blackburn Drive, Savannah, GA. Call (912)966-0674 or visit their website at www.crosswindsgolfclub.com Westbrook at Savannah Quarters, a 950-acre private, gated Greg Norman master planned golf community with a unique lifestyle with beautiful custom homes enables Westbrook residents to enjoy first-class amenities including a swim and fitness center, tennis courts and a newly built clubhouse with three dining rooms, conference room and wine room all within a friendly, vibrant atmosphere. Visit their website at www.savannahquarters.com

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Tom Triplett Park

The heart of Tom Triplett Park is the lake.

Surrounding the lake are biking and jogging paths and a frisbee golf course. The bike paths consist of three intertwined loops of 3.5 miles, 5 miles and 6.5 miles with a lot of technical turns, drops and downhills. Biking in the park is a great way to explore the historic area. Picninc tables under shelters are reminiscent of pagodas and playgrounds and barbeque grills ensure a perfect outing for friends and family. Everyone can try their hand at fishing from the two piers.

YMCA The West Chatham YMCA is located at 165 Issac G. LaRoche Dr. in Pooler. Today the YMCA of Coastal Georgia reaches from Tybee Island to Hinesville, Richmond Hill to Rincon, with ten operating branches in and around the greater Savannah area. With continuing emphasis on family, the YMCA offers a broad selection of activities including preschool childcare, school age care, summer camps, parenting groups, youth and adult sports, family activities, teen fellowship, and spiritual rejuvenation, adult wellness, weight management, nutritional counseling, stress management, weight training, aerobics, dancing, yoga, swimming, and much... much more.

For more information about the West Chatham YMCA visit their website at www.ymcaofcoastalga.org/west-chatham

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Pooler is located between several states and counties boasting some of the most beautiful places to visit. A day trip to other areas such as Historic Savannah, Tybee’s beaches and the South Carolina beaches are all within close driving distance.

Some Savannah trolley companies can even pick you up from your Pooler hotel and take you to Savannah, Tybee and a few other surrounding areas.

Frames-n-Games This family entertainment center has 28 bowling lanes, a videogame arcade, a two-story laser tag arena, a Balladium and The Pooler Grille, a restaurant and sports bar. Frames-n-Games is located at 6 Towne Center Court, Pooler GA 31322 To reserve a lane, or book a party call 912-330-5577.

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Fun Zone Fun Zone Amusement and Sports Park in Pooler has several specials throughout the year. They include Midnight Madness, Early Bird Special and the Twilight Special. Summer hours are Sunday-Thursday, 10AM-10PM and Friday-Saturday, 10AM-12AM. Â Fun Zone has more than 80 arcade games, four Go-Kart tracks, a 36 hole Mini-Golf course, paintball field, kiddie land playground, food and beverages, and free party rooms.

For more information call (912) 330-9860 or visit www. poolerfunpark.com. Â Fun Zone is at 1040 East Highway 80, near I-95 exit 102, Pooler.

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More to Come In Pooler It comes as no surprise that families are relocating to Pooler in droves. It is just a twenty minute drive to beautiful historic downtown Savannah, and you can be on the sandy beaches at Tybee Island in less than an hour. The convenient location, affordable housing and low crime rate in Pooler are several of the factors that make this community an ideal location for so many.

Pooler, Georgia has become the ideal suburban location for those who love small town life but enjoy the convenience of city amenities. At a time when most areas have slowed, Pooler is still one of Georgia’s fastest growing communities. The population has tripled in Pooler in the last 13 years according to the latest census. Growth such as this also creates a demand for new industry and retail areas.

Within a 40 mile radius of the City of Pooler, there are over 30 manufacturing plants offering ample opportunities of employment. Among these are many Fortune 500 companies and businesses. National industries, such as Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, JCB and Mitsubishi Power Systems have realized the potential of the community, and have located major manufacturing facilities in or around Pooler.

Gulfstream, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, employs about 5,000 people and is the self-described “World Standard” in business aviation. The company has produced thousands of aircraft for corporate, government, private, and military customers around the world, and its jets are generally recognized as the world’s most technologically advanced business jet aircraft.

JCB, the world leader in manufacturing of construction, agricultural and compaction equipment has also made Pooler its home. The corporation’s North American headquarters, housed in a 500,000 square foot state of the art facility, is located just along I-95.

Mitsubishi Power Systems, the premier service and manufacturing center for gas turbines, steam turbines, and generators, is another industry that has realized the great potential in the community. Its 400,000 square foot manufacturing facility is located adjacent to I-16 and the corporation employs hundreds.

Pooler offers a variety of homes and neighborhoods that range from beautiful, single family homes and communities to large,

38 July/August 2013 | Pooler Magazine

private hideaways with acreage to expansive townhome communities and apartment complexes. Residents looking for a home to rent or purchase will find an abundance of both in the community.

Another plus to relocating in Pooler is the quick commute to the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. It is located adjacent to Pooler and provides easy accessibility for those traveling into and out of the city. Four major airlines serve the airport, with nonstop flights to Fort Lauderdale, Dallas/Fort Worth, Newark, Houston, Miami, Atlanta, New York, Detroit, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Charlotte, and Destin.

Pooler is home to several large retail giants and franchises.

Sam’s Club opened its door in Pooler in 2006 opposite of retail giants Wal-Mart and Home Depot. Lowes Home Improvement and Publix are also conveniently located in the city.

Several large franchise restaurants like Longhorn Steakhouse, Cheddar’s, and Fatz Café have made a home in Pooler. Recently, Mellow Mushroom Pizza and Logan’s Roadhouse have opened, and several other eateries are due to open soon.

Great news about the shopping options for the residents of Pooler has just recently been announced. The Villages on Pooler Parkway, which will house T.J. Maxx, Ross Dress for Less, and other retail stores, will open soon. Also, The Outlet Mall of Georgia, which will be located behind Sam’s Club, is expected to open in 2014. The addition of these retail centers is great news for residents as well as visitors.

The Pooler Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau is active in promoting Pooler’s valuable and abundant assets and resources, and can provide all the information potential business owners and residents might need about the community. You can visit them on the first floor of the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum at 175 Bourne Avenue. They can also be reached at 912-748-0110 or visit their website at http://poolercrossroads.com The city’s progress and growth in recent years can be attributed to low crime rates, affordable housing, reputable school systems, a large variety of recreational activities, new retail centers, and an abundance of industry. Pooler has become a suburban haven to those who recognize its amazing quality of life. Hopefully, the residents of Pooler can expect more progress and growth to come!

POOLER At A Glance CITY OF POOLER OFFICIALS MAYOR Michael F. Lamb

COUNCILMEMBERS Bruce Allen Rebecca C. Benton Shannon Black David Burke Mike Royal Stevie Wall CITY MANAGER Robert H. Byrd, Jr. CITY CLERK Maribeth Lindler FINANCE OFFICER/ ASSISTANT CITY MANANGER Michelle McNeely COUNTY: Chatham (population 251,120) ZIP CODE: 31322 LAND AREA: 31 miles POPULATION: 1995: 5,147 2005: 11,165 (est.) 2009: 16,387 2010: 19,140 (est.) 2013: 20,598 CITY INCORPORATED: 1907

Elementary School Pooler Elementary School 308 Holly Ave. Pooler, GA 31322 (912) 395-3625 West Chatham Elementary School 820 Pine Barren Road Pooler, GA 31322 (912) 395-3600 Godley Station School 2135 Benton Blvd.

Pooler, GA 31322 (912) 395-6000 Middle School West Chatham Middle School 800 Pine Barren Road Pooler, GA 31322 (912) 395-3650

CITY’S WEBSITE: www.pooler-ga.us MAYOR: Mike Lamb CITY COUNCIL: Stevie Wall, Bruce Allen, Rebecca Benton, Shannon Black, Mike Royal, David Burke SCHOOL DISTRICT: Chatham County Schools: Pooler Elementary, West Chatham Elementary, Godley Station School, West Chatham Middle, New Hampstead High School

CITY ATTORNEY Steve Scheer HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR Lauren Graves POLICE CHIEF Mark Revenew FIRE CHIEF G. Wade Simmons

Education Godley Station School 2135 Benton Blvd Pooler, GA 31322 (912) 395-6000 High School New Hampstead High School 2451 Little Neck Rd. Savannah, GA 31302 (912) 395-6789 Private School Savannah Adventist Christian School 50 Godley Way Pooler, GA 31322 (912) 748-5977

Higher Education Savannah Tech Crossroads Campus 190 Crossroads Pkwy Savannah, GA 31407 (912) 443-3010 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University 135 Canal St. St 100 Pooler, GA 31322 (912) 450-0073 Georgia Tech Savannah Campus 210 Technology Circle Savannah, GA 31407 (912) 966-7922

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P ooler R ecreation S potli g ht

Norman Conyer:

“Mr. Here We Go” Story by SHERRY COOK Photos by CANDICE SCHAUFELBERGER

I

t is hard to believe that Norman Conyer was not born and raised in Pooler, Georgia. His love of the area and its residents is instantly recognized when talking with him. San Diego, California is where he grew up, and he lived in Germany, Korea and Savannah, Georgia during his years as an active duty soldier in the United States Army. Eventually he retired from the service and decided to make coastal Georgia his retirement home. His children were the main reason he decided to settle down in Georgia.

They both graduated from local high schools and made

the decision to settle in the area, and Norman wanted to remain close to them.

Savannah is home for his son, Norman, Jr. His daughter, Tonika, and her husband, Patrick, live in Pooler along with their three children, Jarkira, Jada and Jahmir. Norman’s grandkids participate in basketball, football and cheerleading at the Pooler Recreation Department. Norman proudly admits that he loves attending their games and cheering them on. The smile on his face when speaking about them is solid proof that this is true.

Cheering on his grandkids is not the only role he plays at the Recreation Department. Norman is a certified baseball and softball umpire, and he officiates at games for the department throughout both seasons. He has been an official trained and certified umpire for thirty years, and has been umpiring games for the Pooler Recreation Department for five years. “I love every minute of it,” Norman confesses wholeheartedly.

Norman says that after he retired from the Army he took a job at a local chemical plant, but due to unforeseen circumstances it closed. He found himself without employment and decided to start umpiring in Pooler at the Recreation Department, in addition to his college and high school umpiring jobs. Norman loves working at the Pooler Recreation Department and says the people who work there are good people he loves to laugh and joke with.

Norman can be found officiating at tournaments all over the eastern coastal area throughout the year. He might be in Myrtle Beach one weekend and in St. Augustine the next. He is officially trained and certified to umpire high school and college level baseball and softball games. Nine games of calling balls and strikes is just an average weekend for Norman. “Wherever there’s a big tournament, I’m gonna be there,” he says.

The only months he has off during the year are December and January, thanks to the warm climate in the area. He loves to go on cruises and looks forward to that each year during his off season. He also heads to New Jersey to visit his mother each year at this time. Norman tries to relax and enjoy himself before he heads back to a full schedule of umpiring.

The tournaments and games he umpires for colleges and high schools are serious and extremely competitive. He enjoys and appreciates this level of competition, but working for the Recreation Department gives him great joy. He loves watching the younger

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children learn the sport and find their athletic talents. Encouraging them and playing a positive role in their athletic development is very important to Norman. Even though he is the umpire on the field, he still takes time to give the kids advice and show them things they need to learn such as the correct way to hold the bat or a proper stance at the plate. Norman is quick to respond that many people will umpire strictly for the money, but that is not the only reason he does it. He simply states, “Those kids need us!”

Hugh Elton, the Director of Pooler Recreation Department and Leisure Services, says “Norm does a little bit of everything around here from umpiring baseball games to helping out at the scorer’s table during basketball games.” When softball and baseball seasons end, Norman finds himself at the Recreation Center running the clock during basketball games. Norman, is according to Elton, “a good guy, immediately recognizable by most people out here, even if they don’t know his name.”

“Here we go, here we go” is the phrase Norman yells at the beginning of each inning and says he is well known for that saying. So much, that many times the children he has worked with will see him out and about and yell to their parents, “Hey, that’s Mr. “Here we go!” He is honored to be noticed by the children and just as pleased when parents shake his hand after games even if their child’s team suffered a loss. Sportsmanship is an important part of the game and Norman hopes the kids will learn that through the Pooler Recreation Department.

Hanging out at home and watching old westerns, Andy Griffith, and Matlock is a favorite pastime of Norman’s. However, when that is done each day he says he gets up off the couch and heads to Pooler. Norman’s passion for supporting and encouraging the children at the Pooler Department of Recreation “keeps him out of the house,” he says.

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senior Citizens Center (sangrena Woods) Daily activities • Quilting • Billiards Room • Line Dancing • Jewelry Classes • Crafts • Day Trips • Meals • Exercise • Games Transportation Provided If Necessary

Pooler Magazine | July/August 2013 43

44 July/August 2012 | Pooler Magazine

T

oshi Hirata is living proof that quality and originality are the keys to culinary success. Toshi is CEO of Seasons of Japan, a Japanese quick service restaurant group that simply does everything right.

Don’t let the term “quick service” fool you. The food comes to you fast and fresh but there is nothing “fast food” about it. They have a very extensive and impressive menu.

Seasons of Japan is a family business. Toshi, Jr. started with the company right out of school. He ran the Bistro location, then on Bay Street in Savannah. He moved to Charlotte, NC for a few years, but is now back with the business and is the Vice President of the company.

Toshi is a visionary and an innovator. The recipes are all his originals and the flavor is exceptional. Seasons of Japan uses only the freshest premium ingredients. Meats are the finest certified Angus beef, fresh salmon, yellowtail, eel, soft shell crab, tuna, shrimp and chicken.

Seasons of Japan prides itself on specializing in Hibachi, Teriyaki and Sushi styles of cuisine. Toshi, Jr. says, “People don’t expect us to be like high-end Hibachi Grill restaurants. But, when they dine with us, they get a big surprise.”

And, if you have not been in to eat recently, you will be tempted by all the new menu items they have added. “We have changed our sushi menu and have come up with new items to be a better fit for Americans. We like to call it “beginner sushi,” says Toshi, Jr. Some of the new sushi items include lobster and a different assortment of fish. Some are now deep fried. They even have one called Panko Chicken. This is a “fried chicken sushi” and has become a new favorite to many.

“We take great pride in bringing our customers healthy, high quality meals at affordable prices,” added Toshi, Jr. To accommodate the health minded individuals, Seasons has also added a new Hibachi item, Hibachi Chicken Breast which is made from all white meat chicken.

They have also started serving more Japanese authentic dishes.

This is a way to introduce Americans to the Japanese culture.

“Bottom line….we want our customers happy eating our foods.”

Said Toshi, Jr, “We will also be adding Korokke soon, a deep fried mashed potato with bread crumbs. It is very popular in Japan.”

Seasons of Japan is also now packaging their white (shrimp) sauce. It is packed and sealed at the factory, using the Seasons of Japan recipe. This makes for a highly sanitary, quality product.

Soon, this will also be available in bottles for purchase, along with Teriyaki and Steak sauce.

The Hirata family has been working hard to expand their business. Seasons of Japan is now located in three states, Georgia, South Carolina and Florida. They will be opening in in Irvine, CA in August of this year and also have commitments to open franchises in Chicago, IL, LaJolla, CA and San Francisco.

“Our goal is to become nationwide….and possibly worldwide.

We would like to take our food back to Asian communities and see how the American version will hold up in Asian culture,” stated Toshi, Jr, “We are hoping our expansion to the west coast will open national franchise opportunities.”

With every new franchise opened, Seasons is there with the franchisee to work and help it get off the ground. Toshi Jr. said, “We work, we hire, we set up, we train….we do it all. We don’t

just run a restaurant, we run an academy. We teach and train our chefs and hire our people giving them the opportunity to learn and grow and move on to other locations.”

Customer satisfaction is of the utmost importance to every member of the Seasons’ team. Customer convenience plays a big part in that process. They now have online ordering available. You can utilize their Facebook page, their website and they even now have a mobile app available for ordering. Just register yourself online, order and stop in to pick it up….no more waiting in line. You can even designate a pick up time.

Seasons has also started a new program, Loyalty Points. With this new program, for every dollar you spend, you receive the same amount in loyalty points. At certain point values, you receive discounts or free items. Toshi, Jr. says, “It is important to us to do these things for our loyal customers. It is our way of giving back.”

So, escape the fast food merry-go-round and step into the world of Japanese cuisine at Seasons of Japan!

The Pooler location is open for dine-in and takeout Monday – Thursday, 11:00 am – 9:30 pm, Friday and Saturday 11:00 am – 10:00 pm and Sunday 11:00 am – 9:00 pm.

You can call in your order at 912-748-9383 or visit their website at www.seasonsofjapan.com.

Traditional Japanese Cuisine and The Freshest Sushi

455 Pooler Pkwy Publix Shopping Center

912.748.9383

www.seasonsofjapan.com Pooler Magazine | July/August 2013 45

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46 July/August 2012 | Pooler Magazine

Pooler Magazine | May/June 2013 47

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