Savannah National Wildlife Refuge: A National Treasure

Bobcats have been spotted throughout the year at various spots along the refuge's wildlife drive and adjacent trails. Bobcats are elusive and nocturnal and therefore rarely spotted by humans.

Impoundment Improvement

Managed freshwater impoundments are tidal freshwater marshes that have been diked and "impounded" in order to grow vegetation through water control. The impoundments at Savannah NWR are maintained for the purpose of providing habitats for waterfowl through the winter as they migrate.

At the refuge, phase one of the repair and renovation of the 3,000-acre freshwater impoundment system is reaching completion, and in September 2021, the second and more extensive part will begin. Specific improvements include elevating all dikes/levees surrounding the impoundments, deepening the perimeter and interior ditches within the impoundments, and replacing water control structures.

These measures are necessary to continue to provide vital habitat for birds and the other species that benefit from the impoundments. The elevated dikes and deeper ditches also will also provide better wildlife viewing for visitors.

Upcoming Closures

Due to phase 2 of the repair and renovation plan, the Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive and all trails adjacent to the freshwater impoundment system that runs along both sides of SC 170 will be closed beginning September 8, 2021, until further notice. Visitors should expect closures for a period of not less than one year, and maybe two. Closed areas will be completely off-limits to all visitors (no foot, bicycle, or vehicle traffic).

As of this time, the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in Hardeeville, SC, is closed due to the COVID-19 health emergency. However, many other areas on the refuge remain open, such as Kingfisher Pond and adjacent trails, the Solomon Tract, and the Visitor Center trails. In addition, Pinckney Island and Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuges are open for normal visitation. n FAST FACTS

• The National Wildlife Refuge System is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service.

• Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, along Florida's Atlantic coast, was the first unit of what would become the

National Wildlife Refuge System.

• At the Savannah NWR, 15,395 acres are in Georgia and 15,263 acres are in

South Carolina.

• The recreational activities at Savannah

NWR include hiking, bicycling, wildlife viewing, photography, fishing, and hunting.

• There are two primary public use areas of the refuge that visitors can drive to: The Visitor Center, located on U.S.

Hwy 17, approximately 7 miles north of downtown Savannah, GA, and 7 miles south of Hardeeville, SC, and the

Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive, located on

GA-25/SC-170, approximately one mile east of Port Wentworth, GA.

• Open during daylight hours 7 days a week

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Tier One Nutrition is the stateof-the art, modern take on nutritional supplement stores. Created by Nathaniel Cook, an active-duty Infantry Officer and his wife, Jessica Cook, a Labor and Delivery Nurse, they have brought their very popular store in Savannah to a new location in Pooler.

Tier One is no ordinary nutritional supplement store. It has something for everyone—from active bodybuilders to busy moms and older adults looking for good nutrition, supplements and even diet and exercise suggestions.

And that is not all.

They now have teas and smoothies made fresh, and meal prep solutions for good nutrition on the go. Their MACRO FRESH line of ready-to-heat meals with calculated macros are the perfect solution for busy lifestyles. Stop by the fridge and pick up prepared meals to keep you on track throughout the week.

Both Nathaniel and Jessica strive to improve their lives through fitness and nutritional supplementation, and they are shar-

ing this passion with others. Watching the progress their customers make with their fitness and nutrition goals is the most rewarding part of owning Tier One Nutrition for Nathaniel. “I just love helping people and giving back. It is very rewarding to contribute to our clients’ goals and overall health,” Nathaniel says. Nathaniel and Jessica have been fortunate to have a successful business and they are committed to giving back and supporting causes near and dear to them.

While currently open, they will have their official Grand Opening of the Pooler location on May 22 from 10am–2pm. Proceeds from this day will go to the Savannah Ronald McDonald House and they will sell their new “UnTouchable” t-shirts which supports anti-sex trafficking efforts across the globe.

If you are looking to up your nutrition and fitness game with solutions fit for your busy lifestyle, stop by Tier One Nutrition in Pooler.

NEW EBENEZER RETREAT CENTER

Situated on a peaceful tract of land amidst whispering pines and sparkling waters, New Ebenezer Retreat Center is a non-profit retreat facility that provides comfortable accommodations, an expansive conference facility, and heartfelt hospitality in the beautiful setting of coastal Georgia near Historic Savannah. New Ebenezer welcomes retreats, conferences and celebrations and can host groups of all sizes. From weddings to boardroom meetings, they can accommodate and enhance your event. At New Ebenezer you will experience rural charm while enjoying the modern day conveniences needed for business and social events in today’s world.

Space for Business Needs

New Ebenezer’s staff is happy to host your upcoming business meeting, corporate retreat, training, or team building event. They can host groups of all sizes and will help you choose the right rooms and venues for a successful event. The onsite caterer can provide breakfast, lunch and AM and PM snacks. The facilities are available to your company for a special occasion or on a weekly, monthly, or annual basis.

• The Mildred D. Kessler Learning Center’s Great

Room is spacious and seats a maximum of 150 guests with tables and chairs or 250 with chairs alone. Tables can be rectangular or round, depending on your needs. The room is equipped with a multimedia projector, a 10ft electronic projector screen, and a professionally installed sound system. • The Break Out Rooms provide a more intimate and smaller-group-focused venue, comfortably accommodating 50 to 60 people. They are equipped with 6ft electronic projector screens and a portable multimedia projector. • The Family Life Center Boardroom is perfect for conducting confidential business. It can comfortably sit up to 12 people and has a large dry erase board for easy display. • The Meeting Rooms located upstairs each accommodate 20 to 30 people, and the meeting room located on the

912.754.9242

main floor will seat 30 to 40 people in chairs or 20 with tables. • The Boltzius Lake Pavilion is a beautiful, newly renovated lake pavilion which can serve as a gathering place for corporate retreats, team building activities, as well as for worship services and as an outdoor wedding venue. • The Day Room located in the center of the campus is perfect for family reunions and other large groups.

Banquets

New Ebenezer has two wonderful Great Halls that host many organization’s banquets and celebrations. Each banquet is carefully planned and is personalized to specific menu and decoration requests. The onsite kitchen provides excellent food and beverage services at a reasonable rate—check out their online menu! They work with you to bring your vision to life, ensuring an elegant and memorable event.

And the onsite cabins are available for overnight stays which allows guests to thoroughly relax and enjoy the banquet dinner.

Stay at New Ebenezer With four cottages, four bunk cabins and four bunk rooms, New Ebenezer can accommodate your group’s overnight needs. The in-ground NEW NEW NEW NEW swimming pool, tennis court, basketball court, grill, fire pit, and the banks of the Savannah River afford guests different venues for activities.

New Ebenezer Retreat invites you to tour their facilities and begin planning your corporate event, family reunion, wedding, or special celebration. They welcome your inquiry to learn more about their venue and programs. EBENEZER EBENEZER R E T R E A T EBENEZER R E T R E A T EBENEZER

2887 Ebenezer Rd, Rincon, GA 31326 R E T R E A T The birthplace of Georgia….. Effingham’s hidden treasure Ebenezer ALIVE! E R E T R E A T The birthplace of Georgia….. Effingham’s hidden treasure The birthplace of Georgia….. Effingham’s hidden treasure Ebenezer ALIVE! E A rock of hope The birthplace of Georgia….. Effingham’s hidden treasure Ebenezer ALIVE! E A rock of hope A rock of hopeEbenezer ALIVE! E A rock of hopewww.PoolerMagazine.com | May/June 2021 33

5EASY & AFFORDABLE WAYS TO REFRESH YOUR SPACE FOR SPRING

There’s no better time to refresh your home than spring—a time of renewal. Here are 5 fun ways to transform your home that are easy and affordable:

1USE SERVING TRAYS,

PLATTERS, TIERED TRAYS, CAKE PEDESTALS

Serving trays and stands aren’t just reserved for parties and special occasions. Try using a serving tray on your cocktail table or ottoman and place décor inside, or using your tiered tray to hold wine glasses with decorative items on your buffet table. You can also use cake stands to give height on everyday items.

2MIX UP YOUR BUILT-INS Many times we reserve built ins for family photos and books. Update your shelves by mixing in various size baskets, wall art and interesting décor.

3LIVEN UP SHELVES WITH

CONTACT PAPER WRAPPED AROUND FOAM BOARD

This makes for a fantastic seasonal refresh especially for people who are renting. Use foam board—which is just fancy poster board that you can purchase from most craft stores or discount retailers—and a roll of contact paper that you love. Simply measure the back of shelf, cut the foam board to size and wrap the contact paper around it. The best thing about this is that can pull it out and replace whenever you feel the urge!

4BRINGING THE OUTSIDE IN. There is nothing like live plants to cozy up your space, not to mention it’s great for purifying the air. Consider hanging planters and freshen up basic pots with a new basket. Low maintenance options include aloe vera plants and snake plants (mother-in-law’s tongue).

5UTILIZE BASKETS Baskets are a great way to pretty up a space, hide clutter and use for storage.

ANGIE RISH

Bethany Farm Alpacas

Story by Cindy Reid | Photos by Tonya Perry

Angie Rish nourished a dream for 20 years, and today she is actually living the life she dreamed about for so long.

“It’s definitely unique, because my twenty year dream was to have my own alpaca farm,” says Angie. “I fell in love with alpacas when they were on television commercials years ago and I spent all this time doing my research and learning everything I could about them in preparation for the day I would have my own herd.”

Originally from Forsyth, Georgia, Angie has been in the Savannah area since 1998, and in Effingham since 2001. She raised five children while working at Effingham Hospital as an ultrasound technician, all the while dreaming about having a small farm of her own.

“Three years ago, I sold the family home, bought a small eight acre farm in Springfield, and moved there with two of my children who were still in high school,” she says. “I bought the property in 2017 and added the alpaca herd in March 2020.