Liberty County Magazine

Liberty County

Going the Distance A chat with Ulrick John about his football career, family and future plans

A Thriving Community

New Liberty County businesses share their unique stories of how they came to be

A Delicious World Tour

A mouth-watering array of international dishes just a short drive down the street

Happily Ever After

Debbie and Allen Brown - a love story that was meant to be THE OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PUBLICATION OF LIBERTY COUNTY

Proudly serving the residents of Liberty County and surrounding areas since 1959.

Personal. Professional. Proven.

Concentrating in personal injury cases including: Concentrating in personal injury cases including: J. Noel Osteen 18 Wheeler Wrecks / Car Accidents / Premises Liability / Product Liability / Wrongful Billy N.Death Jones • 18 Wheeler Wrecks

• Premises Liability

• Wrongful Death

Linnie L. Darden, III*

Largest Established Real Estate Practice Serving Liberty County & Surrounding Areas • Car Accidents • Product Liability Member GA & CA Bar L. Kelly Davis

Largest Established Real Estate Practice Serving J. Noel Osteen / Billy N. Jones / Linnie Liberty County and Surrounding Areas

Richard E. Braun, Jr.

L. Darden,Carl III*R. Varnedoe L. Kelly Davis / Luke R. Moses / Robert L. “Cap” Russell Luke R. Moses Member GA & CA Bar

206 East Court Street • P.O. Box 800 Hinesville, GA 31310

912-876-0111

608 Oglethorpe Highway Hinesville, GA 31313

912-876-0888

www.jojlaw.com LIBERTY COUNTY MAGAZINE

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FIERCELY COMMITTED TO HINESVILLE At Ameris Bank we are fiercely committed to getting things done for our neighbors in Hinesville.

Let’s Talk.

101 West Hendry Street, Hinesville, GA 31313 912.368.2265 • amerisbank.com

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A Community of Life and Living!

MANOR SENIOR LIVING

Magnolia Manor of St. Simons

Magnolia Manor of St. Marys

100 Heritage Drive St. Simons Island, GA 31522

4695 Charlie Smith, Sr. Hwy. St. Marys, GA 31558

Magnolia Manor on the Coast

Magnolia Manor of Midway

141 Timber Trail Richmond Hill, GA 31324

652 North Coastal Highway Midway, GA 31320

(855) 540-LIFE (5433) www.magnoliamanor.com LIBERTY COUNTY MAGAZINE

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Liberty County magazine

CONTENTS 18

Happily Ever After Debbie and Allen Brown a love story that was meant to be

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A Delicious World Tour A mouth-watering array of international dishes just a short drive down the street

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A Thriving Community New Liberty County businesses share their unique stories about how they came to be

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Going The Distance A chat with Ulrick John about his football career, family and future plans

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More Than A Chicken Sandwich Nick Westbrook and his incredible team at Chick-fil-A

Take The Back Roads Escape from the hustle and bustle and immerse yourself in the coastal serenity

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82 - 96 MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY in every issue

A complete Liberty County Chamber membership list

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Keep Liberty Beautiful

CREDITS

A local organization dedicated to our community’s betterment

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PUBLISHER / Liberty County Chamber of Commerce CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER / Leah Poole CREATIVE+DESIGN / Elizabeth Beasley & Stephanie Williams PHOTOGRAPHERS / Bobby Cary Photography, Joanna Ng Photography,

John Henderson, Leah Poole SALES / Leah Poole, Breanna Crowell, Valerie Andrews CONTRIBUTING WRITERS / Leah Poole & Kelsi Andrews LIBERTY COUNTY MAGAZINE

About the Cover The cover photo is of Ulrick John.

(See page 56 for more) Photography by Joanna Ng Photography

Thank you to all our citizens of Liberty County for voting

HERNANDEZ COLLISION CENTER Best of the Best for the third year in a row!

We have been in business for nearly 40 years, and take great pride in our experience and knowledge. We use the best parts from top manufacturers and provide a limited lifetime warranty on all labor and parts because we care about our customers and their ultimate satisfaction.

For factory parts, superior service, and a memorable experience, your choice should always be

Hernandez Collision Center, with two locations in Savannah and Hinesville.

Your Safety Is Our First Priority!

912-369-6398 1070 W. Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville / www.hernandezcollisioncenter.com

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PUBLISHER

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Whether you’ve lived in Liberty County for a day or a lifetime, we’re excited you are here!

We guarantee that our unique perspective on the community, presented here in our Membership Directory and Magazine will offer you an intriguing and engaging perspective on a place we love. Whether it’s our cover story featuring the children of our small business owners or the restaurant story by Catie Fanucci, we guarantee that you will learn something new and possibly fall in love with this wonderful place all over again.

We have also given you some truly noteworthy and astoundingly beautiful photography courtesy of Ng Photography and several local amateur photographers. And of course some great photos from our fabulous staff!

Liberty County is rich in both history and culture, with three signers of the Declaration of Independence, a Revolutionary War fort with the original earthen works, Dorchester Academy where Civil Rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. came to plan important marches like the ones that took place in Selma, AL and so much more. We have the original rice dikes at LeConte Woodmanston Plantation, beautiful camellia gardens in the historic district of Allenhurst and one of the most picturesque coastlines on the eastern seaboard.

Those of us who are native to the county are fond of telling newcomers and old timers alike that there is always something to do, something new to see or explore, however, these adventures that await you will take a little searching on your part, and the Chamber/CVB is an excellent place to start mapping out your trek! With an active website at www.libertycounty.org, several Facebook pages and Twitter where we are @ExploreLiberty, there are many ways to get plugged in and get active!

We are also home to the 3rd ID and Fort Stewart, the largest military installation east of the Mississippi River, with 20,000+ soldiers in residence at any given moment. Formed as Camp Stewart during the advent of World War II, soldiers from our military installation have fought in every major conflict since. Our pride and commitment to making our soldiers and their families at home is rock solid, much like their go to phrase “Rock of the Marne!”

We are your 7C Chamber. We are catalysts, conveners, champions, collaborators, cheerleaders, connectors and contributors. We are successful because we step up to the plate every time to the greatest challenges that our community faces. While we work closely with local government, we are not part of government, although many consider the process of influencing public policy to recognize the needs of the business community to be one of our most important functions.

Peace of mind for us doesn’t always come easy. It takes a staff committed to the core values we have adopted to run this organization every day. As well as a dedicated board of directors to steer, lead and guide the organization in the right direction. Our board of directors plans, implements and works hard year in and year out to ensure that our business and community partners are receiving, not only the best value for their investment, but the highest success rate for Liberty County overall.

That’s what a Chamber is and that’s what your Chamber is...7C going on year #45.

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Leah Poole / CEO

C.A. SITTLE, Inc.

has been serving Hinesville, Ga. and the surrounding areas since 2002.

We offer professional landscape installation and maintenance, irrigation installation and repairs, bobcat and excavator services.

CONTACT US TODAY FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE. Affordable landscape services: • FREE Estimates on all services • 1 month FREE for signing a 1-year landscape maintenance contract • Special discounts, senior and military discounts

912-667-3014

www.landscapehinesville.com 462 Elim Church Rd. NE • Ludowici, GA 31316

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A Delicious World Tour

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If you find yourself wishing for a mouth-watering array of international dishes but don’t have the time for a flight somewhere exotic, you may be surprised to learn that making a trip around the world is just a short drive down the street. You can travel to the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East, and back to the states without even leaving Liberty County. At every stop there is a variety of food that is lip-smacking good, served with a smile!

ARTICLE

BY KELSI ANDREWS / PHOTOS BY JOANNA NG PHOTOGRAPHY

O

ur first stop on our delicious world tour is Jamaica, where two remarkable establishments serve authentic Caribbean dishes. Good to Go Jamaican Restaurant and Negril Caribbean Restaurant can both be found on Elma G Miles Parkway.

When you walk into Good to Go Jamaican Restaurant, your mouth starts to immediately water at the enticing smells enveloping your nose. The delectable menu items are traditional staple dishes in Jamaica such as beef patties, curries, jerk pork and everyone’s favorite, oxtail. The owner, Dwayne Smith, was born and raised in Jamaica where his parents taught him how to cook. In 2016, Dwayne became the official owner of Good to Go. Since then, he has shared his homecooked meals with the Liberty County community, prepared just the way he was taught. If you have never tried Jamaican food before, the cashiers are more than happy to recommend food choices accommodating to your dietary needs.

Negril Caribbean Restaurant is another fantastic Jamaican destination, with cuisine native to west Jamaica.

Negril welcomes you with bright, lively colors and offers comfort food for the soul. You can find customary staples from stews to jerk chicken, not to mention a to-die-for sweet potato pudding that the owner’s grandfather taught him how to make. The owner, Alan White, has opened a Negril Caribbean Restaurant at every duty station he was assigned to during his time serving in the Army. His mom manages the restaurant in Junction City, Kansas near Fort Riley while he manages the one in Hinesville. Recently, he has acquired the property next door and has plans to renovate and reopen Negril in fall 2020. His vision is to provide a casual outdoor dining experience for everyone,

the perfect place to enjoy a meal under twinkly lights hanging from a big oak tree.

We hope you’ve left plenty of room in your belly as we make our way to the other side of the world for our second stop, Germany! In the heart of downtown Hinesville, you will find yourself transported to the country of poets and thinkers—Germany! At Zum Rosenhof German Restaurant, you can grab a table or bar stool and be completed immersed in the culture. The owners, Anka and David Hinze, have created more than just a restaurant - it is a destination filled with German antiques, memorabilia, murals of German scenery and wait staff dressed to impress in traditional German attire.

Behind the bar will you spot shelves of the infamous glass boots that you can get filled to the brim with German beer to go along with your schnitzel and potato salad. Make sure to pop into the German grocer next door where you can find imported German favorites like Kinder chocolate

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bars, Haribo gummy bears, bratwurst, bottled beer and so much more.

The third destination on our trip around the globe is the Middle East! Tazza Kabob Grillhouse is a new favorite destination for many. At Tazza, you can have your choice unique specials, all more delicious than the last. There are kabob plates, korma bowls, samosas, shawarma, and more! The father and son duo, Nick and Shaen Mehrzed, and their family started the concept of the restaurant by hosting family and friends in their home and cooking for them. Loved ones encouraged the family to venture into the restaurant business and share their talents in the kitchen with the world. Tazza is conveniently located just outside Fort Stewart’s main gate on West General Screven Way. Once you’ve had your fill of kabobs, the journey continues back in the Americas, across the border to Rodeo Mexican Restaurant! You’re immersed in rich Mexican culture with your first step in the door.

We end our trip back home in the USA! Located on the intersection of US Route 84 and US Coastal Highway 17 in Midway, Melody’s Coastal Café offers an eclectic menu ranging from fresh seafood to hand-pattied Angus chuck burgers. Kelli and Ron Lash, life partners and owners of the restaurant, guarantee premium quality and freshness in every plate they serve. They work with local vendors and operate in a made-from-scratch kitchen. As soon as you walk in, you feel right at home. There is something on the menu for everyone in the family, no matter the palate. You

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We know eating your way around the world is nearly impossible to do in just one day, but we encourage you to give some of these local specialties a try.

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won’t be disappointed when you pay the Lash family a visit because after all, you’re at home.

If you’re feeling more in the mood for something classic, Baldinos Giant Jersey Subs has even more sandwiches for the true aficionado, and has been a local favorite for over 40 years! Baldinos features an extensive menu of cold cuts, grilled subs, and a kids’ menu affectionately named The Bambino Bite. You can watch as they slice all of the meat by hand for each order and pile all your toppings on the sub rolls baked fresh every single morning. Be sure to take a peek in the glass display by the register to see all the other freshly baked goodies such as the pepperoni rolls and cookies!

If it’s Southern comfort food you’re craving, Izola’s Country Café and Margie’s Southern Cooking are the places to be. Izola’s is a local favorite, warm and inviting with a menu that just feels like home. From pancakes to mac ‘n’ cheese, Izola’s can help you start your day or be the perfect sign-off on your way home. Margie’s Southern Cooking is not something to miss, either! A bright yellow trailer with big red letters, Margie’s is an award winning food truck parked permanently in Walthourville on Shaw Road. Ms. Margie is serving up soul warming food and smiles for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert. Ox tails, candied yams, cornbread, and collard greens are just a few of the things gracing her menu.

We know eating your way around the world is near impossible to do in just one day, but we encourage you to give some of these local specialties a try. You may still be here in Liberty County, but your mouth will travel to a totally different destination! Who knows? You just might love the journey just as much. LCM

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ARTICLE

Happily Ever After

BY LEAH POOLE / PHOTOS BY JOANNA NG PHOTOGRAPHY

I

f you have ever found yourself in the same room with Allen and Debbie Brown, you would know it immediately. They would be the couple, hands down, everyone in the room would gravitate towards. Debbie’s grace and poise combined with Allen’s humor and love of a good story make them the dynamic duo they so perfectly are today.

The story of their meeting, dating and finally marrying is one that can best be described by thinking of a fairy tale and “happily ever after.”

And their wedding photos will make you feel the same!

Allen is a native of Hinesville/Liberty County, having been born and raised here his entire life.

Debbie is a transplant from Charleston, originally from Royston, GA, but is essentially a native at this point as she’s lived here for 38 years since their marriage in 1982.

Although the pair had overlapping friends, they didn’t truly get to know each other until the partners of the architectural and engineering firm where Debbie was the Public Relations Director visited coastal properties with Allen for a potential project. It took 6 months for Allen to get a date with her. When he asked, she kept telling him, “I have to check my schedule.” A lot of her events happened on the weekend. Allen was taken aback that she didn’t seem eager to go out with him. He was persistent and can remember saying, “She is worth it. She’s one smart woman.” About six months after they met Debbie finally agreed to go on a date with Allen. Allen recalls having to call a friend to get Debbie’s phone number, “the old-fashioned

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We’ve received so much love and support from this community, and we always want to be a part of giving back.

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way,” and from there it took two months longer for Debbie to agree. He borrowed a car from Paul Simonton to take Debbie on their first date.

In fact Debbie graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a concentration in Pre-Law. She later decided that the law wasn’t the career for her and moved in marketing, getting her Master’s of Business Administration in International Marketing from the Citadel.

Allen attended Bradwell (class of 1965) and later attended the University of South Carolina (USC) and Georgia Southwestern University, graduating with a degree in marketing. Most probably know him from the Bradwell football field and later the USC field where he starred as a running back. Allen still attends as many Gamecock games as he can each year. Allen comes from a long line of football players, his father, James Allen Brown (who passed in 1987) was the first quarterback at Bradwell (1930s).

When asked about marriage advice from this couple who has been together 38 years, Allen said, “It’s hard work.” He explained that people get married should be prepared for the good and the bad and all the in between.

Debbie’s advice, “there are no fairytales, and you have to be flexible.” She explained that people who get married think it will automatically be a happily ever after tale, however, that doesn’t happen on its own. It takes a couple, dedicated to one another, who are able to adapt to the highs and the lows who make each other count on day one for forever that is the true key to marriage success.

A two-time Mayor of Hinesville, Allen has had an active political career for decades, along with being the Broker/Owner of Century 21 Action Realty. He currently still serves as the Mayor of Hinesville, with two more years left on his final term. He’s also the Chairman of the Liberty County Development Authority. He’s a past president of AUSA, the Liberty County Chamber of Commerce, Hinesville Rotary Club and the Hinesville Area Board of Realtors.

Debbie and Allen are active members of First United Methodist Church and have built an exciting life in Hinesville and spend much of their free time attending and participating in community events. Influential volunteers in the community, the pair spend time participating in organizations that give back to the community.

“We’ve received so much love and support from this community, and we always want to be a part of giving

back,” said Debbie. One significant way that the Brown family has done this is adopting all four of their cats from local rescues. While Allen said that he “tolerates” the felines who live in his house.

Debbie, and their daughter, Meredith, have a successful business, Authors Ignite. As the CEO and co-founder, Debbie brings a lot of experience from her previous careers in marketing and public relations and business development. She has been published in national professional and lifestyle magazines since the 1970s and in the creative nonfiction genre since the 1990s. She has won national and international acclaim for her writing and marketing projects, both personally and for her clients.

When they’re not at their day jobs, sitting at the helm of the City of Hinesville or volunteering Debbie and Allen make the most of their time together. The pair love to travel, spend time with their huge extended family and most recently they have learned a lot about health and wellness and how to adapt to clean eating and more.

Their final words to me were to always try and be open and to find the good in every situation. Debbie and Allen’s love story is one that is just simply meant to be any way you look at it! LCM

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COME HOME TO

Hinesville

@HINESVILLEGA (912)876-3564 www.cityofhinesville.org

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L iberty & Serving

Long County

Then

& Now 56

Serving Liberty County Coastal Georgia since 1871 PRINT I andWEB I SOCIAL

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Accessible housing is at the top of the list of any community looking to enhance quality of life. Housing that is affordable to people of every income level ensures that our communities thrive!

At the Hinesville Housing Authority, we have diversified our services to serve housing development, property management, and property maintenance needs for both public and property.

www.hinesvillehousingauthority.org | www.hineshouseproperties.com | www.libertychdo.org 26

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A MESSAGE

FROM OUR CEO & BOARD

Wow! That’s the word that comes to mind when we think of this past year and the year ahead. At the Hinesville Housing Authority, we are working diligently to provide everyone a place to call home regardless of your race, age, background, or socioeconomic status. This includes seniors, veterans, and residents of all income levels. Affordable housing as we once knew it has changed. There is no public housing in Liberty County, which has forced us to be creative in providing single family and multi-family options that are based on income,

Section 8, and market rates. Instead of waiting on government funding to build basic housing for low-income families, the model has shifted to acquiring and developing accessible housing so that our neighborhoods and communities can be revitalized no matter what stage you are in life.

We do not take this task lightly and are adapting through creative partnerships. Whether you are looking for housing or seeking to partner for housing and family services, give us a call.

912-368-3466 | www.hinesvillehousingauthority.org

OUR MISSION

OUR VISION

To provide excellent, affordable housing options that improve the quality of life for all residents of Liberty County, GA.

Melanie C. Thompson CEO

Lee McGee

Paul Johnson

To be a convener of housing solutions in the southeast Georgia region.

Joe Ford Chairman

LaMonica Jenkins Vice Chairwoman

Denise Deigh

Carlton Solomon

Karen L. Branson

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ARTICLE

A Thriving Community

BY KELSI ANDREWS / PHOTOS BY JOANNA NG PHOTOGRAPHY

What makes a community thrive is the cohesive way in which each member contributes to the community at large and, more often than not, that role is undertaken by small business owners. In Liberty County, we have a myriad of small businesses and each one has a unique story of how they came to be. As Liberty County keeps expanding, we sought to capture some exceptional new businesses that have opened within the last year. Here, they share their stories.

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The Coalition by Flossie & Lu Fabric can tell a rich history and represent a culture all in one. It is a way to proudly wear one’s heritage and invite an open conversation to learn more about the meaning behind the fabric.

Creating unique pieces full of history and black culture was the beginning in igniting Stephanie Berry to bring The Coalition by Flossie & Lu (The Coalition) to fruition. It all began when Stephanie was making one of a kind pieces for herself and soon enough friends and family where asking her to make them pieces of clothing as well. Not only did she enjoy the creative process, Berry loved learning about the fabrics and empowering men and women to look and feel good.

Stephanie wanted to expand and share her passionate craftsmanship. Her vision was to create a hub composed of crafters and artists under one roof that can provide not only custom-made clothing, but also a variety of commodities such as hand-poured candles, woodworking art, jewelry and faith-based urban wear found nowhere else.

In addition, she wants to pass the torch to young startup entrepreneurs who share the tenacity of professionally monetizing their artwork by permitting these entrepreneurs to set up a pop-up shop in The Coalition by Flossie & Lu for a small fee.

Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, the physical shop itself has been closed since March 2020.

A running theme to Stephanie’s business during the pandemic is learning the art of pivoting, working with unexpected change to keep on thriving. Early in the year, with so much fabric at her hands, she pivoted and created masks for individuals after her 5-year-old son modeled his mask online; Stephanie taught her little one how to sew the mask himself. As the demand for masks waned, she pivoted once again. She supported her husband, a woodworking artist, in his own craft and Etsy business of selling paintable puzzles as a fun activity to do with friends over video chat.

The Coalition is still open for business online, and Stephanie is hopeful for the future and the chance to open her shop again. All bets are on Stephanie and The Coalition by Flossie and Lu!

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Melody’s Coastal Café On the intersection of US Route 84 and US Coastal Highway 17, you will find Melody’s Coastal Café— a family owned and operated restaurant since early 2019. Owned by Kelli and Ron Lash and named after Ron’s mother, the restaurant is completely family oriented! Five out of their six now-adult children work at the restaurant, Ron is the head chef, and Kelli is the administration manager.

The restaurant offers an eclectic selection of food so that the entire family has something to choose from such as chicken fingers, seafood, tacos, burgers, sandwiches, and daily specials. There is something for everyone! The inspiration of having a wide variety of cuisine primarily comes from owner Kelli Lash’s own family.

The family could never decide on just one thing to eat, so most of the time that would mean going to a buffet. Melody’s Coastal Café offers buffet variety with made-toorder freshness.

The restaurant concept was born ten years ago, when the family opened a pizzeria in Ohio. A few years later, the Lash family decided to move to southeast Georgia a few years later to be closer to family. Nine months into living in Georgia, the Lash family made the difficult choice to permanently close the pizzeria they owned in Ohio. The Lash family longed to open a restaurant again, and in 2019, they took the leap, moved to Midway and opened Melody’s Coastal Café with the support from the Liberty County community.

You can never go wrong with enjoying an excellent dine-in experience at Melody’s Coastal Café. You will feel right at home.

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Split Fin Brewing, LLC Who knew that a Christmas gift could lead to a brewery situated in Midway, GA? After Jeremy and Dr. Kirsten Boucher were being gifted a brewing kit, their winemaking hobby snowballed into a business venture following their retirement from the Army. In 2019, Split Fin Brewing opened its doors as the first alcohol production facility in Liberty County!

When you step into the taproom, you are immediately teleported to a beach, inspired by a vacation the Bouchers took to CancĂşn! The blue on the walls reflects the oceanic depths, and the twinkling lights are reminiscent of sunlight shining off of the waves. The comfortable atmosphere invites you to decompress and enjoy yourself. You are always welcome to come in, enjoy a craft beer, and chat with Jeremy on the brewing process from water to yeast management. The taproom offers an array of beers including ales and soon, sours as well. Because batches are small, Split Fin Brewing rotates the craft beers that are offered every five weeks; lucky for folks, that means a new flavor to taste on each visit.

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Shake Shop Creamery Imagine how it felt to be a child peeping through the window of an ice cream parlor. You stand on your tiptoes to get a better look inside the store. With eyes wide and full of yearning, you stare in amazement at the colorful displays within. You lick your lips almost as if you can taste every flavor. Shake Shop Creamery invites you to relive that childlike wonder with their 54 flavors served anyway you’d like, from a milkshake to a good old-fashioned ice cream cone. The flavors are constantly rotating, and there is a fantastic assortment of toppings and even cakes to purchase- the possibilities are endless!

Dipak Panchal, owner of the Shake Shop, takes pride in serving his community top-shelf ice cream since 2019. The Shake Shop is part of the Hershey Creamery Company, a 125-year old institution that specializes in premium ice cream made from fresh ingredients. Panchal fell in love with the richness of Hershey Creamery Company ice cream a few years ago, and when he moved to Hinesville, he noticed a need for an ice cream parlor where people could enjoy a sweet treat. Since the shop’s opening, people have come from all over Liberty County and surrounding areas to enjoy the unique flavors of ice cream offered. LCM

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School System The Mission of the Liberty County School System is to provide all students an education which promotes excellence, good citizenship and a love of learning.

All students will receive a high quality education providing them the knowledge and skills to be successful, contributing members of a global society.

CHARTER SYSTEM 2015-2021 STATE OF THE ART PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM HORIZONS NON-TRADITIONAL LEARNING CENTER 1:1 iPAD INITIATIVE - GRADES Pre-K - 12 COLLEGE & CAREER ACADEMY WITH 16 LEARNING PATHWAYS LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM SUPPORTING PERSONALIZED LEARNING GA CERTIFIED STEM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

WWW.LIBERTY.K12.GA.US Facebook @libertycoschools Twitter @libertycoschool

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Call 912-977-3434

Call 912-977-3434 Commercial & Residential Fertility Treatments Herbicides Insecticides Flowerbed Treatment Liming Aerating Dethatching Disease Control

912.463.4151 lowcountryto.com

Proudly serving Liberty County & surrounding areas!

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www.GreenLotusDreams.com

912.332.5791

Brands We Carry:

933 Elma G Miles Parkway #104, Hinesville, GA @greenlotusdreams

@greenlotusdreams

@greenlotusdream

HINESVILLE | RINCON |SAVANNAH www.mesack.com CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION | SITE PLANNING | INDUSTRIAL,WASTEWATER, & TRANSPORTATION DESIGN

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New to the area? Finding a Primary Care Provider is just one focus on your long to-do list.

At Liberty Regional Medical Center, OUR PRIMARY FOCUS is on you and your family!

You can rest assured that our dedicated team of providers will work tirelessly to provide you with the best healthcare possible, treating you like part of our family along the way. We offer a full range of primary care services, treating patients from birth through geriatrics. Whether you need chronic disease management, annual wellness visits, or just an occasional visit for an illness, call today to get established with one of our practices and meet a provider. You’ll be glad you did!

And for those occasions you need immediate care, visit our Walk-In Clinic. No appointment is needed!

Calin Badea, MD

Rebecca Shaver, PA Martha Kitchings, FNP

Traiana Pacurar, MD

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Lisa Crews, FNP

Liberty Family Medicine 455 S. Main St., Suite 104 Hinesville, Georgia 31313 912.876.5644

Primary Care Midway Campus 586 Islands Highway Midway, Georgia 31320 912.396.7050

Walk-In Clinic 462 Elma G. Miles Pkwy.

Hinesville, Georgia 31313 912.369-9310

ww w. l ibe rt yr egion al.o rg

H

Liberty County is not only blessed with an abundance of southern beauty, charm, and history, but it is blessed with being home to Fort Stewart and the soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Division.

The fact that Liberty County is rich with recreational opportunities, industrial parks for industry, a regional airport, and great schools that include two colleges, is only part of what makes Liberty County such a great place to live.

Come visit us and see why so many have discovered that Liberty County is a place to live for a lifetime.

Liberty County Board of Commissioners Pat Bowen ~ District 4 • Marion Stevens, Sr. ~ District 1 • Gary Gilliard ~ District 5 • Donald L. Lovette ~ Chairman • Connie Thrift ~ District 3 • Eddie J. Walden ~ District 6 • Justin Frasier ~ District 2

www.libertycountyga.com

LCRDLCRD ANNUAL ANNUAL CALENDAR CALENDAROF OFEVENTS EVENTS

Summer SummerPrograms Programsinclude include Day Day Camp, aquaticsprograms, programs,sports sports Camp, aquatics camps, andinstructional instructional camps, fitness, fitness, and programs.

Taekwondo, Ju-Jitsu, programs. Taekwondo, Ju-Jitsu, and Piano Lessons are yearand Piano Lessons are year-round round instructional programs. instructional programs.

Check out Check outparks the many parks and the many and recreational recreational facilities located facilities located throughout the throughout the county at: county at: www.lcrd.net. www.lcrd.net.

CHARLES SHUMAN RECREATION CENTER ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Located in James Brown Park and open for use by the general public Wednesday-Friday from 6-10pm, and Saturday & Sunday from 2-10pm. Call 877-7557 for more information about renting facility.

LIBERTY COUNTY COMMUNITY COMPLEX ••••••••••••••••••••••••• Located on Highway 84 in Midway and includes the Midway Pool, a

LCRD PROGRAMS

PROGRAM

After School Program Football FB Cheerleading Fall Soccer Basketball BKB Cheerleading Adult Basketball Adult Flag Football Track & Field Volleyball Spring Soccer Adult Soccer Baseball Softball Adult Softball Summer Programs

AGE

REGISTRATION

START/END

K-5 7-12 7-12 4-17 7 & up 7-12 18 & up 16 & up 7-14 10 & up 4-14 16 & up 4-14 4-17 16 & up 4-17

July August August August November November November November February February February February march March March May - July

Aug-May Sept-Nov Sept-Nov Aug-Oct Dec-Feb Dec-Feb Dec-Feb Jan-Feb Mar-Apr Mar-Apr Mar-Apr Mar-Apr Apr-June Apr-June Apr-July June-Aug

playground, Multi-Purpose Room for classes, and an auditorium for large gatherings. All or portions of this facility may be rented for special events. Call 884-3500 for additional information.

RICEBORO YOUTH CENTER ••••••••••••••••• Located on Hwy. 17 next to the fire station in Riceboro. All or portions of this facility may be rented for special events. Call 884-5040 for additional information.

ON-LINE REGISTRATION Online registration and additional information is available at

www.lcrd.net

876-5359 or 448-LCRD (5273) email: lcrd@coastalnow.net Open 10am - 6pm Monday - Friday

LIBERTY COUNTY MAGAZINE

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Nick Westbrook RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS Hometown: Leesburg, GA Favorite day of the week: Sunday Favorite color: Red Favorite football team: Go Dawgs!

Go-to Chik-fil-A order: Spicy chicken sandwich with pepper jack cheese & extra pickles Favorite place to vacation: Hilton Head

It’s no secret that Nick’s team of employees are out-of-this-world amazing! They have set records, broken those records, received awards and recognition and have set a very high bar in terms of customer service.

“I don’t know if you have enough room on that page to talk about how special my team is,”...

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LIBERTY COUNTY MAGAZINE

ARTICLE

More Than A Chicken Sandwich

BY KELSI ANDREWS / PHOTOS BY JOANNA NG PHOTOGRAPHY

I

f you’ve ever spent more than 5 minutes with Nick Westbrook, it’s almost impossible to not suddenly have a huge grin and a cheery disposition. His upbeat, positive and humble personality radiate from him like sunshine that has a lasting effect on those around him, which is evident to most of our community through his employees and business, Chick-fil-A Hinesville.

But the restaurant business was not something Nick had in mind for his future. Growing up in southwestern Georgia, Nick’s own football coaches made a major impact on his life which inspired him to have that same impact on others. Dreams of being a football coach led him to a career in education in order to fulfill his aspirations. After 5 years of living his dream, Nick moved on to work in the corporate world and found great success in it. But his whole world changed after a week spent at a WinShape marriage retreat in the Georgia mountains.

WinShape Foundation is an organization created by Chick-fil-A founder, Truett Cathy and his wife Jeanette.

While the Westbrook kids had gone to summer camps at WinShape, it wasn’t until the marriage retreat in 2012 that Nick and his wife Brooke realized what an incredible company Chick-fil-A is. Nick still hadn’t considered being in the restaurant business, but the impact Chick-fil-A had as a company was beyond inspiring for him. On their

way home from the retreat, Nick made his mind up that he wanted to spend the rest of his life helping Chick-fil-A make a difference.

If you’re unfamiliar with the process of opening a franchise, with most companies you need the funding, a location and a signed contract to move forward. This process is more complicated, of course, but that’s the general concept and it is open to a lot of people. Chick-filA’s process is very different. You have to apply to become a franchisee and the Cathy family will choose who gets to own and operate their restaurants. In 2016, Nick was one of 103 people chosen out of 68,000 applicants to move forward with the company. That’s right, he fell in the top tenth of a percent. Not only was Nick chosen, but Nick also chose us!

Once you are accepted as a franchisee, you are able to put in for different restaurant locations that the company has chosen. Nick spent a few days getting to know our coastal community and decided Hinesville was where he wanted to be. After 15 years living on the outskirts of Atlanta in Henry County, the Westbrooks set out for the Georgia coast and have called it home ever since!

While some may shy away from the unique process Chick-fil-A has in place for franchisees, Nick knew it was worth it. He commented that while he did work for a

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LIBERTY COUNTY MAGAZINE

“Why not your best?”

TRUETT CATHY corporate business, he also had an entrepreneur spirit and had taken part of various ventures over the years. He had absolutely no food service experience so getting into the world of Chick-fil-A was going to be a whole new ball game for him. In addition to his time at WinShape, living in the Atlanta area exposed him to plenty of people in the community that were part of the Chick-fil-A family. The more he saw of the organization and the people, the more that the visions and values of Chick-fil-A resonated with him. The food and service we all love is well known but to Nick, the heart of what makes those things so great are the people who want to make a difference.

“They want their time on this earth to matter,” Nick stated proudly. This idea is something that Nick and Brooke have built their family around, and it affects what they do outside of work as well. But the opportunity to make a difference during those work hours as well would be an incredible way to spend his time.

Chick-fil-A has been an incredible success in our community but that success is so much more than how many chicken sandwiches have been sold. It’s no secret that Nick’s team of employees are out-of-this-world amazing! They have set records, broken those records, received awards and recognition and have set a very high bar in terms of customer service. What stands out even more than these accomplishments are the humble, friendly and helpful attitudes of his team.

“I don’t know if you have enough room on that page to talk about how special my team is,” Nick smiled, a comment that speaks volumes of the admiration he has for his 97 employees. It was surprising to hear that many of his team members had never worked food service before, but Nick believes that the only thing you need to be successful in this industry is a heart that cares.

There is a lot of diversity to his team, but at their core they are all dedicated, hardworking individuals who want to make an impact on people’s lives. Using the avenue of food service is an incredible way to touch the lives of others, and using the Chick-fil-A values allows his team to create positive moments for so many people. In addition to affecting our community on a personal level, they are also finding ways to affect each other and themselves.

The team finds ways to set the bar higher each day and to make each day better than the last. They encourage each other and hold each other up through the ups and downs of life, creating friendships and bonds that go beyond the workplace. It’s easy to see why they are so successful with so many hearts of gold making up one solid team!

That passion for our community and giving back definitely shines true in Nick as well. When asked what his favorite part of living in Liberty County has been, his response came easily, “Fort Stewart, business owners through the Chamber, the school system- everyone in this community is so connected and realizes that we all thrive together.” After four years and the growth that Hinesville has experienced during that time, that connectivity is still there and it speaks volumes to him.

Nick, his family and his team have all been an incredible addition to our community. Nick is a familiar face to a lot of folks in a good way. You’ve probably seen him out in the drive thru lanes during a rush, talking to customers and making sure his team members are okay, or maybe you’ve been lucky enough to hear him speak at a luncheon or event and been inspired by his words.

One thing we love about Nick’s speeches are the quotes of wisdom from Truett Cathy himself. When we decided to ask Nick a very difficult question - which Truett Cathy quote is his favorite?- his response did not disappoint.

“Why not your best?” he replied after a few moments of careful thought. It’s a quote that Nick says he thinks about every single day, whether he is on vacation, at work or working within the community. So, why not your best?

LCM LIBERTY COUNTY MAGAZINE

41

Residential l Land Commercial Brokerage Listing and Sales HINESVILLE’S TOP PRODUCING REAL ESTATE TEAM 2019 Coldwell Banker International Diamond Society Team 2019 Coldwell Banker Team #2 in Georgia Units Sold Hinesville Area Board of Realtors-2019 Distinguished Sales Society 2018 #2 Coldwell Banker Residential Team in Georgia 2017 Ranked 64 Team in the State of Georgia CCIM - Certified Commercial Investment Member Jimmy Shanken, CCIM, CIPS, RSPS, Realtor® /Associate Broker Brigitte Cabeza-Shanken, CIPS, RSPS, Realtor® /Associate Broker Nikki Gaskin, Realtor® / Katrina Lee, Realtor® / Celia Alvarez, Realtor® Follow us on social media:

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730 E. General Stewart Way l Hinesville, GA 31313 l 912.977.4733 l 912.368.4300 l www. FortStewartHomeFinder.com 42

LIBERTY COUNTY MAGAZINE

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43

MORE THAN

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Georgia Southern offers exciting educational opportunities at our Liberty Campus in Hinesville. Local students, especially those affiliated with the military, can take advantage of a nationally recognized university — with additional locations in Savannah and Statesboro.

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LIBERTY COUNTY MAGAZINE

CITY OF GEORGIA Our charming city is rich in history, dating back as far as the 1700s. From the Historic Midway Church, Museum, and Cemetery, to the Dorchester Academy Museum of African-American History, there is much to discover here!

In and around Midway, nature thrives, as seen in our newly rennovated Cay Creek Interpretive Center and the eye-catching surrounding wetlands.

Connect with nature, and stroll the 7/10-mile elevated boardwalk through six ecosytems and diverse wildlife.

A growing city with a

We strive to create a safe and prosperous model city in which to live, raise a family, or enjoy a peaceful retirement. This is a great time to join our community! Whether you are a long-time resident or a ďŹ rst-time visitor, we are glad you are here!

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LIBERTY COUNTY MAGAZINE

45

FIND Y UR FUTURE at Columbia College-Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield

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LIBERTY COUNTY MAGAZINE

FAST: 8-WEEK CLASSES 6 TIMES PER YEAR

The Liberty County Solid Waste Authority collects residential recyclables at the seven convenience centers located in rural Liberty County. LCSWA also operates two recylcing centers in Hinesville and one recycling center in Riceboro.

• 344 Fort Morris Road (East End Convenience Center) • 50 Isle of Wight Road (Midway Area, US84 & Isle of Wight Road) • 619 JV Road (West Side of Hinesville) • 64 Left Field Road (US 84 at Miller Park Recreation Area) • 836 Limerick Road (Old Landdll Entrance near lake George) • 156 Pate RogersRoad (Fleming Area, behind “Short Cut” Convenience Store) • 25 South Dairy Road (SR 196 West, South of Gumbranch • 129 Sandy Run Road (Off US 84, at the Enmark Station) • 941 E.G. Miles Parkway (SR 196 West, at the Training Center) • 4000 South Coastal Highway (US 17 just North of Riceboro)

• Plastics #1 - Plastic water and beverage bottles • Plastics #2 - Water and milk jugs • Mixed Plastics #3 thru #7 All other plastic items with the recyclable symbols 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 • Aluminum - Aluminum beverage cans • Cardboard - Corrugated cardboard boxes • Steel or Tin Cans - Food and soup cans • Mixed, Paper, Newspaper & Magazines - Regular paper, junk mail, paper board items (like cereal boxes), newspaper (including all the inserts inside), and magazines • Glass - Bottles - Beverage and food containers Recycling services available for businesses by contacting LCSWA at 912-884-5353. The recycling centers listed above are for residential recycling only.

Household hazardous waste items (light bulbs, batteries, ink cartiridges, motor oil, etc.) are collected quarterly at the: Keep Liberty Beautiful Recycle It! Fairs. Email: klcb@libertycountyga.com to receive recycling event announcements by email or visit keeplibertybeautiful.org.

LIBERTY COUNTY MAGAZINE

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LIBERTY COUNTY MAGAZINE

ARTICLE

Keep Liberty Beautiful: A Local Organization Dedicated to Our Community’s Betterment

L

BY KELSI ANDREWS

iberty County is indisputably a picturesque place to live. Thanks to Keep Liberty Beautiful (KLB), a local volunteer action and education program dedicated to community improvement, it is able to stay that way. Keep Liberty Beautiful has strived for the best quality of life for Liberty County residents since 1983. They are an award-winning affiliate branch of the national organization Keep America Beautiful, founded in 1953 and dedicated to, “inspire and educate people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment.”

Simply put, this group helps to ensure that Liberty County stays a wonderful place to live. The KLB website provides valuable information about the steps that community members can take to volunteer, as well as the significance of the concerns of the program.

Since the risk of COVID-19 can make gatherings dangerous, KLB is taking every precaution to keep participants safe. Guest numbers are limited, a variety of masks and gloves are provided, and tools are completely sanitized prior to and immediately following use. Arrivals are staggered to prevent crowding. Check-ins are also done virtually and can be completed by volunteers or the coordinators. By making sure to honor social distancing and mask requirements, volunteers are sure to have fun in the sun and stay healthy.

As a volunteer action program, the volunteers are constantly out working in the community and doing their part. Their focuses are in recycling, water conservation,

litter prevention and beautification. KLB works with local businesses and organizations, like the Chamber of Commerce, to put together several events every year. The two main events are the Great American Cleanup and Rivers Alive, which focus on cleaning up the cities and waterways respectively. However, there are over 15 more events that take place and allow for individuals to engage in taking responsibility for improving their community.

Their calendar has options for everyone, from the Recycle It! Fair and Shred Days to luncheons hosted by specialists that provide more information about local environmental topics. Anyone interested in volunteering can apply by calling or emailing the KLB office. Keep Liberty Beautiful has three paid employees, Dr. Karen Bell, Ms. Avier Pyles, and Ms. Theresa Rapolla, who organize events and coordinate volunteers, so they rely on community involvement as their driving force.

In addition to these annual events, KLB promotes pollinator gardens, which help the populations of butterflies, bees and other insects since we can’t live without them. On August 21st and 22nd of this year, there was a national pollinator census and a workshop hosted

by KLB that educated the community on how to properly grow a pollinator garden and keep track of what 6-legged friends might come to pay a visit. The garden at the KLB offices has butterfly bushes, zinnias, apple and lemon trees, and a small vegetable patch where they’re growing beans, sweet potatoes, squash, onions, carrots and tomatoes.

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Dragonflies and bees zip around between the flowers and shrubbery, proving that pollination gardens are important to the wellbeing of insects.

There are also awards that can be given to community members and businesses that are doing their part to keep their areas clean and beautiful. Individuals can be awarded for their yards that contribute to the beauty of the community, selected by a panel of local Realtors®.

N.E.A.T Neighborhoods are recognized quarterly for their neighborhood beautification and cleanup projects. N.E.A.T Neighborhood members keep their yards and roads litter free and pitch in for community efforts. N.E.A.T. stands for:

N

They never take the appearance of their community for granted.

E

They encourage homeowners to take pride in their yards, roads, & entryways to their community.

A

They always keep their yards & streets clean.

T

They tell everyone that they care about where they live by making it look neat!

There are also the Win-Dex Awards which, “honor attractive and litter-free businesses on Facebook each quarter for their beautification efforts.” Keep Liberty Beautiful is doing everything in their power to make sure that Liberty County stays a safe, well-kept place to live.

Karen Bell has worked at Keep Liberty Beautiful for 2 years as the executive director, but has been a volunteer since 2007. She works primarily to organize and run these community events, as well as makes sure that schools, businesses and organizations remain educated on what to do to help preserve and conserve. The Keep Liberty Beautiful website has a section dedicated towards community education, with links that explain the importance of trees, community gardens, beautification and water conservation, among other things. The site also promotes community awareness about crises in our area, and a big crisis in the community is the casual littering of cigarette butts.

“A lot of people think cigarette butts aren’t litter, they just throw it out the window,” Ms. Bell said. “So, we make placemats that go into restaurants, and we have about 36 businesses that have taken the free cigarette butt receptacles that we offer. We’re starting up Georgia’s Coast Is Not an Ashtray, focusing on cigarette butts in our 50

LIBERTY COUNTY MAGAZINE

waterways, but we want to make sure that everyone in the community knows as well. We have pocket ashtrays in our visitor center, ones that go into the car and it gives them somewhere to put the butts instead of our ground!”

Cigarette butts are not biodegradable, so leaving them all over is a hazard and takes away from our community’s natural beauty.

Beautification is a subject near and dear to Bell’s heart. “It involves the planting of trees and flowers, starting gardens and cleaning up an area. During Arbor Day and Native Plant Day, KLB gives out plants and trees for the citizens to help with the beautification of the area,” Bell explained. Events such as the Great American Cleanup, which occurred most recently on August 15th as a “plogging” race, also contribute to beautification, as community members came out to participate in a 3-4 mile run at three locations and pick up trash as they went.

Keeping the local environment clean is what actually keeps Liberty County beautiful, but it can’t be done alone.

Bell is incredibly thankful for the 4000+ volunteers that have come out to various events, and there is an entire wall in the KLB office covered from floor to ceiling in photographs of volunteers of all ages.

“I can’t stress how much we can’t get done without our volunteers. We’re award-winning, and it’s all about the volunteers. We couldn’t win or get anything done without them… It seems like they WANT to help, there’s all types of people, from all over. Everyone looks so happy, and they’re picking up trash! I can’t believe it! They don’t know just how much we appreciate it. We try to keep it fun, and definitely try to get kids involved. We’re doing this for them, you know, when they’re small, which makes them more likely to care about the issues as they grow up,” Bell noted, looking up at the photos of smiling faces.

Kids are involved in multiple aspects, from picking up trash to America Recycles Day, where anyone can bring in any materials that are hazardous to dispose of. There are also craft opportunities for kids, where they can paint rocks to decorate KLB’s pollination garden, make coffee filters into butterflies, or trace their hands and arms to paint a tree onto a T-shirt as a few examples. Involvement at every level is key to KLB’s functionality.

Keep Liberty Beautiful is an essential part of our community. The organization is key to maintaining a healthy, safe environment, as well as keeping the outdoors as charming as ever. From basic water conservation education to planting trees and butterfly bushes, KLB works hard to make sure Liberty County remains a place worth living. LCM

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Hope needs a helping hand.

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we are here for you.

Children in foster care who have a CASA volunteer are more likely to succeed in school and adjust to change. And they’re half as likely to re-enter the foster care system later. As a volunteer, you can make all the difference for a child who has experienced abuse or neglect in your community. Get involved, and change a child’s story.

Contact 912-876-3816 to become a volunteer.

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LIBERTY COUNTY MAGAZINE

14th Annual

Wreaths for Warriors Walk, Inc.

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Wreaths for Warriors Walk, Inc. honors the Soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Division who have fallen supporting operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Please make plans to attend the Annual Wreath Ceremony at noon on the 3rd Saturday in December.

“Wreaths for Warriors Walk, Inc.” (W4WW) is not an official Ft. Stewart, 3rd Infantry Division, or US Army organization. W4WW is an unofficial, volunteer, non-profit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization which honors the sacrifice of the soldiers represented by the trees on Warriors Walk and their families. W4WW is supported completely by unsolicited donations. www.w4ww.org

Gotta Lovett You401 Gotta SouthLove Main Living Street in Hinesville!

To say Pam Lovett is passionate about what she does would be an understatement. True to her name, Pam loves life in Hinesville, and she loves her work as a real estate professional. Her motto?

You Gotta Lovett!

Whether you are looking to buy or sell your home, Pam walks you through the process with years of experience, knowledge and undoubtedly her warm, signature smile on her face. When it’s time for a move, Pam believes there’s only one way to do real estate.

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LIBERTY COUNTY MAGAZINE

53

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LIBERTY COUNTY MAGAZINE

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LIBERTY COUNTY MAGAZINE

ARTICLE

Going the

DISTANCE

BY LEAH POOLE / PHOTOS BY JOANNA NG PHOTOGRAPHY

I

t’s always a pleasure getting to know folks from Liberty County, especially those who have gone on to do big things outside the boundaries of our county and still choose to give back. We were excited this year to have the chance to chat with Ulrick John about his football career, family and future plans.

We met on the “new” Olvey Field which Ulrick has never played on since it was built after he graduated. Tossing around the football while conducting an interview is definitely the way to go! Especially with someone who wears a Super Bowl ring courtesy of his time with the New England Patriots.

Ulrick and his wife, Jansen, are totally at ease with each other, bantering back and forth, all the while watching their small daughter, Ziah.

The two met while in college, she played beach volleyball competitively, and he played football of course! Other family includes a brother, a sergeant in the Army, currently stationed in Hawaii with his wife.

A 2010 graduate of Bradwell Institute, Ulrick was born in May of 1992. He grew up in Hinesville from the age of 3 on and is the son of Jay-J John. Currently he’s 6 feet, 6 inches tall and 312 pounds, so a big guy!

When asked about his future Ulrick would love to be picked up by another NFL team, but he’s planning ahead beyond his football years as well, looking at maybe a career in real estate. Jansen has plans to finish nursing school. The two are obviously in sync, working together to plan an amazing future for their daughter.

One thing near and dear to his heart is the Ulrick John Foundation. The Foundation was started to help raise money for children with educational needs,

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specifically learning disabilities like Down’s syndrome. Ulrick was heavily influenced by a family friend in his younger years who worked for Gateway and that prompted the start of the foundation.

He created the Foundation for the purpose of, “Empowering adults/children with developmental disabilities by providing an environment that will allow those individuals to function through education, counseling and mentoring to fulfill their dreams and goals.”

During his visit at Gateway several years ago he got to mingle with the children, shared treats and took several photographs. The center holds a special place in his heart. During his high school years he frequently volunteered his time to help the children with events and activities. In November 2017, The Ulrick John Foundation and ASM Sports Consulting announced a partnership with the Vaden Nissan Group. The partnership allows both parties to help the Liberty County area raise awareness for children and adults with developmental disabilities.

Having grown up in Hinesville we wanted to hear about some of Ulrick’s favorite things.

We asked him his favorite place and thing to eat. He said, “My mama’s fried chicken!”

And that was with no hesitation. One of his favorite childhood memories is eating at the

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LIBERTY COUNTY MAGAZINE

Hinesville Shoney’s, specifically the Sunday breakfast buffet. He fondly remembers his mom telling him that he was going to get kicked out for eating too much, which he was terrified of since it was his favorite local place to eat.

He was also on his fifth full plate at the time!

Now for the football! At Bradwell, John was a two-time first-team All-Region 3-AAAAA selection. He anchored the offensive line and paved the way for 2,000 yards rushing. He had 32 pancake blocks as a senior and 90 for his career. John also played baseball and basketball.

The product of a fledgling college football program, John faced long odds heading into the 2014 NFL Draft. He played college football at Georgia State, and was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints. While at Georgia State he earned his degree in exercise science, and he became the first football player from Liberty County to be drafted in the NFL. He was a pioneer of sorts, playing in four games as a true freshman for Georgia State in 2010, the Panthers’ inaugural season. He played for teams that went a combined 1-22 over his last two years: 1-10 under Bill

Curry (the former NFL center retired as head coach following the 2012 season) and 0-12 under Trent Miles (2013). He looks back upon his playing days at Georgia State fondly.

Selected in the seventh round of the 2014 draft by Indianapolis, Ulrick was knocked off the field with an injury. “I got hurt, not on the first play, but like the sixth play of the first (preseason) game,” said John. No medical diagnosis was necessary; John knew the severity of the injury by the “pop” made on impact. After spending his rookie year on the injured reserve list, he returned to training camp with the Colts in 2015 and began the regular season on their practice squad before being plucked off it

by Miami on Nov. 2 of that year.

Similarly in 2016, he went to camp with Miami and beginning that season on the Dolphins practice squad prior to being signed to Arizona’s 53-man roster on Oct. 7 of that year and appearing in three games, all starts, with the Cardinals before a shoulder injury led to another stint on injured reserve.

On April 23, 2018, John signed with the New England Patriots and on September 1, he was placed on injured reserve. The Patriots reached Super Bowl LIII where they defeated the Los Angeles Rams, making John the first player from Georgia State to be on a Super Bowlwinning team.

We are Liberty County Proud of this native and wish he and his family the very best of luck! What few may be aware of is that the City of Hinesville has proclaimed May 10 as Ulrick John Day, so we hope in 2021 and moving forward you remember this great Liberty Countian! LCM

The City of Hinesville has proclaimed May 10 as Ulrick John Day! We hope in 2021 and moving forward you remember this great Liberty Countian!

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The Perfect Weekend Getaway in Liberty County

Spring is quickly approaching, which for a lot of people means a busier schedule. Spring sports, holidays, spring break, school functions, and the list goes on and on for upcoming activities. Now is the perfect time for a weekend getaway to relax and soak up a little “me time” before things get hectic! Get out for some time with friends, a significant other or even by yourself!

Settle in for a weekend of fun and unpack your bags at one of our local hotels. A “staycation” is the way to go! No endless hours in the car waiting to pass a gas station you don’t mind stopping at to pee! You will love the spacious suites offered at LaQuinta or the comfortable accommodations at Fairfield Inn & Suites. at Kick things off with breakfast at Izola’s Country Café in Hinesville. Everyone needs a hearty breakfast before a glorious day of shopping and exploring! Breakfast is made fresh every morning, and you’ll have your pick of everything from pancakes to biscuits and gravy!

Start your shopping off at Charming Chics, just a short drive from Izola’s. With a seemingly endless supply of jewelry and cute outfits, this boutique is sure to have something to fit your style! Find more incredible shopping options in the heart of downtown Hinesville with Molly Maxine and Emma Jane’s. Get a facial and a makeover at Molly Maxine while shopping for Merle Norman products, locally made jewelry and clothes galore! Emma Jane’s is just across Bradwell Park and is filled with adorable home décor items, Nine Line shirts, unique options for your closet and jewelry box! While you’re downtown you can stop in at NY Eats for incredible sandwiches that are piled high with fresh ingredients and of course some authentic New York style cheesecake for dessert!

Spend the afternoon exploring the historic buildings and museums of downtown like the ITPA Telephone museum or check out the current exhibit displayed at the Hinesville Area Arts Council. Be sure to stick around the area for an authentic German supper at Zum Rosenhof. Head on back to the LaQuinta and partake in a little karaoke at the Blue Fountain Lounge to end your day with an evening full of laughter.

Start off day 2 with coffee and donuts at Krispy Kreme. Afterwards, head over to the new Oglethorpe Square for shopping at TJ Maxx, Hobby Lobby and Ulta! Discover all those outfits and knick-knacks you never knew you were missing! Once you’ve shopped yourselves out (if that’s possible!) take a lunch break at Longhorn Steakhouse.

End your weekend on a relaxing note with a visit to one of our local massage clinics or day spas! If your honey is with you check out The Man Cave Day Spa that was created with men in mind but women are of course welcome! Ease the Pain Massage Clinicoffers a variety of massages and special sauna treatments perfect for an afternoon of relaxation. You’ll leave refreshed, relaxed and ready to head back to reality come Monday.

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Explore the Vibrant History of the 3rd ID in Liberty County

Our office is always venturing out to #exploreliberty and its rich history, so we set out to visit the 3rd ID Museum on Fort Stewart during a recent excursion. Just like other installations Fort Stewart and the 3rd ID are very proud of their history. In order to make this living history available to people, they dedicated a new building in November of 2017. The Museum is a place to explore for newcomers, as well as history buffs alike.

The first person you’ll meet at the museum is Mr. John Potter, who is the keeper of this national treasure. You will know who he is as soon as you meet him. He is a former soldier who served as a medic and is now serving by maintaining and procuring Army history for future generations. If you have the slightest interest in history, you have to go and see him!

The 3rd ID Museum houses storylines (as Mr. Potter calls them), beginning with Camp Stewart all the way to today. During the visit, Mr. Potter took us through the decades of the 3rd ID, explaining each timeline, the displays andconnecting the events with hard facts. The expedition begins with Camp Stewart which was created in 1940 as an anti-aircraft training camp, due to the Army’s needs during World War II. Over the next several decades, the 3rd ID participated and assisted in the Korean War, Cold War, Operation Desert Storm and the most recent Iraq War. Each decade has artifacts and replicas commemorating the efforts made by the 3rd ID to protect our country.

What people do not realize is that everything behind glass is an artifact in its original stage. Things you can freely touch and take pictures with are usually replicas. The Museum has an abundance of things from cigarette packs, uniforms, gear, weapons and even vehicles. All of these things are bringing history to life and the most incredible thing is, the admission to this place of wonder and history is free.

One of my personal favorites is the storyline about the female pilots called the WASPs (Women Airforce Service Pilots). This small but mighty group was composed of women during a time when men were fighting the Axis Powers overseas. They were organized civilian pilots who were attached to the US Army/Air Force to fly military aircraft during World War II. This group of women transported all kinds of military aircraft, towed targets for live anti-aircraft gun practice, simulated missions and transported cargo. The WASP were recognized and granted veteran status almost 30 years after the war.

The 3rd ID Museum is located on 158 Calvary Way BLDG 506 Fort Stewart GA; the opening hours are Tuesday to Friday 9 am to 4 pm and the admission is free. It is a great place to learn about the 3rd ID, as well as the history of Fort Stewart as a whole. So get up, get out and #exploreliberty.

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Spanish Moss: The Beauty in Our Own Backyard One of our favorite pastimes in Liberty County is to sit back and relax on the porch and take in the beautiful landscape that surrounds us. A beautiful addition to our landscape are those massive Live Oak trees dripping with Spanish moss.

Like a woman and her jewelry, the subtle gray moss is the perfect accessory to a southern oak tree. It has become an icon itself along with our sweet tea and accents, giving the viewer an instant frame of southern mind. The charming view of a tree lined path with moss peeking through is one we all know and love.

Spanish moss is often misunderstood though and many visitors are not familiar with it. It may grace many postcards but those outside the South don’t know much about it. Here are a few facts about the plant that you might not know!

1. Spanish moss is actually a bromeliad, not a moss at all. By this classification, it’s in the same family as the pineapple rather than actual moss.

2. It’s actually native to this region of the world even if its name suggests otherwise. A tropical swampland is the perfect habitat for moss.

3. Many legends exist that explain how Spanish Moss received its name but surprisingly neither Spain or the Spanish people had anything to do with it. Native Americans called it itla-okla or tree hair, but it reminded the French soldiers of the long beards worn by the Spanish.

4. It’s meant to be looked at, not touched! Teeny tiny red bugs live in the moss and will eat you alive it they get to you! It’s been said that you can nuke it in the microwave to kill the bugs, but we advise you to keep your distance. Better safe than sorry!

5. The moss isn’t harmful to the tree, never growing roots or taking anything from the tree. Spanish moss wate thrives on rain or fog and any dust and debris in the water.

Liberty County has become a place to visit and live for many reasons and the fact that we are a Spanish moss covered Live Oak tree paradise should be one of those reasons! If the moss draped trees are something you enjoying taking in we invite you to come walk through the nature trails, ride the dirt roads and look out on the horizon. The moss blowing gently in the breeze adds a special beauty to our coastal landscape.

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5 Amazing Liberty County Walking Trails You Need to See

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TOURISM

TAKE THE

Back Roads Escape from the hustle and bustle of big city life and immerse yourself in the coastal serenity that is Liberty County.

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BY CATIE FANUCCI / PHOTOGRAPHY BY VARIOUS STAFF PHOTOS

unaway to a land of breathtaking sunsets, forests of ancient live oaks cloaked in Spanish moss and pristine coastline that invite you to stay for a day or a lifetime. Take the back roads and travel back in time as you explore the incredible history that has left a lasting legacy for many generations to come!

The wandering roads of Liberty County all began as dirt paths summoning the early residents of our country to their future home. The coastal county was originally composed of the Colonial parishes of St. John, St. James and St. Andrew.

Liberty County’s official birth date is February 5, 1777, less than a year after Button Gwinnett and Dr. Lyman Hall acted as the community’s representatives at the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Preserving the spirit of independence and freedom, cultural and historical sites are found throughout the county. Visit each fascinating place at your leisure, and you’ll be greeted with smiling faces and warm accents. Discover the stories of our historical and cultural sites, and you’ll be amazed at how each connects to the other, weaving the amazing tapestry of our community’s past.

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The historic Highway 17, originally part of the Dixie Highway system and now the newest “Georgia Grown Trail”, leads modern day visitors to places of interest.

Entering the county from the North will bring you to the Midway Museum. Georgia’s first Colonial museum holds relics gathered from ancestors who devoted their lives to the betterment of Liberty County.

Neighboring the museum, you will find the beautiful Midway Church which has a long and rich history all its own. An original meetinghouse was established by early settlers but was burned down by the British forces during the American Revolution. The existing building was created to replace the purpose of the original meetinghouse and was constructed in 1792. It served as a place of worship and community meetings until the Civil War. Union troops utilized the building and surrounding grounds during their occupation of Liberty County and after the war, the church was no longer used for regular services.

Across the street, you will find yourself in the hallowed grounds the Midway Church has watched over for the last two hundred years. Time has taken its toll on many of the other tombstones that mark the final resting place for early settlers while others look untouched by nature. The Midway Cemetery’s most prominent residents include two American Revolution heroes, General James Screven and General Daniel Stewart. A few steps away you will also find a large obelisk structure in the center of the cemetery that was dedicated to the generals in 1915.

As you continue traveling down Highway 17, near the southern border of Liberty County, lies the Geechee Kunda Cultural Center in Riceboro. Here you’ll find a place of warmth and hospitality created from the hearts and souls of the late Jim Bacote and his wife Pat. Jim’s spirit lives on as Pat and the Geechee community work continuously to preserve and perpetuate the Gullah-Geechee culture. African masks, artwork, instruments and sweet grass baskets are displayed everywhere, alongside tools of the slave trade.

The pieces have their own stories to tell, stretching from the bonds of slavery to the elation of freedom.

If you ever had the chance to speak with Jim, his passion and enthusiasm for Geechee Kunda and what it meant for his life was enthralling and awe-inspiring. Jim was quoted saying “Liberty County is my connection to my ancestral past, which means everything to me. The most important aspect of my work relates to the fact that positive social change results from accurate historical context.”

Geechee Kunda celebrates and shares this culture through two annual festivals, The Sugarcane Harvest and 68

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Discover the stories of our historical and cultural sites, and you’ll be amazed at how each connects to the other, weaving the amazing tapestry of our community’s past.

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The Gathering, that provide experiences like no other with storytellers, dancers, singers and local cuisine.

Pat and Geechee Kunda volunteers continue their work and strive to tell the stories of the Gullah-Geechee people by offering education, peace and harmony.

Not far from Geechee Kunda lies a path filled with stories of faith and religion— The Historic Baptismal Trail.

For almost 100 years, as early as the 1840s, this site was an active holy place for the ancestors of the local Geechee communities. Oral and written church history from descendants of the First African Baptist Church indicate this was the location of many ritual Christian baptisms performed by the leaders of a congregation of enslaved people. These early baptisms were carried out in affiliation with the White North Newport Church, and after the white congregation moved to Walthourville in 1854, the enslaved Africans renamed the church the First African Baptist Church and continued the ritual baptisms until the early 1940s.

Today, a dirt path lined with pine trees and interpretive signage leads you to a boardwalk overlooking the baptismal pool. The stillness and reverence are palpable as your gaze wanders from the dark waters to the intense green of the towering trees, the gaps between them giving you a glimpse of the blue heavens above. It is truly a transcendental spot for reflection, meditation and contemplation.

Crossing Highway 17 is the eastern portion of Oglethorpe Highway, and travelers heading along this road in either direction will be welcomed by more of Liberty County’s rich history. The eastern route leads visitors toward the historic town of Sunbury and the coast, and many travelers may follow paths which were once used by soldiers and freed slaves alike.

Revolutionary War history comes alive for visitors at the Fort Morris State Historic Site. The once bustling port town of Sunbury was the original county seat, and Ft. Morris did its part to defend the coastal community from invading British Naval forces. Each year the fort celebrates Col. John McIntosh, whose response to the British’s

demand of surrender was a resounding “Come and take it!” Costumed interpreters muster their weapons, shattering the quiet with musket and cannon fire demonstrations.

Campfires glow as colonial style food is cooked over an open flame, and the clanging hammer of the blacksmith can be heard in the background.

Liberty County’s barrier island, St. Catherines, can also be seen from Ft. Morris, and the grand vista over the Midway River is one that has not changed in hundreds of years.

Fort Morris serves as a retreat for bird watchers as well.

Painted buntings, goldfinches, wood storks, great egrets and pileated woodpeckers have made their nests in the area, but there is a plethora of other species to be found there.

A few miles further and many decades later, following the Civil War, the nearby Seabrook Village community was established through federal land grants made possible by General William T. Sherman’s Field Order 15 (1865), a policy that came to be known as “forty-acres-and-a-mule.” Here freedmen settled as landowners, many on the same lands they had once worked as slaves. Armed with little but their newly found freedom, a plot of land and their determination to build a brighter future for themselves and their families, the freedmen of Seabrook carved out their place in Liberty County’s history.

Seabrook Village’s motto is “makin’ do” and that’s exactly what the houses, the one-room schoolhouse, and the corncrib you’ll find there represent. The folks who lived there “made do” with the materials and resources available, and their ingenuity is obvious in the remaining artifacts. The most important building on the site is the one-room schoolhouse, which finally granted AfricanAmerican children in the area the freedom to learn.

“Seabrook Village to me, is a jewel,” said Director Florence Roberts. “I feel so strongly about Seabrook Village. My grandmother and several aunts taught in the one-room schoolhouse. African-Americans wanted their children to be able to read, write and count, because that was kept from them. They wanted better for their children.”

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Roberts was involved with Seabrook Village from its inception until her retirement in 2017, and she will be quick to tell you that the first generation of Seabrook Village was grateful for the little they had. Currently, the site especially encourages school groups to visit. Groups of children are able to churn butter, grind corn into cornmeal and wash clothes on a washing board. Though it may be tough work, the children are enthralled by the experience.

“It’s an educational experience, and I think it means a lot to the county,” said Roberts.

While Seabrook Village holds the history of some of Liberty County’s first freed slaves, travelling west along Oglethorpe Highway brings you to Dorchester Academy in the city of Midway. There, the African American boys’ dormitory takes you forward in history to the Civil Rights movement. It was here that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stayed while planning “Project C”, and there’s a sense of awe when you enter his room. The furniture is sparse—two twin beds, a desk, a chair and a small separate room with a 1960’s TV and vintage chair. The room has been preserved as it was after Dr. King’s departure, and his pioneering spirit remains.

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numerous stories to be told, from the teachers and students.

According to the Dorchester Improvement Association, Dorchester Academy’s first gift to freed slaves was the freedom of the mind. Many minorities were educated here, enabling them to pass the tests required to vote during this time. Although it is designated as a National Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Dorchester Academy remains a hidden gem of the Civil Rights Movement.

It’s relatively remote location and unassuming facade may be part of why it was chosen by Dr. King and others, since it gave them the freedom to plan and take some respite from their daily struggles. Whatever may have drawn them to it, the stories of their time at Dorchester Academy are just waiting to be retold to those who visit.

The roads of Liberty County crisscross and wander as they lead their travelers throughout history. Some places in Liberty County combine history with a bit of lightheartedness. The Independent Telecommunications Pioneer Association Museum, lead by Executive Director Alissa Moss, works to preserve the telecommunications history and share it with the community. ITPA provides visitors the opportunity to discover the technology of a bygone era, and is also dedicated to community service.

They are proud to support Wounded Warriors as well as research for finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.

“Who would have thought that old telephones and telephone artifacts could build friendships with people you never thought possible,” asked Executive Director Alissa Moss. “Boy was I lucky when I met a charismatic lady who was carrying her house plant around in celebration of National Take Your House Plant to Work Day. We all know her as Mrs. Charm; my kids call her the lady that celebrates every day. Mrs. Charm has a way of visiting our museum and turning old telephones into an exciting learning opportunity. Her eyes light up with excitement as she dials the old rotary phone and hears the clickety-clack of the step switch dialing a call or as she turns the crank on an old magneto and hears the ring that takes you back to the old days.”

Moss says ITPA welcomes everyone to come visit the museum, and she encourages them to see it through the eyes of Mrs. Charm, “because life is more fulfilling when you are having fun.”

For some, nature is their true calling and their path will always lead them to the outdoors. In Liberty County, you can lose yourself in the surrounding coastal areas and ancient oaks framed by Spanish moss. Picturesque locations are dotted throughout the community, and sites

like Cay Creek Wetlands Interpretive Center offer relief from the metropolis. Wherever you are, nature hums as you are immersed in the salty air and coastal breezes. Locations for kayaking and fishing are found scattered along many roads in Liberty County, and being on the water allows you to relax as you float along beneath a beautiful sun-lit sky.

Both its history and future lie along the roads that wander through this coastal community.

They serve to connect the many incredible stories of people who lived long ago and the descendants who carry on their spirit.

Life is short. Take the dirt road, get your feet wet and explore Liberty County!

LCM

To learn more about Liberty County’s history and attractions or to plan your next trip to our coastal hideaway, visit www.libertycounty.org or call 912-368-3580.

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TOURISM

Liberty County historical sites

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Dorchester Village Civic Center

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Dorchester Academy & Museum of African-American History

Where: 8787 East Oglethorpe Highway, Midway When: Saturday-Sunday 2 p.m.-4 p.m. & Tuesday-Friday 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Contact: 912-884-2347 or www.dorchesteracademyia.org Admission: No fee; donations are welcome The former school, which was founded by the American Missionary Society soon after the Civil War to educate African-Americans, was named one of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Sites by the National Trust for Historic Preservation a few years ago. The Academy operated until 1940 and then became a cooperative to help area residents with farming, economic and household issues.

Its most recent historical role was as a site for civil rights movements. The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. planned his campaign to integrate Birmingham during meetings there in the mid-1960s.

The Dorchester Improvement Association is spearheading the effort to restore Dorchester Academy to its past glory and conducts annual fundraisers, the biggest of which is the annual Walk to Dorchester, usually held in mid-June. The walk retraces the average distance students had to walk to attend the school.

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Where: 1804 Islands Highway, Midway When: Available year-round for rental on

occasions such as banquets, weddings and/or receptions, family reunions, business and club meetings, birthday parties, conferences and other events.

Contact: 912-884-3342 or www.dvciviccenter.org Cost: Rental fees vary This recently restored 1938 school-house is located off of I-95. It features 7,400 square feet, including an auditorim, five classrooms, a full kitchen and an outdoor pavilion.

The schoolhouse, originally built in 1927, consolidated the schools at Sunbury, Colonel’s Island, Riceboro and Jackson Chapel. That building burned down and the school was rebuilt in 1938. It served grades one through seven until 1951, when it was closed. On Feb. 4, 1958, the Liberty County Board of Education sold the property for $10 to the nonprofit Dorchester Civic Center, Inc. Over the years the building fell into a state of disrepair and was closed due to the hazardous conditions.

In 2008, Dorchester Civic Center, Inc. reactivated and began an effort to restore the historic building so it could again become a vital part of the community. The renovation was completed in 2010.

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Fort Morris

Where: 2559 Fort Morris Road, Midway

When: 7 days a week/365 days a year, 9 a.m.5 p.m. Museum Hours: Thursday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Contact: 912-884-5999 or www.gastateparks.org/fortmorris Admission: $3.00-$4.50 per person; group rates are available with advance notice When the continental Congress convened in 1776, the delegates recognized the importance of a fort to protect Georgia’s coast from the English navy. A low bluff on the Midway River near the seaport of Sunbury was fortified and garrisoned by 200 patriots. The fort protected Georgia during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.

Today, visitors can stand within the earthworks from the War of 1812 and view scenic St. Catherines Sound. In the museum, exhibits describe the once bustling colonial port at Sunbury that was larger than Savannah.

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Midway Museum

Where: 491 N. Coastal Highway 17, Midway

When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday Contact: 912-884-5837 or www.themidwaymuseum.org Admission: $10 adults, $5 children, $8 seniors & military, free admission for children under 5, prearranged group rates available Patterned after a raised, cottage-style house typical in the 18th century, the museum is a replica but holds authentic pieces and a wealth of information. The museum was built in 1957 and has been gathering artifacts, documents, pictures and furnishings since then. Several special days are held at the museum each year, including the annual Christmas tea.

In late 2009, a new collection opened featuring documents and household items from the Charles Colcock Jones family, whose letters became the basis for “The Children of Pride,” a compilation about life on Southern plantations in the mid-1800s. Next door to the museum is the Midway Congregational Church, built in 1792. The church is a classic example of a colonial house of worship with neither electricity nor plumbing.

The nearby cemetery was established in the 1700s

by Puritan settlers. Many famous Liberty Countians are buried there. About 300 of the 1,200 graves still bear their original markers, while others crumbled or were destroyed

by Northern troops who used the cemetery as a cattle pen during the Civil War.

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Geechee Kunda Cultural Cultural

Kunda

Arts Center & Museum Museum

Where: 622 Ways Temple Road, Riceboro Contact: 912-884-4440 or www.geecheekunda.com Admission: No fee; donations accepted Geechee Kunda is located on lands where the rice, cotton and indigo producing Retreat Plantation once stood. The center was created as a means of contributing to efforts to preserve and perpetuate the knowledge of important African cultural elements in the United States.

In addition to permanent and rotating exhibits, the center’s year-round activities include classes, workshops, demonstrations and lectures covering a broad spectrum of

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subjects that allow visitors to explore various aspects of continental and diaspora African culture. Exhibits feature artifacts from Africa and this area, some dating back to the 1700s, including authentic slavery artifacts, Geechee relics and Jim Crow-era memorabilia. The center also has a gallery and gift shop that stocks merchandise such as books, textiles, artifacts and crafts.

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Independent Telecommunications Pioneer Association National Office & Museum Where: 438 W. Oglethorpe Hwy., Hinesville When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday Contact: 912-408-4872 or www.nationalitpa.com Admission: No fee; donations are welcome The museum consists of a vast collection of telephones and telephone equipment from throughout history.

Children and adults alike will find it fascinating to see how the telephone evolved from the solid wood, wall mounted, hand cranked, operator directed, simplistic designs of the past to today’s pocket sized, touch-screen, cellular phones. The ITPA Museum is located at Bryant Commons, a beautiful 150-acre property, located in the heart of Hinesville, which was once the homestead of the former Senator Glenn E. Bryant and his wife Mrs. Bryant.

The Bryant family envisioned the property as a “passive park” for the community to enjoy. Through a joint venture with the Bryant Family Foundation and the City of Hinesville, plans for Bryant Commons were developed and it currently features an outdoor amphitheater, 15-acre pond, and a developing Veterans Memorial.

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Old Liberty County Jail

Where: 302 N. Main Street, Hinesville

When: 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Tuesday & Friday Contact: 912-877-4332 or www.hinesvilledowntown.com Admission: No fee In October 1892, the brick jail was completed on what was at that time, the south end of Hinesville and replaced a one story wooden jail. The site and date of construction of the first jail are unknown. The architect is unknown but the contractor was a man by the name of Mr. Parkhill.

The architecture of the jail is typical of penal facilities of that time period in towns of similar size in the southeast.

The jail was used until 1970, when a new regional prison facility was completed. The jail was auctioned off and purchased by the Liberty County Historical Society for the sum of $4,500. According to restoration documentation, “The Old Liberty Jail is a significant example of a late 19th century jail for an agricultural county and a small, but growing, community in Georgia. It is one of the earliest brick structures in Hinesville and probably Liberty County.” It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.

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Historic Baptismal Trail

Where: 8808 E. B. Cooper Hwy., in Riceboro When: 8 a.m.-5.p.m. Monday-Friday;

Saturday-Sunday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (hours are subject to change) Contact: 912-884-2986 or www.cityofriceboro.com Admission: No Fee For almost 100 years this site was an active holy place where the ancestors of the local Geechee communities baptized new members into their faith. Oral and written church history from the surviving descendants of the First African Baptist Church indicate that as early as the 1840s, this site was used as a place where the ritual Christian baptism was performed by leaders of a congregation of enslaved people. These early baptisms were carried out in affiliation with the White North Newport Church.

After the white congregation moved to Walthourville in 1854, the enslaved Africans renamed the church the First African Baptist Church and continued the practice of the ritual baptisms at the site until the early 1940s.

The site features a boardwalk, benches and picnic tables as well as interpretive signage regarding the surrounding natural habitat and the historical significance of the site. It is open daily to the public for self-guided tours.

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The Right Blend

Discovering Liberty County’s Tea History We recently held a tea party of sorts at the Liberty County Chamber and Convention and Visitors Bureau offices. It wasn’t formal, and we didn’t use good china or cloth napkins. We did get to taste eight different teas to narrow the selection for a Liberty County tea blend. Of course, none of us are expert tea-tasters but we are from the south and that gives us credit right there.

There were black, fruity and nutty teas and in the end, we narrowed it down to three. There will be another round of tea tasting soon to select the final blend to reflect Liberty County and the rich history of would-be tea plantations.

Many a southerner grew up on sweet iced tea and its ability to quench thirst and the soul simultaneously. The best kind of tea as any local can tell you is a strong blend with just the right amount of sugar served over ice. No nonsense and no fuss, no muss. Tea that refreshes the body and mind. Yep, we’re passionate about tea in the South. What better way to wile away the sticky, steaming, languid summers than a tall frosty glass of iced tea?

Here in Liberty County, the soil is perfect for tea and if it hadn’t been for a financial deal that fell through to South Carolina, Liberty County would have been producing tea for the states in the 1800s.

It all goes back to Riceboro and the first tea plants introduced there by William Jones and his daughter, Rosa Jones Screven. A Scottish venture capitalist named John Jackson visited Liberty County to inspect the tea crop.

The specimens he sent to the Department of Agriculture were deemed equal to the best raised in India or China.

A $30,000 appropriation to establish a government sponsored tea project in Liberty County was secured but the political tides turned and the project went to South Carolina. Jackson had no choice but to follow the money and go to Summerville, South Carolina to tend to the crops.

After a year of cultivation, he was convinced South Carolina’s soil was wrong and Liberty County was the best choice to grow a perfect tea crop. Unfortunately, since the tea didn’t take in South Carolina, the government funding was relinquished and Jackson had to abandon his tea aspirations.

He did move back to Liberty County and became a resident until his death. He tried to secure financial backing for tea cultivation in the area but was unsuccessful.

Remains of the old tea fields near Riceboro could still be found as late as 1900. Local residents picked the leaves when they were tender, dried them in the sun and brewed their own special blend of Liberty County tea.

Tea plants cultivated by Jackson are no longer in existence in Liberty County but the soil in these parts holds the memory of his dream. The blended culture and history of our lovely Liberty County awaits discovery.

In the near future, if you visit us in Liberty County, chances are we’ll offer you our own blend of tea, specially selected to capture the flavor of local culture. The tea blend chosen by our local residents will be something you can take home with you, as a palatable souvenir of your trip. LCM

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Locally Sourced Bloody Mary Recipe for Fall

We are in the midst of fall in Liberty County and there’s nothing nicer than sitting outside enjoying the crisp days and cool nights with your favorite beverage, whether that’s a glass of sweet tea or something a little stronger! Luckily for us we have great friends like Bianca Croft, who supply us with amazing ideas like the recipe below for a locally sourced Bloody Mary recipe that is perfect for those fall days or nights!

Recipe:

For the Rim: 1 TBS Old Bay Seasoning 1 slice of Lime 4 oz. Grey Goose Vodka 2 oz. Clam Juice 6 oz. Bloody Mary Mix (Zing Zang/Sriracha Bloody Mary Mix) Ice Garnish: 1 slice of Bacon 1 Pickled or Fresh Okra 1 Tabasco Pepper 1 Garlic Chive Bloom 1 slice of Lime Rub a slice of lime around the rim of a 12-oz. glass (high ball). Spread Old Bay seasoning on a small plate Ba In a shaker, pour Vodka, Bloody Mary Mix and Clam Juice and dip rim until the rim is covered with Old Bay. and shake. Add ice to the glass, pour mix and garnish.

Doesn’t this Bloody Mary recipe sound divine?! Go ahead and try it and let us know how you like it. We know it will help keep you warm from the inside out as we head into the colder part of the year! Enjoy and don’t forget to get up, get out and #exploreliberty!

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Advertisers All American Storage ....................................................... 43 Ameris Bank ...................................................................... 2 Atlantic Area CASA ........................................................... 52 BioMat ............................................................................ 55 CA Sittle ............................................................................ 9 Canoochee EMC ............................................................... 52 Chatham Parkway ........................................................... 55 Chick Fil A Hinesville ....................................................... 46 City of Hinesville ............................................................. 22 City of Midway ................................................................ 45 City of Riceboro .......................................... Inside Back Cover Coastal Courier ........................................................... 24-25 Coldwell Banker Southern Coast ....................................... 16 Columbia College ............................................................ 46 Dee’s Electrical ................................................................ 54 Georgia Southern University ............................................ 44 GeoVista Credit Union ...................................................... 45 Green Lotus ..................................................................... 35 Hernandez Collision ........................................................... 7 Hinesville Area Arts Council .............................................. 44 Hinesville Downtown Development Authority .................... 23 Hinesville Housing Authority ....................................... 26-27 Hinesville Pharmacy ........................................................ 55 Holtzman Real Estate ....................................................... 43 Horizon Staffing .............................................................. 54 Jimmy John’s ........................................... Inside Front Cover

Jody Smiley Landscaping ................................................. 34 Jones, Osteen & Jones ........................................................ 1 Kathy Villafane, Realtor ................................................... 63 Keep Liberty Beautiful ..................................................... 42 Liberty County Board of Commissioners ............................ 37 Liberty County CVB .............................................. Back Cover Liberty County Recreation Department ............................. 37 Liberty County Board of Education .................................... 33 Liberty County Solid Waste ............................................... 47 Liberty Regional Medical .................................................. 36 Liberty Veterinary Clinic ................................................... 36 Low Country Turf & Ornamental ....................................... 34 Magnolia Manor ................................................................ 3 Marshland Credit Union ................................................... 53 ME Sack .......................................................................... 35 Ng Photography ................................................................ 5 Pam Lovett, Realtor ......................................................... 53 Shellhouse ...................................................................... 15 South Georgia Bank ........................................................ 52 Southern Coast Properties ................................................ 17 State Farm - Melissa Carter Ray ........................................ 53 The Shanken Team ........................................................... 42 TR Long Engineering ........................................................ 55 Wreaths for Warriors Walk ............................................... 53 Yates-Astro ...................................................................... 52

Please thank these advertisers for making this publication possible!

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MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY To become a member of the Liberty County Chamber, call:

912.368.4445 104 Logistic, LLC (912) 318-5612 http://www.104logisticllc.com 5 Star Nutrition 230 West General Screven Way Suite 108 (912) 332-1450 https://www.facebook. com/5starnutritionhinesville/ A Plus Realty Group 445 Elma G Miles Parkway #108 (912) 463-4409 http://www.buyorsellinhinesville.com

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ABC Plumbing Inc. (912) 876-2920 http://www.abcplumbinghinesville.com/ Acceptance Insurance 445 Elma G Miles Parkway Suite 201 (912) 368-1112 http://acceptanceinsurance.com Ace Real Estate Services 229 W General Screven Way (912) 368-1211 http://www.acerealestateservices.com Advanced Innovative IT Solutions, LLC PO Box 596 (912) 271-0563 http://www.aiisllc.com Air Evac Lifeteam 148 Peachtree Street (912) 530-7522 http://www.amcnrep.com/Alan-Groover All American Storage & U-Haul 1146 Elma G Miles Parkway Suite 101 (912) 408-7878 http://allamericanstorageuhaul.com All Ways Feet of Georgia 127 MacArthur Drive (912) 876-8637 Allstate Insurance Andy Bennett 820 West Oglethorpe Highway (912) 368-0432 https://agents.allstate.com/andy-bennetthinesville-ga.html American Red Cross 41 Park of Commerce Way (912) 651-5300 http://www.redcross.org/ga/savannah

Ameris Bank 101 West Hendry Street (912) 408-2173 https://www.amerisbank.com AmeriSpec of Coastal Georgia (912) 255-0722 http://www.heininspections.com Ankle and Foot Associates, LLC 481 Elma G Miles Parkway (912) 432-7236 https://www.anklesandfeet.com/ hinesville-ga-podiatrist Annette Taylor, Coldwell Banker Southern Coast 730 General Stewart Way (912) 483-9383 https://ataylor.cbsoutherncoast. com/?fbclid=IwAR0hbeXX_NJl76ff2XYp YcH7aoCzWZ8bS0u1m9gd50xYjeTPMYl bS-rPfUw Anytime Fitness 435 Elma G Miles Pkwy (912) 369-4960 http://www.anytimefitness.com Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar 1492 East Oglethorpe Highway (912) 369-4909 http://www.Applebees.com Arline & Wiggins, CPAs, LLC 211 East Court Street (912) 265-1020 http://www.arlinewiggins.com Armed Forces Benefits Network 501 West Oglethorpe Highway http://www.afbn.us Arnold & Stafford 128 South Main Street (912) 369-4529 http://www.coastallawyers.com

Arrowood Environmental Group, Inc. P.O. Box 61237 (912) 920-2895 http://www.arrowoodenv.com

Bee’s Creations 229 West General Screven Way (912) 368-4774 http://www.beescreations.net

Bradwell Institute 100 Pafford Street (912) 876-6121 http://bradwellinstitute.org/

AT&T Georgia 552 West Oglethorpe Highway (912) 877-3388 http://www.att.com

BeSeen Outdoor Advertising 2001 Cook Street (912) 289-2235 http://www.beseenoutdoor.com/

Brantley Building 135 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive (912) 368-6322

Atlantic Area C.A.S.A. 1113 East Oglethorpe Highway (912) 876-3816 http://www.atlanticcasa.org

Best Care Home Health 229 W General Screven Way (912) 368-5477

AUSA-Marne Chapter P.O. Box 1765 (912) 977-2587 http://www.ausa.org/sites/chapters/ CoastalEmpireChapter/Pages/ContactUs. aspx

Biomat USA 108 West Hendry Street (912) 255-6150 https://www.grifolsplasma.com/en/-/ hinesville-ga

Brigitte Cabeza-Shanken, CIPS,RSPS,AHWD,Realtor, Associate Broker 730 General Stewart Way (912) 222-8279 https://www.coldwellbanker.com/agents/ BRIGITTE-CABEZA-SHANKEN-31313 Browns BBQ & Catering 7582 EB Cooper Highway (912) 980-2080

BMC-Midway Truss Plant 170 Elan Court (912) 884-4094 http://www.buildwithbmc.com

Butler’s Royalty Cleaning 2 East Bryan Street #419 (912) 480-7878 http://www.butlersroyaltycleaning.com

Automated Business Resources 15 Chatham Center, South Drive (912) 527-7777 http://www.abr1.com

Bone & Joint Institute of South Georgia 475 South Main Street Suite A (912) 427-0800 http://www.bjisg.com

C.A. Sittle, Inc. (912) 667-3014 http://landscapehinesville.com

Balbo & Gregg, Attorneys at Law, P.C. 438 General Screven Way (912) 876-6666 http://www.balbogregg.com

Boost by Design 428 Bull Street (912) 235-6778 http://boostbydesign.com

Baldinos 456 General Screven Way (912) 368-8093 http://www.baldinos.us/

Bootleggers Package Store 5782 West Oglethorpe Hwy (912) 332-1809 http://www.facebook.com/ bootleggerspackagestore

Authors Ignite International (912) 312-1123 http://www.authorsignite.com

Barry S. Chapman & Associates LLC 1146 Elma G Miles Parkway BoxDrop Hinesville Mattress Outlet (912) 532-6767 229 West General Screven Way http://www.barrychapmancounseling.com (912) 318-6199 http://www.boxdrophinesville.com

Cadence Bank 119 East General Screven Way (912) 876-5050 https://www.cadencebank.com Canoochee EMC 1-800-342-0134 http://www.canoocheeemc.com/ Carpathia Paws 1534 Airport Rd http://carpathiapaws.com Century 21 Action Realty 123 General Screven Way (912) 368-2100 http://www.century21-actionrealty.com

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CenturyLink 100 Ryon Ave. (404) 825-0070 Charming Chics Boutique 229 General Screven Way Suite N-2 (912) 877-0741 http://www.charmingchicsboutique.com Chastity VanDuynhoven Realtor/Associate Broker 323 General Screven Way (315) 405-1463 http://www.fortstewartrealtyagent.com Chatham Parkway Subaru 7 Park of Commerce Way 1-888-862-7058 http://www.cpsubaru.com Check Mate Services LLC (912) 334-2687 http://www.1checkmate.com Chemtall / SNF Holding Company One Chemical Plant Road (912) 884-3366 http://www.snfinc.com Cherokee Rose Country Club 225 Cherokee Trail (912) 876-5503 https://www.facebook.com/ CherokeeRoseCountryClub1 Chick-Fil-A Hinesville 877 West Oglethorpe Highway (912) 877-6631 https://www.cfahinesville.com/ City of Flemington 156 Old Sunbury Road (912) 877-3223 http://cityofflemington.org/

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City of Hinesville 115 East Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive (912) 876-3564 http://www.cityofhinesville.org

Coastal Courier 125 South Main Street (912) 876-0156 http://coastalcourier.com

City of Midway 41 Charlie Butler Road (912) 884-3344 http://www.historicmidway.com

Coastal Drug Company 204 Butler Avenue (912) 884-9255 http://coastaldrugcompany@gmail.com

City of Riceboro 4614 South Coastal Highway (912) 884-2986 http://www.cityofriceboro.org

Coastal Electric Cooperative 1265 South Coastal Highway (912) 884-3311 http://www.coastalemc.com

City of Walthourville 222 Busbee Road (912) 368-7501 http://cityofwalthourville.com/

Coastal Endodontics 111 East Mills Avenue (912) 463-4405 http://www.coastalendo.net

Classy Ladies Social Club (912) 610-4860 http://www.facebook.com/ClassyladiesSC

Coastal Family Counseling, LLC 21 Isle of Wight Road (912) 335-4992 http://www.coastalfamilycounseling.com/

Clayton Homes of Hinesville 1207 West Oglethorpe Highway (912) 333-9100 http://www.claytonhomesofhinesville.com Climate Controlled Storage 229 West General Screven Way (912) 876-4999 http://www.hinesvillestorage.com Club Stewart 1020 Hero Road (912) 767-4717 http://www.stewartmwr.com/index.php/ clubs_and_dining-1/club_stewart/

Coastal Georgia Area Community Action Authority Inc 1 Community Action Drive (912) 264-3281 https://www.coastalgacaa.org/ Coastal Georgia Military Affairs Coalition (912) 408-6225 http://friendsofftstewartandhunter.com/ Home_Page.html Coastal Home Care, Inc. 531 South Main Street (912) 332-7327 http://www.coastalhomecare.us

Coastal Area District Development Authority 501 Gloucester Street Coastal Plains Charter High School (912) 261-2500 Liberty Campus http://www.cadda-sba.org/ 212 School House Road (912) 877-6766 Coastal Cooling LLC http://www.coastalplainscharter.org (912) 977-0222 http://www.coastalcoolingllc.com/

Coastal Solar Power Company 229 West General Screven Way (912) 332-1109 http://www.coastalsolar.com

D & J Construction Services (912) 368-2133 D’Corner Latin American Specialties 552 W Oglethorpe Hwy (912) 332-1733

Coldwell Banker Southern Coast 730 General Stewart Way Dagmar Madden, Realtor (912) 368-4300 http://www.coldwellbankerholtzman.com 730 General Stewart Way (912) 572-6005 https://www.coldwellbankerrealestate.

Colonels Island Cottages com/Coldwell-Banker-Holtzman,(912) 318-2795 Realtors-2571c/DAGMAR-MADDENhttps://www.facebook.com/ 207211a?utm_medium=referral&utm_ colonelsislandcottages/ source=internal&utm_ campaign=agent&utm_term=dagmar.

Columbia College madden1@coldwellbanker.

100 Knowledge Drive com&referredByAg http://www.ccis.edu/nationwide/ ftstewart.aspx Darsey, Black & Associates 101 E Memorial Drive Comcast - Business Services (912) 876-4010 145 Commerce Drive http://www.darseyblackandassociates.com (470) 249-4832 https://business.comcast.com/ Davidson Estate Properties Compass Insurance Group of Georgia Inc (912) 369-7902 150 Butler Avenue Dawson’s General Store (912) 884-2929 5826 West Oglethorpe Highway http://www.cigofga.com (912) 876-8721 http://www.americanfenceandfeed.com Connection Church 116 Patriots Trail Daybreak Industrial Inc. (912) 368-6121 1201 Armon J Kicklighter Road http://www.connectionchurch.com/ (912) 654-0571 Cooking Chic De Dios es el Poder (912) 977-6375 49 North Bypass Road (912) 877-0146 Cora Physical Therapy https://sites.google.com/site/ 475 South Main Street iglesiadediosdedioseselpoder/ (912) 368-4131 http://www.coraphysicaltherapy.com Dee’s Electrical Crystal Gaddy, REALTOR, Associate Broker 1329 West Oglethorpe Highway (912) 369-2887 730 General Stewart Way (912) 271-3646 http://crystalgaddy.com

delivery.com (912) 373-5317 http://www.delivery.com Denmark Rentals Apartments and Homes/Lawrence Hammock Rentals, LLC (912) 876-2300 Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center of GA 510 East Oglethorpe Highway (912) 369-7546 http://www.gaderm.com/ Disabled American Veterans Chapter #46 (912) 368-2546 http://www.davmembersportal.org/ chapters/ga/46/default.aspx Diversity Health Center 303 Fraser Drive (912) 877-2227 http://diversityhc.org/ Donovan Rehab 502 E General Stewart Way (912) 320-4737 http://www.donovanrehab.com Doodles Billiards 105 West General Screven Way (912) 369-2211 http://www.facebook.com/doodlesbilliards Dove Mortgage Inc. 617 Windhaven Drive (912) 369-8296 http://www.dovemortgageinc.com Dryden Properties / Enterprises 310 South Main Street (912) 368-6105 http://www.dryden-homes.com Dulce Delicia 908 S Main St (912) 332-1948 http://dulce-delicia.com

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Ease the Pain Massage Clinic 103 Ryon Avenue (912) 980-6205 http://www.etpmclinic.com

ESG Operations, Inc 613 Elma G Miles Parkway (912) 876-8216 http://www.esginc.net

First Presbyterian Christian Academy 308 East Court Street (912) 876-0441 http://www.fpcahinesville.com

Econo Lodge 726 E. Oglethorpe Highway (912) 368-2275 http://www.hotelinhinesville.com

EZ-Racks, LLC (912) 499-9838 http://www.ezracksgeorgia.com

First United Methodist Church 203 North Main Street (912) 368-2200 http://www.hinesvillemethodist.com

Edward Jones 322 North Main Street (912) 369-4850 http://www.edwardjones.com ELAN Technology 169 Elan Court (912) 880-3526 http://www.elantechnology.com/ Elite Roofing & Consulting Service (912) 447-3339 http://www.eroofcs.com Elizabeth Beasley Design elizabethbeasleydesign@gmail.com Elizabeth Dunaway, Coldwell Banker Holtzman Realtors 730 General Stewart Way (843) 505-7420 Emma Jane’s 106 Commerce Street (912) 332-7683 https://www.facebook.com/ emmajanesboutique/ ERA Southeast Coastal Real Estate 139 Ryon Avenue (912) 876-3538 http://www.erageorgia.com ESA Investigations & Security, LLC (912) 312-9510 http://www.esainvestigations.com

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Fairfield Inn & Suites 1494 East Oglethorpe Highway (912) 876-2003 http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/ savhv-fairfield-inn-and-suites-hinesville-fortstewart/ Fancy Nails, LLC 229 West General Screven Way (912) 368-0419 Fang’s Island 521B West Oglethorpe Highway (912) 332-1525 https://www.facebook.com/FangsIsland-208857579709307/

Flacos House 4 744 East Oglethorpe Highway (912) 332-1310 http://www.hinesville.flacoshouse.com Fleming Shortcut Fruit Stand 6136 Leroy Coffer Road (912) 655-6857 https://www.facebook.com/flemingshortc utfruitstand/?epa=SEARCH_BOX Flemington Veterinary Hospital 3263 East Oglethorpe Highway (912) 368-3226 http://www.flemingtonvet.com/

Farmer’s Natural Foods 754 Elma G Miles Parkway (912) 368-7803 http://www.farmersnaturalfoods.com/

Florabelle Florist & Gifts 315 West General Screven Way (912) 332-5345 http://hinesvillageflorist.com

Farmhouse Restaurant and Catering 3152 Highway 301 South (912) 654-1456 http://www.thefarmhouse301.com/

Forrest Pond Lodge Wedding Venue http://www.forrestpondlodge.com

Filthy Rags Clothing Line (912) 541-1413 https://www.facebook.com/ filthyragsclothingline17 First Command 110 East Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive (912) 391-1049 http://www.firstcommand.com

Fort Stewart Family Homes 50 Austin Road (912) 408-2480 http://www.fortstewartfamilyhomes.com Fraser Center 203 Mary Lou Drive (912) 369-7777 http://www.frasercenter.com G&B’s Treasures 103 Ralph Quarterman Drive (912) 877-5974 https://www.gnbstreasures.com/

Georgia Department of Labor 740 General Stewart Way (912) 370-2595 http://www.dol.state.ga.us

Golden & Associates CPA’s, LLC 769 East Oglethorpe Highway (912) 876-8279 http://www.goldencpa.com

Hampton Island Club, LLC 1300 Retreat Road (912) 880-8800 http://www.hamptonisland.com/

Georgia Eye Institute of the Southeast, LLC 741 Weeping Willow Drive (912) 368-2522 http://www.gaeyeinstitute.com/

Goodwill Southeast Georgia 115 W Hendry Street Liberty Square Shopping Center (912) 876-7473 http://www.goodwillsega.org

Hargray Fiber 1375 Chatham Parkway (877) 427-4729 http://www.hargray.com

Georgia Living Senior Care 3205 TSX Grand Central (912) 727-3382 http://www.georgialivingseniorcare.com Georgia Power Company 923 West Oglethorpe Highway (888) 660-5890 http://www.Georgiapower.com Georgia Southern University 175 West Memorial Drive (912) 877-1906 GeoVista Federal Credit Union 601 West Oglethorpe Highway (912) 368-2477 http://www.geovistacu.com/ Gibson Home Store 4118 East Oglethorpe Highway (912) 876-6250 http://www.gibsonshomestore.com/ Gift of Love is Here Corporation (912) 320-3403 Global Radiance (912) 996-8986 http://www.theradiancecoach.com

Graceland Bounce (912) 856-6798 http://www.gracelandbounce.com

Harris Ace Hardware 1012 West Oglethorpe Highway (912) 876-2147 http://www.facebook.com/harrishardware

Graddy & Associates Financial Group 101-A North Main Street (912) 876-2130

Henri, LLC (912) 532-1566 http://hpeterson.as.me

Granny J Crafts & More 233 Myrtle Drive (912) 977-8552

Hernandez Collision Center 1070 West Oglethorpe Highway (912) 369-6398 http://www.hernandezcollisioncenter.com

Great Clips 863 West Oglethorpe Highway http://www.greatclips.com Great Southern Exterminating 2900 Leroy Coffer Highway (912) 876-5010 http://www.greatsouthernexterminating. com/ Green Lotus Dreams 933 Elma G Miles Parkway (912) 332-5791 http://www.greenlotusdreams.com Gum Branch Mobile Home Sales & Service 1378 B Highway 196 West (912) 255-5029 http://www.mygumbranchmobilehomes. com

Gold & Silver Pawn 501-H General Screven Way (912) 876-6580 http://goldandsilverpawnhinesville.com/ H&R Block 229 West General Screven Way (912) 876-3415 http://www.hrblock.com

Hinesville Area Arts Council 208 East Court Street (912) 368-4445 http://www.hinesvillearts.com/ Hinesville Area Board of Realtors 508 North Main Street (912) 368-4227 http://www.hinesvillerealtors.com Hinesville Business Center 740 General Stewart (305) 775-1099 Hinesville Downtown Development Authority 115 East Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive (912) 877-4332 http://hinesvilledowntown.com/ Hinesville Housing Authority 100 Regency Place (912) 876-6561 http://www.hinesvillehousingauthority.org LIBERTY COUNTY MAGAZINE

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Hinesville Lodge #271 F&AM 933B Elma G Miles Parkway (912) 321-9381 http://www.hinesvillelodge271.org

Hospice Savannah, Inc 1352 Eisenhower Drive (912) 355-2289 http://www.hospicesavannah.org/

J M Allen Construction, Inc./J M Allen Homes (912) 499-0126 http://www.JMAllen-Homes.com

Hinesville Pharmacy 481 Elma G Miles Parkway (912) 876-8125 http:// https://coastalpharmacyinc .com/hsp/

Hugo Boss 270 Elan Court (912) 880-5200 http://www.hugoboss.com

JC Lewis Ford Hinesville 309 West Oglethorpe Highway (912) 876-3673 http://www.jclewishinesville.com

Humana Military 872 Harmon Avenue (502) 318-5086 http://humanamilitary.com

JC Vision and Associates, INC. 135-G East Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive (912) 877-4243 http://www.jcvision.com

Hutchinson Services (912) 667-5344

Jersey Mikes Subs 849 West Oglethorpe Highway (912) 877-7007 https://www.jerseymikes.com/

Hinesville Rotary https://www.hinesvillerotary.org/ Hinesville Smiles 101 East General Stewart Way (912) 368-3333 http://www.hinesvillesmiles.com/ Hog N Bones 823 North First Street (912) 385-2657 http://www.hognbones.com

JGCM Enterprises, LLC (912) 412-9080 https://www.facebook.com/jgcment/

Holiday Inn Express 1388 East Oglethorpe Hwy (912) 877-5611 http://www.hiexpress.com

Independent Telecommunications Pioneer Association & Telephone Museum 438 West Oglethorpe Highway (912) 408-4872 http://www.nationalitpa.com/

Holtzman Insurance Agency 1146 Elma G Miles Parkway, Suite 102 (912) 368-2600 http://www.holtzmaninsurance.com

Interlinc Mortgage Services, LLC 210 North Main Street (912) 369-4000 https://www.interlincmortgage.com/

Jimmy Shanken, REALTOR® 730 East General Stewart Way (912) 977-4733 http://www.fortstewarthomefinder.com

Holtzman Real Estate Services 1146 E.G. Miles Parkway Hinesville, GA 31313 (912) 876-8886 http://www.holtzmanrealestate.com

Interstate Credit Union 11199 East Oglethorpe Highway (912) 884-2754 http://www.iufcu.org

Jody Smiley Landscaping, LLC (912) 977-3434

Home to Suites by Hilton https://www.hilton.com/en/home2/ Horizon Staffing, Inc. 7722 Waters Avenue (912) 355-5966 http://www.horizonstaffing.com

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IHG Army Hotel Ft. Stewart 304 Coe Ave (912) 368-4184 http://www.ihg.com

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Izola’s Country Cafe 809 Willowbrook Drive (912) 463-4709 https://www.facebook.com/ IzolasCountryCafe

Jimmy John’s 110 West General Screven Way (912) 463-4705 http://www.jimmyjohns.com

Jones Creek Farm http://www.jonescreekfarmga.com Jones Medical Equipment 481 Elma G Miles Parkway, Suite B (912) 877-3202 https://www.facebook.com/ jonesmedicalequipmenthinesvillega/

Jones, Osteen, Jones 206 East Court Street (912) 876-0111 http://www.jojlaw.com/

Legendary Phoenix Games 108 South Commerce Street (912) 332-7981 http://legendaryphoenixgames.com

Judge Melinda Anderson 201 South Main Street Suite 2100 (912) 368-2063

Leigh Smiley, REALTOR 730 E. General Stewart Way (912) 977-3401 http://www.coldwellbankerholtzman.com

K&M Xtreme Clean (912) 980-6605 https://www.facebook.com/ xtremeclean912/

Lena Mae’s Country Cafe Food Truck (912) 980-0388 https://www.facebook.com/ lenamaescc?fref=ts

Kathy Villafane, REALTOR 445 Elma G Miles Parkway (912) 247-7967 http://kathyvillafane.com

Lewis Portable Restrooms, Inc (912) 424-2784 http://www.lewisportablerestrooms.com

Keep Liberty County Beautiful 9397 East Oglethorpe Highway (912) 880-4888 http://www.keeplibertybeautiful.org/ Kings of Steem, LLC (912) 655-5371 http://www.kingsofsteem.com Kona Ice of Savannah (912) 346-3572 https://www.facebook.com/ konaicesavannah/ L & D Cleaning and Floor Services (912) 429-1602 La Maison Du Caniche, Inc. 988 Pineland Avenue (912) 876-5165 http://www.lamaisonducaniche.com LaQuinta Inn & Suites 1740 East Oglethorpe Highway (912) 369-3000 http://www.LQ.com

Liberty Chrysler Dodge Jeep, Inc. 750 West Oglethorpe Highway (912) 876-5129 http://www.libertychryslerdodgejeep.com Liberty Club Apartments 915 East General Stewart Way (912) 559-3313 http://www.libertyclubapts.com Liberty County Board of Commissioners 100 Main Street (912) 876-2164 http://www.libertycountyga.com/index. php?Itemid=79&id=30&option=com_ content&task=view Liberty County Board of Education 200 Bradwell Street (912) 876-2161 http://www.liberty.k12.ga.us/ Liberty County Clinic of Chiropractic 211 East Memorial Drive (912) 368-4002 http://libertyccc.com

Liberty County Community Housing Development 100 Regency Place (912) 368-3466 http://www.hinesvillehousingauthority.org Liberty County Convention & Visitors Bureau 208 East Court Street (912) 368-3580 http://www.libertycounty.org Liberty County Development Authority 425 West Oglethorpe Highway (912) 368-3356 http://lcda.com Liberty County DFCS 112 West Oglethorpe Highway (912) 370-2555 http://dfcs.dhs.georgia.gov/liberty-countydfcs-office Liberty County Extension Office 100 Main Street (912) 876-2133 https://extension.uga.edu/county-offices/ liberty.html Liberty County Farm Bureau 562 Elma G Miles Parkway (912) 368-3370 http://www.gfb.org/contactus/default.asp Liberty County Recreation Department 607 East Oglethorpe Highway (912) 876-5359 http://lcrd.net Liberty County Republican Party (912) 271-1702 https://www.facebook.com/LibertyCounty-Georgia-Republican-Party346005865509992/?fref=ts Liberty College & Career Academy 245 Dorsey Road (912) 876-4904 http://schools.liberty.k12.ga.us/lcca/ LIBERTY COUNTY MAGAZINE

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Liberty Consolidated Planning Commission 100 Main Street (912) 408-2030 http://www.thelcpc.org Liberty County ARC (912) 269-1013 http://www.libertycountyarc.org/ mission-vision/ Liberty County Board of Assessors 112 North Main Street (912) 876-3568 http://www.libertycountyga.com Liberty County Coroner’s Office 100 South Main Street (912) 408-2101 http://www.libertycountyga.com Liberty County Health Department 1113 East Oglethorpe Highway (912) 876-2173 http://www.gachd.org/counties/ liberty_county/ Liberty County Historical Society 100 South Commerce Street (912) 977-3282 http://libertyhistory.org Liberty County Sheriff’s Office 201 South Main Street (912) 876-2131 http://libertyso.com Liberty County Solid Waste Authority (912) 884-5353 http://www.libertycountysolidwaste. com/recycling-convenience/recyclingconvenience-centers/ Liberty Cycle Polaris 936 Elma G Miles Parkway (912) 368-4441 http://www.libertycyclehinesville.com

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Liberty Regional EMS, Inc. 474 South Main Street (912) 369-9420 http://www.libertyregional.org/getpage. php?name=ems Liberty Regional Medical Center 462 Elma G Miles Parkway (912) 369-9400 http://www.libertyregional.org Liberty Shipping Solutions 103 West General Screven Way, Suite G (912) 332-7912 http://www.libertyshippingsolutions.com Liberty Veterinary Medical Center 1094 East Oglethorpe Highway (912) 876-3357 http://www.libertyveterinary.com/ Liberty Volleyball Association (912) 463-4036 http://www.libertyvolleyball.com Lila Ann Johnson, Paparazzi (912) 271-7777 http://www.ljblings.com Live Oak Chiropractic 201 Fraser Street (912) 388-0126 http://www.lochinesville.com Live Oak Church of God 296 Live Oak Church Road (912) 876-8769 http://liveoakchurch.org

Local Media Outdoor Inc (770) 535-6308 Longhorn Steakhouse 825 West Oglethorpe Highway (912) 877-7181 http://www.longhornsteakhouse.com Love-It-Productions, Inc. 109 Flat Shoal Lane (912) 368-7550 https://www.facebook.com/Love-ItProductionscom-143914389512/?fref=ts Low Country Eyecare 465 Elma G Miles Parkway (912) 877-2422 http://www.lowcountryeye.com Low Country Turf & Ornamental LLC (912) 463-3396 Lowes Home Improvement 735 West Oglethorpe Highway (912) 408-1001 http://www.lowes.com Luis F. Lopez (912) 977-4321 M.E. Sack Engineering, FDBA P.C. Simonton & Associates 515 N Main Street (912) 368-5212 http://www.mesack.com Mach 1 Body Shop (912) 876-5500 http://www.mach1bodyshop.com/

Live Oak Public Libraries 236 West Memorial Drive (912) 368-4003 http://www.liveoakpl.org

Magnolia Grove Medical Spa 144 West Cherry Street (912) 559-6983 http://www.magnoliagrovemedicalspa.com

Live Oak Public Libraries-Midway Branch 9397 East Oglethorpe Highway (912) 884-5742 http://www.liveoakpl.org/home

Magnolia Manor on the Coast 141 Timber Trail Road (912) 756-4300 http://www.magnoliamanor.com

Magnum Pest Control (912) 977-6841 http://magnumpestsolutions.com Marco’s Pizza 755 East Oglethorpe Highway (912) 368-3302 http://www.marcos.com Margie’s Southern Cooking 1696 Shaw Road (912) 463-4864 https://www.facebook.com/ Margie-s-Southern-Cooking105893783085581/?fref=ts Margot Rush, Stylist 533 West Oglethorpe Highway (912) 980-3890

Maui Wowi Hawaiian Coffees & Smoothies (912) 572-8136 http://www.mauiwowi.com/ southernparadise

Mindless Maturity (912) 572-3880 http://www.mindlessmaturity.com

McAlister’s Deli 632 West Oglethorpe Highway (912) 332-5666

Molly Maxine Enterprises 122 South Main Street (912) 369-0160 https://www.facebook.com/profile. php?id=100004247687517&fref=ts

McDonalds Restaurant 321 Fraser Drive (912) 876-9301 http://www.mcdonalds.com

Muse Collision Inc. 14 Brights Lake Road (912) 408-7246 http://www.musecollision.com

Melody’s Coastal Cafe 34 North Coastal Hwy (912) 884-4113

Navy Federal Credit Union 730 South Main Street (888) 842-6328 http://www.navyfederal.org

Mark Mosely, Realtor 401 South Main Street (912) 532-9850

MidCoast Regional Airport 425 West Oglethorpe Highway (912) 877-4359 http://www.mcra.us

Marne Community & Spouses’ Club Fort Stewart, GA 31314 (678) 859-8005 http://www.marnecommunityclub.com

Midway Climate Controlled Storage 239 Isle of Wight Road (912) 884-4448 http://www.midwayccstorage.com

Ng Photography 114 South Commerce Street (912) 271-5747 http://www.Ng1photography.com

Marshland Credit Union 3650 Community Road (912) 580-9822 http://www.marshlandfcu.coop

Midway Family Dental 1718 North Coastal Highway (912) 880-2288 http://midwaydentist.com

Nikki Gaskin, REALTOR 730 General Stewart Way (912) 610-8304 http://ftstewarthomesearch.com

Martin Insurance Agency, Inc. 206 North Main Street (912) 876-5115 http://www.martininsuranceagencyga. com/

Midway Mall & Shopping Center 150 Butler Avenue (912) 663-9685

Nina & Jo, A Photography Studio 114 South Commerce Street (912) 271-5747

Midway Museum 491 North Coastal Highway (912) 884-5837 http://www.themidwaymuseum.org

Norman Realty & Management 139 Ryon Avenue (912) 368-3433 http://www.rentfortstewart-hinesville.com

Mike Reed Chevrolet 1559 East Oglethorpe Highway (912) 876-2121 http://www.mikereedchevy.com/

Nu Rho Omega Chapter AKA (912) 369-3407 http://www.nurhoomega.org/

Martin Mercantile 102 North Commerce Street (912) 318-7129 http://www.facebook.com/ martinmercantilehinesville

Negril Caribbean Restaurant 735 B Elma G Miles Parkway (912) 320-4566

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Omni Financial 230 W General Screven Way (912) 335-5320 https://www.omnimilitaryloans.com/ location/hinesville-ga/ One Stop Package 760 East Oglethorpe Highway (912) 368-8066 https://www.facebook.com/ OneStopPackageHinesville Optim Medical Center 790 Veterans Pkwy (912) 877-4400 http://www.optimhealth.com Osteen Law Group 101 Fraser Street (912) 877-2211 http://osteenlaw.com/ Pam Arthur-Lovett, REALTOR® 401 South Main Street (912) 977-4626 http://www.pamlovett.com Panera Bread 1190 East Oglethorpe Hwy (912) 448-0061 http://www.panerabread.com Parkwood Podiatry Associates 600 East Oglethorpe Highway (912) 368-3036 http://parkwoodpodiatryassociates.com Pathways Health Career Training Center 103 West General Screven Way (912) 432-7079 http://www.pathwayshealthcareer.com Paul’s Art Studio 114 Commerce Street (912) 977-2821

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Pedrick & Company, LLC 103 Central Avenue (912) 876-4697 http://www.pedrickcpa.com Peds Now! 863 West Oglethorpe Highway (912) 391-1044 http://Pedsnow.com Phillips Pediatrics, PC 455 South Main Street (912) 876-6868 http://www.phillipspeds.com Point University 55 Al Henderson Blvd (912) 629-3856 http://www.point.edu Polar Sweets 213 West Oglethorpe Highway (912) 610-1903 Pro Feet 111 West Hendry Street (912) 368-2662 http://www.facebook.com/profeetga Purchasing Alliance Solutions 1265 Minhinette Drive 800-782-8254 http://www.purchasingalliance.com Ratcliffe & Smith, P.C. 103 North Main Street (912) 369-8000 Rawls Realty, Inc. 790 Veterans Parkway (912) 450-1800 http://rawlsrealty.com

Reaching Milestones 508 North Main Street Suite D Hinesville, GA 31313 (912) 877-1405 http://www.reachingmilestones.com Real Estate Resource Center of South Georgia 445 Elma G Miles Parkway (912) 335-4544 http://www.realestateresourcecenter.org Realty Executives Liberty 401 South Main Street (912) 877-6600 http://www.realtyexecutivesliberty.com Recovery Place 104 North Commerce Street (912) 877-3600 http://www.recoveryplace.org/ Reliable Appliance Repair (912) 318-9742 http://www.reliableappliancerep.com Remax All American Realty 1453 West Oglethorpe Highway (912) 977-2131 http://www.remaxallamericanhinesvillega. com Renaissance Park Senior Village 205 East Memorial Drive (912) 448-0067 http://www.fairwaymanagement.com Ricter Taxes Etc., Inc. 1951 Shaw Road (912) 877-6744 Rodeo Mexican Restaurant 304 West Oglethorpe Highway (912) 877-2040 http://www.rodeomexican.com

Rogers Tree Service 127 Mount Olivet Church Road (912) 884-2112 https://www.facebook.com/Rogers-TreeService-142988439176990/?fref=ts RTS Homes 116 South Main Street (912) 876-3363 http://www.rts-homes.com Rustic Designs Home Market 1875 Georgia Highway 196 West (864) 640-6482 https://www.facebook.com/ rusticdesignshomemarket/

Savannah Sand Company 828 Rogers Pasture Road (912) 884-3702 http://www.jahna.com Savannah Technical College 100 Technology Drive (912) 408-3024 http://www.savannahtech.edu Score-Service Corps of Retired Executives 111 East Liberty Street (912) 652-4335 https://savannah.score.org/ Scott Wells Plumbing (912) 369-2067

Shake Shop Creamery 552 West Oglethorpe Highway (912) 332-7147 http://www.facebook.com/ hersheyshakeshop Sho’ Nuff Smokin Good Barbecue 4827 West 15th Street (912) 369-4663 http://www.facebook.com/ ShoNuffSmokinGoodBbq Skylark-Sexual Health and Care Clinic 212 South First Street (912) 588-0010 http://helloskylark.com

Ryan Feller, Realtor 730 General Screven Way (912) 321-7788 http://www.RyanFellerRealtor.com

Sea Island Web Design 554 Woods Bridge Road (912) 427-4957 http://www.seaislandwebdesign.com

Smile Doctors 111 West General Screven Way 1-888-336-3374 http://www.smiledoctors.com/ douglasga/smile-doctors-welcome

S E PrinTech 208 West Rustin Street (912) 654-3610 http://welovetoprint.com

Senior Citizens, Inc. 3025 Bull Street (912) 323-1851 https://www.seniorcitizensinc.org/

Smokin Pig The BBQ Joint 13711 East Oglethorpe Highway (912) 884.4495 http://www.smokinpigbbqjoint.com

S&M Memories Made (912) 320-9440 http://sandmmemoriesmade.com

Serenity Rose 4981 West Oglethorpe Highway (912) 876-3875 http://serenityrosecare.com

South Georgia Bank 737 South Main Street (912) 408-1051 http://www.southgabank.com

SERVE LLC North Commerce Street (706) 347-3892 http://www.servellc.com

Southeast Auto Service, LLC 104-B Carter Street (912) 876-4280 http://www.southeastautoservice.com

Service 2 Software 110 Ryon Ave http://www.service2software.org

Southern Coast Properties 730 General Stewart Way (912) 368-6322 http://www.southerncoastpm.com

Sam’s Club #4820 15 Mill Creek Circle (912) 748-9210 http://www.samsclub.com Samone Norsworthy Fine Art (912) 977-1632 http://www.samonenorsworthyc.om Sanitary Plumbing 1574 East Oglethorpe Highway (912) 876-3457 Satin Sax Co. http://www.bernardrosemusic.com

SERVPRO 1019 Commercial Dr (912) 223-3841 http://www. servprowaycrosshinesvilledouglas.com/

Southern Comfort Heating & Air Co. (912) 368-4822 http://www.southerncomfortga.com

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Southern Shoots Photography (941) 928-0035 http://southernshoots.shootproof.com Sparrow Communications, LLC 108 South Commerce Street (912) 376-9342 http://mysparrowcommunications.com Spinnaker Pediatric Dentistry of Hinesville 624 West Oglethorpe Highway (912) 877-0193 http:// spinnakerpediatricdentistryhinesville.com Split Fin Brewing, LLC 60 Butler Avenue (315) 329-9056 http://www.splitfinbrewingllc.com St. Joseph’s/ Candler Immediate Care Center 780 East Oglethorpe Highway (912) 385-0801 http://www.sjcurgentcare.com

Stella Nail Lounge 863 West Oglethorpe Highway (912) 877-5507 http://www.stellanaillounge.com Stewart Realty 323 West General Screven Way (912) 368-3700 http://fortstewartrealty.com Stop N Stor 746 Elma G Miles Parkway (912) 368-9196 http://www.store4@stopnstorstorage.com Storage Spot Midway, LLC 7873 East Oglethorpe Highway (912) 800-7768 http://www.storagespot.net

Stacy’s Florist 69 Old Sunbury Road (912) 368-3343 http://www.stacysflorist.com

Strategic Biz Solutions Unlimited, Inc. 425 West Oglethorpe Highway (912) 368-3471 http://www.strategicbiz.co

Stalmic Distributors, Inc. 1268 Georgia Highway 99/57 (912) 832-4393 http://stalmic.com

Sweet Spice, LLC (912) 335-8146 http://www.sweetspicesavannah.net

State Farm - Melissa Carter Ray Agency 119 Ryon Avenue (912) 368-6729 http://www.hinesvilleinsurance.com State Farm Insurance - Adam Herndon 790 Veterans Parkway Suite 105 (912) 876-2159 http://www.adamherndon.com/

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State Farm - Joseph Grant 101 East Oglethorpe Highway (912) 368-0073 https://www.statefarm.com/agent/US/ GA/Hinesville/Joseph-Grant-0J44Y6HSYAL

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T.R. Long Engineering, P.C. 114 North Commerce Street (912) 368-5664 http://www.trlongeng.com/ Target DC-T3808 1247 Sunbury Road (912) 880-6059 http://www.target.com

Tattersall Village Apartments 501 Burke Drive (912) 320-4788 http://www.tattersallvillageapts.com Taylors Creek Construction Company, LLC 8101 Elim Church Road NE, #29 (912) 368-5015 Tazza Kabob Grillhouse 466 West General Screven Way (912) 877-3883 https://tazza-kabob-grillhouse. business.site/?utm_source=gmb&utm_ medium=referral Tealiris Legacy Services, LLC (912) 318-4346 http://www.tealirislegacy.com The Brickwall Café 110 S Commerce St http://facebook.com/thebrickwallcafe The Coalition by Flossie & Lu 908 South Main Street (912) 463-4702 http://thecoalitionxfl.com Heritage Bank 300 South Main Street (912) 368-3332 http://www.the-heritage-bank.com The Hydro Bar 1705 East Oglethorpe Highway (912) 332-5689 http://www.thehydrobar.com The Magic Food Truck (912) 677-4082 http://www.themagicfoodtruck.org The Pines at Willowbrook Office 841 Willowbrook Drive (912) 877-2162 http://www.dmacompanies.com/ the-pines-at-willowbrook/

The Shell House Restaurant 8 Gateway Boulevard West (912) 927-3280 http://shellhouseseafoodsavannah.com/ The Tire Rack, Inc. 667 Sunbury Road (877) 353-5082 http://www.tirerack.com The Ulrick John Foundation 1054 Bacon Road (912) 704-6694 https://www.facebook.com/ theulrickjohnfoundation/ The Yellow Bee 802 Elma G Miles Parkway (912) 304-7010 http://www.facebook.com/theyellowbee6 Thomas Hill Jewelers 110 East Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive (912) 876-6036 http://www.thomashilljewelers.com Tidal Wave Auto Spa 897 West Oglethorpe Highway http://www.tidalwaveautospa.com Tiny Mobile Wedding Chapel (908) 917-8855 http://tinymobileweddingchapelsav.com Trey Searles, DJ itsyaboywiggles (912) 312-9869 http://www.itsyaboywigglesthedj.com/ Tri-County Protective Shelter (912) 368-9200 Hotline http://tri-countyprotectiveagency.net/ Troy University 2743 Perimeter Parkway (706) 231-2263 http://www.troy.edu

UBOUNCE (912) 622-3832 http://www.ubounce.biz

Walmart Neighborhood Market #4519 801-A East General Stewart Way (912) 255-6010

United Service Organization 1639 Gullick Avenue (912) 332-5881 https://www.facebook.com/ USOFortStewart/

Walmart Neighborhood Market #4525 1422 West Oglethorpe Highway (912) 877-9810 http://www.walmart.com/store/4525

United Way of Coastal Empire Liberty County 301 Fairhope Lane (912) 368-4282 https://www.facebook.com/ UWCELIBERTYCOUNTY/ Unlimited Taxes & More, Inc. 241C West General Screven Way (912) 369-9592 http://www.unlimitedtaxes.com Vaden Nissan of Hinesville 1009 East Oglethorpe Highway (912) 368-1680 http://vadennissanofhinesville.com Veterans of Foreign Wars 931 Highway 196 West (912) 876-6602 https://www.facebook.com/pages/ VFW-POST-6602/245665115500989 Vida Prints and Gifts 144 East Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive (912) 369-2252 https://www.vidaprintsgifts.com VIP Office Furniture & Supply 109 Central Avenue (912) 877-5209 http://www.vipoffice.com VIP Promotional Products 109 Central Avenue (912) 877-5215 http://www.vippromoproducts.com

Walmart Super Center 751 West Oglethorpe Highway (912) 369-3600 http://www.walmart.com Walthourville Meat Market 5715 West Oglethorpe Highway (912) 369-4933 http://www.facebook.com/meatmarket57 Waltrich Plastic Corp of GA 3005 Airport Road (912) 368-9341 http://www.waltrich.com Webster University - Ft. Stewart 100 Knowledge Drive (912) 876-8080 http://www.webster.edu/georgia Wedgewood/Aspen Court Apartments 939 South Main Street (912) 368-2244 http://www.wedgewood-aspencourt.com/ Weichert Realtors - Real Estate Professionals 201 East General Stewart Way (912) 332-5194 http://www.usrealtypro.com Wise Tax Services 908 South Main Street (912) 321-3568 https://www.wisetaxservices.com WomenHeart Hinesville (912) 395-0654 http://www.womenheart.org

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Woods Truck & Tractor 1648 Isle of Wight Road (912) 884-2780 https://www.facebook.com/ woodstruckandtractor/ WorkSource Coastal 7216 Skidaway Road (912) 332-7908 http://www.worksourcecoastal.org Wrap-It Signs 155 Dunlevie Road (912) 876-9727 http://wrapitsigns.com Wreaths for Warriors Walk 222 Magnolia Lane (912) 977-0213 http://www.facebook.com/ wreaths4warriorswalk Xplosive Fitness 1146 EG Miles Pkwy (912) 570-5650 http://www.xplosivefitness.net Xpress Signs 1301A West Oglethorpe Highway 912) 369-6692 https://www.facebook.com/XpressSigns-1803903446500637/timeline XteriClean Pressure Washing 135 Big Oak Road (912) 492-8259 http://www.xtericlean.com Yates-Astro Termite & Pest Control 610 East Oglethorpe Highway (912) 876-5088 http://www.yates-astro.com/ YMCA of Coastal Georgia 201 Mary Lou Drive (912) 368-9622 http://www.ymcaofcoastalga.org/

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Your Family Hospice 908 South Main Street (912) 332-7969 http://www.your-familyhospice.com Zaxby’s 403 East Oglethorpe Highway (912) 369-0266 http://www.zaxbys.com Zen Den Massage Studio 1 Sherwood Drive (912) 332-5965 http://www.zendenmassagestudio.com Zoner’s Pizza, Wings and Waffles 103-D General Screven Way (912) 332-7733 http://zonershinesville.com Zum Rosenhof 103B Midway St (912) 876-2191 http://www.zumrosenhof.com/

Mary's Brunswick Stew

Ingredients:

1 large onion 2 big cans of diced tomatoes 1 regular can of tomatoes 2 cans of cream corn 2 cans of whole kernel corn 1 can early ear peas Bag of potatoes 1 Boston Butt

Instructions:

Cook the Boston Butt in the oven or in water on the stove top till it’s done. Let it cool then chop up the Boston butt. Chop the onion up & put them together in a big pot. Open up your cans of tomatoes pour them all over the meat & onions.

Open up the cream corn and pour it in. When you open up the whole kernel corn,drain off the juice first, then add to the pot. When you start cooking it alto altogether make sure you put it on low & keep stirring to keep it from scorching. Let it cook for a while, then cut up your potatoes & cook them in a pot till they are almost done. Drain the potatoes and add to the pot. After it cooks for a while open & drain the peas and add them to the pot. Keep stirring off & on till it’s done. It's up to you how long you cook the stew. It is up to you how long you let it cook. You can add the stew to a crock pot and let it cook on low overnight, if you choose.

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Trr Spirits of Liberty County By: Erin Johnson

We’re at the point now where summer is slowly winding down, leave yourself a little time to explore your own surroundings before the hustle and bustle of fall arrives. Whether it’s where you live or a new place, get off the beaten path, grab adventure by the reigns and wander.

As you wander down Barrington Ferry Road after it turns into dirt just past the old Leconte Woodmanston plantation, you might be surprised to come upon a face peeking out from one of our Live Oak trees. Yep, you might actually see a face looking back at you while you’re doing some Sunday afternoon riding. And no, we’re not talking about the Keebler Elves. These faces are serene and majestic and unfortunately don’t make cookies! These are the Tree Spirits of Liberty County. They sit along the right-hand side of the road carved into two trees about 50 yards apart. We took a quick field trip out to see them and when I finally got a chance to get up close in person, only one thought came to mind: Ingebongies. I know now you’re thinking “What the heck is an Ingebongy?”

Well, when I was a little girl my brothers and I would visit my grandmother for the weekend. She had a great big house on a lot of property out in the boonies that she mostly used to ride her horses on, or take her dogs for a walk. I loved to visit her and tag along on these trips through the woods, not just for the horseback riding but also for the stories she’d tell us about her life growing up, how my mother was as a child and you guessed it, stories about the “Ingebongies.” The Ingebongies were spirits who lived in the trees and would only come out on certain occasions. I was very intrigued with this concept as a child, it couldn’t be very comfortable to live in a tree. And I was convinced if I lingered too long around any one particular tree the Ingebongies would snatch me away, never to be seen again.

Now I have no idea if these stories were an actual myth or if Ingebongies were my grandmother’s brainchild she used to add a little spice to our rides. I never have been a very talkative person. Whether it was fact or fiction, at 5 years old I was a true believer. I’m pretty sure everyone else knew they were just stories, but for me I knew every time something moved just outside my range of vision, it was an Ingebongy.I’ve never forgotten these stories so as I’m sure you can imagine the tree spirits in Liberty County immediately brought me right back to my childhood! Except this time, I wasn’t scared I would get snatched away.

(Mostly because I was in the truck, and I knew Leah and Delese wouldn’t let me get snatched away!)

We don’t know who carves these majestic faces or what the meaning is behind them, but they sure add a little mystery to a backroad we all love to wander down. Walk right up to it and you’ll see the amount of detail and precision in both faces. If you’ve ever tried to carve your name into a tree or wooden shed you know it’s pretty difficult to make it look nice, and yet the character and detail of these faces are a perfect example of rustic artwork.

Plan your next weekend around visiting these peculiar works of art and take in a bit of Liberty County on your ride. Bring the kids along and stop for a while at Briar Bay park at the playground. Maybe you’ll find a new Tree Spirit that has appeared recently or perhaps you’ll find another hidden gem. Explore Liberty!

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Lt’ Mk Bie Paus By: Leah Poole

Definitely a southern staple, boiled peanuts are a part of life in Liberty County as well. There are tons of roadside stands that pop up this time of year selling peanuts so take a Sunday drive & explore. For someone who has never had a boiled peanut just a quick education, peanuts are actually part of the legume family but when boiled have more a potato-like texture.

We’ve been hearing local people talk for weeks “waiting for peanuts to come in” so that they could start making these little bits of salty yumminess to keep in the fridge all summer long. Peanuts are typically harvested in July/August depending on the weather, when temperatures stay 95 degrees or higher during the day and do not get lower than 70 degrees at night.

The best boiled peanuts are made from raw or what is called “green” peanuts. If you choose to make them at other times of year you will have to use dry or roasted peanuts which just aren’t the same. And the dried ones take a lot longer to cook.

Here’s our recipe: He 2 lb of green peanuts Kosher salt Water Directions: In a large stock pot with a lid mix a gallon of water for every cup of Kosher salt. You Di want the peanuts to be covered by at least 2 inches of water. Wash the peanuts well in cold water.

Place peanuts in the pot & bring to a boil on the stove. Keep the pot at a boil (but not boiled over) for 1.5 hours, stir every once in a while just to move the peanuts floating on the top down into the bring. At that point check the doneness of the peanuts. If they have reached your desired tenderness remove from heat (don’t rinse) and enjoy! If you want them to be more tender then just wait and boil them longer.

You can store the uncooked green peanuts in the fridge up to 4 days. Boiled peanuts can be good up to 10 days in the fridge, if they last that long! Or you can always stop by and see us at the Bacon Fraser house and see if we have any sittin’ in the fridge!

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The Old Sunbury Road By: Clay Sikes

There is not much left of this old road, one of the oldest most historic in our state; once connecting the Port Town of Sunbury (and its 94 Port Vessels) to the States’ Capital in Milledgville. If this old road could talk, the stories it could tell, back to its origins as an Indian trail, to its most traveled times connecting Coastal settlers to the inland. Even in the modern era there are tall tales involving drug smugglers, adoring lovers, recreational hunters, and moonshine runners. The span and the history of this road are as rich as it gets in the USA; as this passageway connected Island and Coastal Indians with trade opportunities to tribes further today, non-indigenous flint rock arrowheads and other artifacts can be found on or near this north. Even toda road after a hard rain.

The routes we travel today often began with native Americans who searched the high ground, forged the streams, establishing the least difficult river passages. These trails transcended into much traveled roadways for settlers with horses and wagons, and yes, an occasional horseshoe or wagon part can still be found with today’s metal detecting technology. This road, known as ‘The Old Sunbury Road,’ is fronted by one of the nation’s oldest cemeteries, filled with names found in history books. Many are unaware that Sunbury is now known as a “Dead Town,” but once rivaled Savannah as the major seaport in this area. By all geological rights it should have been what Savannah became; after all, it is the deepest natural harbor east of the Mississippi. It has direct access to the ocean with its necessary winds, much shorter to get to from the high seas, while Savannah offered only a winding, often difficult silted river to navigate.

General James B. Vault, a former Ft. Stewart commander and military planner, and also a friend prior to his death, did his war college dissertation on ‘why’ such a natural harbor (Sunbury) was bypassed – his findings, though I never read it, were interesting! As the story goes, in the early days loyalty to the crown played a big role in how decisions were made. Apparently, St. John’s Parrish (later named Liberty County) held a dim view of Crown Rule, which may hold some truth as evidenced by the number of signers of the Declaration of Independence who lived here. Disloyalty to those in power meant a lack of favor from the powerful – in this case, the Crown. My how things have changed!

The historic markers at Sunbury will whet your appetite, as you will soon realize you are sitting on one of the most historic pieces of real estate ‘per square inch’ in this country. countr While the paved roads will allow you to easily find Sunbury (you must try Sunbury Crab Company if you go), it is that old dirt road you will want to leave by. It will eventually guide you back to Hwy 38; but take it, and take your imagination with you. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

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