Rosemary Danielle, a local Savannah writer, talked with her fans and signed copies of her work following her presention at a recent Book Festival in Savannah. Learn more about Rosemary's work at her website: www.MyZonaRosa.com
Many people sojourn to the city for a "spring break" getaway at this time. You might decide to begin or end your trip to Savannah at Tybee Island (15 miles from downtown), where the fun starts about a week prior with their own parade. Old Savannah Tours offers affordable, frequent round trip and one way shuttles from the island.VisitTybeeisland.com for year-round calendar information.
Savannah officials perform a great service keeping the city from deteriorating into a slushy, slovenly, come-hither Mardi Gras mess. Families enjoy bringing children to the annual parade in the morning, so it's a good idea to tame your inner party animal until after the last float has drifted out of sight. (about four hours)
There is, however, plenty of time for beaded bliss! Designated areas are gated for adult carousing, and wrist bands are a required purchase if you plan to drink alcohol on River Street at this time. Visit catchacat.org for shuttle bus information.
A bit o' Trivia: In 2008, the 154th parade through the city's historic district was celebrated on March 14th due to concerns from the Catholic diocese that the event conflicted with religious observations of Holy Week. The regular parade date returned to the traditional March 17th date in 2009 and is expected to remain a March 17th event each year until 2160.
Each year, the Savannah College of Art and Design makes yet
another unique cultural contribution to the Lowcountry landscape with its multicultural celebration of diversity, the SCAD International Festival.
The annual SCAD International Festival takes place on a closed-off city block of Broughton Street, between Lincoln and Abercorn streets. The event is always free and open to the public. There is always plenty of fun and entertainment, and unique arts and crafts are available for purchase.
The event features traditional music, dance, art and food to celebrate the diversity of SCAD's international arts community. Among the festival highlights are special performances by wonderful entertainers.
The "Taste of the World" dining experience offers visitors the chance to taste cuisine from around the world. Participating restaurants, include the Casbah Moroccan Restaurant, which is located on Broughton Street near the event.
How did Earth Day begin?
Founded by US Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, Earth Day began its climb to the national forefront during the turbulent and revolutionary 1960's. Although President Kennedy toured selected states in 1963 to spotlight national conservation, he was unable to place it on the national political agenda.
Senator Nelson did not give up on his cause, however, and neither did the American public. Inspired by anti-Vietnam protest methods, Nelson and Earth Day co-founder Dennis Hayes publicized a national "environmental teach-in" to raise awareness and demonstrate collective activism.
Thirty-eight years later, it is estimated that a billion people worldwide recognize Earth Day. From Washington D.C. to the Galapagos Islands, motivated crowds gather to educate, brainstorm and inspire even more people to reduce, reuse, and recycle every day of the year.
14th Annual Earth Day - 2010
Not Another Earth Day Article
Jane C. Martin
Given that there are at least one hundred and six national holidays on our calendar, it's not surprising that Earth Day might get lost in the shuffle. Haven't I always appreciated the environment? As a highly motivated South Georgia girl scout, I spent many formative years bogging in - and floating around - Savannah's "muddy" rivers, as well as trailblazing the neighborhood forests in search of pirates, U.F.O.'s or woods people who, might, with any luck, be observed burying my seventh grade report card (No such luck).
This appreciation allowed me to befriend boxer turtles and caterpillars. It also led me to discover many important truths about nature, such as one should not crush pine bark into your father's tobacco paper and smoke it. Neither should anyone EVER ignite dry palm fronds to warm the wetlands. It's just not that cold, folks.
Clearly, I may have needed an older brother; nonetheless, these memories are part of why the environment still holds the wonder and appeal it still does for me. I certainly never imagined those resources or environs could diminish, much less disappear. The focus in those days was more on appreciation and use, rather than on preservation and sustainability. Even then, however, the conservation movement had made strides. Now I recognize, with the rest of the nation, the official Earth Day April 22 - as a day meant to celebrate and contemplate a world we all better understand.
Walking through Forsyth Park Saturday, I recalled the environment from which I sprang: a seemingly endless reserve of resources. I felt comforted walking among a group of people dedicated to the wide range of issues that go hand in hand with protecting, cleaning and conserving our planet. Hope grows alongside groups like YFACE (Youth For A Cleaner Environment), Girl Scouts, and Savannah High's Greenhouse students.
Live music at the new Visitor's Center made 2010's Earth Day celebration even better for Downtowners. Plenty of great bicycles were on display, overshadowed, maybe, only by the dogs. What a great day for dogs and dog walkers and hoola-hoopers and sunbathers and shade nappers and organic food eaters and bike riders and recyclers and gardeners alike. It was surely a great day for me. Emerson says, "Nothing in nature is exhausted in its first use." Does that mean I can use this article again next year?!
Suggested reading:
Organic Manifesto - How Organic Farming Can Heal Our Planet, Feed the World, & Keep Us Safe, by Maria Rodale
Green Goes With Everything - Simple Steps to a Healthier Life and A Cleaner Planet, by Sloan Barnett
Do One Green Thing, by Mindy Pennybacker
The Story of Stuff - How Our Obsession With Stuff Is Trashing The Planet, Our Communities, And Our Health - And A Vision for Change, by Annie Leonard
What We Leave Behind - Historical analysis & prose -The root of sustainability: one being's waste must always become another being's food, by Derrick Jensen
Check out www.Earthday.org for answers to environmental questions you may not have known to ask even Al Gore!
13th Annual Earth Day Festival largest in Georgia - 2009
Thousands of environmentally conscious citizens gathered in Forsyth Park on April 18 to celebrate Earth Day 2009. The weekend festival, held before the official Earth Day observance on April 22nd, was the largest community Earth Day event in Georgia.
The Earth Day Festival RecycleRama provided a recycling opportunity for many problematic items, such as paint. Participating citizens helped keep over 60,000 lbs of waste out of the landfill. Through a partnership with Ashland Chemicals, more than 5400 gallons of paint were diverted from our landfills and disposed of properly, an increase of 1200 gallons from last year. The City of Savannah's Recycling Department also collected 49lbs of recyclable waste from the event. But Earth Day can be every day--in addition to the City's curbside collection of standard recyclables, citizens who have more of these hard-to-recycle items can use the Web site www.Earth911.com to search for drop-off locations for specific materials.
Working with the theme "be green, save green", 85 exhibitors demonstrated how even inexpensive changes, like the type of light bulb you use, can help the environment, while bigger investments in earth-friendly technology, like solar power, can save you money over time. The festival also highlighted wildlife and habitat conservation, waste recycling, water quality protection, and many other environmental efforts taking place throughout Chatham County. Free workshops taught attendees how to compost with worms, build a rain barrel, and make environmentalism a part of parenting.
Successful community events like this would not be possible without the enthusiastic support of the volunteers, attendees, and sponsors. The Earth Day Committee greatly appreciates the participation and hard work at this year's Earth Day Festival.
For more information, contact Environmental Affairs Administrator Laura Walker at 912-651-2221 or Environmental Planner Sarah Barlow at 912-651-6943.
12th Annual Earth Day - 2008
Savannah celebrated its 12th annual Earth Day on April 19, 2008 under cloudless skies at beautiful Forsyth Park. The theme for 2008, Local Action, Global Impact, reflects a growing trend in Savannah towards personal and professional eco-friendly choices.
The 7th Annual Savannah Children's Book Festival will take place on Saturday, November 13th, 2010
Celebrate the joy of reading, the power of the written word and the magic of storytelling with children's book authors and illustrators from around the country. The festival also features dozens of local authors, arts and crafts, food, a variety of entertainment, an international tent, costumed characters, a "teen scene" and more!
Visitor Information Packet
Art Gallery
on River St
Among all the excitement that constitutes March "madness," St. Patrick's Day is, perhaps, the most eagerly anticipated day of the year for Savannah's Irish - and for just about everyone who enjoys lively community festivals, green pageantry, stout ale, fun food and good music on 
Given that there are at least one hundred and six national holidays on our calendar, it's not surprising that Earth Day might get lost in the shuffle. Haven't I always appreciated the environment? As a highly motivated South Georgia girl scout, I spent many formative years bogging in - and floating around - Savannah's "muddy" rivers, as well as trailblazing the neighborhood forests in search of pirates, U.F.O.'s or woods people who, might, with any luck, be observed burying my seventh grade report card (No such luck).
Walking through Forsyth Park Saturday, I recalled the environment from which I sprang: a seemingly endless reserve of resources. I felt comforted walking among a group of people dedicated to the wide range of issues that go hand in hand with protecting, cleaning and conserving our planet. Hope grows alongside groups like YFACE (Youth For A Cleaner Environment), Girl Scouts, and Savannah High's Greenhouse students.
The 29th Annual, SCAD Sidewalk Arts Festival in Forsyth Park was scheduled for Saturday, April 24, 2010.
The 2009, SCAD Sidewalk Arts Festival in Forsyth Park was scheduled for Saturday, April 25th.
The 2008, SCAD Sidewalk Arts Festival in Forsyth Park was scheduled for Saturday, April 26th.
St. Paul's Greek Orthodox Hellenic Center
Savannah has joined the ranks of Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago and 10 other major cities as one of the sites of the world-renowned Rock N Roll Marathon series.
