Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

White Lighting Ceremony in St Marys, Georgia

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Every year everyone gathers downtown around dusk for the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. The historic downtown area is already decorated for the holidays, with lots of twinkling white lights and reefs. If you live in the area, you’ll spend the time talking to neighbors and friends, while kids spend most of their time running around. The Market on the Square probably sells more hot chocolate on this particular day than any other day of the year. It seems as if everyone in Camden comes downtown for the White Lighting, so it’s a great time to catch up with old friends.

The events begins with a parade starting from the old paper mill. The parade slowly proceeds down the holiday decorated main street – Osborne Street. And when I say slowly, I mean slowly, it can take them a good 20 minutes to make it all the way downtown, so you might need a refill on that chocolate. While you wait for Santa’s arrival there are also dance and music performances on stage.

And finally, when Mr and Mrs Santa make it downtown,  the City Christmas Tree is lit. Afterwards young kids get the opportunity to tell Santa himself what they want for Christmas.

So bring your whole gang to downtown St Marys on December 2nd for the White Lighting. There is simply no better way to get into the holiday spirit!

For more information, please call 912-882-4000.T

Christmas tree in the park
Creative Commons License

photo credit: ryaninc

Savannah College of Art and Design President Paula S. Wallace honored with first annual ELLE DECOR Vision Award

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NEW YORK – Savannah College of Art and Design President Paula S. Wallace was honored with the first ELLE DECOR Vision Award Monday, Nov. 17, at the inaugural Women In Design event, co-sponsored by ELLE DECOR and the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum. Held at the Harold Pratt House in New York City, the event celebrated outstanding female achievement in the fields of architecture, communications, fashion, interior and product design.

“What an honor! This is huge, getting something like this from ELLE DECOR and Cooper-Hewitt, two of the world’s great standard-bearers of design,” said Wallace. “I’m sure they have the wrong person. They say I have vision. I don’t know. If that’s true, I suppose it’s because I’m entirely unable to think about anything but the future for SCAD. It’s my life’s work, my magnum opus—and the best job in the world.”

SCADAn academic visionary, Wallace co-founded the Savannah College of Art and Design in 1978. Thirty years later, SCAD is the nation’s most comprehensive art and design university, offering more degree programs and specializations than any other art and design university in the United States. The university’s more than 9,000 students study at campuses in Savannah and Atlanta, Ga., Lacoste, France, and online via SCAD-eLearning.

Under Wallace’s leadership, SCAD was named the “Hottest for Studying Art” among “America’s 25 Hottest Colleges” by Kaplan/Newsweek, and was recognized as one of “America’s best colleges” and “America’s best graduate schools” by U.S. News and World Report.

Wallace’s mission at SCAD is to provide a bridge from academia to professional life, ensuring that SCAD students are prepared for successful careers in the fields of art and design. In support of this mission, Wallace created shopSCAD and Working Class Studio, two inventive concepts that enable SCAD students to promote their work in the marketplace.

ShopSCAD is a boutique with locations in Savannah and Atlanta where SCAD faculty, students and alumni present and sell their original work, including clothes, books, jewelry, tableware, paintings, prints and stationery.

Working Class Studio, a product development venture, marries function to fine art in product lines sold in retail stores domestically and around the world. Working Class Studio recently has collaborated with Williams Sonoma/west elm, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Henri Bendel and Showtime, among others.

Wallace also created many of the university’s most innovative academic and outreach programs, including SCAD Style, a full month of style and design events including lectures, exhibitions, trunk shows and book signings. SCAD Style begins every year with the Étoile Awards in New York, where the university annually honors important figures in style and design.

Wallace has advanced the SCAD legacy of historic preservation and its commitment to renewing urban landscapes through an impressive series of restoration projects in the medieval village of Lacoste, in Midtown Atlanta and in the historic district of Savannah. Most recently, SCAD restored a 19th-century synagogue, several historic public school buildings, the oldest extant railroad depot in the United States, and a mansion considered to be the oldest, most complete and single most important representation of Atlanta’s storied New South, post-Civil War period—transforming them into thriving homes for SCAD academic programs. This commitment to the building arts has earned awards for SCAD from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Art Deco Societies of America, the American Society of Interior Designers, and the American Institute of Architects.

“For some, design is merely decoration, but for women in design, it is so much more—it is essential,” said Margaret Russell, editor-in-chief of ELLE DECOR. “This award is about recognizing women such as Paula who are making their mark in a field historically dominated by men. Paula isn’t just changing the course of the design world, but is helping to change the world itself. That’s why she is the perfect person to receive our first ELLE DECOR Vision Award.”

Wallace’s vision has been lauded by many other leaders in the art and design world as well. “I am extremely impressed by the fact that one woman had a vision and she made it happen, and is helping so many people,” said Diane von Furstenberg, acclaimed designer and president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Added Tom Ford, president and CEO of Tom Ford International, “The vision of this woman who founded this school is incredible. It is absolutely mind-boggling.”

In addition to the award ceremony, the Women in Design event featured a panel discussion with several leading women in design, including architect Annabelle Selldorf, interior designers Bunny Williams and Celerie Kemble, and fashion designer Cynthia Rowley.

The evening also featured the unveiling of pieces from finalists in the Rado Design Competition, in which talented SCAD female students and alumnae were asked to envision a design specific to their field using Rado’s Ceramica collection of timepieces for inspiration. In addition to a trip to New York City and a watch from the collection, the winner will receive a feature in both ELLE DECOR and the Rado newsletter.

For more information on the first annual Women in Design awards event, visit www.elledecor.com/womenindesign.

Citadel’s Christmas Candlelight Service – Charleston, SC

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The South Carolina Corps of Cadets will present its Christmas Candlelight Service for the Lowcountry at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6, 7 and 8 in Summerall Chapel on The Citadel campus.
Cadets from the Protestant, Catholic and Gospel choirs, the Chorale, the Women’s Ensemble and members of The Citadel Regimental Band will take part in the annual celebration of the birth of Christ, observing the events of the Advent, the Annunciation, the Birth of the King, and Epiphany through Scripture lessons and carols. Traditional and international favorites are sung, and special highlights include the Procession of Lights.

Cadets coordinate the production with Nancy Lefter, director of chorale activities, organist Mark A. Bebensee of the School of Business Administration and Commander Mike Alverson, director of music.

The hour-long program is free and open to the public. Donations are accepted. Flash cameras and video lights are not permitted inside the chapel.

This event is one of the most popular Christmas activities in Charleston. Visitors are encouraged to arrive early to secure parking on campus and seating in the chapel.
For more information, call 843-953-5049. Summerall Chapel on The Citadel campus.
12/06/2008, 12/07/2008, 12/08/2008

christmas music
Creative Commons License photo credit: hans s

Holiday Events on Amelia Island, Florida

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Upcoming Holiday events on Amelia Island include:


November 20, 2008
2008 Beaujolais Nouveau
On November 20, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island will celebrate the arrival of the 2008 Beaujolais Nouveau with a lavish fete in the Ritz-Carlton ballroom. An annual tradition since 1991, the event has featured the arrival of the world-famous wine by parachute, pirate ship, and Mercedes. More than 500 guests will enjoy the elegant affair, featuring art, wine and abundant hors d’oeuvres in a traditional French bistro setting. For ticket information for this extravagant event, please call (904) 277-1028.

November 22, 2008
Amelia Island Bed and Breakfast Association Holiday Cookie Tour
Looking for a new cookie recipe? Let Fernandina’s “pro” bakers share a recipe and a taste of their signature baked goods during the annual Holiday Cookie Tour. Enjoy a holiday treat and a walk through the common area of seven of Amelia’s beautiful inn’s, all decked out in holiday attire covering Thanksgiving through Christmas. Held from 1 – 5 p.m., the tour will include admission to the Addison on Amelia, Amelia Island Williams House, Ash Street Inn, Elizabeth Pointe Lodge, Fairbanks House, Florida House Inn, and Hoyt House. Tickets are $20 each and are available at any of the seven inns, the Visitor’s Depot on Centre Street, and the Chamber of Commerce Gateway Office. For more information, visit www.ameliaislandinns.com.

November 26, 2008
christmasAnnual Christmas Tree Lighting and Character Dinner
At 5:30 p.m., the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island will hold their Annual Christmas Tree Lighting, complete with refreshments, music and, of course, a visit from Santa. The celebration will be followed by a Holiday Character Dinner at 6:30 p.m., where the family can dine with Santa, elves, reindeer and other holiday characters. Admission to the Character dinner is $49 for adults and $25 for children 3-12. The tree lighting is free and open to the public. For event reservations and information, please call (904) 277-1028.

November 28, 2008
Annual Pajama Party Sale & Contest
Snuggling into the holiday shopping season in historic downtown Fernandina Beach, the Annual Pajama Party Sale & Contest on Centre Street will begin at 8 a.m. Held the Friday after Thanksgiving, shoppers can enjoy free contest registration until 11 a.m., giving them plenty of time to slip into their footed pajamas, bunny slippers, and other assorted sleepwear. Pajama clad shoppers enjoy special deals and discounts, along with fresh juice, coffee and pastries to fuel their shopping spirit. Shoppers entering the contest are eligible for “Best Dressed Individual Shopper in Pajamas” and “Best Dressed Shopping Group in Pajamas.” For more information, contact Sandy Price at (904) 261-9504.

November 28, 2008
Annual Holiday Light Celebration
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Amelia Island Plantation will light up the holiday season with thousands of twinkling white lights. From 6 to 9 p.m., visit The Spa & Shops at Amelia Island Plantation for an enjoyable evening of live entertainment, complimentary hot chocolate, apple cider, cookies, and horse and carriage rides. And don’t forget to get your picture with Santa. For more information, go to www.aipfl.com/Calendar_of_Events_Shops.htm, or contact The Spa & Shops at Amelia Island Plantation at (904) 432-2202.

November 29
Fernandina Beach Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
christmasThe City of Fernandina Beach and Historic Fernandina Business Association will host the official City of Fernandina Beach Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Saturday, November 29, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. Held in front of the old train depot at the foot of Centre Street, Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive early, at 3 p.m., to meet and be available to take pictures with the kids of the community. Music by area choirs and bands will also take place in the downtown business district from 3 to 6 p.m. at various locations. Santa will return each Saturday in December, allowing parents a picture perfect opportunity. For more information, contact Melba Whitaker at 904-261-3635 or access the Calendar of Events at www.downtownfernandina.com.

November 29, 2008
Holiday Carnival
From 4 to 7 p.m., Amelia Island Plantation will hold its annual Holiday Carnival at The Spa & Shops. Bring the whole family to enjoy a ride on the carousel, chat with Santa Claus during a horse and carriage ride, and complimentary Christmas Cookies and Hot Chocolate. For more information, contact The Spa & Shops at Amelia Island Plantation at (904) 432-2202 or www.aipfl.com/Calendar_of_Events_Shops.htm.

Tour de Georgia 2009 – The Bicycle Tour Cancelled

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(Atlanta, GA) Following the conclusion of a very successful 2008 Tour de Georgia presented by
AT&T, the Board of Directors of the Tour de Georgia Foundation, Inc., announced today their plans
for the future of the Tour.

Speaking on behalf of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, long time member Tom
Saddlemire announced that the Tour de Georgia will not be held in 2009 but will return in
2010. Mr. Saddlemire, newly retired CFO of GE Energy, explained that “with the help of the Lt.
Governor, the Tour had its most successful year yet, raising close to $3.2 million in operating
expenses and commitments for more than $500,000 in support of cancer research through the Aflac
Cancer Center at Children’s Healthcare and the Georgia Cancer Coalition. We believe that this
unique and exciting event will endure. We have decided to use 2009 as a time to plan ahead and
properly position the Tour de Georgia to make the best use of the new partnerships we forged during
the 2008 Tour de Georgia Presented by AT&T, such as our relationships with Blue Cross Blue
Shield and Road Atlanta. The planning process for the Tour de Georgia requires a tremendous
amount of time and effort and we wanted to give all of our partners enough time to plan and allocate
their resources to take full advantage of the event. Therefore, we will skip 2009 and the Board will
petition USAC and the UCI for the Tour de Georgia’s return to the world calendar in 2010.”
Craig Lesser, former Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development said that
“The Tour de Georgia was initiated by the Georgia Department of Industry, Trade & Tourism (now
Georgia Department of Economic Development) in 2003 with a focus on creating a world-class
cycling event which fostered significant economic development, tourism and world-wide exposure.
We achieved that goal. The Tour de Georgia quickly developed stature, gaining international ranking
(by UCI and USA Cycling, Inc.) as a spring tradition in the professional sport of cycling. The Tour
de Georgia attracted the best teams in the world and previous champions included such stars as
Lance Armstrong, Tom Danielson and Chris Horner. Over the course of six years, the Tour de
Georgia has attracted 3.2 million spectators, many of whom traveled to Georgia from out of state,
and generated a direct economic impact totaling over $186 million. The 2008 Tour de Georgia, our
most successful Tour yet, yielded over $38.6 million in direct economic impact for the State. We
have come a long way since 2003.”
Chairman of the Board, Lt. Governor Casey Cagle added, “The support we received from our
Georgia sponsor corporations, our host cities and the citizens of Georgia was amazing in
2008. Since April, we have had an enormous response from our partners on ways we can strengthen
the Tour for the future, and we have been listening. Our host cities want to have time to prepare
tourism packages and our health providers are enthusiastic about developing plans to use the Health
and Wellness expos to spread their message across the state. Our cycling friends from across the
state want to partner with us to create participant activities which are inclusive of the whole
family. We have listened to their advice and have decided to skip one year so that the Tour de
Georgia can once and for all be ahead of the game in the planning process. This is a decision I feel
is wise and one that will strengthen the Tour de Georgia for years to come. I commend our Board
for its thoughtfulness in arriving at this decision. We look forward to using 2009 to plan the 2010
Tour and I am committed to playing an active role in that process.”
Steve Johnson, CEO of USA Cycling, said that he “was obviously disappointed to learn that the
2009 Tour de Georgia has been cancelled for 2009. However, I am very pleased that the race will
return in 2010. Since its inception in 2003, the Tour de Georgia has been an important international
stage race featuring some of the top riders in the world. Equally important, it provided the impetus
for major stage races in California and Missouri. We look forward to the Tour de Georgia returning
in 2010.”
The Tour de Georgia Presented by AT&T is North America ’s premier professional cycling
race. First held in 2003, the Tour de Georgia Presented by AT&T is an
international professional sporting event that brings thousands of spectators and cycling enthusiasts
to the State of Georgia each Spring. The 2008 Tour de Georgia Presented by AT&T was a six-stage
race, covering more than 600 miles across the State of Georgia, from the shores of Tybee Island to
the mountains of North Georgia, with an exciting circuit finish in the state capitol, Atlanta.
Traditionally, professional teams use the Tour de Georgia to prepare their riders for the most
challenging tours held in Europe, including the Tour de France. Several teams which rode in the
2008 Tour de Georgia Presented by AT&T also participated in the 2008 Tour de France. Riders
such as Christian van de Velde and George Hincapie, who were fierce competitors in the 2008 Tour
de Georgia Presented by AT&T, also rode extremely well in the 2008 Tour de France. The climb up
Brasstown Bald in the mountains of North Georgia, a favorite of cycling fans and a legendary stage
in the professional racing circuit, is considered by professional cyclists to be the most challenging
and grueling stage of any race held in North America.

More information www.tourdegeorgia.com