Downtown Tent & Sidewalk Sale
Bring your family and shop safely with the Downtown Tent & Sidewalk sale on December 10-12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday till 8 p.m.
Shop Local! Participating businesses will have a tent set up on the front of their store, with exciting deals to choose from. You’ll be able to find gifts for everyone on your list: Clothing, Pottery, Antiques, Furniture, Bicycles and even Christmas Treats!
Participating businesses include: R.J Pope, L.A Waters, Frills, Split Endz, Miracles, Little Lovely Clothing Co., Honey Too, Fraziers Flowers, Jaxe & Grace, Vintage Barbers, Pladd Dot, Galactic Comics, Southern Pottery, Board and Brush, Posh, Recycled Cycles and more!
They’ll also have presentations that weekend at Averitt Center, with shows like Lady Legends.
Details at: https://www.averittcenterforthearts.org/lady-legends-and-guests
Missing Chilitown? No Worries! The Statesboro Natural Gas Department will provide wrapped chili dogs (while supplies last) on Friday Night from 5-8 p.m, across from City Hall.
And, who knows? They might even have a friendly visit from Santa!
Eat, Shop and Play in Downtown Statesboro from Dec 10-12!
For more information, please contact the Downtown Statesboro Development Authority by calling them at (912)764-7227 or emailing them at mainstreet@statesborodowntown.com.
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Ogeechee Riverkeeper Announces Inaugural Photo Contest
Multiple categories will put on a spotlight the beauty of the area.
Ogeechee Riverkeeper (ORK) is soliciting the best photographs from across the watershed. Judges will be looking for images that highlight what makes the Ogeechee and Canoochee Rivers, and the surrounding areas, remarkable.
“From the Ogeechee Shoals to the wide estuaries, pine forests to coastal marshes, our watershed is home to an incredible variety of ecological features,” said Meaghan Walsh Gerard, communications director for ORK. “We are also a habitat for more than 160 rare species of plants and animals. By displaying the amazing ecological wealth we have, we hope to inspire more people to protect it.”
Photographers can enter in multiple categories: Landscape, portrait, wildlife, plant life, underwater, aerial, black and white, and funny wildlife. Since this will be an annual event each December, ORK requests that any images submitted be taken within the same calendar year. ORK hopes to see entries from across the 5,500 square miles of the watershed.
Complete rules and submission guidelines are available at ogeecheeriverkeeper.org/annual-photography-contest. Submissions are due by December 20, 2020.
About Ogeechee Riverkeeper: Ogeechee Riverkeeper 501(c)(3) works to protect, preserve, and improve the water quality of the Ogeechee River basin, which includes all of the streams flowing out to Ossabaw Sound and St. Catherine’s Sound. At 245 miles long, the Ogeechee River system drains more than 5,000 square miles of land. More at ogeecheeriverkeeper.org.
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Parker’s Donates $11,000 to Support Students and Teachers at Bulloch County Schools
Parker’s — a nationally acclaimed convenience store company and food service leader that was named the 2020 CStore Decisions Convenience Store Chain of the Year — recently donated $11,000 to Bulloch County Schools as part of the company’s Fueling the Community program, which donates one cent of every gallon of gas sold on the first Wednesday of each month to local schools.
The check presentation took place at the Bulloch County Schools’ Central Office at the William James Educational Complex in Statesboro, Ga. on Oct. 7. Superintendent of Schools Charles Wilson and district principals accepted the donation on behalf of Bulloch County Schools. The donation is part of nearly $150,000 the company is donating to schools in Georgia and South Carolina this fall.
“We’re honored to support Bulloch County’s teachers and students through our Fueling the Community program,” said Parker’s founder and CEO Greg Parker. “At Parker’s, we believe it’s important to invest in the communities we serve, especially during these difficult times, and there is no better way to do that than to support education right here in Bulloch County.”
Launched in 2011 with a mission to give back to every community where Parker’s does business, the Parker’s Fueling the Community charitable initiative distributes more than $200,000 annually to public and private schools throughout Georgia and South Carolina. To date, Parker’s has donated more than $1 million to area schools through the program.
Deeply engaged with the communities it serves, Parker’s endows the Parker’s Emergency and Trauma Center at Memorial Hospital in Savannah and spearheads the Keep Savannah Clean anti-litter campaign. In 2019, Parker’s also donated a record $5 million to create the Parker College of Business at Georgia Southern University.
Founded in 1976, Parker’s is one of America’s most respected convenience store brands and is known for having the cleanest stores in the industry. Parker’s serves award-winning Southern-inspired food and offers an acclaimed Parker’s Rewards program. The company gives back to every community where it does business through the Fueling the Community charitable giving program.
Parker’s has been included on the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing companies for five years and was honored by Food and Wine as one of America’s Best Convenience Stores, by The Shelby Report as the Southeast Retailer of the Year and by Convenience Store News as the Foodservice Leader of the Year. The company employs more than 1,200 individuals throughout the region and completes more than 125,000 transactions daily.
ABOUT PARKER’S:
Honored as the 2020 CStore Decisions Convenience Store Chain of the Year, Parker’s is strategically redefining the nation’s convenience store industry, offering customers high-quality products, freshly prepared food and superior customer service at retail stores throughout southeast Georgia and South Carolina. Headquartered in Savannah, Ga., Parker’s has a commitment to exceeding customer expectations and has repeatedly been recognized as one of the nation’s leading convenience store and food service companies. Parker’s Kitchen, the new food-centric brand under the Parker’s umbrella, serves world-famous hand-breaded Southern Fried Chicken Tenders as well as made-from-scratch mac ‘n’ cheese, a breakfast bar and daily specials. The company’s popular Parker’s Rewards loyalty program, which includes more than 150,000 members, has saved Parker’s customers more than $15 million to date. Learn more: www.parkerskitchen.com.
RECENT AWARDS AND ACCOLADES:
● 2020 Convenience Store Chain of the Year – CStore Decisions
● 2020 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award
● Legacy Leader – Georgia Trend
● America’s Best Convenience Stores – Food and Wine
● 2019 Southeast Retailer of the Year – The Shelby Report
● 2019 Fastest Growing Companies in America – Inc. 5000
● 2018 Convenience Foodservice Leader of the Year – Convenience Store News
● Top 10 U.S. Gas Station Brands – Gas Buddy
● 50 Most Influential People in Convenience Store History – Convenience Store News
● Best Convenience Store – Savannah Morning News Readers’ Choice Awards
● Best Convenience Store – Savannah Magazine Best of Savannah Awards
● Best Convenience Store – Statesboro Herald “Best in the ‘Boro” Awards
● Best Convenience Store – Bryan County Now “Best of Bryan” Awards
● Regional Economic Impact Award – Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce
● Best Convenience Store – Island Packet
● Most Fab Convenience Store – Effingham Herald
● Most Fabulous Gas Station – Effingham Living
● Wayne County’s Favorite Convenience Store – Jesup Press-Sentinel
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Georgia Safety Promise Reaches More Than 1,000 Commitments
Statewide initiative for a ‘healthy Georgia’ gains momentum as participant numbers continue to grow.
As billboards and a variety of grassroots promotions continue across the state, the Georgia Safety Promise public-private partnership, in conjunction with the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), has announced that more than 1,000 Georgia businesses, local authorities and officials throughout the state have committed to the Georgia Safety Promise.
Governor Brian P. Kemp launched the Georgia Safety Promise last month to encourage all Georgians to do their part to keep Georgia healthy and open for business by following the latest Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) guidelines, including wearing masks, maintaining social distance, and regularly washing and sanitizing hands and surfaces.
Large and small businesses, from restaurants, hotels and salons, to manufacturers, banks and retailers, have made the Promise to do their part to stop the spread of the virus. Additionally, individual chambers of commerce, municipalities, economic development agencies and tourist destinations across the state have committed to the Promise.
Many signers include businesses with multiple locations in the state, bringing the total number of commitments well above the 1,000 mark. To view the full list of participants in the Georgia Safety Promise, click here.
“I commend our state’s business owners and leaders for heeding public health guidelines, encouraging best practices, and doing their part to keep their fellow neighbors safe as we continue to fight COVID-19,” said Governor Kemp.
The Georgia Chamber has become an official partner of the Promise, joining the Georgia Restaurant Association and other key industry organizations that have committed to the Georgia Safety Promise.
Official supporters also leading the effort include the Metro Atlanta Chamber, the Korean American Restaurant Association and The Home Depot. Small businesses such as Atlanta’s Park Tavern are featuring their commitment on the home page of their website; tourist destinations such as Albany’s Chehaw Park and Zoo, the Flint RiverQuarium, and Thronateeska Heritage Center have joined together as members of the Artesian Alliance; and the Mayor’s Youth Council in the City of Douglas, Georgia, has said, “I’m in,” for the Georgia Safety Promise with a special public service announcement.
Business and industry-leading partners recently penned an op-ed published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Georgians and businesses: Commit to the Safety Promise, outlining the resiliency of the Georgia business community, and the measures implemented to keep the workplace safe for employees and patrons.
“This state is home to world-renowned restaurants, vibrant cities filled with history and culture, and nearly 800,000 small businesses,” wrote leaders from the Georgia Restaurant Association, Georgia Retailers Association, Georgia Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus, Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Georgia Bankers Association, Georgia Hotel and Lodging Association, and the National Federation of Independent Business. “It is up to all of us to keep Georgia safe so it can continue to remain open for all to enjoy. Taking the Georgia Safety Promise is a simple, but critical way to do just that.”
Participants in the Georgia Safety Promise voluntarily agree to follow the latest guidelines from the Governor’s Office and the Georgia Department of Public Health. Those who join the campaign receive a full digital toolkit of resources to help publicly share their commitment, including social media posts, signage and more.
In addition to signage in participating businesses, the Georgia Safety Promise campaign is being promoted on digital billboards around the state through the Outdoor Advertising Association of Georgia. Participating businesses who agree to the Promise are also displayed on a comprehensive list of participants on the Georgia Safety Promise website.
“I appreciate our partners in both the public and private sectors for continuing to promote the Georgia Safety Promise in their local communities,” said Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson.“From Valdosta to Blue Ridge, the Georgia Safety Promise is not only helping encourage Georgians to follow crucial public health guidelines, but also assisting in restoring consumer confidence so our local businesses can safely remain open.”
To learn more and make the Georgia Safety Promise, visit www.GeorgiaSafetyPromise.com.
About the Georgia Safety Promise
The Georgia Safety Promise campaign is led by the Office of the Governor and is supported in partnership with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Georgia Department of Public Health, Georgia Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus, Georgia Bankers Association, Georgia Chamber, Georgia Hotel and Lodging Association, Georgia Retailers Association, Georgia Restaurant Association, and Georgia National Federation of Independent Businesses.
About GDEcD
The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is the state’s sales and marketing arm, the lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, locating new markets for Georgia products, attracting tourists to Georgia, and promoting the state as a destination for arts and location for film, music and digital entertainment projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development. Visit www.georgia.org for more information.
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Parker’s Donates 600 KN95 Masks to Frontline COVID-19 Healthcare Providers at East Georgia Regional Medical Center
Parker’s, an award-winning, nationally acclaimed convenience store company and food service leader, recently donated 600 KN95 masks to frontline healthcare providers at East Georgia Regional Medical Center during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“On behalf of our entire East Georgia Regional Medical Center family, we would like to express our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to Parker’s for their recent donation of KN95 masks for our healthcare team,” said Jenny Maddi, BSN RN, patient safety officer and director of risk management at East Georgia Regional Medical Center. “Through this donation, we will continue to be able to protect our staff and provide the best care to our patients and community. We are very thankful for this support and appreciate Parker’s for always being an engaged partner in our community.”
To date, Parker’s has donated over 7,000 KN95 masks to hospitals and healthcare facilities throughout coastal Georgia and South Carolina.
“We’re honored to serve our healthcare heroes, who are providing exceptional medical care to area residents throughout the Coronavirus pandemic,” said Parker’s founder and CEO Greg Parker. “We know that mask shortages have impacted our community and want to make sure our doctors, nurses, clinicians and staff members have the Personal Protective Equipment they need to stay safe while caring for patients.”
Founded in 1976, Parker’s is one of America’s most respected convenience store brands. Parker’s gives back to every community where it does business through the Fueling the Community charitable giving program, which donates a portion of gas sold at all Parker’s locations on the first Wednesday of the month to area schools, healthcare facilities and other important causes. To date, the company has given more than $7 million in local charitable donations.
Parker’s has been named to the Inc. 5000 list of the Fastest Growing Companies in America for five years and currently has 66 retail stores throughout coastal Georgia and South Carolina. The company employs more than 1,200 individuals throughout the region and completes more than 125,000 transactions daily.
ABOUT PARKER’S:
Known as America’s cleanest convenience store company, Parker’s is strategically redefining the nation’s convenience store industry, offering customers high-quality products, freshly prepared food and superior customer service at retail stores throughout southeast Georgia and South Carolina. Headquartered in Savannah, Ga., Parker’s has a commitment to exceeding customer expectations and has repeatedly been recognized as one of the nation’s leading convenience store and food service companies. Parker’s Kitchen, the new food-centric brand under the Parker’s umbrella, serves world-famous hand-breaded Southern Fried Chicken Tenders as well as made-from-scratch mac ‘n’ cheese, a breakfast bar and daily specials. The company’s popular Parker’s Rewards loyalty program, which includes more than 150,000 members, has saved Parker’s customers more than $10 million to date. Learn more: www.parkersav.com.
RECENT AWARDS AND ACCOLADES:
● America’s Best Convenience Stores – Food and Wine
● 2019 Southeast Retailer of the Year – The Shelby Report
● 2019 Fastest Growing Companies in America – Inc. 5000
● 2018 Convenience Foodservice Leader of the Year – Convenience Store News
● Top 10 U.S. Gas Station Brands – Gas Buddy
● 50 Most Influential People in Convenience Store History – Convenience Store News
● Best Convenience Store – Savannah Morning News Readers’ Choice Awards
● Best Convenience Store – Savannah Magazine Best of Savannah Awards
● Best Convenience Store – Statesboro Herald “Best in the ‘Boro” Awards
● Best Convenience Store – Bryan County Now “Best of Bryan” Awards
● Regional Economic Impact Award – Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce
● Best Convenience Store – Island Packet
● Most Fab Convenience Store – Effingham Herald
● Most Fabulous Gas Station – Effingham Living
● Wayne County’s Favorite Convenience Store – Jesup Press-Sentinel
● Citizen of the Year Award – Frank Callen Boys and Girls Club
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Statesboro Landmark Coloring Pages
Statesboro Landmarks Coloring Page
Looking for a few extra activities while the kids are at home? If you have a printer, feel free to click on any of these images for a printable PDF coloring page. There are also facts and summaries of each landmark you can use to teach your kids a little something about Statesboro.
The first coloring page is all of the landmarks combined and based on a vintage-style print available at the Statesboro Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Averitt Center for the Arts
This beautiful building, constructed in 1911, was originally the Bank of Statesboro. Sadly, the bank closed down in 1932 after it could not recover from a “run on the bank” during the Great Depression.
The City bought the building in 1997 after decades of various uses and they established a community arts center for the downtown area.
The Averitt Center for the Arts has been very careful to upkeep the historical integrity of the building, and the old Bank of Statesboro now contains art galleries, visual and performing arts studios, classrooms, and office space.
Bulloch County Courthouse
The centerpiece of downtown Statesboro is the Bulloch County Courthouse. The courthouse was deliberately placed at a high point to permanently make it the most prominent landmark around. The commercial hub of the city developed around the courthouse square.
The courthouse was built in 1894 and renovated in 1914. Since then it’s been renovated several times using many different colors of brick. It was eventually completely coated in white plaster until the county commission decided to restore the courthouse to it’s original look by removing some of the plaster and painting over the rest. The courthouse is still in use today!
Eagle Nation on Parade
Eagle Nation On Parade is a public art project that salutes the University’s traditions, celebrates the unity of campus and community, contributes to the economic vitality and quality of life in Statesboro, and supports student scholarships and research.
These eagles can be seen all over Statesboro, each painted with a different theme. Create your own theme on this eagle!
For more information on Eagle Nation on Parade CLICK HERE
Emma Kelly Theater
Originally called the Georgia Theater, it was constructed in 1936 in the Art Deco style, reflecting the glamour of Hollywood. It was among the first of its kind to offer air conditioning and steam heat, as well as a coffee shop in the library.
The theater was operated as a movie theater until the 1970s, previewing movies such as Gone With The Wind in 1940.
In 1997, the City of Statesboro purchased the building for renovation as part of the Averitt Center project.
It was decided the theater would be named after local legend Emma Kelly, the “Lady of 6000” songs. She was dubbed this title by songwriter Johnny Mercer. Kelly sang for many U.S. Presidents and appeared in John Berendt’s ‘Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.’
Allen E. Paulson Stadium
Paulson Stadium is the 25,000 seat home of the Georgia Southern Eagles Football team. It completed construction in 1984 and coined “The Prettiest Little Stadium in America” by legendary Coach Erk Russell. It has also become known as “Our House” by Eagles fans.
The stadium was named after the founder and owner of Gulfstream Aerospace, Allen E. Paulson, who donated $1 million to the project. A $10 million renovation was completed in 2014.
Fun Fact: The first touchdown in Paulson Stadium is credited to Tracy Ham (quarterback) after a 36 yard run in September of 1984.
City Hall / Historic Jaeckel Hotel
The current City Hall was once the social center of town. In 1905, the Jaeckel Hotel opened its doors to the booming tourist city. The hotel was constructed by local architect AJ Franklin for Berlin–native Gustave Jaeckel.
The first floor of the hotel contained a grand dining hall and gentlemen and ladies parlors. The porch on the second floor once sported a garden and canvas cover for use in the warm months.
The hotel played host to many guests like: Henry Ford, William Jennings Bryan, former Secretary of State; Blind Willie McTell who played countless songs on the hotel steps, and Cornelius Vanderbilt in 1935.
In 1994, the city purchased the hotel, and after a $1.5 million renovation, readapted it to become City Hall. The historic character of the Jaeckel is still present in the building and the old neon sign for the hotel hangs on the east side.
Happy Coloring!
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Temporarily Closed
After careful consideration and following the recommendation of state leadership, we have decided it is in the best interest of our community, staff, and partners to temporarily close the Statesboro Convention & Visitors Bureau. We will still maintain operations, delivering the Statesboro message across our social outlets and online presence, project development, and community assistance.
We can still be reached at the following:
Phone: 912-259-9555
Becky Davis, Executive Director
Justin Samples, Marketing Director
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Get Ready for the First Battle for the Boro!
Live music, food trucks, and local vendors: Battle for the Boro has it all! On May 16, 2020, stage bands from across the Southeast will compete in beautiful Downtown Statesboro for up to $1000 in cash prizes and the title of “Best Band in the Boro.” The competition, a traditional battle of the bands event, will feature not only competing bands, but local celebrities and performers, as well. The event venue will feature a food truck park and vendor marketplace set in the heart of the downtown area.
Bands of all genres, food trucks, and vendors are invited to apply to be a part of this family-friendly community event. To learn more and get involved, please visit http://borobattle.com.
All proceeds from the event benefit Statesboro High School music programs.
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“Godspell” Creates Magic at the Performing Arts Center at Georgia Southern
The Performing Arts Center at Georgia Southern is excited to be partnering with Georgia Southern Theatre & Performance to present Broadway favorite “Godspell” as part of their 2019-2020 Main Stage Series. The show opens on Thursday, February 27 at 7:30pm, and will run through March 1.
Godspell boasts a score with chart-topping songs, led by hit “Day by Day.” In the first major musical theatre offering from three-time Grammy and Academy Award winner, Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin, Children of Eden), a small group of people help Jesus Christ tell different parables from the Gospel of St. Matthew. An eclectic blend of songs, ranging in style from pop to vaudeville, is employed as Jesus’ messages of kindness, tolerance, and love come vibrantly to life.
Written in 1971, Godspell embodies the spirit of 70’s generations rock musicals. Since its inception, this show has toured the country and been a musical theatre standard in schools, universities and churches. In 2011 it was revisited by its creators and updated for the 21st century. The same songs are there, with a richer and deeper musical voice and the formal addition of “Beautiful City.” It is this revival that is being performed at Georgia Southern. In addition to “Day by Day”, old favorites like “Prepare Ye” and “By My Side” will be easily recognized by audiences.
Godspell Director Lisa Abbott notes, “The magic of this show is the community it creates not just with the cast but with the audience as well. The message of the show is about acceptance and love and the cast and crew have enjoyed creating ways to tell that story with open hearts and open minds.”
Tickets are $20 for adults and 10 for youth 17 and under and are on sale now at the GSUPAC Box Office. Discounts are available for Georgia Southern students and faculty/staff. Group rates for groups of 10 or more are also available. Visit the Box Office in person Monday-Friday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, or purchase tickets over the phone at 912-478-7999 or online at www.georgiasouthern.edu/pac.
For more information, including cast and crew interview inquiries, please contact:
Stacie McDaniel
(912) 478-0830
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Fall in Love with Downtown Statesboro
Grab your valentine and come celebrate the month of love with Downtown Date Night presented by the Downtown Statesboro Development Authority. The event will be held on February 7 from 5:30-8:00 pm on West Main Street.
This First Friday event fills the air with love as you and your sweetheart stroll down West Main Street enjoying food, music, and fun. The event features local shops and food vendors including various food trucks and even a s’mores station where you and your significant other can share a sweet treat.
Brandi Harvey, a local musician, will be providing the music for this event. Another highlighted vendor is the puppy kissing booth hosted by the Statesboro Humane Society. Couples also have a chance to stop by the Rosengart Gallery to check out the Gabriel Diaz Exhibit hosted by the Averitt Center.
West Main Street will be closing at 4:00 pm, however, many businesses will be staying open late as well as offering special promotions for the happy couples. This is a great way to familiarize yourself with our downtown shops and interact with the downtown culture.
For more information, please contact the Downtown Statesboro Development Authority by calling them at (912)764-7227 or emailing them at mainstreet@statesborodowntown.com.
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