A Better Hometown

Greetings!

Third Thursdays on Tybee Grassroots Arts Program continues this month.  This listener’s delight is brought to you by Tybee’s Better Hometown Initiative.  These concert series are made possible by the City of Tybee, Georgia Council for the Arts, the City of Savannah’s Department of Cultural Affairs/Leisure Services Bureau and generous contributors.  In February, the VIGUBA Trio shared their string playing expertise with you.  On March 18th, Lauren LaPointe (and Bill DeYoung) amazed those that came out to the lot at Tybee Oaks to hear Lauren’s nationally recognized vocals.  April will be the final performance of this series and showcases young musical talent.

On April 15th Lacey Caldwell will amaze you from 5pm until 6pm at the Tybrisa / Strand Roundabout.  Lacey is an award winning teenage vocalist from Savannah Arts Academy and we are pleased she will perform for you. That’s right!  Tax Day this year will have a free musical performance while you are strolling around Tybrisa and The Strand.

Residents, merchants and guests are all encouraged to take advantage of this Listener’s Delight while enjoying the outdoors!  With support and assistance from a variety of sources, we hope to continue the outdoor music on Tybee and the awareness that Tybee Island is an inviting and thriving arts community.  For more information, visit http://www.cityoftybee.org/BetterHometownProgram.aspx.

Last July your Better Hometown Initiative hosted a “Community Visioning Workshop” for businesses and residents.  April 14th from 5pm – 6pm will be the NEXT Workshop.
Everyone is invited to receive an update about items on which the Board and each of the four-point committees have been working given the input received back in July 2009.  Your participation and continued input is crucial.  It will help the board update each committee’s workplan for the coming months and continue their positive work with the city to keep Tybee the whimsical paradise to live, do business and visit!

Remember, while you are out enjoying this island paradise, “Buy Local Tybee!”  There are many ways to enjoy Tybee.  Tybee’s varieties of natural and cultural experiences abound from the waterways to high in the sky.  Plus, Tybee has over 35 hot spots to quench your thirst and satisfy your hunger, personal services just right for you and more than 30 shops to find everything you must have from whimsical art to sunscreen to deli meat.  It’s all right here on Tybee!

Please feel free to contact members of the Better Hometown Board of Directors or me with suggestions, concerns, or to help.  Contact information for the Board can be found on the link to the Better Hometown Initiative from the City of Tybee Island’s homepage.

Keep enjoying the whimsy of Tybee!

Chantel
Better Hometown Coordinator
City of Tybee Island, GA
cmorton@cityoftybee.org

Tybee’s BHT Vision Statement (adopted 4-14-09):
To improve the quality of life for those that live, work and visit Tybee Island through a healthy business corridor andenhance the cultural experience while preserving the community’s barrier island heritage. The Mission of the Tybee Island Better Hometown Program is to: 1. facilitate efforts to revitalize, redevelop and enhance the business corridor; 2. create a sense of place and improve the quality of life for residents, business owners and visitors using the Main Street Four Point Approach; 3. encourage quality economic growth and development while preserving Tybee Island’s unique architectural heritage; 4. support and encourage the arts as a cultural endeavor and economic engine on the Island.

Don’t miss the 2010 “Community Visioning Workshop,” Wednesday, April 14th, 5pm – 6pm, City Hall Auditorium

Better Hometown Board of Directors: Cullen Chambers, Judy Malins, Stephen Palmer, Monty Parks, Shirley Sessions, Dick Smith, Peggy Stone, Patricia Miller Wann, and John Yarbrough.

Visit: www.cityoftybee.org/BetterHometownProgram.aspx.

A Better Hometown

By Chantel Morton,
Better Hometown Coordinator

February 2010

Happy February, Tybee!

Spring is right around the corner and Tybee has so much to look forward to this year! As we look forward to warmer and hopefully dryer weather, we anticipate the crowds to return, especially with “the movie” being released in April. Residents have been preparing for the season as have businesses by sprucing up their locations inside and outside.

Better Hometown Start up members continue to facilitate and assist with revitalization efforts and to work with businesses. Have you seen the new turtle wayfinding signs? The City of Tybee has been working with the President of the Tybee Arts Association who partnered with Tybee Island Customs for the design and creation of these signs. The Tybee Turtle signs will help people find their way around the island more efficiently. Banners messages hanging from the turtles will also assist people visiting and the City.

One banner message is “Show Respect. Don’t Litter.” This is a concern for many as we continue working together to keep Tybee clean. In another effort to help keep the Island clean the Design Committee implemented a trash container donation program a few months ago. Through generous donations made and city assistance, the Island will have a few additional trash containers in the corridor by March. Another banner message is “Pay for Parking.” Tybee is a pay to park community in order to keep critical island services available. This message will help with one of the parking concerns many have conveyed. Additional parking concerns continue to be addressed.

As we build a Better Hometown, members of the Design Committee and I have been meetings with City Officials and staff to seek and implement positive solutions before the season begins. Tybee only has so much capacity and we must work with what we have while preserving the sense of community and quality of life for Islanders. On another note (the pun IS intended!)…Mark your calendar for the Thursday following the Mardi Gras and Tie the Knot event filled weekend! Thursday, February 18 at 4:30pm will be the first “THIRD THURSDAY” ON TYBEE near the Tybrisa / Strand roundabout! February 18 is the first of three free family-friendly outdoor music concert series made possible through a Grassroots Arts Program grant awarded to Tybee’s Better Hometown Initiative.

Beginning at 4:30pm on February 18, the astonishing Viguba Trio will perform. This Trio will bring an enjoyable mix of jazz, tango, classical & pop music arranged for violin, guitar & bass. The music will serenade you until 5:30pm near the Tybrisa / Strand Roundabout! Then on March 18 from 5:00pm – 6:00pm, nationally known contemporary folk artist, Lauren Lapointe will amaze those joining the musical celebration in the lot at Tybee Oaks. The final performance for this series will be April 15 from 5:00pm – 6:00pm. Enjoy Tax Day this year with this free musical performance. The amazing vocals of sixteen year old Lacey Caldwell will charm those strolling around Tybrisa and The Strand!

Residents, merchants and guests are all encouraged to take advantage of these mini-concerts while enjoying the outdoors! With assistance from a variety of sources, Third Thursdays on Tybee will continue the awareness that Tybee Island is an inviting and thriving arts community. Look for the posters around town soon! For more information on these events, visit: www.cityoftybee.org/BetterHometownProgram.aspx.

Music. Artwork. Nature. These are just a few ways everyone enjoys Tybee. Tybee’s variety of nature and cultural experiences abound from the waterways to 178 steps up towards the sky. Plus it’s easy to BUY LOCAL TYBEE with over 35 hot spots to quench your thirst and satisfy your hunger, personal services just right for you and more than 30 shops to find everything you must have from whimsical art to sunscreen to vegetables.

Please feel free to contact members of the Better Hometown Board of Directors or me with suggestions, concerns, or to help. Contact information for the Board can be found on the City of Tybee Island’s website.

See you around town!
Chantel
912.844.9771
cmorton@cityoftybee.org

A Better Hometown

January 2010
By Chantel Morton,
Tybee Island Better Hometown Coordinator

Happy New Year Everyone!

There is much to be thankful for as we reflect on last year and look forward to 2010.  Throughout 2009, working together has proven to be beneficial.  Even with the economy not faring well, we were able to have a number of successful events – including two Sale-ing Days, Lights on for Tybee and the Christmas Parade.  2009 was the first year for “Tybee for the Holidays” and with all of the coordinated events, Tybee was a bright spot even with all the rainfall!

Generous contributions were made for Tybee for the Holidays banners and promotion.  These added to the festive flare of the island and are greatly appreciated.  All month long, BHTI was able to promote Tybee, the businesses and the excitement through a variety of media, press releases and Facebook-ing.

In addition to events, a variety of enhancements were made along the corridor with organizations and you participating in clean ups and plantings.  Plus throughout 2009, businesses were provided valuable resources through webinars, seminars and an informative market study presentation.

Now that the holidays are over, our focus turns more to what 2010 has in store.  The year ahead will bring even more opportunities.  BHT Start up members will continue to facilitate and assist as revitalization continues through enhancements and we will also provide even more resources for businesses while preserving Tybee’s uniqueness.

The next Island-wide Sidewalk Sale will be January 30th!  Last January’s Sidewalk Sale was a hit and if you want to participate as a business or a resident, give me a call.

Beginning February 18th, Third Thursdays on Tybee will kickoff for three months!  We are proud to announce that The Grassroots Arts Program (GAP), a partnership between the Georgia Council for the Arts and the City of Savannah’s Department of Cultural Affairs/Leisure Services Bureau (which manages the funding initiative) awarded a grant for this Tybee’s Better Hometown Initiative community arts program.

These funds combined with local contributions will allow these programs to reach their full potential.  Third Thursdays on Tybee will provide free family-friendly public concerts within Tybee’s Business Corridor in the late afternoons.  These concerts will feature local Tybee musicians and one month will feature young Tybee musicians.  Musicians will be asked to submit a sample of their music and biographical information.  A panel of invited professionals will select the performers for the concerts.  The call for submissions, which are due by January 12, can be found on the BHTI page within the City’s website.  The performances are intended to welcome local residents and guests into the Business Corridor to enjoy music and encourage interaction with local businesses.  More details can be found on the City’s website.  Working with a variety of businesses, organizations and the Tybee Island Tourism Council Third Thursdays on Tybee, will help to brand Tybee Island as an inviting, and thriving arts community that residents and attracts visitors to the Island.

In addition, TBH continues to seek solutions to the island’s parking and trash issues.  All of us want 2010 to be an even better year and it can be with continued passion and appreciation for Tybee.

Please, feel free to contact the members of the Better Hometown Board of Directors or me with suggestions, concerns, or offers to help.  Contact information for the Board can be found on the City of Tybee Island’s website.

The economy continues to struggle, but it will get better.  Please remember how important it is to support your local economy.  Tybee is fortunate to have so many shopping, dining and cultural choices and services.  When you see the Buy Local Tybee stickers we started distributing in July, you support where you live.

I will see you around town!

Chantel
912.844.9771
cmorton@cityoftybee.org

The Better Hometown Community Development Department Website: www.cityoftybee.org/BetterHometown

For more information about Tybee’s Better Hometown Initiative, or to find out how you can volunteer for any of the BHT committees, please call Chantel Morton at 786-4573, ext *123

Tybee Better Hometown Initiative Vision Statement: (adopted 04-14-09): - To improve the quality of life for those that live, work and visit Tybee Island through a healthy business corridor and enhance the cultural experience while preserving the community’s barrier island heritage. The Mission of the Tybee Island Better Hometown Program is to: - facilitate efforts to revitalize, redevelop and enhance the business corridor; - create a sense of place and improve the quality of life for residents, business owners and visitors using the Main Street Four Point Approach; - encourage quality economic growth and development while preserving Tybee Island’s unique architectural heritage; - support and encourage the arts as a cultural endeavor and economic engine on the Island.