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SFMS to welcome guitar master Williams in August
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Jack Williams will perform in Savannah on Aug. 15. - photo by Photo provided
Staff Report
Updated: Jul 16, 2009, 8:39 PM
Published: Jul 16, 2009, 8:40 PM

The Savannah Folk Music Society is pleased to welcome back Jack Williams for a concert on Aug. 15. The concert begins at 8 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 520 E. Washington Ave. in Savannah.

South Carolinian Jack Williams, guitarist/singer/songwriter/storyteller, is outstanding among a handful of artists who — in skill, depth and integrity — stand head and shoulders above most performers flooding today’s folk circuit.  Among acoustic guitarists he is legendary.

“The best guitar player I have ever heard,” according to Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary. Having avoided the compromises of the commercial music industry during his 50-plus-year professional career, he prefers touring “under the radar,” playing concerts, large and small, week in and week out, from the sheer love of music and performing.

Jack is a sought-after artist on contemporary acoustic – or “folk” – music stages. From his acclaimed appearances at the Newport, Boston, Philadelphia, Kerrville, (New Bedford) SummerFest and other Folk Festivals, including the Savannah Folk Music Festival, his musicianship, songs, stories and commanding presence established him as an uncommonly inspiring and influential performer.

Williams has six CDs of original music on the Wind River (Folk Era) label, plus his DVD “High Cotton,” an eclectic collection of on-stage performances.

His seventh and newest CD, “Don’t Let Go,” is a collection of cover songs reflecting the major influences on his musical development.

As a guitarist, he accompanied Tom Paxton, Peter Yarrow, Arlo Guthrie, and two dear friends, the late Mickey Newbury and Harry Nillson.

Mickey Newbury said, “Jack and his music are an American treasure.”

Williams’ career has been nothing if not eclectic. He played trumpet in a jazz quartet in a beatnik coffeehouse in Seattle in 1959, reading poetry to the audience during breaks.

He learned banjo and mandolin to spice up folk groups in the 1960s in Georgia. He played pedal-steel guitar in a country-rock band, and classical guitar/lute in a Renaissance ensemble. His skill with instrumental composition won him a national arts grant in 1967. This led to his later arrangements for other artists’ recordings.

The concert tickets, available at the door, will be $10 general public, $8 for  Savannah Folk Music Society members and $5 students/children.
For further information, call 786-6953 or visit the SFMS on the Web at www.savannahfolk.org.
Savannah, Richmond Hill, Tybee ready for July 4 celebrations
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Staff Report
Updated: Jul 1, 2016, 8:36 PM
Published: Jun 29, 2016, 7:10 PM

The Savannah Waterfront Association will hold its annual 4th of July celebration, including fireworks, Monday on River Street from 4-10 p.m.

VIP seating for viewing fireworks will be available for active and retired military and will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Hypnotics will perform from 8-10 p.m., including a patriotic set during the fireworks to complement the show.

The fireworks sponsored at 9:30 p.m. Guests are encouraged to park off of River Street since the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department will close the street from 6 p.m.-3 a.m.

Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police are gearing up for this weekend’s July 4th and First Friday festivities; and ask the public to be mindful of traffic conditions in the Downtown area.

In anticipation of potential road delays, Metro will increase traffic and foot patrols in the Downtown festival area, starting Friday afternoon. Officers also will patrol Hutchinson Island in greater force to assist with traffic flow, prevent bottle-necking and help move motorists safely. To ensure safety and help minimize delays, motorists are asked to be vigilant, patient and co-operative.

Public parking lots on River Street will close on Monday at about 3 a.m. until early Tuesday afternoon. River Street will close to vehicular traffic Monday at 3 p.m. and will reopen early Tuesday morning.

All traffic and parking laws will be enforced on in Downtown Savannah and Hutchinson Island. Vehicles parked in the roadway, or in a manner that obstructs traffic will be towed at the owner’s expense. Please note that parking vehicles on the Truman Parkway and Talmadge Bridge also is dangerous and illegal.

Interstate 16 will be available to drivers leaving the firework show. To leave Downtown, traffic originating from points beyond Bay Street will be directed away from Martin Luther King Boulevard to other routes, such as Whitaker and West Bay streets. Westbound traffic on Bay Street will be directed to East Lathrop Avenue to access I-16 via Louisville Road.

Police recommend use of city parking garages, where drivers will be given maps for the easiest Downtown exit routes following the firework display. Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead, expect delays and heed posted signage. The key components of the traffic plan include:

Prohibiting traffic from turning southbound onto Whitaker from Bay. Westbound traffic on Bay Street will be directed to alternate routes to I-16 through East Lathrop and Louisville Road, or through Garden City.

Parking garage traffic will be routed southbound on MLK, Whitaker and Price streets.

Alternate routes to I-16 are West Gwinnett and 37th streets. Price Street also can be used to get to 37th Street, which will take traffic to westbound I-16.

Additional signage will be deployed to assist drivers in locating the alternative routes to I-16.

Traffic may be heavy along Highway 80 for those leaving Tybee Island’s fireworks display. There is a slight potential for shallow coastal flooding due to King Tides July 4.  At this time, this flooding is not expected to close Highway 80. Remember if there is shallow coastal flooding:

Traffic headed toward Wilmington Island via President Street should flow as usual.

Also please remember that the city curfew law remains in effect for this event.  All persons 16 years of age and under must be off the streets at 11 p.m. unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Officers will be enforcing this ordinance.

As always you can stay up to date with the latest on the Festival, road closures and other related updates by following the Twitter feed @SCMPD, Facebook or www.scmpd.org.

Richmond Hill will host 4th of July events Saturday, starting with Star Spangled Cars and Coffee from 9-11 a.m. Car owners can bring in a car and interact with other automobile enthusiasts. Visitors can bring the family to view the cars and tour the Richmond Hill History Museum, formerly the Henry Ford Kindergarten. Admission to the event is free and coffee can be purchased for 25 cents with a $1 donation to the museum. This event will take place at the Richmond Hill History Museum located at 11460 Ford Ave. 

Fort McAllister will hold its 4th of July celebration Saturday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. with living history programs including demonstrations of Civil War drills and rifle and cannon firings. Visitors can participate in old fashioned games including sack races, an egg toss, wheel barrow races and a Civil War-era baseball game. Fresh watermelon will be available.  Admission for this event is $8 per adult (18+), $5 per Youth (6-17), under 6 are free. For more information, call (912) 727-2339.

Richmond Hill will kick off its annual Red, White, and Blue Independence Day Celebration at J. F. Gregory Park located at 521 Cedar St. For more information, visit www.richmondhill-ga.gov or call (912) 756-3345.

Tybee Island changed the date of their annual  fireworks from Sunday, July 3 to Monday, July 4. The Independence Day celebration will held be at the Tybee Island Pier and Pavilion with a fireworks extravaganza. It will be held from 9:30-10 p.m.