Southwest Chatham Library (14097 Abercorn Street)
Thursday, May 16, 6:30 p.m.

Award-winning writer and preservationist Ron Tanner makes a stop in Savannah, GA to offer a comic monologue about his funny, heart-warming book From Animal House to Our House: A Love Story. Combining romance with history and humor, Tanner tells the true story of how he and his wife bought condemned property — a wrecked former frat house — and restored it to its original Victorian splendor. They knew nothing about fixing up houses when they started. In 2008, THIS OLD HOUSE magazine featured their remarkable work. Tanner’s talk includes an impressive slide show.

Twelve years ago, Ron and his then-girlfriend, Jill, did the impossible. They bought condemned property — a big Baltimore Victorian brownstone — and vowed to bring it back to its original glory. The house had been home to Baltimore’s most notorious fraternity for a decade and now, wrecked and abandoned, it was filled with garbage. As if that weren’t daunting enough: Ron and Jill had been dating for only six months and they knew nothing about fixing up old houses. Friends, family, and concerned onlookers told them not to do it and that they would surely lose their shirts and their love in the bargain.

A story for inspiration-seekers, old house lovers, DIYers, and American dreamers, From Animal House to Our House: A Love Story shows how Ron and Jill learned the hard way — about love and life and saving precious things from ruin. But learn they did: in 2003, they got married in the house. In 2008 This Old House magazine featured their work and then the article went viral online, becoming one of TOH’s most popular postings ever.

Ron and Jill now run a popular website about home renovation: Houselove.org

An award-winning writer and engaging speaker, Ron will show slides and regale listeners with hair-raising and hilarious tales of his adventures as a newbie renovator of a wrecked house. He has since become a licensed house inspector and is now prepared to offer advice and tips, especially for couples who take on DIY projects in their houses, wrecked or otherwise.

Watch the Book Trailer here!

Experience unspoiled beauty…

13th Colony Ossabaw Island Trip

Date: Saturday, May 25, 2013
Time: 10:00 am
Location: Departing from 512 Moon River Court
Tickets: $50 per person
 
This is your chance to experience the history and unspoiled beauty that has attracted writers, artists, and musicians alike to Ossabaw Island! Take a day trip and tour the island on this exclusive 13th Colony outing. Transportation to and from the island by boat will be provided along with a packed lunch. Space is limited so be sure to purchase your tickets TODAY!

Questions? Contact Sherene LaMarche at HSF: 912.233.7787 or slamarche@myHSF.org

Inspired by nature and all of the beautiful things in Savannah, Catherine loves to paint her surroundings. Her goal is to bring happiness and color into peoples’ lives.

Catherine graduated with a BFA from the University of Georgia in 2000. Her work has been shown in the 2009, 2010, and 2011 Telfair Art Fair Juried Competitions. Additionally, Catherine’s works have been featured in Savannah Magazine, Pauladeen and in the personal collections of Paula Deen, Dylan Lauren, and Ann Curry.

Uphold the Existing Tourism Ordinance!

REMINDER – City Council Meeting: March 21st at 2:00pm.
 

If it ain’t broke; don’t fix it.

Let the Mayor and Aldermen know that–regardless of route–double decker buses don’t add anything to Savannah except more vehicles, more noise, more pollution… and more trouble than they’re worth. Uphold the law as it is written.

Double-Deck Tour Buses. An ordinance to amend the Tour Service for Hire Ordinance to permit tour service vehicles having double-deck passenger compartments. (Deferred from December 27, 2012.) The Tourism Advisory Committee (TAC) was charged by Council to review and make a recommendation on the proposal from Live Oak Trolley LLC to strike language from the Tour Service Ordinance, Section 6-1502 (p) which reads “shall not have double-deck passenger compartments”. After vetting the request, the TAC unanimously recommended in a vote of 12 to 0 that Council support the existing ordinance. Key issues associated with the TAC’s recommendation include public safety and liability concerns, maintenance of the quality of life, stress on infrastructure, damage to tree canopy and urban forest, negative impact on tourism and recognition that the community vetted the issue in 1996 and approved the text amendment prohibiting this type of vehicle. RECOMMEND DENIAL.

Historic Savannah Foundation (HSF) supports the existing Tourism Ordinance (on the books since 1996) that prohibits Double Decker Tour Buses in the Landmark District, and we ask our members to back us. HSF agrees with the Tourism Advisory Committee, the Downtown Neighborhood Association and the Park and Tree Commission who unanimously oppose changing the ordinance to allow Double Decker Buses in our downtown. The risks to public safety, our beloved tree canopy, downtown residents’ privacy and the charm and ambiance of our Landmark District demand that the existing ordinance be respected and such vehicles not be allowed on our streets. Savannah’s brand as a heritage tourist destination is one that took decades to build and cultivate, and it would be compromised by the intrusion of these themed vehicles.

Read and learn for yourself by following these links that include a Power Point Presentation (made at the Tourism Advisory Committee meeting in January), and see HSF’s letter to TAC on the same subject.  HSF also supports TAC’s recommendations for a Tourism Management Plan and other improvements to the existing tourism ordinance.

Double Decker Buses in London…makes sense! Double Decker Buses in Savannah…not so much!
 

Tourism Advisory Committee Presentation 01.24.2013
HSF’s Memo to Tourism Advisory Committee 01.23.13
HSF’s Letter to Tourism Advisory Committee 01.18.13
Tourism Advisory Committee Recommendation to City Council