Tybee Folks! Your Help is Urgently Needed!

NOTE: MARCH 28th – SAVE THE DATE & Spread the Word!
THERE WILL BE AN ISLAND-WIDE  FUNDRAISER FOR EMILY BRENNAN
on Sunday, March 28th from 2 to 6 pm, at the Crab Shack on Tybee Island – Live music, BBQ by the Tybee MRS for $10 plate, silent auction, 50/50 raffle and more!!! Emily is ill and her family truly appreciates everyone’s concern and willingness to help! There will be another committee meeting concerning this project at AJ’s on Tuesday, February 23rd at 7:00 pm. For more info, contact Jackie Burn at jmb9427@aol.com or 912.844.3618.

Former Councilman Eddie Crone Dies

(Source: Fox & Weeks)

The Tybee Times would like to extend sincere condolences to the family and friends of former City Councilman, Ralph Edward “Eddie” Crone, Sr. who pased away after an extended illness on  January 22, 2010.

Tybee Island, GA. – Mr. Ralph E. Crone, Sr., 70, died Friday, Jan. 22, 2010 at Hospice Savannah, Inc. Eddie was a native of Clinton, MD, born on Jul. 8, 1939 and had lived on Tybee Island for the past 39 years. He served in the U.S. Air Force and was a manager in the shipping industry, retiring after twenty years with Intermodal. He proudly served on the Tybee Island City Council from 2003-2009 and was a member of the American Legion, Post 154.

Survivors include his wife, Marianne Crone, of Tybee Island; son, Ralph E. Crone, Jr., of Tybee Island; daughters, Linda Crone, of Savannah, Carol Coffren and her husband, Paul, of Leonard Town, MD; brothers, Freddie Boswell, of Brandywine, MD, Alan Boswell, of South Carolina; sister, Barbara Jean Littleford, and her husband, Bill, of Sheltonham, MD; grandchildren, Desmond Crone, Morgan Coffren, Trey Crone, Riley Crone; two great-grandchildren, Chloe Crone, Cash Crone, and two faithful companions, Chipper & Midget.

A celebration of Eddie’s life was held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, January 24th, 2010 at Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Islands Chapel. The family received friends at 1:00 p.m, followed by a private burial afterward. Remembrances may be made to the American Legion, Post 154, P.O. Box 1225, Tybee Island, GA 31328 or Hospice Savannah, Inc. P.O. Box 13190, Savannah, GA 31416.

Ten Years of a Chilly Tybee Tradition

Ten Years of a Chilly Tybee Tradition – 2010 Polar Bear Plunge “Baptises” Followers into the New Year!

Living by the ocean tends to inspire local rituals that are wet and wild, for instance take Tybee’s “Beach Bum Parade,” an annual water bash that happens in May.

Of course, plenty of island events, especially parades end up that way due to rain so it’s always best to be prepared. But since January 1st, 1999 an increasing number of “Tybeeians” have taken up the tradition of running into the waves at high noon on New Year’s Day for a brief exercise in ritualistic cleansing, (or as some say, a group effort to defy the odds of catching pneumonia) known as the Polar Bear Plunge.

January 1st, 2010 marked the tenth anniversary of the Polar Bear Plunge, and event initiated that first winter when Don Ernst and his friends dared one another to take that invigorating “dip” into the Atlantic in the dead of winter.  The event was quickly accepted as a Tybee ‘thang,’ but due to its popularity and steady growth each season has taken on a life of it’s own. Now hundreds of plungers descend on Tybee annually to participate in the frolicking madness, much to the delight of island businesses.

This month as usual and despite the rain, crowds of onlookers lined the pier and stood on shore to watch as swimmers raced in (and out of) the water. There were contests and trophies for the best ‘Goofy’ costumes. The winning group keeps the coveted Le Goofs trophy for 1 year and will have to defend their championship status each year.

2010 was also the first year that participants were given the option to register and pay a fee to become members of the new “Polar Bear Club” initiated by the organizers to raise funds for Armstrong Nursing Programs.  Anyone could swim without paying the fee, but those who registered received an official t-shirt granting them the title of “Shrimp,” and were eligible for discounts at many local establishments after their plunge. The event was included in the “Tybee for the Holidays” Better Hometown Initiative event promotion, sponsored by Southern Eagle Distributing, Connect Savannah, WJCL-TV/Fox 28 The Coastal Source, WRHQ – FM Quality Rock, The Tybee Times, and promoted by the Tybee Tourism Council along with music on the pier by Randy “Hatman” Smith, and The Tams also compliments of the Tybee Tourism Council. For more information about this year’s event visit: http://www.tybeetyme.com/tybee_polar_bear_plunge.

Happy New Year, and all the best to those who took the plunge!

Tybee Inagaurates a New Council

Tybee Island, GA. Members of Tybee’s newly elected City Council posed for pictures immediately after the official swearing in ceremony at 2:00 pm on Jan. 4th, 2010 at City Hall. The Inaugauration of the Mayor and Council took place at 7:00 pm, and there was standing room only in the auditorium. Mayor Jason Buelterman who wasn’t present earlier also attended the evening ceremony and spoke to the public, as did Savannah Attorney, Judge Steven Scheer and City Attorney Bubba Hughes. A festive community reception hosted by Marlin Monroe’s Restaurant immediately afterward served up a delicious buffet and was also well attended. First City Council meeting of the new year will be on Thurs., Jan. 14th, 2010.

(Photos by Nancy Heffernan, Copyright 2010, The Tybee Times)

Disney’s “Last Song” Chapel Goes to Stacye Jarrell

The Editor
Photos by Chris Hornaday

Tybee Island, GA. Cullen Chambers, Executive Director of the Tybee Island Historical Society announced on Dec. 22, 2009 that ownership of the ‘little chapel’ temporarily constructed on a residential lot during filming of “The Last Song” has officially been transferred to Stacye C. Jarrell owner of Oceanfront Cottage Rentals on Tybee Island.

Upon departure, Disney/Touchtone Pictures gave the building to the Board of Directors of the Tybee Island Historical Society, who intended to move it to the Tybee Light Station grounds. But the opportunity to fulfill a 15 year mission statement prompted them to take possession of the original Tybee raised cottage next door to Tybee’s IGA Market which was recently gifted them by Mike Hosti. Plans are now underway to relocate it to the lighthouse grounds instead of the chapel.

According to Chambers, the chapel was offered to The City of Tybee Island, but the council hesitated to take on what is sure to be an extensive and expensive project citing other facilities such as the campground, guard house, gymnasium and cafeteria that already draw heavily on city coffers.

In anticipation of the transfer Jarrell went before the Tybee Planning Com-mission and gained approval of a proposal to relocate the 1,800 sq. ft. building to a commercial lot at 1112 Highway 80 East and transform it into a special events meeting hall. The project will not require any variances when it goes before the City Council on January 14th, but construction costs are estimated to be well over $600,000.00 without land costs. The plan is to bring the building completely up to code and into compliance with ADA guidelines. The new owners will also present a proposal for parking, noise control, and plan to provide off-duty police officers to help enforce City ordinances. Of course, all association with the name “Disney” or “Miley Cyrus” is strictly prohibited the new owners, still the new “Tybee Chapel” will be available by reservation as a venue for local events, and weddings.

Jarrell believes the move to keep the chapel on Tybee is well worth the effort and expense, and that it will positively impact the island, especially as a wedding destination. “I see it as a way to help Tybee begin to rebuild our economy!” Chambers, who spoke on behalf of the project at the Planning Commission meeting agrees. “I said months ago when we got the little church from Disney, it would have definitely been an opportunity missed had we lost it. Thankfully, these folks have now stepped up to the plate. They deserve the community’s support!” Jarrell, along with husband Lannie are seeking financing from several banks and will also need final approval for the project, but want to begin immediately after the vote by City Council.

The task ahead is extensive and Jarrell admits there are serious obstacles. In order to move the structure from its present location, the roof must be removed. Once transported, it must be lifted to an eight foot height and located on a lot large enough to meet City and State codes regarding elevation, occupancy, parking and ADA specifications. Two ADA bathrooms are required. It needs a brides’ dressing room, a kitchen, and a groom’s restroom. But the proposed lot at 1112 Highway 80 East offers an adequate amount of space with room to maneuver, so the couple is very hopeful that they will be able to address any issues that arise.

Stacye Jarrell also mentions that noted Tybee preservationist, historian, and friend Jane Coslick greatly influenced her decision. Jarrell says she’d called Coslick about an unrelated matter, just as Coslick was on her way out of the meeting where she’d just learned that the Tybee Island Historical Society wasn’t going to be able to place the little church at the lighthouse. “Jane was very concerned,” Jarrell says, “so I encouraged her to see if the committee would reconsider.” But Coslick then asked Jarrell if she would take it. “At that moment I said I would, just to placate her, but then I began to really think how this might help Tybee’s economy, and bring in jobs and money, so I spoke with my friend, Paul Jackson, Chairman of the committee. He encouraged me to really consider how important the chapel was to Tybee.”

Jarrell says Paul Jackson then met with Cullen Chambers, President Jim Kluttz, and other members of the Historical Society to discuss how the Jarrells could take over the structure. Jackson admits he, Coslick and fellow committee member, Sally Jett were particularly concerned. “The Historical Society didn’t have the funds to handle both the chapel and the raised cottage, so in line with our mission statement we choose the cottage. But we knew if something didn’t happen fast, rather than continue to pay the $2500 per month to rent the lot off 13th St., we’d have to tear the chapel down.” Jackson is the grandson of Tybee’s last Lighthouse Keeper – he and wife Terry are also close friends of the Jarrells, the main reason he has confidence in the project’s success. “It’s a big commitment on Stacye’s part,” he adds, “but if anybody can do it, she can!”

For more information about the plan or the chapel, Stacye Jarrell may be reached at 912-507-3939. Inquiries may also be directed to Oceanfront Cottage Rentals, LLC, 800-786-5889 or 912-786-0054, or their website at http://www.oceanfrontcottage.com.