Take your dog to Forsyth Park this weekend…

When was the last time you and your pooch spent some quality time together?  How about heading out this weekend to Forsyth Park for the Humane Society’s 10th annual Doggie Carnival.  The carnival will feature the K-9 International Frisbee Disc Dogs in addition to doggie derby races, pet/owner look-alike contests, a pooch smooch, best dog trick contest and other events and games.  The best part is that it’s free!  There will also be food vendors and raffles to participate in.

“It is a great avenue to socialize a young puppy. There are so many dogs of all kinds to see, and it is nice being able to talk with fellow dog owners.” (Savannah Now)

Last year, somewhere near 3,000 people attended at another great turnout is expected this year.  So grab your pup (and leash) and have some fun this weekend.

What: Humane Society’s 10th annual Doggie Carnival
When: Noon-4 p.m. Sunday
Where: Forsyth Park, near the historic fountain
Admission: Free, raffle tickets for purchase
Information: Call 912-354-9515 or go to humanesocietysav.org.

Take it easy at the gas tank!

A Green Tip, courtesy of the EPA…

During hot weather, don’t top off your gas tank.  Refuel your car or truck in the early morning or the evening when it’s cooler.  A small fuel spill may not seem like much, but every spill evaporates and adds to air pollution, and fuel pumps with vapor recovery systems can feed a spill back into their tanks – after you paid for it. So, in hot weather – don’t top off!

Check out the U.S. Environmental Protection agency website for more Green Tips!  Celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day!  And please share any tips of your own!

In-Season Produce: English Trifle

We now know that buying in-season fruits and vegetables, particularly produce that has been grown locally, is better for our environment (and probably our taste buds and bodies too).  But it also provides an exciting opportunity to try new foods and to experiment with seasonal recipes!

Check out this recipe for English Trifle.  If you make it, shoot a picture of your finished dish and upload it to the Walden at Chatham Center Facebook page.  Anyone interested in having a community cooking contest?

Nutritional Information

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 621 | Total Fat: 23g | Cholesterol: 29mg

The Savannah Urban Arts Festival kicks-off April 18

Are you into urban-themed art and the culture of hip-hop?  The Savannah Urban Arts Festival kicks-off this weekend, running from Sunday, April 18 through Saturday, April 25.

The festival is described as a series of live performances, forums, workshops and film screenings presented as a celebration of the diverse styles of art, music, writing and self-expression that have developed in urban culture.  Its goal is to foster dialogue between area youth, citizens, and civic leaders about ways to utilize these art forms to create positive change in communities.

I’ve personally never had the chance to attend before, but it sounds like something worth checking out.  Some of the most influential art and expression in our society are founded in the urban and hip-hop culture.

Looking at the schedule of events, I see that they’re planning a screening of the legendary hip-hop documentary Style Wars.  This is a must see for any true hip-hop head.  Style Wars was produced in 1983 by Tony Silver and Henry Chalfant and gives a first-hand view into the graffiti subculture that is a pillar of hip-hop.  It documents the stages of New York City hip-hop, and shows that its members were a racially and ethnically diverse group of creative young artists.  Check it out if you can on Monday, April 19 at 7 p.m. (Indigo Arts Center, 703D Lousiville Road).  Let me know what you think.

In-Season Produce: Markets near Walden at Chatham Center

Do you shop for your fresh food and produce locally? If not, you may want to give it some serious consideration. Although today’s global market allows us to buy foods grown almost anywhere in the world at any given time, this option is not the most sustainable.

Buying in-season fruits and vegetables that are locally grown helps to eliminate the environmental damage caused by shipping foods across the country – and in some cases – the world. Not only does your food dollar go directly to the farmers, but you’re able to enjoy the health benefits of eating fresh, better tasting, unprocessed produce. According to the National Resources Defense Council, in-season foods for the state of Georgia (and surrouning areas) include:

Blueberries Cabbage Carrots Greens Snap Beans Strawberries Vidalia Onions Yellow Squash Zucchini Asparagus (Tennessee) Bananas (Florida) Broccoli (Florida, North Carolina) Cantaloupe (Florida) Cauliflower (Florida) Celery (Florida) Chinese Cabbage (Florida) Collards (Tennessee) Cucumber (Florida) Eggplant (Florida) Endive (Florida) Escarole (Florida) Gourds (Tennessee) Grapefruit (Florida) Herbs (Tennessee) Honey (Tennessee) Honeydew Melon (Florida) Indian Corn (Tennessee) Kumquat (Florida)

Leafy greens (North Carolina) Limes (Florida) Mamey Sapote (Florida) Mixed Greens (South Carolina) Mushrooms (Florida, Tennessee) Okra (Florida) Onions (Florida) Oranges (Florida) Papaya (Florida) Peanuts (North Carolina) Pecans* (Alabama) Peppers (Florida) Potatoes (Florida) Radishes (Florida) Scallions (South Carolina) Squash* (Alabama, Florida) Sweet Corn (Florida) Sweet Potatoes * (Alabama, North Carolina) Tangelos (Florida) Tangerines (Florida) Tomatoes (Florida) Watermelon (Florida)

Here is a short list of markets that sell fresh locally grown foods near the Walden at Chatham Center area. If you can suggest any other markets, leave a comment and let the community know!

Markets near Walden at Chatham Center

Going Green: Get off junk mail lists

Check out these simple environment friendly tips courtesy of the Divine Caroline website…

• Get off junk mail lists. GreenDimes can get you started. They’ll even plant a tree for you!
• Buy products that use recyclable materials whenever possible.
• If you use plastic grocery bags, recycle them for doggie poop bags or for small trashcan liners.
• Bring your own bags to the grocery store. Given a choice between plastic and paper, opt for paper.
• Buy locally. Find farmers’ markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food near you at LocalHarvest.

Fogelman Management Group is focused on spreading the word about Going Green, a term that signifies the social movement towards environmental conservation, protection and improvement. It’s all about making simple lifestyle choices that will lessen our negative impact on the Earth. Making and using home products with organic materials is just one way to we can make a difference.

Stay tuned to the Walden at Chatham Center blog throughout the month of April for more tips on how you can play your part.

Would you like some Psychotronic with your Coffee?

To all you movie junkies – on Wednesday, April 7 at 8pm, Psychotronic Films will present Fortress of the Dead (Philippines, 1965), a twisted, Twilight Zone-esque tale of a deranged American GI who returns to a battlefield to confront the ghosts of his past.

If you’re unfamiliar with pshychotronic films, its a genre made up of horror films, spaghetti westerns, low-budget independent features and exploitation films (thanks Wikipedia).  This may be a cool way to check one out.  I like them because they are a little more artistic than your typicial Hollywood studio flick.  And for $5, you can’t really go wrong.  I’ve ever seen this one before but I hope it’s a good one.

Place: The Sentient Bean (13 E. Park Ave.)

Final Fogelman Four (or Five)

Hey Fogelman folks…the 2010 NCAA Basketball Tournament is wrapping up this weekend and if you’ve been following, you know that it has been ripe with upsets. As for the Fogelman Bracket Challenge, it’s still too close to call. There are numerous scenarios that can play out, each one resulting in a different winner.

Here is what we know…

• If Duke wins, Richard Call from Stewarts Ferry in Nashville, TN will be your 2010 Champion. Way to go, Richard! But don’t count your cookies yet…
• If West Virginia wins, then Jon Hawks will take the crown. I’m a Big East Conference fan, so I must admit that I’m in Jon’s corner. Jon, we’re not sure which apartment community you’re representing so if you’re reading this, make sure you drop us a note.
• If Michigan State wins the tournament, then Amanda Hill will be our official champion. However, because she is not officially a Fogelman property resident, she is disqualified from collecting any prize. Any prize would go to the first runner-up that is actually a resident. Sorry, Amanda. Maybe you should consider moving to a Fogelman community J
• And if Butler wins, well, here’s where it gets a little tricky. Because no one gave them a fighting chance at the beginning of the tournament, there is no clear cut winner at this point. It all depends on who they play in the Championship. If Butler defeats West Virginia in the title game, then Janelle Crandall from Metro 67 in Memphis, TN will walk away with the prize. If Butler defeats Duke, the title goes to Dani Soto from Hampton Woods in Shawnee, KS.

Good luck to each of the finalists! Don’t forget to tune into CBS to watch the tournament semifinals tonight starting at 6pm, and then the Championship game on Monday, April 5 at 8pm.