Today, Artists near and far are breathing a collective sigh of relief. The Tybee Festival of the Arts has successfully come to an end! Depending on future ownership and utilization, it may well be the last festival to be held on the majestic pavilion. Heaven, perhaps as a grand finale’ , dramatically blew open its dark cumulus shutters to reveal a brilliant window of sunshine (albeit only for the weekend). Mother nature seemingly took pity on our tiny little island and the poor artists and participants working feverishly to prepare for the annual outdoor Art event! We were blessed with wistful breezes and rays of golden sunshine! Quite astonishing considering "weather" or not the show would go on was anyone’s guess right up to the last moments!

We are all familiar with mother nature’s climactic mood swings reflected in tropical depressions, storms and hurricanes! Tropical storm Kyle was breathing down our necks, and some of us felt certain gloom that the festival would be postponed. It has happened before! Today, the Monday after the festival, that brief window of sunshine has been slammed tightly shut. Tropical depression Marco is drenching the island in a soaking blanket of rain.

Artists who partake in out door events are gamblers. The Artist, in a sense, is liken to the farmer- vulnerable and exposed. Years ago, in the beginning of my artistic career, my husband Mark and I considered doing shows for a living. Today we can barely force ourselves to do one a year, and we have lots of assistance. There is much more that goes into a successful out door event than the creation of the Art. Once created, the Art has to be

put together in such a way that it can be sold; i.e., framed, matted, mounted, packaged, hung, strung, wrapped, varnished, stretched, etc... In addition, a booth must be set up. The Art must then be hauled - toted, wheeled, carted, or otherwise to the show. Once the Art has arrived it must be merchandised; set-up, hung, arranged, and packaged - all in an attractive manner. Finally, exhausted and in pain (many bruises and cuts occur during this process), you are ready to sell!

This artist will never forget the year the show was held in Memorial Park. Our booth was positioned over a monstrous ANT HILL! On top of that, the weather was problematic. Taking full advantage of her prerogative, mother nature just could not make up her mind; to rain or not! The rain begins, cover art, rain stops, uncover art, and the "ants go marching one by one..." This dance went on all weekend; start rain, cover art, stop rain, reveal art, ants sting - Chow, Chow, Chow !

Many artists go it alone, with little or no help. I can’t imagine doing without the support of our wonderful friends and partners, our dedicated staffs from Hall of Frames and the Atlantic Beacon Gallery , not to mention family! It takes everything we’ve got to pull it all together - and still there are no guarantees. Is it true, are all Artists crazy? We may not each cut off an ear, but when you analyze the facts, doing outdoor shows does seem to reveal something more than mere eccentricity. Hhmmm, the term "masochism " does come to mind!

Fortunately, the gamble paid off this time. The sun was brilliant, and the weekend’s outcome was wonderful! The program participants, musicians and performing artists were all outstanding. Deserving artists received recognition beyond the immediate gratification of sales alone! First Prize went to our own Jane Freyermuth for her fabulous hand thrown pottery, (way to go Jane, we’re proud of you!); Second, Gina Messery-York for an imaginative body of work; Third, Alaine Daniel for "Spirit Cave" (consistently award winning!). Honorable Mentions were awarded to Sally Bostwick for "Marsh Scene" , (always on top of this artist/writer’s list!); Mildred Hill- Fish Mobile (Yeah Mildred, no surprises here!); Marsha Kevill- "Little Tybee" (congratulations Marsha!); and Don Josephson- "Crab Shack Truck". In addition, this artist, among others (names were unavailable) , received special recognition Purchase Awards.

Congratulations to all of the winners, and to every artist for pulling off a successful show! There is just one more category that I would like to add. This award goes out to each artist’s wife or husband (mine has been called a saint), to each friend, partner, or family member - to anyone who constantly supports a hard working artist. Go ahead, raise your right arm high into the air with hand pointing straight up. Now, bend at the elbow and drop the arm directly behind you. Finally, with your fingers fully extended, give yourself a great big pat on the back. You are the winner of the all important "M V P Award"! You, Most Valuable Participant, are the back bone, performing all of the hard work with little of the credit. We applaud you! You are indispensable; " you are the wind beneath our sails"!

Snow White and the Critters
By: Judy O'Neill

I like critters. A while back, we took a trip to St. Augustine to check out how tourists behave in the oldest city. In our explorations we came across the park that is reputed to be where Ponce de Leon landed in his quest for the Fountain of Youth and other tourist attractions. In this park is a shady old cemetery. It’s a peaceful place; and as I was walking there, I kept hearing this rustling all around me. When I stopped, it stopped. When I walked, it rustled. You know what I was thinking. Ghosts, spirits of conquistadors long gone. This went on for a short while...walk...rustle,rustle...stop...no rustle. Since it was broad open daylight; I felt pretty brave. That’s when I decided that walking BACKWARDS might allow me to see what was going on behind me. Well, Snow White, eat your fairy tale heart out! All the rustling was caused by squirrels FOLLOWING me. I stopped. They stopped. I walked. They followed. This delighted me to no end. I’d always liked Snow White anyway and I felt really special. After I fell backwards over one of the benches placed here and there, I rummaged around in my purse and found some Ritz Bits {These are pretty purse friendly when your on vacation and don’t know when you will need a snack.} The squirrels surrounded me. WOW! Little furry creatures eating right out of my

hand!! Begging for more. It was all fun and games until one of the little furballs got greedy and decided to climb my leg to have an advantage over all the other squirrels. OUCH!! Time to go. Besides all the Bits were about gone and the squirrels were starting to look for another Snow White.

When we returned home, I was determined to show that Tybee squirrels are just as smart as Florida squirrels, and I set out to train the ones around the house. I sat for arm-nombing lenghts of time holding a peanut out toward a tree branch that comes really close to our porch and on which I had seen a squirrel or two. And, voila! One day when I had just about dozed off from sitting so still, I heard a scampering and a rustling and there was a squirrel looking right at me and the peanut. I put the peanut on the porch rail, sat back and waited. Eventually, the little critter decided I was a statue and came and got the nut. I was so excited that I immediately scared the squirrel who immediately dropped the peanut and pooped on the rail ! However, this was the breakthrough I’d been waiting for. Squirrel #1 went and found his friend Squirrel #2 who told Squirrel #3 to come watch the entertainment. I have to tell you that these training sessions went on for weeks, and weeks, and weeks...Soon Squirrel #1 was eating out of my hand. We named him Ed until we figured out he was a she and changed her name to Edwina. Squirrel #2 was hyper but eventually would run and snatch a treat from my hand. Her name became "Bat-ear" because her little ears were furry and reminded me of a close-up picture I’d once seen of a bat. Number 3 was always too nervous to do anything but relieve herself and run, but we gave her the name Ellvie because of the little "V" shaped cut in her ear.

Let me tell you, Tybee Squirrels are much smarter and more well mannered than St. Augustine squirrels. And the girl squirrels are the bravest. Bat-ear has lost the baby fuzz on her ears and will sit right next to me on the chair arm. Ellvie has matured enough to actually come up onto the porch, sneak up to the door, and make noise so I’ll know they’re ready for nut time in the neighborhood. Not only do I have my favorite little balls of fur here at home, but on a recent trip to Destin, Florida, I was amazed when a "Panhandling" squirrel managed to climb onto our condo balcony and find me. I guess I send out nutty vibes wherever I go! Now even the birds are starting to ask for a treat. Snow White would be so proud!

NUT TIME IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD...Epilogue

Every time I feed "my" squirrels, I think of my recently departed fellow critter lover and friend, Diane Goode. When Diane and husband Bernie were selling their house on Jones Avenue to move to their new house, Diane was most concerned, like all us critter conscious citizens, that her favorite squirrels would be neglected or get injured trying to cross Jones Avenue to visit some other nutty neighborhood like mine. Diane, all the squirrels and I miss you!

SUPER GENE
By: Michael D.Sullivan
"Meet me at the Carousel!"

That was the generational cry heard up and down old 16th Street when the Tybee Island Amusement Park was alive and well. PAC MAN was not invented. Nintendo was in somebody’s head, arcade games were simpler, and family values included fun. The young and the old heard those commanding words and reacted. The Carousel was the gateway point to the Park opened in 1970. 13 rides. Fellowship. Good times on a killer Tybee afternoon and romance for sure when the sun went down. To get to the Scrambler, Ferris Wheel, and Merry Go Round, one more often than not passed "Rooster" Williams on the corner stool at the Carousel nursing his pitcher of beer with a bag of ice cubes floating inside. He was also provided a personal foot stool. "Rooster" ruled in those days and Mrs. Dodge as well as Alan and Fran Strickland served him in the outdoor eatery. He regaled locals and tourists with his history of Tybee, jazz, and the human condition.

Behind "Rooster" in the Park worked Billy Burke at the Merry Go Round. Arnie Gunther manned the Helicopter and other rides, Danny and Jimmy Carpenter,"Fitz" Fitzpatrick, Billy Lopez, and Ron Jordan at the tee shirt stand filled out some of the crew over time that included a budding, local, broadcaster named Lyndy Brannen in his first grown up job.

The Park employees worked for Gene Glisson, a self described "baldheaded fat fellow." You might expect that line from a carnie master but his exploding belly laugh gives him away. He remembers the Ferris Wheel as his favorite with wedding couples and those about to propose on his Big Spin waiting in line. "Once a young lady in a revealing top rode by and flashed me at the bottom of the ride," he says laughing. "Next time around, her top was on. Thought it might just happen again but no!"

What is happening to Gene Glisson now is a name change to Robert. That’s what the bankers call him who backed his multi-million dollar Small Business Administration loan to build the Super 8 Seabreeze Motel replacing the Park. "Robert is my first name. They saw it on a card so I just kept answering to Robert. Everybody knows me as Gene." That change was many he faced when he decided to shutdown the Amusement Park business and try his hand at building and managing a motel.

"The last few years at the Park got tough. Times changed. Costs rose for insurance and maintenance. I was losing money," he said. Two lawsuits involving the Scrambler Roller Coaster were settled out of court. It was time for action. He wanted to buy into a motel chain that provided management and training and made that happen in a franchise deal for 5 years with Super 8 three years ago. When that ends, he expects to call his motel the Seabreeze. That handle is already in his signage. Gene has a plan.

It starts with making improvements to his 60 unit building of steel, metal, and masonry. He filled 80% of the rooms this season after a soft start in 1999 and looks to make a profit in 2004. He employs 10 full time workers and that number doubles in season.

"My daddy, Henry Glisson, drew blueprints for a motel on this very lot in 1965. He went to the SBA for money and they turned him down," he said. Turns out the SBA wanted entertainment on Tybee as an investment as that is how the

Tybee Island Amusement Park was born.

It ended when most of the equipment and rides were sold to a buyer in Vermont for $40,000. He could have broken up the Merry Go Round selling individual pieces and made more money. He couldn’t do it. Some things have to last forever. He still sees the horses jumping up right now somewhere far north where the fire engines and helicopter still draw wonder in young faces.

The closing after almost 30 years was tough on Gene, his employees, and Tybee. It was a fixture, a gathering place, an icon. Some employees and residents were bitter, upset, and hostile. What will the kids do was the question asked all around Tybee. He felt his product was not enough to hold the children past 15 when boys discovered girls, girls discovered boys, and the speed of big parks and computer games left his Park passé, too slow, too old, and too un-cool.

Now he takes his bag of tricks to use hosting 4 wedding receptions, birthday parties, and Low Country boils at the Super 8 so far. Wind Rose owner Nell Harris celebrated her wedding to Mark Klein in a big to do on Gene’s poolside last May. They just happened to meet when Mark began building the foundation for the Super 8!

Building a business base is what Gene is focused on in Macon, Augusta, and Atlanta. He’d like to be part of a Tybee Chamber of Commerce to do local promotion because he says Tybee does not have a strong enough voice in the current and costly arrangement with Savannah. He says we all would be well served to form such a compact among local business operators.

As for the past, it exists now in at least four new forms. First, the blacktop from the Amusement Park is the same used on the grounds of the Super 8. He added more to it. The State elevator inspector at the Super 8 is the same person who inspected the safety of his rides. Ride operator Arnie Gunther works maintenance at the motel. As for "Rooster" Williams, you can find him holding court these days at the corner stool at Doc’s Bar. He just moved his headquarters a tad east.

Robert "Gene" Glisson is managing his life change and maybe even dreams of hearing a new chant on Tybrisa Street… Meet me at the Seabreeze. You never know. Hard to keep an energized carnie in check for too long!

THE SANDMAN COMETH
by Michael D. Sullivan