Savannah, GA: Many of us will probably have a wonderful home cooked Thanksgiving meal surrounded by friends and family this year, but not everyone is as lucky. It’s one of the reasons why the Old Savannah City Mission holds the Day of Great Thanksgiving every year.
As News Three’s Community Reporter Alice Massimi explains it’s not just about a free meal… it’s an opportunity to come together.

Savannah, GA: The Chatham County Teen Leadership Summit had some girls blushing today.

The City of Rincon celebrated the Christmas season a couple days early. They held their Thirtieth Annual Christmas Parade this morning.

Get a job, buy a house, and start a family… It’s the American Dream and while the City of Savannah can’t help you with the first or last on the list, it can help people own a home.   
The “Dream Maker” Home Purchase Program, gives people who otherwise wouldn’t be able to buy a home the money they need.   
So far it’s been a success… News Three’s Community Reporter Alice Massimi has more on the program and how it’s rejuvenating some areas of Savannah one neighborhood at a time.

Some road closures in Downtown Savannah to tell you about tonight.

Today the City of Savannah along with West Savannah celebrated the completion of five more Dream Maker Homes. A program they hope will help turn the neighborhood around.

This afternoon, Savannah’s West Broad Street YMCA will dedicate its new playground to the legacy of Mr. Benjamin F. Lewis. A former Executive Director of the West Broad Street Y, Lewis was instrumental in developing programs for local residents and children.

A popular Southside Savannah Nightclub has lost its liquor license.

A move by the City of Savannah to require those who serve alcohol to undergo training and be registered has passed.

It’s the nation’s oldest, largest, and most widely recognized grassroots based civil rights organization and this year, the NAACP marks 100 years of service. Locally, the Savannah Branch prepares to host its 29th Annual Freedom Fund Awards Banquet.

Johnny Mercer’s songs entertained generations, uplifting them during tough times and teaching them to accentuate the positive.
A born and bred Savannah Boy…he set the music world on fire.
Today his talent was commemorated…along with his hundredth birthday.
News Three’s Community Reporter Alice Massimi was there as Mercer was memorialized.

Hear Johnny Mercer’s Newest Song “You’re in Savannah”

With high unemployment and job losses, many Savannah neighbors can’t afford a traditional Thanksgiving. One group is helping to put a turkey dinner on the table for some needy famlies.

Sunny skies, a great cause and an amazing lady made for a full house for the Joyce Harrison Cancer Awareness Poker Run.  News 3’s Randi Hempel was there and has more on how much money was raised and reaction from Joyce’s loved ones.

The Tybee Island community comes together to raise awareness for early cancer detection, remembering one of their own and to have fun.  News 3’s Randi Hempel takes you to the Joyce Harrison Memorial Poker Run.

One local radio station is once again going to great heights to lend a hand to the community. Next Tuesday, E-93 radio personalities will climb atop of the roof of the Wesley Community Centers of Savannah for their annual food drive.

More federal stimulus money is making its way to Savannah.
Some has gone to road repairs but this time it’s to be used to help those on the brink of being homeless or already homeless.
News Three’s Community Reporter Alice Massimi has more on who will qualify and when you can expect the help to be available.

A popular Southside Savannah Restaurant is getting ready to reopen their doors.   

Do you live, work or travel on DeRenne Avenue?
Then you will probably be interested in the streets future.

There was great weather today for Port Wentworth’s Annual Hay Day Festival.

Do you want to have a spook-tacular Halloween experience and do something to help your neighbors all at the same time?

Some poll places will be different for next week’s election.

Savannah Firefighters are doing their part to raise money and awareness for breast cancer.  You can help them out and get an awesome new shirt tonight.

A water leak had a neigbor concerned each time she drove down 32nd Street.  So, she called News 3.  When News 3’s Randi Hempel arrived, she talked to a neighbor about what the leak means for him.  By the afternoon, city crews were working to fix the issue.  (It was already on their schedule for today.)

About 300 area volunteers worked to build a new playground and community garden at Savannah’s West Broad Street YMCA.

The task is to cut about two million dollars from the City of Savannah’s Public Safety Budget.
The city’s already created a team to look at possible savings.
One of the items they’re suggesting…. the Police Department’s Mounted Patrol Unit.
While an official recommendation to cut the twenty year old unit hasn’t been made… News Three has learned it’s at the bottom of a very long list of priorities.
Community Reporter Alice Massimi spoke with the city and the head of the Mounted Patrol Unit to find out what this could mean for the city’s safety.

A playground within walking distance of every child in America, it’s the goal of a national group known as Kaboom.
This year alone they’ve built more than one hundred and eighty playgrounds throughout the country. Today our area was the lucky recipient.
News Three Community Reporter Alice Massimi was there as hundreds of volunteers helped make this neighborhoods dream come true.

Renovation work at the Tybee Post Theater has been on and off for several years and the doors have been closed for decades.  it’s all because the money just isn’t there.  As News 3’s Randi Hempel explains, work on windows and doors is being funded by a grant, but there’s much more that needs to be done.

Three Savannah Neighborhoods prone to flooding and other drainage issues received some good news: some help is on the way.

Those of us who live in Savannah know how special our squares are, but now they’re receiving national attention.
The American Planning Association has named them one of the Top Ten Best public spaces in the country.
They join the ranks of past recipients like Central Park in New York City, and Union Station in Washington D.C.
News Three’s Community Reporter Alice Massimi was there as the honor was bestowed on the city.